An exhibition on China's Tang Dynasty (618–907) has brought the cultural and historical gems of Chinese civilization and the fruit of cultural and economic dialogue between ancient China and the West to visitors in Paris, France.
Titled "Tang China–A Cosmopolitan Dynasty (7th–10th Century)", the exhibition was inaugurated on Monday at the Guimet National Museum of Asian Arts in France.
Jointly directed by China's National Cultural Heritage Administration and the French Ministry of Culture, the exhibition is showcasing over 200 exquisite artifacts from 32 cultural institutions and museums across 10 provincial-level regions and cities in China.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and French President Emmanuel Macron have respectively inscribed prefaces for the exhibition.
The exhibition attracted a large number of local people to visit, and teachers from local schools also brought their students to experience the charm of Chinese culture.
"Many of the characters pictured in the exhibits are of exotic styles. Though they lived far away from us, we can see the characters realistically here at the exhibition. All the exhibitions and designs are very wonderful," said a visitor.
"All the exhibits impressed me, but the most impressive exhibit was the horse sculpture. It was great," said another visitor.
The exhibition features eight thematic sections highlighting the vibrant cultural achievements of the Tang Dynasty, its open and inclusive spirit, and its enduring influence. While offering visitors an enriching visual experience, these exhibits celebrate the unique charm of Chinese culture and the profound historical impact of the legacies of the Tang Dynasty.
"This exhibition is particularly meaningful, especially the part involving the Silk Road. We can see the influence of China and other Asian countries on Western countries. We all know that since then, Western countries including France have imported many goods originating from Asia. This exhibition depicts the culturally prosperous period of Asia, especially that of China. It is particularly meaningful," said a visitor.
The Silk Road experienced prosperity and development during the Tang Dynasty. Its historical significance lies in establishing connections between different regions and civilizations, and is an important symbol of dialogue between civilizations. Many visitors who came to the exhibition saw such exquisite cultural relics for the first time, which also aroused their interest in further understanding Chinese history and traditional culture.
"The exhibition shows us the Chinese history we don't know. It's very interesting. For someone who has strong curiosity, this exhibition allows us to have a deeper understanding of this topic. For those who don't know this part of history, this exhibition also allows them to get in touch with this period of history and inspire people's interest in understanding this period of history more deeply. The setting is also very good, the colors are very special, the atmosphere is also very good, and both adults and children like it," said another visitor.
Marking the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and France, the Guimet National Museum of Asian Arts has organized a series of Chinese cultural activities this year to celebrate this milestone.
Exhibition on China's Tang Dynasty brings cultural, historical gems to Paris
As temperatures drop, winter tourism in the colder north of China heats up, with ski resorts in the north opening their slopes to enthusiasts and scenic destinations attracting visitors eager for mountain adventures.
The Yanqing National Alpine Skiing Center, a key venue for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics in the capital city's northwestern area, officially opened to the public on Saturday.
Since opening in 2022, the center has attracted skiing enthusiasts with new features while maintaining its role as a venue for professional events.
One of the center's main ski runs has been covered with artificial snow, with snowmaking continuing on other trails. Skiers have already arrived, eager to take their first runs of the season.
The venue caters to all levels, offering both challenging Olympic-standard courses and beginner-friendly slopes.
"Upon the foundation of last year's snow season, we have enhanced our commercial offerings this year by collaborating with many well-known restaurant brands. And a hotel, which was not in operation in the snow season last year will be open in the forthcoming snow season this year as scheduled," said Chen Hongyan, deputy general manager of Beijing National Alpine Skiing Co., Ltd.
As of now, the Yanqing Olympic Zone, home to the ski center, has hosted over 700,000 visitors. In addition, Beijing is organizing various winter-themed events and issuing snow sports vouchers to further encourage public participation.
Moving further north to northeast China's Jilin Province, ski resorts are also open, attracting skiers from across the country eager to experience fresh powder and enjoy the thrill of the season's first runs.
The Beidahu Ski Resort in Jilin City, one of the province's top destinations, has seen a surge in visitors, with 90 percent coming from outside the province. More than half of these visitors are from Beijing, Shanghai, and even south China's warmer Guangdong Province.
Pre-sales at the resort have so far reached 1.7 billion yuan (about 235 million U.S. dollars), tripling its figures compared to the same period last year.
To improve services to deal with the influx of visitors, the resort now offers 74 trails, enlarging its daily capacity to 20,000 visitors. Besides, the resort has also introduced various measures to enhance the skier experience.
For example, it has partnered with courier services, allowing skiers to ship their bulky equipment in advance, eliminating the need to transport it personally and ensuring it is ready at the resort upon arrival.
"Our parcel station, situated opposite the Beidahu ski lift station, handles over 100 snow gear shipments daily from across the country, including regions like east China's Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai, as well as from such remote regions like northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region," said Wang Jinbao, head of the station.
In recent years, the resort has diversified its amenities, now hosting 48 businesses, ranging from equipment rentals and ski training centers to a wide array of dining options.
Meanwhile, to the west, the Gangshika snow peak in the Qilian Mountains of northwest China's Qinghai Province has become a hotspot for mountaineers. The peak, standing at 5,254.5 meters, is the highest in the eastern section of the mountain range.
"We just descended from the Gangshika snow peak after reaching the summit. We feel that the scenery is incredible, the weather is perfect, and the air is wonderfully fresh here in Qinghai," said one climber.
Since June, the attraction has seen over 13,000 climbers reach the peak, around 20,000 hikers participate in trekking activities, and more than 300,000 general tourists make a visit.
China's winter tourism booms with ski resorts, mountain adventures
