标签： Asia

Communities across China are embracing traditional customs through diverse cultural activities in anticipation of Laba Festival, observed this year on January 26th. The festival, which marks the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, has sparked nationwide engagement through culinary workshops, educational events, and charitable distributions.

In Jiangsu province’s Kunshan city, kindergarten classrooms transformed into cultural laboratories as educators demonstrated the art of preparing Laba porridge—the festival’s signature dish. Young learners participated in interactive sessions identifying traditional ingredients like grains, nuts, and dried fruits that compose the nutritious concoction.

Beyond educational institutions, community centers and temples organized large-scale porridge preparation events, blending culinary tradition with social harmony. Volunteers distributed steaming bowls of the symbolic dish to elderly residents and essential workers, continuing the festival’s ancient tradition of sharing abundance during winter’s coldest period.

Cultural historians note that these celebrations represent a vibrant revival of intangible cultural heritage, particularly among younger generations. The festival’s timing—one week before the Chinese New Year—serves as both culinary and spiritual preparation for the year’s most important holiday period, embodying themes of gratitude, community solidarity, and cultural continuity.

Beijing is poised to further cement its status as China’s urban rail transit leader with ambitious expansion plans for its metro system in 2026. Mayor Yin Yong announced the development strategy during his government work report presentation at the Beijing Municipal People’s Congress session on Sunday.

The Chinese capital, which already operates the nation’s most extensive subway network at 909 kilometers, will add over 40 kilometers of new track this year. This continues the city’s aggressive infrastructure development after adding 30 kilometers through three new lines in 2025.

A key focus of the expansion will be improving transfer convenience between transportation modes. The municipality aims to increase the proportion of bus-to-rail transfers within a 50-meter radius from the current 91% to 93%, significantly enhancing connectivity for daily commuters. This initiative represents part of Beijing’s broader strategy to create a more integrated and efficient urban transit ecosystem that reduces travel time and improves the passenger experience.

The continuous expansion of Beijing’s metro system reflects the city’s commitment to addressing urban mobility challenges while supporting sustainable development goals. As one of the world’s most heavily used metro systems, these improvements will benefit millions of residents and visitors while maintaining Beijing’s position at the forefront of urban transportation innovation.

Sir Mark Tully, the legendary British broadcaster celebrated as the BBC’s definitive “voice of India,” has passed away at 90. His distinctive baritone delivery and profound insights made him an institution across international airwaves for decades, covering pivotal moments in South Asian history including wars, famines, political assassinations, the Bhopal industrial disaster, and Operation Blue Star at Amritsar’s Golden Temple.

Born in Calcutta during the British Raj in 1935, Tully embodied a unique cultural duality. Despite his English upbringing and education at Cambridge, he developed an extraordinary connection with India that transcended typical foreign correspondence. His fluency in Hindi—a rarity among Delhi’s foreign press corps—earned him both respect and affection, with many Indians affectionately calling him “Tully sahib.”

The journalist faced grave danger during his coverage of the 1992 Babri Masjid demolition in Ayodhya, where he was threatened by a mob chanting “Death to Mark Tully” before being rescued by local authorities. He later described the ensuing communal violence as independent India’s “gravest setback” to secularism.

Tully’s career began unexpectedly when he arrived as a BBC administrative assistant in 1965, eventually rising to become the corporation’s Delhi bureau chief for over two decades. His reporting extended beyond India to landmark events across South Asia, including Bangladesh’s liberation war, Pakistan’s military regimes, Sri Lanka’s civil conflict, and the Soviet-Afghan war.

Despite his professional success, Tully grew increasingly critical of BBC’s corporate direction, culminating in his 1994 resignation following public criticism of the broadcaster’s management culture. He continued his spiritual exploration through BBC Radio 4’s “Something Understood,” returning to the theological interests that initially shaped his career path.

Uniquely honored by both nations, Tully received India’s Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan civilian awards alongside British knighthood in 2002—an honor he described as recognition of India’s importance. He maintained dual cultural citizenship, living modestly in South Delhi while producing numerous books on Indian society, often in collaboration with partner Gillian Wright.