China's Ministry of State Security (MSS) warned that overseas espionage and intelligence agencies are using new types of spy equipment, including detection buoys, sensor-fitted marine animals, wave gliders and shipborne electronic devices, to steal China's sensitive maritime data, noting that such activities pose serious threats to the country's territorial, military and economic security, according to an article released by the Ministry's WeChat account on Friday.
The article disclosed more details of the new types of spy equipment. For example, a spherical ocean monitoring buoy found in a certain Chinese sea area was deployed by an overseas marine research institute. It was equipped with a meteorological sensor package on top and dragged an anchor chain underneath for fixation. It also carried a high-precision acoustic sensor array, enabling it to collect surrounding sound wave data and the acoustic signatures of Chinese submarines in real time.
Also, it was exposed that in a certain Chinese sea area, relatively large living marine animals were found to have been fitted with sensors, turning into "spy turtles and spy fish." As they swam in designated areas, they collected sensitive marine environmental data, such as water temperature, salinity and ocean currents, and transmitted the data overseas via satellite in real time.
A new type of wave glider deployed by overseas actors was also found in a certain Chinese sea area. Powered by wave motion and solar energy, it carried positioning, radio communication and other sensors, allowing it to receive real-time satellite instructions and transmit overseas military-related maritime environmental data and information on vessel activities, according to MSS.
The article also noted that a foreign company promoted "new shipborne electronic equipment" for commercial cargo ships under the guise of "maritime services," but the equipment was in fact a multimodal intelligence-gathering device capable of tracking port activities in real time and integrating meteorological, navigational and other data to build a "maritime surveillance network."
Sensitive maritime data and materials, such as ocean current dynamics, water temperature characteristics, temperature distribution and seabed topography, would seriously endanger China's territorial security, military security and economic security if stolen by overseas espionage and intelligence agencies, read the article.
Maritime security is an important component of national security, and safeguarding it requires joint efforts from all, the ministry said. It reminded the public to beware of suspicious cooperation and report suspicious devices, while calling shipowners to remain alert to unfamiliar businesses promoting suspicious maritime service devices and not to casually purchase or install equipment from unknown sources.
General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee and Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith lays a wreath at the Monument to the People's Heroes on Tian'anmen Square in Beijing, capital of China, June 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Dai Tianfang)
General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee and Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith in Beijing on Friday, the Xinhua News Agency reported.
According to Xinhua, Xi said China is willing to work with Laos to achieve a new leap in bilateral ties and build an all-weather China-Laos community with a shared future in the new era.
Laos fully agrees with China and supports the upgrading of bilateral ties, and stands ready to work with China to consolidate high-level political mutual trust, Thongloun said, per Xinhua.
After the talks concluded, the two sides jointly witnessed the signing of cooperation documents covering areas such as inter-party exchanges, people's wellbeing, finance, customs, trade, youth exchanges and media.
2026 marks the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Laos and China and the China-Laos Friendship Year. Standing at a new historic juncture, experts note the two countries will not only expand pragmatic cooperation to nurture new growth drivers, but also ramp up regional coordination. Leveraging the exemplary role of their bilateral partnership in the neighborhood, China and Laos are poised to inject positive momentum into regional peace, stability and development.
Promising prospects
During the talks, the Chinese leader made four points to advance bilateral ties, which included keeping to the socialist path, building a strong foundation for mutually beneficial cooperation, strengthening the traditional friendship between the two peoples, and improving coordination on foreign policies, according to Xinhua.
He called on the two sides to take the establishment of the "3+3" strategic dialogue on diplomacy, defense and public security as an opportunity to deepen law enforcement and security cooperation, and resolutely crack down on cross-border crimes.
Noting that China is ready to work with Laos to upgrade the China-Laos Economic Corridor cooperation, Xi said the two sides should accelerate railway connectivity among China, Laos and Thailand and achieve greater regional connectivity at an early date, according to Xinhua.
China and Laos should boost cooperation in traditional areas such as agriculture and electricity, and tap into emerging fields like artificial intelligence and the digital economy, Xi said, adding that China will continue to provide assistance to Laos within its capacity.
Xi said that the two countries should take the Year of China-Laos Friendship in 2026 as an opportunity to expand cooperation in culture, education, health, and at subnational levels.
China now stands as the leading banner for the socialist system and developing countries, and a mainstay in safeguarding world peace and promoting the building of a multipolar world, said Thongloun, adding that China's development has provided valuable experience for the vast number of developing countries, including Laos.
He stressed that the Lao side firmly adheres to the one-China principle and supports the series of major global initiatives put forward by General Secretary Xi.
Xu Liping, director of the Center for Southeast Asian Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times that guided by head-of-state diplomacy, political mutual trust between China and Laos has continued to deepen.
Drawing on the institutional strengths inherent to socialist systems, the two sides can further align their medium- and long-term development strategies to pursue common development, Xu added.
Ahead of his summit with Chinese leaders in Beijing, Thongloun kicked off his China itinerary with visits to Hangzhou in East China's Zhejiang Province. While touring the country's renowned tech hub, the Lao leader paid site visits to Deep Robotics as well as Alibaba. His cheerful laugh while testing out domestically developed Chinese quadruped robots has gone viral across Chinese social media platforms.
In Zhejiang, the Lao leader also learned about China's practices in green development at Yucun village in Anji county, the birthplace of the concept of "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets," which has guided the village to pursue an eco-friendly development path.
Upon his arrival in Beijing on Thursday, Thongloun visited the Party School of the CPC Central Committee, and returned to the room where he stayed for one month 26 years ago when he studied for an exchange program, as well as the China Academy of Space Technology.
Per Thongloun's visit itinerary and bilateral official statements, China-Laos cooperation is expanding beyond traditional sectors into emerging fields, said Xu. "Boasting strong complementarities in emerging growth drivers including green economy, digital economy as well as aerospace, the two nations enjoy enormous room for collaboration, promising deeper and more substantial pragmatic cooperation ahead."
According to China's Foreign Ministry, China-Laos economic and trade ties have continued to deepen in recent years, with China now serving as Laos' largest source of foreign investment and second-largest trading partner.
Bilateral trade reached $9.82 billion in 2025, up 19.3 percent year-on-year. China's exports to Laos totaled $4.32 billion, an increase of 17.6 percent, while imports from Laos rose 20.7 percent to $5.5 billion, according to the ministry.
Positive demonstration effect
During the Friday meeting with Thongloun, Xi said that China has always regarded Laos as a priority in its neighborhood diplomacy, Xinhua reported.
China hopes to see Laos play a bigger role in international and regional affairs, and the two sides should work closely in multilateral settings to safeguard the common interests of the Global South, the Chinese leader added.
Along with Cambodia, Laos was one of the first countries among ASEAN members to sign an agreement to build a community with a shared future with China. Transcending bilateral ties, China-Laos pragmatic cooperation plays a leading and exemplary role in China-ASEAN relations, analysts said.
China's first 500-kV cross-border alternating-current power link went into operation in April this year, marking a new step in energy cooperation between China and Laos.
The project, the largest and highest-voltage power connection between the two countries, triples cross-border transmission capacity from 50 megawatts to 150 megawatts. It is expected to transmit 3 billion kWh of clean electricity annually, 30 times the capacity of previous lines, according to Xinhua.
As an important member of the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation, Laos boasts abundant hydropower resources and functions as a regional energy "battery" for the ASEAN Power Grid initiative, Xu said.
Deep bilateral energy cooperation and cross-border grid upgrades between China and Laos facilitate regional integration, complementary growth and offer a robust benchmark for China-ASEAN cooperation on infrastructure, green transition and capacity synergy, Xu noted.
The year 2026 also celebrates five years since the China-Laos Railway went into service. According to a statement sent to the Global Times by China Railway Kunming Group on May 28, the China-Laos Railway has reached a new milestone, with cumulative passenger train runs surpassing 100,000 since its launch on December 3, 2021. The flagship project under the Belt and Road Initiative has handled 73 million passenger trips.
"Beyond transforming Laos from a landlocked country into a land-linked hub, the railway has boosted regional trade and economic integration and become a flagship project for regional cooperation," Ma Bo, an associate professor with the School of International Studies, Nanjing University, told the Global Times on Friday.
Boasting fruitful cooperation spanning infrastructure, clean energy and modern agriculture as well as the promising emerging track of artificial intelligence, China and Laos have yielded substantial achievements across diverse fields, said Ma. "Expected to keep delivering exemplary effects, Laos will serve as a key practical model for China's efforts to advance the building of a community with a shared future with neighboring countries."
In a signed article by Thongloun released by Lao News Agency on Friday, the Lao leader said that "Today, the Laos-China relationship stands at its highest point in history, serving as a model of equality, mutual respect and mutually beneficial cooperation."
Chinese Vice President Han Zheng met with UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper in Beijing on Tuesday.
The two countries' leaders agreed in January to develop a long-term and consistent comprehensive strategic partnership between China and the UK, opening a new chapter of bilateral relations, Han said.
Noting that improving bilateral ties serves the interests of the people of both countries, Han said both sides should jointly shoulder the responsibilities of major countries, strengthen strategic communication, consolidate the positive momentum of bilateral relations, explore new opportunities, and boost people-to-people exchanges.
He called on both sides to work together to practice true multilateralism, jointly advance global governance reform, and bring greater stability and certainty to the world.
Cooper said the UK and China share broad common interests and cooperation potential in areas such as trade and investment, artificial intelligence, green development and addressing climate change.
The UK is ready to work with China to implement the important consensus reached between the leaders of the two countries, engage in constructive dialogue and cooperation, and jointly address challenges, Cooper said.
China's consumption market has shown multiple positive signs as the week-long National Day holiday period is about to start on Tuesday, with industry insiders expecting to see bustling scenes across different sectors, ranging from tourism, transport, movie-going and catering.
As consumption during Golden Week traditionally serves as a barometer for the economy, observers said that the spending surge is likely to send an upbeat signal on the potential of China's consumption market, which remains a key economic driver.
The consumption rebound, coupled with a slew of pro-growth policies released in recent days, would also inject new impetus to consolidate the recovery of the world's second-largest economy in the fourth quarter, according to analysts.
Travel boom
Nationwide, Chinese tourists have been in "countdown" mode, eagerly packing their bags in anticipation of the week-long travel adventure during the holiday period. A Beijing-based tour guide surnamed Zhao told the Global Times that reservations for hotels and tickets of popular tourist sites for the upcoming Golden Week has soared significantly. "Tickets for iconic tourist sites in Beijing such as the Forbidden City sold out a week ago," Zhao added.
In addition to traditional popular tourism destinations like Beijing and Shanghai, some third- and fourth-tier cities have also been gaining popularity among tourists for their iconic cultural and culinary attractions. For example, the hit game Black Myth: Wukong has led to more than 30-percent growth in tourism bookings for cities in North China's Shanxi Province, which is rich in cultural legacies, media reported.
Outbound tourism is also foreseen to continue rebounding during Golden Week. Many of the popular travel products involving destinations in Europe and Africa sold out more than a month before the holidays, data from travel platform Fliggy shows, while flight bookings to destinations such as Egypt, Turkey, Hungary, and Kenya have increased more than threefold compared to the same period in 2023.
Transportation networks of Chinese expressways, railways and civil aviation are also expected to embrace a surge during the holidays.
It is forecasted that the country's railway will handle 175 million passenger trips during the travel rush period starting from Sunday and lasting until October 8.
During the holidays, the Beijing Capital International Airport is expected to handle 1.32 million passenger trips, while the annual passenger throughput should exceed 50 million during this National Day holiday period. The number of inbound and outbound passengers at the Beijing Daxing International Airport is expected to reach 105,000, an increase of nearly 60 percent compared with the same period in 2023, the Global Times learned from the airports' operators.
The transport sector overall is expected to handle 1.94 billion passenger trips nationwide during the holidays, with a daily average of 277 million trips. The daily average is expected to rise 0.7 percent year-on-year.
"The average payment price for domestic flights has been reduced by 20 percent compared with last year, while the average price of mid-to-high end hotels also dropped by 20 percent year-on-year," which also helped fuel the Golden Week travel rush, according to a report qunar.com.
Economic gauge
With regards to the movie market, the total pre-sale box office for new releases during the holidays had reached over 100 million yuan ($14.26 million) as of 2:38 pm on Sunday, indicating a potential box-office rebound following a weaker-than-expected summer season.
Meanwhile, multiple localities have been rolling out cultural and tourism activities, among other measures, to further spur a consumption boom during the holidays.
On Saturday, Shanghai began distributing consumption coupons worth of 500 million yuan, offering residents discounts on a wide range of purchases, from hotels and movies to restaurants and sporting events.
"Ahead of the National Day holidays, the Chinese government released a bunch of supportive policies that have largely stabilized and lifted up social expectations," said Tian Yun, an economist based in Beijing.
The strength of China's holiday consumption rebound may also shed light on the potential and resilience of the country's consumption, which is a key engine driving economic recovery momentum, analysts said.
They believed the fourth quarter is also a peak season for domestic consumption, with major consumption events like the Double 11 online shopping festival in November set to further ignite a new wave of shopping enthusiasm.
In honor of Liu Hui, a prominent figure in ancient Chinese mathematics, a series of global activities kicked off on Tuesday local time in Paris, marking the beginning of a year-long commemoration of Liu, whose contributions had a profound influence on ancient Chinese mathematics, and continue to inspire today’s scientific progress and civilization exchanges.
The commemorations were co-hosted by the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST), and the Chinese National Commission for UNESCO (The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization).
The series of events are expected to show the world the remarkable scientific achievements, exceptional ideas, and significant contributions to human civilization made by ancient Chinese scholars like Liu, said He Junke, executive president of the CAST, in a speech he delivered at a launch ceremony of the commemoration on Tuesday, at the headquarters of UNESCO in Paris.
In November 2023, UNESCO held the 42nd session of the General Conference and approved the proposal made by the CAST to celebrate the anniversary of Liu’s birth. It was reportedly the first time China had successfully applied for a birthday anniversary event for a scientist at UNESCO.
This celebration was not only a tribute to Liu’s legacy, but a reminder of the immense value of mathematical sciences in shaping our future, said Lidia Arthur Brito, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences, in a speech she delivered at the launch ceremony.
“This memorial is a tribute to his lasting impact - a recognition that mathematics, as Liu Hui demonstrated, is not just a theoretical pursuit, but also a vital tool for solving practical problems and advancing societies,” Brito remarked.
Living in the 3rd century, Liu was one of the founders of classical Chinese mathematical theory. He made great contributions to the history of Chinese mathematics and also gained an important position in the history of mathematics globally.
Liu’s commentary in the Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art had a great influence on a large number of mathematicians and mathematical works in later generations.
Liu also made many great mathematical creations. He created the theory of lü (ratio) about quantitative relationships, first proposed the concept of decimal fractions, and was the first to introduce the idea of limit and infinite division methods into mathematical proofs. He established a unique mathematical theory of measurement (surveying).
Liu had a direct impact on mathematics in ancient China and the entire East Asia, and indirectly influenced other regions as well, said Zou Dahai, a research fellow at the Institute for History of Natural Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), in a speech he delivered online at Tuesday’s launch ceremony as an expert representative.
“As a representative of outstanding ancient Chinese scientists, Liu is not only a figure of China but also of the world,” Zou told the Global Times.
Following the launch ceremony, an international symposium on Liu’s academic thought was held at the headquarters of UNESCO on Tuesday afternoon, where global experts in the history of science and technology and the history of mathematics, gave multi-dimensional interpretations of and held discussions about Liu’s academic contributions and scientific heritage, as well as their modern value.
Furthermore, they delved into the global dissemination of Liu’s mathematical ideas, and proposed suggestions for the further promotion of China’s classical mathematical heritage.
Andrea Bréard, a professor and the vice president of the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, gave a keynote speech at the symposium titled “Incognito: The Secret Lives of Liu Hui in the 19th Century.” She mentioned that the name of Liu Hui is rarely seen in late imperial Chinese mathematical sources, but it doesn’t imply that Liu had little influence on mathematical practices in the 19th century and beyond.
Instead, it is possible to uncover the lasting influence of Liu’s thought and writings in the context of a rapidly changing scientific landscape, at a time when China became globally more entangled, Bréard noted.
Zhou Xiaohan, an associate research fellow at the Institute for History of Natural Sciences, CAS, shared his thoughts on the multi-language translations of some terms and arguments in Liu’s commentary on Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art in his keynote speech at the symposium.
“Liu’s achievements are not only a treasure to China, but also a great legacy of human thought for the world,” Zhou told the Global Times. “His mathematical achievements reflect the diversity of mathematical thought and practice, which requires the free and deep cooperation of scholars around the world to reveal and interpret.”
As another highlight of the commemoration, a themed exhibition featuring Liu’s achievements in mathematics kicked off at Réfectoire des Cordeliers in Paris on Monday, so as to showcase Liu’s mathematical achievements, and to deepen the civilization exchanges and mutual understanding between China and the world, says the exhibition’s foreword.
Yang Xinyu, the Chinese Ambassador and permanent delegate to UNESCO, said in the speech she delivered at the launch ceremony that the International Astronomical Union named a new feature on the moon “Liu Hui” in 2021, in honor of Liu’s accomplishments.
“Today, whenever we look at the moon from afar, we would think of Liu Hui, think of his groundbreaking work, as well as his scientific spirit,” Yang said. “Spirit that is marked by rigorousness, innovation, dedication, and open-mindedness. Spirit that is highly consistent with the general trend of international scientific cooperation.”
China is making significant strides in utilizing big data and artificial intelligence (AI) in the ocean industry, particularly in marine spatial planning. These technologies are significantly enhancing accuracy and efficiency, and are expected to revolutionize deep-sea exploration and the broader marine industry, the Global Times learned at an event held in Beijing on Thursday.
Marine Spatial Planning Cooperation Workshop of Maritime Silk Road Partner Countries kicked off in Beijing on Thursday, hosted by China Oceanic Development Foundation (CODF).
Representatives from the Belt & Road countries attending the event praised China's efforts in helping them build their marine spatial planning capabilities, while calling for deeper cooperation in developing the blue economy.
Pan Xinchun, Vice President and Secretary General of CODF, told the Global Times that they have employed big data to collect and sort out available information, especially historical records, to analyze the long-term patterns in specific marine areas using AI models. These tools have greatly improved the accuracy and efficiency of studying marine environments, Pan said.
Drones are used to monitor real-time changes in the ocean. Data collected by the drones is processed using big data, enabling precise assessments of marine conditions. This technology has played a crucial role in the drafting and implementation of marine spatial planning, as the effectiveness of the plan and any potential violations can be evaluated, allowing for more scientific and efficient supervision throughout the process, he said.
"For instance, in marine aquaculture, traditional methods would generally waste about one-third of the feed, which sinks to the seabed, resulting in both wasted resources and environmental pollution. Now, with the AI monitoring, the amount of feed can be adjusted accordingly, and intelligent technology can retrieve any leftover feed from the seabed," Pan noted.
China is currently engaged in the R&D of AI-controlled deep-sea robots and is studying the feasibility of deploying them as deep as 10,000 meters below the surface, where the pressure equals 1,000 atmospheres. This would also enable scientists to explore the microorganisms there without having to dive themselves, a task that would be extremely dangerous for humans.
"The development of AI-controlled unmanned underwater vehicles is expected to revolutionize deep-sea exploration and the broader marine industry, achieving goals that were previously unattainable," Pan told the Global Times. "China is making rapid progress in this area, with immense potential for growth."
At Thursday's event, the Global Times learned that the CODF has helped 19 countries form their marine spatial plans, providing assistance in allocating ocean zones based on functions, resources, location, and environment, designating areas for protection or development and ensuring sustainable resource use through policy measures. Among the 19 countries, Cambodia and Thailand have officially implemented their plans as government documents.
Through such collaboration, the foundation has shared over 40 years of China's marine spatial planning expertise, helping these countries create tailored plans that balance resource development, environmental protection, and economic growth. China's endeavor has been warmly welcomed and highly valued by these countries, who expressed their heartfelt gratitude at the workshop.
Representatives from the partner countries also sought China's expertise in developing the blue economy. China was one of the first countries to implement the concept of the blue economy and has since developed a comprehensive framework of policies, standards, and implementation plans.
China is eyeing to help developing countries develop their blue economies including deep-sea aquaculture, offshore wind energy, bio-products, modern fisheries, green ports, high-end shipbuilding, desalination, and tourism. These sectors are largely zero-emission, making them highly efficient and sustainable.
The event was attended both online and in person by some 300 government officials, scholars and experts from nearly 60 countries along the Belt & Road, including 19 that have partnered with the foundation on marine spatial planning and 49 involved in coastal sustainable development capacity-building projects.
The event witnessed the launching of the Marine Spatial Planning Alliance, as well as the release of an initiative for promoting sustainable ocean development of B&R countries.
The third Global Digital Trade Expo (GDTE) kicked off on Wednesday in Hangzhou, capital city of East China's Zhejiang Province, the nation's innovation and trade hub, showcasing China's significant new opportunities and latest solutions in the digital economy.
Global digital trade is thriving, becoming an important trend in international trade development and new growth point for the world economy. Meanwhile, China has become one of the most dynamic regions for digital trade, Chinese and foreign officials and business representatives said at the expo.
This event, themed "Digital Trade and Global Access," serves as an important platform for exchanging ideas and sharing the benefits of China's digital development, industry insiders said.
This year's edition has attracted more than 1,500 enterprises from home and abroad, among which over 300 are international companies. A total of 446 new products and technologies will be featured at the five-day expo, which runs from Wednesday to Sunday, the Xinhua News Agency reported.
Over 30,000 purchasers have signed up for the event, with more than 6,000 of them based in foreign countries and regions, Xinhua reported.
Co-hosted by the Zhejiang provincial government and China's Ministry of Commerce, the event is currently China's only digital trade-themed expo at the national level.
This year, special exhibition areas have been dedicated to robots featuring artificial intelligence innovations and smart traffic solutions. Chinese companies have been the highlight in the expo, thanks to their advanced solutions in digitalization.
"At this expo, we are primarily showcasing gene sequencing solutions developed by our company," Charles Lu, director of public affairs at BGI Group, told the Global Times at the event. "They can be provided to our partners in various countries for scientific research, offering them Chinese technologies," Lu noted.
Beyond scientific research, BGI Group has observed a growing trend in the use of these technologies in agriculture. BGI's services cover more than 100 countries and regions, and there has been a steady growth in overseas demand.
"By participating in this expo, we hope to promote these advanced technologies to even more countries worldwide," Lu said. China's digital industry has seen a robust growth in recent years, notching total revenue of 32.5 trillion yuan ($4.62 trillion) in 2023. Against this backdrop of vast opportunities in digital trade, foreign businesses are also eager to capitalize on the potential of China's digital market.
Speaking with the Global Times at the event, Cheng Fang, head of the regional sales division at Japanese technology firm Yokogawa China Co, said that the world is currently undergoing a wave of digitalization, and China is actively leading the way in this field.
"We are focused on integrating our business with China's digital transformation, and this event represents a great opportunity for us," Cheng said.
Yokogawa China Co has a wide range of business sectors, including energy materials, life sciences, and pharmaceuticals. In recent years, the company's branch in China has consistently ranked as one of the top units in the global group, Cheng said, indicating the importance of the Chinese market to the Japanese company.
Cheng noted that their overall global strategy is increasingly oriented toward the Chinese market, and they will continue to invest and expand their presence in China.
"Over the past 40 years of reform and opening-up, China has attracted significant investment, positioning itself as the world's manufacturing hub. Now, with its consumer market size nearing that of the US, China presents enormous investment opportunities for both itself and the global market," said Wu Yabin, head of Investment and Technology Promotion Office Beijing of United Nations Industrial Development Organization. Wu made these remarks during a roundtable dialogue on the Fourth Industrial Revolution and Digital Transformation held in conjunction with the GDTE, highlighting the vast opportunities presented by the digitalization trend in China.
Based on the voluminous imperial archives in its collection, a new exhibition shedding light on the lives of princesses in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) opened at the Taipei Palace Museum, the island of Taiwan on Saturday.
The exhibition consists of five sections: The Emperor's Daughters, Royal Treasures Unveiled, The Marriage Mission, Fleeting Royalty, and In Closing: Princess Reflections. These detail the life journeys of Qing princesses from birth and marriage to their funerals. The exhibition is set to run until December 1.
"History is full of 'unheard voices.' Individuals who, though scarcely mentioned in official records, lived rich lives and shaped their times in unique ways," noted Su Feng-nan, curator of the exhibition. "Women are among those people whose stories often went untold in the male-dominated societies of the past."
Drawing primarily on the museum's collection of Qing imperial archives, the exhibition explores the status, relationships and life stories of these imperial women, examining their roles and significance within the political landscape of the Qing Empire, said the curator.
Some documents are being exhibited for the first time, such as "The List of Dowries for the Marriage of Gulun Princess," which records more than 300 articles ranging from jewelry to toothbrushes. Some historical facts are revealed as well, such as the fact that the average life-span of a Qing princesses was 26 years.
"When I was younger, I thought princesses lived carefree lives. Today, I see a more nuanced and complex picture of their existence, and it leaves me with deeper feelings," said a visitor from Taipei surnamed Lin, according to the Xinhua News Agency.
In preparing for the exhibition, the museum collaborated with several schools in Taiwan to gather insights from younger generations about their perceptions of princesses.
"I hope the exhibition not only presents a diverse and compelling portrayal of history, but also encourages visitors to reflect on contemporary life and societal issues," Su said.
Fifty years ago, not only the archaeological community but also ordinary people were stunned by the excavation of the Mawangdui Han Tombs. Among the findings was a remarkable discovery known as China's "Sleeping Beauty" (Lady Xin Zhui), an over 2,100-year-old lady who looks nearly as good as she did when she was buried after her death at the age of about 50, during China's Western Han Dynasty (206BC-AD25). The world has marveled at the mystery behind her body, as well as the numerous precious treasures unearthed from the tombs, including textiles, bamboo and silk manuscripts.
In this Mawangdui trilogy, the Global Times Culture Desk explores how digital technologies have brought the public closer to the heritage and how the "Mawangdui IP" was revived by the creative industries. This is the third installment. Although there are many sites in China that can embody the country's Han Dynasty (206BC-AD220) history, Mawangdui is the most exceptional one mainly due to its mysterious finds like the 2,100-year-old mummified aristocrat that is known as Lady Xin Zhui.
Three excavations on the site were carried out from 1972 to 1974. At that time, such excavations brought a research craze to the academic field worldwide. Thanks to new means such as the digital technology, such a scholarly craze in the past 50 years has been extended to the public, especially among the young people.
Decoding mystery
Lady Xin Zhui's silk garments are Mawangdui Han Tombs' stellar artifacts. Due to their brittle and fragile nature, many original pieces are now only stored as archives at the Hunan Museum in Changsha, Central China's Hunan Province. To connect the heritage with people, making replication for public display was a crucial task. The task engages both technological tools and the ingenuity of textile experts like Yang Jiyuan.
Yang, a restorer of ancient silk textile in Nanjing, East China's Jiangsu Province, has replicated seven Lady Xin Zhui's garments since 2016. She told the Global Times that the printed and painted floss silk-padded gauze robe was one of the most challenging tasks.
Through examination using a microscope and creating 3D modeling of the original "printed and painted gauze robe," Yang revealed to the Global Times that the piece's air-like fabric actually consists of seven sheerest silk layers, and the thickness of each one of them is like "one-third of the tissue's thickness."
Matching such almost disappearing silk textiles together was not the most challenging task. Yang told the Global Times that the "painting" process was even harder since the colors should keep looking "not too vibrant and new."
She said the gauze needs to be "1:1 the same to the original one" that has more than 2,000 years of history. Thanks to advanced technologies that can decode the ingredients and composition of ancient fabrics, Yang discovered that Lady Xin Zhui's garment was painted in natural mineral dye and was covered with an extra "glue-like substance" to make it look understated while in a good shape. She said that she was only one of the heritage protectors in China, who has "felt the responsibility to show the public a legacy's authentic aesthetics and story."
"Technological tools are our assistants. They ensure the history we deliver to the public is correct," Xiang Benshan, a restorer of underwater ceramic relics, told the Global Times.
Cross-field collaborations
Other than the research sector, technological innovations are now diversely applied on shows that relate to the Mawangdui Han Tombs.
Currently, a blockbuster show called The Art of Life: Multimedia Exhibition of Mawangdui Han Culture is ongoing at the Hunan Museum. The immersive digital project, a collaboration between the Hunan Museum, Digital Library of China, and the Harvard FAS CAMLab, presents a new model for showcasing the Mawangdui Han Tombs through multimedia installations.
The show includes three thematic sections such as "Time and Space." They highlight the artistic grandeur and spiritual reflections of ancient Chinese, giving insight into their concepts of life, death and afterlife.
Lü Chenchen, associate director of Harvard FAS CAMLab, told the Global Times that the future of Mawangdui-themed exhibitions lies in global academic collaboration and the integration of advanced technologies such as VR tools and interactive animations.
"By partnering internationally, institutions can leverage cultural IPs like the Mawangdui Han Tombs and digital tools to broaden access to historical knowledge from different perspectives and different disciplines," Lü told the Global Times.
If the research lab and the museum are where the Mawangdui IP provides intellectual inspirations to people, then the site's cross-field collaborations with the cultural and creative industries have made the heritage a joy of people's everyday lives.
The Hunan Museum recently collaborated with a food brand to launch a "Mawangdui spicy strip," one of the favorite snacks by young people that is also known as La Tiao.
At the museum's "digital Han lifestyle experiencing center," symbols of relics like the round lacquer plate and Lady Xin Zhui's garments have been printed on products like scarves, fans and cakes.
