Asian Games rolls out themed aircraft fleet

Two planes featuring patterns related to the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou 2022, which is to be held in fall 2023, made their debut on Monday in Hangzhou, local media outlets reported.

The aircraft, part of the last group of the Hangzhou Asian Games fleet, were converted from Airbus A321-Neos, which feature a slimmer body, more efficient energy usage and a more comfortable ride experience.

Loong Airlines, a Hangzhou-based airline company and owner of the painted planes, celebrated the debut by projecting colorful lights onto the plane to promote various cultural elements related to the company, the Asian Games and the host city Hangzhou.

The planes will join the fleet of the previous 10 painted planes, which also feature patterns inspired by the Asian Games mascots and slogans, to offer more immersive Asian Games-themed rides starting from Hangzhou.

“I hope the painted planes will become a symbol of the Asian Games and the host city of Hangzhou,” said Xin Di, president of Loong Airlines.

 

Alibaba’s dual primary listing in Hong Kong gains final approval

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd said on Monday night its voluntary conversion to a dual primary listing in Hong Kong has been confirmed by the Hong Kong stock exchange.

Alibaba, which already has a secondary listing in Hong Kong, expected the primary listing to be completed by the end of this year, the company said in a statement.

The Hangzhou-headquartered company announced on July 26 it would apply for a primary listing in Hong Kong to further expand and diversify its investor base, which would make Alibaba a dual-primary listed company on the New York Stock Exchange and the Hong Kong bourse.

The e-commerce giant went public in New York in September of 2014 in what was the biggest IPO at that time, and raised $13 billion from the Hong Kong stock exchange via a secondary listing in November 2019.

Lin’an Agriculture Innovation Park opens

The Lin’an Agriculture Innovation Park in Lin’an district, Hangzhou opened on Aug 8.

The park was built by the district government and Zhejiang A&F University to promote rural vitalization. Twenty-nine companies have opened offices in its 3,000-square-meter incubation space.

“Most agriculture companies are operated in remote villages and can hardly enjoy innovation resources in the downtown area,” said a director of the park. “Our park is a platform for them to work together.”

During the opening ceremony, Zhejiang A&F University set up a technology transfer center at the park and pledged to help local companies improve their research and development capabilities.

The park has also engaged professional livestreaming hosts to help local companies improve their sales.

“Talent is key to rural vitalization and we welcome more agriculture talents to start businesses here,” said Li Lianping, deputy Party secretary of Lin’an district.

Hangzhou’s lotus charm

In summer , the lotus flowers in West Lake area in Hangzhou of East China’s Zhejiang province are blossoming and enticing thousands of tourists.

The best time to appreciate lotus is from 5 to 6 am, when each lotus stands elegantly against morning glow.

As the Chinese poem goes, “Green lotus leaves outspread as far as boundless sky. Pink lotus blossoms take from sunshine a new dye.”

100-museum project starts with imperial kiln exhibits

Zhejiang Museum has initiated a 100-museum project to invigorate the enriched Song Dynasty (960-1279) cultural legacy across Zhejiang Province. The first stage has been set up in a Southern Song Imperial Kiln Museum in Hangzhou and involves interactive activities and 63 sets of antiques.

“Usually, a temporary exhibition only lasts three to six months. Now, we hope the 100-museum project could last over 10 years. Every city in Zhejiang Province has its own distinct Song Dynasty heritage worth deeper research and learning,” said Ji Yunfei, vice curator of Zhejiang Museum.

The project begins with the Southern Song Imperial Kiln Museum, the first museum based on a millennium-old kiln in the country. It is a vital venue showing Song Dynasty porcelains.

In this epoch, the royal court established the Imperial Kiln in Hangzhou to fire ceramics for the royal family. Their elegant shapes and jade-like textures were the hallmarks of their manufacturing techniques, turning Zhejiang into an important production center of sought-after porcelain commodities in ancient China.

Except for top-notch Song Dynasty porcelains, the organizers also focus on scholars’ thoughts to show the open and inclusive society of the era.

One millennium ago, woodblock-printing technology accelerated the spread of literature and knowledge, evidenced here by the displayed ancient books covering literature, religion, technology and agriculture.

Hangzhou’s booming printing industry and its capital status made it a mecca for scholars and literatus. The growth of the population and a prosperous economy, as well as a widely distributed social consciousness, led to a thriving Hangzhou during the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279).

The prosperity also changed women’s lives during the period. Throughout feudal dynasties, women were banned from going to school, and illiterate females were often considered to have better morals. However, open-minded families during the Song Dynasty made great strides, allowing their daughters and wives to study literature, calligraphy and painting.

A batch of cultured women began to realize their self-value through the arts and heightened their social status by improving their literacy, including Li Qingzhao, Lin Youyu and Wu Zhiduan.

The exhibition features women painters’ ink-wash works, through which visitors get a glimpse of the constraints on women’s spirituality and emotions. Their works differentiate from men’s by virtue of subtle emotions, delicate strokes and elaborate layouts, all now revered by modern connoisseurs.

Women also were allowed to attend keju (imperial examination), an exam exclusive to men in previous dynasties. During the period, officials selected by their exam results became dominant in the bureaucracy, so keju was an opportunity to become a high-ranking government official.

The Song period’s openness and inclusiveness was also embodied by the thriving maritime trade.

The royal court even enacted a law to guide the industry, which is believed to be the earliest maritime trade law in the world.

Official departments were established in Hangzhou, Wenzhou, Guangzhou and Quanzhou to dispatch ambassadors and welcome diplomats from other countries.

The 100-museum project is intended to explore the art, economy, culture, agriculture and technology of the Song period and present a well-rounded picture of the heyday of ancient China to young and emerging generations.

In a bid to attract more teenagers, the Hangzhou kiln exhibition is designed with free interactive activities and lectures on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays through August 31. Visitors need to make a reservation as seats are limited.

At the exhibition, children can experience rubbing stone inscriptions. The ancient scholars invented rubbing methods to reproduce stone inscriptions on paper, the only media available centuries ago to spread the words on stone inscriptions.

Visitors will be able to partake in an authentic and entertaining puppet show, arrow-throwing game (touhu) and woodblock printing – activities that were popular among locals many centuries ago.

“This exhibition not only displays ancient artworks, but also shows the lifestyle and aesthetics of our ancestors,” Ji said.

“Museums should play a role in public education. The exhibits and stories should be accessible to people. The 100-museum project is going to integrate exhibition with education and spread the Song Dynasty history among young generations.”

100-museum project exhibition

Date: Through September 21, closed on Mondays

Address: 60 Nanfu Rd

Admission: Free

Doctoral candidates run Chinese D&D store in Hangzhou

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Students from Garze Tibetan autonomous prefecture stage an ethnic singing and dancing performance at the launch ceremony on Aug 9. [Photo/hangzhou.com.cn]

Students from East China’s Zhejiang province and Southwest China’s Sichuan province gathered in Hangzhou on Aug 9 to celebrate the 19th Asian Games, local media outlets reported.

Over the next half month, nearly 200 children from the Garze Tibetan autonomous prefecture in Sichuan province will kick off a study trip revolving around the Asian Games in Hangzhou.

At the launch ceremony, students from Garze staged an ethnic singing and dancing show, express their excitement about visiting Hangzhou. Students from Hangzhou also sent gifts to welcome their friends from afar.

Tang Caibin, principal of the Qian Xuesen School in Hangzhou, shared Decoding 2022 – What to Know about the Asian Games at the launch ceremony. The book teaches about the Asian Games, reviewing the history of the Games and detailing the competition events.

A student from Garze said that before the launch ceremony, they visited the gymnasium and natatorium of the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center, which he was extremely impressed by and fully met his expectations.

The study trip, revolving around the mascots of the Asian Games, will combine modern technology with history and culture to thread together local cultural landmarks such as the Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City, West Lake, Gongchen Bridge on the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, the Hangzhou branch of the National Archives of Publications and Culture, and China’s first robot town, Xiaoshan Robot Town.

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Participants take a group photo. [Photo/hangzhou.com.cn]

Hangzhou embracing ‘first-store’ economy

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Zhejiang’s first Costco store is under construction in Xiaoshan district, Hangzhou. The store is expected to open in July 2023. [Photo/Zheng Haiyun for Xiaoshan Daily]

Hangzhou in East China’s Zhejiang province has been stimulating consumption by attracting popular brands to set up their first stores in the city, local media reported on Aug 10.

Such stores can stimulate consumption, which has been affected by COVID-19 since 2020, said an official at the Hangzhou commerce bureau.

China’s top alcohol brand Kweichow Moutai opened its first ice cream store in Hangzhou on July 9. Many people queued up outside the store despite the heat.

“The ice cream has gone viral across the country. I just want to buy one and post the experience on social media,” said a local resident surnamed Li.

In 2021, 223 brands opened their first stores in Hangzhou. From January to June, this figure was 45, nine of which were also the first on the Chinese mainland.

Zhonghe Flyover witnessed the first evening rush hour

The vehicles were driven out of the elevated road as Zhonghe Flyover opened at 10:00 am

More and more vehicles were driven into the ramps of Zhonghe Flyover at 12:00 am

At 6:50 pm, the east-to-south on-ramp of Zhonghe Flyover was relatively congested

The 12-hour continuous observation of renovated Hangzhou Zhonghe Flyover after it was open to traffic at 10:00 am on August 10 showed that 4 off-ramps were clear, while the east-to-south on-ramp was congested sometimes.

Some ramps are open during designated hours in order to control the vehicle traffic. The east-to-south on-ramp is closed from 7:00 am to 10:00 am on working days. Orderly traffic control is conducted to ensure smooth transport and make more citizens enjoy the convenience of traffic facilities.

First business charter flight from India arrives in Zhejiang, in boost for trade resumption

More trips expected amid high demand for trade resumption: source

A charter flight carrying 107 Indian businessmen arrived in Hangzhou, East China’s Zhejiang Province, on August 9,2022. Photo:Courtesy of China Southern Airlines

A charter flight carrying 107 Indian businessmen arrived in Hangzhou, East China’s Zhejiang Province, on Tuesday evening, marking the second charter flight for international buyers organized by Zhejiang in 2022, and the first business charter flight from India to China.

Over the past two years, flights between China and India have been suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other factors. Indian companies warmly welcomed the charter flights, with many hoping for normal business flights between the two countries, industry insiders said.

A charter flight carrying 107 Indian businessmen arrived in Hangzhou, East China’s Zhejiang Province, on August 9,2022. Photo:Courtesy of China Southern Airlines

Photo:Courtesy of China Southern Airlines

After a “7+3” quarantine, which requires seven days of concentrated quarantine in a dedicated place and three days of self-quarantine at home, those Indian businessmen will head for Zhejiang’s Yiwu, the world capital of small commodities, a source at the Yiwu municipal government told the Global Times on Wednesday.

India is Yiwu’s second-largest export destination. The arrival of this charter flight marked the re-opening of the door for Indian merchants to return to Yiwu for procurement. More than 2,000 Indian merchants reside in Yiwu in the peak period, according to the source.

Hassan, a merchant from India who was on the charter flight, said in a video that he can finally go to Yiwu market and see the products in person, according to a post on the Yiwu government’s WeChat account on Tuesday.

“I set up a foreign trade company in Yiwu in 2003. Considering the needs of Indian customers, we usually place orders only after seeing the objects in person and asking for customization and improvement. As a result, it was difficult to place orders for new products during the outbreak, as we had to be online,” said Hassan.

“I have been doing foreign trade business in Yiwu since 2011 and Yiwu has become my second home. I am really excited to return to Yiwu. I am especially grateful to the Yiwu municipal government for its efforts,” said Mohammed Tabrez Akhtar, who also arrived in Hangzhou on the charter flight.

In 2021, Yiwu’s trade with India reached 17.58 billion yuan ($2.6 billion), with year-on-year growth of 38.5 percent, with exports reaching 16.76 billion yuan, up 33.8 percent, according to statistics from the Commerce Bureau of Yiwu.

Du Yuegang, CEO of Zhejiang Tony Supply Chain Co (Tony International), told the Global Times on Wednesday that preparations for the charter flight were warmly welcomed by the Indian market, and such flights are important for business communication during special periods and can provide an effective path for trade recovery.

Tony International was the leading company in organizing the charter flight. The Yiwu-based supply chain company focusing on China-India trade has provided cross-border shipping service for more than 400 Indian companies in the past 10 years.

“The preparation for the charter flight started in June, and it was initiated by multiple economic administrators in Zhejiang Province. The Yiwu government entrusted us to launch a market survey before the program started. Nearly 400 Indian companies said they were willing to join the program,” said Du.

The CEO is still busy answering phone calls from Indian companies asking about charter flights, as the first one arrived in China on Tuesday.

In view of the high popularity of the first China-India charter flight, the second may be scheduled in early September, and will be open to Chinese businessmen in India, said Du.

According to Du, some Indian clients used to come to Yiwu for business every two or three months before the pandemic.

“Some of the Indian merchants who arrived on the charter flight already have long-stay permits. Some of them got their new business visas valid for three months,” a staffer at the Yiwu Commerce Bureau told the Global Times on Wednesday.

It takes about one month to prepare a charter flight. Since there are COVID-19 flare-ups in Yiwu, foreign businessmen are doing their concentrated quarantine in Hangzhou, according to the staffer.

Sources said that there will be more charter flights in the near future.

The staffer of the Yiwu Commerce Bureau said that a charter flight for South Korean merchants is currently under discussion.

The charter flight from India was operated by China Southern Airlines. The airline efficiently completed preparations for the flight from New Delhi to Hangzhou with support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Civil Aviation Administration of China, Zhejiang Provincial Department of Commerce and Yiwu municipal Bureau of Commerce, according to a statement the company sent to the Global Times on Wednesday.

Recently, China Southern Airlines resumed international routes to 27 countries and regions, with the number of international flights rising to 57 per week.

Before the charter flight from India, the first charter flight, which took 163 Pakistani businessmen to Yiwu, landed at Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport on July 30.

It was the first charter flight carrying foreign traders to China in 2022, opening a new channel for foreign investors to purchase goods in China amid the epidemic.

Zhejiang Province in early July released an action plan to accelerate the implementation of business charter flights and scheduled flights, in a bid to support and stabilize foreign trade and investment.

Before the pandemic, more than 560,000 foreign businessmen visited Yiwu every year, and more than 15,000 foreign businessmen from more than 100 countries and regions were living in Yiwu, according to official statistics.

Hangzhou will implement the new basic public service standard next month

Hangzhou Basic Public Service Standard (2022) (hereinafter referred to as Hangzhou Standard) has been issued recently and is expected to be implemented from September 1, 2022. It is the first time that Hangzhou defines the contents and scopes of basic public services of the city in form of standards.

Hangzhou Standard sets out the standard for subsistence allowance for people in difficulty and proposes the specific service contents and standards in respects of social assistance, assistance to people with disabilities, welfare for the elderly and children, and funerals for residents.

In term of social assistance service, subsidies will be offered to people with minimum living allowance, destitute individuals and people entitled to temporary aid. In term of the disabled assistance services, a subsidy of 30% of local standard for the subsistence allowance will be provided for impaired citizens in difficulty. In addition, a nursing subsidy or a subsistence allowance will be given to the severely disabled based on the levels of disability.

Besides, various types of aids and protections will be provided for children in need. Qualified seniors may enjoy a series of home-based elderly care services as well as medical treatment and health care integrated services. Senior citizens of 80 years old are entitled to old-age allowance. Moreover, basic funeral services, including remains transportation and cremation services, are provided free of charge after death of urban and rural residents. A subsidy will be provided for ecological burial at the cemetery, and a reward of 2,000 yuan will be granted to those who do not retain their ashes.