iQIYI, an innovative market-leading online entertainment service in China, launched its Luoyang Virtual Reality (VR) Project in Shanghai in April and has since attracted more than 5,000 players to try the industry's first-ever all-immersive entertainment experience. Based on iQIYI's hugely popular original IP Luoyang, the Luoyang VR Project will also land in Luoyang, Henan province and Beijing later this summer in the second half of the year.

The project has generated tremendous interest and raving reviews in the short time since its launch. Consumers marveled at how highly realistically the set-up stimulates the physical experience of high winds, waterfall, and explosion—all within a physical space of 300 square meters. For consumers, the project breaks new ground in merging imagination and reality.

The strong user feedback is a testament to the sophistication of iQIYI's entertainment technology. The first attempt in the VR industry to integrate different elements from immersive theatre, VR, and original IP, the project leverages the "Inside-out Tracking" technology and other industry-leading, sensory-simulation techniques to "build in" cars, boats, carriages, and other props as well as to simulate different physical experience. The upshot is a highly realistic environment that fully immerses the audience in the story.

Created by the iQIYI DREAMVERSE studio, the project marks the latest addition to iQIYI Chinese Historic City Universe (iCHCU) of Luoyang, which consists of 12 distinct entertainment projects all inspired by the popular Luoyang IP.

ZHANG Hang, senior vice president of iQIYI said: "The Chinese content market provides a host of excellent IPs, but the industry is still at the beginning of harnessing the full potential of these IPs. The Luoyang VR Project shows how incorporating technological innovations and a localized approach to exploring VR commercialization, original IP-based projects boost both the content market and cultural consumption at large."

HU Shihui, founder and CEO of metaverse-themed park X-META, iQIYI's partner and offline operator of the project, pointed out in addition to a highly immersive "in-theatre" experience, the project also generates user interest by incorporating dining and opportunities for dressing up in costumes and photoshoots. Hu said: "As the Luoyang VR project meets a variety of consumer needs, it elevates the 'cultural metaverse' entertainment experience to a whole new level." Hu also anticipated sustained consumer interest in the project in the coming months as summer holidays begin.

iQIYI first entered the field of offline VR entertainment in 2018, and, in 2020, established the production studio DREAMVERSE to focus on curating VR projects and all-immersive experiences. DREAMVERSE has since launched a series of popular offline VR projects, and the Luoyang VR Project marks its latest hit.

Gen-Z and younger millennials are using virtual reality extensively, with 36% of Chinese consumers having used virtual reality headsets to play games or view content in the past six months, according to PwC's 2022 Global Consumer Insights Survey China Report.

Building on the momentum of the Luoyang VR Project, iQIYI is also set to launch three shorter interactive experience projects including Mars Rescue, Kunlun Maze, and Apocalyptic Adventure at the end of June. These projects target particular audience segments—such as couples—and promise to enrich consumers' options for entertainment.

After travelling some 2,500 km, 40 Tibetan kids from a welfare home on the around 4,500-meter-high Qinghai-Tibet Plateau finally set foot on China’s top-level football stadium on June 2.

The 40 kids came from Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China’s Qinghai Province. They stayed in Beijing for five days and took part in a series of exchange activities.

Yushu lies at the source of the Yellow, Yangtze, and Lancang (the upper reaches of the Mekong) rivers. Thirteen years ago, a 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck the area, attracting the world’s attention.

The oldest of the 40 Tibetan kids is 16 and the youngest 7. This was the first time they had visited Beijing. Some of them had never left their hometown or sat in an airline seat. Among them, there were many football lovers, but the lack of professional training has not thwarted their dreams of becoming a player.

On Friday night, these kids showed up at the Beijing Workers’ Stadium, one of the most prestigious stadiums in China, which hosted events related to the 1990 Asian Games and the 2008 Olympic Games. A boy named A Bin, nicknamed the “Ronaldo of Yushu”, and five of his friends served as escorts during a game of CSL (Chinese Football Association Super League). Nearly 50,000 fans in the stadium cheered to welcome these 40 special guests.

During their journey in Beijing, they also participated in many activities on ethnic culture. At an experience hall on the culture and history of Chinese ethnic groups on the former site of the National Mongolian and Tibetan school, Zangba Cicheng (藏巴次成), a boy who enjoys history classes, buried himself in the historical materials from more than 100 years ago. He said that learning history is the best way to understand the country and the nation. While watching the performance of the China Ethnic Song & Dance Ensemble, Dolma Tso(卓玛措), a 13-year-old girl, said that the musical instruments of different ethnic groups have their own characteristics, but produce a very imposing and pleasant sound when played together.

The Palace Museum, the Great Wall, the Bird’s Nest, the Water Cube (the National Aquatics Center)... the places these Tibetan kids have toured are epitomes of not only the history of ancient China, but also the pulse of modern China.

When asked about the reason why they wanted to visit Beijing the most, the kids give various answers. But the hottest answer was “Because Beijing is the capital city of our country.”

The five-day program was organized by China News Service， a mainstream news agency.

“Through this special program during Children’s Day, we hope to warmly welcome the kids so that they will have hope in their eyes and dreams in their hearts. We hope they will have more unforgettable childhood memories and a more promising future,” said Yu Lan, deputy editor-in-chief of China News Service and president of China News Network, the agency’s official website.

The 6th (Cangzhou) Garden Exposition of Hebei Province kicked off on May 26 in Cangzhou, China's northern city that thrives on canal. A total 19 activities in five categories, including academic exchanges, gardening, skill competitions and cultural exhibitions will be presented until the end of August, according to Cangzhou municipal government.

With the theme of "Thousand Miles of Thoroughfare, Grand Beauty of the Grand Canal", the Exposition aims to showcase Cangzhou's Grand Canal culture, display garden art and promote ecological civilization in an all-round way from site selection, planning, construction and various cultural activities planning.

The Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, a world cultural heritage, runs through the Exposition Park from north to south. Cangzhou has elaborately built a Grand Canal scenic belt --- a city exhibition park and a specialized plant exhibition on both banks.

Last year, the Cangzhou section of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal navigated afresh, which connected this cultural beauty with the Exposition Park, providing an all-factor tourism for visitors. In recent years, while building the Exposition Park along the Grand Canal, Cangzhou recreated the historic buildings Nanchuan and Langyin on both sides.

The China Grand Canal Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition Hall is the most prominent exhibition place along the Grand Canal. The Hall displays the unique and diverse folk arts of Cangzhou, allowing visitors to fully experience the charm of the Grand Canal while appreciating modern garden art.

The natural ecological scenery, the intangible cultural heritage is organically integrated with the Exposition Park's courtyard architecture and landscape, and has become a dazzling pearl on the 216-kilometre Grand Canal scenic belt in the central area of Cangzhou.

This year's Garden Art Exhibition and Urban Planning and Design Competition will take place at Cangzhou Dahua Industrial Heritage Cultural Zone. Adjacent to the Garden Expo Park, the Zone is a virtual node for this year's Garden Exposition as well, which was originally one of the 13 chemical fertilizer plants built in the early 1970s.

It is reported that since 2017, Hebei Province's provincial garden fairs and the five Garden Expositions have expanded the green park space by 13,050 mu (about 2150 acres) for the host cities.

Cangzhou is a city that thrives on canal. Stretching more than 200 kilometers, the water course of the Grand Canal is well preserved, and there are numerous historical relics along the canal.

If you're planning a trip to China, be sure to add Qingdao to your itinerary. Qingdao is a fantastic destination for travellers who are looking for a mix of culture, history, natural beauty, and entertainment. Qingdao is a picturesque coastal city located in the Shandong Province of China. It is renowned for stunning beaches, delicious seafood, German-influenced architecture and spectacular view of the surrounding coastline and the city skyline, which is appealing to many young Chinese and foreign travellers.

A popular spot for photographers and tourists alike, Qingdao Beer Museum is a must-visit attraction of the romantic coastal city. As the birthplace of Tsingtao Beer, Qingdao has a long history in beer brewing, and the museum is a great place to learn all about it. Housed in an old German-style brewery, the museum has exhibits on the brewing process, the history of Tsingtao Beer, and even a beer tasting room where visitors can sample some of the brewery's offerings. For beer lovers, tasting Tsingtao beer on the spot is definitely an experience to be noticed.

Qingdao has been experiencing steady economic growth over the past decade and has emerged as an important centre for international trade and commerce. In recent years, Qingdao has also made efforts to attract foreign investment and promote international business. While Qingdao SCODA Pearl International Expo Center was built to become China's first and only business, tourism and cultural complex for SCO countries, and the SCO Local Economic and Trade Cooperation Demonstration Area (SCODA) and the China-SCO Local Economic and Trade Cooperation Comprehensive Service Platform were established to further facilitate economic and trade cooperation with the SCO countries. With ongoing efforts to promote tourism and develop new industries, Qingdao is poised to become an even more important player in the global economy in the years to come.

Qingdao boasts a unique mix of cultural characteristics seen in its diverse architecture. The interaction between Chinese and Western cultures has left its mark on the city's buildings and urban landscape. One of the most prominent examples of this cultural fusion is the iconic Silverfish Lane, a century-old shopping street near Qingdao Railway Station in the Shinan District. The lane combines history and modernity, tradition and fashion. In this neighbourhood, many Liyuan buildings with distinct Qingdao features have been preserved as actual samples of the history and culture of Qingdao, a commercial port in a particular historical period.

Qingdao is a city that offers something for everyone; whether you're interested in exploring its cultural heritage, enjoying its natural beauty, or indulging in its delicious cuisine, there's no shortage of things to see and do in this vibrant city. For visitors to Qingdao, exploring the city's diverse architecture is a must-do experience that provides a unique window into the city's past and present. With its robust infrastructure, strategic location, and favourable business environment, Qingdao is well-positioned to attract more foreign investment and become a significant player in the global economy