Many people's first impression would be that Shenzhen, one of China's innovation hubs, resembles a cyberpunk-style city. But is that true?

Cyberpunk is all about "high tech, low life". In those stories, there are gleaming, towering skyscrapers, and beneath them, cyborgs live in dark, chaotic, poverty-stricken neighborhoods.

British vlogger Toby Symonds and China Daily reporter Yan An recently experienced the everyday life of residents in the city, and Toby's impression of Shenzhen has completely changed.

Toby said that the technology in Shenzhen is not as cold as portrayed in movies and games, but rather has a warmth to it, truly serving people's lives.

Watch the video to learn more.

Foreign guests learned about China's mangrove conservation efforts during a media tour in Shenzhen, South China's Guangdong province, on Tuesday.

Foreign journalists, experts, social media influencers and Gen Z representatives joined Chinese reporters for the 2026 "A Date with China · Meet Guangdong" international media tour, which kicked off in Shenzhen on Monday.

They visited the Futian Mangrove Ecological Park on Tuesday, where they learned about mangroves and observed ecological protection efforts.

According to experts, mangroves are a unique ecosystem bridging land and sea. Their extensive root systems effectively reduce sediment loads in nearshore waters, while their dense yet flexible branches and trunks dissipate wave energy.

Despite being home to only about 0.2 percent of the world's mangroves, China is demonstrating that restoration is not a choice between nature and humanity, but a synthesis of both. China has shown a willingness to share its experience internationally.

Home to China's largest mangrove area, accounting for nearly 40 percent of the national total, Guangdong was assigned the largest share of the 2020-25 national plan: creating 5,500 hectares of new mangroves and rehabilitating 2,500 hectares of degraded forests.

When British vlogger Toby Symonds stepped into Shenzhen Library North, he couldn't help exclaiming, "It looks like a scene out of Interstellar!" With futuristic, multi-level book stacks and robots that find and deliver books, this library is both sci-fi spectacular and seriously practical. Who knew a library could be this cool?

A group of foreigners participating in an international media tour enjoyed the scientific scenes in the AI Valley in Nanshan district of Shenzhen, South China's Guangdong province, on Monday.

The 2026 "A Date with China · Meet Guangdong" international media tour kicked off in Shenzhen on Monday, promoting an international, youth-focused and integrated media approach to Guangdong's development and charm.

Foreign journalists, experts, social media influencers and Gen Z representatives joined Chinese reporters for the tour.

Since moving to China, I experience life much in the way I assume a small child might. People around me talk; I don't know what they're saying. People ask me questions; I don't know the answer. Because my surroundings are still so new to me, every day has the potential to be an adventure.

Unlike a small child, however, I do have a job. This adventure began at the office, with a blinking orange light notifying me of a new message.

"Hi, Thomas, would you like to visit Xinjiang?" wrote someone several steps above me on the corporate ladder — who, if she is reading this, is a very lovely woman, I might add.

As has become my modus operandi, I said yes before I even knew what I was agreeing to. I have a big map of China hanging up in my apartment, I guess I should look at it more because where Xinjiang is located didn't immediately spring to mind. A quick internet search refreshed my memory and — after seeing Xinjiang's marvelous landscapes — hyped me up.

So I joined the "A Date with China — Meet Xinjiang" International Media Tour, where I, alongside a cadre of other media professionals and social media personalities, would discover the real Xinjiang through its capital city of Urumqi.

Shortly after the tour began, I was interviewed at a sharing session and asked what I hoped to take away from Xinjiang. My answer: a feeling.

When I travel, I want an emotional experience, because, outside of just my own personal pleasure, it makes these stories worth writing. Absent some kind of insight into the human condition, this story would be little more than a bland facsimile of the tour's itinerary, which I'm not interested in writing, nor would you be likely interested in reading.

Luckily for you (and me), dear reader, I got what I asked for.

The tour began with a trip to the Xinjiang Ancient Ecological Park, a popular cultural tourist attraction featuring a petrified wood forest, exhibits showcasing Silk Road artifacts, a collection of meteorites, ancient Populus euphratica trees — a resilient species of deciduous tree that thrives in inhospitable environments and is known to live for hundreds of years — and art inspired by the region's wild horses.

We also took in an equestrian show, which really needs a more fitting name for, because simply calling it an "equestrian show" doesn't quite match the excitement on display.

The show featured extremely skilled riders — including a fearless 6-year-old girl — performing a variety of stunts on horseback, mounted archery, and a lovely little stampede of ponies. In short, fun for the whole family.

Later in the week, on a particularly joyful day, a group of us visited Six & A Half Studio, an art studio that blends handicrafts with urban tourism. After a quick tour of the facility, we were led into one of the studios where we were each presented with a roughly 30 cm by 30 cm piece of cloth. It was time to make our own works of art.

After that, we were invited to create our own mini moss biomes. Presented with a spread of different kinds of moss, stones, and plant life, as well as sand and plates to build on, we got to choose our components with which we would construct our biomes.

At the last stop of the day, we hiked up Yamalike Mountain (ok, we were shuttled) and learned about how — through a 20-year ecological restoration project — the area was transformed from a dry, barren wasteland into a thriving eco-park. The restoration project has profoundly benefited the local community, from reducing the amount of dust and pollution in the air to helping regulate the city's heat island effect.

Besides all of that important stuff, Yamalike Mountain is an absolute killer spot to watch the sunset over the fair city of Urumqi, which is what we were there to do. At the top, the platform was crowded with locals enjoying the panoramic views and taking photos. Before the sun had fully set, the moon peeked up over the mountains to the east, painting the sky and hillsides cool, blush tones of purple and blue. Meanwhile, on the opposite side, the sky was on fire with intense shades of orange, yellow, and red, the mountains and hills below appearing pink, blue, and purple under the sun's fading light.

The last stop of the tour was just outside of Urumqi in Changji Hui autonomous prefecture — Tianshan Tianchi Lake, a UNESCO World Heritage site. With its beautiful, blue-green waters reflecting the snow-capped mountains that it is nestled within, Tianchi Lake certainly earns its title. Though there were plenty of tourists about, the alpine scenery imparts a feeling of peace, while its crisp, clean air reinvigorates.

Like nearly everywhere we visited, there were dance performances. There were also boat and cable car rides available, but we forwent all of that in favor of a nice hike. The walk toward "Little Heavenly Lake East" offers stunning views of waterfalls, mountain ranges, and their associated greenery. While I took every opportunity to stop and take photos, trying in vain to capture the surrounding beauty, I also took time just stop, close my eyes, feel the sun on my face, and take in the sounds and smells of nature. A storm will come again, but not today.

It was a perfect way to cap an unforgettable journey in Xinjiang, one made all the more special by the people who so kindly and eagerly shared their way of life with me. And besides Xinjiang's gorgeous landscapes, that's one of the things that stuck with me the most: the people I met who so happily shared their culture, whether through the food, music, dance, or arts. It's very clear — even to a casual observer — that the people there feel a deep sense of pride in being from Xinjiang.

I went to Xinjiang in search of emotional experiences. What I got far exceeded my expectations. Whether feeling the excitement from the sights and sounds of the equestrian show, the life-affirming experience of doing arts and crafts then watching a beautiful sunset with new friends, or a sense of serenity while gazing out at the snow-capped mountains reflected in a heavenly lake, Xinjiang left a lasting impression on me.

Thomas Jay Hopkins is a foreign expert at China Daily Website.

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.