Business activity in multiple border cities across China was ignited during the weeklong National Day holidays, with cross-border visitor trips and consumption both increasing significantly.
Observers attributed the prosperity to the country's upgraded infrastructure and services, which facilitate transportation for both domestic and foreign tourists, as well as the ongoing positive impact of the consumption peak nationwide.
As of 5 pm on Saturday, more than 70,000 people had entered and exited Hekou port in Kunming, Southwest China's Yunnan Province during the National Day holidays, a year-on-year increase of 15.4 percent, per CCTV.
In the first four days of the National Day holidays, China's Fuyuan port in Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province recorded 1,860 inbound and outbound cross-border passenger trips, up 143 percent year-on-year, according to China News Service.
In the consumption sector, the number of people entering and exiting the China-Kazakhstan international border cooperation center in Khorgas in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region reached 30,000 passenger trips per day during the holidays, up 35 percent compared with the level before the holidays, China Media Group reported on Sunday.
Local customs opened all 12 manual inspection channels and 10 fast inspection channels to ensure the normal operation of the port during the cross-border travel peak during the holidays.
The cooperation center in Khorgas is the first cross-border economic and trade cooperation zone established by China and other countries. It has more than 200 duty-free enterprises and more than 1,000 merchants, with nearly 10,000 types of goods from both domestic and international sources.
China's extensive borders and numerous neighboring countries give each border city unique features that attract visitors from around the world, Jiang Yiyi, vice dean of the School of Leisure Sports and Tourism at Beijing Sport University, told the Global Times on Monday.
A Chinese envoy on Thursday called on all Somali parties to keep up the momentum, strengthen dialogue and unity, and stay committed to resolving differences through dialogue.
In remarks at the UN Security Council briefing on Somalia, Dai Bing, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, noted that in recent years, Somalia has made important headway in national reconstruction and peace and security, and both the UN and African Union (AU) missions have entered a critical transition period.
"At this important stage, the support and assistance of the international community cannot relax," Dai said.
He emphasized three points -- maintaining the overall situation of political stability; strengthening the foundation of security transition; and advancing UNSOM (UN Assistance Mission in Somalia) transition in an orderly manner.
Underscoring that the Somali federal government has maintained communication with the governments of federal member states and reached important consensus on the constitution, elections, and political parties, the ambassador said, "We expect all Somali parties to keep up the momentum, strengthen dialogue and unity, and stay committed to resolving differences through dialogue."
He stressed that China has consistently supported the efforts of the Somali government to safeguard national unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, and called on the international community to support the country in exploring a development path that suits its national conditions, and provide guarantees for Somalia to embark on the path of long-term and stable development.
Dai noted that in the next phase, ATMIS (African Union Transition Mission in Somalia) will transition into a new AU mission, and expressed the hope that Somalia, the AU, the UN, and others will strengthen their communication and coordination to reach consensus on new mission arrangements and to ensure the smooth progress of the relevant work.
"Under-funding is an important challenge to AU missions' mandate performance," he said, calling on the European Union and other traditional donors to maintain their funding for the new mission and continue to contribute to the security and stability of Somalia. Dai also urged the Security Council to respond to the initiative of the AU and actively study various effective options to provide sustainable and predictable financial support for the new mission.
Noting that the Somali government has repeatedly called for the transition of UNSOM to a UN country team, and has recently submitted a two-year transition proposal to the Security Council, the ambassador called on the council to use this as a base and, in line with Somalia's national development priorities, adjust and streamline UNSOM's mandate, with a view to ensuring a smooth and orderly transition.
"China supports the peace and development process in Somalia, as well as the enhancement of Somalia's capacity for autonomous development, counter-terrorism, and stability. We will continue to provide support to international peacekeeping operations in Somalia," Dai said.
China's Wang Chuqin and Liang Jingkun rallied to clinch a five-set victory against teammates Lin Shidong and Lin Gaoyuan, claiming the men's doubles title at the World Table Tennis (WTT) China Smash on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Chen Xingtong and Qian Tianyi overcame Sun Yingsha and Wang Yidi in four sets in an all-Chinese women's doubles final.
The fourth-seeded pair Wang/Liang fought back to secure the win with scores of 8-11, 4-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-9. "We waited a long time for the doubles title and didn't give up after being two sets down," Liang commented.
"This is my first doubles trophy pairing up with Liang at the WTT events. We kept concentrating on the skills and tactics to turn the tide," noted the 24-year-old Wang after the match. In the women's doubles final, Chen/Qian defeated Sun/Wang 12-10, 12-10, 3-11, 11-7 to seal their victory.
The singles semifinals were played in a best-of-seven format, and China has already secured both the men's and women's singles titles.
China's most decorated Olympian Ma Long overcame third seed Liang with scores of 11-8, 11-7, 11-8, 12-10, setting up a final against 19-year-old Lin Shidong in the men's singles.
"My performance was beyond my expectations before the event. After reaching the last eight, I just felt relaxed and wanted to enjoy playing on the court. With a great mindset, I found some inspirations during the games and made some beautiful returns," said the 35-year-old Ma.
The women's singles final will be a showdown between the top two seeds - Sun Yingsha and Wang Manyu, who defeated compatriots Fan Siqi and Chen Xingtong in their respective semifinals.
The 11-day WTT China Smash, the third and final WTT Grand Smash event of 2024, will conclude on Sunday with the singles finals. The event features a prize pool of two million U.S. dollars, with champions in each of the five events earning 2,000 ITTF world ranking points.
Boasting elements like stone bridges, winding rivers and elegant above-water architecture, ancient towns are highlights to the landscape of China's Jiangnan. Jiangnan is a geographic area that is commonly known as the south of the mighty Yangtze River.
Built with a touch of garden aesthetics, these towns are popular touristic destinations. Comparing to renowned sites like the Zhouzhuang Town in Jiangsu Province, the Puyuan Fashion Resort, opened to public in 2023, is an emerging spot that shows how an old rural town can sustain people's modern and fashionable lifestyles.
Old yet fashionable
Puyuan is located in Tongxiang, East China's Zhejiang Province. Its history dates back to the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279), and the town is one of the stops where the Beijing-Hangzhou Canal flows through.
To promote the protection of the ancient canal culture heritage, in 2016, a renovation project was carried out in Puyuan, covering an area of approximately 858,000 square meters.
In order to preserve the traditional look of the town's above-water architectures, the renovation project followed the concept of "repairing old buildings by keeping their old aesthetics while also integrating new cultural and commercial elements into the town," Yao Jie, a manager of the resort, told the Global Times.
Nine well-preserved ancient bridges, including the Zong'an Bridge and the Dayou Bridge are distributed along the "H"-shaped river system of the Puyuan Fashion Resort. Many of those bridges date back to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).
Some of those bridges connect to inns. For instance, an owner of the Xianzi Beach Inn told the Global Times that the inn is not the biggest one in the resort, but it can offer an "authentic taste of Puyuan" as guests can see the green and clear river flowing beneath their feet just by opening their bedroom's window.
Wooden boats and shuttle buses are always available in the resort. Boats take visitors underneath the bridges' arches to arrive at notable scenic spots in the ancient town. Two popular local destinations are the Meijing Theater, founded in 1947 and offering performances of the traditional Yue Opera, and the Xiangyun Taoist Temple, a symbol of the Taoist philosophy's development in the region, built in the Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368).
The ancient town's time-honored locations are mixed with new buildings including modern hotels, performance plazas, and a visitor center that boasts a T-stage venue for fashion shows.
Puyuan, where the resort is located, is one of China's most dynamic centers for fashion production, especially in the cashmere and knitwear sectors. Around 700 million sweaters made in Puyuan are sold worldwide every year.
Relying on the Town's solid foundation in the clothing industry, the resort has found its niche character of promoting shows and exhibitions that connect to the international market.
One of its strategies is to collaborate with the entertainment industry. It has invited highly popular reality shows such as Funny Team 2024 to film at the resort. In the show, Chinese stars such as Na Ying and Huang Zitao run around the resort, taking audiences on a visual journey around Puyuan's beautiful scenic spots.
In 2023, the resort organized a successful campaign in collaboration with the Chinese version of the fashion magazine Gentlemen's Quarterly, also known as GQ. By having superstars such as Fei Xiang (also known as Kris Phillips, is a Chinese-American pop icon and musical singer) posting photos of the resort, the fashion title of the ancient town was accentuated.
"There are many ancient towns in China, and we need to give them unique themes to make them stand out. This is the creative strategy we need to promote Chinese ancient towns," Xiao Junfu, a marketer of the touristic industry, told the Global Times. Niche interests
Other than Puyuan, the Wuzhen Town and Xitang Town, two ancient water towns nestled in Jiaxing, East China's Zhejiang Province, have also embarked on a journey of remarkable transformation.
Wuzhen Town, whose roots trace back over 1,000 years, found a way to bridge the gap between past and future. Its once quiet canals, lined with Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and Qing Dynasty (1368-1644) buildings, became the stage for a new kind of digital dialogue: the town's transformation began with its establishment as the permanent home of the World Internet Conference, cementing its role as a digital pioneer.
But it was the birth of the Wuzhen Theatre Festival in 2013 that truly brought Wuzhen's spirit into full bloom. The event integrated Wuzhen's historical landscape with cutting-edge theater, making the town a beacon of artistic and cultural exchange.
A few kilometers away, Xitang Town embarked on its own revival journey. Originally created back in the Spring and Autumn Period (770BC-476BC), the town still thrives nowadays thanks to its own unique cultural initiatives. For example, the Xitang Hanfu Culture Week showcases not only the town's past but also its deep connection to Chinese tradition. During the week, people dress in elegant Hanfu attire strolling through the streets, bringing the past vividly to life as workshops and parades make the town a living museum of ancient fashion.
The Xitang Ancient Town Protection Regulations of Jiaxing City released in 2023, further promote the construction of an ecological cultural tourism zone and the integration of ancient town culture and tourism, while continuing to protect the cultural heritage and traditional architecture of the ancient town.
Together, the Wuzhen and Xitang water towns breathe a new life, exemplary for the cultivation of a new cultural ecology in historical towns, one that honors the past while embracing the future.
A series of the latest archaeological discoveries in North China related to the Neolithic Hongshan culture, renowned for its exquisite jade artifacts, have captivated the public's attention.
These findings were highlighted by significant phrases such as "the largest," "the first time," and "filling the research gap" during their announcement at the seminar commemorating the 70th anniversary of the naming of the Hongshan culture held on Sunday.
According to the Inner Mongolia Institute of Cultural Relics and Archeology, which conducted the archaeological project, Chinese archaeologists uncovered a complete stone mound tomb dating back to the late period of Hongshan culture.
It is a representative archaeological culture of the middle and late Neolithic period in Chifeng, North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.
Hundreds of jade artifacts, including the largest jade dragon of the Hongshan culture, have been unearthed, covering almost all types of prehistorical culture.
Additionally, a building site that combines tombs and sacrificial altars was discovered for the first time.
The jade materials, drill cores, and fragments of jade artifacts excavated from the site have offered substantial resources for investigating the processing techniques, sources of jade, and utilization of jade artifacts within the Hongshan culture.
Experts noted that the discovery of this site is highly significant for gaining deeper insights into the social structures, organizational management, human-environment relationships, and jade-processing practices of the late Hongshan culture.
It also plays an important role in exploring the early formation of ritual systems in the ancient Hongshan state and supporting the efforts to have Hongshan culture recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Wang Meng, a veteran Chinese archaeologist, told the Global Times that the site's jade artifacts reveal "the region's complex cultural and social structures were formed in ancient times."
These objects were used to represent the "social statues and cultural belief dating back then," Wang said.
"Even some of those leftover jade materials discovered at the site can also reveal the jade manufacturing techniques of Hongshan people."
Wang stressed the significance of the largest jade dragon discovered in the country to have been made during the Hongshan culture.
"It is a signature piece showing the refined jade-crafting skills in the region of West Liaohe River. The region's ancient jade culture has inspired the Liangzhu jade culture in [East China's]Zhejiang Province," said Wang.
The remains of the stone mound tomb were discovered near a village in Chifeng.
After three months of archaeological work, researchers have uncovered a total area of 1,400 square meters, discovering 21 tombs, 3 stone piles, 1 ash pit, and 1 sacrificial pit.
They have unearthed more than 200 artifacts, including pottery, stone tools, jade artifacts, bone tools, and shell objects.
Sun Jinsong, director of the Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, told the Global Times that the site underwent a "rescuing archaeological excavation" starting from May and in the future, the local experts will carry out "active archaeological works" on the site.
"We plan to carry out sub-archaeological projects surrounding the site," Sun said.
With a history of about 6,500 years, the Hongshan culture is known for its "well-established ritual system," noted Jia Xiaobing, director of the world archaeological research office at the Institute of Archaeology of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
"The Hongshan culture's refined ritual system and its character of merging different philosophical thoughts making significant contributions to investigate the origin of civilizations of China," Jia said.
Iran launched nearly 200 ballistic missiles at Israel on Tuesday in what Tehran said was retaliation for the recent killings of top Hezbollah and Hamas officials. Analysts view the attack as the latest escalation of the regional tensions at a time when this round of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict has dragged on for nearly a year, with a greater potential to spill over to regional multi-point conflicts.
Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps said in statements on Tuesday that it launched dozens of ballistic missiles on strategic centers in Israel in retaliation for Israel's assassinations of Hamas Politburo Chief Ismail Haniyeh, Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, and senior IRGC commander Abbas Nilforoushan, as well as its intensification of "malicious acts" with the US support in its offensives against Lebanese and Palestinian peoples, Xinhua reported.
Iran's forces used hypersonic Fattah missiles for the first time, and 90 percent of its missiles successfully hit their targets in Israel, the Revolutionary Guards said, according to Reuters.
The Israel Defense Forces said it conducted a "large number of interceptions." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Israelis that Iran "made a big mistake" and "will pay" for launching a missile attack on the country Tuesday, according to CNN.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi posted on social media platform X early on Wednesday that Iran exercised "self-defense" against Israel and its action is concluded unless the "Israeli regime decides to invite further retaliation," Reuters reported. "Our action is concluded unless Israeli regime decides to invite further retaliation. In that scenario, our response will be stronger and more powerful," Araqchi added.
Jordan, Iraq, and Lebanon have announced the closure of their airspace on Tuesday evening after the Iranian missile attack.
Meanwhile, 55 people were killed and 156 were injured in Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon in the past 24 hours, according to the Lebanese health ministry on early Wednesday.
With war ramping up across the Middle East on Tuesday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appealed for the violence to end now. "I condemn the broadening of the Middle East conflict, with escalation after escalation," he said in a tersely worded statement. "This must stop. We absolutely need a ceasefire."
Iran's move is a response to a series of recent developments in the region, experts said. "Recently, evaluations from both Iran and the international community suggest that Iran is in a rather unfavorable situation," Liu Zhongmin, a professor at the Middle East Studies Institute of Shanghai International Studies University, told the Global Times on Wednesday.
Iran has endured pressure for a long time, and this move may intend to reverse the increasingly disadvantageous situation for Iran over the past few months, Liu said.
According to the Washington Post, US Vice President Kamala Harris said Tuesday she condemned Iran's attack on Israel "unequivocally" and "fully support[s]" President Joe Biden's order for the US military to shoot down Iranian missiles aimed at Israel.
Experts warned that the regional situation is at high risk of escalating into multi-point conflicts. The US continues to indulge Israel and tacitly allows it to take any unrestricted military action, Sun Degang, director of the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Fudan University, told the Global Times on Wednesday.
"The US has sent the wrong signals to the wrong allies at the wrong time, leading to an escalation of the situation that is out of control and spreading. Therefore, it is likely that multi-point conflicts will inevitably erupt next," Sun said.
Experts also noted that the difficulty faced by the US to maintain its balancing policy in the Middle East will increase.
The US aims to maintain comprehensive support for Israel while hoping to avoid being drawn into a new round of conflict, which could affect its strategic contraction in the Middle East and the global shift of focus toward great power competition, Liu said.
Therefore, the US has adopted a strategy of dynamic military adjustments. Whenever the crisis escalates, it enhances its military presence in the Middle East to demonstrate support for Israel and deter the Iran-led axis of resistance, Liu noted. "However, as tensions between Israel and Iran escalate, achieving this balance will be increasingly challenging."
According to the Department of Consular Affairs of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 146 Chinese citizens in Lebanon and five foreign family members safely arrived in Beijing on Wednesday on a charter flight operated by Air China, following 69 Chinese citizens in Lebanon, along with their 11 foreign family members, on Tuesday safely arrived in Cyprus aboard the vessel Xin Xia Men of China Ocean Shipping Group.
All Chinese citizens who wished to evacuate have now safely left Lebanon. The Chinese embassy in Lebanon will continue its work and remain on duty, the department said on Wednesday.
The world's top table tennis players will fight for 2000 world ranking points at the 2024 World Table Tennis (WTT) China Smash, the highest-level event in WTT, as its draw ceremony for the main event was held on Friday in Beijing.
"The world's best players are gathered here, from Olympic champions to rising stars, each ready to leave their mark on this historic event. From the first serve to the final point, every match will be a testament to the grit, skill, and resilience of these athletes," said WTT CEO Steve Dainton in an interview with the Global Times.
In a Chinese derby qualifying match on Friday, Liu Weishan, a member of the Chinese national team and the WTT regular challenge women's doubles champion, defeated her teammate Yang Yiyun 3-0 to advance smoothly.
After the match, Liu Weishan told the Global Times that the two players knew each other quite well, and she attributed her victory to her mindset. She noted that she performed well by being more patient on the court, thinking less about the result and focusing on doing her best.
Outside of the competition, Lars Graff, the joint tournament director of the China Tennis Open, visited the venue. The competitive teams from the two top international tournaments discussed their experiences in hosting events.
"I believe that more young people will enjoy the WTT table tennis events, as the color schemes and atmosphere in the venues are very appealing. Compared to tennis, the audience for table tennis is becoming younger," Graff noted.
He believes that table tennis and tennis have much to learn and collaborate on, especially in areas such as sponsorship. He looks forward to seeing table tennis promoted better around the world through the development of WTT.
"I love the table tennis events in China, not only for the exciting matches but also for the vibrant atmosphere. I hope to see more young players like Sun Yingsha leading the development of this sport, helping table tennis gain broader recognition and appreciation worldwide!" a fan of Sun Yingsha told our reporters.
At the WTT merchandise store, enthusiastic fans crowded the venue. The limited-release "plantable seed badges" sold out quickly, while staff explained that the two types of table tennis paddle badges were also very popular among customers.
At the Quad leaders' summit US President Joe Biden hosted in his Delaware hometown over the weekend, the four-nation group - which consists of the US, Japan, India and Australia - agreed to expand security cooperation, including joint coast guard mission, with China on mind.
The agenda of the meeting and its joint statement, which referred to East and South China Seas, exposed Quad's nature of bloc confrontation, analysts said on Sunday, criticizing the four-nation partnership for its detrimental role of fomenting confrontation and inciting geopolitical tensions in Asia Pacific.
US national security adviser Jake Sullivan insisted earlier Saturday during a briefing with reporters that "China is not the focus of the Quad," CNN reported, but the issue (of China) featured throughout the day.
The joint statement, released on the White House's website, did not directly name China, but it did mention "East and South China Seas," meanwhile, Biden was caught on a hot mic telling the other leaders that an "aggressive China is testing us," CNN reported.
Anchored by shared values, the Quad leaders seek to uphold the international order based on the rule of law and they are "seriously concerned" about the situation in East and South China Seas, according to a joint statement after the summit. Create division
Ding Duo, deputy director of the Institute of Maritime Law and Policy at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, noted that Quad members have made efforts to downplay its focus on China, emphasizing instead the shared values and strategic interests of the four countries. However, analysis of the summit's outcomes reveals it is targeting China.
"Targeting China" is not only at a strategic level but it also involves tactical arrangements, and specific plans, Ding told the Global Times on Sunday.
Per the joint statement, the four countries have agreed on a joint coast guard mission in 2025, and vowed to enhance logistics cooperation as well as data and information sharing within and outside the bloc, giving attention to developing maritime security ties with Pacific Island Countries and Southeast Asia.
Ding pointed out that the Quad could support countries like the Philippines and Japan, which have maritime disputes with China, through specific joint maritime operations.
The Quad statement also mentioned so-called "dangerous use of coast guard and maritime militia vessels, including increasing the use of dangerous maneuvers," hinting at China's frictions with the Philippines; however, in face of Philippine provocations under US instigation, China's actions aim to safeguard its sovereignty and legitimate rights, analysts said.
The Quad has been scaremongering, inciting antagonism and confrontation, and holding back other countries' development, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a press briefing in July in response to a Quad foreign ministers meeting in Tokyo which voiced "serious concern about the situation in the East and South China Seas."
Some countries outside the region have frequently sent advanced military aircraft and vessels to the South China Sea to flex their muscles and create tension, and have formed various groupings and incited division and confrontation in the region. All of this makes them the biggest threat and challenge to regional peace and stability, Lin said.
Li Haidong, a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times on Sunday that the Quad mechanism is US-led and serves as a strategic tool to favor the US in its competition with China at both regional and global levels.
Although India, Australia and Japan have their own interests, the nature and direction of this mechanism will remain aligned with the strategic needs of the US, Li said.
Biden would not give up the opportunity of his last Quad summit to hype up China issues to amplify "China threat" rhetoric, and create a wrong impression that Washington's China policy is embraced widely, Li said.
Loose partnership
Although the Quad mechanism has convened meetings at different levels in the past few years and the US has strived to paint a picture of extensive and in-depth cooperation under the mechanism, "the outcomes have focused on political and diplomatic realms, being more of a posture," Ding said.
Cooperation is difficult when it comes to substantial inputs and spending of money, Ding said, adding that many of the proposals, such as joint actions and information sharing, can actually be carried out in a bilateral manner without a structure like the Quad.
Also, the obscure reference to China in the Quad statement could be the result of an internal compromise, analysts said, as members have different views on the approach to deal with China - Japan, Australia and India have intensive economic or people-to-people exchanges with China.
Different from US alliance with Japan or Australia, the Quad is a rather loose partnership, with each member aspiring to utilize the bloc to elevate their own international status, Li told the Global Times.
"It remains to be seen whether the Quad will continue to be a loose group or become a real alliance and further consolidate," Li said.
"Read ten thousand books, and your pen will be guided as if by the gods" is an ancient Chinese idiom that can be seen in students' textbooks. China's Ministry of Education has published an action plan to further promote reading among students across the nation. With new and diverse book recommendations, the reading scene is expected to be revived not only at schools, but also across society. To contribute to this endeavor, the Global Times launched "My Reading Life" essay contest for middle school students.
Please pick up a pen and share your stories with us at reading@globaltimes.com.cn
Participants will be rewarded once the article has been selected. Over the years, reading has become an important part of my life. I always remember a notable motto that says, "Books are the ladder of human progress."
I like reading because reading can change people's lives. Through reading, people can obtain different information, knowledge and experiences, which can help them better understand the world and improve themselves.
At the same time, reading good books can also help people establish good values, world views and life attitudes, and obtain spiritual satisfaction and growth, and promote personal development.
Reading has not only enriched my mind, but also provided spiritual support and impetus for my growth.
For example, my favorite book Wonder by R.J. Palacio shows the substance of empathy, friendship, acceptance and celebrating differences.
I remember a quote from the book says that when given the choice between being right and being kind, choose kind. I believes in this quote.
Wonder tells the story of August, a 10-year-old boy who lives with his parents and sister in New York.
August is an ordinary boy in many ways. He likes riding a bike and playing video games. But August, or Auggie as people call him, was born with facial deformities and so looks very different from others. Because of his facial deformities, his mother homeschooled him for the past five years, but the family finally decided that it was time for him to start school. Auggie's first year at school was terrible, most people were afraid of him, so they kept away. Day after day, some kids bullied him with a game called "The Plague."
Whenever somebody got close to Auggie, that meant they caught the plague. But he never gave up on himself, and never lost hope. Through the hard times, a girl called Summer reached out her hands for him to be friends, that was when August first felt kindness from friends.
But towards the end, a dramatic event at a school camp changed things completely, people found out how brave he was, and how hard it was for him to get along with people and began to understand him.
Kindness is the main theme in Wonder. It helps us realize that a small, simple act of kindness can make a big difference, and we have the ability to choose kindness. From this book, I have learned to face differences in people. Maybe if we knew what other people were thinking, we'd know that no one is ordinary, and at least we all deserve a standing ovation at least once in our lives, because everyone is a unique star, and always ready to shine.
In 2017, the novel was adapted into a film of the same name by US director Stephen Chbosky. The film features stars like Julia Roberts and Owen Wilson and was a box-office success due to the heartwarming story that resonated with many audiences.
Although some of us do not go through the kind of hardship that Auggie does, we still can feel connected to the boy's story because at some points in life we have all gone through struggles and pain like Auggie.
Books like this make me believe that cultural productions can really inspire people and change how people think about life.
All in all, reading helps us become better people, and we can also gain happiness. If we continue to learn and constantly improve our cognition, we will be able to achieve a higher level of happiness. This sense of happiness derived from knowledge leads to both external happiness and inner satisfaction and prosperity.
So, I hope everyone can find a book that makes your day, and try to make reading part of your life.
The author is a student at the Beijing Wenhui Middle School
An opening ceremony for master classes at the Russian Institute of Theatre Arts was jointly hosted by Russia's Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States Affairs, Compatriots Living Abroad, and the International Humanitarian Cooperation, or Rossotrudnichestvo, the Russian Institute of Theatre Arts (GITIS), the Beijing Federation of Literary and Art Circles, and the Russian Cultural Center in Beijing on September 18.
Deputy Head of the Public Diplomacy Department of Rossotrudnichestvo Evgeniy Demin, read a welcoming speech by the Head of Rossotrudnichestvo, Yevgeny Primakov.
"I am sure that the best professionals will teach you techniques that will undoubtedly be useful in your professional activities," Primakov said, wishing the Chinese trainees new horizons, true creative inspiration, a positive charge of energy, and new friends.
Ma Xinming, executive vice chairman of the Beijing Federation of Literary and Art Circles, said that, as China's cultural center, Beijing has been committed to building a platform for international cultural exchanges through promoting mutual learning between civilizations.
"Through in-depth study and discussion of the essence of Russian drama art, this program [of master classes] aims to broaden our artistic horizons and enhance the professional quality and innovation capability of players in [the] literary and art [fields] in the capital city," Ma said.
Tatiana Urzhumtseva, director of the Russian Cultural Center in Beijing, said that Russian dramaturgy played a significant role in the development of Chinese modern theatre. "Understanding Russian classical dramaturgy in China and Chinese culture, the theatrical art of China in Russia contributes to the development and mutual enrichment of the theatrical systems of our countries," she said.
The GITIS, a Russian higher education institution, is the largest theatre university and one of the largest in the world. It is the only higher education institution in Russia at which students receive education in all theater specialties and levels of training in eight faculties. The master classes run until September 21.
