10 big things about China you should not miss (Jan. 6 -- Jan. 10)
1. Xi chairs CPC leadership meeting on Xizang quake relief
Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, chaired a CPC leadership meeting on Thursday to study and arrange disaster relief following a 6.8-magnitude earthquake in Xizang Autonomous Region on Tuesday.
The earthquake struck Dingri County, in Xigaze City at 9:05 a.m., leaving 126 people dead and at least 188 others injured.
So far, a total of 407 trapped people have been rescued and 224 resettlement sites set up for 47,500 relocated residents, with their basic living needs ensured.
2. First cruise ship of 2025 arrives in Shanghai under visa-free policy
The cruise ship “Silver Dawn” arrived in Shanghai on Wednesday, marking the first international cruise arrival of 2025.
The vessel carried more than 400 passengers from around the world, with the majority benefiting from China’s visa-free entry policies, according to Ma Yingjie, director of the Pujiang Border Inspection Station under the Shanghai General Border Inspection Station.
The passengers, hailing from countries and regions such as the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Germany, plan to visit iconic sites like the Bund and the Oriental Pearl Tower, experiencing Shanghai’s blend of modern sophistication and classical charm.
3. China to launch Chang'e 7 lunar mission in 2026 to search for water ice
China plans to launch the Chang'e 7 lunar mission in 2026 to search for “water ice” in the lunar south pole. This mission marks the cornerstone of the fourth phase of China's lunar exploration program, according to the China National Space Administration (CNSA) on Wednesday.
The Chang'e 7 includes the main probe, which consists of an orbiter, a lander, a rover, and a mini-flying probe, and a relay satellite. Both Chang'e 7 and Chang'e 8 missions are expected to form the foundation for an international research station on the Moon.
4. New Foreign Ministry spokesperson makes press debut
Guo Jiakun, the newly appointed spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, hosted a press briefing on Monday in Beijing.
Guo, born in August 1980, is of Mongolian ethnicity. He holds a bachelor's degree and is a member of the Communist Party of China.
To date, the ministry has appointed 35 spokespersons, each dedicated to introducing and explaining the concepts, principles, and policies of China's diplomacy.
5. 30-day countdown to biggest, most inclusive Asian Winter Games yet
The 30-day countdown to the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province commenced on Tuesday.
The Games will be the first major international ice and snow event hosted by China since the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
The organizing committee has released the competition schedule by session. Ice hockey and curling events will begin on Feb. 3 and 4, respectively. According to the schedule, Team China will make its debut in the Mixed Doubles’ Curling Round Robin on the morning of Feb. 4.
6. China's express delivery sector posts fast growth in 2024
China's courier sector handled 174.5 billion parcels in 2024, marking a surge of 21 percent year on year, the State Post Bureau announced Wednesday.
The annual express delivery volume exceeds 150 billion parcels for the first time. This comes just 10 years after the nation's total parcel volume surpassed 10 billion in 2014.
Driving this rapid growth are China's robust consumer market and advancements in logistics technology and infrastructure. Key developments include investments in unmanned vehicles, drones, and automated sorting systems, which have significantly enhanced both network capacity and service quality.
7. 174 families seek aid for relatives trapped in Myanmar after actor's rescue
A woman posted on the Chinese social media platform Weibo on Sunday evening, stating that her boyfriend Wang Xing, an actor, had gone missing in Meso, a county on the Thailand-Myanmar border, three days prior.
According to the Chinese Embassy in Thailand, Wang was successfully rescued on Tuesday, which has brought renewed attention to the plight of individuals allegedly trapped in Myanmar under dubious circumstances.
On the same day, a group chat of 487 family members supporting loved ones believed to be trapped in Myanmar began compiling information through an online document, according to Chinese news outlet Hongxing News.
8. Nanjing Massacre survivor dies, leaving only 31 registered survivors
Ai Yiying, who survived the Nanjing Massacre, passed away on Thursday at the age of 97, bringing the number of living registered survivors to 31, said the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders.
The Nanjing Massacre refers to when Japanese troops captured the then Chinese capital on Dec. 13, 1937. Over six weeks, they killed approximately 300,000 Chinese civilians and unarmed soldiers in one of the most barbaric episodes of World War II.
9. Giant pandas enjoy special feast during Laba Festival in Chongqing
The Laba Festival, celebrated on the eighth day of the 12th lunar month, falls on Tuesday this year and marks the traditional beginning of preparations for the Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year.
A cherished tradition of the festival is enjoying Laba porridge, a festive dish rich in symbolism. It generally contains at least eight ingredients, a fortuitous number in Chinese culture.
As people across China mark the occasion, pandas at Chongqing's Leheledu Animal Theme Park join in the festivities with their own special treats.
10. Rare tufted deer spotted in northwest China's Qinghai Province
Two rare tufted deer were spotted in Bainma County, Guoluo Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Qinghai Province, local publicity authority said on Monday.
The tufted deer is a small species of deer known for the tuft of black hair on its forehead and fang-like canines in males. It was listed as a species under second-class national protection in China in 2021.
According to Gao Hongmei, a research fellow at Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, the increasing wildlife population in Bainma County signals a notable improvement in biodiversity, underscoring its significance for both national and global conservation efforts.
