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The Shenzhou-18 taikonauts on board #China's orbiting #space station completed their second spacewalk at 10:51 p.m. (Beijing Time) on Wednesday, according to the China Manned Space Agency. For more: https://lnkd.in/ghtz6XYz

In recent years, Chinese museums embarked on a creative journey, seamlessly blending art, history and innovation. This fusion has revolutionized cultural products and created vibrant spaces that integrate various industries. Museums are now breathing new life into their collections through creative products. In recent years, many museums in China have successfully developed items inspired by their exhibits, attracting an increasing number of visitors. Additionally, a new trend has emerged where museums collaborate with commercial companies to promote traditional culture across different fields.   Moreover, museum night tours are becoming a highlight of China's nighttime economy, offering a new dimension to cultural tourism.   In historical cities like Xi'an and Luoyang, it's common to see young people dressed in Hanfu taking photos at museums, historical sites and scenic areas.   Recently, museum-themed cafés and stores have proliferated across China, capturing the interest of the younger generation. For instance, the Shanghai History Museum has opened a coffee shop with historical decor, blending cultural heritage with contemporary tastes.   In 2023, China set a new record for museum attendance. Over 6,000 museums nationwide recorded a staggering 1.29 billion visits throughout the year, according to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.   According to China's online travel agency Ctrip, people born in the 2000s constituted the third-largest group purchasing museum tickets in 2023, following those born in the 1980s and 1990s. Additionally, the amount of cultural and museum-themed tourist products purchased by young people born in the 2000s was 9.2 times the amount in 2022. #DeepeningReform

Every summer, grand canoe dragon boat races are held in Taijiang County and Shibing County in Guizhou Province, as the local people of the Miao ethnic group mark the Canoe Dragon Boat Festival. The festival is celebrated from the 24th to the 27th day of the fifth month of the traditional Chinese calendar. This year, it falls from June 29 to July 2. The races feature special canoe dragon boats that are between 24 and 27 meters long and weigh three to four tons. The body of each boat is made from three tree trunks. The larger one in the middle and two smaller ones on either side are tied together to form a single structure. The festival also includes various rituals that reflect local cultural and religious traditions. The Canoe Dragon Boat Festival of the Miao ethnic group was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2008.

Consumption continues to rebound in China, fueling growth momentum The growth engine of consumption is roaring in the world’s second largest economy. #DeepeningReform Official data shows that China's GDP expanded 5.3 percent year on year in the first quarter of 2024, with domestic consumption contributing 73.7 percent to economic growth. The retail sales of consumer goods expanded by 3.7 percent year on year in May to 3.92 trillion yuan (about $551 billion). E-commerce has been used to find new ways to match demand and supply across social media platforms, while investment in brick-and-mortar shopping centers has rebounded. Owners of online consumer goods stores can link their digital shelves directly to their accounts via short video apps. When viewing a product demo, a buyer is only a click away from adding it to their basket.     According to the China Internet Network Information Center, over 900 million people in China shop online; 95.1 percent and 88.5 percent of those born in the 1990s and 2000s, respectively, are online shoppers.   Physical stores are making a comeback too, with 400 new shopping malls opening for business across the country in 2023. As of the end of 2022, China boasted approximately 6,700 shopping malls, with each covering an area of over 30,000 square meters on average. China’s e-commerce giants have also developed offline branches, tapping into the returning footfall for profits. China is now moving to introduce more measures to unleash the pent-up consumer needs across different industries. More countries are set to be included in China’s visa-free transit policy, and inbound flights from major passenger source countries are expected to increase in number. Meanwhile, Chinese cities with restrictions on vehicle purchases are being encouraged to ease these limitations and provide additional quotas. Local governments have been urged to support vehicle replacement and renewal when conditions allow. Furthermore, China will take measures to support the purchase of new-generation high-tech electronics, such as smart wearable devices and AI-powered humanoid robots. Consumption has played a vital role in bolstering economic growth, underscoring the country’s steady transformation toward a domestic consumption-driven economy. China has vowed to expand domestic demand while promoting steady growth in consumer spending this year, according to the latest government work report.

The photos show one of the most remarkable archaeological findings in China during the 20th century. The Shi Qiang-pan, or Shi Qiang Plate, is a bronze ceremonial artifact from late 900 BC, dedicated to ancestral worship. Discovered in Fufeng County, Shaanxi Province, in 1976, this artifact dates back to the period when the region was under the feudal rule of the Western Zhou royal house (1046-770 BC). The plate is particularly notable for the inscription of 284 ancient Chinese characters on the bottom inside surface. These inscriptions detail the accomplishments of the Zhou founders and, in parallel, the deeds of the donor's ancestors from a clan called "Wei." "Qiang" is the donor's name, and "Shi" is his official title in court. The achievements of the early Zhou rulers are frequently mentioned in chronicles compiled much later. The Shi Qiang-pan provides one of the earliest confirmations of these written documents, symbolizing the developing consciousness of historical record-keeping in early Chinese civilization. Later Zhou period thinker #Confucius and his followers believed that the ritual codes passing down from the dynasty's early days served as vehicles for conveying the political and religious principles of their own age. The discovery of the Shi Qiang-pan allows modern audiences to gain a close insight into that ancient system. #ChinaInInk #ChinaSeen

The Fengyun meteorological satellites are a series of meteorological remote sensing satellites independently developed by China. On November 13, 2023, the app "Fengyun Earth" international version was officially released. According to the the China Meteorological Administration (CMA), Fengyun meteorological satellites have responded to 28 international requests for emergency support services since 2023.

Nestled in Eastern Europe, Belarus is home to vast forests, numerous lakes and nature reserves, highlighting its natural beauty. The country enjoys a rich cultural heritage, evident in its traditional folk music, dance, and crafts, as well as the iconic National Library in Minsk. With strengths in manufacturing, agriculture, and electronics, Belarus boasts a diverse economy. #SCO2024

Beijing, the world's first "dual-Olympic city," has a history of over 3,000 years. It's a metropolis where tradition and modernity are seamlessly integrated. People can feel its fast-paced development as a first-tier city from the modern architecture, bustling streets and high buildings, but also get a glimpse of the city's past when they wander through its hutong and ancient sites. The Great Wall, the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, the Summer Palace and many more beyond, historical landmarks perfectly show Beijing's historical features. #OlympicCities #Paris2024

#China's Shenzhen-Zhongshan Channel, a major national infrastructure project, officially began trial operation on Sunday. Spanning approximately 24 kilometers, this cross-sea cluster project is set to significantly reduce travel time between Shenzhen and Zhongshan, from two hours to just 30 minutes. For more: https://lnkd.in/gR9KzYiV

#China's manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) came in at 49.5 in June 2024, unchanged from May, data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed on Sunday.