Ice hockey competitions for the 2024 Chinese National Winter Games kicked off on Thursday in Hulun Buir in North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, with Team Guangdong, debutants at the National Winter Games, aiming for the gold medal. 

The team, representing South China's Guangdong Province where ice and snow is rarely seen, have been labeled hot favorites for the title as the 23-player squad boasts 11 players from the national team. 

Riding on these players' rich experience, they saw off Shanghai 4-2 in their National Winter Games starter on Thursday. 

"Our goal is to win the championship for sure," Yu Baiwei, captain of Guangdong and China's national team, told the Global Times after the win, before noting the team is taking every game with a down to earth attitude.

"We take each game as it comes, aiming to win the next one and perform well in every period and minute. We focus on the process and pay attention to details."

The 34-year-old defender, who scored a goal in the six-goal thriller, also gave credit to the young Shanghai team, whose oldest player Lu Shuang is only 27. Shanghai won the national women's ice hockey championship in 2020.

"They showed great determination and aggression, demonstrating speed and skills with the puck," Yu told the Global Times. "It's great to see more young talent stepping up, as it strengthens the depth of the sport." 

Yu said she hoped to entice more new blood into the sport.

"As an older player, it's not about passing on the legacy, it's about leading and facilitating the rapid growth of young players," Yu told the Global Times. "If I can use my energy and enthusiasm to benefit others, I think it's enough."

The women's ice hockey competition, featuring seven teams, will be played in a round-robin way that runs until July 22. The gold medal for women's ice hockey will be the first gold medal at the 2024 National Winter Games.

It is rare for ice hockey events at the National Winter Games to be held in the summer.

"It allows more people to witness the charm of ice and snow during the summer. It's our first experience participating in such an event during this season," Yu said. "I hope more people can watch our games, fall in love with ice hockey, and even engage in the sport."

Team Guangdong will face tough challenges from rival teams such as China's winter sports powerhouses Heilongjiang and Beijing, led by Chinese national team members Zhang Mengying and Guan Yingying.

Other games on Thursday saw Heilongjiang beat Hebei 3-0 and Shaanxi defeat Sichuan 3-1.

The National Winter Games were originally scheduled to be held in 2020 in Hulun Buir but were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They will be held from February 17 to 27 in 2024.

The Chengdu FISU World University Games concluded on Tuesday as the hosts, the Chinese delegation, finished with 103 gold, 40 silver and 35 bronze medals to sit at the top of the medal table, setting a new record for the best results for China at a FISU Games.

The world-leading Chinese university swimming team has been the biggest contributor for China's medal haul at the Games, as the Chinese swimmers totaled 18 gold and two bronze medals.

Besides the big stars such as multiple-time gold medalists Qin Haiyang, Zhang Yufei and Li Bingjie, names such as five-time National Para Games gold medalist Peng Huidi, who faces a lasting hearing issue, also took the stage.

The Central South University student, who had to rely on a visual confirmation at the start of the race, compared to her opponents who dive into the pool after hearing the starting horn, is a slow starter in every race. 

However, she had successfully improved her result in the 1,500 meters freestyle by a stunning 32.3 seconds. 

Beyond the outstanding performances delivered by the Chinese delegation, which consisted of a total of 411 athletes participating in all 18 events, the tournament has a lot of memorable moments. 

Communication, understanding

FISU Acting President Leonz Eder said Tuesday that Chengdu has really made all dreams come true as he reviews the Games. 

"What we have witnessed here in Chengdu is state of the art. It's the best we can have. It's really fantastic for the athletes, for the spectators, for everybody," he told reporters. "There's nothing to complain about."

FISU Secretary-General Eric Saintrond believes that hosting the Chengdu Universiade has helped foster China's global image as many young people come to visit the city.

"What you see and hear is different from what people tell you," Saintrond said. "Many people have never been to Chengdu and to China."

As for the impact of the FISU Games on the youth, Acting President Eder affirmed that the Games showcased the importance of communication, understanding, and learning from different cultures. 

He asserted that fostering open dialogue and embracing diverse viewpoints is key to creating a better world.

"In some parts of the world, people stopped talking to each other, but the young generation, they don't know these borders, these frontiers," Eder told the Global Times.

"They talk to each other, they learn their own stories, they tell their own stories, they start to communicate, and these are the students, because the students, they speak different languages, and they have no shy to meet other people, and this is really what we believe is needed to make a better world," Eder said of the young people of the world.

"Don't think that your opinion is the only one in the world. We have so many different opinions, different cultures, based on different histories, not one is better than the other, but go and talk to each other, learn from each other, and this is the basic for creating a better world."

Showcasing Chinese culture

The Chengdu FISU Games, the first international multi-sport tournament held in West China, have also become a platform for athletes worldwide to learn about the diverse Chinese culture.

The cultural fair is among the most popular destinations for athletes every night after their competitions. 

"One of the pillars of FISU is education, culture, and sport. We do not just organize sport event. For us it is important to show the young people to give the opportunity to discover the culture, the richness of every place where we are going," Eder said. 

Saintrond highlighted that after the two postponements of the originally scheduled 2021 event, the Universiade was able to provide more opportunities to students to learn about China. 

Saintrond said China hosting an open Universiade, rather than in a closed loop like Tokyo Olympics and Beijing 2022 due to COVID-19, is of much significance.

"It was not only to open the [Games] Village and allow the people to go out of the Village. It is to open the door to the Chinese culture. That has been extremely important for students," he said. "The sports competition is one thing, but the people have to meet each other, have to make friends to get to learn the culture and the history of other nations." 

As Chengdu moves forward to host future sports events, such as the 2025 World Games, venues and facilities as well as the volunteers and staff for the FISU Games are likely to be involved again.

"These facilities will be used not only for university students, but also for the citizens of Chengdu and the province," Eder said. 

"With these fantastic facilities, you can host future games, whether it's world championships or the World Games .... It's important to use all these venues."

China's mixed martial arts (MMA) athlete Zhang Weili has once again proven that she's the best women's MMA strawweight fighter in the world with a unanimous decision win over Amanda Lemos in the co-main event at the UFC 292 on August 20.

Currently in Beijing after the fight, in which she defended her title for the first time since her second championship win, Zhang is now focused on blending Chinese culture into her future tactics. 

Zhang applauded her opponent's tenacity, noting that credit is due to Lemos' persistence.

"There were a few times when I would see her eyes close when I was punching her, but later her eyes would open up again. I thought that her willpower was great," Zhang told the Global Times in an interview.

In Zhang's view, Lemos, known for her jiu-jitsu skills, is one of the most tenacious opponents she has encountered in recent years, and if the roles were reversed, she doubts she would have withstood such an onslaught of heavy punches. 

"Nearly everyone thinks that I'm poor at ground skills, but I actually won the first 10 matches of my career on the ground," Zhang noted as her win came thanks to her overpowering ground-fighting skills, which involves hand-to-hand combat, against Lemos.

As far as the moniker "hexagon warrior" bestowed upon her by fans for her well-rounded skill set, Zhang considers as a humbling gesture.

"I'm yet to be a hexagon warrior but I'm trying my best to be one," Zhang said. "I think my skills, either ground skills or stand-up combat skills or agility, still need to be honed."

Tactic without tactics

She said the tactic employed against Lemos was to wrap around her "like water" and not give her too much space in any aspect. Using the "tactic without tactics" formula allows her better control of the situation.

The 34-year-old, who has dominated in nearly all of her matches outside of her two losses to Rose Namajunas of the US, has woven the tapestry of Chinese culture into her fighting approach beyond the octagon.

"Now I fight by using a tactic which does not involve any specific tactics," Zhang told the Global Times. 

While on the face of it, Zhang's approach may appear strange, it is credited to the concept "Be water, my friend," famously coined by martial artist Bruce Lee, noting this philosophy guides her movements, emphasizing fluidity and adaptability in the face of adversity.

"I learned this concept at a very young age but it wasn't until recent years that I have developed a deeper understanding of what 'be water' means, which I can blend it into my tactics rather than previously trying to stick to one planned tactic," Zhang said. 

She describes her fighting style as possessing both fluid and solid qualities, allowing her to be agile and efficient. Her use of traditional Chinese martial arts principles, such as the balance of yin, which means something of darkness, and yang, which means life and brightness, has given her a unique edge in the ring. 

"I have benefited a lot from Chinese culture. I hope more people can learn from it and then improve themselves. It's more about studying and learning how to comprehend," she told the Global Times. 

"It's important to learn from what the ancestors have left us, such as sincerity and modesty, and know how to be respectful and grateful," said Zhang. 

Rose to fame

Born in Handan, a city in North China's Hebei Province, Zhang's formative years were characterized by discipline and dedication. 

Zhang was introduced to martial arts at the age of 12. Little did they know that this early influence of modesty and discipline would set the stage for a remarkable athletic journey.

It was not common for girls to seriously pursue martial arts in China, but Zhang's passion burned brighter than the obstacles in her path. She trained diligently, determined to become a skilled fighter.

But it was her entry into the Ultimate Fighting Championship that truly catapulted her into the MMA spotlight. 

Zhang's rise to prominence has not only made her a symbol of hope and empowerment for aspiring fighters in China but also a trailblazer in women's MMA globally. Her influence extends far beyond the ring, as she continues to inspire the next generation of fighters, both in China and around the world. 

Zhang spent some time in 2022 learning tai chi from a master in her hometown.

"When I would use force while wrestling, it would always feel especially hard, but now with the idea of tai chi, everything is curved - there is rigidity and flexibility," Zhang said, noting that when incorporating Tai Chi into her training routine made her realize that wrestling also had soft qualities.

Zhang's winning form has also triggered an increasing number of young people participating in MMA in China. 

It also gives pause to those who claim that championships are only built on the failures of many, which is antithetical to traditional Chinese culture's advocacy for securing victories through subduing opponents without fighting rather than an emphasis on the eventual victory.

"I don't think it is accurate to say that championships are based on the failures of many," Zhang told the Global Times. 

"As long as you practice, at the very least, you will learn a lot from it," she said.

Local favorite Zhang Zhizhen beat Japan's Yosuke Watanuki 6-4, 7-6(7) at the Hangzhou Asian Games on Saturday to capture China's first men's singles gold medal in nearly three decades.

Pan Bing won the men's title for China at 1990 and 1994 Asian Games.

Another Chinese player Wu Yibing, silver medalist at Jakarta 2018, suffered an early exit after a shock third-round defeat on Tuesday.

Tan Lingling’s motto is to never give up on dreams and  her first professional win at the Zhangjiagang Shuangshan Challenge proved it on Friday. 
 
The 40-year-old held off all challengers card a two-under 70 at the China LPGA Tour event for a 54-hole score of five-under 211, winning a prize worth 75,000 yuan ($10,272.2) .
 
“I have played golf for a long time. Unexpectedly, I got my first win just before I am about to retire. I have no regrets any more,” said Tan, who turned pro in 2012, after working as a golf coach. “I don’t think I have the edge when compared with the young generations, be it stamina or technical aspects, but my strength lies in my mindset.” 
 
Chinese veteran Sui Xiang (70) finished runner-up, while Thailand’s Ornnicha Konsunthea (70) was third at three shots back. Pan Yanhong, the first-round leader, closed with a 73 to sit equal fourth with Wang Xinying (70) and Chinese Taipei’s Huang Ching (72) one shot further back. 
 
Playing under overcast skies, Tan held steady through the front nine with a series of pars and a birdie coming at the 499-yard fifth hole to make the turn at four-under. After dropping her only stroke of the day at the 163-yard, par-three 12th, she rebounded with birdies at the 13th and 14th holes, enough to secure the victory. 
 
“I made only one bogey today. At hole 12, I played well the past two days. But today I hit short and chipped a little bit hard, then made two putts,” said Tan who was equal sixth at the CTBC Ladies Classic in September.  
 
Sui, who started the day one stroke back of Tan, found trouble at the 402-yard, par-four third hole where she made her only bogey to drop to one-under. The Guangdong native then picked up birdies at the fifth and seventh holes. After making the turn at three-under, she could only muster a string of pars with her lone birdie on the back nine coming at the 13th hole to get close. 
 
“I was actually satisfied with my play today, but sadly my putts were not so good on the last several holes,” said the 24-year-old Sui, winner of the Zhuhai Challenge last December. “I already tried my best today. The course is still hard and I felt rather tired. I was quite satisfied with my two-under-par score.” 
 
Ornnicha, a fifth-year pro, put together her best result on the CLPGA Tour on the strength of a strong final round where she carded three birdies and a lone bogey. 
 
“I am very happy and satisfied with my play today. I played more relaxedly and the atmosphere was not so tense,” said the 26-year-old. “At the 10th, I made a long putt from around 15 yards. At the 11th, I played my approach shot well. The ball ended very close to the pin.” 

The Week of Italian Cuisine in the World kicked off on Monday, with the aim to promote exquisite Italian cooking, the Mediterranean diet, Italian agri-food products and wine. In the 2023 edition, as in past years, the week will be further enhanced by activities organized by the Italian Embassy in China together with the Italian business community operating in China. 

Several Italian restaurants in Beijing, Tianjin, and Qingdao have been preparing special menus and typical dishes for Chinese friends and expatriates residing in China to enjoy throughout the Italian cuisine week that is set to run until November 19. Beijing's ABBOCCA restaurant, for instance, has provided a special selection for homemade fresh cheeses called "TRILOGY," which includes mozzarella, stracciatella, and ricotta, and has been dubbed a tasty journey through salty and sweet to stimulate all senses complete with fresh basil leaves, cherry tomatoes.

"We advocate harmony and inclusiveness, and promote exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations…" Six young individuals, representing different countries, ethnicities and cultures, echoed the Hehe World Initiative during the recently concluded 2023 Global Forum on Hehe Culture. 

Experts at the event told the Global Times that Hehe culture embodies the idea of the harmonious coexistence of man and nature. 

It recognizes the conditions and space for the development of all entities, respecting the collective progress of nations and ethnicities for the common well-being of humanity. 

The first "he" in Hehe means harmony, peace, and balance, while the second "he" means convergence, unity, and cooperation.

In the long history of Chinese Hehe culture, Tiantai county in Taizhou, East China's Zhejiang Province, stands out as a vital hub. 

The essence of Hehe culture emerged 1,300 years ago on Tiantai Mountain, embracing the concept of unity among Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism.

Although the Hehe culture is a concept proposed in the late 1980s and early 1990s, ancient Chinese's wisdom about harmony has existed since ancient China. 

The two words of "he" have appeared separately in oracle bone inscriptions and bronze inscriptions. 

The first systematic theoretical exposition of Hehe culture was realized by Shi Bo, a thinker during the Western Zhou Dynasty (1046BC-771BC). 

Based on the theory of the harmony of the five elements, he defined the concept of Hehe, thus he can be regarded as the founder of Chinese Hehe culture.

Tiantai Buddhism

To truly grasp the essence of Hehe culture, one cannot overlook the Guoqing Temple, one of the birthplaces of Tiantai Buddhism, an East Asian Buddhist school of Mahayana Buddhism that developed in the 6th century in China.

Situated in Tiantai county, Guoqing Temple was built during the Sui Dynasty (581-618), and it played a crucial role in the transmission of Chinese Tiantai Buddhism, emphasizing the dual cultivation of contemplating and illuminating the mind to perceive nature.

When walking to the Guoqing Temple, one can see the temple was surrounded by mountains and hundred-year-old ancient trees. 

There were small bridges and a flowing river surrounding the temple, which gave visitors a sense of calm. 

Stepping on the cobblestone floor with a historical texture and entering the temple, some pilgrims kneel down devoutly with their hands clasped together. 

A sweet fragrance lingers in the incense burner. 

Along with the melodious bells and low chanting sounds coming from the main hall, all fatigue disappears immediately. 

Amid the golden autumn, the rice that was donated by the locals as respect to the monks in the temple is basking in the temple yard. 

One of the managers working in the temple told the Global Times that every year (except during the pandemic), numerous tourists from both China and abroad, especially from South Korea and Japan, visit the Guoqing Temple. 

He explained that since the Tang (618-907) and Song dynasties (960 - 1279), the temple has been revered as the ancestral home of Tiantai Buddhism for both Japanese and Korean practitioners.

Adhering to the "harmonious coexistence" philosophy, this 4A-level scenic spot remains open to the public for free. 

At the foot of the temple, the sight of farmers diligently cultivating fields amid the surrounding mountains and streams exemplifies a harmonious coexistence between man and nature.

In a world marked by continuous conflicts and contradictions, as well as a time of fusion and exchange, being in this environment allows people to have a deeper understanding of the value of "harmony."

Inheritance of Hehe spirit

"Hehe Erxian," the charming duo of two Chinese immortals, one holding a food container and the other carrying lotus flowers, symbolizes the pursuit of a spirit that harmonizes the body and mind, interpersonal relationships, and the connection between heaven and humanity. 

These legendary figures - Hanshan and Shide - have become the epitome of Chinese "harmony culture," conveying a unique spirit.

Hanshan, a poet who resided on Tiantai Mountain in Tang Dynasty (618-907), left a legacy of around 600 poems, emphasizing the unique realm of harmonizing the body and mind, the unity of heaven and humanity, and interpersonal harmony. 

This distinctive realm, translated by American poet Gary Snyder, profoundly influenced the "Beat Generation" in the US.

The influence of "Hehe Erxian" in folk culture is evident in a cultural park themed on the "Hehe" concept in Tiantai county. 

One folk museum in the cultural park houses thousands of artifacts related to the two immortals including cultural and artistic items, crafts, rare collections, and historical materials, showcasing the omnipresence of the harmony culture in Tiantai's traditions.

In an art museum showcasing "Yigenteng," an intangible cultural heritage craft with a history of 400 years, the intricate intertwining and connecting of vine-shaped structures symbolizes people's pursuit of enduring happiness and complete harmony.

This cultural park, mainly transformed from old factories, has gathered over 3,000 items related to harmony culture and historical materials. The park attracts approximately 80,000 visitors each year. 

It has evolved into a comprehensive cultural industry park incorporating wedding celebrations, educational tours, and cultural innovation. 

The park shows that the spirit of harmony, while rooted in tradition, has been endowed with modern values. 

The beauty of harmony is now visibly integrated into the urban development of Taizhou, where landmarks of harmony connect with the city's cultural temperament. 

The coexistence of people and the city, which embodies the spirit of "harmony," has truly become the urban ethos of Taizhou.

Barely two months after an explosion in Louisiana, a train carrying toxic perchloric acid has exploded in a Nebraska rail yard on Thursday, prompting evacuation orders to be issued, as huge plumes are seen engulfing the city. Experts said the incident shows the US has been unable to take seriously and overcome major issues affecting public safety and the environment and ecology in the country.

The incident happened on Union Pacific Railroad tracks in the city of North Platte. North Platte Volunteer Fire Department announced that they would order those living in the area to evacuate due to the toxic smoke from the railroad, according to media reports.

In a post on social media platforms, it said that "Emergency evacuation for the area between splinter and front North of railroad track due fire at the railroad involving heavy toxic smoke."

In a statement to DailyMail.com, Union Pacific Railroad said that an explosion occurred inside a container which resulted in several railcars catching fire. The railcar did not derail, the company said, and had been in the yard for several hours.

Union Pacific said that one of the containers contained a hazardous chemical called perchloric acid, according to Daily Mail.

Perchloric is a hazardous material used in food, drugs and biocidal products, as well as explosives, according to the report.

Two months ago, a fire at a Louisiana chemical plant triggered explosions that shook homes several miles away and sent flames and smoke billowing into the air in mid-July, prompting emergency officials to urge a few hundred nearby residents to shelter indoors for several hours and to turn off their air conditioners, the Associated Press reported.

Antiquated infrastructure and the outdated transportation were one factor. Another was a flawed system of governance in the US transport industry, experts noted. There is no doubt that the US has serious loopholes in the transportation management of hazardous substances, and the relevant error correction mechanism is in fact not effective, which means that this kind of thing will occur in the future, Li Haidong, a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times on Friday.

This shows that the US has been unable to take seriously and overcome serious and major issues affecting public safety and the environment and ecology in the country, Li said. "It must be said that this is a great irony to the self-proclaimed internal governance of the most advanced country in the world."

Analysts said that the frequent occurrence of similar incidents shows that the error correction mechanism in the US has failed. Apart from this, racism and the proliferation of guns are also clear examples of the failure of error correction mechanisms, experts noted.

The China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) allows countries of Global South to connect with each other, a Pakistani economist told Xinhua in a recent interview.

"We have seen that China itself has come out of years and decades of poverty, and it has transitioned into a country that is fast developing. So for them to tailor a program for the developing countries is much easier than for the Global North," said Vaqar Ahmed, joint executive director at the Sustainable Development Policy Institute, an Islamabad-based think tank.

This is what China has been trying to do under the BRI, he added.

The BRI is a very decent model for cooperation, particularly for the developing countries, because many programs are led or participated in by developing countries, and by some of the poorest countries of the world, Ahmed said.

"So it's not like traditional development programs, for example, a model having bilateral, multilateral donors involved that will come in and do a diagnostic of their own, and then they will offer you a platter or a choice set, that this is what we can do for you, would you sign up for it," he said.

But it's not the way that the BRI, or its flagship project of the Chine-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has operated, he said.

Launched in 2013, the CPEC is a corridor linking the Gwadar port in southwestern Pakistan with Kashgar in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, which highlights energy, transport and industrial cooperation.

"In BRI or like in the case of CPEC, you were asked to come up with a priority of choices. What do you want? Where do you want Chinese investment to go? You prioritize that," the economist added.

Most of the BRI's technical assistance projects, in the case of infrastructure, are backed by a financial model, which is easier for developing countries to participate in, as most of them are in investment mode, Ahmed said.

Even if they are loan projects, he noted that they are loans for longer time periods with repayments not around the corner, which is really helping the developing countries to come on board and has allowed more and more of these countries to become part of the BRI umbrella.

Highlighting the upcoming third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing in October, the economist said that one of its objectives is that the countries of the Global South, who are beneficiaries of the BRI should actually come together to share those experiences and knowledge.

It's not just the responsibility of China, but in fact, all those countries who are participating in the BRI should utilize this opportunity to share their experiences, he said.

"So without naming any multilateral institution from the Global North, if they were delivering you a project in let's say, five years or 10 years, BRI was able to cut short that time," said Ahmed, adding a BRI project would have been delivered in one or two years maybe and "there are countless examples within Pakistan."

Elaborating on the importance of understanding the global trade architecture, the economist noted that the way the BRI stands at the moment would potentially create more opportunities and productive capacities for developing countries in the future.

"Once those productive capacities are created, for example, in my large-scale manufacturing sector, I would like to trade more. But this is the time when Global North should not change the rules of the trade," said the economist.

"If you don't like multilateralism now, that's going to send a very negative signal to the Global South, to the developing countries, who have added productive capacities due to BRI, due to CPEC," he pointed out.