As the Mid-Autumn Festival approaches, China's film industry is gearing up for a promising season, offering a diverse lineup of 21 new releases to draw audiences back to theaters. At a time when the market faces challenges, will this mix of films have the potential to energize the box office? An industry expert told the Global Times that he has confidence in this year's Mid-Autumn film season.
Among the highly anticipated films, Stand by Me, which premieres on Sunday, stands out due to high pre-sales.
Following that, there's the Hollywood thriller Speak No Evil. On September 17 when the Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated, there will be realism-orientated films such as Like A Rolling Stone and Enjoy Yourself, as well as comedies like A Frozen Rage and Keep Rolling.
Moreover, there will be re-releases such as The Wandering Earth II, along with a behind-the-scenes documentary about the film.
According to online ticketing platform Maoyan, by 12:29 pm on Wednesday, pre-sales for this season have already surpassed 40 million yuan ($5.62 million), with Stand by Me, Like A Rolling Stone, and Enjoy Yourself leading the pack. From thrillers to comedies and animated films, the Mid-Autumn season caters to diverse audience preferences.
This year's Mid-Autumn Festival falls in mid-September, right between the summer and National Day film seasons, serving as a bridge for the market. The recent summer box office was not ideal, with a decline in both revenue and viewership compared to 2023.
The summer box office (June 1 to August 31) reached 11.64 billion yuan, a decrease of nearly 9 billion yuan compared to 20.619 billion yuan in 2023.
Additionally, this summer saw 285 million tickets sold, a significant drop compared to the 505 million from the same period in 2023.
According to a report by Maoyan, the long-tail index for summer blockbusters has significantly decreased compared to 2023, with overall post-release box-office performance and film discussions being less favorable.
The long-tail index refers to the total box-office earnings divided by opening day earnings.
Additionally, there was a scarcity of large-scale family films, which led to a decrease in group viewership, while single-viewer rates reached their highest in the past six years.
The most prominent reason for not watching films during the summer is "lack of interest in the films." The "cost-effectiveness" of going to the cinema was also a crucial factor in audiences' decision-making.
However, since the box office for the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays in 2023, which were combined that year, reached 2.734 billion yuan, one interviewed expert noted he is optimistic about this year's performance during the Mid-Autumn Festival holidays.
"Although the summer season didn't meet expectations, the film market is not lacking in excitement, and there is a certain level of anticipation for the Mid-Autumn Festival," Sun Jiashan, an associate researcher at the Central Academy of Culture and Tourism Administration, told the Global Times.
According to Sun, this year's Mid-Autumn Festival benefits from its timing. If it were closer to the summer or National Day periods, many films might opt to release during those peak times instead.
"I believe that this year's Mid-Autumn releases might actually perform slightly better than last year's. The key is that the lineup for this year is quite rich for a smaller season, offering a wide range of choices across various genres, including Hollywood films, realistic themes, and comedies," he added.
Realism is a major highlight of this year's Mid-Autumn film season. Movies like Stand by Me and Like A Rolling Stone stand out not only for their narratives but also for their focus on realism, often tackling pressing social issues.
Friendly exchanges between China and Africa have enjoyed a long history and have deepened in recent years, covering various fields such as politics, the economy, and culture. The Global Times is launching a China-Africa Rhapsody series, aiming to showcase the profound human connections and development visions between the two peoples by sharing the true stories of Chinese people in Africa and African people in China. From touching stories of China-Africa cooperation and exciting collisions of youthful ideas, to debunking fallacies concocted by some Western sources about the China-Africa collaboration, this series hopes to promote closer cooperation and deeper understanding between the peoples of China and Africa.
In this installment, we turn our attention to the world of sporting arenas. The Paris 2024 Olympics successfully concluded on Sunday night, local time, with athletes from China and Africa showcasing their remarkable talents. Sports cooperation between China and Africa began in the 1950s, and in recent years, significant achievements have been made in this field, making sports exchanges an important bridge for cultural exchange and mutual understanding between the Chinese and African peoples.
We spoke with coaches, experts, and enterprises directly involved in China-Africa sports exchanges to hear about their rich and diverse experiences and insights from working in Africa. Sports have become a new link in China-Africa cooperation, bringing joy and numerous benefits to numerous people.
Sports exchanges between China and Africa began in the 1950s. In 1957, less than a year after China and Egypt established diplomatic relations, the Chinese table tennis team visited Egypt, marking the first Chinese sports delegation to set foot in Africa.
Since then, sports have played a vital role in bridging the two regions. The Chinese basketball and soccer teams have visited multiple African countries, while African teams like the Guinean and Moroccan national soccer teams have visited China.
These exchanges have deepened mutual understanding and trust, significantly contributing to the development of China-Africa relations.
In recent years, China has sent coaches for sports like badminton and table tennis to countries like Uruguay and has built or upgraded sports facilities in nations such as Guinea-Bissau. Additionally, China has provided technical training for large cultural and sporting events.
The 2021 White Paper "China and Africa in the New Era: A Partnership of Equals" released by the State Council highlighted that China has built 45 stadiums and 170 schools across Africa since 2000, training over 160,000 professionals, demonstrating the tangible benefits of the China-Africa partnership.
This growing "sports diplomacy" underscores the importance of cultural exchange and cooperation, enhancing the friendship between China and Africa.
The new home stadium
Wang Neng's initial impressions of Africa, aside from the scorching weather in West Africa, included the people's passion for soccer.
"Adults and children alike show off their soccer skills wherever they go," said Wang, 34, a project manager with the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) based in Cote d'Ivoire.
Wang first arrived in Africa in 2015. He told the Global Times that most of the fields here were simply patches of wild grass, slightly modified for use as main venues for Cote d'Ivoire's soccer league. Ordinary people and children played casually on hard, unpaved fields.
Wang has made friends with locals by playing soccer, but he and his colleagues have done much more than that.
In January 2024, the 34th Africa Cup of Nations kicked off in Cote d'Ivoire, with the Laurent Pokou Stadium in San-Pedro, built by the CCECC, drawing significant attention.
The Laurent Pokou Stadium, with a seating capacity of over 20,000 and more than 2,000 parking spaces, saw local cultural elements incorporated into its construction. The venue boasts a world-class field, athletic track, and lighting. The CCECC also installed solar photovoltaic technology to support the country's sustainability efforts.
Now, with the CCECC having completed the construction of the main stadium and four training grounds in San Pedro, the local demand for sports facilities has been greatly met. The stadium's construction has also spurred the development of surrounding infrastructure, including hospitals, hotels, universities, airports, and municipal roads, significantly enhancing the city's image, the Global Times has learned from the CCECC.
Moreover, at least three stadiums built by Chinese companies were used in the Africa Cup of Nations held in Cote d'Ivoire earlier this year.
Despite some biased criticisms and attempts by Western media to sow discord in China-Africa relations, China's aid to Africa has consistently demonstrated a genuine understanding of the continent's needs and has withstood various tests.
Even The New York Times acknowledged in a February article that "no country has invested more effort in integrating into Africa's sports scene than China."
Perhaps they do not need not worry on behalf of Africans.
Team Cote d'Ivoire chose Laurent Pokou Stadium for their first two warm-up matches as the host country. Their star player, Sébastien Haller, praised the stadium, "For me, [it is] the best turf is at San-Pedro."
On February 13, 2024, Haller scored the winning goal in the final, helping Cote d'Ivoire defeat Nigeria to claim the championship of the 34th Africa Cup of Nations.
Coach for better
In the China-dominated table tennis field, there are also more African players who, with China's assistance and support, travel tens of thousands of miles to receive training in China along with their Chinese peers.
In late July, Nasri Malissa from Algeria made a speech at the 7th China-Africa People's Forum, sharing her story of receiving table tennis training in China. In 2016, Malissa attended the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Youth Championships held by the China Table Tennis College (CTTC) at the Shanghai University of Sport.
Malissa got the precious opportunity of being coached by renowned world champions including Zhang Yining during the championships. After that, Malissa said she made many excellent achievements in international competitions.
Malissa's experience has planted a seed in the hearts of more table tennis players in her home country, who dream of a similar journey to China. At an opening ceremony of the CTTC's summer school on July 1, 20-year-old Amdjed Oustani shared his excitement.
Oustani first heard of the CTTC from Malissa, who told him about the college's high-level coaches, first-class equipment, and an opportunity to meet the stars of the Chinese national table tennis team. "So, I was very happy and excited when I received the invitation from the CTTC," he said at the opening ceremony. "I'm super looking forward to learning more in the following month, and to become stronger in the world's number one table tennis country." The month-long summer school program in Shanghai was not easy for most international participants. Oustani, who finished the program and returned to Algeria last week, recalled that he had a few difficult times in the beginning, as he "was not used to training like this before."
"But the days became very good after that," Oustani told the Global Times. "I learned a lot in table tennis with this program, and also I learned from the serious discipline of the Chinese [table tennis teams], which is very important."
Oustani spent a wonderful month in Shanghai at the CTTC. He was coached by former members of the Chinese national team Feng Zhe and Zhang Qin. The latter used to coach Sun Yingsha, currently the world's top-ranked female table tennis player. Apart from training, Oustani visited tourist attractions across the city, from the most iconic The Bund and Yuyuan Garden, to the ITTF Museum and China Table Tennis Museum.
Oustani joked that he was born with a racket in his hands. His father was also a table tennis player, and he has been practicing the sport for 14 years. His favorite table tennis players are Ma Long, Wang Chuqin, and Xu Xin, all of whom are household names in China. "My goals in table tennis are to be an African champion and, why not [try to] beat some good and known players?" he told the Global Times.
Oustani participated in the CTTC's summer school program with the help of the college, the Chinese Embassy in Algeria, and the Algerian Chinese enterprises association.
Similar to what Malissa did at the China-Africa People's Forum, Oustani expressed his gratitude to China, which made this opportunity possible with joint efforts.
With the development of table tennis in Africa and the deepening of the China-Africa friendship, more African players are expected to receive training and learn advanced playing skills in China.
Sports for everyone
Of course, sports are not just for professional athletes - they're for everyone.
Today, in various locations across Africa, fitness parks built by Chinese companies have become popular destinations. These facilities, which are common in Chinese communities - simple yet durable and reusable fitness equipment - blend in seamlessly with the African landscape.
From 2016 to 2017, for example, under the organization of the Economic and Commercial Office of the Chinese Embassy in Senegal and the Association of Chinese Enterprises in Senegal, the China International Water and Electric Corporation (CWE) AIBD-Mbour-Thies Expressway in Senegal, in collaboration with over 20 Chinese companies, contributed to the construction of the Dakar Seaside Fitness Park and Kaolack Fitness Park.
These two fitness parks, spanning over 40,000 square meters, remain popular spots for daily exercise among local residents.
Since their completion, the Dakar Seaside Fitness Park and Kaolack Fitness Park have been widely appreciated and praised by the Senegalese government and citizens alike, greatly enriching the daily leisure activities of locals.
The Dakar Seaside Fitness Park, in particular, has become a beautiful evening attraction along the coast and is affectionately called the "China-Senegal Friendship Park" by locals, further strengthening the bond between the people of China and Senegal and establishing a positive corporate image. In recent years, Chinese civil organizations have also actively engaged in sports exchanges under frameworks like the BRI, BRICS, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
Since 2014, the private Chinese company StarTimes has been expanding its sports content in Africa, consistently investing in the acquisition of broadcasting rights for world-renowned sporting events.
They have built eight high-definition sports channels to broadcast various sports, including soccer, boxing, basketball, tennis, e-sports, and racing, to audiences in sub-Saharan Africa.
Just as Wang expressed, "I hope to use the company's platform to build more beneficial projects for the African people and contribute to China-Africa friendship in a modest way." This sentiment echo the feelings of many who are engaged in China-Africa exchanges.
A China Coast Guard (CCG) spokesperson confirmed on Sunday that the Philippine Coast Guard ship MRRV-9701 left the lagoon of China’s Xianbin Jiao (also known as Xianbin Reef) in the South China Sea around 2pm on Saturday. This marks the temporary conclusion of the standoff that began on April 17, when the Philippine ship illegally intruded and anchored at Xianbin Jiao for nearly five months. Experts interviewed by the Global Times on Sunday highlighted that China's successful response thwarted the Philippines' goals, leaving withdrawal as their only option. However, based on recent Philippine movements, this may not be the end of their provocations in the South China Sea. China must remain vigilant as the Philippines may attempt to shift similar tactics to other islands and reefs, for which China is also prepared to respond and counter at any time.
After previously publicly declaring that the Philippines would not withdraw from the waters of Xianbin Jiao, the Philippine National Maritime Council released a statement on Sunday, stating that after more than five months at sea, 9701 is now “sailing back to her homeport with her mission accomplished.”
Based on what the Global Time has learned, the withdrawal of ship 9701 from China's Xianbin Jiao, where it had illegally anchored for nearly five months, occurred three days after the meeting between heads of the China-Philippines Bilateral Consultation Mechanism on the South China Sea on Wednesday. However, the Philippines did not notify China in advance of the withdrawal. The departure signifies the failure of this round of Philippine provocations and represents a phased step toward peace and stability in the South China Sea.
"If the Philippines tries to package 9701's withdrawal as a 'victory' after completing its 'mission,' it would be absurd," Xue Chen, a research fellow at Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, told the Global Times on Sunday. He pointed out that the August 28 air-dropped supplies were clearly insufficient, and the ship's withdrawal was more likely an act of desperation as its supplies ran low. Xue further noted that the Philippines and its backers often portray such "victories" to suggest that US commitments are “effective,” but this holds little practical value beyond providing self-comfort to a small group of elites and their supporters.
Chen Xidi, a research fellow at the China Institute for Marine Affairs of the Ministry of Natural Resources, stated that the Philippines' provocations were evident from the outset in this incident, but China’s successful handling of the situation left the Philippines no choice but to withdraw.
China took firm control measures and expressed determined diplomatic stance, defending its sovereignty and jurisdiction over Xianbin Jiao and its adjacent waters. That made it impossible for the Philippine ship 9701 to quasi-ground for long, and shattered Manila's illusion of forcing China to abandon its bottom line, said Chen..
Meanwhile China acted calmly and professionally to handle the Philippines' illegal activities, which thwarted their attempts to stir up international public opinion, said Chen. Chen added that China also actively engaged in communication with the Philippines, showing goodwill while maintaining its bottom line, and urged the Philippines to withdraw its vessel and personnel voluntarily to prevent further escalation.
Although the Philippine authorities appear reluctant to acknowledge the "withdrawal," media reports paint a different picture. According to Philippine media, the crew survived on rice porridge for three weeks and had exhausted their food supply two days before returning. They also ran out of drinking water. Photos showed several crew members being administered IV drips and carried ashore on stretchers. Others attended a ceremony held by Philippine authority, which the Philippine Coast Guard Commander Ronnie Gil Gavan attended.
Xue predicted that the Philippines is likely to adopt a "playing victim" strategy next, accusing China of obstructing humanitarian aid and supply to the ship. However, in reality, it is 9701 that had illegally intruded and forcibly anchored in the Xianbin Jiao lagoon. The ship has been fully capable of leaving on its own. The so-called "humanitarian supply crisis" is a fabrication by the Philippines. In fact, Chinese vessels exercising control in the nearby waters did not obstruct the departure of the Philippine ship from Xianbin Jiao, and as soon as the ship left the lagoon, the so-called "crisis" disappeared.
Chen also emphasized that this dispute was driven by the Philippine side's attempt to stir up troubles at Xianbin Jiao through radical maritime actions, aiming to fabricate a negative image of China in order to gain attention and support from external powers. The Philippines also sought to escalate tensions and conflicts to draw external powers further into the South China Sea dispute..
However, regardless of how the Philippines tries to frame its withdrawal, experts believe this is unlikely to be the end of its provocations in the South China Sea. They suggest China should remain vigilant and prevent the Philippines from repeating similar tactics in the future. .
"The withdrawal does not mean the Philippines will give up," said Xue. He added that the Philippines might accuse China of "remaining" at Xianbin Jiao, conveniently ignoring that China has the legal right to patrol its jurisdictional waters. Furthermore, the Philippines neither informed China of 9701’s withdrawal in advance nor indicated its future plans.
According to the latest statement from the National Maritime Council of the Philippines, the 9701 will "resume her mission" after resupplied. Whether it will return to Xianbin Jiao or be replaced by another ship remains a concern. However, for the Philippines, the lesson should be clear: any new provocation will be met with stronger responses from China, regardless of whether any third-party warships provide "escort" for their next "mission." Even if the Philippines shifts such illegal actions to other regions in the South China Sea, China will always be prepared to reposition and intercept as necessary.
Chen also suggests that regardless of the Philippine side's true intentions behind withdrawing its ship and personnel from Xianbin Jiao, China’s determination to protect its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights will not waver, and its commitment to resolving South China Sea disputes peacefully under international law and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea remains unchanged. Chen further noted that China will never allow a repeat of the situation at Ren'ai Jiao to occur at Xianbin Jiao and has the capability to ensure this will not happen in the future.
"Philippines should not harbor any illusions, nor is there any need to return or test China's redline by other means," said Chen. The withdrawal of the 9701 and its personnel from Xianbin Jiao should mark the beginning of the Philippines returning to the right track on the South China Sea dispute, rather than a mere “interlude.” This is not only the shared vision of China and other countries that genuinely wish to build the South China Sea into a region of peace and cooperation, but also in the best interest of the Philippines.
A performance by dancers of the National Ballet of China closed the two-month-long Open Door to Art summer festival in Beijing's Forbidden City Concert Hall (FCCH) on Saturday night.
According to Liu Qi from the National Ballet of China, the performance for young children included selections from the classic ballets The Four Little Swans and modern ballet pieces like On the Road and Song of the Wilderness.
The Open Door to Art summer festival has been held each summer for the past 31 years. According to Xu Jian from the Beijing Poly Forbidden City Theatre Management Company, the summer festival has built a platform for audiences to experience the art of Beijing performed by the country's national-level art troupes and international artists as well.
The year 2024's festival also hosted artistic tours to Beijing, its neighboring Tianjin Municipality and Hebei Province with a variety of visiting and art experiences.
The upcoming release of Black Myth: Wukong on Tuesday has attracted worldwide attention. The game's trailers and gameplay demos have garnered over 100 million views on Bilibili, China's equivalent of YouTube, and over 10 million views on YouTube. According to SteamDB, a third-party Steam database website, Black Myth currently holds the top spot on the global sales chart.
As China's first true AAA title - a game characterized by high development costs, long production cycles, and significant resource investment, Black Myth represents a major breakthrough of the Chinese gaming industry.
The game is set against the backdrop of the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. After Tang Monk and his disciples successfully obtained Buddhist scriptures, Monkey King (Sun Wukong) was named Fighting Buddha and gradually vanished without a trace. The player, known as the Destined One, embarks on an epic journey to uncover the truth behind the legendary tale.
Ke Yuheng (LK), a prominent online influencer who participated in a demo of Black Myth, told the Global Times that the player controls a young monkey (Destined One) who, inspired by the legendary tale, becomes determined to follow in Sun Wukong's footsteps on the journey to the West.
"Right now, we still don't know if the 'Destined One' is actually the true Wukong or just a spiritual successor, but the available material suggests that this is a world where Buddhist teachings have declined and demons run rampant," LK noted.
Cultural export
The game review site IGN China has showered the title with praise, calling it a "masterpiece." "Black Myth is a truly competitive game on the global market. I believe it will be a strong contender for Game of the Year, and after this, Game Science will undoubtedly become one of the world's top ARPG developers," said Charles Young, an IGN reviewer.
While the game's massive popularity in China can partly be attributed to national familiarity with Journey to the West, the fact that it has captivated international audiences - many of whom lack this cultural background - suggests that Black Myth is on the right path.
Many overseas players have been inspired by the game to start reading the original book Journey to the West. Fans of Black Myth have even started posting videos online, sharing their understanding of Chinese mythology and the Journey to the West story.
"Hey, have you read Journey to the West? Because this game got me to read it, and now I'm going back to reread it," wrote Reddit user Gamskining in a post about the game.
As the game's preview sessions have rolled out, numerous international media outlets and invited influencers have provided in-depth coverage and reviews. These articles have not only praised the game's technical and artistic achievements but have also highlighted its cultural significance.
"If you understand Chinese, you'll never forget how beautifully the prose and dialogue in this game is written. It's the kind of writing that befits a major Chinese work," said a reviewer from the video game site GamesRadar.
However, the game's plot, which draws heavily from Journey to the West, has proven challenging for those unfamiliar with the source material. This has been cited by many foreign reviewers, including IGN, as a reason for not awarding the game a perfect score.
"Black Myth stands alone in terms of both cultural content and the themes it explores. The subject matter of Journey to the West is something that only Chinese people can fully grasp, while the understanding of the story in the West is relatively superficial," Chinese professional game reviewer Natto told the Global Times.
Natto acknowledged that cultural differences might create some discomfort for non-Chinese-speaking players, but he believes there is no need to change to cater to the global market.
"Back in the day, Chinese PC gamers had to rely on translations by fans who had to learn the games bit by bit through self-study. If a game is good enough, people will naturally want to learn about the story behind it," he noted.
Sacred sites
Black Myth features both main and side quests that aim to recreate the original story while incorporating a wealth of traditional Chinese cultural elements. The game uses advanced technologies like real-time ray tracing to deliver cinematic-quality visuals.
"The appearance of the Diamond Sutra and the Amitabha Pure Land Rebirth Dharani in the trailers may symbolize that the 'Destined One' will retrace the path of the pilgrimage, defeating demons along the way and helping to reincarnate and redeem those left behind. This reflects the Buddhist philosophy in the game," noted LK.
It integrates elements such as Daoist talismans, Buddhist artifacts, ancient architecture, and traditional clothing, with game scenes inspired by famous Chinese landmarks like the Great Wall, the Mogao Caves, and Mount Huangshan, allowing players to experience a rich oriental atmosphere.
Recently, the Shanxi Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism released an official promotional video for Black Myth. The video showcases real locations from the game, including Xiaoxitian (Small Western Paradise), Yuhuang Temple, and Tiefo Monastery, drawing many bloggers to visit these sites as part of a "cultural pilgrimage."
"It is said that to accurately depict the story settings in Black Myth, the development team visited several locations in Shanxi to conduct research, incorporating many elements of Shanxi's famous painted sculptures," Yang Jie, a representative from the Shanxi Digital Cultural Experience Center, told the Global Times.
Shanxi is home to approximately 80 percent of China's surviving wooden structures from the Yuan Dynasty and even earlier. The province has the largest number and variety of ancient buildings in China, including numerous examples from the Tang, Five Dynasties, Song, Jin, and Yuan periods.
Black Myth also recreates architectural and scenic details from sites like the Faxing Temple in Changzhi, the Foguang Temple in Xinzhou, and the Shuanglin Temple in Pingyao, as well as the Tiefo Monastery in Gaoping, transporting players back to ancient China. "The game's near 1:1 reproduction of China's landscapes, temples, and sculptures is undoubtedly part of our cultural export," Yang said.
A number of high-quality Chinese TV series have been rolled out by younger directors who have made a name for themselves in recent years with creative production ideas. One such work, Escape from the Trilateral Slopes, a newly released thriller generating buzz on Chinese social media, exemplifies its director's exploration of creative expression.
The 21-episode Escape from the Trilateral Slopes, centers around the journey of Shen Xing, played by actor Guo Qilin, who finds himself in a remote border town while on a quest to locate his missing uncle. Along the way, he encounters Uncle Cai, a mysterious figure portrayed by veteran actor Francis Ng, who introduces unexpected twists and challenges to Shen's journey, creating a thrilling narrative filled with intrigue and moral dilemmas.
The series airing on streaming platform Youku has an 8.2/10 rating on China's major review platform Douban. Many netizens, at home and abroad, have commented that they saw humanity in the show.
What sets Escape from the Trilateral Slopes apart is its capacity to weave together multiple genres. While it features elements of mystery and suspense, the series also explores profound themes related to human nature, morality, and the struggle for survival. Directed by Mu Xincen, a fresh voice among the new generation of Chinese directors, the series' narrative is intricately layered, particularly through the perspective of Shen Xing, who copes with the challenges faced by young people as they navigate the complexities of modern life.
"If a kind of philosophy or a piece of literature can be passed down and inspire generations for thousands of years, this philosophy must contain universal value that can nourish people worldwide, just like Chinese philosophies of Taoism, Confucianism and Zen Buddhism," Tsai Chih-chung told the Global Times.
Tsai Chih-chung, born on the island of Taiwan, and spends much of his time in the Chinese mainland, is one of the world's artists with the most best-selling comics. Throughout his lengthy career, he has focused on uncovering the universal values he glimpsed in Chinese philosophy and literature, striving to make them accessible and popular by using plain language and engaging illustrations.
Tsai finally carved out his own literary niche. Nourished by these classics, his comic books have been translated into more than 20 languages and gone on sale in over 50 countries around the world.
The artist's ties with the Chinese mainland grows closer as time goes by. Residing in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang Province after becoming addicted to the "cultural atmosphere of the city," Tsai's personal gallery, which houses most of his lifelong manuscripts and masterpieces, opened in May in Gaoping, North China's Shanxi Province, a region historically associated with the ancient deified ruler Shennong, the Yan Emperor, the ancestor of Chinese civilization.
Like Tsai, other cultural luminaries, including Jiang Xun, in Taiwan feel bound to the essence of Chinese civilization and shared cultural roots across the Taiwan Straits, with their own creations and promoted the Chinese cultural essence to a larger number of audiences through comics and other art forms.
'Easy to understand'
Structured around uniform two-page spreads, each left-hand page features a full-height caption box displaying the original Chinese text of the Taoist philosopher Zhuangzi during the Warring States Period (475BC-221BC), which was mirrored by the same format on the right-hand page.
The delicate black lines of the drawings, the English text, the frames, and the ideographs come together in harmonious compositions that align beautifully with the themes of Zhuangzi's writings. The sage advice "Don't draw a boundary around the boundless" is enriched by this visual paradox. Additionally, Tsai established a visual rhythm by placing Zhuangzi's moral-like statements in the unframed white space of a concluding panel, emphasizing their significance.
This is the English version of one of Tsai's comic books, adapted from Zhuangzi's The Way of Nature, an ancient Taoist text. The image of Zhuangzi in the book features a mostly bald head roughly a third the size of his body, amusing readers with characters' exaggerated movements while adding humorous elements in the philosophical literature that is usually considered as abstruse.
Among his more than 200 titles, Tsai turns the ancient Chinese philosophers such as Zhuangzi, Laozi and Confucius into humorous images through his comics and simplifies the interpretations of their thoughts through many interesting stories, lowering the threshold for non-professionals to get access to the sage theories.
"I convey these traditional philosophical ideas to the world through the medium of comics as one of the mediums' advantages is that comics are easy to understand," Tsai told the Global Times. "You need to remember what your readers' demands are all the time."
Born in Changhua county on the island of Taiwan in 1948, Tsai taught himself the art of animation and founded the animation studio. The first full-length animated movie was produced by the studio in 1981.
Then Tsai developed a plan to adapt the major Chinese classics into comic book formats. The first was Zhuangzi Speaks, which immediately shot up the best-sellers list and stayed at the No. 1 spot for 10 months. Tsai's classic series took off since then.
Although Tsai has had excursion into so many sage thoughts in Chinese history, in his eyes, he has special bond with Taoism, the original philosophy created in China. His spiritual idol is Laozi, creator of Taoism, and he thought himself performs deeds as Zhuangzi, who maintained unconstrained mind and life.
Despite having sold over 60 million copies of his books around the world, Tsai has not slowed down in his creative endeavors.
Though settled in Hangzhou, Tsai has also moved his creations to the art gallery in Gaoping, bringing them closer to the source of his inspiration.
New window for exchanges
One important reason why Tsai chose Shanxi Province, one of the origins of Chinese civilization peppered with various relics and a long heritage, is because the Shanxi Province's rich historical atmosphere aligns perfectly with his works. He believes that the essence of Chinese civilization, deeply rooted in the city, offers abundant material and inspiration for his artistic creations.
Since its opening in May, coinciding with the person-to-person cross-Straits cultural activities honoring the Yan Emperor held in Gaoping, the gallery has welcomed over a thousand tourists per day on average to appreciate the artist's works.
The gallery has been recognized as a new platform for cross-Straits cultural exchanges, in addition to being a venue for appreciating and studying artworks, according to the director of the city's culture and tourism bureau.
These exchanges through artworks have spanned different generations of artists.
Veteran artists in Taiwan brought their exllcellent crafts to share with many young people through various audio and video programs, while cross-Straits younger artists are exchanging their ideas in art exhibitions held in diverse places on both sides of the Taiwan Straits.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Wednesday co-chaired the 29th regular meeting between Chinese and Russian heads of government with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin in Moscow and said China is ready to work with Russia to strengthen all-round practical cooperation between the two countries, and push the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era to a new level.
Analysts said that China-Russia ties remain solid and can withstand any impact and interruption from outside, and will continue to benefit the two peoples by boosting trade and comprehensive cooperation, while China's stance for peace on the Ukraine crisis will remain unchanged.
While co-chairing the meeting between Chinese and Russian heads of government, Li said that China is ready to work with Russia to follow the strategic guidance of the two heads of state and take the opportunity of the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties to uphold mutual respect, mutual trust, everlasting friendship and mutual benefit.
Mishustin said Russia is ready to work with China to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, continue to deepen mutual trust, expand cooperation in investment, energy, economy and trade, culture and sub-national areas, and ensure the success of the Russia-China Years of Culture.
Mishustin pledged Russia will join China in strengthening communication and coordination in international affairs, better safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of the two sides, and pushing forward the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era.
After the meeting, the two leaders signed a joint communique of the 29th regular meeting between Chinese and Russian heads of government and a new version of the outline of the China-Russia investment cooperation plan.
According to the Kremlin, Putin also met Li in Moscow on Wednesday. "Our countries have large-scale joint plans, projects in the economic and humanitarian areas, we expect them to last for many years," the RIA state news agency quoted Putin as saying.
Wang Xiaoquan, an expert with the Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said that this is the 29th meeting between the heads of government of the two countries. This is proof that China-Russia relations have set a paradigm for major power relations in a world in turbulence, which is based on long-term and stable win-win cooperation and solid mutual trust and respect.
Comprehensive partnership
A key characteristic of the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for the new era is the comprehensive communication mechanism that covers almost all governmental sectors and departments in all fields, Wang noted.
The two countries will use the communication mechanism to jointly deal with problems that emerge when the two sides develop their relations, and they will constantly strengthen their mutual trust and tacit understanding, experts noted.
China and Russia are both permanent members of the UN Security Council so they do have reason to maintain frequent and high-level communication to not only handle bilateral issues, but also to undertake diplomatic cooperation to jointly take responsibility to safeguard the multi-polarization process of the world, analysts said.
"Therefore, the recent frequent exchanges between Chinese and Russian leaders and senior officials are not pushed by any other element or pressure, but are driven by normal demand of the two countries to develop their relations," Wang said.
Yang Jin, an associate research fellow with the Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Wednesday that the meeting between the heads of government normally focuses on trade and economic issues, as well as implementation of the consensuses reached by the heads of state of the two countries.
Currently, there are some changes in the battlefields of Russia-Ukraine conflict, but the exchanges between China and Russia have nothing to do with these changes. Normal cooperation between the two countries in all fields can effectively withstand the pressure and impacts from outside, and China's neutrality and stance for peace on the Ukraine crisis will not change, Yang noted.
Deal with challenges
Mishustin said at the meeting with Li that Moscow and Beijing should jointly defend their interests and the principles of the multipolar world order in the conditions of Western sanctions pressure, Russian news agency Tass reported on Wednesday.
"Western countries are trying to maintain their global dominance and contain the economic and technological potential of Russia and China," Mishustin said.
"That is why it is important to concentrate efforts on protecting our common interests, building a multipolar world order and strengthening coordination on international platforms," Mishustin emphasized, according to Tass.
Cui Heng, a research fellow with the Center for Russian Studies of East China Normal University, said that in the past two years, the US and NATO have tried to stigmatize and interrupt China-Russia relations, but these attempts have failed, as the two countries are just doing what they should and what they must to take care of their people from the harms of Western sanctions.
"Russian people have the right to live and enjoy economic development, so when Western firms withdraw from Russia, it's very natural that China and other economies from the Global South will come in, so the US and its followers are in no position to appoint blame about that," Cui noted.
Chinese golfer Cao Xinyu had a memorable 18th birthday celebration on Friday as the rookie pro defeated amateur Liu Yujie in a second-hole playoff to win her maiden China LPGA Tour title in a wet and wild finale to the Golf Liquor Guangdong Women's Open.
After heavy rain forced the suspension of play for nearly an hour, both Cao and 14-year-old Liu returned to the Zhuhai Lakewood Golf Club composite layout to complete their third round. With each closing with a two-under-par 70, the two players finished deadlocked on seven-under 209.
In the playoff, both players made two putts for par on the 401-yard 18th hole in the first hole of sudden death. Returning to the same hole again, Liu put her tee shot right into the rough. With Cao safely on the green in two, Liu put her approach to within seven yards of the pin after missing the green. She would then miss her par putt. Sitting 60 feet from the pin, Cao made no mistake in getting down in two putts to secure the win.
"I didn't believe in birthday luck until I made it today," said Shanghai native Cao, who earned 60,000 yuan ($8,278.44) for the win. "It's a coming-of-age ceremony for me. It's my maiden win, which boosts my confidence. I believe that I can have good finishes next week in Singapore and Beijing Pine Valley at the end of this month."
Pakin Kawinpakorn (69) finished third at two shots back as the Thai stumbled to a bogey five on the final hole, where she needed a birdie to join the playofsf. Her compatriot, Dolnapa Zukphokinvanich, was two shots further back in fourth after a final round 70.
Cao, who joined the paid ranks earlier this year after posting five top-five finishes against the pros last season as an amateur on the CLPGA Tour, was three shots behind playing partner Liu going into the 15th hole. It was there at the 540-yard hole that she started an amazing run of three consecutive birdies highlighted by a 45-foot birdie putt at the 16th hole.
With the two players even at seven-under going into the final hole of regulation, Cao nearly lost when her approach missed the green landing 45 yards short. After her third shot went over the pin, she then made a dramatic 25-foot downhill putt to force the playoff as Liu two-putted for par from 45 feet.
"The 18th hole was a beast," said Cao.
"At the second extra hole, I really captured this unreal win. I won plenty of times at junior events but this is different. It's the toughest win for me."
Liu, daughter of table-tennis great Liu Guoliang, the two-time gold medallist at the 1996 Olympics, missed another opportunity to get her maiden win against a professional. Two weeks ago, the teenager was the overnight co-leader going into the final round at the Beijing Women's Challenge where she finished equal 10th.
Her round today included four birdies over the first 11 holes and two bogeys. "After Beijing, I knew how to play in the final round. I played well today. I can get full marks from the way I played. I made my best efforts, especially in such poor conditions," said Liu, a winner of eight events on the amateur circuit over the past three years.
"I am excited to see my progress. It's my breakthrough. I also saw my deficiencies in this event, which would be good for my future. Hats off to sister Xinyu. She played well and deserved this win."
Pakin, who started the day three shots off the lead, made a move up the leaderboard immediately when she sank a five-foot birdie putt at the 347-yard opening hole. After holding it together in the wet conditions to post three more birdies and get close, the final hole proved her nemesis.
"I didn't look at the leaderboard because I didn't want to put a lot of pressure on myself," said the 32-year-old Kawin, winner of the 2018 Zhuhai Heritage. "My goal was to play my best out there but a bogey [on the final hole] was the best I could do."
Zhuhai Lakewood Golf Club is a 6,460-yard, par-72 composite course featuring nine holes from the Norman Course and nine from the Lakes Course.
The French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF) recently received four pieces of Chinese blue and white porcelain made by a Chinese artist, which highlighted the ongoing cultural exchange and appreciation between France and China during the Paris Olympic Games.
These artifacts not only showcase China's rich cultural heritage but also symbolize the universal values and global resonance of the Olympic spirit, according to the CNOSF.
In addition to these exquisite artifacts, the Chinese delegation arrived in Paris in style carrying some distinctive cultural icons, such as the Chinese athletes' suitcases featuring Terracotta Warriors, the official medal ceremony uniform featuring the Chinese dragon as well as the red-and-white attire for the opening ceremony.
Fan Yifeng, dean of the school of design at Dalian Minzu University, told the Global Times on Wednesday that integrating Chinese cultural icons with sports is a great way to promote the Chinese culture at international sports events.
"What impressed me most is the medal ceremony uniform, as the Chinese dragon element has been used for years in its design. The dragon-themed outfit is visually striking," said Fan.
"Sports transcend national boundaries. To promote the athletic spirit, it's important to work on how to better combine the Chinese culture with key sport-related words such as passion, vigor and vitality so as to reach a broader global audience," Fan noted.
On Tuesday, a Chinese sports culture exhibition themed on "Vigor and Sportsmanship" opened at the Bastille Design Center in Paris. Boasting 139 collections, the exhibition was designed to show the culture and spirit of Chinese sports, and introduce visitors to the practice of sports in ancient China.
The exhibition is also part of the celebrations for the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and France, showcasing the historical exchanges and mutual influence between China and France in various sports, including racing, cycling, tennis, soccer, and dragon boat racing. It highlights the shared human values embedded in the sports philosophies of both countries, reflecting a harmonious blend of Chinese and French sport cultures. Auspicious uniform
On July 20, the renowned Chinese women volleyball team arrived in Paris. When they stepped out of the airport, a line of black suitcases drew public attention. Unlike their usual luggage, the new suitcases feature Chinese traditional motifs on and the wheels, sparkling golden light, and look like ancient chariot wheels.
The red and black suitcase, named "Yingyong"(bravery), is inspired by the scale armor of ancient Terracotta Warriors and is ornated with a bowtie similar to that of a general figure at the top. The golden wheels at the bottom draw inspiration from ancient chariot wheels, while the zipper heads are designed to resemble shields. The suitcase also has a metal plate on the front with the Chinese national flag, symbolizing the valor of leading an army into battle.
Bai Jianfeng, a member of the design team said that they sought inspiration from China's splendid civilization and world cultural heritage. The armor design signifies better protection for the athletes and also indicates that the Chinese sports delegation are our heroes, hoping they will return victorious, according to China Central Television News.
Olympic podium outfits from around the world have always garnered attention, and China's outfit lives up to expectations with its dragon-themed design elements.
Officially called the "Champions Dragon Outfit," the outfit is inspired by traditional Chinese aesthetics, featuring classic tailoring and white as its primary color.The design incorporates elements like dragon scales through embossing, patchwork, and embroidery, highlighting China's rich cultural heritage and the energetic spirit of its modern athletes.
Li Qian, a two-time Olympic medalist in women's middleweight boxing, highlighted the outfit's cultural significance. "The Year of the Dragon is very auspicious for Chinese people. This dragon-themed outfit is unique, and I hope to wear it on the Paris Olympic podium," Li told reporters.
In addition to their cultural symbolism, these uniforms utilize green technology, with the production process using eco-friendly materials like recycled nylon and recycled polyester, achieving over 50 percent carbon reduction.
Distinctive patterns
Many netizens have shared the view online that although aesthetic preferences may vary, the red and white outfit is simple and elegant.
"The dragon patterns on the arms and the dragon heads on the zippers reflect Chinese cultural characteristics and complement each other well," a netizen, surnamed Luo, told the Global Times.
"The combination of red and white is stunning. The cuffs and patterns look like superhero armor, very imposing," Paul Marfinetz, a sports fan from the US, told the Global Times.
The opening ceremony attire is named "Chasing Dreams" and incorporates rich elements of traditional Chinese culture. Both the men's and women's jackets feature patterns derived from the bricks of the Great Wall. This pattern, with its horizontal and vertical lines, conveys a sense of integrity and rigor.
The women's attire combines elements of the Chinese qipao and the traditional Song Dynasty (960-1279) costume, featuring bamboo patterns - a significant symbol in traditional Chinese culture representing harmony, unity, resilience, and continuous growth.
The men's shirts have a small standing collar with Chinese-style buttons, showcasing the Chinese spirit of perseverance and striving for excellence in the world.
Shining on the stage of Paris Olympic Games, these cultural icons provide an opportunity for global athletes to gain a better understanding of Chinese culture, promoting cultural exchanges between China and other countries.
