Chinese entrepreneurs and experts remain confident in the competitiveness of China's exports in the global markets, even as the United States-initiated tariff dispute with China continues to weigh on bilateral trade.
Tina Liu is co-founder of Tina Sourcing, a procurement solutions provider based in Wenzhou City, east China's Zhejiang Province. She said Chinese exporters in a diverse array of industries, including those in advanced manufacturing, enjoy an edge over their counterparts in other countries, thanks to China's robust supply chain networks.
"The diversity of China's manufacturing sector is, in my view, irreplaceable for many overseas clients. Our industrial ecosystem is so complete that an idea can be quickly turned into a finished product within just a few days in places like Shenzhen in Guangdong Province," Liu told China Global Television Network (CGTN) in a recent interview, referring to the leading foreign trade city and economic powerhouse in south China.
Rex Zhang, also co-founder of Tina Sourcing, said that Chinese manufacturers are capable of producing goods in huge volumes, at competitive prices, and with advanced infrastructure and high logistical efficiency. China's industrial competitive edge, he believes, will not be easily dented by tariffs.
"Under U.S. tariffs, some clients compare our products with those from other countries like India or Vietnam. But what sets Chinese companies apart is our consistency in quality, shorter lead times, and reliable after-sales service," Zhang said.
Song Huangsheng, a professor from the School of Economics at Zhejiang University in East China, said that with the continued growth of China's high-tech manufacturing sector, Chinese brands stand a good chance of gaining more global recognition and pulling ahead of their competitors in the international markets.
"Despite high tariffs, many Chinese products remain competitively priced compared to similar goods [elsewhere]. Therefore, Chinese companies need to focus more on building their own brands to strengthen their presence in the global market," said the scholar.
Strong, innovative industrial ecosystem fuels Chinese competitiveness in global markets: experts
China's Qingming Festival holiday has turned flower viewing into a showcase of cultural heritage, drawing tourists and boosting local economies.
From references to "The Book of Songs", a treasured Confucian classic and China's oldest poetry collection, to longstanding flower festivals, organizers are promoting flower viewing as cultural tourism, weaving poetry and tradition into spring outings.
Hebi City in central China's Henan Province is drawing crowds with magnolias, tulips and crabapples, alongside 87 cherry blossom varieties. The blooms have become a major Qingming Festival attraction, prompting local authorities to pair tourism with cultural heritage.
As one of the birthplaces of The Book of Songs, Hebi has launched a campaign offering free entry to scenic spots for visitors who recite verses from the ancient classic. The initiative links flower viewing with a text long regarded as a cornerstone of Chinese literature.
In Binzhou, east China's Shandong Province, a park spanning 240 hectares, roughly the size of 330 football fields, is covered in blossoms, making it one of the largest spring displays in the region. The park uses smart drip irrigation to keep flowers hydrated and extend their peak season.
Originating in the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279), the Huazhao (Flower Deities) Festival in Xinzhou District of Wuhan boasts more than 800 years of history. Listed as a provincial intangible cultural heritage in 2011, it remains the largest folk celebration in eastern Hubei, drawing thousands of visitors each spring. A parade featuring 12 flower deities winds through the streets, anchoring the festival as both a cultural showcase and a tourism draw.
"The plum blossom represents noble character, the peach blossom radiant beauty. We hope more people will come to discover the Huazhao Festival," said Qinghuan, a performer portraying the Osmanthus Deity.
Outside the Shanxi Museum in Taiyuan City, apricot trees are in full bloom. Their pale pink petals flutter in the breeze, lining the museum's corridors and echoing the deep history within. Visitors pause to photograph the unique blend of ancient architecture and fleeting spring beauty.
During the Qingming Festival holiday, the Beijing Garden of World's Flowers turned into a "spring palette." A nearly 2,000-square-meter sea of flowers burst into color. Against this floral backdrop, traditional experiences such as archery, tea whisking and movable-type printing drew crowds seeking a holiday filled with blossoms and cultural charm.
The garden features over 40 varieties of alpine and deciduous rhododendrons in shades of purple, pink and white, layered like clouds of silk. Along the flower-lined paths, colorful benches and ribbons create picture-perfect spots. Visitors wander, stop to admire, or raise their phones to capture a moment of spring romance.
"We hope these vibrant, contrasting floral colors bring a little healing and joy to people's lives, a space to relax and find peace amid the spring bloom," said Shi Wenfang, director of the Beijing Garden of World's Flowers. Beyond flower viewing, the garden is hosting its annual Huazhao Festival during the holiday. Now in its fifth year, the event has attracted nearly 300,000 visitors in total. The festivities run through April 6.
Falling on April 5 this year, the Qingming Festival, or Tomb-Sweeping Day, is a traditional Chinese festival for honoring the deceased and paying tributes to ancestors. The three-day holiday from Saturday to Monday also provides a short break for Chinese citizens to enjoy outdoor activities and sightseeing in pleasant springtime temperatures.
Compiled between the Western Zhou Dynasty and the Spring and Autumn Period (1100 B.C. - 476 B.C.), "The Book of Songs" contains at least 305 poems and is recognized as a Confucian classic.
Flower viewing draws holiday crowds across China during Qingming Festival
