Nighttime activities in China are fueling consumption during the five-day May Day holiday starting on Wednesday.
To further enhance the vitality and attraction of nighttime consumption, many Chinese cities have endeavored to combine business with culture and tourism in innovative ways.
In Beijing, the cityscape of major business districts, parks, and streets in the central urban area comes alive as they are simultaneously adorned with captivating illuminations, each showcasing its unique characteristics.
"The bridge in the Liangma River Park is now lit up and looks exceptionally beautiful. There are also a large number of tourists coming to take photos," said Qin Xuan, a tourist.
From April 30 to May 5, nearly 3,000 landscape lighting facilities in the city have been fully illuminated, operating until midnight.
In Fuzhou City of east China's Fujian Province, various immersive and interactive activities such as nighttime art exhibitions and intangible cultural heritage flash mobs have been launched, enabling tourists to experience cultural charms and bustling nightlife.
The local efforts highlight China-Chic elements of intangible cultural heritage, offering activities such as artistic performances and cultural exhibitions.
"[This place] exudes a cultural atmosphere and carries a strong sense of artistry. It is filled with elements of cultural creativity, creating an immersive [cultural] atmosphere," said a tourist surnamed Fang.
Meanwhile, in Lianyungang City of east China's Jiangsu Province, various cultural performances provide visitors to its Haizhou district with an immersive experience. The commercial street there has received a large number of tourists who indulged in delicious food and cultural performances to enjoy their leisure holidays.
"The seafood here is particularly rich in variety and fresh. Our family came here to celebrate the May Day holiday, and it is truly fantastic," said Zhu Laige, a tourist.
China's nighttime economy fuels consumption during May Day holiday
Former French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin has said that the Paris Agreement wouldn't be reached if China didn't play a pivotal role in pushing it.
In an exclusive interview with China Media Group (CMG) aired on Friday, Raffarin shared his views on how China and France should strengthen communication in the future, eliminate misunderstandings, and especially give play to their respective strengths to cope with common global challenges.
"I believe that managing the complexity of the relationship between the two great civilizations requires two important principles. The first is to respect and not judging people based on their differences, but recognizing that there are varied perspectives. There are many concepts, such as 'unity' and 'creation,' that we understand differently, and sometimes we need to consider these ideas from each other's point of view to promote mutual understanding. I think that's important. It is because of respect that the Chinese civilization has been able to develop for thousands of years, and the values it upholds have a long history and deserve respect," he said.
Meanwhile, Raffarin said countries need to focus on collaboration to tackle global challenges, and one significant example of this is the signing of the Paris Agreement.
The Paris Agreement is a legally binding international treaty on climate change. It was adopted by 196 Parties at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP21) in Paris, France, on Dec. 12, 2015. It entered into force on Nov. 4, 2016.
Its overarching goal is to limit global temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
"We also need to work together on common issues. Only by collaborating on shared challenges can we make progress. Through our achievements in the Paris Agreement and our cooperation on climate change, I believe we can show that we are focused on common issues based on shared values. Therefore, I believe that we need to be respectful, proactive, and cooperative. We should acknowledge our differences without creating conflict. We need to be honest with each other, speak our minds, and above all, try to find common ground," he added.
While emphasizing China's commitment to reducing carbon emissions and advancing sustainable development, Raffarin underscored the importance of international cooperation in achieving the agreement's goals.
"I want to say that France has always expressed its sincere gratitude to China for agreeing to sign the Paris Agreement. The agreement would not have been possible without China's participation. We also see that China is making significant efforts in this regard. I have seen blue skies in Beijing many times, and I have observed actions taken in Shanghai to clean up the environment. Factories with high emissions have been closed down and replaced by more modern, greener ones. We see China putting a lot of effort into important issues, such as the push for electric vehicles to reduce greenhouse gas emissions," said Raffarin.
He also noted that the world should reach common ground on promoting the goal of building a community with a shared future for mankind, as such a concept can foster a new kind of multilateralism, making the protection of the Earth and humanity the core strategy of global governance.
Former French PM commends China's contribution to Paris Agreement
