China's just concluded 2024 summer vacation saw a booming study tour and cross-border trip with the inauguration of a number of new railway lines and the more implementation of visa-free policy.
Rizhao-Lankao high-speed railway line that launched during this summer vocation passes through numerous educational destinations, including the Yimeng Mountains, the Temple and Cemetery of Confucius and the Kong Family Mansion in Qufu, the seaside city of Rizhao, and the Jia Yulu Memorial Park.
Since the start of the summer vocation, the Linyi North Station on the Rizhao-Lankao high-speed railway line had successfully sent over 3,000 people traveling in groups. The train's mobile bookstore became a popular spot for passengers to spend their time on train.
Thanks to the implementation of the 144-hour visa-free transit policy, foreign visitors like Song from Malaysia can enjoy greater convenience for cross-border trips.
Song entered China through the China-Laos Railway, traveled to Dali and Lijiang in southwest China's Yunnan Province, experiencing a unique summer vacation.
"It feels quite good. This train journey has given me a lot of fresh experiences, and I really enjoyed it," said Song.
The border city of Dongxing Port in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region that located on the China-Vietnam border eyed surging number of visitors during this summer vocation.
The geographic advantage of the port coupled with the travel convenience provided by high-speed trains had made the border city of Dongxing a popular destination for cross-border travel.
"To accommodate the large number of Vietnamese travelers visiting China, we have established Vietnamese language service positions to ensure high-quality service for Vietnamese tourists. This summer, we have already hosted 25 Vietnamese tour groups," said Li Yunhong, deputy station manager, Guangxi Coastal Railway Company, China State Railway Nanning Group Co., Ltd.
Data shows that since the start of the summer vocation, the China-Laos Railway and the Hong Kong section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link sent a total of 45,600 and 5.184 million cross-border passengers, respectively, marking year-on-year increases of 78.1 and 10.7 percent respectively.
Summer vocation of 2024 sees booming study tour, cross-border trips
A special cultural event celebrating the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC) was held in Berlin, Germany on Saturday.
Titled "Written in the Sky: My China Story," the event was jointly organized by China Media Group (CMG), the Chinese Embassy in Germany, and the Center for Language Education and Cooperation under China's Ministry of Education.
During the event, the John Rabe Communication Center, the German Burg Chinese Chorus, the Federal Association for Economic Development and Foreign Trade, and the Federation of Germany-China Friendship Association officially joined the global partnership program of the "Written in the Sky: My China Story" campaign and were awarded certificates on Saturday.
The German Burg Chinese Chorus performed classic Chinese and German songs, including "On Wings of Song" and "Jasmine Flower." The Shenzhou-18 crew, currently in orbit, sent a video message from the space station and interacted with German teenagers.
The attendees of the event held in Berlin agreed that as the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind, the Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative have gained increasing global support, China has not only brought opportunities to the world but also built bridges of friendship with people from various countries.
Attendees wrote their wishes for the PRC's 75th anniversary, expressing their commitment to continuing their stories with China to address global challenges and create a better future for humanity.
Shen Haixiong, president of CMG, stated that China aims to strengthen international people-to-people exchanges, promote dialogue among global civilizations, and enhance mutual understanding.
"We will portray the ultimate romantic warmth of Chinese culture, record the continuous legacy of human civilization, and work together to build a community with a shared future for mankind," said Shen.
Chinese Ambassador to Germany Deng Hongbo noted that both China and Germany have a profound cultural heritage, and their mutual appreciation and exchange of knowledge have been ongoing.
In an era of challenges, Deng emphasized the need for strengthened communication and cooperation, expressing hope that more young Germans will learn Chinese, develop an interest in Chinese culture, visit China, and become ambassadors of Sino-German friendship and exchange.
Nearly 200 attendees from various sectors, including politics, culture, diplomacy, economy, and trade, as well as young teachers and students, participated in the event.
Multiple mainstream European media, such as Italy's il Giornale and EU Reporter, covered the event, reaching a total audience of nearly 15 million in Europe.
Launched in March this year, the campaign “Written in the Sky: My China Story” has collected more than 1,600 stories from China and over 60 countries across the globe. It will also be held in other countries, including the U.S., Canada, Russia, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, and Nigeria.
Special event celebrating 75th anniversary of founding of PRC held in Berlin
