Traveling for performances becomes new trend in China

China's performing arts scene is taking the center stage, literally, as more tourists plan their travel around live musicals, operas, and dance dramas, which, from revolutionary tales to classical revivals, are becoming must-see attractions, drawing both domestic and international audiences.

This spring, the hottest tickets are not just for shows, but also for the trips to see them. Theaters from the cities of Chengdu and Chongqing in southwest China to Hangzhou in east China have become popular travel destinations in their own right.

A recent report from the China Association of Performing Arts reveals that tourism-themed performances are gaining ground, thanks to cutting-edge technology and storytelling rooted deeply in regional heritage.

One standout is the historical drama Chongqing 1949, which has returned to the stage with upgraded visuals and a revised script. The show, set during the city's liberation in 1949, pays tribute to revolutionary heroes and has attracted audiences from far and wide.

"I'm from Indonesia. We came, the whole family, about 30 people. This is huge. The technology is very advanced. We are amazing [amazed by] what's happening. I mean, what's happening in China nowadays is quite good. We often went to New York to see the opera also, but this one is advanced. I mean, the stage is more advanced than the one that we always saw in there," said Vera, an international visitor.

In Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, audiences were captivated by Spring Dawns Along the Su Causeway, an original play by the National Theater of China. Held from March 28 to April 2, the production didn't stop at storytelling - it extended into real-world cultural tours at Meishan's Three Su Memorial Museum.

The "Three Su" of the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127) is a most representative literary family in ancient China. They are Su Shi, Su Zhe, and Su Xun, three literary giants who jointly wrote a glorious literary legend.

"The play deepened my understanding of Su Shi (1037-1101) more than books did. Visiting these historic sites afterward really makes the saying, 'read a thousand books, travel a thousand miles,' come to life," said Zhai Yanyu, a tourist from east China's Zhejiang Province.

Meanwhile, in Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province, the Yue Opera My Grand View Garden - a modern adaptation of Dream of the Red Chamber - was a complete sell-out, attracting fans from across the globe.

"I live and work in London, UK most of the time, but I made sure that my friends help me get tickets while I'm back in China for business. I think 'My Grand View Garden' perfectly captures Eastern aesthetics - its artistic sensibility is incredibly refined and absolutely stands up to international standards. In fact, I'm now planning to watch all of Zhejiang Xiaobaihua's Yue Opera productions," said Xiong Lan, an audience member.

As audiences pack theaters and follow performance trails across provinces, China's stage-inspired journeys are transforming the tourism landscape by blending culture and creativity to create unforgettable travel experiences.

Traveling for performances becomes new trend in China

Traveling for performances becomes new trend in China

The United States' push to revoke China's Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status, or granting the Most Favored Nation (MFN) treatment permanently, is a clear instance of unilateralism and trade protectionism, according to a white paper released by China's State Council Information Office on Wednesday.

The white paper, titled "China's Position on Some Issues Concerning China-US Economic and Trade Relations", aims to clarify the facts about the bilateral economic and trade relations between the two countries and lay out China's position on relevant issues.

The white paper said that the PNTR status is the ballast of China-U.S. economic and trade relations.

The U.S. push to revoke this status violates the rules of the World Trade Organization's (WTO), undermines China-U.S. relations, and disrupts the global economic order, the white paper noted.

According to the white paper, WTO rules require its members to unconditionally grant MFN treatment to all other members, a requirement that has binding legal force.

Over the past two decades, the PNTR has served to stabilize China-U.S. economic and trade relations. Revoking China's PNTR status will see China-U.S. economic and trade relations returning to the uncertainty and unpredictability that preceded China's accession to the WTO in 2001.

China opposes any unilateralist and protectionist acts that sabotage the multilateral trading system and hopes that the U.S. will be clearly aware of the possible harm caused by its attempt to revoke China's MFN status, the white paper said.

The white paper called on the U.S. to work constructively with the overwhelming majority of WTO members in safeguarding a fair and reasonable global economic and trade order and environment.

Rescinding China's most favored nation status undermines foundation of China-US trade relations: white paper