Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun on Wednesday slammed the US' claims of "forced labor" in Xinjiang as baseless and reiterated China's commitment to defending its enterprises' legitimate rights and interests in response to the US latest ban on imports from 37 Chinese companies over alleged "human rights abuses" involving the Uygur people.

US Department of Homeland Security announced on Tuesday the addition of 37 entities to its so-called the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act Entity List over alleged "forced labor" practices in China's Xinjiang region, marking the largest single expansion of the list to date, according to the department.

Guo said that the US fabricated and enacted malicious legislation targeting Xinjiang based on unfounded claims, and placed Chinese companies on a sanctions list, which constitutes interference in China's internal affairs, undermines its interests, and seeks to suppress its development. 

"China will take resolute measures to protect the lawful rights and interests of Chinese enterprises," Guo said.

After the personal accounts of well-known Chinese male actor and singer Lu Han on multiple social media platforms showed that they could not be followed on Monday, Lu's studio issued an apology statement on his behalf. In the statement, Lu sincerely apologized for his inappropriate behavior during a livestream and pledged that he would impose stricter self-discipline in the future to demonstrate his remorse to everyone through concrete actions.

Lu committed to actively addressing the negative social impact caused by the incident and to take on the social responsibilities that an entertainer should shoulder, according to the statement.

During a livestream in the early hours of November 29, 2024, Lu was reportedly drinking, where he angrily fired back at his anti-fans, swore, and threw the finger to detractors, according to Jimu News on Monday.

The incident quickly went viral on social media, prompting widespread debate among netizens. Some expressed support for Lu's confrontation with anti-fans, while others criticized his behavior as inappropriate for a public celebrity, said the Jimu News.

In 2008, while studying in South Korea, Lu was discovered by SM Entertainment and became a trainee under the company. In 2012, he officially debuted as a member of the South Korean boy group EXO. In 2014, he terminated his contract with SM 
Entertainment to return to China and further his career, according to the report.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his resignation on Monday, stating his intention to step down as prime minister and leader of Canada's ruling Liberal Party after a new party leader is selected.

"I intend to resign as party leader, as prime minister, after the party selects its new leader," the 53-year-old leader told reporters at a news conference in Ottawa on Monday. Canada's parliament will be suspended until March 24 while a new Liberal Party leader is chosen, he added, according to CNN.

During his news conference, Trudeau was asked how the government can protect Canada from the US tariff threat if key cabinet ministers are absorbed in a leadership race. "The government and the cabinet will still be very much focused on doing the job Canadians elected us to do in 2021, which is fight for their interests, stand up for their well-being and make sure that Canadians ... are protected and strong," Trudeau said.

"I can assure you that the tools and the need to stand up for Canadians, to protect Canadians in their interests and continue to fight for the economy, is something everyone in this government will be singularly focused on," said Trudeau, according to CBC. 

Pierre Poilievre, the opposition Conservative Party's leader, was quick to weigh in on the political fracas surrounding Trudeau, writing in a post on X Monday that Liberals wanted to "trick voters by swapping in another Liberal face to keep ripping off Canadians," and "The only way to fix what Liberals broke is ... to elect common sense Conservatives," he added.

On December 20, Trudeau reshuffled his Cabinet, a move that Canadian public opinion believes is aimed at stabilizing the government to address potential tariff threats from the Trump administration and to prepare for the federal election scheduled for October 2025, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

Trump reacted to Trudeau's resignation in a Truth Social post. "Many people in Canada LOVE being the 51st State. The United States can no longer suffer the massive Trade Deficits and Subsidies that Canada needs to stay afloat. Justin Trudeau knew this, and resigned," Trump said in the post. 

"If Canada merged with the US," Trump continued, "there would be no Tariffs, taxes would go way down, and they would be TOTALLY SECURE from the threat of the Russian and Chinese Ships that are constantly surrounding them. Together, what a great Nation it would be!!!"

Trudeau's decision to step down is bringing questions about how the government will handle any negotiations with the Trump administration, CBC reported on Tuesday.

Li Haidong, a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times on Tuesday that since 2015, some believe that Trudeau's nine-year tenure has seen limited progress in many fields. "In terms of diplomacy, Canada has lost dignity; in terms of economy, it has seen little progress; and in terms of society, the country has become increasingly divided. The gap between the rich and the poor is widening. All of these problems constitute the reasons behind Trudeau's resignation."

Lü Xiang, a research fellow on US studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Tuesday that "Looking ahead, after Trump is inaugurated, the US is expected to gather the resources from its allies to serve the US overall strategy and solve the country's troubles for development. Washington is likely to increase pressure on Canada following Trudeau's resignation, and whoever becomes the new leader of Canada would have to face greater pressures from its old neighbor in the south."

Recently, a report published by the Financial Times stated that submarine communication cables outside Keelung Port at the northern tip of Taiwan island were damaged, allegedly by a cargo ship's anchor dragging. The DPP authorities in Taiwan claimed this was not an "innocent accident" and expressed concerns about such "grey zone" operations from the mainland.

In response to DPP's comment, Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, stated that there are over a hundred incidents of submarine optical cable damage globally each year, which are common maritime accidents.

The DPP authorities made baseless assumptions and deliberately exaggerated the incident as a so-called "grey zone threat," despite the basic facts and accident liability remaining unclear. This fully demonstrates the DPP's unscrupulous approach in manipulating anti-China narratives by any means necessary, showing no bottom line, Chen noted.

When the first rays of the sun shone over Tiananmen Square on Wednesday morning, the very first day of 2025, 51,000 Beijing residents and tourists from across the country sang the national anthem and watched the national flag rise to the top of the flagpole along with 10 thousand doves flapping their wings at 7:36 am. Meanwhile, Five-star Red Flags fluttered at Golden Bahinia Square in Hong Kong, at China's highest border check point in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and in the People's Liberation Army (PLA) garrison stationed in Nansha Qundao in the South China Sea… China is embracing a vibrant New Year of 2025. 

Even though there are challenges and uncertainties ahead, the country, cheered by President Xi Jinping's New Year message, welcomes 2025 with hope, confidence and determination. 

In 2024, we have together journeyed through the four seasons. Together, we have experienced winds and rains and seen rainbows. Those touching and unforgettable moments have been like still frames showing how extraordinary a year we have had, Xi said, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

"In 2025, we will fully complete the 14th Five-Year Plan. We will implement more proactive and effective policies, pursue high-quality development as a top priority, promote greater self-reliance and strength in science and technology, and maintain sound momentum in economic and social development. The Chinese economy now faces some new conditions, including challenges of uncertainties in the external environment and pressure of transformation from old growth drivers into new ones. But we can prevail with our hard work. As always, we grow in the wind and rain, and we get stronger through hard times. We must be confident," Xi said. 

"Of all the jobs in front of us, the most important is to ensure a happy life for our people. Every family hopes that their children can have a good education, their seniors can enjoy good elderly services, and their youngsters can have more and better opportunities. These simple wishes are our people's aspirations for a better life. We should work together to steadily improve social undertakings and governance, build a harmonious and inclusive atmosphere, and settle real issues, big or small, for our people. We must bring more smiles to our people and greater warmth to their hearts," Xi said. 

Xi also said that no one can ever stop China's reunification, a trend of the times. "We Chinese on both sides of the Taiwan Straits belong to one and the same family. No one can ever sever the bond of kinship between us," he said.

China will unswervingly implement the policy of "one country, two systems" to maintain long-term prosperity and stability in Hong Kong and Macao, he said.

Year of Hope

"The moment I saw the national flag rising slowly in the morning sun, the freezing cold during the wait was forgotten," Wei Tong, an employee at a foreign trade company in Beijing, told the Global Times. 

"We extended New Year greetings to strangers. I made wishes for myself, my family and of courses for our motherland… It is a moment when I feel united with so many people, with hope and high morale," Wei said. 

President Xi especially mentioned opportunities for youngsters, and his words are cheerful, Wei said. "Although there are uncertainties for my own industry of foreign trade, they should be catalysts for endeavors, not an excuse for sitting idly." 

Wei's hope for 2025 is to get a pay increase through hard work, move to a bigger apartment, and invite her parents from her hometown to come to see Beijing. 

It is a small, personal wish. Yet it is the combination of wishes from 1.4 billion people and their unwavering efforts to realize those wishes that sustains China's solid steps forward. 

Guo Fengyang, a PhD candidate in Germany, came to the ceremony after attending an academic forum in Beijing. "This is the fifth year of my PhD studies, and I do hope to return to the motherland at an early date, make contributions to nation's development in AI field and benefit the people," Guo told Xinhua. 

Across the country, people bid farewell to 2024 and embraced 2025 in diverse ways, from booking banquets with family and friends, to watching grand firework displays and drone light shows. As the New Year holiday is not linked to a weekend, people tend to make local excursions or take advantage of the day to visit hot springs and ski resorts, according to an industry report released by rating platform Meituan.    

The vibrant and jubilant atmosphere foretells Chinese people's hope for another fruitful year despite challenges, said Fan Peng, a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' Institute of Political Sciences. 

Facing international political uncertainty and emerging internal challenges, China's strategic stability and consistency, complete economic structure, effective governance and strong national cohesion can guarantee goals of the 14th Five-Year Plan can be met and bigger aspirations for the future can be realized, Fan said.   

'Rise above estrangement, conflict'

Many world leaders have extended New Year messages for a 2025 which is predicted to be a year of great uncertainty and turbulence. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin stressed Russia's destiny and well-being of its people has always been and will remain our absolute value while being proud of the soldiers and commanders' bravery and valor, Tass reported.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said: "You, the citizens, decide what happens in Germany," in his New Year's address, "It's not up to the owners of social media," according to Politico, which said Scholz was referring to X owner Elon Musk who endorsed the far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD) ahead of Germany's snap election on February 23. 

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that 2025 would be a year of rebuilding, with his government looking to turn the corner after a turbulent first six months in power, the Guardian reported.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba pledged to tackle pressing security, economic and demographic issues through his minority government, working with opposition parties "sincerely and humbly" to ensure better lives for the public, Kyodo News reported. 

In a world of major changes, each country has its own challenges and missions. China cannot control the direction of the changes, yet it can master its own path of modernization and national rejuvenation, observers said. 

In his New Year address, President Xi stressed that as changes unseen in a century accelerate across the world, it is important to rise above estrangement and conflict with a broad vision, and care for the future of humanity with great passion. China will work with all countries to promote friendship and cooperation, enhance mutual learning among different cultures, and build a community with a shared future for mankind. We must jointly create a better future for the world.

Dreams and wishes may be far, but they can be fulfilled with dedicated pursuit. On the new journey of Chinese modernization, everyone is a key actor, every effort counts, and every ray of light shines, Xi said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa on Thursday exchanged congratulations on the 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

China and Ecuador, as comprehensive strategic partners, have maintained a sound momentum for the growth of their relations over the past 45 years, Xi said in a congratulatory message.

In recent years, the political mutual trust between the two sides has been strengthened, practical cooperation in various fields has delivered fruitful results, and the China-Ecuador friendship has become more deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, he said.

Notably the China-Ecuador Free Trade Agreement, which has been successfully signed and entered into force, has given a strong boost to upgrading economic and trade cooperation and injected fresh impetus into the development of bilateral relations, the Chinese president said.

"I attach great importance to the growth of China-Ecuador relations and stand ready to work with President Noboa to take the 45th anniversary as a new starting point to renew the traditional China-Ecuador friendship and deepen exchanges and cooperation in various fields so as to lift China-Ecuador relations to a higher level," Xi said.

Depicting the 45th anniversary of bilateral ties as a milestone bearing great significance, Noboa said that over the past 45 years, the two sides have established a comprehensive strategic partnership based on mutual respect and trust, with fruitful outcomes in cooperation in various fields.

Ecuador's participation in the Belt and Road Initiative and the entry into force of the Ecuador-China Free Trade Agreement have improved the well-being of the two peoples, Noboa said, voicing readiness to keep working closely with China to deepen friendship, dialogue and cooperation and build a future of common prosperity.

As lifelong education has become a trend, China's middle-aged and elderly people are no longer content with the classes provided by domestic institutions for seniors. Instead, they set their sights on broader opportunities abroad. After talking to several elderly people with studying abroad experience, reporters from the Global Times found that the reason most of them decided to study overseas was as they that they had a desire d to explore more possibilities in their lives, and that although studying abroad posed a lot of difficulties for them, they found pleasure in it.
"I shocked myself when I came up with the idea to apply to study abroad. It's quite challenging for me," Wang Xiaoxi, 57, a student majoring in the archaeology, history, and literature of ancient Greece in the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, told the Global Times. It is an undergraduate program taught entirely in English, with the added course of Modern Greek, Greek and Latin, Wang said.

"Upon applying, I wasn't sure if I would be able to complete the course (at this age), But on second thought, if I don't try, I'll never know," said Wang.

There are increasing number of seniors like Wang in China. Studying overseas is no longer exclusive to teenagers and young adults, it has emerged as a growing trend among the elderly, according to Jiemian News.

According to data from a private education company in China that centered around language learning, educational travel and degree programs, the proportion of individuals aged above 50 participating in overseas study programs in their institution was approximately 3 percent in 2019, but this figure has surged to 20 percent by 2024, the Jiemian News reported.

Popular destinations favored by older adults include New York, Boston, London and Malta, an industry insider told the Global Times.

Fifty is the new twenty-five

Like energetic young people, the elderly possesses the determination to chase their dreams, the courage to embark on new journeys and a curiosity to explore the world.

"In fact, when my parents and some of my friends learned about my plans to study abroad, they were not very supportive. They felt that at my age, there was no need to travel abroad and study," Jia Daming, a 50-year-old man who recently earned a degree of Master of Education from the University of Sydney, told the Global Times. Some of his friends even told him that he was already at the top of his field, and considering the many difficulties and high costs, it wasn't necessary for him to go through with it.

"However, I believe that if I want to maintain a competitive edge in international school education field, it is essential for me to enhance my educational qualifications," Jia said, adding that only through personal experience can one achieve perfection. Therefore, he resolutely embarked on his overseas studying journey in February 2023.

Jia said that at the beginning of the academic year, many of his classmates called him "uncle Jia," but after they became acquainted with each other, they called Jia "bro." Jia mentioned that sometimes while walking down the street or even reading in the library, classmates greet him as if they were peers. He sometimes hanged out with his classmates. For example, he has been to the Great Barrier Reef with them. And some film majors have even invited him to appear as an extra.

However, compared to those in their twenties, elder international students encounter more difficulties and challenges along their courageous journey.

As Wang noted, at any age, you have to be determined to study abroad. However, studying at an older age is even more of a challenge. Even with a good educational background, Wang feels that there are "mountains after mountains to climb" during her studies abroad.

Before the semester started, Wang prepared many electronic devices, such as a voice recorder, an iPad and a Kindle. "As soon as the first week of school started, I was ready to use these devices. But I was fumbling with which buttons to press to turn them on and lower the volume," said Wang, adding that "I can only type with two fingers, and I can't type fast enough to keep up with the professor's speaking pace."

Wang said that when she looked around at her classmates, they were all typing quickly on their laptops. She was the only one writing with a pen.

"It's all Greek to me," Wang described her first two weeks of school, saying that her teacher has quite a thick Greek accent that she could not understand even with the tape recorder, and once she did not even know that her teacher was giving a quiz in class, so she was not prepared.

On that test, Wang only scored 40 points and was "criticized" by her daughter.

"I quickly turned my sorrow into motivation for learning. After class, I copied, translated, understood and memorized every word of the professor's lecture slides. Although it required a lot of effort, the results were quite rewarding," Wang said.

Later on, Wang scored 92 points in her archaeology class test.

Go for it, enjoy it

Wang said that studying abroad is a natural progression for her, as she has always been self-educated and she has always studied whatever she was interested in. "I noticed that the course is taught in English. I realized that I must seize this opportunity to learn English," said Wang, noting that she has always worked hard and embraced new challenges in life.

Since she has been studying abroad, Wang has felt that each day is fulfilling and she always lives in the moment. Wang said she walks to school these days, basking in the sunshine and recounting how she also walked to school as a child. But back then she had a completely different mindset.

She feels grounded, taking one step at a time, and genuinely believes that she has a bright future.

"For me, studying abroad at this age marks the beginning of the 'middle-aged woman' era. The most exciting phase of a woman's life is no longer the traditionally emphasized years of 16 to 25, but rather a woman's entire life is filled with infinite possibilities," said Du Liping, a Chinese woman in her fifties, who kicked off a journey to learn French in Paris a few months ago.

Du told the Global Times that starting her study journey made her feel as though she had suddenly returned to her twenties, but not the impoverished version of her twenties.

Du also mentioned that she never imagined she would have the opportunity to study abroad in her fifties, which makes her feel unique and surrounded by love.

Instead, it felt more like the twenties of a luckier girl, with more life experience.

"My life is extremely rewarding," Du told the Global Times.

Most Tsinghua graduates who studied abroad have returned to China, with 91.7% of verified alumni currently based in China, according to data from the Tsinghua Alumni Association's official WeChat mini-program, as released by Tsinghua University on Friday. Among the 2002-2011 graduates, 92.4% of verified alumni are in China, with over 60% of those who studied abroad having returned. 

The proportion of Tsinghua University's 2024 graduates pursuing further studies abroad or overseas is 9.6%, including 18.4% of undergraduate students and 7.3% of master's students. Over the past decade, the average proportion of Tsinghua graduates pursuing further studies abroad or overseas has been 10.5%, according to the Tsinghua University official account.

The employment rate of the 2024 cohort in key domestic sectors and major organizations exceeded 85%. Employment in the manufacturing and energy industries grew by 11% year-on-year, marking five consecutive years of growth. Among doctoral graduates, 47.8% pursued academic careers, a rate that has remained above 45% for five consecutive years.

The university unveiled that the employment rate of Tsinghua graduates in key domestic fields and important units has been above 80% for over a decade. The industries with the highest number of graduates employed historically include information transmission, software and information technology services; education; and scientific research and technical services.

For the 2024 cohort, 56.2% of graduates found employment outside Beijing, a rate that has remained above 50% for 10 consecutive years. 

Additionally, the number of graduates employed in the western and northeastern regions of China increased by 16.5% year-on-year and has doubled compared to 2020. Examples include students returning to their hometowns, such as Xinjiang, to become doctors; graduates teaching at Lanzhou University; and others serving in grassroots public sectors in Liaoning.

There were previous rumors online claiming that "80% of Tsinghua graduates go abroad and never return."

"For many vocational school graduates today, the label of 'blue-collar' has been shed, as we are no longer confined to the traditional occupations typically associated with vocational education," said a vocational education graduate surnamed Chen. 

Chen is working at a renowned technology company in China's tech hub Shenzhen. Many of his classmates are now employed at reputable companies, engaged in high-skill, high-barrier professions, and enjoying attractive salaries.

In China, students are required to complete nine years of compulsory education, which consists of six years in primary school and three years in junior high school. Following this, they have the option to attend a senior high school to take the gaokao, the national exam for university admission, or to enroll in a vocational senior high school and subsequently a vocational college.

Receiving vocational education in China has typically been viewed as low-quality; however, recent evidence shows that graduates from vocational schools are also likely to secure in-demand jobs, Che Yanqiu, a professor from Tianjin University of Technology and Education, told the Global Times. 

China's economy has entered a phase of industrial upgrading, eliminating outdated and low-value technologies. According to Chen, this is where vocational school students can effectively meet the demand.

Recently, China's Ministry of Education introduced 40 new vocational education programs for 2024, setting a record. This increase represents the most significant update by the Ministry since the 2021 introduction of the vocational education program directory.

Among the additions, new programs in areas such as electronic information materials application technology, aerospace composite materials intelligent manufacturing engineering technology, and precision manufacturing technology for aerospace equipment, stand out as key areas of focus. 

All of the above-mentioned programs align with strategic emerging industries and advanced manufacturing.

China's progress in technological innovation and industrial upgrading is driving demand for skilled professionals in emerging fields like smart manufacturing, artificial intelligence, and big data, underscoring the growing need for high-tech talent, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

As sectors including artificial intelligence generated content (AIGC), large-scale AI model, new energy vehicles (NEVs) and smart manufacturing evolve into the latest investment hotspots, employers are scrambling to hire professionals with the mastery of machine learning, natural language processing and battery engineering, said job-seeking service provider Liepin's vice president Ba Ran, Xinhua reported. 

"I truly believe that stereotypes about vocational education need to be challenged, as it is no longer synonymous with low wages and minimal entry requirements, my classmates and I are real examples of this transformation," Chen said.

Top-level scientists who receive general education are still needed to turn scientific discoveries into useful applications, products or services that sustain the modern society, which makes the skilled technicians graduates from a vocational college valuable, Che told the Global Times. 

A student, surnamed Wang, majoring in electronic information engineering, also shared her current course schedule with the Global Times. Reporters noted that the courses for this major include fundamentals of circuit analysis, Python programming, and analog electronic technology, which are quite precisely designed and emphasize practical application.

"The vocational education places greater emphasis on practice and application, allowing us for a deeper and more practical mastery of professional skills," Wang told the Global Times on Tuesday. Wang said that during school time, they will receive skills training and participate in projects that are directly related to their careers, noting that these skills will also serve as the foundation for their employment.

Notably, in recent years, over 70 percent of the newly added frontline workers in modern manufacturing, strategic emerging industries, and modern service industries come from vocational schools, according to the Ministry of Education (MOE).

Vocational schools serve as China's primary hub for training skilled craftsmen, workers, and high-level talent, the MOE said. 

Wang said that students who receive general education has a broader range of classes, providing them opportunities to build a solid theoretical foundation and pursue a wider range of job opportunities in the future. 

"We focus exclusively on technical courses, and the school places a strong emphasis on career orientation, offering us a clearer understanding of our career paths," Wang said. 

A clear career positioning enables vocational students to more effectively select jobs that align with their skills and aspirations, according to Wang.

"The school also encourages us to participate in competitions and form teams to create projects. These activities allow us to apply what we have learned in practice and stimulate our innovative thinking," Wang added.

Wang also said that some of her senior classmates are working at major companies, living in first-tier cities.

According to Che, the frequent practical training focused on mastering professional skills makes graduates highly sought after by companies in their respective fields. In particular, a number of state-owned companies place great importance on attracting and nurturing talent with vocational education, offering them competitive salaries and positions. 

Against the backdrop of global power competition, certain countries are using cutthroat competition to suppress China. Skilled professionals with vocational education backgrounds could play a critical role in countering these efforts, Che said. 

For those students who demonstrate excellence in specific skills at a vocational college, there are paths for them to further upgrade their academic studies in general education at universities, or even go for postgraduate studies, Che said. 

As of 2023, there are a total of 11,133 vocational schools (including technical schools) in China, with nearly 35 million students enrolled, forming a complete tiered system of secondary vocational, associate, and bachelor's education, according to the MOE. In terms of scale, vocational education supports half of the country's secondary education and higher education, the MOE said.

In countries like Germany, vocational workers in trades such as plumbing, shipbuilding, blacksmithing, and metalworking are well-compensated and highly respected. Che notes that shifting societal attitudes toward vocational education remains an ongoing challenge in China.

The good progress is that, at least, vocational education currently shows promise in overcoming its traditional bias as a second-tier option for personal growth, Che said, adding that fundamentally, it is crucial to recognize the value of individuals who possess practical skills and create tangible value.

Grammy Award-winning rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, performed a sold-out show for his album series "Vultures" in Haikou, South China's Hainan Province, on Sunday night, marking the start of the Mid-Autumn Festival holidays of the tropical island.

The “Vultures Listening Experience World Tour Listening Party - Haikou” marked Ye’s first performance in the Chinese mainland since 2008, aligning with Hainan’s efforts to position itself as a hub for world-class music events.

Sporting a T-shirt that featured Chinese characters "告诉过你" (I told you so), Ye brought out all his family members, including his four children, to the stage at the packed Wuyuan River Sports Stadium, where all 42,000 tickets, ranging from 680 yuan ($96) – 2,000 yuan, sold out in minutes as 96.5 percent of the tickets were purchased by people living outside the island. The cities with the highest number of buyers were Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Beijing and Chengdu, according to Hainan Daily.
"Ye performed many of his classic songs, singing along with the audience. At one point of the party, he said, 'I love you, Haikou.' The live atmosphere was absolutely electrifying, especially since the show lasted for three hours. At one point, he even sang along with the crowd,” a 20-year-old fan surnamed Li, who flew from Beijing to attend the show, told the Global Times on Monday.

Prior to the show, Ye shared on his social media account a childhood photo of himself in Nanjing, East China’s Jiangsu Province, with the caption: "BACK."

Ye lived in China for a year when he was about 10 years old. His mother was an English professor and worked as a visiting scholar at the Nanjing University in 1987.

As one of China’s top tourist destinations, Hainan has been committed to boosting its tourism sector by promoting cultural events. Local authorities even offer financial incentives to attract international performers.

Since 2023, local authorities have been promoting large-scale concerts and music festivals in Hainan as part of a new "performance tourism" model, aimed at revitalizing the tourism industry, according to a statement released by the Hainan Provincial Department of Tourism, Culture, Radio, Television, and Sports in February.

Introducing internationally renowned concerts or music festivals can enhance Hainan’s image and international influence as a tourist destination while driving the “cultural and entertainment” transformation of the local tourism industry. This approach is expected to attract younger consumers, shifting Hainan’s tourism focus from primarily older visitors to a more youthful demographic, Sun Xiaorong, a member of the national tourism reform and development advisory committee, told the China News Weekly.

In May, Hainan released several measures to further promote the integration of culture, sports, tourism, and exhibitions to expand consumption. The policy offers a one-time reward of 3 million yuan for events that meet specific criteria: featuring international or top-tier domestic acts, selling at least 100,000 tickets, generating over 50 million yuan in ticket revenue, and attracting more than 50 percent of the audience from outside the island.

Since July 30, overseas travelers with regular passports from countries that have diplomatic relations with China can enjoy visa-free entry to Hainan for up to 144 hours. This is applicable after they have visited Hong Kong or Macao special administrative regions and joined a tour group of at least two people arranged by a legally registered travel agency in those regions.

The move is part of broader efforts to make Hainan a global tourism hub and increase its openness to international visitors.