The host city of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit 2025 Tianjin has rolled out a series of events and activities featuring China's modern development and ancient history to welcome international visitors arriving for the summit.
The exhibition titled "Shang Capital Crafts: Made in China 3,000 Years Ago" opened at the Tianjin Museum on Saturday. Co-hosted by the Yinxu Museum in Henan Province, it is China's first exhibition to systematically showcase the handicrafts from the late Shang Dynasty (1600 BC-1046 BC), unearthed at Yinxu, or the Yin Ruins, in Henan.
The exhibition features over 180 exquisite artifacts on loan from four museums, including the Yinxu Museum and the Anyang Museum.
Among the highlights is the Yinxu Museum's crown jewel -- the buffalo-shaped bronze vessel with inscriptions of "Ya Zhang" -- which has traveled to Tianjin specially for this exhibition.
As the only buffalo-shaped bronze vessel ever unearthed at Yinxu, it exemplifies superb Shang craftsmanship. Its lifelike form is adorned with intricate dragon, tiger, bird, and fish motifs. A detachable lid covers an opening on its back. The inscription "Ya Zhang" identifies its owner as a tribal leader of the Shang Dynasty.
"We hope to showcase to international friends both the latest technological achievements made in the manufacturing sector in contemporary China and the splendor of our history, our civilization, providing them an immersive experience to appreciate the unique charm of China's craftsmanship from over 3,000 years ago," said Zhang Xia, a curator at the Tianjin Museum.
What's more, nightfall brings dazzling light shows to the Haihe River. The cruise boats, offering breathtaking views of both riverbanks, are also offering tourists an immersive experience.
The summit will be held in Tianjin from Aug. 31 to Sept. 1.
Tianjin welcomes int'l visitors with cultural events ahead of SCO summit
Tianjin welcomes int'l visitors with cultural events ahead of SCO summit
A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.
Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.
In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.
"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.
Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.
In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.
"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.
By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.
After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.
"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.
Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.
As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.
Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media
