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Most parts of the city will see temperatures plunge by 7 to 9 degrees Celsius over the next 48 hours, the meteorological authority has warned after releasing a blue alert for a cold wave at 5pm on Saturday. Due to the influence of a strong cold front, the temperature in Shanghai will range between 6 and 9 degrees on Sunday. It will be cloudy and windy with drizzle. There will probably be snow in some areas such as Chongming District. The temperature will continue to dip with lows to minus one degree in urban areas and minus 5 degree in suburbs on a cloudy Tuesday morning. Tuesday is the first day of the 8-day Spring Festival holiday when Chinese people will have family reunion dinners to celebrate the Chinese New Year Eve. Residents are being warned of the adverse influence brought on by the freezing weather and strong winds. But the temperature is expected to rise after Wednesday as warm and humid air returns, which will also bring rain from January 30 and February 1, forecasters said.,https://www.shine.cn/news/metro/2501257659/

Making Dumplings is a wonderful part of the Chinese New Year Celebration, and if you and your family and friends want to try and make them at home we have three great recipes for you to try. All three can be made using the same basic dumpling wrapper recipe, or you can buy store-made wrappers: For the dumpling wrappers Ingredients:  3 cups (375g) all-purpose flour ¾ cup (180ml) warm water Method: In a large bowl, mix the flour and warm water until a shaggy dough forms. Knead the dough on a floured surface for 10 minutes until smooth. Cover with a damp cloth and let it rest for 30 minutes. After it has rested, take a small piece of dough (around 12g) and roll it into a ball.  Use a rolling pin to turn it into a flat, thin circle about 3-4 inches in diameter. The OG Filling: The first filling is the most traditional, with pork for success, cabbage for wealth and leeks or green onions for longevity. Because who doesn’t want a winning year where you make lots of money and live long enough to enjoy it? Ingredients: 1 lb (450g) ground pork 1 cup napa cabbage, finely…

The 2025 Haidian Spring Festival Technology Temple Fair, Beijing's first AI-themed technology-powered temple fair, will run from January 30 to February 3, 2025. The main venue is at Wukesong Wanda Plaza in Haidian District, with a parallel venue set at Cuiwei Tower. This technology temple fair will feature immersive experiences and a fusion of diverse business formats to create experiences based on multiple application scenarios, expected to become a technology carnival that is engaging, interactive, AI-enhanced, and rich in traditional festive elements during the Spring Festival holiday. Embodied robots will greet visitors with Chinese New Year blessings and distribute mystery boxes. Humanoid robots will perform Peking Opera and Face Changing shows. Beijing's first AI-based God Rabbit will elaborate on the Spring Festival's customs for passersby. Traditional Spring Festival elements like bainian (New Year greetings), couplets, and New Year paintings will be combined with AI technology for diversified presentations. Through AIGC human-machine co-creation, intangible cultural heritage elements such as dragon dance, lanterns, and paper-cutting will be creatively interpreted, adding unique festive decorations to this temple fair. Other highlights include a robot band, bipedal humanoid robot soccer matches, and a robot parade themed "Five Blessings", aimed at delivering visitors futuristic Spring Festival…

Premier extends festive greetings to veteran soldiers in Dabie Mountains Revolutionary Base Premier Li Qiang visited the Dabie Mountains Revolutionary Base in Anhui province on Wednesday, extending festive greetings ahead of Chinese New Year. The one-day trip took him to two villages where he talked with veteran soldiers and asked about their health conditions and any difficulties they were facing. He emphasized the need to provide better care for the elderly. In a silkworm industry park, Li met silkworm farmers and technicians, saying he was delighted to see silkworm production empowered through technology. He also called for promoting the comprehensive upgrading of rural industries. On Thursday, Li chaired a symposium in Hefei, capital of Anhui, soliciting opinions and suggestions on government work and a draft government work report, to be deliberated in March. Vice-premier vows to work with the Netherlands to maintain stable global supply chains Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang concluded his two-day visit to the Netherlands on Thursday, vowing to work together with the European nation to maintain smooth and stable global supply chains. During his stay in The Hague, Ding held separate meetings with Dutch King Willem-Alexander, Prime Minister Dick Schoof, and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Climate…

[Photo/VCG] Shanghai and several other cities in China, including Nanjing and Suzhou in Jiangsu province, Fuzhou in Fujian province, and Chengdu in Sichuan province, started administering human papillomavirus vaccines to their male populations last week. While HPV infection is often discussed as a concern for women, experts have emphasized that vaccinating males against HPV is crucial in preventing virus transmission and related diseases in men and protecting their partners. The quadrivalent HPV vaccine, developed by multinational pharmaceutical company Merck, was approved on Jan 8 for males on the Chinese mainland. The vaccine targets HPV types 6, 11, 16 and 18. The vaccine is available to females age 9 to 45 and males age 9 to 26. It requires three doses, costing around 800 yuan ($109) per shot. Experts pointed out that while persistent infection with high-risk HPV types is widely known as the primary cause of cervical cancer in women, less attention is given to the impact of HPV on men. "HPV types 6 and 11 are responsible for nearly 90 percent of genital warts, and HPV types 16 and 18 cause nearly 90 percent of anal cancers," said Sui Long, chief physician at the cervical disease diagnosis and treatment…

A traveler from Poland takes photos at the Yuyuan shopping center in Shanghai on Dec 4. [Photo/Xinhua] Shanghai recorded over 6.7 million inbound tourist trips in 2024, an 84 percent increase from the previous year, partly thanks to the country's loosening visa policies, local tourism authorities said on Jan 23. Overnight stays in Shanghai exceeded 6 million last year, an increase of over 80 percent year-on-year, with international tourists more than doubled to nearly 4.8 million, according to the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism. The Republic of Korea, the United States and Japan topped the list in terms of visitor source countries, each accounting for over 400,000 tourists to Shanghai. Meanwhile, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia were the top three source countries with the fastest-growing tourist numbers, said the administration. In particular, Shanghai recorded over 300,000 tourist trips from Thailand, marking a staggering year-on-year increase of more than 300 percent. The surge in inbound tourism is partly attributable to the continuous optimization of visa-free policies. To date, China has established comprehensive mutual visa exemption agreements with 25 countries, introduced unilateral visa-free policies for 38 countries, and implemented transit visa-free arrangements for 54 countries. Riding the wave of "China Travel",…

On December 30, 2024, the winners of Shanghai Daily's 2024 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) case selection were unveiled. ASM received the Public Welfare Impact Award for its contributions to bringing STEM education and cultural exchange to a village school nestled in Southwest China. It was a 2,000-kilometer journey that fired up the imagination and sparked dreams of an exciting future. In the summer of 2024, 13 students and teachers from Mugong Primary School in Guizhou Province traveled from their home in the western mountains to the bustling streets of Shanghai at the invitation of ASM and Shanghai Daily. Their mission? To engage in STEM education and a cultural exchange, taking in new life experiences in one of China's most dynamic cities. As a global leading tech company, ASM has continued to support STEM curricula at schools around the world. With over 16 years of operations in China, ASM previously engaged with the school through volunteer teaching programs, multimedia facilities upgrading, and charity donations. A warm welcome On their first day in Shanghai, the school's students and teachers arrived at ASM's local office, where they were greeted by nine employee volunteers and 11 children from ASM employees' families. Everyone was treated…

Shanghai's Xinhua Hospital is integrating its fetal medicine, neonatology and pediatrics into one fetal hospital, attracting patients from other provinces and expats prepared to travel long distances for treatment. The nation's first fetal hospital, which includes female medicine, neonatal medicine and pediatrics, offers health management, disease screening, diagnosis, treatment and intervention to achieve sequential health care from embryo to infants aged 2, hospital officials said. "Currently, the service is available at the hospital's headquarters in Yangpu District, and our new branch in Fengxian District will also offer the service after it starts operation in June. The facility in the new branch will be more spacious and have a better environment, which caters to the requirement of people with commercial insurance and overseas patients," said Dr Sun Kun, president of Xinhua Hospital and a leading expert on intrauterine pediatrics. Ti Gong Dr Sun Kun conducts an ultrasound check on a pregnant woman. "Previously, obstetrics and pediatrics were separated, so people whose fetus was detected with problems during prenatal checks had to run between departments and experts for diagnosis, suggestion and treatment," Sun said. "Some babies, who need treatment on delivery, may also lose the best treatment opportunity due to the time…

On the evening of January 22, Chang'an Avenue in Beijing was adorned with red lanterns. [Photo via Beijing Daily] Beijing will turn on landscape lighting facilities (from 17:40 to 24:00 every day) from January 27 (the 28th day of the 12th month in the traditional Chinese calendar) to February 4 (the 7th day of the 1st month in the traditional Chinese calendar) and February 12 (when the Lantern Festival is observed). All lights will not be turned off on January 28 (Chinese New Year's Eve) until 1:00 the following day. More than 260,000 lanterns and other kinds of decorations will be hung throughout the city, with 2,969 landscape lighting facilities to be turned on, covering the Tian'anmen area, Chang'an Avenue and its extensions, Beijing Central Axis and its extensions, seven railway stations, two major airports, important business districts, landmarks, parks and other scenic attractions, communities and villages. On the evening of January 22, the street next to Xinzhongguan Building was adorned with an installation themed "Beijing-Style Palace Lantern". [Photo by Wang Jingxi from The Beijing News] This year's landscape decorations will integrate several traditional Chinese intangible cultural heritage techniques such as paper-cuttings, lanterns, and kites, along with a variety of…

Visitors participate in the treasure hunt hosted by Shanghai Ocean Aquarium, in which they collect stamps for spotting eight aquatic species native to China. [Photo/Shanghai Observer] Shanghai Ocean Aquarium has launched a series of treasure hunt activities in celebration of the upcoming Spring Festival. Visitors can pick up a card at the China Zone and participate in the game to learn about eight distinctive aquatic species native to China, including koi fish, mudskippers and Chinese alligators, among others. Additionally, guests can join a face painting activity to get a customized painting, adding a vibrant touch to the festive atmosphere. The treasure hunt game will run until Feb 16, while the face painting workshop will be held at the China Zone from Jan 30 to Feb 2. As part of its Spring Festival offerings, the aquarium has designed a visiting route focused on showcasing China’s aquatic wonders. The journey begins at the China Zone and continues across the zones of five continents and four oceans. After collecting all the stamps, visitors will be eligible to participate in a lucky draw for a chance to win a prize from the aquarium's science education section. The eight Chinese aquatic species featured in the event symbolize good fortune and prosperity for the Chinese New Year. For instance, koi fish symbolizes good fortune for…

In 2024, Beijing Municipal Commerce Bureau issued a guide for the collection of first stores and first launches, which led to the establishment of 960 first stores across various sectors such as retail, dining, and culture. These achievements contributed effectively to the prosperity and development of Beijing's consumption market. In 2024, Beijing's first-store economy demonstrated robust growth. The first-store economy serves as a crucial indicator for measuring a city's commercial vitality and fashionability. The introduction of first stores and first-launched products from renowned brands in China and the rest of the world enriches Beijing's consumption market and meets consumers' diverse needs, while enhancing Beijing's commercial appeal and international influence. (Source: The Beijing News),https://english.beijing.gov.cn/latest/news/202501/t20250124_3998606.html

The 2025 Haidian Spring Festival-Themed Sci-Tech Temple Fair will take place in one main venue (at Wukesong Wanda Plaza) and a branch location (at Beijing Cuiwei Plaza) from January 30 to February 3, 2025 (the second to the sixth day of the Chinese Lunar New Year). Featuring a mixture of "strong festivity, cultural fashion, cutting-edge technology, and international flair", this AI-enhanced Spring Festival temple fair in Haidian aims to provide visitors with an immersive experience as "AI Explorers in Haidian". This sci-tech fair will explore "application scenarios +" by integrating immersive experiences with diverse business formats, bringing visitors an interactive and AI-enhanced Spring Festival experience brimming with both technology and festive atmosphere. During the fair, traditional Spring Festival customs and elements, such as Bai Nian (Spring Festival greetings), Qi Fu (prayers for blessings), Spring Festival couplets, and Spring Festival pictures, will be presented using AI technology. Additionally, intangible cultural heritage elements such as dragon dances and lantern show will be innovatively rendered using AIGC (Artificial Intelligence Generated Content) human-machine co-creation techniques, creating much festivity. A special Popular Science section will invite professors and experts from universities and research institutes to deliver Spring Festival-themed lectures under the topic of "Interesting Science"…

In 2024, Beijing made significant achievements in building itself into an international sci-tech innovation center. From January to November 2024, the total R&D expenditures of the key large and medium-sized enterprises in Beijing exceeded CNY 340 billion. According to the Report of Global Innovation Hubs Index 2024, Beijing ranked third in the world, maintaining this position for three consecutive years. The city also ranked third in the Global Innovation Index 2024 released by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). From January to November 2024, the total R&D expenditures of the key large and medium-sized enterprises in Beijing reached CNY 342.13 billion, marking a year-on-year increase of 6.8 percent. In terms of industries, driven by the electronic manufacturing and new-energy vehicle manufacturing sectors, the industrial enterprises recorded a rapid growth in R&D spending, which amounted to CNY 50.94 billion, indicating a year-on-year increase of 13.9 percent. With advancements in AI large models and the accelerated development of intelligent computing capabilities, enterprises in the sectors of information transmission, software, and IT services spent CNY 262.47 billion on R&D, an increase of 5.8 percent compared with the previous year. Meanwhile, the enterprises in the scientific research and technical services sectors spent CNY 28.72…

Our To Try List covers new restaurants, dining deals, drinks discounts, guest shifts, pop-ups, and more foodie happenings in Beijing. Apollo's former space has been taken over by bistro TIAMO, new coffee and cocktail bar BLooLoo opens in Shuangjing, new tapas deal at La Copa and more on our To Try List this week.  TIAMO Takes Over Apollo's Former Digs The space formerly occupied by Apollo in Sanlitun was recently taken over by TIAMO. It's an offshoot of OTIUM •柴屿麦, a bistro-style eatery situated by the Liangma River. TIAMO specializes in handmade pasta dishes and has some intriguing options like Xinjiang Lamb Pappardelle (RMB 88) and Wagyu Beef Oxtail Ravioli (RMB 108). They've also got various meaty dishes such as Dry-Aged Fig Leaf Smoked Corn Fed Chicken (RMB 168) and Grilled Xinjiang Lamb Shoulder (RMB 168) as well as smaller dishes, sides and desserts. Inside the restaurant itself, the layout and decor remain largely the same as former resident Apollo, minus the vinyl shop theme – though they've retained the great sound system. The right side still has a long couch along with some window seating, and they've kept the open kitchen and bar seating up on the left, allowing patrons…

Beijing has decided to make several adjustments to its traffic control measures on local motor vehicles and non-local passenger vehicles on January 26, from January 28 to February 4, and on February 8, according to a circular issued by Beijing Traffic Management Bureau. 1. Motor vehicles with Beijing-registered license plates will not be subject to the restrictions based on the last digits of license plate numbers of motor vehicles, which are aimed at regional traffic control during rush hours of working days. 2. Passenger vehicles registered elsewhere with passes for entering Beijing (specifically, the area within the 6th Ring Road of Beijing) will be allowed to run on the 5th Ring Road and the roads within from 7:00 to 9:00 and 17:00 to 20:00, and will not be subject to the city's license plate-based traffic restrictions in these areas from 9:00 to 17:00. However, drivers of such vehicles should still comply with the management regulations of "no entry on roads within the 2nd Ring Road (inclusive), Jianguomen Outer Street, Fuxingmen Outer Street, and Fuxing Road (the section from Muxidi Bridge to Xinxing Bridge) all day long". (Source: Beijing Traffic Management Bureau),https://english.beijing.gov.cn/latest/news/202501/t20250124_3998386.html

From January to November 2024, Beijing saw the establishment of 1,777 new foreign-funded enterprises, marking a 14-percent year-on-year increase. Notable developments include the official commencement of operations of Standard Chartered Securities, a wholly foreign-owned securities firm, and the unveiling and launch of the Chinese headquarters of Steinbeis, a world-renowned technology transfer institution. Additionally, eight prominent foreign pharmaceutical companies set up new R&D institutions in the city. The implementation of the Regulation of Beijing Municipality on Foreign Investment has spurred the growth in the number of new foreign-funded enterprises, with primary focuses on fields such as scientific research and technical services, leasing and other business services, and wholesale and retail. According to the city's Report on the Work of the Government in 2025, Beijing's total import and export volume in 2024 surpassed CNY 3.5 trillion. This year, the city will further implement the foreign investment access management system, and expand the opening-up of sectors like telecommunications, healthcare, education, and culture, to attract more landmark foreign-funded projects. It is reported that from January to November 2024, the amount of the actually used foreign investment in the China (Beijing) Pilot Free Trade Zone accounted for 33.8 percent of the city's total, indicating an…

Shanghai will be illuminated with glorious scenic lighting during the Spring Festival in key areas across the city. [Photo/Shanghai Observer] Shanghai will shimmer and shine, bathed in glorious scenic lighting from Jan 27 to Feb 4 for the Chinese New Year celebrations. The city will be lifted up visually by spectacular lighting displays across key areas – such as the Bund, North Bund and Lujiazui, along with other important landmarks – according to an announcement by the Shanghai Landscaping and City Appearance Administrative Bureau. The scenic lighting will feature dynamic color-changing lights and gentle light flows in iconic locations, with the Bund banks showing a wonderful waterfall light display. Major buildings along the Huangpu River will feature Chinese New Year-themed videos on their media facades. However, on Chinese New Year eve there will be no light shows along the Huangpu River or any countdown events at core areas such as the Bund, North Bund, or the small Lujiazui area. Throughout the holiday season, light shows will be held in Huangpu, Jing'an and Xuhui districts. In Huangpu district, from Jan 27 to Feb 12, daily from 6 pm to 10 pm, the banks of the Suzhou Creek and the Huangpu River will feature a projection show…

Shanghai recorded over 6.7 million inbound tourist trips in 2024, an 84 percent increase from the previous year, partly thanks to the country's loosening visa policies, local tourism authorities said Thursday. Overnight stays in Shanghai exceeded 6 million last year, an increase of over 80 percent year on year, with international tourists more than doubled to nearly 4.8 million, according to the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism. The Republic of Korea, the United States, and Japan topped the list in terms of visitor source countries, each accounting for over 400,000 tourists to Shanghai. Meanwhile, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia were the top three source countries with the fastest-growing tourist numbers, said the administration. In particular, Shanghai recorded over 300,000 tourist trips from Thailand, marking a staggering year-on-year increase of more than 300 percent. The surge in inbound tourism is partly attributable to the continuous optimization of visa-free policies. To date, China has established comprehensive mutual visa exemption agreements with 25 countries, introduced unilateral visa-free policies for 38 countries, and implemented transit visa-free arrangements for 54 countries. Riding the wave of "China Travel," which has gained massive popularity since last year, many scenic spots in Shanghai have gone viral on…

Whew, dear reader! How's the new year treating you? Are those resolutions already on their way? No biggie if you haven't got any. I for one would be pleased as punch with a quiet, calm year that goes gentle on us all. Because, you see, here's the deal – I function best when I am able to focus on my immediate surroundings and the small pleasures they grant me. What a luxury it is to go about life leisurely, truly soaking in the moment. When we're keen to take a good look around us, we step out of our main character syndrome and notice that there's so much more. People going about their lives, corners of wonder, angles unexpected... Boy, do I love me an eyeful of the city! Well, patrons of beloved hutong spot Zarah have been enjoying a treat of this sort recently. In late November, photographer and journalist Lidia Stanchenko held a private showing for her solo exhibition “Quiet Glimpses, Distant Places.” And look, if you haven't checked it out yet, I get you. Winter is cold and unpleasant, we're barely emerging from the Christmas haze, and is that Chinese New Year lurking around?  Lucky you, then, that Lida's photography will…

The Shenzhen University of Advanced Technology (SUAT), in collaboration with Fosun Pharma and Huawei Technologies, has launched the GBA AI+ Medical Collaborative Innovation Center in Guangming District, as announced by the university on its official WeChat account Wednesday. This initiative aims to revolutionize the application of AI technology in the medical and pharmaceutical sectors in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). The collaborative effort between the three parties will focus on creating an integrated research platform that merges AI technology with biomedicine, diagnostics, and medical processes. Over three years, the partners plan to develop five AI-based sub-platforms, including AI-assisted drug design, translational medicine, clinical trials, medical decision-making, and medical equipment innovation. During a launch event Saturday, Chen Youhai, dean of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences at SUAT, detailed SUAT's activity in the AI sector, including the development of the Artificial Intelligence Research Institute, the AI Pharmaceutical Center, and the Intelligence Computing Center. Executives from Fosun Pharma discussed the company's AI strategies and its ongoing collaborations with SUAT and Huawei to advance the AI collaborative innovation center. The construction goals of the AI innovation center align well with Guangming District's emphasis on innovation collaboration and industrial integration, district officials said…

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