At the Grand Bazaar, vendor calls, greetings, and laughter weave together. Travelers feel the culture in the hum. By Tianchi Lake, wind and water whisper through the towering spruces — and visitors fall quiet, too. In the villages, homestays glow and traditional handicrafts come alive. Locals work where they live, and their lives feel full.

Follow the sounds. Hear Xinjiang.

Away from downtown Urumqi, guests from Italy and Russia take their first-ever wire-stunt experience in local countryside. Lifted into the air amid rural landscapes, they cheer with excitement and explore Xinjiang's vibrant rural cultural tourism.

A first-hand tech tour in Urumqi—brain-wave controlled devices, drone simulators, robotic dogs, and heavy-duty machinery. Stepping past common stereotypes, and discovering Xinjiang's modern tech strength beyond its famous landscapes. 

A Serbian content creator, dressed in exquisite local attire, learns Xinjiang folk dance from the locals and breathes this culture. Cultural charm like this doesn't quite come through on a screen. You have to be there, in person, to truly feel it.

"Better three days without meat than one without naan."

Golden naan is a cultural staple in Xinjiang. Now the traditional flatbread is getting creative. Follow us at the Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar to explore new naan recipes.

The 2026 "A Date with China: Meet Xinjiang" international media tour officially commenced on Tuesday in Urumqi, the capital of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. The event aimed to build bridges for cross-cultural storytelling, bringing together an international delegation of journalists, experts, social media influencers, and Gen Zers.

This year's delegation comprises 16 foreign participants from 13 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Russia, Algeria, Serbia, Ukraine, India, Brazil, Indonesia, Vietnam and Pakistan. They are joined by Chinese reporters from major media outlets such as China Daily Website, China National Radio Online, Global Times, China News Service, and Xinjiang media, forming a diverse international media corps.

To mark the beginning of the event, a flag-handover ritual was performed.

This is his first time in Xinjiang, and he had heard it's a unique place with a long and rich history, said Thomas Jay Hopkins, an American expert with China Daily Website, at the ceremony. He added that he was eager to learn how people here had created their distinctive culture through diverse exchanges.

His sentiment was echoed by many in the international delegation, who expressed keen interest in experiencing Xinjiang's development and cultural dynamism firsthand.

Over the next seven days, the tour group will travel through Urumqi and Changji Hui autonomous prefecture, among other areas, focusing on key sectors such as technological innovation, Silk Road culture and tourism integration, rural revitalization, and intangible cultural heritage. Their journey is designed to uncover compelling narratives and present an authentic and panoramic view of Xinjiang's development and charm.

Now in its sixth year, the "A Date with China" series has hosted hundreds of international guests from over 40 countries and regions, visiting more than 500 locations across the country. Through a multilingual and integrated media approach, the initiative continues to bridge distances — capturing and sharing the contemporary beauty and dynamic spirit of China with the world.

Galloping with vigor and vitality, the horse is Xinjiang’s living symbol of spirit and strength. Members of the 2026 "A Date with China · Meet Xinjiang" international media tour came not only to see the horses, but also to understand what they carry: resilience, aspiration, and a spirit that never fades.

Watch the video and ride into a blessing from Xinjiang.

Algerian content creator Xiaotian came to Urumqi for the history. What she didn't expect was a horse that bowed back at her, a "Li Bai" who challenged her to a poetry duel, and a forest that has stood tall for over 100 million years. But the highlight? A young horse rider with a grin that stole the whole show. 

The 2026 "A Date with China: Meet Xinjiang" international media tour is set to kick off on August 25 in Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. As the sixth iteration of the "A Date with China" series, this event upholds an international, youth-focused and integrated media approach to present an authentic and panoramic view of Xinjiang's development and charm.

Foreign journalists, experts, social media influencers and Gen Z representatives from countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Russia, Algeria, Serbia, Ukraine, India, Brazil, Indonesia, Vietnam and Pakistan will join Chinese reporters to form an international media delegation.

This journey is designed to uncover compelling narratives across several key sectors: technological innovation, integrated culture-tourism development, local intangible cultural heritage crafts, specialty industries, rural revitalization, and green ecology.

Now in its sixth edition, "A Date with China" has hosted hundreds of international guests from over 40 countries, facilitating visits to more than 500 locations. As the 2026 tour gets underway, participants are set to bridge distances once again — capturing and sharing the contemporary beauty and dynamic spirit of Xinjiang with the world.

Farmers tending fields in Tongzhai Town, Anhui province, in 1985 made a discovery that proved to be a major piece of the puzzle, helping researchers understand China's ancient origins. Atop a hill, they found an ancient cemetery and the remnants of a Neolithic settlement.

Located in Hanshan county, Ma'anshan city, the Lingjiatan Archaeological Park is estimated to be between 5,800 and 5,300 years old. According to research conducted as part of the project to trace the origins of Chinese civilization, Lingjiatan holds a pivotal place in the early development of China, providing tangible evidence of over 5,000 years of Chinese history.

The artifacts unearthed from the site by archaeologists over the years have provided valuable insights into China's prehistoric jade culture. Lingjiatan, alongside Hongshan and Liangzhu, forms one of prehistoric China's three major jade cultural centers.

Since its discovery, 17 archaeological excavations have taken place at the site, which covers 2.2 million square meters. Over 4,000 artifacts have been unearthed, including more than 1,200 jade and stone artifacts.

Inside the roughly 4,000 sq m subterranean Lingjiatan Site Museum, which opened in 2025, visitors can see many of these priceless artifacts on display and learn about them through multimedia and interactive displays. These national treasures demonstrate the craftsmanship and social status of those they were buried alongside.

One of the major discoveries on display is a long double tiger-headed pendant, likely worn by someone of elevated social status. The piece is discolored as the two halves were discovered 30 years apart, one tiger waiting in the soil to be reunited with the other after decades of modern excavation. Another, the double-ringed jade bi disc, inspired the designs of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics medals.

The extensive collection excavated from Lingjiatan also includes jade priest figures and an artifact that is referred to as the "first jade dragon" — a piece that demonstrates that the significance of dragons in Chinese culture extends back not centuries but millennia.

There are practical pieces too — axes and spoons — though their purpose was likely ceremonial and symbolic rather than domestic.

Deeper inside, there is a recreation of the ancient cemetery that demonstrates how jade was used symbolically to ensure the deceased had the tools perceived as necessary in death. There's even an interactive exhibit where visitors can touch pottery pieces dating back about 5,000 years, connecting them to the ancient people that once lived at the Lingjiatan site.

Visitors not only get the opportunity to see these jade artifacts and touch 5,000-year-old pottery shards but can also pay their respects at the final resting place of the very people they belonged to.

The actual cemetery is a short walk or minibus ride away for those looking to see where the artifacts were discovered. There, the veil between past and present is thin. The tombs, opened and visible to the public, display the hierarchical structure of this ancient society.

The graves, labeled in order of their discovery, demonstrate the social structure that existed here over 5,000 years ago, signaled by the placement of these priceless jade items.

The jade items in the graves are replicas; the real ones are kept out of the elements, protected for future generations and ongoing research.

The Neolithic site is considered one of the top 100 archaeological discoveries in China over the past century and was named in the top 10 in 1998. In December 2023, the State Administration of Cultural Heritage listed it as being representative of the first stage of ancient state civilization.

The author is an anthropologist and an Australian editor of China Daily.

king@chinadaily.com.cn

American influencer Dante Muñoz remarked that the Yangtze River Delta Equestrian Center in Guangde, China, is more than just a sports facility; it's an open-air classroom where children learn about science and nature not from textbooks, but by experiencing it firsthand under the sun.

During a recent visit to an ecological wellness space in the Yangtze River Delta, Karell King, foreign editor at China Daily, was amazed by the region's stunning landscapes.

He noted that the Yangtze Delta offers a compelling example of balanced ecology, innovation, and harmonious human-nature relations, a testament to green development.

Check out the video!

To understand how a steel city reinvents itself, don't look at its factories — look at how it restored the land that once fueled its growth.

For a century, from 1917 to 2017, the Washan Iron Mine produced 210 million tons of high-grade iron ore. Known as the "breadbasket of Masteel", it powered half of East China's industry.

Today, this former mine has been transformed into a scenic park, a place where visitors can admire its beauty, unaware of the century of mining beneath their feet.

From extraction to restoration — this is what green transformation looks like.

For 24 years, the Yangtze River was more than a waterway for Chen Lanxiang; it was her home, her workplace, and the center of her life.

Married in 1995, Chen, known locally as San Jie, or "third sister", spent more than two decades living aboard a modest fishing boat moored at Xuejiawa on the eastern bank of the Yangtze in Ma'anshan, Central China's Anhui province.

"We lived a hard life on the boat, enduring scorching summers and freezing winters," Chen recalled.

Her days often began long before dawn. Rising at 1 or 2 am, she and her husband cast their nets in the darkness, then hurried to deliver the night's catch to market vendors by 5 am. Every day depended on the weather, the river, and a little luck.

Life became even harder as the Yangtze's ecology deteriorated.

At the time, Xuejiawa's shoreline was crowded with more than 200 fishing boats, illegal docks, shantytowns, polluting factories, and piles of solid waste. More than 50 fishing families squeezed out a living there as the once-clear waters became increasingly polluted.

"The fish kept getting smaller and fewer," Chen said. "Sometimes there were hardly any left to catch."

Years of overfishing, coupled with pollution and intensive shoreline development, had taken a heavy toll on the Yangtze's ecosystem. Once home to abundant aquatic life, the river saw fish resources decline sharply.

To reverse the ecological decline, China launched a landmark ten-year fishing ban across key waters of the Yangtze River Basin. Fully implemented in 2021, the ban aimed to allow fish populations to recover, restore biodiversity and safeguard the long-term ecological health of China's longest river. The initiative also included resettlement and employment support programs to help fishermen transition to new careers.

For Chen, the transition began even earlier.

In May 2019, Anhui province launched a fisherman resettlement initiative as part of its efforts to protect the Yangtze. Xuejiawa became one of the first places to begin the transformation.

Leaving the river, however, was one of the hardest decisions she had ever faced.

"I really couldn't bear to leave," she said. "We had no other skills and didn't know how we would survive on land."

Her husband initially refused to sign the resettlement agreement. It was only after repeated visits from local officials — who explained the policies, promised employment support, arranged for their children to attend nearby schools, and secured retirement pensions — that the family finally decided to take the leap.

"Today, each retired fisherman receives a monthly pension of 530 to 590 yuan (about $75 to $85), providing a basic safety net as they begin life ashore," she said.

The decision to leave her fishing boat behind opened the door to an entirely new life.

With government support, her family moved into a new apartment, replacing their cramped boat cabin with a real home complete with separate rooms, a kitchen, and a bathroom.

"My life has changed dramatically since settling ashore," she said with a smile. "I now work regular hours from 8 am to 5 pm. After dinner, I can go downstairs for a walk or dance in the square. We no longer worry about storms or strong winds."

Leaving fishing also led Chen to discover a new calling.

Supported by rent-free business premises for five years and a fully renovated office, she established the San Guniang (Third Sister) Labor Service Company.

Now serving as its general manager, Chen oversees teams responsible for market cleaning, road sanitation, and landscaping maintenance. Over the past five years, the company has helped many former fishermen build stable new livelihoods while distributing a total of 900,000 yuan ($133,000) in dividends to its members.

"At first, I felt lost," she said. "But, by working together, our lives have steadily improved. I even bought my own apartment and built a real home. Now I feel hopeful about the future."

The river itself has undergone an equally remarkable transformation.

Today, water quality in the Ma'anshan section of the Yangtze has consistently reached Class II standards. Fish populations have rebounded. The polluted banks of Xuejiawa, once lined with illegal docks and factories, have been transformed into a scenic ecological park that attracts visitors from across the region.

Where Chen once tied up her fishing boat, tourists now stop to admire sweeping river views.

Today, Chen protects the river that once sustained her.

As president of the Yushan Branch of the Ma'anshan Civilian Enterprise River Chief Federation, she patrols the Jiuhua Village embankment with fellow former fishermen, helping safeguard the Yangtze River and promote the fishing ban.

"We fishermen have depended on this river for generations," she said. "Even though we no longer fish, our emotional bond with it has never changed. It is our responsibility to protect our mother river. We also encourage people to respect the fishing ban and discourage illegal fishing."

Looking ahead, Chen hopes the next generation will cherish the river's recovery while making use of its restored abundance responsibly.

"The fish are multiplying rapidly now," she said. "When the 10-year fishing ban eventually ends, I hope our children will be able to fish again under scientific management and government guidance. I think that would be the best future for both the river and the people who depend on it."

China's drone technology isn't just impressive, it's already making a difference far beyond its borders.

From seeding and firefighting to protecting the Amazon rainforest, drones are being used across agriculture, emergency response, and environmental conservation around the globe. Check out the video to find out more!

Drone coffee delivery isn't sci-fi anymore — it's a reality in China. The tech itself isn't the hard part; the real magic is safely navigating hundreds of drones through crowded cities and around power lines simultaneously. This requires years of research, regulation, AI, and big data—areas where China excels. Check out the video to find more.