Peng Liyuan visits exhibition on digital, intelligent empowerment for women, girls

Peng Liyuan, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping, and UN Under-Secretary-General and UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous on Tuesday visited an exhibition in Beijing showcasing China's progress in digital and intelligent empowerment for women and girls.

The exhibition was opened on Tuesday as a side event of the Global Leaders' Meeting on Women.

As technology races ahead, new-generation information technologies have become a new engine for women and girls to pursue their dreams, said Peng, adding that China's push to develop digital and intelligent technologies is reshaping the lifestyles of women and girls, creating broader development opportunities for them in the era of digital intelligence.

Peng, a UNESCO special envoy for the advancement of girls' and women's education, said that she looks forward to working together with everyone to usher in a future full of opportunities in the era of digital intelligence and to elevate the global advancement of women.

Bahous highly commended China's remarkable achievements in bridging the digital gender gap, promoting all-round development of women, and protecting women's rights and interests.

Bahous called on the international community to work together to empower women and girls to achieve all-round development in the era of digital intelligence.

Peng, together with domestic and international guests, toured the exhibition, and watched a smart cloud classroom, Spring Bud Project girls demonstrating robot-operated Rubik's Cube solving, and traditional culture shows, among other displays.

Spouses of foreign leaders, and heads of women's organizations also attended the event.

Peng Liyuan visits exhibition on digital, intelligent empowerment for women, girls

Peng, UN Women chief visit exhibition on digital empowerment for women, girls

Peng, UN Women chief visit exhibition on digital empowerment for women, girls

More than a month ahead of the Chinese New Year, restaurants across China have reported a booming demand for reunion dinners, with popular places already fully reserved.

The family reunion dinners on the eve of the Chinese New Year, or the Spring Festival, is the most important meal of the year for Chinese people. It has long been an essential part of celebrating the Chinese New Year. This year, the festival falls on Feb 17.

In Taiyuan, capital city of north China's Shanxi Province, one restaurant said all tables for the Chinese New Year's Eve dinner have been reserved.

"We now have 36 private rooms and 13 tables in the hall. The New Year's Eve dinner is fully booked. Many families started reserving as early as November 2025," said Han Huiyan, a restaurant manager.

To meet the demand, many restaurants start to offer takeaway banquet package that can be easily prepared at home, allowing families to enjoy a variety of festive dishes without dining out.

In Ningbo, a city in east China's Zhejiang Province, many popular restaurants said that they are approaching full reservation levels. To reduce peak demand, some restaurants now offer off-peak reunion dinners starting later at night.

"We now offer a 'second round' of New Year's Eve dinners, which start at 19:30. We also offer discount for such New Year's Eve dinners, a promotion of 20 percent off set menus," said Sun Lijuan, a restaurant manager.

In Lianyungang, a city in east China's Jiangsu Province, smaller private rooms of a local restaurant have been nearly sold out, and customized menus and home-delivery services have drawn strong interest.

"This year we have specially launched the Chinese New Year's Eve dinner delivery service. Bookings are very strong and customers really like this option," said Geng Maoran, a restaurant general manager.

Restaurants see surge in bookings for Chinese New Year's Eve dinners