Set in parkland along the shores of Zishan Lake, in Hubei Province, the new cultural complex consists of four public buildings designed to complement the Ziyouji boutique lodgings scattered along the opposite shore.

Covering approximately 3,920 square metres, the four buildings are organised around a meadow, following the natural contours of the terrain rather than imposing themselves on the landscape.

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The concept draws inspiration from traditional Chinese landscape handscrolls, where perspective shifts as the viewer moves through the scene. Instead of a single centre or predetermined route, visitors are encouraged to wander freely between buildings.

“There are no forced axes or rigid zoning between individual buildings; instead, they are connected organically through gentle slopes, undulating lawns, and landscaped pathways, blending seamlessly into the existing meadow,” BUZZ explained. 

The largest of the four buildings is the approximately 3,000-square-metre Zi Museum, a pale concrete structure built around a central courtyard.

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Accessible from three different points at varying elevations, the museum was conceived as an “open labyrinth” by BUZZ. Galleries, public passages, relaxation areas and hospitality spaces intertwine in a seemingly random fashion, giving visitors the sensation of wandering in a Chinese garden full of surprises.

The ground level houses flexible exhibition spaces and a restaurant opening onto a garden, while a lower-level entrance provides access from the main road.

From the lakeside viewpoint, visitors can enter the museum’s central courtyard before making their way up to the rooftop. There, sweeping concrete walls, curved ramps and broad staircases reminiscent of New York’s Grand Central Terminal transform the roof into a spectacular extension of the surrounding landscape, overlooking the lake and parkland.

Visitors preferring to admire the scenery rather than the exhibitions can bypass the galleries entirely and access the rooftop directly from the park.

Zi Museum Cluster by Büro Ziyu Zhuang in Xianning, China https://t.co/7S9isofFM7

— ParametricArchitecture (@parametricarch) November 2, 2026

This configuration is meant to allow “serious academic exhibition and relaxed social gatherings” to co-exist in the same building, says BUZZ.

Adjacent to the museum stands the second structure, a “meditation tower”, whose metal-mesh exterior encloses a staircase winding around a hollow centre.

The stairs lead upwards to a platform offering panoramic views of the surroundings, which can also accommodate gatherings and small exhibitions, and downwards to a sunken courtyard.

The third building could almost be dubbed the “camouflage” building. Embedded into the hillside, with a grass-covered rooftop, it is barely distinguishable from its surroundings when viewed from above. Built from rammed earth, it serves as a workshop.

The fourth building is a bookshop, with an unusual overhanging roof sheltering its entrance facing the main street. Inside, the floor steps down towards the lake, while a glass façade opens onto the parkland and water beyond.

The project invites visitors to make their own discoveries in a landscape where architecture, nature and art cohabit and intertwine.

L’article China’s new Zi Museum blends art, architecture and nature in a lakeside meadow est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Compiled by the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA), together with research partner Entertainment + Culture Advisors (ECA) and the Park Database (TPDB), the ranking is based on visitor numbers recorded in 2025.

China dominated the list, with 12 entries, five of which are in its capital, Beijing. It also claims all three spots on the winners’ podium.

The remaining eight spots are shared between France, the United Kingdom and South Korea, with two entries each, while the United States and Vatican City have one each.

The number one spot goes to Beijing’s Palace Museum, better known as the Forbidden City. Once upon a time the residence of Chinese emperors, it now houses a vast collection of imperial treasures, paintings, ceramics, and jade artefacts. It welcomed 19 million people last year. 

Second place goes to the Summer Palace, also in Beijing, another remnant of the country’s imperial past. Renowned for its gardens, temples and lakes, it attracted 17,381,000 visitors in 2025.

Beijing’s National Museum of China, tracing the country’s history and civilisation, comes tenth with 6,900,000 visitors, while Prince Kung’s Mansion Museum, a beautifully preserved Qing dynasty residence, ranks fourteen. Beijing’s fifth entry, which also closes the top 20, is the China Science and Technology Museum.

Elsewhere in China, the Emperor Qin Shihuang’s Mausoleum Site Museum in Xi’an, home to the famous Terracotta Army, takes third place on the winners’ podium with 10.97 million visitors.

Shenzhen’s Nanshan District Museum, dedicated to local history and cultural heritage, ranks sixth, while another defining chapter of Chinese history is explored at the Opium War Museum in Dongguan (9). The museum retraces the nineteenth-century conflicts between imperial China and Western powers, which marked the beginning of what China has long called its “century of humiliation”.

The Sanxingdui Museum in Guanghan, famous for its extraordinary bronze masks and sculptures, ranks fifteenth, just ahead of Chengdu’s Wuhou Shrine Museum, dedicated to the Three Kingdoms period.

Nanjing Museum, with its massive collection of Chinese art and archaeology, and the Shenyang Palace Museum, a former imperial residence, occupy eighteenth and nineteenth places respectively.

Europe is represented by only five institutions on the list, with Paris and London unsurprisingly leading the way.

Le Louvre in Paris, home to Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo, and countless other masterpieces, comes fourth with just over 9 million visitors in 2025. It remains the most visited museum outside of China.

France’s second entry is the Palace of Versailles (5), famous for its Hall of Mirrors and gardens, with 8.4 million visitors.

London, where many of the major museums offer free admission to their permanent collections, has two entries. The Natural History Museum (7), celebrated for its dinosaur fossils and natural history collections and the British Museum (13), home to the Rosetta Stone and Egyptian antiquities.

The Vatican Museums (8), whose collection includes Michelangelo’s celebrated frescoes in the Sistine Chapel, completes Europe’s representation.

South Korea also has two institutions in the ranking, both in Seoul: Gyeongbokgung Palace (11), the former royal residence of the Joseon dynasty and the National Museum of Korea (12), showcasing Korean art and archaeology.

Across the Atlantic, New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, or the Met, comes seventeenth. Famous for its collections spanning thousands of years and civilisations, it is the only American institution to make the top-20. 

Just over a decade ago, London, Paris, and Washington, DC, dominated the list. 

In the European top-20, many of the top places are former royal residences, including Versailles, Istanbul’s Topkapı Palace, Vienna’s Schönbrunn Palace and Kraków’s Wawel Royal Castle, alongside archaeological sites such as Pompeii.

L’article China claims 12 spots in world’s top 20 most-visited museums est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

For a long time, deep-sea diving has been reserved for the ultra-rich and a handful of lucky scientists. However, as far as China is concerned, a trip aboard a submarine could soon be part of anyone’s holiday plans.

The tourist submarine called Jiaozi was officially presented during the China Marine Economy Expo in Shenzhen. Featuring a transparent panoramic dome to observe the ocean and a robotic arm to search the surroundings, the 5-tonne submarine can carry up to three passengers and a pilot up to 200 metres below the water surface. It features an automatic obstacle avoidance system, as well as a safety float system.

China presenta su primer sumergible turístico tripulado de uso civil El sumergible turístico «Jiaozihao» se exhibe en la Exposición de la Economía Marina de China 2026, en Shenzhen, como el primero de su tipo destinado al uso civil en el país, según los expositores. https://t.co/AJwS1SFYsr

— HispanTV (@Nexo_Latino) October 25, 2026

Measuring just 3.7 metres long, 2.7 metres wide and 2.73 metres high, the Jiaozi offers a compact underwater experience. However, passengers do not need any previous diving experience or specialised training. The completely electric submersible manages to keep the cabin under normal pressure, which means an underwater exploration suddenly becomes within arm’s reach of every curious tourist.

Contrary to many projects shown at exhibitions, the Jiaozi is not something of the future. According to the developers, testing began in 2024, and serial Jiaozi production of the submersible took off in 2025. The very first products have already entered service in resorts in China and Southeast Asia, including Indonesia. 

The project passed the inspection of the Indonesian Ministry of Transportation and obtained an operating permit in October 2025, with some 100 submarines scheduled to go into service in tourist areas such as Bali and Lombok. 

“Each country has different characteristics in terms of sea conditions, regulatory systems, and operational methods. Before entering the Indonesian market, we have made several technical adjustments and verification according to local requirements,” Jiang Zhidi, founder of Jiaozi’s manufacturer Chongqing Kunlian Machinery Manufacturing, told Indonesian news outlet Antara earlier in 2026.

#China’s manned sightseeing submersible "Jiaozi" underwent water testing in #Chongqing’s Wushan county on Wednesday. "Jiaozi" submarines, independently developed by a local company in Chongqing, are fueled by pure electric power. The submarines are also equipped with automatic obstacle avoidance and emergency surfacing systems, allowing tourists to enjoy underwater sightseeing without requiring specialized training. Currently, "Jiaozi" submersibles have been deployed in multiple popular resorts domestically and abroad, namely in China’s Chongqing and Hainan, and Indonesia’s Bali, with Indonesia having ordered nearly a hundred units from the Chongqing-based manufacturer.

— China Daily (@ChinaDaily) January 23, 2026

At the moment of writing, the first orders from Malaysia have started to come in.

During the expo, the manufacturer of the tourist submersible said it was able to produce up to 100 vehicles per year, which would allow for a quick expansion across the world. However, it hopes to be producing up to 2,000 submarines every three years in the future.

Although the Jiaozi is mainly aimed at the tourism sector, it could also be put to good use during underwater inspections, rescue work, and aquaculture work.

It is not the first time for China to venture into the tourist submarine world. The Rwandao Jiaolong 1 reached a depth of 40 meters in 2015, while 2021’s Tawo managed to carry 50 people to a depth of up to 60 meters. Moreover, a new tourist submersible capable of reaching depths of 1,000 metres could begin commercial operations by 2030.

L’article China unveils mini submersible capable of taking tourists 200 metres below sea surface est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The four-week campaign brings images of China to the airport’s departure areas. It aims to encourage European travellers to consider China for their next journey, with eligible ordinary passport holders able to visit for up to 30 days without applying for a visa.

Ambassador Cai Run, Head of the Chinese Mission to the European Union, led the inauguration, with participants including Eduardo Santander, CEO of the European Travel Commission; Ondřej Dostál, Member of the European Parliament; Piet Steel, Chairman of the Europe-Asia Center; and Li Yan, Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of the Chinese Embassy in Belgium.

Making China more accessible to European visitors

The campaign puts visa facilitation at the centre of efforts to encourage travel and strengthen connections between China and Europe. For eligible visitors, the exemption removes both the visa application process and the associated visa fee, making it easier to plan a holiday, business visit or trip to see family and friends.

“Through this campaign, we hope to encourage more European travellers to discover China and experience its cultural heritage, diverse landscapes and hospitality. Easier travel creates more opportunities for people to meet, deepen mutual understanding and strengthen friendship between China and Europe” said Ambassador Cai Run, Head of the Chinese Mission to the European Union.

China began introducing its current unilateral visa-free initiative in December 2023, initially offering stays of up to 15 days to citizens of France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia. The scheme subsequently expanded to additional countries, including Belgium in March 2024, and the permitted stay increased to 30 days in November 2024.

The policy formed part of China’s reopening to international travel following the pandemic. Alongside easier entry, authorities have introduced measures to improve the visitor experience, including more accessible payment options for international travellers.


Speaking at the inauguration, Eduardo Santander said he hoped China’s visa-free policy would encourage more Europeans to visit the country. A regular visitor himself, he highlighted the convenience of the arrangements and expressed hope that Europe would eventually be able to reciprocate by facilitating travel for Chinese visitors.

Which 25 EU countries benefit?

Under the current arrangements, citizens holding valid ordinary passports from the following EU member states can visit mainland China without a visa for stays of up to 30 days:

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.

This covers 25 of the EU’s 27 member states, with Czechia and Lithuania outside this particular scheme. The exemption for these 25 countries currently runs until 31 December 2026.

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The permitted purposes include tourism, business, visits to family or friends, exchanges and transit. Eligible travellers do not need to submit a visa application or make an advance declaration to a Chinese embassy or consulate, although admission remains subject to border checks.

Travellers must hold an ordinary passport valid for their intended stay. Chinese authorities recommend carrying supporting documents such as accommodation reservations, flight tickets or invitation letters to demonstrate the purpose of the visit.

The exemption does not cover employment, formal study or journalistic assignments, for which the appropriate visa is required. Travellers planning to stay longer than 30 days must also apply for a suitable visa before departure.

Direct flights strengthen the travel offer

The airport campaign comes as Brussels’ connections with China have expanded, giving travellers more options for direct journeys. Cathay Pacific resumed flights between Brussels and Hong Kong in August 2025, while Hainan Airlines added Chongqing to the airport’s network later that year.

Air China further expanded the offer in March 2026 with direct services to Beijing and Chengdu. The additional routes provide access to different regions and onward connections, complementing the reduction in entry formalities.

“We need even more air connectivity to Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities,” Santander said, calling for stronger links between regional destinations in China and Europe. He highlighted his own visits to Harbin and Urumqi as examples of the opportunities to introduce European travellers to places beyond China’s best-known destinations.

For the tourism sector, combining more direct flights with simpler entry procedures can help turn interest in a destination into bookings. Santander also stressed that tourism’s value should be measured through its benefits for local communities, rather than solely through arrivals, overnight stays or expenditure.

Building on cultural and people-to-people exchanges

The launch follows the 50^th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the European Union in 2025, which provided a platform for cultural activities and exchanges involving young people, musicians and sports enthusiasts.

Recent initiatives in Brussels have included an exhibition showcasing Zhejiang’s culture and tourism offer, with live demonstrations of traditional craftsmanship, and the China-EU Table Tennis Friendship Tournament. Held in September 2026, the tournament brought Chinese and European players together in mixed teams, placing cooperation at the centre of the competition.

Santander described tourism as a catalyst for peace, understanding, economic development and poverty alleviation, emphasising the importance of people-to-people dialogue amid geopolitical tensions. He noted that the European Travel Commission has promoted Europe in China through its China chapter since 2011.

A proposal for another EU–China Tourism Year in 2028

Looking ahead, Santander proposed another EU–China Tourism Year in 2028, which would mark both the European Travel Commission’s 80th anniversary and a decade since the 2018 EU–China Tourism Year. He said he intended to raise the idea during a visit to Beijing early next year.

“I think our relationship matters and we have to explain that to our citizens, not only to our political elite or our industrial elite, but rather to our people,” Santander said.

The Brussels Airport campaign extends that focus on exchanges to a wider travelling audience, encouraging eligible visitors to experience China first-hand and build connections through travel.

L’article China inaugurates Brussels Airport campaign promoting visa-free travel for 25 EU countries est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Nearly a decade after Snøhetta won the design competition, the opera house has been completed and now stands on the shores of the Huangpu River within Shanghai’s Expo Culture Park. Its striking white curves echo the river’s flowing waters, while the roof structure is inspired by the geometry of an open Chinese fan or an opera dancer’s skirt.

Spanning 146,786 square metres, the opera house alternates white surfaces with expansive glass panels framed by slender vertical columns. It opens onto the surrounding park with its carefully laid-out pathways and terraces, becoming an extension of the public space.

Floor-to-ceiling windows bathe the interior in natural light and provide views of the park.

If the building feels like an open invitation to come inside, whether to attend a performance or lecture, or simply to explore, that is precisely what Snøhetta intended.

“A cultural building, any building for that matter, must respond to its surroundings, the people who use it, the performers it serves, and the city it becomes part of”, Snøhetta co-founder Kjetil Trædal Thorsen told Dezeen.

Undoubtedly the most spectacular element is the monumental spiral staircase that winds up to the roof. This transforms the space into an open-air stage and meeting point, as well as an observation deck offering panoramic views of the river and Shanghai’s skyline. Access to the rooftop is free of charge.

“People should be able to enjoy the building without attending a performance. It should become part of everyday life, a place to spend time, meet others, and experience the city,” Thorsen explained.

Inside, the predominantly white exterior gives way to a combination of red and white surfaces and warm wood. Vivid red sculptural volumes dominate the spacious lobby, their bold geometric lines contrasting with the fluidity of the exterior.

The three differently sized auditoriums, which can accommodate a total of 4,200 spectators, each have their own unique atmosphere and purpose. The largest of these is the 2,000-seat Harmony Hall, which is enveloped in deep burgundy red, from the seating to the balconies. The smaller 1,200-seat Soar Theatre has a lighter atmosphere, with pale wood panelling contrasting with the rich reds of the main hall. Both have been designed to accommodate a variety of performances, including opera, operetta, theatre and concerts.

The 1,000-seat Open Stage features flexible seating and stage configurations for experimental performances, opening directly onto the park.

Rehearsal and production facilities, exhibition and education spaces, restaurants and cafés are intended to keep the building active even when no performances are taking place.

As with any major building project these days, considerable thought has gone into sustainability. However, achieving this on such a large scale was no small challenge, as Thorsen acknowledged given the building’s “scale and complexity”. 

The vast white roof reflects sunlight and heat, while the lobby’s openings towards the river and park encourage natural cross-ventilation.

Durable materials were chosen to ensure longevity, and the building’s integration with the surrounding green spaces supports local biodiversity. Its proximity to public transport is also intended to reduce dependence on cars.

The inaugural season, which runs until 20 February 2027, will feature 82 performances across 47 productions, showcasing international opera, Chinese works, dance, concerts, and new commissions.

L’article Shanghai’s spectacular new Grand Opera House opens to the public est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The package, listed through Ctrip, Trip.com’s mainland China platform, is currently the most expensive publicly available space tourism product on the Chinese market and represents a striking example of how commercial space travel is beginning to enter the portfolios of conventional travel companies.

The six-day itinerary takes place in the United States, starting in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Travellers spend the first four days preparing for their flight before boarding a Virgin Galactic spacecraft for a 90-minute suborbital experience on the fifth day.

https://t.co/uV0odA123S's luxury travel platform started selling Virgin Galactic’s 2027 space tour ticket for CNY5.1 million (USD760,000), the most expensive public space tour product in the Chinese market. Two adventurous travelers have already secured a spot. Starting in Las… pic.twitter.com/e96rdUffMk

— Yicai 第一财经 (@yicaichina) September 16, 2026

The programme includes simulator-based training, centrifuge and G-force tolerance exercises, parabolic flights, sensory-overload training, emergency-response drills and equipment-operation training. During the flight itself, passengers are expected to experience several minutes of weightlessness and views of Earth through the spacecraft’s 17 windows.

China looks towards space tourism

While the flight itself is operated by an American company from US soil, its appearance on one of China’s largest travel platforms points to the country’s increasing interest in developing a market for space tourism.

That interest extends beyond selling overseas experiences. In November 2025, China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), the country’s major state-owned space contractor, announced a Chinese space tourism initiative at the China International High-Tech Fair in Shenzhen.

The announcement came as China’s rapidly expanding commercial aerospace sector increasingly explores opportunities beyond conventional government-led space programmes.

China has already established itself as one of the world’s major space powers, operating its own Tiangong space station and pursuing plans for crewed lunar exploration. Cooperation between the China National Space Administration and Russia’s Roscosmos is also continuing on the proposed International Lunar Research Station, with site reconnaissance due to be completed in 2026 and construction expected to begin from 2028.

Tourism, however, represents a very different market. Rather than scientific missions lasting months or complex orbital expeditions, commercial operators are increasingly concentrating on shorter suborbital experiences aimed at wealthy private travellers.

The development comes amid an intensifying global space tourism race, with private companies such as Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin working to establish a regular market for paying passengers.

Virgin Galactic prepares for 2027 return

Trip.com’s new offer comes as Virgin Galactic prepares to resume commercial operations with its next generation of spacecraft.

The company opened bookings in April 2026 for a limited tranche of 50 spaceflight expeditions priced at US$750,000 (€633,000) per person. By 12 August, the tranche had been oversubscribed, adding more than US$50 million (€42 million) to Virgin Galactic’s expected future spaceflight revenue.

Virgin Galactic’s first new spacecraft is now expected to enter commercial service in February 2027, later than its previous target of the fourth quarter of 2026, as the company allows more time for avionics and systems installation.

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For Trip.com, that timetable means customers are effectively booking an experience ahead of Virgin Galactic’s planned return to commercial passenger operations.

The listing has prompted discussion on Chinese social media about both the price and safety of the product. Some users have questioned whether a few days of preparation are sufficient for spaceflight, while others have expressed doubts about how mature commercial space tourism will be by 2027.

Questions have also been raised about the physical demands of the experience and responsibility for passenger safety. At 5.1 million yuan, meanwhile, the price ensures that space tourism remains far beyond the reach of the overwhelming majority of travellers.

From astronauts to tourists

Space tourism itself is no longer new. American businessman Dennis Tito became the first self-funded space tourist in 2001, travelling to the International Space Station aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft.

More recently, companies including Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin have concentrated on shorter suborbital flights. Blue Origin’s New Shepard programme had flown 92 passengers, representing 86 individuals, by the end of 2025.

The sector has also begun broadening the profile of those able to participate. In 2025, European Space Agency aerospace and mechatronics engineer Michaela Benthaus became the first wheelchair user to fly above the Kármán Line aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard.

But the appearance of a US$760,000 spaceflight on a major Chinese travel booking platform represents another step in the sector’s evolution. Instead of customers approaching specialist aerospace companies directly, spaceflight is increasingly being marketed alongside other high-end travel experiences.

For China, it also comes as the country develops ambitions of its own in commercial spaceflight and space-related tourism.

Trip.com’s package may currently send Chinese travellers more than 10,000 kilometres away to New Mexico before they can travel beyond Earth, but the combination of growing domestic demand and China’s expanding commercial aerospace industry suggests that the country is positioning itself to play a larger role in the emerging space tourism market.

L’article China targets space tourism as Trip.com launches $760,000 package est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Held on 5 September 2026, the tournament was jointly organised by the Mission of China to the European Union and Euroclub, with support from the European Table Tennis Union (ETTU) and the China Table Tennis College.

Cai Run, Ambassador and Head of the Mission of China to the EU, and Didier Leroy, Vice President of the European Table Tennis Union, attended the opening ceremony, while Fei Shengchao, Chinese Ambassador to Belgium, performed the ceremonial opening serve.

The event also brought two prominent figures from Chinese table tennis to Brussels. Yan Sen, Vice President of the China Table Tennis College and former world champion, and Zhang Yining, former world champion and coach, provided guidance to participants ahead of the competition.

More than 100 table tennis enthusiasts took part, representing China, the European institutions and the European Parliament.

Sport as a bridge

Addressing participants, Ambassador Cai highlighted the role that sporting and cultural exchanges can play in strengthening mutual understanding at a time of geopolitical and economic uncertainty.

He said China-EU relations have increasing strategic and global significance, arguing that the two sides should maintain their partnership, continue cooperation and address economic and trade differences through dialogue and consultation.

According to Cai, stronger exchanges in table tennis can contribute to greater mutual understanding and friendship between China and the EU and support the development of bilateral relations.

Leroy similarly emphasised the potential of so-called “ping-pong diplomacy”, expressing hope that sporting exchanges could help China and Europe move beyond their differences, strengthen dialogue and bring people closer together.

Table tennis has a long association with diplomacy. The term “ping-pong diplomacy” became internationally recognised in the early 1970s, when exchanges between American and Chinese table tennis players helped pave the way for a thaw in relations between China and the United States.

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Chinese and European players compete together

Rather than placing Chinese and European participants on opposing sides, the Brussels tournament adopted a team competition format based on mixed Chinese-European teams.

Players competed together in both singles and doubles, with Chinese and European participants sharing teams throughout the tournament.

The format placed cooperation at the centre of the competition, with organisers describing a warm and friendly atmosphere as players competed alongside one another and spectators followed the matches.

The initiative comes as China and the European Union continue to navigate a complex relationship encompassing trade, investment, climate action, international affairs and growing people-to-people exchanges. Against that backdrop, the Brussels tournament sought to use one of China’s most internationally recognised sports as an informal platform for dialogue and connection.

L’article China-EU table tennis tournament brings ‘ping-pong diplomacy’ to Brussels  est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Although the Ritz-Carlton Reserve brand has been around since 2009, at the time of writing, only nine properties around the globe carry the name. Some of the featured locations include Thailand’s Phulay Bay and Mexico’s Riviera Nayarit, respectively, the first and the last Ritz-Carlton Reserves to have opened at the time of writing. All hotels are meant to be closely bound to their specific location, offering exclusive local experiences that can’t be found anywhere else. All Reserves were set in rural surroundings – until now.

On 21 August 2026, Marriott International officially announced the debut of the urban Ritz-Carlton Reserve concept. An agreement has been signed between the hospitality group and the Shanghai SIIC North Bund New Landmark Construction and Development Company to create the building, and the hotel is set to open in 2030.

“Ritz-Carlton Reserve has always been about creating rare, deeply personal experiences that could only exist in their destination. There is an intimacy to Reserve – an extraordinary level of personalisation, a deep connection to local culture, and a sense of discovery and wellbeing that allows guests to experience a place in an entirely different way. Bringing that philosophy to Shanghai for our first urban Reserve is an incredibly exciting evolution for the brand. Shanghai is a city unlike any other, where extraordinary heritage and culture exist alongside incredible creativity, energy and global influence,” said Tina Edmundson, president of luxury at Marriott International.

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The announcement was accompanied by a first image of what the exterior of the hotel will look like – a tall, somewhat organically shaped skyscraper measuring 480 meters in height and counting 103 floors. With its location along Shanghai’s North Bund, the property is already set to be part of the city’s significant waterfront developments and to become part of its ever-changing skyline.

Within the hotel, guests can expect to find 110 rooms and suites, many of which will overlook the Bund and Huangpu River, including a collection of suites and a Presidential Suite. Moreover, dining, wellness, and cultural immersion will be at the heart of the guest journey, according to Marriott. The on-site options include a specialty restaurant, a bespoke bar, an indoor swimming pool, and a spa & wellness retreat.

“As North Bund continues to evolve into one of Shanghai’s most important waterfront districts, our vision is to create a landmark destination that contributes to the city’s emergence as a leading global center for culture, commerce, and tourism. Through this collaboration, we hope to create a world-class luxury property that reflects the unique character of Shanghai and delivers exceptional experiences for guests from around the world,” stated Huang Haiping, Vice President of SIIC Group and Chairman of Shanghai SIIC North Bund Landmark Construction and Development Co., Ltd. 

Upon opening, the hotel is expected to make Shanghai the only city worldwide where all eight of Marriott International’s luxury brands are represented. According to the company, the move reflects its continued confidence in the long-term growth of Greater China and a growing consumer preference for wellness, personalisation, cultural immersion, and transformative experiences.

L’article Shanghai to welcome first city-based Ritz-Carlton Reserve in 2030 est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Zhang Xiaoyan, chief engineer at the Aero Engine Corporation of China (AECC) and the Beijing Institute of Aeronautical Materials, explained that this strategy aims to reduce China’s exposure to foreign supplies at a time when geopolitical tensions and other disruptions have highlighted the vulnerability of companies to shortages and the unreliability of freight transport routes.

Speaking at an aviation forum in Guangzhou, Zhang acknowledged that replacing foreign components and materials would take years. Some Chinese products are already being tested on the C919, while others are still being evaluated by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC).

The first C919 entered domestic commercial service in May 2023. China aims to use this new aircraft to challenge the Boeing-Airbus duopoly in the commercial aircraft market. By July, COMAC had delivered 42 C919s to Chinese customers.

Another milestone was reached in mid-August when Air China began operating the aircraft between Beijing and Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia, marking the C919’s first scheduled international commercial route. Previously, the aircraft had only operated outside mainland China on services to Hong Kong.

Among the materials of Chinese origin that have already been introduced is HM1176, a polythioether sealant that provides structural sealing and corrosion protection. It has been used in the C919 programme and China’s CJ-1000 engine series since 2025.

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The CJ-1000 is still being developed by the AECC and will offer a domestic alternative to the LEAP-1C, which is currently the only engine available for production C919s.

LEAP-1C engines are manufactured by CFM International, a joint venture between US-based GE Aerospace and French company Safran.

At the forum, Zhang also acknowledged that, despite the localisation drive, Western companies continue to supply many of the C919’s advanced components and materials.

“Aeronautical functional materials, including composite materials, can be found throughout the C919. Despite its Chinese identity, most of these advanced materials originate from a handful of well-established US and European producers known for their long-held dominance,” she said.

To accelerate the search for alternatives, China could draw on the technology and manufacturing experience developed for military aviation. According to Zhang, anticorrosive coatings, adhesives, and chemical buffering agents developed for military purposes could be adapted for use in civilian aircraft programmes.

One question this self-sufficiency plan has raised is whether replacing Western components could affect the C919’s bid for certification from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is considered crucial to the aircraft’s broader international ambitions.

Zhang argued that introducing Chinese alternatives would “not create any adverse impact”, as they would merely provide “an additional safeguard with the option of domestic products”, rather than immediately replacing foreign suppliers.

She mentioned that Chinese-made materials have already gained international recognition, citing Airbus’ approval of Chinese-made protective seals for use on A330 engines operated in China as an example.

Meanwhile, in July, the South China Morning Post reported that European test pilots had carried out an in-flight assessment of the C919 in Shanghai as part of the aircraft’s lengthy European certification process. Flight data and documentation still need to undergo further regulatory examination before certification can be granted.

Zhang sees this as a significant step forward that could have implications far beyond the aircraft itself, and help propel the development of China’s domestic aviation materials industry and supply chain.

L’article China looks to cut C919’s reliance on Western suppliers est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Although the C919 has already been flying regular services between Shanghai and Hong Kong, as well as between Beijing and Hong Kong, those flights are considered regional operations because Hong Kong is a Special Administrative Region of China. The Beijing-Ulaanbaatar service will therefore become the aircraft’s first scheduled passenger route beyond Chinese territory, representing another milestone in COMAC’s gradual expansion into international markets.

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A new chapter for China’s aviation ambitions

Developed by the state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), the C919 is China’s first domestically designed narrow-body passenger jet built to international airworthiness standards and intended to compete directly with the Airbus A320 family and Boeing 737.

While the C919 programme itself dates back to the late 2000s, Chinese efforts to develop a domestic commercial aviation industry stretch back several decades. One of the earliest projects was the Y-10, a four-engine passenger jet that made its maiden flight in 1980 but was discontinued as China lacked the industrial capacity to bring it into large-scale production.

China subsequently pursued international partnerships. Shanghai Aviation Industrial Corporation worked with US manufacturer McDonnell Douglas to assemble and develop MD-82 and later MD-90 aircraft, but the cooperation ended following McDonnell Douglas’s merger with Boeing in the 1990s. Other proposed international projects, including cooperation with European partners, also failed to produce a lasting Chinese commercial aircraft programme.

These experiences helped shape Beijing’s determination to develop its own aviation capabilities. China first pursued the smaller ARJ21 regional jet, which rolled off the assembly line in 2007 and provided experience in aircraft development, testing and certification. The C919 project was subsequently approved as China sought to move into the much larger single-aisle aircraft market.

Rather than attempting to produce every component domestically, COMAC adopted the “main manufacturer-supplier” model widely used in the global aerospace industry. Under this approach, COMAC is responsible for the aircraft’s overall design and integration while sourcing a number of major systems from specialist suppliers in China and overseas.

The scale of the project has been considerable. According to C919 chief designer Wu Guanghui, more than 300,000 people from over 1,000 companies and organisations across China have been involved in its development.

The prototype rolled out in 2015 before completing its maiden flight in May 2017. The aircraft received its type certificate from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) in September 2022 and entered commercial service with China Eastern Airlines in May 2023.

Travel Tomorrow has followed the C919’s development since its maiden delivery to China Eastern Airlines in December 2022, charting its gradual progression from domestic operations to cross-border services. Earlier this year, the aircraft began regular passenger services between Shanghai and Hong Kong, another important milestone that demonstrated its readiness for operations beyond mainland China. The upcoming flights to Mongolia now take that journey a step further by establishing the C919’s first fully international scheduled route.

Daily flights to Mongolia

From 12 August, Air China will operate one daily return flight between Beijing and Ulaanbaatar using the C919.

Flight CA723 will depart Beijing Capital at 3:00 pm, arriving in the Mongolian capital at 5:15 pm after a journey of approximately two hours and 15 minutes. The return service, CA724, will leave Ulaanbaatar at 6:30 pm, landing back in Beijing at 8:35 pm.

The aircraft is configured with 158 seats, including eight in business class and 150 in economy, and will replace the Boeing 737 MAX 8 currently used on the route. Covering approximately 1,166 kilometres, the service is well suited to the C919’s design as a short- to medium-haul aircraft.

Air China currently operates a fleet of 12 C919s, making it one of the programme’s three launch operators alongside China Eastern Airlines and China Southern Airlines.

Challenging the Airbus-Boeing duopoly

The significance of the route extends well beyond the connection between China and Mongolia. It represents another step in Beijing’s long-term strategy to build a commercially successful aircraft manufacturer capable of competing with Airbus and Boeing, which have dominated the global market for large commercial aircraft for decades.

Earlier this year, Travel Tomorrow examined COMAC’s growing challenge to the Airbus-Boeing duopoly after Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury suggested the Chinese manufacturer could eventually transform the commercial aircraft market from a duopoly into a “potential triopoly”. While acknowledging the challenges involved in scaling production, Faury described COMAC as the most credible newcomer the industry has seen in years.

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His remarks came as both Airbus and Boeing continue to face supply chain constraints that have delayed thousands of aircraft deliveries worldwide. Airlines across the globe have repeatedly expressed frustration at lengthy waiting times for new aircraft, creating an opportunity for alternative manufacturers to gain market share.

China, meanwhile, benefits from one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing domestic aviation markets, providing COMAC with a substantial customer base from which to develop production capacity and operational experience before expanding internationally.

Growing confidence in the C919

Since entering commercial service just over three years ago, the C919 has steadily expanded its network across mainland China. More than 42,000 commercial flights have now been completed, giving airlines and regulators valuable operational experience.

Around 40 aircraft have so far been delivered to Air China, China Eastern Airlines and China Southern Airlines, while the programme has accumulated more than 1,100 orders, primarily from Chinese airlines and leasing companies. Customers include Hainan Airlines, Sichuan Airlines, Tibet Airlines, Hebei Airlines, Lao Airlines and several Chinese lessors.

Interest is also beginning to emerge beyond China. Airlines including AirAsia, Garuda Indonesia and Kenya Airways have all expressed interest in the aircraft, although none has yet placed a firm order.

The C919 is powered by CFM International LEAP-1C engines and has a range of approximately 5,555 kilometres (3,000 nautical miles), making it suitable for many domestic and regional routes across Asia.

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Certification remains the next major hurdle

Despite its growing success in China, COMAC still faces significant obstacles before it can compete directly with Airbus and Boeing on the global stage.

The aircraft has yet to receive certification from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) or the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), approvals that would be essential for widespread international adoption. COMAC has repeatedly said obtaining overseas certification remains a long-term objective.

The aircraft also continues to rely heavily on Western technology. Its engines are supplied by CFM International, a joint venture between GE Aerospace and France’s Safran, while other critical systems come from companies including Honeywell. China is developing its own CJ-1000A engine as part of a broader effort to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers, although that programme has not yet reached commercial deployment.

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At the same time, COMAC has continued to promote the C919 internationally through demonstration flights in countries including Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia, reflecting China’s ambition to expand first across Asia before targeting wider global markets.

More than another new route

The launch of the Beijing-Ulaanbaatar service may appear modest compared with long-haul international routes operated by Airbus A350s or Boeing 787s, but its symbolic importance is considerable.

For COMAC, the route represents the latest step in a carefully planned expansion from domestic operations to cross-border services and now to scheduled international flights. For China, it is further evidence of the country’s determination to build a globally competitive aerospace industry capable of reducing its dependence on Western manufacturers.

Whether the C919 ultimately becomes a genuine rival to the Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX will depend on its ability to increase production, secure international certification and win customers beyond China. But when Air China flight CA723 departs Beijing for Ulaanbaatar on 12 August, it will mark more than the launch of a new route. It will signal another milestone in China’s decades-long ambition to establish itself as a major force in global commercial aviation.

L’article China’s COMAC C919 set to reach major milestone with first scheduled international route est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.