1. (China Daily) More than 100 golden monkeys were recently seen foraging and frolicking on the cliffs of the Badong Golden Monkeys National Nature Reserve in Hubei province.

    According to the reserve, this behavior had never before been recorded.

    "We have never observed golden monkeys on sheer cliffs before," said volunteer Wu Yihong, whose footage shows the monkeys moving with surprising ease against a 1,100-meter-high backdrop.

    These rare primates, which are endemic to China and classified as first-level national protected animals, inhabit high-altitude, dense forests.

    Source: By Liu Kun in Wuhan | chinadaily.com.cn | Updated: 2025-03-13 15:39

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  2. (Xinhua) China's railway network reported a surge in passenger traffic in the first two months of 2025, fueled by the Spring Festival travel season.

    A total of 738 million trips were recorded in January and February, marking a 6.4 percent increase compared to the same period last year and hitting a new high, the National Railway Administration said Friday.

    High-speed rail played a key role with 544 million trips taking place in this period, accounting for 73.8 percent of the total.

    As an occasion for family reunions, the Spring Festival, which fell on Jan. 29 this year, leads to a 40-day travel rush often referred to as the world's largest annual human migration.

    The administration also said that the country's fixed-asset investment in the railway sector in the first two months of 2025 totaled 68.5 billion yuan (9.55 billion U.S. dollars), up 5.1 percent year on year. 

    Source: Xinhua  2025-03-14 15:06:15

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  3. (Xinhua) China's courier sector handled 13.59 billion parcels in February, a surge of 58.8 percent year on year, the State Post Bureau said on Friday.

    The sector's total revenue expanded 30.4 percent year on year to 99.1 billion yuan (about 13.81 billion U.S. dollars) last month, according to the bureau.

    For the postal industry, the total delivery volume climbed 50.9 percent year on year to 14.98 billion packages, and its revenue edged up 24.9 percent to 122.62 billion yuan.

    "Driven by the low-base effect from last year's Spring Festival, the postal industry's key indicators saw high year-on-year growth in February this year," the bureau said.

    In the first two months of 2025, China's courier sector handled 28.48 billion parcels, up 22.4 percent year on year. The sector generated revenues of 221.04 billion yuan during this period, marking an increase of 11.2 percent year on year.  

    Source: Xinhua  2025-03-14 17:00:16

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  4. (Xinhua) Sichuan Airlines of China will launch regular commercial charter flights on March 18 to Pokhara, a popular tourist attraction and the second-largest city in Nepal.

    The first flight from Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, will land at the Pokhara International Airport on March 18, and the airport shall have the first regular charter flight after it came into operation in January 2023, Wang Xin, a counsellor at the Chinese Embassy in Nepal, said on Wednesday at a press conference in Pokhara.

    The charter flight shall be operated once a week on Tuesdays.

    The move is important progress in strengthening connectivity between China and Nepal, and will certainly further strengthen personnel exchanges and cooperation in various fields, as 2025 marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries, Wang said. 

    Source: Xinhua  2025-03-12 19:47:45

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  5. (China Daily) Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport, the only 4F-level international airport in Shandong province, was recently honored by Airports Council International as one of the best airports in the Asia-Pacific region in the category of 25 to 40 million passengers per year.

    This award reflects the widespread recognition of the airport's exceptional service by domestic and international passengers. It adds to the reputation of China's aviation industry, said Qingdao International Airport Group, which operates the airport.

    The ACI's annual Airport Service Quality awards are globally recognized for celebrating excellence in customer experience. They are based on data collected from ACI's renowned Departures and Arrivals Surveys, which measure passenger satisfaction across various aspects of airport operations, according to the official ACI website.

    Qingdao Airport has streamlined its check-in deadlines to enhance travel convenience, relaxing them to 40 minutes for domestic flights and 50 minutes for international flights before departure.

    Additionally, the airport has introduced six "premium" services, including upgraded signage, priority check-in, and expedited security screening. For "express flights", the check-in deadline has been further relaxed to 38 minutes before departure, while passengers without checked luggage can check in as late as 35 minutes before departure. To meet passenger needs better and ensure a smooth travel experience, over 340 signs related to check-in, security, customs, retail and baggage claim have been reviewed and optimized. 

    In 2024, the Qingdao Airport handled 193,000 flights, 26.18 million passengers and 279,000 metric tons of cargo. These figures represent year-on-year growths of 13 percent, 22 percent and 7 percent, respectively, marking historic highs since the airport's opening.

    Source: By Zhao Ruixue | chinadaily.com.cn | Updated: 2025-03-13 17:18

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  6. (China Daily) A record 26 rare Dalmatian pelicans were recently observed at the Jiuduansha Wetland Nature Reserve in Shanghai, highlighting the city's progress in biodiversity conservation and ecological protection.

    The sighting follows two separate encounters in January, when a total of 17 Dalmatian pelicans were recorded at the reserve. The species had last been seen there in November 2021, when a single bird was spotted.

    The Dalmatian pelican, a first-class nationally protected species, is the largest of all pelican species and one of the world's biggest waterfowl. It measures 1.6 to 1.8 meters in length and weighs more than 10 kilograms. Adults can have a wingspan of up to 3 meters and weigh as much as 15 kg.

    "Dalmatian pelicans typically inhabit inland lakes, rivers, marshes and coastal areas with minimal human interference and high-quality ecological conditions," said Zhou Taoye, a staff member at the reserve's management affairs center. "They have strict environmental requirements and primarily feed on fish, crustaceans, mollusks and amphibians."

    While pelicans are familiar to the public — they are often seen in zoos and are known for their distinctive large beaks — the East Asian population of Dalmatian pelicans is extremely rare. Breeding in western Mongolia and wintering along China's southeastern coast, their numbers were estimated at around 160 in early 2024.

    Ma Zhijun, a professor of avian ecology at Fudan University's School of Life Sciences, said human hunting in their Mongolian breeding grounds and habitat loss due to human activity are the main causes of the species' decline.

    Jiuduansha Wetland Nature Reserve, located where the Yangtze River meets the East China Sea, is an uninhabited estuarine wetland with little human interference. Situated along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, it serves as a critical wintering site and stopover point for migratory waterfowl. In 2023, it was designated a nationally important wetland and included in the first batch of nationally significant habitats for terrestrial wildlife.

    By June last year, the reserve was home to 63 species of higher plants, 126 species of macrofauna and 135 species of fish, according to Zhou. Additionally, 236 bird species have been recorded in the reserve and surrounding waters, including 10 species under first-class national protection and 41 under second-class protection.

    Shanghai has strengthened wetland and ecological conservation efforts in recent years. In July, the city's Chongming Dongtan Bird National Nature Reserve was added to UNESCO's World Heritage List as part of the Migratory Bird Sanctuaries along the Coast of the Yellow Sea-Bohai Gulf of China (Phase II). In December, 18 Dalmatian pelicans were observed there.

    In October, Shanghai introduced a special wetland conservation plan focusing on six key areas: protection, restoration, management, research and monitoring, public engagement and sustainable use.

    Source: By Wang Xin in Shanghai | China Daily | Updated: 2025-02-28 08:50

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  7. (China Daily) China's burgeoning culture and tourism industries enjoy a very promising future, which can greatly boost domestic consumption and promote the nation's high-quality development, a senior official said on Tuesday.

    Minister of Culture and Tourism Sun Yeli said that based on the market's encouraging and robust growth last year, he is confident of the steady development of China's culture and tourism industries.

    "In 2024, cultural companies with an annual turnover of over 20 million yuan ($2.8 million) saw a total revenue of 14 trillion yuan, up 6 percent year-on-year," Sun said in an interview after the conclusion of the third session of the 14th National People's Congress in Beijing.

    "While domestic tourism consumption reached about 5.7 trillion yuan last year, up 17 percent year-on-year, the inbound tourism market also performed well, with about 132 million visits contributing nearly $100 billion in revenue," Sun added.

    Globally, the culture and tourism industries play a significant role in a nation's modernization, he noted.

    "In some developed countries, the culture and tourism industries make up a high proportion of their GDP — usually 20 percent or above. The added value of each of China's culture and tourism industries makes up about 5 percent of its GDP, so we have a good foundation and ample room for development," he said.

    Sun added that it is important to turn culture and tourism into China's pillar industries, as they can attract different groups of consumers, thus expanding domestic consumption.

    The minister emphasized the need to include culture and tourism in the State-level socioeconomic development plan and support the two industries' development with stronger and precise policies.

    "Improving infrastructure matters, and that requires huge financial investment and fiscal support," he said, adding that related authorities should have a more inclusive outlook when it comes to emerging tourism trends such as low-altitude sightseeing and ocean tourism.

    Relevant authorities should also encourage culture and tourism companies to use state-of-the-art technologies to diversify their products and services, in order to speed up the development of the two industries.

    Sun highlighted some challenges, such as "forced shopping", which he said have harmed tourist experience, infringed on consumer rights and undermined the local business environment.

    "We will take stringent measures this year to crack down on such cases and improve laws and regulations to streamline market management. We will also promote ethics and the culture of integrity to prevent vicious competition," he added.

    The nation's modernization process and improved livelihood opportunities have altered consumption needs, with the people's focus shifting to products and services with high cultural, aesthetic and emotional value, according to the minister.

    Turning the culture and tourism industries into the nation's pillar industries will help better meet the people's pursuit for better lives, which will further propel the nation's modernization, he said.

    Source: By Cheng Si | chinadaily.com.cn | Updated: 2025-03-11 23:54

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  8. (China Daily) The continued growth of Ne Zha 2's box office will spark stronger interest in Sichuan province, the birthplace of the film series, creating new development opportunities for its culture and tourism sectors, said Chen Guanghao, a deputy to the 14th National People's Congress, during the ongoing two sessions in Beijing.

    The animated film, released during Spring Festival this year, has grossed nearly 15 billion yuan ($2.07 billion).

    Chen, who is also the director of the Sichuan Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism said, "The movie incorporates well-known Sichuan elements such as the Sanxingdui Site, giant pandas, Sichuan cuisine, Sichuan Opera and traditional Sichuan architecture."

    He added that the movie also draws inspiration from over 20 historical Chinese artifacts, such as birds and swords.

    "Success of the film also stems from the portrayal of the character of Ne Zha as a young hero striving to change his destiny, which has gained widespread recognition among the audience," he said.

    Chen emphasized that the film's popularity will bring more tourism opportunities to the province, which boasts scenic spots like the ancient Shu roads, Jiuzhai valley and Daocheng Yading. Sichuan plans to develop new travel products for visitors to explore Sichuan linked to the movie and music, which will help boost consumption, he said.

    Additionally, Sichuan will further enhance the protection and utilization of its cultural heritage and accelerate the development of its digital cultural industry.

    Chen highlighted that the success of the Ne Zha series is closely tied to the province's favorable environment for film and animation production.

    Over the past three years, Sichuan has provided 210 million yuan in support for 18 film projects, and the number of film production enterprises in the province has increased from 123 in 2020 to 923 in 2024, significantly enhancing the industrialization and commercialization level of the film creation sector, according to Chen.

    Looking ahead, Sichuan aims to extend its digital cultural industry chain and stimulate innovation vitality within the digital economy, he said.

    Source: By Chen Meiling | chinadaily.com.cn | Updated: 2025-03-08 11:06

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  9. (Xinhua) China's railway network transported 622 million tons of cargo in the first two months of the year, an increase of 2 percent year on year, the country's railway operator said Wednesday.

    China's railway industry has been working to optimize transportation services and improve the efficiency of delivering daily necessities, which has supported economic activity and ensured people a warm winter, according to China State Railway Group Co., Ltd (China Railway).

    During this period, railways handled 301 million tons of coal, helping thermal power plants meet peak demand, China Railway revealed.

    Earlier data showed that in the first two months of 2025, railway passenger trips in China had risen by 4.7 percent year on year to 726 million, hitting an all-time high. 

    Source: Xinhua  2025-03-12 14:27:31

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  10. (China Daily) The Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge in Guizhou province, set to become the world's tallest bridge, is 95 percent complete, with installation of the bridge deck panels expected to finish by mid-March, a deputy to China's top legislature said during the ongoing two sessions.

    Zhang Shenglin, a deputy to the 14th National People's Congress, said the bridge's main structure was completed in January, and engineers have overcome key technical challenges. The focus has now shifted to installing the deck, followed by anti-corrosion work on the main cables and infrastructure projects such as mechanical and electrical equipment.

    "When the bridge opens in the second half of 2025, this super project spanning the 'Earth's crack' will showcase China's engineering capabilities and boost Guizhou's goal of becoming a world-class tourist destination," said Zhang, who is also chief engineer of Guizhou Highway Engineering Group Co.

    The bridge's main span stretches 1,420 meters, with a height of 625 meters from deck to water — comparable to a 200-story building — surpassing the 565-meter-high Beipanjiang Bridge as the world's tallest.

    It is also the world's longest span bridge to be built in a mountainous area.

    "Its steel trusses weigh about 22,000 metric tons — the equivalent of three Eiffel Towers — and were installed in just two months," said Zhang.

    The bridge connects Liuzhi to Anlong and is a key link in southwestern China's highway network. Once operational, it will cut cross-river travel time from about two hours to just two minutes.

    Beyond transportation benefits, Zhang said the bridge is expected to boost the local economy by promoting sales of agricultural products and ethnic handicrafts, as well as encouraging development of homestays and restaurants. At a nearby village, more than 100 young people have returned to their hometown to invest in tourism projects such as cliff hotels and camping sites, she said.

    The Guizhou Transportation Investment Group, responsible for the bridge's "integrated development of bridge and tourism" program, said it is seeking investment from companies and individuals.

    The project includes the Yundu service center, a commercial complex spanning 21,100 square meters with dining, shopping, entertainment and tourism facilities. The development plan features 13 subcategories, including sightseeing suspension bridges, canyon cable cars, rock climbing, food markets, cultural products, resort hotels, holiday campsites and sky cafes, the company said.

    Source: By Yang Jun and Chen Meiling | China Daily | Updated: 2025-03-06 09:05

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