Although it is only 2.5 centimeters in length, a recently discovered artifact made of dried mud at the Jizhong archaeological site in Shaoxing, East China's Zhejiang Province, comes as a striking revelation since it indicates the location of a local government center during the Han Dynasty (206BC-AD220). 

The Chinese characters "Shanyin Chengyin," which means "seal of the magistrate of Shanyin county," were inscribed on the mud object. 

The relics was identified as a "mud seal." Historian Fang Gang told the Global Times that the seal was used on "authoritative documents and confidential letters." The tradition was popularized during the Qin (221BC-206BC) and Han dynasties. Mud seals also "represented one's power and were commonly used as burial objects." 

"Shanyin was the ancient county name representing Shaoxing. We discovered that the mud seal belonged to the 'deputy head' of the county," said Li Longbin, director of the Shaoxing Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology. 

Prior to the new discovery, high-level architectural remains dating to the periods of the Han and the Warring States Period (475BC-221BC) had been excavated at the Jizhong site in Shaoxing. 

The mud seal was found from the Han Dynasty stratum of the dig, which helped date it. 

"The unearthed high-level architectural remains are even more convincing indicators that show that the Jizhong site and its surrounding areas were used as the then government's offices," He Jierao, an archaeological researcher specializing in the Han to Sui (581-618) dynasties, told the Global Times.

In July, after more than five months of excavation, the large foundation of a 2,500-year-old wooden building was uncovered at the site. Covered 3,000 square meters, the building was identified as once belonging to the ancient state of Yue, represented by the "king of resilience" - King Goujian. 

Numerous Han wooden slips with ink writing were also found, adding to the total of 850 artifacts discovered at the site. Among them are some artistically designed objects such as a crystal ring and a bronze jug.  

"The Jizhong site is the first to establish that Yue State architecture ­existed within the historic Shaoxing city, offering crucial hints for researching the Yue State capital," Li remarked. 

China's first triple-A video game Black Myth: Wukong has not only made waves in the global gaming industry, but has also brought the allure of Chinese culture to the world stage. Such a cross-industry breakthrough, combining gaming and cultural tourism, showcases the profound richness of traditional Chinese culture and paves the way for a new cultural tourism trend in the digital age.   

A released list of filming locations shows that Black Myth: Wukong selected 36 sites across China as in-game backdrops. Notably, North China's Shanxi Province stands out with 27 of its locations featured in the game. 

The cultural impact of the game caused local tourism searches on Chinese tourism site Ctrip to spike by three times on launch day, August 20, compared to the previous day. 

Zhang Qing, director of promotion and publicity at the Culture and ­Tourism Department of Shanxi ­Province, told the Global Times that they established contact with the game's creators years ago during the development stage and held numerous exchanges. 

"The game uses a format beloved by modern youth to pass on historical culture, tell Chinese stories and truly bring cultural heritage to life. This collaboration not only showcases Shanxi's rich cultural heritage, but also presents a golden opportunity to promote Shanxi's tourism," Zhang noted.

Zhang emphasized the importance of respecting history and striving for the utmost expression of Chinese aesthetics in presenting Shanxi's cultural heritage to the younger generation through the game. For Generation Zers, this form of cultural communication has genuinely resonated with their preferred lifestyle and interests.

Starting in September, Shanxi will launch official tour routes for visitors eager to explore the game's scenery, and will host a series of related activities, including the release of a "travel pass" and the opening of a Black Myth: Wukong "offline quest."

Multiple national heritage sites will be opened to the public, showcasing Shanxi's rich cultural legacy. 

By integrating these cultural assets with the game, Shanxi can both enhance the visibility of its heritage and raise public awareness of cultural preservation. 

Provinces and cities like Beijing, East China's Zhejiang Province, and Southwest China's Chongqing have responded by releasing promotional videos, launching themed routes, and inviting influencers to visit to boost their local tourism industries.

These transitions from virtual to real-world cultural communication highlight the powerful influence of digital culture on local tourism and provide new approaches for the preservation as well as use of traditional cultural heritage.

Yang Jie, a tourism planner at the Shanxi Cultural Tourism Digital ­Experience Museum, told the Global Times that transforming the iconic ­locations featured in popular IPs like Black Myth: Wukong into tourist ­attractions, and developing game-themed ­cultural routes, exhibitions, and ­interactive experiences, are the right directions for modern cultural tourism development. 

She said she is confident that this crossover can leverage the "long-tail effect" of the game, driving the long-term development of cultural tourism in Shanxi and across China.

Yang further noted that integrating various forms of media, such as films and documentaries, can enhance the connection between popular IPs and local culture. By deeply ­merging the classic game scenes from Black Myth: Wukong with real-world landscapes, a "game + culture + tourism" composite product can be created. 

This not only boosts the appeal of cultural heritage, but also allows visitors to experience a rich cultural atmosphere while enjoying entertainment, thus continuously attracting tourists, and promoting sustainable local tourism development.

The trend of game IPs promoting cultural tourism has already been seen abroad. For example, Grand Theft Auto V, the 2013 Game Awards' Game of the Year, features landmarks from Los Angeles. 

Additionally, a netizen shared online that her husband, who had never been to Paris, became familiar with its streets and architecture through the video game series Assassin's Creed, which has a game set in Paris. 

By developing tourism strategies based on games, Shanxi's rich cultural heritage is being revitalized, attracting attention and exploration from both domestic and international tourists. 

This blend of virtual and real-world cultural promotion can not only infuse traditional culture with new vitality, but also make China's historical legacies shine even brighter.

The Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee held a meeting on Friday to review policies and measures to open up a new vista in the large-scale development of the western region. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, chaired the meeting.
Efforts should be made to "deepen reform comprehensively and blaze a path of Chinese modernization that suits the realities of the region," the meeting said, while identifying work priorities in a number of fields, including promoting the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries, advancing green and low-carbon development as well as enhancing the openness of the economy.

The list shed light on the blueprint of the next stage of the western region's development, which is to ramp up the engines of technology, opening-up and new quality productive forces - among other areas, analysts said, noting that those fields are quite different from the emphasis on basic infrastructure construction when the regional strategy was kickstarted two decades ago.

The western region's catch-up effect is also conducive to expanding domestic demand and facilitating balanced development, paving the way for the economy to maintain stable and progressive growth this year, observers noted.

Tian Yun, a veteran economist based in Beijing, told the Global Times on Friday that the meeting sent an important signal that the new round of western region's development would be "quite different" from 20 years ago, as the gap between the region and its eastern peers has been shrinking, and the western region has built up a number of advantageous industries, some of which are even at the country's forefront.

In the past two decades, the southwestern region has developed into an industry base for new-energy vehicle manufacturing. And certain cities in the northwestern region also have become key transit hubs for China-Europe freight trains and played a vital role in the country's westward opening-up.

"Standing on those remarkable developments, it is the right time to further upgrade existing industries, expand opening-up and channel new vigor to the regional economy," Tian said.

The meeting also urged the western region to strengthen the guarantee capacity of energy and resources. It also noted that measures will be taken to advance the new urbanization in accordance with local conditions, consolidate the poverty alleviation achievements, and make sure that there will be no relapsing into poverty on a large scale in rural areas.

Amid China's stepped-up efforts to comprehensively deepen reforms and open up, fostering a new pattern in the western region carries great significance for the country's overall growth both in the short and long term, observers said.

According to Tian, western development could further release the potential of internal demand, offering a catalyst to stabilizing economic growth in the second half in the face of multiple downward pressures.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi began a three-day visit to China on Thursday, following numerous high-level interactions between the two nations. 

Chines Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Thursday that "under the strategic guidance of the presidents of the two countries, China-Indonesia relations have maintained a momentum of robust growth, with close high-level exchanges, deepening strategic mutual trust."

"Next year marks the 80th anniversary of Indonesia's independence and the 75th anniversary of China-Indonesia diplomatic ties. This presents important opportunities for our two countries' respective growth and bilateral relations," Mao said. 

"China stands ready to work with Indonesia, follow the strategic guidance of the two presidents, focus on building a community with a shared future, and keep deepening strategic cooperation on all fronts," Mao said.

Retno's visit follows the first Senior Officials' Meeting of the China-Indonesia Joint Foreign and Defense Ministerial Dialogue in Jakarta on August 13. It also continues recent high-level interactions between the two countries aimed at enhancing coordination, boosting political and security trust, and advancing a China-Indonesia community with a shared future, analysts said. 

Ge Hongliang, vice dean of the ASEAN College at the Guangxi Minzu University, said while ASEAN prioritizes infrastructure connectivity and economic recovery this year, Indonesia, as a leading ASEAN member and one that supports China-ASEAN cooperation, will also address industrial chain stability and regional security. 

China and Indonesia have established a comprehensive high-level mechanism covering various areas, including people-to-people exchanges, economy, politics, defense, and security, said Ge, stressing that this framework deepens understanding and strengthens their bilateral relations, ensuring stable and long-term development.

Few people had foreseen a Chinese athlete could finish in the top three in an Ironman Triathlon European Championship. However, 36-year-old Miao Hao has proved it is possible.

The final moments of the race on June 2 in Hamburg, Germany saw Miao collapse from sheer exhaustion before crawling across the finish line. Despite the grueling conclusion, Miao's achievement was nothing short of spectacular.

With a time of 7 hours, 58 minutes and 4 seconds, he not only claimed third place overall but also became the first Asian to break the eight-hour barrier in an Ironman Triathlon race, improving his personal best by a remarkable 20 minutes.

Reflecting on his experience, Miao spoke modestly about his achievement.

"At the 16-kilometer mark of the marathon, I reached my physical limit as my vision blurred, my face and hands went numb, and I couldn't focus on running or the race anymore," Miao told the Global Times.

It was the words of his coach, reminding him that it was possible to break the 8-hour mark that pushed him forward under such conditions.

"I have tried countless times… I do not want to waste an opportunity when it emerges," Miao said.

Enduring 'Ironman'

The Ironman Triathlon, often referred to as the ultimate test of human endurance, consists of a 3.8-kilometer swim in open water, a 180-kilometer bike ride and a full marathon of 42.195 kilometers.

It is a grueling event that pushes athletes to their physical and mental limits as it is far beyond the requirements of an Olympic triathlon distance which consists of 1.5 kilometers' swim, 40 kilometers' cycling and 10 kilometers' running.

A year earlier, Miao had set his personal best and Chinese Ironman record at the same course, finishing in 8 hours, 19 minutes and 12 seconds. This familiarity with the course and a newfound confidence were crucial advantages.

But believing that the familiarity with the race course is the main reason for his achievement ignores his meticulous preparations for the achievement.

Although Miao excelled in swimming thanks to his past experience as a swimming athlete before taking on triathlon, his cycling ability lagged behind his European counterparts', and his lower body strength needed improvement.

"My swimming experience helps me save the stamina for the rest of the race as swimming remains the minor part of the 226 kilometers race," Miao said.

"Though I think my cycling is among the top level domestically, other international triathletes are far better than us!"

To address these weaknesses, Miao dedicated his winter training to enhancing his cycling endurance, extending his sessions from two to four hours while adjusting his mechanics for a better performance.

Miao's determination stemmed from the Ironman World Championship in Nice, France, where a result was far from satisfying. He said he just does not want to have the same feeling again.

"I used to dodge issues when they emerged, which often created extra mental pressure for me," Miao said of his mind-set change. "Instead of internalizing negative emotions, I channel my energy into training and improvement."

Dang Qi, a Chinese triathlon pioneer, said there are around 20 athletes worldwide who could finish an Ironman Triathlon in under 8 hours, thus Miao's breakthrough is phenomenal.

"Finishing an Ironman race is already a big challenge," Dang said. "Miao's achievement is quite an inspiring story for Chinese triathlon."
Balancing training and life

Miao's story is not just one of athletic achievement but also of balancing personal and family life.

He once tried to work in an office but the stint, as he calls it, was not what he genuinely liked. Thus, he decided to pursue a career as a professional triathlete in 2019.

"I felt I hadn't reached my limit," he explained.

Transitioning from a regular triathlete to a much-enduring professional triathlete is no easy feat.

It requires Miao to independently manage his training schedules diet, and the delicate balance between family time and training.

"There is no precedent standard, no reference in China. It was quite difficult in the beginning," he admitted.

Juggling the demands of training with family responsibilities, especially with a new born kid at the time, added to the complexity.

"Being a professional triathlete forces me to balance work and life as I have to allocate time to manage different things," he said.

Reading training-related books during his rest time helps Miao better understand his body and improve his performance as he emphasizes the importance of understanding one's body and ensuring proper recovery.

Inspiring future generations

Miao's passion for Ironman extends beyond personal achievement, as he is committed to promoting and spreading the sport in China.

His transition from an amateur athlete to a professional triathlete has been inspiring, and he said he hopes to inspire others to embrace the sport.

"The sport is gaining recognition, and its development in China is promising," he said.

Miao hopes to continue competing and improving, aiming for better results at the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii. "Seven hours and 58 minutes is just the beginning. I believe it will get better," he affirmed.

For those aspiring to follow in his footsteps, Miao encourages them joining local clubs to benefit from collective activities, reducing the risk of injury and ensuring safety, especially during open water swims.

"This is a humble community," he said, emphasizing the importance of humility and mutual support.

"There is nothing insurmountable in life. If you persevere, things will get better," he said.

The overall impression of the Main Press Center (MPC) at the Paris Olympics remains somewhat unclear though reporters often take the bus to MPC early in the day to secure a seat.  

The importance of the MPC ­cannot be overstated. Its size, functional layout, and even floor design significantly impact journalists' efficiency, as it is the largest hub for journalists during the Games. 

The MPC's "simple yet complex" design — exhibitions and meetings on the first floor, office space on the second, and news agency areas on the third — features contradictions that make its purpose hard to define. 

Next to the MPC is the Olympic transport hub, where reporters catch shuttles to venues. Without volunteer guides, they use an app for route and schedule info. Media shuttles, using dedicated lanes, are faster than public transport.

Unlike other venues or places like Paris' Charles de Gaulle Airport, the MPC's exterior is not adorned with large-scale pink, purple, or blue decorations; it appears relatively plain. 

Before entering the MPC, journalists must go through security checks and have their ID codes scanned by staff — unlike at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023, there is no facial recognition requirement at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

The security screening area occupies most of the first floor of the MPC, so after passing through security (ground floor), journalists can only proceed directly to the first floor. 

The MPC is divided into three floors: The first floor mainly hosts press conference halls and sponsor booths, with "food corners" on either side. These "food corners" are simplified cafeterias with a few round tables and chairs, offering burgers, sandwiches, and rice dishes for a quick bite.

Despite its spaciousness, the MPC feels sparse due to few functional areas, though numerous, often redundant information desks and offices fill the space. 

One of the reporters, who came to the MPC to resolve an account issue, found themselves running up and down the building, as the similar functions of the various desks made the straightforward task unnecessarily complicated.

For most journalists, the second floor serves as their primary workspace, with many desks and chairs provided. These areas are not specifically designated for writers or photographers. 

Scattered information desks, technical support areas, and photographer services disrupt the layout, causing confusion for journalists and making it hard to find a seat, leading to inefficient navigation. 

The third floor is occupied by major news agencies and photo agencies, while the basement features a large information desk and even operational shops, which is uncommon in other venue media centers.

Some American swimmers had a purple discoloration on their faces after completing their races in the Paris Olympics swimming events, which has sparked widespread online discussion and suspicion. 

It's important not to jump to conclusions based solely on subjective opinions, but this phenomenon has indeed generated significant attention and controversy.

Sports video blogger Fares Ksebati explained in a YouTube video that facial discoloration is often related to heart and lung function, and that the purple hue is due to the intensity of the exercise.

"After high-intensity exercise, energy is converted into heat, and the body attempts to regulate temperature by dilating facial blood vessels, which can result in a red or purple appearance. This can last for a few minutes or longer but is usually temporary and not harmful," Ksebati said.

He also mentioned that the change in skin color during swimming could be influenced by high-intensity exercise and environmental factors.

Ksebati further noted that the discoloration might be affected by rosacea, a chronic but treatable condition.

However, many comments in the video section were skeptical.

A netzine going by the name Elleteo, says "As a medical professional, rosacea is not a convincing explanation. It looks more like a type of steroid analog that produces similar effects but might be able to bypass typical assay tests."

Another netzine named vacheung5218, "It's strange that only these swimmers turned purple this year, while they appeared normal in last year's race photos."

The National Health Commission's rehabilitation therapist Luo Chaofan told Global Times that during high-intensity sports, the body's demand for oxygen increases significantly. If athletes cannot replenish oxygen in time, it can lead to tissue hypoxia, resulting in a purple face.

"This condition is usually temporary and can quickly be resolved once the athlete rests and adjusts their breathing," Luo noted.

However, the American swimming team remained purple even during the awards ceremony.

"Stimulants like ephedrine and phentermine are noted for potentially causing increased heart rate and blood pressure, which can lead to facial redness or purple discoloration. Although these drugs have legitimate uses for treatment and weight loss, they might also be misused to enhance performance," Luo said.

The limited number of doping tests conducted on American athletes has also raised concerns. Some argue that while the American team cites intense training as the reason for fewer tests, this does raise issues of fairness.

"Why do mainly US & AU athletes have purple faces? All swim in the same pool with the same water. Because of race/having pale skin? French swimmers' faces after the games look fine to me, and they are white too. This has to be answered," said a netizen on Weibo, Chinese version of Twitter.

The East Asia Super League (EASL) has announced a significant expansion for the 2024-25 season, with Hong Kong Eastern and Macau Black Bears joining the competition. This addition brings the number of teams in the league to ten, marking the first time the Greater Bay Area in South China will host a full season of EASL action.

Hong Kong Eastern, the reigning A1 Division champions and two-time ASEAN Basketball League winners, will compete in Group A. They will face formidable opponents including Hiroshima Dragonflies, Suwon KT Sonicboom, Taoyuan Pauian Pilots, and San Miguel Beermen. 

Macau Black Bears, established in 2018 and current Macau Basketball League champions, are placed in Group B. They will compete against the Ryukyu Golden Kings, Busan KCC Egis, New Taipei Kings, and Meralco Bolts.

EASL CEO Henry Kerins highlighted the league's expansion as a major step forward, driven by strong regional demand. He emphasized the inclusion of two prominent teams from China's Greater Bay Area, which is one of the largest basketball markets in the world. 

Fans can look forward to thrilling matchups as these teams challenge the existing lineup from Chinese Taipei, Japan, Korea, and the Philippines.

“The EASL is getting bigger and it’s getting better. It was always our ambition to expand and bring in more leagues, representing more regions in Asia. We have accelerated those plans due to the strong demand from the regional leagues to join, and their readiness to do so,” he noted.

Hong Kong Eastern Team Leader Wilson Choi expressed excitement about representing Hong Kong at the highest level, as well as ambitions to establish the team as a major force in Asian basketball. 

Macau Black Bears’ Lukas Peng noted the team’s recent success and commitment to competing strongly in the EASL, while proudly representing Macao and the Greater Bay Area.

Following a successful debut season in 2023-24, the EASL is set to continue its historic run with an expanded schedule and new commercial partnerships. 

Fans will have more opportunities than ever to watch live as the league grows its global audience. The full game schedule and arena venues for the new teams will be announced in the coming weeks.

A total of 419 ruins as well as 341 artifacts have been found in Guangzhou, South China's Guangdong Province, according to a report by Xinhua News Agency on Friday, citing sources from the municipal cultural relics and archaeology institute.

Located in Huangpu district, the Late Neolithic Age site dating from about 4,600 to 4,300 years ago consists of 143 tombs, 140 ash pits or cellars and 125 column holes. A total of 341 items or sets of relics including pottery and jade decorations have been unearthed from the site during recent excavation work.

The findings have made it a Late Neolithic Age site with the hitherto largest number of tombs uncovered in the Guangdong region, with complex relics, rich contents and a multitude of unearthed artifacts, according to Zhang Qianglu, the head of the institute.

"This discoveries provides important physical materials for constructing the archaeological cultural lineage from the Late Neolithic period to the early Western Han Dynasty (202BC-25AD) in Guangzhou and even the Pearl River Delta region," Zhang added. "It also lays a solid foundation for the continued promotion of the project to trace the origins of Chinese civilization in the Lingnan region."

Starting from 2017, the institute has been carrying out excavation and research work on the site. Previous archaeological excavations revealed a total of 304 tombs from the Late Neolithic period, yielding a total of 702 artifacts (sets) made of pottery, stone, jade, and other materials.

Two Chinese athletes unfollowed a Japanese table tennis player on social media after she announced plans to visit a notorious war-linked museum, winning support from netizens. 

A social media account affiliated with the China News Service reported on Wednesday that Hina Hayata, a Japanese table tennis player, said in an interview that she would like to visit the "Chiran Peace Museum for Kamikaze Pilots." Kamikaze pilots represent the ugliness and brutality of Japan's right-wing activists and are a symbol of Japanese military aggression during World War II.

After hearing the news, Chinese table tennis players Sun Yingsha and Fan Zhendong promptly unfollowed Hayata on Sina Weibo on Wednesday.

On Monday, Hayata had shared photos on Sina Weibo of herself and Chinese table tennis players and said that Fan exchanged pins with her. 

"He has always been my favorite athlete and I'm excited to see him win at the Olympics," she said.

The incident sparked discontent and heated discussion among netizens on various social media platforms.

Netizens hailed the quick response of the Chinese athletes, saying that this would be normal behavior for every Chinese person.

Other netizens commented that Chinese athletes follow Japanese athletes as they are respected competitors, but then unfollow them if they cross a bottom line for the Chinese people.

Some netizens were disappointed, saying that they had been impressed with Hayata when they watched the Games, as she did not give up despite having injuries. They expressed surprise about her behavior.