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Recently, Tianhuizhai, an old shop with a history of over 100 years, reopened at 26, Xizhuan Hutong, Xicheng District, offering an abundance of snuff, a dazzling array of exquisite snuff bottles, and various cultural souvenirs related to snuff bottles. Inside the shop, there are three main exhibition areas dedicated to "Snuff Culture", "Tianhuizhai's Heritage", and "History of Snuff Bottles". It's noteworthy that Xizhuan Hutong, where Tianhuizhai Snuff Culture Museum is located, sits in the heart of the western part of the Caishikou area. The museum has become a neighbor to the popular Cafe Luciole, and not far away is the newly opened Sanwanghu Coffee & Bar (Niujie Street Branch). To the west, there are countless culinary delights on Niujie Street, while to the east lies the Fayuan Temple neighborhood, one of the most scenic destination for a trip to hutongs. The western part of the Caishikou area itself is a model of old city protection and urban renewal in Xicheng, with typical demonstrative effects and governance standards. It has successively won numerous honors, including the inaugural "Best Practice Award for Urban Renewal in Beijing" and the "2023 Excellent Case of Innovative Development in Urban Renewal in China".,https://english.beijing.gov.cn/latest/news/202412/t20241224_3972242.html

The Guide for Registering a Foreign-Invested Company and its FAQs for Registration of Foreign-Invested Company, both available in Chinese and English, were released on December 23 by Beijing Municipal Administration for Market Regulation to facilitate the development of foreign-invested businesses in Beijing. It is reported that this is China's first set of Chinese-English bilingual guides for registering foreign-invested companies in China. The Guide aims to help international investors easily understand and handle relevant matters, covering all the steps and materials needs and precautions advised to register foreign-invested companies. Additionally, the FAQs address 12 common problems that arise during the registration processes and offer detailed answers to help investors quickly solve practical difficulties and improve work efficiency. These questions include "What information is required from shareholders during company registration?" and "Can foreign currency be used for capital contribution?" Through various online and offline channels, including the official website of Beijing Municipal Administration for Market Regulation, the website and mini-program of Beijing Enterprise Service e-Window Platform, and the government service centers of different districts, the general public can quickly and easily search and access the Guide. Guide to Registering a Foreign-Invested Company.pdf FAQs for Registration of Foreign-Invested Company.pdf (Source: Beijing Daily App) ,https://english.beijing.gov.cn/latest/news/202412/t20241224_3972189.html

Detachable "Tiangong Caisson" fridge magnets reminding people of the splendid Milky Way, Baitasi Pharmacy which is gaining popularity through field trips focusing on the traditional Chinese medicine, and the AIGC (Artificial Intelligence Generated Content) short film "Chasing Light" tracing the evolution of Beijing's Central Axis are some of the highlights of the finale of the 3rd "White Pagoda Cup" Creative Cultural Product Design Contest under the theme "Cultural and Creative Xicheng". The recently concluded grand finale featured 30 shortlisted entries. This year's competition encompassed six categories: creative cultural projects, cultural product development, AIGC application innovation, creative design services, new audiovisual content, and original script writing, with a total of 4,211 entries received. These entries, through new expressions of the core values of traditional Chinese culture in contemporary cultural contexts, employed technological and interactive elements, uncovering the "key" to truly captivating the people while tapping into the treasure of fine traditional Chinese culture. The "Tiangong Caisson" fridge magnets are inspired by the iconic caisson in Zhengjue Hall of Longfu Temple - a cultural relic under the first-class state protection and housed at Beijing Ancient Architecture Museum. These magnets have become a hit with the public. Baitasi Pharmacy has developed a series of souvenirs, including distinctive fridge magnets. Customers collecting stamps at Baitasi Pharmacy Baitasi Pharmacy has a coffee space on its first floor. The short film "Chasing Light"…

Beijing will implement new traffic restrictions based on the last digit of the license plate numbers of motor vehicles from December 30, 2024. According to the official website of Beijing Traffic Management Bureau, vehicles with license plate numbers ending in 2 and 7, 3 and 8, 4 and 9, 5 and 0, 1 and 6 are prohibited on public roads on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays respectively, from December 30, 2024 to March 30, 2025. Vehicles with license plate numbers ending in English letters will be considered as ending in 0. Restricted hours: 7:00 to 20:00 on weekdays Restricted area: Roads within the 5th Ring Road (excluding the 5th Ring Road) (Source: Official WeChat account of Beijing Municipal Commission of Transport),https://english.beijing.gov.cn/latest/news/202412/t20241224_3972027.html

Flower-shaped steamed buns displayed at the Chinese Traditional Culture Museum in Beijing. [Photos via CGTN] As part of the "Celebrating the Chinese New Year" Spring Festival exhibition, these intricate creations – Gaomi dough sculptures – blend culinary craftsmanship with heartfelt tradition. Shaped by hand, these steamed buns are not only a feast for the eyes and palate, but also a moving expression of people's hopes for a better life. Traditionally, Gaomi dough sculptures are crafted for festivals and serve as decorations, offerings, delicacies, and cherished gifts. (Source: CGTN),https://english.beijing.gov.cn/latest/news/202412/t20241224_3972013.html

Senior officials of departments and units under China's State Council pledge allegiance to the Constitution of the People's Republic of China at a ceremony overseen by Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Dec 23, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua] BEIJING -- A total of 45 senior officials of 35 departments and units under the State Council, China's cabinet, pledged allegiance to the Constitution of the People's Republic of China at a ceremony on Monday. Premier Li Qiang oversaw the ceremony and gave a speech. He urged the officials to uphold the authority of the Constitution at all times, to take the lead in respecting, studying, observing and applying the law, to perform their duties in accordance with the law, and to remain honest and self-disciplined. Noting that China's economic and social development will continue to face numerous challenges and difficulties next year, Li called on the officials to shoulder their responsibilities and strive to open new horizons for reform and development. It is essential that the decisions and plans of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee are refined and implemented, he said, noting that each task should be monitored closely to deliver tangible results. Highlighting a people-centered development philosophy, he called on…

Chinese supervisory authorities have stepped up efforts to combat misconduct and corruption in areas directly affecting people's daily lives, aiming to enhance their sense of public security, happiness and fulfillment, according to a report being reviewed by national lawmakers. The report, delivered by Liu Jinguo, head of the National Commission of Supervision, was submitted on Sunday to the ongoing session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislative body. Data released in the report showed that supervisory departments across the country have handled 768,000 cases of misconduct and corruption closely related to people's daily lives since the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 2022, with 628,000 individuals disciplined. In addition to constant efforts to advance the fight against misconduct and corruption, Liu noted that strong measures have particularly been taken since the beginning of this year in major fields such as health, education and rural affairs, in order to effectively curb improper practices that frequently bring public complaints. Among the measures, supervisory organs nationwide have endeavored to fight corruption and misconduct in the medical industry, such as "red envelopes", or cash gifts from patients to doctors, given that the practice puts a…

Local authorities will carry out inspections of venues violating the anti-smoking law from Monday to Friday. Individuals who spot violations are welcome to offer reports. Inspections will mainly focus on venues like Internet cafes, entertainment and sports places, hotels, bars and restaurants. Venues with poor results in previous inspections and those receiving the most complaints will be the main targets. Shanghai has adopted a complete ban on indoor smoking and some outdoor places where many children and people gather such as schools, children's hospitals, stadiums and waiting areas for public transportation. Individual violators can face up to a 200 yuan (US$27.4) fine, while venues that fail to adopt anti-smoking measures and persuade smokers to stop can be fined a maximum of 30,000 yuan. Residents, including expatriates, can report offenders and offer tips and complaints regarding smoking-control violations by calling the 12345 government-run hotline, Shanghai Fabu, the city's WeChat account, Wuyan Shanghai, the Jiankangyun mini program, or Health Cloud. Officials said the 12345 hotline provides service in other languages, and expatriates can also can post comments and complaints in the public WeChat accounts and mini program.,https://www.shine.cn/news/metro/2412232229/

Jiang Xiaowei / SHINE The "Shanghai, My City" initiative concluded on Sunday with a gala night at the Shanghai Museum's east branch. The "Shanghai, My City" initiative, which ended on Sunday with a gala night at the Shanghai Museum's east branch, selected 42 videos. The event was organized by the Shanghai Government's Foreign Affairs Office, the Shanghai People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, and the Shanghai Cyberspace Administration, and hosted by Shanghai Daily. The project was launched in February and received over 200 videos in which peoples from all over the world tell stories about their lives in Shanghai and their love for the city. A team of experienced judges chose 15 videos as Works of Excellence and 27 as Honorable Mentions. The films are being screened on various social media platforms since December 5. Almost all the characters in the videos hailed Shanghai as an easy, safe, convenient, and inclusive place to live. Jiang Xiaowei / SHINE Mahmoud Soliman, an Egyptian teacher at Shanghai International Studies University, shared his life in the city with his pet dog Malika. "I have a strong attachment to Shanghai because I feel like I grew up here," Mahmoud Soliman, an Egyptian teacher…

https://english.shanghai.gov.cn/en-wisEditor'spick/20241223/51d117c11dd44143ac0370de9477fbaa.html

The Shanghai Expo Culture Park is gearing up to launch its New Year Flower Market. [Photo provided to China Daily] The Shanghai Expo Culture Park is gearing up to launch its New Year Flower Market from Dec 24 to Feb 16 with a series of themed markets and lively experiences. Hosted within the 154,000-square-meter world floral garden, the 6,000-square-meter underground space will transform into a festive botanical market. It will feature sections dedicated to plants and flowers, an ice-skating rink, global cuisine, an amusement park, pop-up cultural creativity, green gardening, and an eco-friendly coffee shop. "We want this park to be an integrated space combining cultural activities, green ecology, consumption, and events," said Chen Zhu, vice general manager of the Shanghai Expo Culture Park Construction and Management Co. As many citizens have the habit of buying New Year flowers, the flower market's core theme is floriculture, presenting traditional Chinese New Year flowers and rare species from around the world to beautify homes for the Spring Festival, she said. Curator Lu Miao revealed there will be dozens of unique floral combinations showcased, including exotic varieties from South America, Australia, Europe, Africa and beyond. Visitors can also experience global cuisine, trendy cultural…

BEIJING -- China's top court has launched a three-month-long campaign nationwide to address cases of unpaid wages and safeguard the rights of migrant workers. The campaign, which will run from November 2024 until the upcoming Spring Festival on Jan 29, 2025, aims to ensure the timely resolution of wage arrears cases and the proper distribution of funds resulting from court judgments before the traditional Chinese holiday season, said He Xiaorong, vice-president of the Supreme People's Court, at a press conference on Monday. Courts at all levels will prioritize sectors such as construction projects during the campaign, focusing on those initiated by governments and state-owned enterprises. The courts will expedite criminal proceedings related to the refusal to pay labor remuneration and impose severe penalties on offenders, He noted. During the first 11 months of this year, Chinese courts have processed about 82,000 cases involving the recovery of unpaid wages. As of mid-December, about 69,000 cases involving migrant workers have been resolved, with a total amount of 1.72 billion yuan (about $239.32 million) successfully recovered. The Spring Festival is a traditional Chinese holiday when hundreds of millions of Chinese people typically make their way back to their hometowns to celebrate lunar new…

A gala night for a collection of short videos with the theme of Shanghai, My City illuminated the Shanghai Museum East on the evening of Dec 22. Nearly 350 international participants and their families attended to celebrate the creative spirit that encapsulates Shanghai's essence. Kong Fu'an, director general of the Foreign Affairs Office of Shanghai Municipal People's Government and executive vice president of Shanghai People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, and Yang Jun, deputy director general of the Cyberspace Administration of Shanghai Municipality, were both present for the occasion. Kong Fu'an, director general of the Foreign Affairs Office of Shanghai Municipal People's Government and executive vice president of Shanghai People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, addresses the event. [Photo/Foreign Affairs Office of Shanghai Municipal People's Government] Yang Jun, deputy director general of the Cyberspace Administration of Shanghai Municipality, addresses the event. [Photo/Foreign Affairs Office of Shanghai Municipal People's Government] The Shanghai, My City short video project began in February and, over six months, attracted over 200 submissions from the city's expats, 42 of which were shortlisted. At its core, the event sought to inspire international participants to encapsulate their Shanghai experiences through short videos, offering a glimpse into…

Shanghai Disneyland's Zootopia-themed land celebrates its first anniversary on Dec 20 as the world's only Zootopia-themed destination. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn] Shanghai Disneyland's Zootopia-themed land, inspired by the Walt Disney Animation Studios film and the resort's eighth-themed land, celebrated its first anniversary on Dec 20 as the world's only Zootopia-themed destination. The statistics show that around 97 percent of surveyed visitors were already familiar with the Zootopia land before visiting Shanghai Disney Resort, with one-third citing it as a key reason for their trip. Roughly two-thirds of all Shanghai Disneyland visitors have experienced Zootopia's main attraction, Zootopia: Hot Pursuit, with the combined distance traveled by its vehicles reaching approximately 350,000 kilometers — circling the equator 8 times. Shanghai Disneyland's Zootopia-themed land celebrates its first anniversary on Dec 20 as the world's only Zootopia-themed destination. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn] The land's debut also boosted sales of Zootopia merchandise, according to the resort. Nearly 260 items of Zootopia-themed merchandise have been introduced, with the variety doubling compared to pre-opening and sales soaring over 500 percent. In November, it received the 2025 Thea Award for Outstanding Achievement — Theme Park Land from a globally authoritative industry organization Themed Entertainment Association. Shanghai Disneyland's Zootopia-themed land celebrates its first anniversary on Dec 20 as the world's only…

China's first "mental health care home" is established at the Shanghai Mental Health Center on Dec 19. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn] China's first "mental health care home", which focuses on rehabilitation intervention and prognosis improvement for patients with mental disorders, including schizophrenia, was established at the Shanghai Mental Health Center on Dec 19. Initiated by the Chinese Red Cross Foundation and supported by Boehringer Ingelheim, the facility is aimed to help patients enhance their disease awareness, eliminate stigma, restore social function, and ultimately enable them to return to a normal social life. The establishment of the facility not only represents an innovative initiative in the full-cycle mental health disease management model but also serves as an example of multiple stakeholders working together to contribute to the advancement of mental health care in China, said experts. Organizers of the care home said that the facility is not merely a physical space, but a platform for organized and systematic public welfare activities. Medical workers and volunteers will host a series of rehabilitation activities for patients, including helping patients and their families better understand their conditions, organizing daytime rehabilitation programs, and providing functional recovery training. Such efforts are aimed to reduce stigma among patients and…

Shanghai Port. [Photo/IC] SHANGHAI -- Shanghai Port became the first in the world to see the annual container throughput exceed 50 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) on Sunday. The port has ranked first globally for 14 consecutive years in terms of annual container throughput. According to Yang Yanbin, deputy general manager of the production and business department of the Shanghai International Port (Group) Co., Ltd (SIPG), the growth of container throughput indicates that China's complete industrial system and manufacturing capability continue to empower global trade. Seen as a window of China's opening up and collaboration with the world as well as an engine boosting trade and exchanges, Shanghai Port saw its annual container throughput top 1 million in 1994. Yang noted that the growth in container throughput at Shanghai Port was driven not only by the rise in export-heavy containers but also by an increase in international transfer containers and ship-to-ship transfer volumes. "The port's robust functionality and high-quality services attract large cargo ships from around the world," he said, adding that the proportion of ship-to-ship transfers at the port is expected to reach a record 60 percent in 2024, which highlights the continued enhancement of Shanghai Port's role as…

The 2025 Beijing Megalights Wonderland will open in Chaoyang District's Wenyuhe Park demonstration area on December 28. This event, which will run until March 2025, will have eight themed sections and over 1,000 multicolored lantern installations This year's lantern installations are inspired by modern and futuristic elements, including technology, video games, trendy chic, and new energy sources. The most impressive one is the "Lantern King, which measures 15 meters tall and 40 meters long. It took some 50 intangible cultural heritage craftsmen 20 days to complete this mega work. This session of lantern festival occupies 400,000 square meters of huge space, marking an increase of 50 percent over previous years. Ticket counters are at Gates 1, 2, and 9. Visitors can get access to wheelchairs, hot water, first-aid kits, and make inquries in the ticket inspection areas at Gates 1 and 2. Additionally, 8,160 parking spaces (3160 more than last year) will be available for the event, including 1,763 in the demonstration zone, 1,330 in Phase I area of the park, and 5,067 enlarged parking spots. Meanwhile, the event will provide six permanent restrooms and 30 temporary restrooms, with additional "warm houses" to offer amenities such as hot water, air conditioning, and first-aid kits. Currently, tickets for the event are already on sale on nine platforms, i.e. Douyin, Meituan.com,…

There is only one week left to get out there and eat pizza, earn stamps and win prizes in our 2024 Cheesy Pizza Month. The deadline for submitting your Cheesy Pizza Month Passport for the final Lucky Draw is at noon next Monday (Dec 30). So, if you want to be in with a chance of nabbing some great gifts like hotel stays, vouchers or the grand prize of RMB 3,000 then you'd better get yourself out there now! Taking part is super straightforward, but to make it even easier you can check out our Cheesy Pizza Month FAQs below.    How do I take part in Cheesy Pizza Month?To take part in Cheesy Pizza Month, go to any of the participating 2024 Cheesy Pizza Month restaurants and ask your server for your free official passport!  Order any participating pizza from one of the restaurants taking part and you’ll get a stamp. Spend more than RMB 100 and you can earn an extra stamp – collect up to four stamps per brand! You can read the full details on taking part in this post.  What restaurants are taking part and what are the participating pizzas? You can see all the restaurants taking part below along…

A short video by Shenzhen Daily received an Outstanding Video Award at the Sixth "My China Story" International Short Video Competition Award Ceremony, which was held in Harbin, capital of Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on Thursday.  The five-minute "Maluan Mountain" introduces the beautiful landscape and natural scenery of Maluan Mountain from the eyes of Milos, a Serbian who works as a social science teacher in Shenzhen. Milo, who has lived here for three years, enjoys Shenzhen's natural environment and often hikes to explore the city. In his eyes, Shenzhen is a city with a rich cultural heritage and diverse array of attractions that showcase the history and traditions of various ethnic groups.   The video was one of the five winning works from Shenzhen in the contest. The city image promotional video "Dare to Be a Pioneer," produced by the Publicity Department of the Shenzhen Municipal CPC Committee, won the Best Video Award in the Key Section category, and the department won the Best Organization Award. The "Grand Master," produced by San Ren Xing Films (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., won the Best Videography of the Best Single Awards. The "Subways in China: How Metro Systems Look Like in Second-tier Cities" by…

Brazilians Francisco Martinez (L) and Eledir Busanello explore exhibits at the Macao Museum on Friday.  Celebrating the silver jubilee of Macao's homecoming, Francisco Martinez and Eledir Busanello, two expats who hail from Brazil and reside in Shenzhen, embarked on a journey to the culturally vibrant soil of Macao on Friday. The journey was a highlight of the Shenzhen Global Communication Ambassadors program. Their trip aimed to explore the Historic Center of Macao, a UNESCO World Heritage site, admire Portuguese-style architecture, savor local delicacies, and experience the unique charm of Sino-Portuguese cultural fusion. The Historic Center of Macao, located on the Macao Peninsula, is a rich and diverse area reflecting the unique cultural and historical heritage of the region. This area, which dates back to the mid-16th century when the Portuguese began to settle in the area and trade, encompasses a collection of over 20 historical buildings and urban squares that are interwoven in the heart of the city. Some of the notable buildings and structures within the Historic Center include the Ruins of St. Paul's, Monte Fort, Senado Square, St. Dominic's Church, and A-Ma Temple. At the Ruins of St. Paul's, Busanello was awestruck by the remnants of the 17th-century…

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