Song Ping, a late senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the state, was cremated in Beijing on Tuesday.
Xi Jinping, Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi, Han Zheng and other leaders paid their final respects to Song at the Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery. Hu Jintao sent a wreath to express his condolences over Song's passing.
Song died of illness in Beijing on March 4 at the age of 109.
Song, who was a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the 13th CPC Central Committee and a former state councilor, was extolled as an excellent member of the CPC, a time-tested and loyal communist soldier, an outstanding proletarian revolutionary and statesman, and an exceptional leader of the Party and the state.
Xi Jinping, Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi, Han Zheng and Hu Jintao had either visited Song when he was in hospital or expressed condolences over his passing and offered sympathies to his family through various means.
Late senior Chinese official Song Ping cremated
Immersive cultural tourism has become a major draw in Kaifeng, central China's Henan Province, where daily crowds of up to 90,000 flock to Millennium City Park to experience Song-dynasty themed performances and interactive heritage programs.
Inspired by the Song-dynasty masterpiece "Along the River During the Qingming Festival," Kaifeng’s Millennium City Park offers visitors folk performances, traditional crafts and interactive scenes of ancient life.
The festivities continue after dark, with night shows and cultural programs such as fish-lantern parades, enriching the holiday experience for tens of thousands of people daily.
The surge in immersive experiences has spilled beyond Kaifeng's streets and parks into museums and study tours, where interactive performances and hands-on programs are drawing new audiences.
During this year’s Spring Festival holiday, the beginning of the Chinese New Year, Henan welcomed 62.81 million tourist visits and generated 37.63 billion yuan (about 5.44 billion U.S. dollars) in revenue, reflecting strong momentum of the province's cultural tourism market, authorities said.
Henan's booming tourism market reflects a wider national push. In a government work report delivered last week at the fourth session of the 14th National People’s Congress, China emphasized high-quality development of cultural and tourism industries, highlighting integration with sports, commerce and other sectors as a key driver of economic growth.
Tourists flock to Henan's ancient-themed park as holiday crowds soar
