Celebrations light up China’s May Day holiday

From the vibrant streets of Xining, northwest China’s Qinghai Province, to the jazz-filled stages of Beijing, China’s May Day holiday has transformed cities into hubs of cultural celebration and immersive entertainment.

In Chengbei District of Xining, the nights during the May Day holiday come alive with dazzling folk parades and music. On a 700-meter snow leopard-themed street, crowds of over 10,000 gather nightly to dance, snap photos, and enjoy the festive atmosphere.

Performances run from 07:30 to 21:30, creating an immersive experience for visitors. A rotating lineup of acrobatics, magic tricks, traditional Hanfu fashion shows, and Shehuo folk performances keeps the audience engaged. Interactive games like the finger-guessing game and pitch-pot between performers and tourists add to the fun. The night concludes with a spectacular fireworks display, drawing cheers from the crowd.

Shehuo, a traditional folk celebration in China, is a festivity in multiple forms consisting of dragon dance, lion dance, traditional Chinese opera, drum playing and other folk performances that may vary in different regions.

Beyond the performances, riverside camping has become a popular way to spend the evening. Dozens of tents adorned with colorful lights dot the wetland park, where families and friends gather under the night sky.

“During the May Day holiday, our campsite sees over 3,000 visits daily. Our tents are almost fully booked every night. Business is booming,” said Bai Yuhong, head of a local camping base.

Xining has also embraced the snow leopard theme with creative shops. Visitors can purchase themed souvenirs like plush toys, fridge magnets, and decorative ornaments. Special holiday coupons have boosted sales significantly.

Meanwhile, in Beijing, the National Center for the Performing Arts (NCPA) launched a jazz-themed music festival at its Taihu Stage Art Center. Throughout the holiday, the event features free indoor and outdoor concerts, with over 200 jazz musicians from nine countries performing.

Outside the concert venues, a bustling market offers food, crafts, and cultural and creative products. “From the snack stalls to the recreation area, and back to the music, it’s amazing. I love how it blends everything together,” said Ma Yue, a visitor.

As the tunes of jazz fill the air, visitors enjoy a laid-back holiday experience that combines music, food, and cultural shopping.

“We hope the Taihu Jazz Festival will create a fusion of performance and tourism. We want our audience to experience great shows and also enjoy the gardens, shop for cultural and creative products, and taste delicious food,” said Guan Jianbo, NCPA’s deputy director.

A Chinese engineer has spent several years working on the construction of a record-breaking dam in northern Pakistan, gaining admiration from his Pakistani colleagues for his expertise and dedication as quality manager on the Diamer-Bhasha Dam project.

The 272-meter-high Diamer-Bhasha Dam, under construction in Pakistan’s northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, is set to be a groundbreaking feat of engineering, promising to transform the region’s water resources and energy capacity.

As a landmark project of China-Pakistan friendship and cooperation, it will be the tallest roller compact concrete dam in the world, with an installed capacity of 4.5 million kilowatt once completed, generating an estimated 18.1 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity every year.

The dam has been dubbed Pakistan’s “Three Gorges Project” by local media. As a key initiative under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a group of Chinese engineers and constructors are now working diligently on the project. Tuo Yu, a member of the Chinese construction team, has played a pivotal role as the project’s quality manager, drawing on his extensive domestic experience to make significant contributions to the construction methods.

“Once [the dam] is completed, [the water level] will essentially reach the position of the sign [up there on the mountain]. By then, [the dam] will be truly spectacular, and the entire upstream area will be transformed into a massive reservoir,” said Tuo.

When the team first arrived at the construction site, equipment could only be transported using cableway components, with the river posing significant obstacles. Tuo and the team designed and swiftly constructed three cableway bridges above the river, which provided crucial access for the equipment required for the subsequent diversion works.

“It was harsh winter months when we built the bridges here, with biting cold winds and freezing temperatures. To meet [the project] goals, all the workers [worked] over night with thick winter gear on. Even if the bridges had been delayed by just one month, the work on the opposite bank would have been set back by the same amount of time. Therefore, it was a critical step. It was the first and decisive procedure that opened the way for the entire project,” said Tuo.

Over the past 12 years since entering the industry in 2013, Tuo has successively participated in the construction of Pakistan’s Tarbela Hydropower Station and the Diamer-Bhasha Dam. He has won the recognition from the Pakistani counterparts with his hardworking spirit and outstanding professional expertise.

“He’s quite admirable and his contributions are very good. I’m simply admire his collaboration and his guidance for the engineers,” said Zeeshan Ullah Baig, a Pakistani quality engineer.