Southwest China's Chengdu City has seen substantial growth of the real economy driven by the vibrant anime culture which has been transforming entertainment into an innovative lifestyle and spurring consumer spending.
As the burgeoning animation has catered to the spiritual and social needs of young people in Chengdu, its enabling affinity for animation, comics, and games has created a dynamic environment for Generation-Z (people born in the late 1990s and early 2000s).
Unlike temporary expos, Chengdu boasts a permanent ACG (Animation, Comic, and Game) city, attracting an average of over 30,000 visitors daily during the golden National Day holiday from Oct 1-7.
"Our store sells both international and domestic IPs, including Guzi (derived from "goods," referring to anime merchandise), trendy toys, and figurines, resulting in a huge customer flow daily," said Zheng Zequan, a shop owner in the Tianfu ACG International City.
Featuring over a hundred shops, along with singing competitions and immersive experiences, the city immerses its visitors in an intriguing virtual world.
"There is a strong anime cultural atmosphere here. Compared to previous projects, ours can be considered a better new landmark in urban cultural tourism," said Li Meng, vice general manager of the Tianfu ACG International City of the Sichuan Tourism Investment Group.
With over 500 million anime enthusiasts in China, predominantly young consumers with significant spending power, the market for this genre has already surpassed 200 billion yuan (approximately 28.5 billion U.S. dollars) in 2023.
Anime culture fuels innovative growth of real economy in Chengdu
Farmers in India, a major agricultural producer and fertilizer importer, are raising concerns over fertilizer availability ahead of the planting season, as the escalating Middle East conflict and disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz put global supplies at risk.
The Middle East serves as both a vital energy hub and a major global fertilizer supplier, yet the ongoing U.S.-Israeli war with Iran has heightened risks of disruption to international supplies.
Chand Singh Yadav, a farmer in Haryana, a northern Indian state, said poor crop yields would be disastrous for the country and called on the government to ensure adequate supplies of fertilizers, agrochemicals and seeds to prevent a food crisis. "Without fertilizers, our crops will not grow well, and this would be disastrous for the entire country. If farmers cannot grow crops, people will not be able to buy food in the market. We urge the government to improve the supply system for fertilizers, agrochemicals and seeds to prevent the country and society as a whole from sliding into a food crisis," he said.
The Indian government is stepping up subsidies for farmers and optimizing fertilizer distribution and allocation to stabilize the supply. Prices have remained broadly stable, but demand is expected to surge ahead of the planting season, potentially exacerbating supply pressures.
"The current situation is worrying for us farmers. Spring sowing has not yet started, and the rainy season has not arrived. Fertilizer prices are temporarily stable, but in two months, demand for agricultural fertilizers will become pressing. Without fertilizers, it will be difficult to properly cultivate various types of crops. Urea and diammonium phosphate are especially critical. Crops can only grow normally when these fertilizers are applied. As these fertilizers are largely imported, if the conflict persists, supplies cannot be guaranteed," said Santosh Mishra, a farmer in India's eastern state of Odisha.
Escalating Middle East conflict strains India’s fertilizer supply
Escalating Middle East conflict strains India’s fertilizer supply
