With China ranking second in the 2025 edition of the Global Soft Power Index, a top business chief has stressed the role of the country's ever-expanding global engagement in changing perspectives and understanding of the country around the world.

The 2025 Understanding China Conference was held in Guangzhou from November 30 to December 2. Themed "New Plan, New Development, New Choices ‒ Chinese Modernization and New Vision for Global Governance," the event brought together some 800 participants from China and abroad, 70 percent from the Global South. People's Daily reporter Lily interviews attendees from Russia, Spain, Fiji and other countries. Let's hear how they describe China in their eyes. (Produced by He Jieqiong, Di Jingyuan and Han Xiaomeng; Cover photo by Chu Chu; Interns Chen Yijun, Sun Yuqing, Wu Jiayi and Wan Peixin also contributed to the video)

In Qingzhen City, Southwest China's Guizhou Province, locals transform golden gourds, pumpkins and watermelons into lanterns - carving each with care to pray for good weather and a bountiful harvest in the year ahead. Recognized as a provincial-level intangible cultural heritage, this tradition lights up the community with hope and artistry. (Video Source: Kuaishou)

Fleurs de Villes NOËL event held in Toronto, Canada

More than 210,000 people with heart and breathing problems sought emergency care in Iran from Nov. 22 to Dec. 1 as air pollution spiked in several cities, Iran's state-run IRNA news agency reported Wednesday.

In a martial arts club in Yaounde's Mimboman neighborhood, the steady thud of feet and sharp shouts fill the room as scores of students mirror the fluid, forceful movements of their instructor, Martin Mangwandjo.

The "China Film Night in Jeddah" was held on Wednesday evening in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, featuring a screening of the Chinese film The Lychee Road.

Zayed National Museum opened Wednesday as the center of the Saadiyat Cultural District, a major new arts hub where the United Arab Emirates (UAE) gathers its premier cultural institutions.

A farmer from Shandong Province, Zhao Tongkai, recently made a large-scale portrait of the Zootopia 2 characters Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde using black wheat, earning him major clout on Douyin. Zhao started the project on December 1 by outlining the characters with chalk in his courtyard, then filling in the lines with black wheat. He filmed the process and posted it to the popular Chinese short-video platform, where it has so far garnered over 3 million likes and 1.75 million shares.

Bone horn carving is a traditional craft from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, celebrated for its translucence, delicate workmanship and graceful style. This piece rests on a wave-shaped base carved from wild sheep horn, topped with shrimps and crabs sculpted from white buffalo horn. The creatures are rendered with such lifelike detail that their antennae and limbs feel almost within reach. Through its dynamic forms and finely wrought textures, the artwork showcases the artisan's exceptional skill and artistry. (Video source: Kuaishou, compiled by Lin Jiayi)

Artists of China National Opera House perform in dance drama 'Qiuci' in Beijing

In the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur, ingots of pewter, an alloy primarily made of tin, are transformed into works of art by skilled artisans, some of whom have been working in the craft for decades.From pouring the molten pewter into molds and refining the cast objects to removing spurs and seams and

Artists of China National Opera House perform in dance drama 'Qiuci' in Beijing

First snowfall of winter decorates Shenyang Imperial Palace

A shadow puppet play based on a captivating segment from the classic Chinese novel "Dream of the Red Mansion" recently made its debut in Beijing, pioneering the way with multiple language versions.Titled "When Baoyu and Daiyu Shared the Pages of the Western Chamber," this innovative production has

Under-glaze five-color porcelain, a distinctive craft from Liling, Hunan Province, is one of China's significant ceramic innovations. Its meticulous production involves nearly 100 steps, with the porcelain body, glazes and pigments sourced from the highest-quality local materials. Liling under-glaze five-color porcelain is renowned for its smooth, lustrous body and bright, vivid colors beneath the glaze. It has significantly influenced ceramic technology worldwide and holds substantial historical and cultural value. (Video source: Kuaishou; Compiled by Fan Yuting)