The natural scenery of Sayram Lake is magnificent and beautiful, with its green waves rippling. The tourism popularity is increasing year by year. In order to protect the ecological environment of Sayram Lake, in recent years, the scenic area has implemented a ban on grazing on 164,500 mu of grassland in the core area and relocated more than 900 herdsmen households and 200,000 livestock. 80 kilometers of fences have been set up around the lake and 12 management and protection stations have been established to prohibit tourists from entering the glacier and permanent snow area. The area of Sayram Lake scenic area is 1,314 square kilometers. 21 power supply lines with a voltage level of 10 kV and above provide continuous power for the scenic area. In 2022, Sayram Lake was built into the first all-green electricity scenic area in Xinjiang. A power supply ring network was formed by means of buried cables. Charging piles were set up around the lake, an ecological parking lot was built, and low-carbon tourism transportation tools such as electric vehicles, bicycles, and hybrid vehicles were used. The annual electricity consumption of Sayram Lake scenic area is 36 million kilowatt-hours. The development of the scenic area takes ecological tourism and green tourism as the main line. The "full electrification" transformation covers all aspects such as travel, accommodation, and play. More than 770 electricity customers such as hotels, shops, and food courts all adopt clean and stable power supply. The past coal-fired heating method has become history. This year, State Grid Bortala Power Supply Company has explored new ways to consume clean energy to help the green development of Sayram Lake. The "integrated photovoltaic storage and charging" demonstration project is promoted in the scenic area. Based on the existing green electricity, the construction of distributed photovoltaic microgrid is piloted and the application of V2G charging piles is promoted. Sayram Lake scenic area is built into a zero-carbon scenic area model from the four aspects of "source, grid, load, and storage".
Amid the ongoing discussion over "city, not city," a viral phrase that illustrates China's urban zeitgeist, a new trend has captured the attention of many smaller cities and counties, taking Chinese social media by storm. On the internet, the emergence of "small-town literature" has ignited a resurgence in photography: In dimly-lit and quaint streets, weathered buildings, and with young Chinese people clad in vintage clothing, an attempt is being made to convey the emotions of loneliness through their expressive eyes and body language, accompanied by captions like "can't escape, can't see through." Behind the scenes, a multitude of photographers and models from urban areas are venturing into these smaller cities and counties across China, seeking to capture the essence of a bygone era. While traditional portrayals of small Chinese towns in literature and film often depict desolation and nascent vitality, the current trend of small-town literature has been criticized for its gloomy portrayal of reality. Despite this, it has quickly gained popularity online, with millions of views and shares on platforms such as Sina Weibo and Douyin. As the trend continues to gain momentum, questions arise about the emotional appeal of small-town literature and what it signifies in the process of urbanization in China. What does the concept of "county town" mean to individuals of different age groups? And amid the frenzy of templated creations, can the true essence of Chinese county towns still be captured and appreciated? These are just some of the questions that linger as the allure of small-town literature continues to captivate audiences across the nation. Trending on social media Photography blogger Jewey Li, a small-town literature trend pioneer, never expected his and his students' photos would spark such widespread discussion on social media. One of the most interactive small-town pieces of literature on Douyin is a group of photos from Li's student Yunier (screen name), in which the most eye-catching image is that of a girl with a beautiful face in a blue qipao sitting on the threshold of an old-fashioned barber shop, looking pensive. The post gained more than 2.32 million likes and more than 416,000 shares. Clicking on the comment section, people can discover a variety of plot twists in the "micro stories" created by netizens. Through the power of visual storytelling, these photos have inspired netizens and bridged the gap between photography and literature. Zhang Yiwu, a cultural studies professor at Peking University, explained that small-town literature is not just about literary creation, but also a cultural phenomenon that resonates with the masses. Li posted a thread on the popular lifestyle app Xiaohongshu titled "How to shoot small-town literature": You should shoot her melancholy yet determined gaze in an old rented house, shoot his confusion and uncertainty in the crowd, and shoot the couple's bittersweet longing for each other despite their love for the reality. He also emphasized in the post that "small-town literature is not criticism but nostalgia. Those backward-looking figures, unfulfilled vows, and the bittersweet memories together form Chinese people's most precious memories of the old hometowns." This post, having struck a chord with many, seems to indicate that in the current popular trend of small-town literature, the concept of the "county" has been refined into a set of replicable audio-visual language symbols, a simple and easily transmitted expression template. While the content of small-town literature may focus on the county, the narrative style of the creators is distinctly modern and social media-driven. Through specific poses and carefully chosen backgrounds, these works tell a story that resonates with viewers on a deep emotional level," Zeng Chi, a research fellow at the Renmin University of China, told the Global Times. On Chinese social media, small-town literature offers a variety of emotional connotations and fulfills different needs for its audience. Some netizens expressed how they find solace in the nostalgic atmosphere and stories of county life, while others criticize the portrayal of Chinese counties as oppressive and decadent. Despite the debate, the popularity of county literature has brought Chinese counties into the spotlight, sparking discussions on various aspects of county life. In the midst of this public opinion frenzy, trending topics about China's county life have emerged, such as questions about the standard of living, young people's daily expenses, and the experiences of girls returning to work in the county. This newfound interest in county life marks a shift in Chinese social networks, where previously, the focus was on glamorous city life. "The rise of small-town literature signifies a shift toward embracing a different lifestyle in China," Zhang said. A wide range of empathy When most Chinese people can understand small-town literature, it means that the cultural symbols in this phenomenon are popular, Zeng said. Most Chinese people have intimate relationships with counties and county-level cities. Official data showed that as of the end of 2021, China had a total of 1,866 counties and county-level cities, roughly twice as many as prefecture-level cities and above, with a permanent resident population of some 250 million, or nearly 30 percent of the total number of people living in urban areas nationwide. China has undergone a drastic urbanization process in recent decades. The urban population has almost doubled from 456 million in 2000 to 902 million in 2020. Countless young people now live in cities while carrying memories of their hometowns. Li, 30, told the Global Times that he started creating small-town literature because he wanted to have a "spiritual return" to his hometown of Yichun, a third-tier city in East China's Jiangxi Province. Li spent his childhood in a state-owned factory in Yichun, where both his parents were factory workers. The factory began to decline in the early 2000s, and after his parents were laid off, they opened a small grocery store. In around 2017, the factory area started to be demolished along with the family's store. They moved into a high-rise building, prompting Li to consciously capture images related to his earlier life. Li said his narrative inspiration came from his family's experience of running the grocery store for 20 years. "My mother also loves beauty and wanted to travel, but she never left Yichun until I had the ability to earn money independently, guarding the place that supported our family's livelihood." Compared to big cities, the lack of talent development mechanisms and fewer job opportunities in small cities prompted Li's complex emotions toward his hometown at a young age. The contradiction between the familiar hometown in one's memory and the ideal pursuit of youth is the core that Li and many small-town literature photographers want to express. When Li left Yichun and traveled around China, he gradually felt the unique beauty of his hometown. He chose to use his hometown as the inspiration behind his creations, looking back and paying tribute to the familiar, stable, and predictable life he once knew. "Our camera shooting has a script, operated according to the logic of movies. We hope more people can resonate and even stimulate more imagination in the process of viewing." Zeng believes that the initial rise of county literature stemmed from people's nostalgia. The people who currently have such imaginations are likely to come from big cities; young people who are equally keen on using social media and have enough to live comfortably, Zeng noted. "It is more likely that a group of young people who have already left the county and are living in the city have such imaginations. At a time in the course of their hard work to make a living, they easily immerse themselves in the carefree small county town of their childhood, imagining what it would be like to live there now," he said. Step into reality "I can't guarantee that the life in small-town literature is real, but its popularity indicates that many people must be imagining themselves living in such a town, experiencing days of either pain or healing," Zeng said. Zeng pointed out that in the era of image-based social media, when people interact online, they often overlook the "performative nature" of social media, thus projecting too many emotions onto static images. Undoubtedly, in small-town literature, the county town represents a static intention, serving as a buffer zone between the countryside and the big city. It seems neither as brightly lit as the city with its concrete jungle, nor as simple as the countryside. It is within reach but never truly a place to settle in. Now Crow Jewey is teaching photography skills offline across China, creating various stories in different county towns. However, Crow Jewey is well aware that no single county can represent all of China's county towns, and no few labels can simply summarize the lives of millions of county residents. But it is heartening that under this trend, more Chinese people are willing to get closer to the real counties. These places are not backward and dilapidated symbols, nor are they places for pretentious whining, but rather a real world formed by countless vibrant individuals. During this year's May Day holiday, unlike in the past when tourists focused on famous scenic spots, many people now explore the "capillaries" of China's geographical map. According to a report from Ctrip, a major Chinese online travel booking platform, hotel bookings in China's counties and county-level cities during the May Day holiday increased by 68 percent year-on-year, outpacing the national average growth rate. As more people truly explore county towns, they find that there is no stark difference between big Chinese cities and county towns, especially due to the all-round rural revitalization prioritized by Chinese government, with bustling commercial streets and night markets can now be seen everywhere. There are also countless young people returning to county towns from big cities, sparking a wave of entrepreneurship to "speak for their hometowns" and driving the continuous deepening of the county economy. Zhang believes that exploring the consumption patterns on a county level is full of development prospects. In the process of urbanization, people's unprecedented demand for a sense of belonging to the county is projected on the cultural tourism market, he stated. "The popularity of small-town literature indicates that there is still certain room for improvement of spiritual needs in our society. However, to truly fill these gaps, it cannot rely solely on virtual hometowns. In the future, more tangible county town landscapes will be remembered by people," Zhang said.
On August 30, at the pier of Bianzhuang Village in Yuxi Town, Jiangyan District, Taizhou City, East China's Jiangsu Province, the multi-energy complementary photovoltaic power generation project was under intense construction. The sound of machinery echoed, vehicles shuttled back and forth, and workers enthusiastically carried out various tasks, including pile driving, foundation pouring, support installation, and photovoltaic panel installation, all in an orderly manner. The construction was in full swing.
The project is planned to cover a water area of 2,531.66 acres (1,024.55 hectares), with 18 sub-photovoltaic systems to be installed. Using 580Wp monocrystalline silicon modules, the total capacity will reach 154.128 megawatts. The project adopts an innovative model that integrates photovoltaic power generation with aquaculture, building photovoltaic power stations over fish ponds to create a "power generation above and aquaculture below" system. This approach plays an irreplaceable role in improving the local ecological environment, providing employment for local residents, and contributing to rural revitalization by achieving both ecological and economic benefits.
To accelerate progress, the State Grid Taizhou Power Supply Company and Datang Taizhou Thermal Power have established a coordination mechanism, offering "one-on-one" services and closely monitoring the project's implementation. They also provide technical assistance to meet the diverse needs of customers and fully support the grid connection, acceptance, and operation of Taizhou's first multi-energy complementary photovoltaic power station.
Once fully operational, the project is expected to generate approximately 180 million kWh of clean energy annually, saving 72,000 tons of standard coal and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 179,000 tons. This will create a win-win situation, enhancing both environmental and economic benefits. It is also of great significance for the region's efforts to meet the "dual carbon" goals, strengthen industrial support, and boost competitiveness.
Prinat Apirat, Consul General of the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Shanghai, welcomed Major General Pratuang Piyakapho, and the participants in the first group of trainees in Thailand defense for future management training programs at the Consulate General of Thailand in Shanghai. The Consul General also gave an overview of bilateral relations between Thailand and Shanghai. She exchanged views on issues of interest to the delegation, such as expanding strategic cooperation between Thailand and China, promoting Thai-made products to the Chinese market, and promoting Thailand's tourism market in China and the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region.
At the end of July, the Thai Consulate-General in Shanghai, in conjunction with the Shanghai Foreign Investment Development Board, organized the 7th Bangkok - Shanghai Economic Conference on the topic "Accelerating Innovation Cooperation between Thailand and the YRD" in Shanghai.
The conference focused on creating a comprehensive innovation ecosystem, promoting joint innovation, and expanding business and exploring investment opportunities.
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.
Around 200 exquisitely dressed pet cats accompanied by their owners paid their first ever visits to an exhibition on ancient Egyptian civilization held in Shanghai on Saturday evening, a pioneering practice among comprehensive museums worldwide.
The exhibition named On Top of the Pyramid: The Civilization of Ancient Egypt, co-hosted by the Shanghai Museum and the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) of Egypt was opened at the Shanghai Museum on July 19, offering visitors an artistic feast from the ancient Egyptian civilization with 788 precious artifacts from Egypt to promote cultural exchanges and mutual learning between China and Egypt. The exhibition will run through August of 2025.
In ancient Egypt, the best-known revered feline goddess Bastet with the head of a cat and the body of a woman, was regarded as a symbol of protection and spirituality. The ancient Egyptians’ worship of the cat goddess aligns with modern society’s love for cats.
Starting from July 27, the Shanghai Museum will host 10 special cat-friendly sessions, titled “Fantastic Night,” on Saturday nights, allowing visitors to bring their pet cats along, a pioneering practice among comprehensive museums worldwide. The 200 tickets of the first exhibition for visitors with pets were sold out in one second and all the tickets for a total of 10 cat-friendly exhibitions were sold out in one hour. Visitors from across the country with their fashionably outfitted pet cats gathered together at the Shanghai Museum to participate in the party thrown specially for cats, with over 400 newly unearthed artifacts from Saqqara, an important burial site in ancient Egypt, being exhibited for the first time worldwide.
The exhibition on ancient Egyptian civilization is divided into three sections, “The Land of the Pharaohs,” “The Secrets of Saqqara” and “The Age of Tutankhamun.” Cats are the highlight of “The Secrets of Saqqara” section presented at the second hall.
In 2020, groundbreaking archaeological findings at Saqqara, including the unearthed ruins of a temple dedicated to the revered cat goddess Bastet dating back to 600 BC and well-preserved relics from the subterranean tomb of the cat goddess priests, came among the top 10 archaeological discoveries in the world for the year 2020.
In addition to the cat goddess sculptures and other exhibits, the exhibition area also features a unique atmosphere created by cat-themed images projected on screens surrounding the walls. Visitors can take photos with their pet cats at a designated photo-taking area. A variety of cat-themed interactive devices are also provided at the exhibition section. Chu Xiaobo, head of the Shanghai Museum, said that since the exhibition features many artifacts related to the cat goddess, the museum took this opportunity to create various conditions to host the cat-themed activities. Chu said that the investment in labor, material and financial resources is worthwhile as long as visitors can experience a new way of visiting the museum, reported by the Shanghai Morning Post.
Chu added that the museum encourages more people to raise pets with civilized habits and advocate for a more inclusive mindset that embraces peaceful coexistence between pets and humans, working together to create a pet-friendly city.
Before the event, many people were concerned that cats might experience stress in public places and that various incidents might occur with so many cats in one space. However, almost all the cats were well-trained and are “social butterflies” in the feline world. They were not startled by large crowds and handled the bustling scenes with ease. According to the requirements of the museum, visitors with pets must obtain an immunization certificate for their cats from a certified veterinary hospital and present it upon entry. They should also bring their own cat carriers or pet strollers, as well as leashes and harnesses.
To ensure the event runs smoothly, the museum invited veterinarians, pet ambulances, surgeons and a pet management team to stand by on site. Museum staff have also received professional training related to cats.
Incomplete statistics show that Shanghai is home to over 1 million pet dogs and more than 1.2 million pet cats. As more and more pets enter urban public spaces, many public places have gradually become pet-friendly venues.
