China Highlights
Foreigners are also joining the “county-hopping craze”: a wave of May Day cultural and tourism spending surges in Daying, Sichuan
During the May Day holiday, cultural and tourism spending in Daying County, Suining, Sichuan surged. Scenic spots such as the China Dead Sea and Songjing Taoyuan saw peak crowds, attracting foreign visitors from more than a dozen countries and regions to enjoy immersive experiences like black-mud revelry, nighttime tours in Song-era style, and intangible cultural heritage study tours. With its distinctive features, Daying has become a newly popular check-in destination in the Sichuan–Chongqing region, driving simultaneous increases in tourism popularity and consumer vitality.
From “watching from the sidelines” to “competing on the water”: Taiwanese compatriots form teams to take part in the Xiamen Dragon Boat Race
From May 2 to 3, the 2026 Xiamen “Tong’an Ancient City Cup” Dragon Boat Invitational and the Fujian Provincial Water Sports League (Tong’an Stop) were held on the Xixi River at Susong Park in Tong’an. The Taiwan compatriots’ representative team, formed for the first time to compete, became a highlight. Moving from “watching from the sidelines” to “competing on the water,” the Taiwan compatriots showcased the positive outcomes of cross-strait solidarity, exchange, and integration, adding vitality and warmth to the event.
Ten thousand runners gather in Gaoping, Shanxi to trace their roots in Emperor Yan’s hometown
The “Journey to Honor the Ancestors” 2026 Gaoping Rural Commercial Bank Gaoping Marathon kicked off in Gaoping City, Jincheng, Shanxi Province, drawing 10,000 runners from across the country to gather in the hometown of Emperor Yan. Competitors ran through corridors of ancient architecture, feeling with their footsteps the millennia-old culture and urban vitality of the Changping land, showcasing enthusiasm for nationwide fitness and strongly boosting the development of local culture and tourism.
China’s first large-scale “computing–power coordination” green electricity supply project has been launched in Zhongwei, Ningxia.
China’s first large-scale “computing–power synergy” green electricity direct-supply project has been implemented in Zhongwei, Ningxia, with China Datang’s Zhongwei Cloud Base 500,000-kilowatt photovoltaic power plant officially commissioned. The project enables a direct connection and direct supply under the “East Data, West Computing” initiative—from desert wind and solar resources to digital computing-power loads—helping drive greener and more efficient computing-power development and supporting the low-carbon transition.
“Longjiang’s Most Beautiful Worker” Xu Xu: Guardian of the Light at the Easternmost Point, a Loyal Heart Shining Over the Border River
“Longjiang’s Most Beautiful Worker” Xu Xu has taken root at the easternmost edge of the motherland, steadfastly holding the front line along the border river and quietly safeguarding lighthouses and navigation marks, providing reliable assurance for safe navigation in border waters. With professionalism and dedication, she lights a “Safe Navigation Light” on the river, showcasing the bearing of workers in the new era and inspiring more people to pay attention to, support, and participate in the building and protection of the border regions.
Fuzhou Metro passenger traffic hits new record highs repeatedly
During the “May Day” holiday, Fuzhou’s booming culture and tourism sector drove up travel demand, and Fuzhou Metro ridership repeatedly hit record highs. On April 30, passenger volume exceeded 1.5964 million trips, up 21.89% year on year; on May 1, it surpassed 1.8935 million trips, up 36.71% year on year. This shows that the city’s vitality and the appeal of public transportation continue to strengthen, making travel more convenient and efficient.
Between These Lines · Let Devoting Oneself to Basic Research Become a Life Aspiration for More Young People
The People’s Daily client reported on the video “Between These Journeys,” focusing on how to encourage more young people to make dedicating themselves to basic research a life pursuit. By spreading the spirit of science and the power of role models, it inspires young people’s passion for exploration, injecting positive momentum into cultivating future scientific research talent and advancing technological innovation.
Spartan Warriors Kids Race Stages a May Day “Tale of Two Cities”
During the May Day holiday, the Spartan Kids Race Beijing and Changsha stops were held simultaneously from May 1 to 3, attracting more than 10,000 young warriors to take part and complete the challenge. The dual-city event provided children with a positive and healthy sports experience, showcasing vibrant, upward momentum and the power of growth.
A stray dog—why has it brought a flood of attention to this small city in Anhui?
During the May Day holiday, Xuancheng in Anhui unexpectedly went viral because of a stray dog, “Station Chief Huang,” drawing massive attention and popularity. It brought the small city a “torrent of traffic,” effectively boosting the city’s visibility and tourism buzz, and became a heartwarming highlight of the holiday.
Diving World Cup Super Final: China Sweeps All Nine Gold Medals
The 2026 World Aquatics Diving World Cup Super Final concluded in Beijing. On the final day of competition, Team China claimed another 2 golds, 1 silver, and 1 bronze, ultimately sweeping all nine gold medals across the event. With formidable strength, the Chinese diving team achieved a comprehensive victory, delivering an inspiring result for the home crowd and showcasing China’s leading standard in diving.
CBA Playoffs: Guangdong defeats Guangzhou at home to advance to the quarterfinals
Game 3 of the first round of the 2025–2026 CBA playoffs was held in Dongguan, where Guangdong Dongyangguang defeated Guangzhou 90–80 at home to advance to the quarterfinals. The victory showcased the team’s steady performance and left fans full of anticipation for Guangdong’s next stage of the campaign, bringing uplifting good news.
Macao sets a new record for single-day inbound visitor arrivals during the “May Day” holiday
During this year’s May Day holiday, Macau’s tourism market saw a surge in popularity, with the number of inbound visitors in a single day reaching a record high. The strong visitor flow boosted the city’s vitality and consumption growth, demonstrating Macau’s steadily rising appeal as a tourist destination and injecting positive momentum into economic development.
Robust Consumption Across the Tianshan Mountains — Observations on Xinjiang’s Consumer Market During the 2026 “May Day” Holiday
During the 2026 May Day holiday, Xinjiang’s consumer market saw a surge in activity: scenic-spot tickets sold out, homestays were fully booked, and commercial districts were bustling with heavy foot traffic, with vitality everywhere in both urban and rural areas. With coordinated online and offline efforts, both goods consumption and cultural-and-tourism experiences rose in tandem, showcasing the encouraging picture of an improving economic recovery across both the southern and northern sides of the Tianshan Mountains and strong confidence in household consumption.
FIM Superbike World Championship Hungary Round: Zhang Xue Motorcycles wins one title across the two main-race heats
The WorldSSP class of the 2026 World Superbike Championship’s Hungary round has concluded. Chinese motorcycle manufacturer “Zhangxue Motorcycles” secured a total of one victory across the two main races at this round. Although French rider Valentin Debise retired in the second race, the team still demonstrated strong competitiveness with an impressive result, adding further glory to Chinese brands on the international stage.
Global Good News
Toy Story Character Talks with Deaf Girl in Heartwarming ASL Moment That Went Viral
A TikTok by Jessica Moore captured a heartwarming Disneyland moment when the Toy Story character Woody realized her daughter is deaf and began communicating with her in American Sign Language. The video went viral for highlighting the kindness and inclusivity of Disney performers, showing how small gestures can create unforgettable, joyful connections.
6 Year Old Saffie Has Her Vision Saved from Rare Form of Blindness Thanks to One-Time Gene Therapy
Six-year-old Saffie Sandford from Stevenage, UK, has regained normal day and night vision after receiving a one-time gene therapy for Leber’s Congenital Amaurosis caused by an RPE65 mutation. This breakthrough shows how advanced treatments can reverse rare congenital blindness and give children a brighter, more independent future.
American Hockey Fans Finish the Canadian Anthem After Singer’s Mic Goes Out (WATCH)
During Game 5 of the Stanley Cup playoffs in Buffalo, the anthem singer’s microphone cut out during “O Canada,” and American hockey fans in the stands proudly sang the rest together. The heartfelt moment showcased sportsmanship and unity across borders, turning a technical glitch into an inspiring display of community spirit.
Record Number of Humpbacks Observed Feeding in ‘Supergroup’ Near South Africa
Photographers near South Africa recorded a world record “supergroup” of 304 baleen whales feeding together, including humpbacks. Scientists aren’t sure why they gather in such huge numbers, but the sighting highlights thriving whale activity and healthy feeding conditions—great news for marine wildlife and conservation efforts.
The $1 Visionary
In 2009, German math teacher Martin Aufmuth was inspired by Paul Polak’s book *Out of Poverty* after learning that hundreds of millions of people live with vision impairment simply because they can’t afford glasses. His realization helped spark a hopeful vision for making low-cost eyewear accessible, a step that can dramatically improve education, work opportunities, and daily life for many worldwide.
40 Years of Work Returning 900 Wild Horses to China’s Steppes is Celebrated in Year of the Horse 2026
China is celebrating the 40th anniversary of its Wild Horse Return Program, a pioneering conservation effort that has bred, relocated, and protected Przewalski’s horses since 1986. The initiative has successfully returned about 900 wild horses to China’s steppes, helping restore this iconic species to its natural grassland home. This milestone highlights decades of dedicated work producing lasting gains for wildlife and ecosystems.
The new UK television dating show boosting deaf representation
A groundbreaking UK dating show in British Sign Language is putting deaf people front and centre on television, boosting visibility and representation. By challenging misconceptions and celebrating deaf culture, the series helps audiences better understand the community while opening up inclusive, accessible entertainment for everyone.
What went right this week: a triumph of people power, plus more
This week brought plenty of reasons for optimism: environmental champions were celebrated, the world reached a major clean-energy milestone, and researchers achieved a breakthrough that overcame a type of blindness. Together, these wins show how people power, innovation, and science are delivering real progress for the planet and human health.
The Beloved Oregon Restaurant Rewriting the Rules of Seafood
Local Ocean in Newport, Oregon is winning over visitors and repeat diners with standout seafood dishes like roasted garlic and Dungeness crab soup and lightly battered rockfish tacos. By celebrating fresh, locally sourced catches in creative ways, the restaurant is helping redefine what great seafood can be and boosting pride in the region’s coastal food culture.
Not 1, Not 2, but 5 Students Jump into Lifesaving Action as School Bus Driver Loses Consciousness
Five Mississippi middle school students are being celebrated as heroes after their bus driver, Leah Taylor of the Hancock County School District, lost consciousness during a severe asthma attack while driving. The students quickly stepped in to help and keep everyone safe until assistance arrived. Their teamwork and fast thinking helped prevent a potential tragedy, showing how young people can make a lifesaving difference.
Norway’s Largest-Ever Trove of Viking Age Coins Is ‘Historic Find’ By Metal Detectors
More than 3,150 Viking Age medieval coins have been discovered in a field near Rena in Norway’s Innlandet County, marking the largest coin trove ever found in the country. With searches still underway and more coins expected nearby, the “historic find” offers an exciting new window into Norway’s past and promises valuable insights for archaeologists and historians.