News

Immersive cultural, tourism activities on the rise across China

Published

4 months ago

September 30, 2024

Ochuwa Ibrahim

Immersive cultural, tourism activities on the rise across China

By Wang Ke, People’s Daily

In the Jingyuetan scenic spot in Changchun, northeast China’s Jilin province, a fountain show captivated many tourists. In the center of a square, Chen Jiamin, a tourist from Heilongjiang province, which neighbors Jilin, was posing for photos with the performers of the fountain show.

“Every few steps, there’s a new activity to experience. I’m so immersed in the Mid-Autumn Festival atmosphere here,” Chen said.

Focusing on traditional customs and creating immersive experiences, various regions across China actively introduced new cultural and tourism products, models, and consumption scenes during the recent Mid-Autumn Festival holiday, to better meet the diverse needs of consumers.

According to data from the Ministry of Transport, on Sept. 15, the first day of the holiday, Some 215.92 million passenger trips were handled by China’s transportation sectors, up 37.9 percent year on year.

This year, China’s tourism market has steadily rebounded, with immersive experiences powered by smart technology becoming a new trend. Leveraging diverse settings like scenic spots, museums, and pedestrians, and incorporating technologies such as artificial intelligence, holography, and augmented reality, immersive tourism has introduced new products, scenes, and experiences, enriching people’s travel options and contributing to the high-quality development of the tourism industry.

In a smart tourism immersive experience hall at a tech and art museum in Pingyao ancient city, north China’s Shanxi province, a light show is staged to present the charm of traditional culture to visitors. The light show employs 16 projectors, which project historical scenes onto a massive hemispherical screen, creating a “time travel” experience for visitors and “transporting” them to historical sites and ancient trade routes where camel bells ring.

The “Land of Dramas” immersive theater complex in Zhengzhou, central China’s Henan province saw over 4 million visits this summer. With 56 chessboard-like courtyards, 21 sub-theaters and 6,500 plays, it presented a cultural feast to tourists.

“There is always something different here. Every visit brings new feelings and experiences,” said Li Yi, a local resident in Zhengzhou.

Chen Hong, deputy director of the Key Laboratory of Interactive Technology and Experience System under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism at Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, noted that compared to conventional static displays, immersive tourism, enhanced by technology, provides a more comprehensive interpretation and expression of culture. This better satisfies the evolving needs of tourists for cultural experience while opening up new market opportunities, Chen added.

This summer, immersive experience programs incorporating virtual reality (VR) technology have blossomed across the country. According to statistics released by on-demand local services provider Meituan, the number of orders for VR experience programs during the summer surged by 144 percent year on year, and the search volume for “immersive experiences” saw a significant rise, with consumers under 30 accounting for more than half of the demand.

An immersive party event hosted at the Yellow Crane Tower, a renowned historical site in Wuhan, central China’s Hubei province, has attracted a number of foreign visitors. The party features a unique cultural blend of Eastern and Western music, clothing, crafts, and cuisines, creating a vibrant cultural feast that builds a bridge of friendship between East and West.

Zeng Bowei, a professor at Beijing Union University, divides the current immersive experience programs in the cultural and tourism market into two types.

The first includes independently operated immersive products, such as Sleep No More Shanghai, which blends theater with immersive experience.

The second type enhances visitors’ immersive experiences by integrating new technologies with performances, facilities, and activities at scenic spots, such as a light show at Slender West Lake in Yangzhou, Jiangsu province, and the Flight Theater in Changbai Mountain, Jilin province, which simulates a flight over the mountain.

According to the Specialized Committee of Immersive Smart Tourism of the China Culture and Entertainment Industry Association, immersive tourism experiences characterized by high-tech and creative content, as well as strong interaction, are particularly popular with tourists, especially the younger generation. These immersive programs have become a new hotspot in China’s cultural and tourism consumption market.

An expert stressed that while technology is a tool, it is the inherent resources and cultural appeal of a destination or activity that are key to retaining visitors. Tailoring digital technology to align with local cultural and tourism resources is crucial for creating successful immersive products, the expert added.

An immersive Tang-style cultural block in Xi’an, northwest China’s Shaanxi province has launched several cultural and tourism activities this summer, including a carnival co-launched with popular online game Westward Journey, which attracted significant attention from tourists, especially younger audiences. With these events, the cultural block saw over 7,000 visits per day this summer.

Immersive cultural, tourism activities on the rise across China

News

Nigeria Congratulates Trump on inauguration as 47th President of US

Published

10 hours ago

January 21, 2025

Ochuwa Ibrahim

Nigeria Congratulates Trump on inauguration as 47th President of US

By: Michael Mike

The Federal Republic of Nigeria has congratulated President Donald Trump following his successful inauguration as the 47th President of the United States of America.

The Nigerian government in a statement by acting spokesperson of the ministry of foreign affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa said: “Nigeria and the United States of America have enjoyed cooperation in diverse areas of mutual interest, especially in the promotion of good governance, sustainable development, and the fight against terrorism and violent extremism.”

The statement added that: “Nigeria therefore looks forward to further strengthening our historic, strong, and vibrant strategic partnership for the benefit of all our people.”

Nigeria Congratulates Trump on inauguration as 47th President of US

International

Saudi Arabia Sponsors 20 Nigerian on Pilgrimage

Published

10 hours ago

January 21, 2025

Ochuwa Ibrahim

Saudi Arabia Sponsors 20 Nigerian on Pilgrimage

By: Michael Mike

Twenty Nigerians are being sponsored by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ Guests Programme for Umrah 2025.

They are expected to perform the lesser hajj (Umrah) in Saudi Arabia fully sponsored by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

A press statement on Tuesday in Abuja by the Embassy of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Abuja read: “As part of its dedication to promoting Islamic unity and facilitating access to Islam’s most sacred sites for Muslims around the world, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Embassy in Abuja hosted a grand farewell ceremony for 20 Nigerian pilgrims selected for the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ Guests Programme for Umrah 2025.

“The ceremony held under the leadership of His Excellency Faisal bin Ibrahim Al-Ghamdi, Saudi Ambassador to Nigeria, highlighted the Kingdom’s unwavering commitment to supporting Muslims and fostering spiritual connections through pilgrimage.

“The programme, initiated by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, provides Muslims from diverse backgrounds the opportunity to perform Umrah with full sponsorship, symbolising Saudi Arabia’s role as the spiritual heart of the Islamic world.”

In his keynote address, Ambassador Al-Ghamdi expressed profound gratitude to King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their steadfast dedication to Islam’s holy sites.

He praised their exceptional leadership in enhancing the services provided to pilgrims and ensuring that their journey to the sacred sites is both spiritually fulfilling and logistically seamless.

He said: “The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Crown Prince have prioritised the well-being of pilgrims, viewing it as a sacred duty and an immense honor. Through this programme and other initiatives, Saudi Arabia continues to strengthen bonds of brotherhood among Muslims while ensuring their comfort and safety during their spiritual journey.”

Ambassador Al-Ghamdi revealed that the Kingdom had invested over $100 billion in the recent expansion and modernisation of the Two Holy Mosques. According to him, these ambitious projects, encompassing state-of-the-art infrastructure, advanced crowd management systems, and cutting-edge technology, reflect Saudi Arabia’s commitment to accommodating the increasing number of pilgrims visiting Mecca and Medina each year.

He added that the Kingdom spares no effort in mobilising resources to improve the pilgrimage experience for all Muslims.
He also emphasized the importance of adhering to the Kingdom’s laws and regulations, designed to maintain order and ensure the safety and comfort of all pilgrims.

“The leadership of Saudi Arabia remains fully committed to serving the guests of God. This is a responsibility we hold dear, and we continuously strive to enhance the spiritual and logistical aspects of the pilgrimage experience,” he said.

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ Guests Programme has become a symbol of the Kingdom’s efforts to unite Muslims worldwide and facilitate access to the holiest sites in Islam. Each year, the initiative provides thousands of pilgrims with the opportunity to perform Umrah, covering all costs, including travel, accommodation, and other logistics.

The guests expressed their sincere thanks and appreciation to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, may God protect him, for this generous hospitality provided by the Kingdom’s leadership in serving Islam and Muslims and serving the House of God and the Holy Land.

Saudi Arabia Sponsors 20 Nigerian on Pilgrimage

News

Zulum Decorated With Peace Studies Society Fellowship

Published

10 hours ago

January 21, 2025

Ochuwa Ibrahim

Zulum Decorated With Peace Studies Society Fellowship

By: Michael Mike

Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum has been decorated with the Society for Peace Studies and Practice (SPSP) fellowship.

The decoration on Monday at the Government House in Maiduguri by the society’s president, Nathaniel Awuapila, assisted by Professor Isaac Albert, who represented the Chairman of the Board of Trustees.

Zulum is a fellow of several professional bodies, including the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), the Nigerian Institution of Agricultural Engineers (NIAE), and the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA). He has received honorary fellowships from the National Postgraduate Medical College and the Environmental Management Association of Nigeria (EMAN).

Responding, Governor Babagana Zulum expressed his gratitude for the honour and assured his commitment to partnering with the society to achieve sustainable peace and development in the region.

He noted that the non-kinetic measures adopted by the government had yielded positive results, highlighting that over 200,000 repentant insurgents and their families had surrendered to the authorities.

The brief occasion was attended by the Secretary to the Borno State Government, Dr. Bukar Tijani; the Head of Services, Barrister Mallam Fannami; Deputy Chief of Staff to the Executive Governor, Dr. Babagana Malumbe; the Vice President of the SPSP, Professor Jude Momodu; the Secretary General of the SPSP, Dr. Lanre Yusuf; members of the Borno State Executive Council; and Senior Government officials, among others.

Meanwhile, the Society for Peace Studies and Practice (SPSP) has announced a plan to commission a study on the positive impact of the Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum.

The President of the Society, Nathaniel Awuapila, stated this earlier during the visit to the Governor in Maiduguri.

He said: “Your Excellency is no exaggeration by any means when we speak on behalf of SPSP to say that around the Sahel, you are a model. A model in post-conflict reconstruction, a model in managing post-conflict societies. A model in peacebuilding and development. These are qualities that we have seen demonstrated as we observed what has happened in Borno over the years and even in infrastructural development.”

He also stated that “the society has decided to commission a study. We have asked the question, How is this possible? Those questions are on the lips of people who get to know what is happening in Borno. We will commission a study to see how your contribution impacted the people and could become a model for people to study around the Sahel and indeed globally.”

Speaking earlier, Professor Albert commended Zulum for the laudable projects he executed across parts of Borno. He said, “We are not here, sir, really to honour you but to honour ourselves, to attach ourselves to some of the things you have achieved, and to say that we are proud of you.”

He added, “We have gone around the state and seen some of the projects that you have done. This is not the first time we have seen this project. We saw them in magazines and newspapers, and we physically saw the projects; we touched them.”

Zulum Decorated With Peace Studies Society Fellowship