Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Emirates NBD has provided Cars24 Arabia with a digital revolving short-term financing facility to support the used-car platform’s expansion across the UAE and speed access to working capital for eligible dealers and business partners. The Dubai-based bank said the facility is built around an application programming interface, or API, that links its automated lending capabilities directly with Cars24 Arabia’s digital platform. Eligible businesses […]
Payward, the parent company of cryptocurrency exchange Kraken, is pursuing a route to offer US traders perpetual futures linked to Hyperliquid’s HYPE token, but publicly available regulatory and Kraken product information indicates the proposed expansion has not yet been confirmed as a live US offering. The move would broaden Payward’s regulated derivatives business and give eligible American customers exposure to one of the crypto market’s most actively […]
Response by KK Chiu, International Director, Chief Executive, Greater China, Cushman & Wakefield:
Optimising the Housing Ladder and Improving Living Conditions
We welcome the Government’s commitment to increase housing supply, shorten the Composite Waiting Time for public rental housing and further strengthen the housing ladder. The adoption of a long-term housing supply framework comprising 40% public rental housing, 30% subsidised sale housing and 30% private housing, together with the delivery of approximately 196,000 public housing units over the next five years, will provide a clearer housing and homeownership pathway for different income groups.
We believe that increasing the supply of subsidised sale housing and enhancing the housing ladder will help more public housing tenants progress towards homeownership, accelerate housing mobility and enable families with genuine housing needs to gain access to public housing more quickly.
We support the Government’s efforts to increase public housing supply, continue the Light Public Housing programme and implement the Basic Housing Units regime in an orderly manner to phase out substandard subdivided units. This approach is consistent with our long-held view that increasing housing supply is the fundamental solution to improving inadequate housing conditions. With the Government targeting the resolution of substandard subdivided units in domestic buildings by 2030, we expect living conditions for grassroots households to improve progressively.
Urban Renewal Incentives
We support the Government’s more flexible approach to urban renewal, including transferable plot ratio arrangements and measures to unlock redevelopment potential. These initiatives will help enhance market participation, accelerate renewal in areas with pressing redevelopment needs and contribute to overall housing supply growth. We recommend the Government provide clearer guidance on application requirements and further streamline cross-departmental approval procedures to facilitate implementation.
Advancing the Yacht Economy
We welcome the Government’s continued efforts to promote the yacht economy. Beyond increasing marina berth supply and enhancing supporting infrastructure, we believe it is equally important to further facilitate cross-boundary initiatives, allowing greater mobility of yachts within the Greater Bay Area and fostering regional collaboration.
As more superyachts and high-net-worth visitors arrive in Hong Kong, demand is expected to rise across luxury tourism, hospitality, food and beverage, retail, marine services and waterfront commercial facilities, helping unlock the economic potential of Hong Kong’s coastline and island resources. At the same time, Hong Kong has the potential to develop a more comprehensive marine industry ecosystem encompassing yacht repair and maintenance, refitting services and specialised professional services. The development of a holistic marine services value chain will further strengthen Hong Kong’s competitiveness as a regional and international yachting hub.
Response by John Siu, Managing Director, Hong Kong, Cushman & Wakefield:
Planning Ahead for AI and Data Centre Infrastructure
We welcome the Government’s commitment to accelerate the development of the Sandy Ridge Data Facility Cluster, which is expected to provide computing power equivalent to 36 times Hong Kong’s current capacity by 2032, alongside a HK$1 billion injection into the Artificial Intelligence Subsidy Scheme. These initiatives will provide important support for the development of Hong Kong’s artificial intelligence and data centre sectors, further strengthening the city’s position as a regional digital and innovation hub.
However, with rapid advancements in artificial intelligence, large language models and cloud computing, demand for computing power is expected to grow significantly in the coming years. We believe that, in addition to planning data centre sites, the Government should proactively review long-term requirements for power supply, electricity grid capacity and related infrastructure. As AI adoption becomes more widespread, access to reliable power and supporting infrastructure will be a key factor in maintaining Hong Kong’s competitiveness as a technology and data centre hub.
We support the Government’s stated direction of pursuing “high-efficiency computing power, stable electricity supply and low-carbon transition”. Looking ahead, we recommend that the Government regularly review future demand for land, power supply and supporting infrastructure arising from the growth of artificial intelligence and data centre activities, particularly within the Northern Metropolis and other strategic development areas. A coordinated approach to computing, energy and digital infrastructure planning will help attract more data centre operators and technology companies to Hong Kong, while supporting the city’s long-term development as a regional hub for data and artificial intelligence.
Response to the Budget 2026/2027 by Rosanna Tang,Deputy Managing Director, Head of Research, Hong Kong, Cushman & Wakefield:
Clear Industry Positioning for the University Towns
We welcome the Government’s efforts under Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan to further define the positioning of the three university towns in the Northern Metropolis University Town, and are encouraged by its strategy to promote synergy among the university towns, the San Tin Technopole and surrounding industry parks. As the only city in the world with five universities ranked among the global top 100, Hong Kong possesses a strong foundation in higher education and research. At the same time, the San Tin Technopole is set to become a key innovation and technology hub. The complementary strengths of these two pillars, both geographically and strategically, provide a solid foundation for building a globally competitive innovation ecosystem in Hong Kong.
We are particularly encouraged by the Government’s emphasis on integrated industry-academia-research collaboration. The university towns should not be viewed merely as educational developments, but as strategic platforms for research commercialisation, international talent attraction and the cultivation of emerging industries. Closer collaboration among universities, research institutes, innovation and technology enterprises and industry parks will help establish a complete innovation value chain covering talent development, scientific research, technology transfer and industrial implementation.
In addition, the Plan proposes approximately 300 hectares of educational facilities as the core of the university towns, connected with adjacent strategic industry areas, distinctive conservation areas, sports and cultural facilities, and surrounding communities, bringing the overall development footprint to more than 1,000 hectares. Such a large-scale integrated education and industry development model is rare in Hong Kong’s urban planning history and clearly demonstrates the Government’s long-term vision of creating a knowledge-based city cluster and an international education hub in the Northern Metropolis.
Attracting Signature Industry Projects and Anchor Institutions to Enhance the Northern Metropolis’ Global Appeal
We welcome the Government’s efforts to establish differentiated industry positioning through the three university towns, while integrating key development nodes such as the San Tin Technopole, the Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone, the Hung Shui Kiu Industry Park and Ta Kwu Ling. This provides a clearer direction for industrial development in the Northern Metropolis and helps address long-standing market concerns regarding overlapping functions and unclear district positioning.
As highlighted in our previous research, we believe the next critical stage for the Northern Metropolis will be its ability to attract influential anchor institutions and leading enterprises. By bringing together universities, research institutes and industry leaders, Hong Kong can foster the clustering of businesses, talent and capital, gradually forming industry clusters with scale and international competitiveness. Hong Kong should also capitalise on its common law system, international financial centre status, intellectual property protection framework and global talent network by focusing on high value-added segments such as research and testing, intellectual property management, fundraising and listing activities, and international accreditation services. This will help Hong Kong establish an irreplaceable role within the Greater Bay Area industrial value chain.
Beyond strategic industries, we believe the Northern Metropolis could also explore internationally recognised and iconic industry projects to further enhance its global profile and attractiveness. For example, the Government may consider developing initiatives around new energy vehicles, smart mobility and advanced technologies, while exploring the feasibility of internationally recognised racing events, testing facilities or technology R&D platforms, such as those associated with Formula One. By leveraging motorsport-related economic activities and innovation-led development, Hong Kong could attract international automotive manufacturers, mobility technology companies and research institutions to establish regional headquarters, R&D centres or testing facilities in the city. This would in turn support the growth of engineering, intelligent transport, advanced manufacturing, tourism, hospitality, retail and convention and exhibition industries, further enriching the Northern Metropolis industrial ecosystem.
Accelerating Land Supply While Advancing Industries and Infrastructure in Parallel
We note that Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan proposes a significant acceleration in land and housing supply within the Northern Metropolis. Residential completions are expected to increase substantially from approximately 11,000 units during 2021/22 to 2025/26 to around 70,000 units during 2026/27 to 2030/31. Over the same period, the supply of “spade-ready sites” will rise from approximately 120 hectares to around 900 hectares, representing an increase of around 7.5 times. These figures demonstrate that the Northern Metropolis is transitioning from a planning and land formation phase to a new stage characterised by large-scale development, industrial implementation and population intake.
However, we believe the success of the Northern Metropolis should not be measured solely by the volume of land or housing delivered. As substantial residential, innovation and technology, and industrial sites come on stream, the focus should gradually shift from land supply to city-building. The Government should ensure the coordinated delivery of railway and cross-boundary infrastructure networks, industry parks, commercial facilities, public services and community amenities, while accelerating the introduction of leading enterprises and strategic industries to create sufficient, high-quality employment opportunities and achieve a genuine jobs-housing balance.
In particular, we believe the Northern Metropolis should be driven by industry-led development, with the San Tin Technopole, the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone, the university towns and major industry parks serving as key growth engines. This would create a virtuous cycle in which industry attracts population, population supports consumption, and consumption drives urban development. Only through the coordinated growth of industry, talent, infrastructure and communities can the Northern Metropolis evolve from a large-scale land development project into a modern metropolitan district integrating industry, education, living and international exchange.
Response by Tom Ko, Executive Director, Head of Capital Markets, Hong Kong of Cushman & Wakefield:
New Opportunities for Student Accommodation Market
We welcome the Government’s initiatives to deepen Hong Kong’s development as an international hub for post-secondary education through the “Hong Kong: Your World-class Campus” campaign, expanded global student recruitment efforts and the extension of the Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates pilot arrangement to graduates from Greater Bay Area campuses of Hong Kong universities. These initiatives will further enhance Hong Kong’s attractiveness to overseas students and talent while reinforcing the “Study in Hong Kong” brand.
We are encouraged by the continued progress of the Hostels in the City Scheme. The scheme has already received 41 confirmed applications, providing approximately 10,800 bed spaces and demonstrating strong market confidence in the long-term growth of Hong Kong’s education sector.
The scheme has opened up a new supply channel for converting commercial buildings into student accommodation. At a time when hotel conversion opportunities are becoming more limited as tourism continues to recover, it provides an alternative pathway for investors while helping unlock the value of underutilised commercial assets and meet rising demand for student housing. As the Government prepares to tender the first dedicated student hostel site, we believe purpose-built student accommodation will gradually emerge as a distinct and scalable asset class within Hong Kong’s real estate market.
To further increase supply, we recommend that the Government continue reviewing and refining approval procedures for student hostel conversions. Greater flexibility and streamlined processes, while maintaining appropriate safety and operating standards, would encourage wider market participation and support Hong Kong’s ambition to become a leading international education destination.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Cushman & Wakefield
Cushman & Wakefield (NYSE: CWK) is a leading global commercial real estate services firm for occupiers and investors with approximately 53,000 employees in over 350 offices and nearly 60 countries. In Greater China, a network of 23 offices serves local markets across the region. In 2025, the firm reported revenue of $10.3 billion across its core services of Valuation, Consulting, Project & Development Services, Capital Markets, Project & Occupier Services, Industrial & Logistics, Retail, and others. Built around the belief that Better never settles, the firm receives numerous industry and business accolades for its award-winning culture. For additional information, visit www.cushmanwakefield.com.hk or follow us on LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com/company/cushman-&-wakefield-greater-china).
US midterm elections are emerging as a fresh policy risk for artificial intelligence-linked stocks as President Donald Trump defends rapid AI development while candidates from both parties respond to widening voter resistance to data centres and calls for tighter safeguards. The political pressure intensified this week after Trump rejected demands for a slowdown in advanced AI development and argued that existing laws and enforcement powers were sufficient […]
Clinicians from Singapore and South Korea have called for more individualised, evidence-based postnatal care as women enter motherhood later, arguing that recovery plans should reflect each mother’s health, delivery experience, family support and preferences.
The call emerged from DeRAMA Singapore’s Joint Postnatal Recovery Seminar, held at The Singapore EDITION on August 17. Obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr Ho Ping Ling of Ascensus Health @ Mount Alvernia and Dr Park Jeong-mi, founder and medical director of Garden of Her Women’s Clinic in South Korea, compared the two countries’ approaches to postpartum recovery.
Their discussion comes as Singapore’s maternal profile changes. Government data show the median age of citizen mothers at first birth reached 31.6 years in 2024, up from 30.3 in 2014. Dr Ho said mothers aged 35 and above may have a greater likelihood of pre-existing conditions, pregnancy complications and Caesarean delivery, factors that can influence recovery.
“There is no one-size-fits-all approach. All women deserve individualised care, regardless of whether they are younger or older mothers,” Ho said. She added that assessment should consider a woman’s medical condition, pregnancy course, mode of delivery, available support and preferences. Although the postpartum period is commonly defined clinically as about six weeks, the time needed to regain health can differ substantially.
The seminar examined how professional services might complement rather than replace confinement traditions. Home-based support from relatives and confinement nannies remains common, offering practical help. The doctors, however, said some inherited rules lack a clear medical basis and should be reconsidered where they conflict with hygiene, nutrition or other evidence-based care.
Ho cited prolonged avoidance of bathing or washing hair as an example of a traditional restriction that may run against sound hygiene and infection-control principles. The broader approach advocated by the speakers was not to dismiss cultural customs but to distinguish supportive practices from those that may be unnecessary or unsuitable for a mother.
Park said South Korea had also moved from predominantly family-provided postpartum care towards a more structured model as nuclear households expanded, women participated more widely in the workforce and fewer relatives were available as full-time caregivers. This helped establish sanhujoriwon, postpartum recovery centres offering coordinated assistance with maternal recovery, meals, breastfeeding and newborn care.
She said 85.5 per cent of mothers in South Korea use a postpartum recovery centre after childbirth. Programmes vary in cost and scope, but trained maternal and newborn-care staff are typically available around the clock. Park said modern programmes increasingly address pain, swelling, musculoskeletal changes, sleep, feeding and emotional wellbeing, with support adjusted to the mother’s condition and delivery method.
Evidence also supports avoiding simplistic assumptions about age alone. A South Korean study of 528 postpartum women published in 2020 found no significant age-related difference in several self-reported postpartum symptoms, while delivery method and other factors were associated with differences. Caesarean delivery became more common with age in that study, reinforcing the case for recovery plans based on clinical circumstances rather than age by itself.
The World Health Organization similarly recommends postnatal care that provides women, newborns and families with consistent information, reassurance and support while recognising individual needs and cultural context. Its guidance frames a positive postnatal experience as extending beyond physical checks to include emotional wellbeing, newborn care, breastfeeding support and responsive health services.
Singapore’s Ministry of Health said on September 8 that polyclinics already provide subsidised postnatal services, while childhood developmental screening is fully subsidised. The ministry is also reviewing fertility health and maternity policies with the Prime Minister’s Office, including possible additional support for postpartum care in due course.
A separate ministry response in January noted that some mothers need outpatient services such as lactation assistance or screening for postnatal depression. It said women facing affordability problems with medically necessary postnatal care can approach medical social workers at public hospitals for assessment for financial help.
Djibouti has joined the Artemis Accords, becoming the 72nd country and eighth African nation to endorse the US-led principles for peaceful, transparent and coordinated civil space exploration. Djibouti’s ambassador to the United States, Mohamed Siad Douale, signed the accords on behalf of his government at NASA Headquarters in Washington on Monday, September 14. NASA Deputy Administrator Matt Anderson hosted the ceremony, which was also attended by US […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Saudi Arabia has identified about 114 million tonnes of mineralised ore containing rare earth elements and promising uranium concentrations at the Jabal Sayid project in Madinah, Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman has announced. Prince Abdulaziz disclosed the estimate on Monday during the 70th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna, placing the find at the centre of Riyadh’s drive […]
China has showcased a fish-shaped autonomous underwater robot in Beijing, demonstrating biomimetic navigation technology that could support inspection, environmental monitoring, search operations and defence-related missions.
The BG-5 Golden Dragon Fish was demonstrated at the 2026 China International Fair for Trade in Services, held at Shougang Park from September 9 to 13. Developed by Boyagongdao Marine Technology Group, the robot is designed to resemble a golden arowana and propel itself through water with a flexible, multi-joint tail rather than a conventional propeller.
The machine can detect obstacles and adjust its route autonomously instead of following only a fixed, pre-programmed path, according to information released by the developer and statements made at the exhibition. Its fish-like movement is intended to improve manoeuvrability while giving the platform a less conspicuous profile than many conventional underwater vehicles.
Boyagongdao lists the BG-5 as a 640-millimetre-long robot weighing about 3 kilograms. The published specifications give it a maximum operating depth of 5 metres and a top speed of 0.6 metres per second. The company says infrared recognition supports autonomous obstacle avoidance, while wireless communications allow online debugging and control.
The manufacturer also offers a BG-5V configuration that combines the robotic fish with a software platform for more advanced experiments. The listed capabilities include global and local path planning, task allocation, formation control, cooperative transport and coordinated operations involving multiple robots.
Those functions broaden the possible uses beyond a single demonstration unit. Groups of small robotic fish could, in principle, divide an underwater area for inspection or monitoring, maintain formations and coordinate tasks in locations where larger vehicles would be harder to deploy. The company presents the platform for research and teaching as well as operational fields including search and salvage, hydropower, safety and rescue and national defence.
Claims that the robot has been formally deployed as an underwater surveillance system have not been substantiated by publicly available official information. The specifications and the developer’s stated defence-related work show that reconnaissance or monitoring applications are technically plausible, but the model displayed at CIFTIS was presented as a biomimetic robotic platform rather than as an announced military deployment.
Boyagongdao says its bionic robot series draws on more than a decade of research associated with Peking University’s College of Engineering. The systems use high-speed biomimetic drive mechanisms and central pattern generator control algorithms intended to reproduce the smooth, rhythmic movement of aquatic animals.
The company has also disclosed work on defence-oriented underwater technology. Its website says technologies developed for military-related directions have been adapted for higher education products, and company material from earlier exhibitions describes unmanned and intelligent underwater equipment as an area of military development. It has separately publicised the ROBO-SHARK, a larger shark-inspired underwater robot developed with a military unit.
The BG-5 itself is not a newly created model. Boyagongdao had displayed the robotic fish before this month’s services trade fair and promoted it earlier this year at Beijing technology events. The latest CIFTIS appearance nevertheless drew renewed attention because of the machine’s autonomous obstacle avoidance and increasingly realistic biomimetic movement.
China’s work on underwater robotics extends well beyond fish-shaped machines. Universities, research institutes and commercial groups are developing autonomous systems for coral monitoring, infrastructure inspection, marine ranching, emergency rescue and deep-sea research. Some platforms are designed to carry cameras, sonar or environmental sensors, while others use robotic arms for intervention tasks.
A separate ecological-monitoring deployment in Hangzhou has used biomimetic robotic fish to patrol West Lake, measuring indicators including water temperature and pH, detecting invasive species and transmitting data to monitoring centres. Other Chinese underwater robots have been used for reef observation and for identifying and removing crown-of-thorns starfish.
The BG-5 demonstration at CIFTIS focused on embodied intelligence underwater, where navigation software, sensing and propulsion are integrated into a machine that moves more like a living animal than a standard remotely operated vehicle.
Bob Mackie, the Emmy- and Tony-winning designer who transformed television and stage costuming with flamboyant creations for Cher, Carol Burnett, died on Monday in Palm Springs, California. He was 87. A representative for Mackie said he died of pneumonia at 10.40am on September 14. His team announced his death through his official social media account, saying he had spent his life fulfilling his ambition to be a […]
The US Supreme Court has refused to let the Postal Service enforce new restrictions on mail-in ballots before the November midterm elections, leaving in place a lower-court order that bars the rules while legal challenges continue. The justices on Monday rejected the Trump administration’s emergency request to lift an injunction imposed by US District Judge Indira Talwani in Boston. The court said in an unsigned order that […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Dubai will host the third Quantum Innovation Summit from September 28 to 30, bringing government bodies, researchers, technology companies and investors together as the UAE expands work on quantum computing, secure communications and post-quantum cybersecurity. The event will be held at the Grand Hyatt Dubai Conference & Exhibition Centre and is hosted by the UAE Cyber Security Council for a second consecutive year, […]
A browser extension used by nearly 31,000 Twitch viewers has been found forwarding live OAuth session tokens to proxy infrastructure controlled by the operator of a Russian-language commercial bot service, exposing credentials that can grant access to account functions without requiring passwords or two-factor authentication. Security company Socket said the extension, “Twitch Enhanced Viewer | JeetBot”, was available through both the Chrome Web Store and Mozilla’s Firefox […]
A Casbaneiro banking Trojan campaign targeting users in Latin America is using geofenced phishing, staged malware delivery and separate command-and-control servers to make malicious activity harder to detect and analyse, according to security research published this month. FortiGuard Labs said it observed the campaign in August, with activity focused on Argentina, Peru, Colombia and Mexico. Victims are approached through phishing emails and PDF documents disguised as invoices, […]
President Donald Trump has urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to stop attacking Russian oil refineries, arguing that the strikes are worsening a global diesel shortage as fuel prices climb sharply in the United States. Trump said on Sunday that he had already spoken directly with Zelenskyy about the issue and wanted Ukraine to select other targets inside Russia. Speaking during a visit to Ireland, he said Ukrainian […]
General aviation manufacturers posted higher aircraft shipments and sharply stronger billings in the first half of 2026, although weaker piston-aircraft deliveries left the industry’s performance uneven across major segments. The General Aviation Manufacturers Association said manufacturers delivered 1,458 aeroplanes worldwide through the second quarter, up 1.7 per cent from 1,433 in the same period of 2025. Aeroplane billings climbed 15.5 per cent to $14.3 billion from $12.4 […]
Dmitry Medvedev has accused leading artificial intelligence companies of overstating fears that their technology could destroy humanity, arguing that commercial self-interest rather than existential concern is shaping their public warnings. Russia’s Security Council deputy chairman said the creators of generative AI systems were “not being sincere” when presenting themselves as alarmed by the possibility that advanced models could become an existential threat. He linked that scepticism to […]
ZHANGJIAKOU, HEBEI – Media OutReach Newswire – 13 September 2026 – In the third season of Village Voyage, CGTN host Julian Waghann from the United States and Mexican traveler Juan Carlos Cheang Guzmán journey across Zhangjiakou, a city in Hebei Province some 200 kilometers northwest of Beijing, to explore how its land and people are creating new possibilities for rural life. Known for its mountains, wide-open highlands and vibrant outdoor culture, boosted by the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, Zhangjiakou has emerged as a distinctive destination in northern China.
Village Voyage Season 3 Poster
This latest season takes viewers beyond the city‘s famous landmarks and into the countryside, where international travelers get their hands in the soil, learn traditional crafts and share everyday meals with local residents. Through these experiences, they discover a different side of rural China and the people who are helping shape its future.
Mountain pulse: A year-round outdoor playground
The mountains of Chongli in Zhangjiakou are more than the backdrop for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. Once best known for their snow-covered slopes, they are increasingly becoming a year-round destination for outdoor activities.
“Winter is for skiing, but summer opens up a whole new world,” said a local outdoor guide.
Since the Winter Olympics, residents have been steadily unlocking the hills’ year-round potential: from mountain biking and trail running to hiking and camping. The mountains no longer fall dormant when the snow melts.
Julian and Juan pedal along forest trails, surrounded by mountain air and the scent of damp earth. At the Chongli 168 Ultra-Trail Race, they stand at the starting line as thousands of runners surge forward – a river of energy that sweeps up everyone watching.
For Juan, the scene strikes a familiar chord. “Mountains don’t have borders,” he said. “The urge to run and challenge yourself in the wild is something we share, whether in Latin America or here.”
Field-rooted well-being: Yoga that grew from the soil
Surrounded by farmland and an open sky, Yugouliang Village sits on a high plateau in northern Zhangjiakou. The village has gained attention for a distinctive form of outdoor yoga practiced among its fields. Unlike the wellness trends often associated with urban gyms and resorts, yoga here has grown naturally out of village life.
“Our yoga comes from farm work,” one villager explained. “It is part of how we live.” Between planting and harvesting, they stretch and breathe, finding stillness in the middle of open fields.
Julian and Juan first experienced another part of village life by making youmian, a local staple made from oats. They kneaded the dough and shaped it by hand, then headed into the fields, where they spread their mats on the earth and practiced yoga alongside local residents.
“This feels familiar,” Juan reflected. “No matter where we are, people want the same things – health, peace, security and a life that feels full.”
Yugouliang offers a different picture of rural China: not a place frozen in the past, but a community that has found its own rhythm and a new sense of well-being amid the fields.
Living heritage remains part of daily life
Located in the southern part of Zhangjiakou, Yuxian is known for its historic settlements, traditional architecture and folk arts. Its ancient buildings have also reached new audiences through popular culture. Some of its architecture has inspired locations in Black Myth: Wukong, the hit Chinese action role-playing game.
Yuxian paper-cutting is one of its best-known folk traditions. “Paper-cutting came from everyday people,” said a master of the craft. “It used to decorate farmhouse windows. Now it reaches the wider world.”
With that spirit in mind, Julian and Juan tried their hand at paper-cutting, fumbling with scissors to produce something far from perfect – but they feel, briefly, what it means to make art out of ordinary life. Here, heritage isn’t sealed behind glass. It’s passed from hand to hand, cut into paper and woven into the fabric of daily existence.
Where clean energy meets modern farming
If Yuxian’s ancient villages preserve the memories of the past, Desheng Village shows how rural communities are looking toward the future. Located in the highland farming region of northern Zhangjiakou, Desheng has embraced modern agriculture and solar power as part of its rural development.
Rows of solar panels stretch across the land, capturing sunlight that once only fed crops. Beneath them, modern greenhouses hum with temperature-controlled precision. It’s agriculture reimagined – and the benefits are tangible.
“We used to depend heavily on the weather,” one villager said “Now technology and sunlight give us new hope.”
Julian and Juan stepped into the greenhouses, picking ripe tomatoes and crisp cucumbers, tasting the sweetness of a harvest that no longer depends on luck. They saw how clean energy revenue flows back into the community – funding schools, roads and public spaces.
As night fell, they joined a bonfire gathering in the village square. Music, laughter and conversation filled the evening air. Around the fire, the visitors saw another side of rural development: a village changing with the times while maintaining the close-knit community spirit that has long defined local life.
More than a journey: Stories shaped by the land
For a new generation of travelers, immersive experiences are offering a more complete picture of rural China. In Zhangjiakou, the countryside is not defined by a single landscape or a single way of life. Chongli’s mountains pulse with year-round energy; Yugouliang’s fields offer a slower rhythm of life; Yuxian’s ancient villages keep traditional architecture and folk crafts alive; and Desheng shows how clean energy and modern agriculture can create new opportunities for rural communities.
Here, tradition and innovation coexist in the same villages, where ancient skills can find new audiences and modern technology can take root in centuries-old communities.
Every village has its own story. From mountain trails and open farmland to historic villages and modern greenhouses, Zhangjiakou reveals a northern Chinese countryside that is more diverse, dynamic and full of possibility than any single image can capture.
Visitors may come for the scenery. But by stepping into village life, they leave with something more lasting: a closer understanding of the people who live on this land, the traditions they carry forward and the future they are building together.
Hashtag: #CGTN
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Dubai’s Theatre of Digital Art will host Disco Experience by That ’70s Band on September 25, pairing live renditions of major 1970s dance hits with choreography, period-inspired costumes and the venue’s 360-degree digital projections. The show is scheduled to begin at 8pm, with doors opening at 7.30pm, according to the venue and ticketing information. Tickets are priced from Dh180, with several seating categories available. That ’70s Band […]
Scientists have identified a natural molecular braking system that helps human inflammation resolve by limiting the expansion of potentially harmful immune cells and accelerating pain relief. The study, led by University College London researchers and published in Nature Communications, found that fat-derived signalling molecules called epoxy-oxylipins influence how monocytes develop during an inflammatory response. Raising levels of these molecules in healthy volunteers reduced the accumulation of intermediate […]
Nepal has put the reconstruction requirement from the devastating August 26 floods at about $4.78 billion, sharply exceeding the government’s initial estimate of direct physical damage and economic losses. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the figure came from a Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment prepared after floods tore through northern river valleys, destroying homes, transport links, hydropower facilities and other critical infrastructure. The assessment estimated direct […]
A phishing campaign active since June is abusing Microsoft’s legitimate mshta. exe utility to run malicious HTML Application files, profile infected Windows systems and deliver follow-on malware capable of stealing credentials and other local secrets, security researchers have found. Fortra Intelligence and Research Experts, known as FIRE, said the operation remains active and is primarily targeting Spanish-speaking users at global organisations. The attackers use Spanish-language invoice and […]
Cybercriminals abusing Microsoft 365’s Direct Send feature concentrated malicious email activity around US Eastern business hours, according to a new analysis of a large phishing campaign tracked during July and August. KnowBe4 Threat Lab said it identified tens of thousands of confirmed phishing messages sent through Direct Send, a legitimate Exchange Online delivery method intended for devices and applications that need to send mail without a dedicated […]
cPanel has urged server administrators to update ConfigServer Security & Firewall after disclosure of a critical command-injection vulnerability that can let unauthenticated remote attackers run arbitrary commands on affected systems under specific service configurations. The flaw, tracked as CVE-2026-65638, affects cPanel’s WebPros-maintained CSF versions 14.00 through 16.29 and was addressed in version 16.30 and later. cPanel said administrators should move to the latest available release as soon […]
Anthropic chief executive Dario Amodei has called for the pace of frontier artificial intelligence development to slow, drawing public backing from OpenAI’s Sam Altman and Elon Musk as developers confront concerns about systems helping to create more capable successors. Amodei said in an essay published on Saturday that AI companies should “pace the frontier” rather than continue maximising capability gains while safeguards lag behind. He argued that […]
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