Unique tourism experiences across China captivate visitors during May Day Holiday

Distinctive tourism projects at attractions across China have captivated large numbers of visitors, offering them entirely new travel experiences.

At Zhangbi Fortress, an ancient multi-functional military stronghold in north China's Shanxi Province, visitors are treated to an immersive journey that blends history with technology.

With the help of virtual reality (VR) headsets, tourists can team up with virtual archaeologists on an adventure to uncover the secrets of this mysterious fortress.

"After putting on the headsets, the combination of virtual and real elements creates an immersive, interactive experience. It's very high-tech, and it feels truly amazing," said Du Sidan, a tourist.

In addition, the site offers vibrant folk performances, enriching the experience with local culture.

"We've prepared a variety of colorful folk performances, such as ancient costume parades and large-space mixed reality immersive, interactive programs, offering visitors a unique tourism experience," said Yan Xiaofeng, deputy general manager of the Shanxi Kaijia Zhangbi Castle Eco-tourism Co., Ltd.

Meanwhile, in Dunhuang City, northwest China's Gansu Province, a special grand concert at Yueya Spring, a crescent-shaped lake surrounded by giant sand dunes, has become a major attraction during the ongoing five-day May Day holiday. Over 10,000 tourists gathered under the star in the vast desert, waving glow sticks and flashlights, and synchronized with a light show, to experience an unforgettable cultural feast blending music and starlight.

"This is our first visit to the Mingsha Mountain Crescent Yueya Spring Scenic Area, and we happened to catch the grand chorus. I'm so happy. The atmosphere of singing together is fantastic," said Hao Ye, a tourist from northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

"The atmosphere is fantastic, and I feel like I've reached a whole new level of experience," said Li Xinyu, a tourist from east China's Shandong Province.

The grand concert, launched in 2023, has quickly become a hit among visitors and is now an annual feature during the peak tourist season, drawing large crowds year after year.

Unique tourism experiences across China captivate visitors during May Day Holiday

A Chinese community in Madrid has become a witness to the growing ties between China and Spain.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is on a five-day official visit to China from Saturday to Wednesday. This visit marks Sanchez's fourth visit to China in a four-year period, and it represents another significant high-level exchange between China and Spain in a short period, following the visits by Spanish King Felipe VI and Sanchez last year.

The Usera neighborhood in southern Madrid is the heart of the Chinese community - a living example of peaceful and prosperous coexistence and cooperation, which also proves the relations between the two nations continue to develop in a deeper level.

"More than 40,000 Chinese people live in this neighborhood that has a unique and different identity where two cultures coexist peacefully and that represents what Madrid is all about - an open and welcoming city," said Almudena Maillo, Councilor for Tourism of Madrid Town Hall.

A giant 15-by-20-meter dragon is part of a new 12-million-U.S. dollar investment into the neighborhood, a spectacular stop on a 1,700-meter pedestrian route that features Chinese characters and Confucian phrases on the street, with 290 new trees and 11,000 plants, a brand new 500kg marble panda, and an iconic paifang, or gateway, reminiscent of the ones at the London and New York Chinatowns.

The project received EU funding and won an award for its urban transformation from Catedra China in February, a Spanish organization set up to bolster Spain-China ties.

"It's beautiful, really original. It just looks great, brightens up the place," said a local resident.

China's ambassador to Spain sees China-Spain relations at an all-time high.

"This is the best time as far as the relations between China and Spain are concerned. So I think that we are lucky to have a partner like Spain in Europe. We hope that the partners like Spain in Europe could be also increasing in the future time," said Yao Jing, Chinese Ambassador to Spain.

Chinese community in Madrid witnesses closer China-Spain ties