Revolution-themed tourism inspires more young people with advanced technology

Revolution-themed tourism, which refers to visiting historical sites with a modern legacy of the Chinese revolution leading to the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, has attracted more young people so far in the week-long National Day holiday that started on October 1, as many museums and scenic spots have adopted cutting-edge technologies and introduced interactive experiences, injecting new vitality into the preservation and development of "red culture".

"Red culture" refers to the "red legacies" and "red spirit" that have emerged during China's revolution, construction and reform under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, in order to achieve national independence, economic progress, cultural prosperity and national rejuvenation.

The large-scale "red culture" live-action drama "Hong'an Always Red", made its debut during the National Day holiday in Hong'an County of Huanggang City in central China's Hubei Province -- a leading revolutionary base of the CPC in the 1930s.

The production combines real-life props with sound, lighting, and special effects to create an immersive interactive experience.

"Compared to traditional red dramas, it offers a stronger sense of technology and immersion. It allows us, as people living nowadays, to feel as if we were crossing back into that era. I believe our life today is truly hard-won," said Ruan Hongying, a tourist.

Bringing red culture to life has become a common goal for many scenic spots rich in red cultural resources. In Xianfeng County, Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture of Hubei Province, during the National Day holiday, many visitors used VR panoramic experience stations to immerse themselves in classic scenes from the Long March of the Red Army.

In Yudu County of Ganzhou City, east China's Jiangxi Province, the large-scale red cultural and tourism epic "The First Crossing of the Long March" is spectacularly performed at the Long March assembly site. Audience members are able to experience an immersive journey through time, reliving the heroic and turbulent years of that historic era.

The Long March was a strategic operation undertaken by the CPC-led Red Army when being pursued by hordes of Kuomintang (KMT) troops between 1934-1936.

The 12,500-kilometer march began with over 80,000 soldiers in Ruijin and Gucheng in Jiangxi Province, and ended in Yan'an in northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

In Zibo City of east China's Shandong Province, at the 618 Wartime Radio Station Red Education Base, numerous visitors venture into the deep, dark tunnels to experience that unique period of history.

"I think it is incredibly meaningful for me to visit a Chinese revolution-themed education base during the National Day holiday. I was deeply moved by the spirit of perseverance and hard work of the people at that time, which inspires us young people to forge ahead and keep advancing," said Cui Yujiao, a tourist.

Revolution-themed tourism inspires more young people with advanced technology

The Shenzhou-18 crew members aboard China's orbiting space station Tiangong captured stunning views of the South China Sea and Xisha Islands from space, offering a unique perspective of their beauty.

On April 25, China launched the Shenzhou-18 manned spacecraft, sending three astronauts into the space station for a six-month mission, with a planned return to the Earth later this month.

During the mission, the three astronauts, Ye Guangfu, Li Cong and Li Guangsu, have marveled at the stunning landscapes, from snow-white seas of clouds to vibrant blue oceans and cities lit up at night.

In their downtime, the crew gaze through the windows of the space station, recording the majestic views of China. Li introduced the view of the South China Sea and Xisha Islands they captured from space.

"Hello everyone, I am astronaut Li Guangsu. Today I will show you the South China Sea. Looking down from space, the vastness of the South China Sea forms a sharp contrast with the Xisha Islands. The sea water presents a deep blue, and the islands are like bright pearls inlaid on the blue waves, each of which shining brightly with unique charm. The Xisha Islands are one of the four major archipelagos in the South China Sea, composed of the Yongle Islands and the Xuande Islands. The islands are distributed in more than 500,000 square kilometers of sea area with a total land area of about 10 square kilometers. Zhongjian Island is located at the southernmost tip of the Xisha Islands. The green vegetation covering the island can be seen vaguely from here, which is an ecological barrier to prevent wind and fix sand. This is the mark left by generations of PLA soldiers stationing on the island. In 2012, Sansha City of Hainan Province was established on Yongxing Island, governing the islands and reefs of the Xisha Islands, Zhongsha Islands, and Nansha Islands and their waters. It is the southernmost and largest prefecture-level city in China, yet with the smallest land area and smallest population," introduced Li.

"Although we cannot see it from space, we know that at this moment, a group of soldiers are stationed in the South China Sea. With the belief of loving the country and the island and guarding the border, they are the Great Wall guarding the South China Sea. On this special day of the National Day, we salute you who are guarding the front line of border defense," Li said.

The Shenzhou-18 crew are scheduled to return to Earth in late October this year after staying in orbit for about six months.

Shenzhou-18 astronauts share space views of South China Sea, Xisha Islands