Spring Festival Gala broadcast boost tourism in Wuxi

The eastern Chinese city of Wuxi is welcoming an increased number of tourists during the ongoing Spring Festival, with many visitors attracted by its unique water town views showcased in the 2025 China Media Group (CMG) Spring Festival Gala television broadcast.

The gala, an extravaganza of Spring Festival celebrations, featured four sub-venues besides the main stage in Beijing this year, including Wuxi in Jiangsu Province.

Among all the scenic Wuxi landmarks shown in the gala, the Qingming Bridge Historical and Cultural Block in the centuries-old water town has become a tourist hotspot.

Local businesses are benefiting from the boom. Among them is a cultural and creative product store called "Canal Souvenirs."

"Since our Canal Souvenirs was officially announced as one of the gala-themed attractions, especially with our dedicated area for CMG cultural and creative products, many visitors have come specifically to check it out. Our brand awareness has increased both online and offline. Compared to the same period last year, our sales have grown by about 145 percent. The gala has truly brought us a lot of popularity," said Ge Ling, an employee at the shop.

Both out-of-town visitors and local residents are eager to explore the beauty of the Qingming Bridge area firsthand.

"Since the Spring Festival Gala sub-venue is here, we rented some traditional ethnic costumes to capture this special moment," said tourist Zhang Laxue.

"As a Wuxi local, I feel so proud that our city was chosen as a sub-venue. The crowds are much bigger than before, and I can truly feel the enthusiasm of the people here," said local resident Shen Jiayi.

According to data from online e travel platforms, Wuxi's popularity surged by 185 percent on Chinese New Year's Eve and the first day of the holiday, with total tourist visits reaching 2.28 million -- up nearly 17 percent from the previous year. Visitors from outside Jiangsu Province now account for nearly 75 percent of all tourists, marking a 39 percent increase.

"The Spring Festival Gala sub-venue has brought tremendous exposure to the historical city of Wuxi. Scenic spots are packed with visitors, and commercial districts are also thriving," said Huang Weigong, director of Wuxi's Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television, and Tourism.

The 2025 Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year, fell on Wednesday this year, ushering in the Year of the Snake.

Spring Festival Gala broadcast boost tourism in Wuxi

China's manned deep-sea submersible Jiaolong has completed a significant upgrade and started underwater trials, according to the country's Ministry of Natural Resources.

The China-made underwater ship, named after a mythical sea dragon, is capable of diving to depths exceeding 7,000 meters. It has completed over 300 dives since its maiden mission in August 2009 and explored waters in the Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean and Atlantic Ocean.

This latest upgrade, which began in November last year, aims to enhance its capabilities and support more frequent deep-sea missions.

According to the National Deep Sea Base Management Center, the upgrade focuses on critical components like the propulsion system and battery packs.

The propulsion system has been adjusted structurally to increase the speed from 2.5 to over three nautical miles per hour, with the replacement of three-bladed propellers with more efficient four-bladed versions.

The zinc-silver battery pack has been replaced with high-energy-density flexible lithium battery pack, which aims to improve the power reserve and reduce diving costs.

The submersible's observation capabilities have also been enhanced. An array of cameras, including high-definition video cameras and powerful lighting systems, are equipped to facilitate underwater exploration and resource assessment.

Further upgrades include two more LED light arrays at the front and three more lights at the rear and bottom, expanding the submersible's detection range and improving its ability to locate specific targets.

"This upgrade prioritizes enhancing our operational tools. We've upgraded the electrical systems, propulsion, mechanical components, observation, and communications equipment to cater to the needs of deep-sea exploration and improve operational efficiency," said Qi Haibin, a submersible pilot.

Following the underwater trials to test its stability, Jiaolong will undergo sea trials in the South China Sea in March to validate its enhanced capabilities.

"Jiaolong will be sent to the South China Sea to conduct deep-sea equipment verification. After completing the process, there will be extensive missions ahead of us," Qi said.

The submersible is scheduled for further scientific expeditions in the Pacific and Indian Oceans later this year.

China's manned deep-sea submersible completes major upgrade, prepares for exploration