China's central, western regions post noticeable growth in Q1 import, export value: official

The import and export value of the central and the western regions of China grew by 8.7 percent to 1.84 trillion yuan (about 250 billion U.S. dollars) in the first quarter this year, said an official at General Administration of Customs (GAC) Monday.

Lyu Daliang, director of GAC's Department of Statistics and Analysis, made the remarks at a press conference in Beijing, saying that the regions' export performance was a bright spot.

He said there are four reasons for the noticeable trade growth, which are mainly related to the regions' efforts to upgrade their industries and to strengthen connectivity with countries around the world.

"The first reason is the upgrading and the enhancement of the foreign trade sector. The central and the western regions drive industrial innovation through technological innovation, and they also help their traditional industries upgrade, improve, and work more efficiently," said Lyu.

"Opening more ports to boost development is the second reason. Last year, Guanlei Port in Yunnan Province and the Ezhou Huahu Airport in Hubei Province passed the acceptance review and opened to other countries and the Biedieli Road Port was also approved for opening to other countries, further improving a multi-dimensional opening paradigm of the central and the western regions, which is characterized by water, land, and air transport," said Lyu.

"The third reason is the accelerating construction of major transport corridors. In the first quarter, the value of the goods that China imported and exported through the new western land-sea corridor reached 187.19 billion yuan (about 25 billion U.S.dollars), an increase of 17.3 percent," he said.

"The fourth reason is the regions' continuous efforts to expand opening up to neighboring countries. The border provinces of China's central and western regions use their geographical advantages to strengthen connectivity network construction with neighboring countries and speed up the industrial and supply chain cooperation with them. In the first quarter, the value of the goods that the central and the western regions of China imported from and exported to neighboring countries increased by 7.7 percent," he said.

China's central, western regions post noticeable growth in Q1 import, export value: official

Hengdian World Studios, China’s largest studio backlot in Zhejiang Province, is seeing a surge in visitors as its travel photography business thrives, supported by local efforts to upgrade services and refine industry standards.

Dubbed "China's Hollywood", Hengdian is one of the largest real-life film and television shooting bases in the world, and is the filming location for popular films such as war blockbuster "The Battle at Lake Changjin."

In a scenic corner of the studio, skilled makeup artists applied makeup and styled clients' hair, attentively considering their preferences and making timely adjustments.

They also introduced products to walk-in customers and recommended suitable outfits and styles.

"I feel it has an ancient charm with a distinctly Chinese flavor. My child saw many young girls in traditional costumes at the scenic area and became curious, saying she was very interested. So, we let her experience it as well," a tourist Huang Jingxuan said.

In February, Hengdian completed a unified renovation of five travel photography stores. The newly upgraded shops now feature neatly displayed Hanfu collections, while walls adorned with the latest makeup styles showcase a wide range of options.

Hanfu is the traditional clothing of the Han ethnic group and was formed in the main residential areas of the Han ethnic group in ancient times.

Visitors Liang Manting and Liu Longlong from Yiwu City, Zhejiang Province, opted for a martial arts-themed couple's travel shoot, carefully selecting a set that matched their vision.

"We stumbled upon this idea on the Internet and had always wanted to try this kind of photo shoot. I brought her here to experience it. At first, we were a bit stiff in front of the camera, but the photographer was very patient," said Liu.

Ahead of Labor Day, photography stores will nearly double their makeup artists and sales staff while unveiling new spring outfits for seasonal tours, ensuring a seamless experience for tourists to capture lasting memories.

Hengdian World Studios in Zhejiang draws more tourists with thriving travel photography business