Various regions across China have vied with one another in rolling out unique cultural tourism programs, including beautiful scenery, performances and folk events, to provide distinctive travel options for tourists during the current peak summer holiday season.
Lotus flowers covering 110,000 mu (about 7,333 hectares) in Guangchang County of east China's Jiangxi Province have entered the peak bloom season recently, attracting visitors to wander through the sea of blossoms, snap photos and fully enjoy the vibrant summer scenery.
"It is breathtaking. I used to think lotus flowers only grow in ponds. This is the first time I have seen such a vast expanse of lotus fields," said Gao Yujia, a tourist.
This year, local authorities have added activities such as traditional Chinese performances and displays of intangible cultural heritage to the flower scenery, allowing visitors to not only enjoy the lotus flowers but also experience the charm of traditional culture.
Since the start of the blooming season, major lotus flower viewing sites in the county have received an average of approximately 8,000 visits each day.
"We have seen a significant increase in tourists, especially on weekends, when rooms need to be booked two or three days in advance. Even nearby restaurants are doing much better business," said Wu Aimin, manager of a local homestay.
In Hanshan County of east China's Anhui Province, over 2,000 mu (about 133 hectares) of wild lotus flowers have reached full bloom. Local authorities have launched tourism activities featuring lotus appreciation, performances, and roadside stalls for shopping, attracting large numbers of visitors.
The Sumu Mountain in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region has staged a mountain-opening ceremony, featuring folk performances including traditional dragon and lion dances, giving visitors a chance to escape the summer heat in fresh mountain air and take part in a variety of fun activities.
"Using this mountain-opening and blessing folk activity as a platform, we will explore the mountain's forest ecology, traditional folk customs, local characteristics and food resources to create an immersive cultural tourism experience," said An Feifei, general manager of a local tourism company.
Diverse leisure experiencing programs attract tourists in peak summer season
Business leaders, researchers and entrepreneurs from around the world gathered at the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC), where discussions are focusing on turning AI innovation into cross-border partnerships and real-world applications.
The 2026 WAIC is running in Shanghai from Friday to Monday under the theme "AI Partnership for a Brighter Future."
Across the exhibition halls, conversations often extended beyond product demonstrations, with visitors exploring potential partnerships, supply chains and overseas expansion.
Among them was Paolo Brizzi, chief information officer of Italy's Competence Center for Industry and Manufacturing (CIM), who met with a Chinese AI company to discuss cooperation ranging from industrial applications to entering the European market.
"My point is not to be a customer or a provider of technologies, but to identify parts [where we can] actually collaborate and work together," he said.
The four-day conference has also created opportunities for startups to connect with investors, researchers and potential customers. One startup launched an online networking group on the opening day, attracting hundreds of participants who exchanged ideas, explored business opportunities and sought technical solutions.
Participants said AI innovation depends not only on technological breakthroughs but also on cooperation across industries and countries.
"Collaboration is important because alone you cannot do so much. It needs to be a team support ecosystem," said Florian Wohlrab, CEO of Canada-based OpenHW Foundation.
For many international visitors, the conference is also an opportunity to explore how AI can help address practical challenges. Omar Khan, a participant from Pakistan, said international cooperation is essential to ensuring AI benefits everyone.
"I think, for me, we are all the one. We're human and I think we can cooperate a lot," he said.
Some attendees were looking for solutions to challenges in their home countries. A visitor from Kenya said AI applications such as weather forecast and soil analysis could help improve agricultural productivity across many parts of Africa, where farming remains a cornerstone of the economy.
As countries race to advance AI technologies, participants at this year's WAIC said the conference has become a platform for connecting ideas, technology and demand across borders, helping turn AI innovation into practical international cooperation.
World AI Conference highlights growing demand for global AI partnership
