The Shenzhou-18 crew members, currently in orbit aboard China's Tiangong space station, sent a video message to German teenagers, providing a station tour and conveying Mid-Autumn Festival greetings during a special cultural event celebrating the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China held on Saturday in Berlin, Germany.
Titled "Written in the Sky: My China Story," the event was jointly organized by China Media Group (CMG), the Chinese Embassy in Germany, and the Center for Language Education and Cooperation under China's Ministry of Education.
The three astronauts, Ye Guangfu, Li Cong, and Li Guangsu, recorded a video from the space station for young people from Germany.
"I hope you will continue to follow China's space industry and humanity's exploration of space, contributing to a better Earth for all. I also look forward to witnessing new chapters unfold in the story between you and China in the future. Through our collaborative efforts, let 'Written in the Sky' campaign serve as a bridge connecting Earth and space, and linking Chinese-German cultures and hearts," Ye said.
The Chinese astronauts provided a close-up tour of the space station to the Burg Chinese Chorus from Germany and other German students, showcasing areas such as the experimental zone, dining area, sleeping quarters, water dispenser, and treadmill at the station.
They also conveyed Mid-Autumn Festival greetings to guests from home and abroad during the event.
"At this moment, during the traditional Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival, being able to interact with everyone between space and Earth on a day of celebrating reunion and harvest holds extraordinary significance. Let us celebrate our gathering in the sky today with the melodies of the Burg Chinese Chorus. From the Chinese space station, I wish you all a happy Mid-Autumn Festival and a pleasant time in your studies and daily life," Ye said.
The Burg Chinese Chorus showcased a medley of Chinese-German songs at the event.
Launched in March this year, the campaign "Written in the Sky: My China Story" has collected more than 1,600 stories from China and over 60 countries across the globe.
Shenzhou-18 crew sends video message to German teens during CMG cultural event
A remote village on China's southwestern border, where many residents only became Chinese citizens two decades ago, has been dramatically transformed by government-backed tourism initiatives and modern infrastructure development.
Daman Village, nestling in the mountains of Gelong Town in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past few years. What's so special about this village is that out of its 89 households, 57 were officially granted Chinese citizenship in 2003. Now, thanks to significant government investment, the village is becoming a burgeoning tourist destination.
The newly completed mountain-view guesthouses, which represent one of the key government-funded projects, offer breathtaking views of snow-capped peaks draped in mist from their balcony.
"The total investment so far has exceeded 60 million yuan (about 8.55 million U.S. dollars). We're also constructing a tourist reception center and renovating many homes into guesthouses. This project marks the largest one we've undertaken since the villagers became Chinese citizens 20 years ago. It will not only boost local employment but also significantly increase incomes," said Kunchok Dorjee, Party Secretary of Chongdui Village, which administers Daman Village.
This sum of money represents the largest government investment in Daman Village since its formal establishment. Beyond tourism, the funding has been used to rebuild the homes of all 89 families.
Daman, meaning "cavalry" in Tibetan, traces its roots back to Gurkha soldiers native to ancient Nepal who, after allegedly losing a battle with the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) forces, became separated from their main army and remained stranded along the border.
For generations, their descendants roamed the borderlands between China, Nepal and India, without nationality or official status. Their long journey as a stateless people finally ended in 2003 when the Chinese government granted them citizenship, classifying them as Tibetan.
Xu Hongbin, originally from Chengdu City of southwest China's Sichuan Province, married a local woman from Daman Village. Reflecting on his first visit to the area a decade ago, Xu marveled at the changes the village has experienced in such a short period.
"A decade ago, there was only one road into the town. Now there are at least four. Everywhere you look, there are new buildings, guesthouses and restaurants. The development has been incredibly fast," he said.
Tourism fuels transformation in border village as residents mark 20 years of citizenship
