Macao residents have shared their insights on the substantial progress on social and economic development made during the past 25 years since the city's return to the motherland.
After 25 years of development, the Special Administrative Region (SAR) of Macao has become a world renowned tourism destination, where Eastern and Western cultures have co-existed for over 400 years.
As the city becomes more deeply integrated with the mainland, particularly via the Greater Bay Area development plan which is encouraging more collaboration between Macao, Hong Kong and the big cities in south China's Guangdong Province, young people are embracing growing opportunities arisen through accelerated national integration.
"I was born and raised in Macao. I experienced our city's return to the motherland. The economy and society in the region has flourished after its return. The most profound feeling for me is that the Macao SAR government, and the mainland have provided young people like us with more opportunities. In particular, there are many young people working in government advisory committees. This also reflects the importance that our motherland and the SAR government attach to youth in Macao," said Dai Jiaping, Secretary General of the Macau Youth Federation.
Lin Hailing, administrative officer of Macao Youth Development Service Center, said she is confident that Macao will continue to broaden its path toward common prosperity with the motherland.
"I see a lot of hopes as Macao is transforming. We are eager to develop and expand from various industries. I am very sure that Macao will develop its own advantages and prosper with the motherland under the 'one country, two systems' policy," said Lin.
Macao youths acclaim substantial achievement since return to motherland
The lineup for the 2025 Spring Festival movie season was officially revealed on Wednesday with six highly anticipated films set to hit the big screens in China on the first day of the Spring Festival on January 29.
The six films -- Creation of the Gods II: Demon Force, Ne Zha 2, Detective Chinatown 1900, Operation Leviathan, Boonie Bears: Future Return, and The Legend of the Condor Heroes: The Great Hero -- span a range of genres and feature impressive creative teams.
Since pre-sales began on Jan 19, advanced sales for the holiday line-up were the fastest ever to reach 100 million yuan (about 13.8 million U.S. dollars).
At a launch ceremony for the Spring Festival movie season, held at the China National Film Museum in Beijing, the cast of each film highlighted the unique selling points of their movie.
"The viewers will not only uncover the hidden points of plot from the first installment of Creation of the Gods, but also get a real sense of the characters and their evolving relationships through a brand new theme," said Wuershan, director of the movie Creation of the Gods II: Demon Force.
Adapted from the classic Chinese martial arts novel by Jin Yong, The Legend of the Condor Heroes: The Great Hero captures the essence of Chinese chivalry with its portrayal of selfless heroism.
described it as a story with stirring heroism.
"The soul-stirring and awe-inspiring heroic spirit conveyed by the film will be touching, memorable and romantic as well," said Tsui Hark, who directed the film.
The animated film Ne Zha 2 continues the adventures of hero Ne Zha -- a beloved Chinese mythological figure -- with a focus on comedy and spectacular visual effects.
Retaining its signature style, the popular detective series Detective Chinatown 1900 promises twists and turns with big production values and glittering special effects.
As China's first film about nuclear submarines, Operation Leviathan presents a broader underwater battlefield and more complex combat scenarios, offering a unique perspective on naval warfare.
The Great Hero -- the last chapter of the "Boonie Bears" sci-fi series -- combines extreme romance and bold imagination to take viewers on a futuristic adventure.
Different discount and subsidy policies for moviegoers during the Spring Festival were also announced at the launch event with local film authorities across the country organizing special events and promotions to encourage cinema visits.
Supporting institutions, including the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, China UnionPay, Maoyan Entertainment, and Taopiaopia, are expected to provide at least 600 million yuan (about 83 million U.S. dollars) in subsidies for moviegoers during the holiday season.
Six new films set to hit China's big screens on Chinese New Year's Day
