Hong Kong, Macao youths on exchange trip to Zhejiang

Nearly 1,000 young people from Hong Kong and Macao embarked on a six-day trip to the eastern Zhejiang Province on the Chinese mainland Tuesday, aiming to deepen their understanding of the country's development while engaging in exchanges with their mainland peers.

At the launch ceremony in Wuzhen, a historic water town in Zhejiang's Tongxiang City, youth representatives from Zhejiang, Hong Kong, and Macao performed an artistic program together with themes including "Same Roots, Shared Hearts," "Riding the Waves with Courage," and "Co-creating the Future."

As this year marks the 25th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland, high school student Wong Kwong Wai from Macao collaborated with university students from Zhejiang to present a program called "In Pursuit," tracing the footsteps of their ancestors and expressing their patriotic sentiments through music.

"I feel so happy to interact with the university students [of the Chinese mainland] as the atmosphere is really relaxing. I want to show my thanks to them as those media majors with professional knowledge have taught me valuable skills in recitation, greatly improving my abilities. Many thanks for their guidance," said Wong, a student from Hou Kong Middle School, which was founded in 1932 and has the largest student body of all Macao's basic education institutions.

Over the six-day itinerary, the young Hong Kong and Macao visitors will visit nine cities across Zhejiang to gain firsthand experiences of China's natural beauty and development achievements.

While deepening their understanding of the nation's history and current conditions, they will also forge new friendships during the exchange activities.

"I believe this activity provides us with an excellent opportunity. We were able to witness the 'Red Boat Spirit' that we could only glimpse in textbooks, and now we've gained a profound, personal understanding of its rich connotations," said Chui Yuk Lam, another student from Hou Kong Middle School.

The Red Boat Spirit highlights pioneering work, a striving spirit and dedication.

Tsim Hung-leung, president of the Zhejiang Provincial Association Federation in Hong Kong, said he hoped that the experience would help Hong Kong's young people to better appreciate the mainland's development.

"I hope that they [young people from Hong Kong] can come to the mainland and see for themselves, and then share what they've seen with their peers. I hope young people from Zhejiang and Hong Kong can make friends and realize that they are the future of our country," he said.

Hong Kong, Macao youths on exchange trip to Zhejiang

With a rapidly expanding network covering its most districts, Beijing's vast subway system can be regarded as one of the most prominent testaments to the city's fruitful modernization drive over the past two decades.

China built its first metro line, the Line 1, in Beijing in 1969, a route linking the city's eastern Chaoyang District with Shijingshan District in the west. However, the subway system was not extended until 2001, at which time the Chinese capital only had the east-west Line One and Line Two that loops the center area totaling 54 kilometers.

The construction of subway took off in early 2000s, after Beijing's successful bid for the 2008 Summer Olympics. The metro system in the city underwent a fast expansion since then. In 2008, the city's subway network boasted eight lines totaling 200 kilometers in length.

Following the Olympics, Beijing continued to gather pace in subway construction, building a total of 27 lines with a combined mileage of 836 kilometers as of end 2023, topping other cities in China.

"I feel that Beijing's infrastructure construction is pretty good, effectively addressing the commuting problems for young workers and students," said Xu Yanrui, a university student.

Starting from August 26, passengers on Beijing Subway Line 1 also have the chance to ride a special "Time-travel Train." With deep green faux leather seats arranged horizontally, part of the train's interior design can transport passengers back half a century, allowing them to experience the contrast between old and new subway cars and sense the changes in eras.

"When the subway system was first opened, there was only one line, the Line 1. Now it has developed into a network. You can find a subway station in any corner of downtown Beijing. As a major mean of transportation, the subway network now covers most of Beijing said Zhang Xiaoyu, a retired subway driver.

Fueled by the expansion of the network, vending machines, lockers, convenience stores and even flower shops have also gradually appeared in subway stations.

This year, three subway lines, spanning 45.3 kilometers, will be put into operation. The test runs of these three lines or sections are currently underway.

The underground system is proof of Beijing's dedication to sustainable urban development and modernization. The future of Beijing's metro system is incredibly promising with ongoing expansion plans and technological advancements.

Rapidly expanding Beijing subway network a testament of city's modernization drive