A worker is seen on the production line of Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene Fiber Composite in Lianyungang, East China's Jiangsu Province on August 29, 2024. According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics, profits in China's high-tech manufacturing sector grew 12.8 percent year-on-year in the first seven months of 2024. Photo: VCG

A worker is busy filling international orders for LED chips at a factory in Suqian, East China's Jiangsu Province, on September 3, 2024. According to the General Administration of Customs, China's exports of high-tech products totaled 3.45 trillion yuan ($484.7 billion) in the first seven months of 2024, a 7 percent year-on-year increase. Photo: VCG

China's State Council, the cabinet, on Monday issued a guideline on high-level opening-up in the services sector, containing 20 specific measures including improving the negative list mechanism for cross-border trade in services.

The move further highlighted China's commitment to high-standard opening-up, and China's rapidly growing services market will offer greater opportunities for businesses from around the world, experts said, noting that the opening-up measures are also crucial to promote the high-quality development of China's services industry.

The guideline covers six areas, including promoting institutional opening-up in services trade, facilitating cross-border flows of resources such as talent and capital, advancing innovative development in key areas such as international shipping, and expanding the international market. 

Notably, the guideline said that China will fully implement a negative list for cross-border services trade and establish a corresponding management system. For cross-border services trade outside of the negative list, the principle of uniform treatment will be adopted in managing both domestic and foreign services providers, according to the guideline. 

China will further open up the services sector by giving full play at free trade pilot zones and the Hainan Free Trade Port, and strengthen regulatory coordination and compatibility with international trade rules so as to streamline approval procedures, improve regulatory and policy transparency, and reduce costs for cross-border services trade, the guideline said. 

"The guideline represents major measures in China's all-round opening-up," Li Yong, a senior research fellow at the China Association of International Trade, told the Global Times on Monday, noting the fast development in China's services industry.

The services industry plays an increasingly important role in China's high-quality development. In the first half of 2024, the value added of the services industry grew by 4.6 percent year-on-year, and contributed 52.6 percent of China's overall economic growth during the period. 

In terms of trade in services, total imports and exports by value jumped by 14 percent year-on-year, according to official data. 

Li said that as China has basically fully opened up the manufacturing industry to foreign businesses, the services sector is a critical area of China's continuous high-level opening-up. "Opening-up in the services industry will also be critical in China's efforts to attract foreign investment," he said. 

China has been steadily promoting opening-up in both the manufacturing and services industries. This year's Government Work Report, released in March, said that all market access restrictions on foreign investment in manufacturing will be abolished, and market access restrictions in the services sectors, such as telecommunications and healthcare, will be reduced.

Before the guideline on Monday, China in July announced a major step to further open up the services sector, allowing six cities, including Shenyang in Northeast China's Liaoning Province, Nanjing in East China's Jiangsu Province and Hangzhou in East China's Zhejiang Province, to offer greater market access for foreign services providers. 

For example, foreign investment will be granted greater access in the eldercare, travel, telecoms, entertainment and live performance businesses.

Li said the opening-up measures in the guideline on Monday cover a wide range of areas, including new emerging sectors such as cross-border data flows. "This is very significant in improving the business environment and creating greater opportunities for services providers," the expert said. 

According to the guideline, China will facilitate the effective, convenient and safe cross-border flows of data. China will also facilitate cross-border flows of talent, capital and technologies. 

In terms of services imports, China will increase imports of services in high demand, including healthcare, culture and entertainment. 

China will also promote international cooperation in the services industry through various platforms and initiatives, including the Belt and Road Initiative, the guideline said. 

In line with China's efforts to boost services cooperation, the 2024 China International Fair For Trade In Service will be held in Beijing from September 12 to 16, where more than 420 Fortune Global 500 and leading enterprises will participate, according to officials.

With the sweltering heat of summer gradually fading, the two-month-long summer travel season has come to a triumphant close, marking not just a feast for China's tourism market but also a display of the country's robust economic vitality.

From the bustling scenes at railway hubs to the packed scenic spots, from the soaring domestic tourism data to the influx of foreign visitors, the energy and activity can be felt in every corner of the country.

During the summer travel season from July 1 to August 31, China registered around 10.917 billion passenger trips in inter-regional movement, a daily average of 176 million trips, according to data released by China's Ministry of Transport. In particular, a staggering 887 million railway passenger trips were recorded nationwide, representing a 6.7 percent year-on-year increase and a daily average passenger flow exceeding 14.31 million, a record high, according to data from China Railway. 

These figures also serve as a vivid testament to China's immense potential for domestic demand and thriving consumption dynamics.

Tourism boom

As the summer draws to a close, multiple online travel platforms have released reports revealing substantial growth in both bookings and visitor numbers for summer travel products. 

Spring Travel said in a report sent to the Global Times that the number of domestic travelers during the summer of 2024 exceeded the same period in 2023. 

Data from other platforms such as Fliggy also revealed that both per capita bookings and spending increased year-on-year during the summer, with a more pronounced emphasis on immersive travel experiences.

Xu Fan, a tourism enthusiast from central China's Henan Province, who embarked on a journey to Southwest China's Guizhou Province, told the Global Times he was captivated by local handicrafts and unique souvenirs that encapsulated the essence of Guizhou's traditional heritage. "I was impressed by the diverse range of creative products available, which have expanded beyond traditional clothing and textiles. Some foreign tourists also showed a strong interest in the unique batik crafts, often taking photos and spending time admiring the intricate designs," Xu said.

In the vast desert areas of Northwest China, a romantic encounter with the stars and nature has also emerged as one of those immersive travel experiences. "Desert hotels," which allow visitors to spend the night observing the stars, experienced a year-on-year surge of 270 percent in searches on Meituan in early August. The search for "desert coffee" rose by an astonishing 518 percent.

Meanwhile, frenzy over China's hit game Black Myth: Wukong has also boosted tourism in places like North China's Shanxi Province, as the intertwining of gaming and its real-world settings breathed new life into ancient cultural sites. According to data from Trip.com Group, since the game was launched, the number of ticket orders for Xiaoxitian scenic spot, one of the filming locations, has increased by 261 percent year-on-year.

"The number of tourists has skyrocketed this summer, especially after the launch of the game. We went from about 1,500 visitors a day to over 5,000 in just a matter of days. The influx of tourists continued with visitors purchasing local products and cultural items. There were also some foreign tourists seen in the scenic spots," a staff member of the Xiaoxitian scenic spot told the Global Times on Sunday.

Facilitating policies

The presence of foreign tourists has added a unique dimension to this tourism extravaganza. With visa-free policies in place, China has increasingly become a popular destination for overseas travelers. 

"This is my first time visiting Beijing, and I am amazed by the scale of the city. Taking a taxi is incredibly convenient, something that's quite different from my experience in Perth," a tourist from Australia, told the Global Times on Sunday. 

"Famous attractions like the Temple of Heaven and Nanluoguxiang are bustling with visitors. I'm glad this surge has encouraged businesses to extend their hours and improve their offerings, making my evening strolls and shopping even more enjoyable," he said, adding that he has bought many traditional Beijing pastries and plans to visit Shanghai next.

Data from Trip.com Group showed that inbound travel orders during the summer surged by approximately 70 percent year-on-year, with South Korea topping the list of source countries. Thailand, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, the US, Australia, Vietnam, the UK and the Philippines followed behind.

The Zhongyuan Festival, an occasion to pray for safety and express filial piety, falls on the 15th day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar. It happens to fall on Sunday this year.
Also known as the Ghost Festival, the Zhongyuan Festival is a significant event recognized in various East Asian cultures, particularly in Chinese communities. In ancient China, people commemorate the ancestors with food offerings, burning incense and releasing water lanterns.

The Zhongyuan Festival comprises three main elements: worshiping the spirits of the ancestors, religious activities and performances celebrating life. Even though this festival has been influenced by Taoist and Buddhist thought, the origin of Zhongyuan Festival bears a deep Confucian imprint.

It is likely that the festival originated from an ancient ancestor worship tradition. Up until the Wei (220-265), Jin (265-420), and Northern and Southern dynasties (386-589), the ancient rituals we now recognize as Zhongyuan and the Obon Festival were influenced by the growing presence of Buddhism and Taoism. These ancient customs honor and celebrate the lives of deceased family members and friends. Additionally, ancestor worship during this period became closely associated with enjoying seasonal autumn foods.

In ancient China, people started to harvest crops in the seventh month of the lunar year. A common ritual of the time was that of offering the newly harvested grains, fruits and vegetables to the ancestors.

This was also an occasion to get together with relatives, friends and neighbors, which remains a custom in a number of Chinese provinces.

The word "Obon" means to save the soul from distress. During the Tang Dynasty (618-907), the Ullambana Festival was introduced to Japan along with Buddhism and was later called Obon, or Bon. On this day, dead ancestors are believed to return to their living families, so people prepare for the reunion with the performance of Bon Odori, or a Bon dance, to welcome the spirits and pay homage to their sacrifices.

The Zhongyuan Festival is celebrated in different ways across China.

The sixth century classic "Family Instructions," a collection of teachings and advice on family life, ethics and moral conduct written by Yan Zhitui, a notable Confucian scholar of the Northern and Southern Dynasties period (386-589), reminds future generations to honor the Obon Festival, to repay their parents for their kindness and express filial piety.

After the sixth century, Taoism also named the 15th day of July "Festival of Zhongyuan." According to the Taoist philosophy, three basic elements make up everything in the world - heaven, earth and water, and these elements are worshiped on January 15, July 15 and October 15 respectively in the lunar calendar.

Taoists also believe that on this day, the King of Hell frees the spirits of the deceased from the lower realm of the underworld, while Buddhists take it as a day to ease suffering and honor the elderly.

In the Tang Dynasty, officials were granted one to three days of leave to celebrate the Zhongyuan Festival. While since the Northern Song (960-1127), the festival became more about folk customs.

Days before the Zhongyuan Festival, people start preparing paper paste offerings for the worship ritual. On the festival, vegetarian food is put on the offering table in the morning. Many families take time to visit the graves of their ancestors, offering food and incense. This act of remembrance emphasizes respect and the ongoing connection between the living and the dead. Additionally, the government holds a public memorial meeting to pay tribute to the soldiers who died on the front line.

In the evening, after a traditional ceremony, people enjoy watching performances that reflect beloved aspects of local folklore or walk through the night market. Later many gather around a lake, a river or some other water body and release floating water lanterns, also called lotus lanterns, usually made by pasting paper into a lotus shape. A lamp or candle is placed inside it and represents the concept of "yang" (the world of the living), and the lanterns are left floating on the water, which represents the opposite concept of yin (the underworld).

In some regions, traditional performances are also staged in open areas as entertainment for wandering spirits.

The festival is often celebrated at night, when ghosts are believed to be more active.

Finally, according to ancient Chinese customs, some activities that should be avoided during the Zhongyuan Festival. For instance, many people avoid swimming or traveling during this time due to the belief that spirits might cause misfortune.

No matter where you are in China, you can always witness some form of Zhongyuan Festival celebrations and marvel at its centuries-old integration of beliefs and customs derived from Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism and folk traditions.