Vientiane Capital officially designated Xangmixay as its first sub-district (Ta Saeng) on 31 December 2025, under a pilot administrative reform in Xaythany district. (Photo credit: Xaythany News)
On 31 December 2025, Vientiane Capital officially designated Xangmixay as its first sub-district (Ta Saeng) in Xaythany district, as part of a country’s administrative restructuring aimed at strengthening local governance and public service delivery.
The establishment of Ta Saeng Xangmixay was first introduced in May as a pilot project approved by the Vientiane People’s Council. The new sub-district will include 24 of Xaythany district’s 104 villages and is the first of five planned sub-districts in the area. The remaining four, Sivilay, Hua Xieng, Dong Bung, and Tha Ngon, are part of a broader plan to create 36 Ta Saengs across Vientiane Capital.
According to authorities, the reform brings governance closer to communities through improved administrative efficiency. Each sub-district will establish committees overseeing governance and administration, economic development, cultural and social affairs, and public security.
This initiative stems from a nationwide restructuring program announced by the Ministry of Home Affairs in January 2025, which reintroduced sub-districts across the country. In November, Prime Minister Sonesay Siphandone approved 640 Ta Saengs nationwide, with Savannakhet Province, the country’s largest, receiving 67 sub-districts.
Under the framework, each sub-district will oversee between one and 24 villages based on population, geography, and administrative requirements. Administrative committees will include a chairman, up to two vice-chairmen, and support staff selected from existing personnel and qualified local candidates.
The sub-district system was first introduced during French colonial rule in 1920 but was later abolished in 1990.
TAIPEI, Dec. 31, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — ARTERY Technology (Cayman) Corporation (Stock Code: 6907; hereinafter referred to as “ARTERY-KY”), a leading designer of 32-bit microcontrollers (MCUs), is scheduled to be listed on the Taipei Exchange (TPEx) under the Semiconductor Industry category in January 2026. The Company held its first pre-IPO investor conference on December 30 (Tuesday) at the Grand Hyatt Taipei, where it presented its competitive strengths and future business outlook to investors.
ARTERY Technology Pre-IPO Earnings Conference
As a subsidiary of Faraday Technology, ARTERY-KY focuses on the development of high-end 32-bit MCUs. Leveraging ARM® Cortex®-M4 cores with an industry-leading maximum clock speed of up to 288 MHz, the Company delivers exceptional performance. In addition to successfully entering the supply chains of leading global brands, ARTERY-KY has established itself as a key contributor in the China market through localized technical advantages, serving as an important partner in regional supply chain transformation.
ARTERY-KY possesses comprehensive technical capabilities spanning core architecture design to application integration. Its end-market applications cover a wide range of fields, including industrial and motor control, consumer electronics, commercial applications, and vertical industries such as medical, IoT, communications, and automotive electronics. With strengths in high performance, low power consumption, superior integration, and high cost-effectiveness, the Company continues to expand into emerging applications such as drones, robotics, and edge AI, demonstrating strong market competitiveness and growth momentum.
In terms of financial performance, ARTERY-KY recorded revenue of NT$1.635 billion in 2024, representing a year-on-year increase of over 60%, with earnings per share (EPS) of NT$1.67. Revenue for the first three quarters of 2025 reached NT$1.234 billion, maintaining a high level and setting a new historical high for the same period, indicating that the Company has emerged from the inventory adjustment cycle. With continued optimization of its product mix, gross margin rebounded significantly to 33.84%. Net profit after tax for the first three quarters totaled NT$70.52 million, with basic EPS of NT$1.38, marking a 56% year-on-year increase and reflecting solid profitability. As multiple new application projects enter mass production and major customer orders continue to grow steadily, the market expects further optimization of the product portfolio in 2026, driving simultaneous growth in revenue and earnings.
Looking ahead, ARTERY-KY has outlined three major growth strategies. First, it will establish a comprehensive MCU foundation spanning M0 to M85 to build a highly compatible ecosystem. Second, it will expand its ASIC-based customized MCU services to help customers rapidly develop application-specific chips. Finally, the Company will aggressively pursue edge AI opportunities by collaborating with UMC and Faraday Technology, utilizing the most advanced 28-nanometer embedded Flash process to develop an intelligent inference platform. Through a strategy focused on breadth, depth, and forward-looking innovation, ARTERY-KY aims to fully activate its semiconductor growth engine.
LUXEMBOURG and FREMONT, Calif., Jan. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — INCERGO S.A. (ICG) today announced continued progress in its merger with Visual Semiconductor Inc. (VSI), including the issuance of shares in support of the transaction and the ongoing expansion of Visual Semiconductor’s GF3D™ platform. From black–and–white to color. From flat 2D to GF3D™. The next visual revolution is here.
INCERGO and Visual Semiconductor will present live demonstrations at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2026, January 6–9, at LVCC, Central Hall, Booth 21123, where the companies will showcase GF3D™ Glasses–Free 3D displays to media, partners, and investors through scheduled and private demonstrations.
The CES showcase highlights Visual Semiconductor’s GF3D™ technology, which enables immersive Glasses–Free 3D experiences without glasses, goggles, or privacy–invading eye–tracking technologies. GF3D™ operates at the display level, converting standard 2D content into immersive 3D in real time.
The GF3D™ 65–inch 8K home display is designed for large–screen viewing environments and supports Glasses–Free 3D presentation for movies, sports, concerts, streaming content, and games at typical living–room viewing distances.
The GF3D™ 6.58–inch smartphone display applies the same GF3D™ technology to mobile devices, enabling Glasses–Free 3D presentation for streaming video, games, social content, maps, user interfaces, photos, and camera previews, without the use of wearable devices.
Together, these demonstrations illustrate the scalability of GF3D™ technology across different screen sizes and use cases, extending Glasses–Free 3D beyond head–mounted AR and VR systems to everyday consumer displays.
The company believes the era of flat 2D displays has ended, and that GF3D™ represents a transition as significant as the industry’s shift from black–and–white to color.
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 2 January 2026 – This season of giving, A Diamond is Forever joins hands with Asia’s premier luxury retailer, Lane Crawford, in paying tribute to the beauty and authenticity of natural diamonds. Together, they bring forward a shared commitment to exceptional craftsmanship, innovation, and responsible sourcing.
Renowned actress Charmaine Sheh (left) and fashion trendsetter Hilary Tsui (right) are invited to the event. Charmaine and Hilary discover natural diamonds and experience how diamond detection instruments can distinguish between natural and synthetic diamonds.
“The Forever Gifts: A Natural Diamond Series” the ultimate destination for bespoke natural diamond master creations in Hong Kong, launched with a line-up of activities at Lane Crawford’s flagship retail space in IFC mall. Renowned actress Charmaine Sheh, fashion trendsetter Hilary Tsui, VIPs, media members and influencers from Hong Kong and China were invited to explore exquisite natural diamond collections, thoughtfully curated by Lane Crawford.
Natural diamond workshops are held at Lane Crawford IFC, guiding guests through an immersive journey to explore diamonds from rough to polished
This special series starts with a selection of contemporary fine jewellery brands, each offering a unique design story and a commitment to creativity and excellence. They include State Property, YEPREM, Mio Harutaka, KORLOFF and Claudia Ma Fine Jewellery. “This collaboration marks an important moment for Lane Crawford. Together with De Beers, we’re creating a destination that celebrates the beauty of natural diamonds through exceptional craftsmanship and global creativity. This exclusive space reimagines how clients engage with fine jewellery – bringing artistry, innovation, and the opportunity to design something truly personal.” Emily Wong, Senior Vice President of Merchandising at Lane Crawford.
The exclusive event brought a series of interactive workshops led by experts Jodine Bolden and Samantha Sibley from the De Beers Institute of Diamonds alongside London-based multi-disciplinary artist Annette Fernando.
Left to Right: Fashion stylist Veronica Li, famous influencer Ansheles, international fashion blogger Steph Hui, actor Bruce Tong and actor and singer Chris Tong attend the natural diamond workshop to experience the extraordinary charm of natural diamonds
At the natural diamond workshop, participants gained hands-on experience on rough diamond sorting, polished diamond grading, and differentiation of natural diamonds versus synthetics. Participants also had the unique opportunity of viewing a nearby 297-carat rough diamond and kimberlite carrying a 22-carat rough diamond. Also on display was a gem called “Beating Heart”, a 0.329-carat rough diamond that features a smaller diamond moving freely inside its larger counterpart, a rarity that showcases the extraordinary conditions under which diamonds can form. This exquisite piece, recovered by De Beers Group and analyzed at the facilities of De Beers Institute of Diamonds, is recorded on the Tracr platform, giving insight into its history and heritage. Upon completion of the workshop, each participant received a natural diamond masterclass certificate from the De Beers Institute of Diamonds.
“We are pleased to partner with Lane Crawford for this special series of events to proudly recognize the enduring value of natural diamonds, and to honour the artists who continue to bring life to these creations.” says Loletta Lai, Vice President, Natural Diamonds APAC De Beers Group.
Complementing the technical insight offered by the De Beers Institute of Diamonds, artist Annette Fernando shared her art creations inspired by natural diamonds, named The Multi-Faceted Self. Through a reflective coloring workshop, Annette invited participants to explore the transformative journey of natural diamonds as a metaphor for personal growth and resilience.
The partnership between A Diamond is Forever and Lane Crawford spotlights crafted natural diamond pieces sourced and styled from around the globe, the most treasured gifts ever! These iconic legacy brands and exciting new talent alike, all centered around the timeless beauty of natural diamonds, come together at Lane Crawford, the ultimate destination for discovery, craftsmanship, and contemporary luxury.
Featured Brands
Claudia Ma Fine Jewellery Claudia Ma, driven by a passion for modern high jewelry and an unwavering dedication to quality, founded her eponymous brand, Claudia Ma, in 2000. With a distinctive design sensibility and an eye for artistic aesthetics, she masterfully reinterprets classic themes through innovative modern expressions. Her creations have earned widespread acclaim for their signature style and exceptional craftsmanship. Over the years, Claudia has collaborated with renowned names such as Shanghai Tang, Lane Crawford, and De Beers Group Forevermark, solidifying her brand’s standing in Hong Kong’s fine jewelry landscape.
Her latest work draws inspiration from the barbell as a symbol of balance, focus, and strength. Crafted in 18k gold and accented with natural diamonds, these versatile pieces embody resilience while seamlessly elevating everyday style.
According to Claudia, “Natural diamonds and craftsmanship go hand in hand. Craftsmanship brings out the diamond’s inner brilliance, while my design presents this timeless classic in a modern way for generations to enjoy. Without this artistry, even the finest diamond remains just a hidden treasure.”
State Property An award-winning contemporary fine jewellery label from Singapore, State Property fuses modern design with traditional craftsmanship. Founded in 2015 by a jeweller and an industrial designer, the brand draws inspiration from culture, literature, and history—bringing to life structured silhouettes in precious metals that embrace the softness of the human form.
“There’s an emotional gravity with natural diamonds that’s hard to replicate, State Property shares. “Their rarity, beauty, and resilience make them extraordinary. Each one a fragment of the earth’s story, time in a crystallised form. We’re drawn to materials that carry meaning, and diamonds embody permanence, memory, and the quiet luxury of time. At State Property, we strive to have those same qualities reflected in our own work — creating jewellery with intention, designed to endure and be cherished across generations.”
YEPREM Known for its avant-garde creations, House of YEPREM is a family-run brand that continues to push the boundaries of contemporary diamond jewellery. With a legacy rooted in timeless craftsmanship and visionary design, YEPREM’s striking pieces are now celebrated across America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
“Natural diamonds are the ultimate expression of authenticity and endurance, virtues that mirror YEPREM’s journey and craftsmanship. Born from time, pressure, and perseverance, each diamond holds the essence of transformation and strength. Their inherent brilliance and purity transcend trends, embodying emotion and individuality. In YEPREM’s world, a natural diamond is not merely a material, it is the foundation upon which stories of resilience and radiance are told.”
Mio Harutaka Crafted in Japan by local artisans, MIO HARUTAKA channels the beauty of Mother Nature into every design. The brand, founded in 2011, is committed to achieving diamond traceability and sustainability while maintaining exceptional artisanal craftsmanship. Harutaka shares: “Craftsmanship is essential—it accounts for almost everything. All of these details depend entirely on the skills of the craftsmen. Craftsmanship is what allows me to welcome close, hands-on appreciation, knowing that each piece will meet that level of scrutiny with confidence and beauty.”
KORLOFF Since 1978, KORLOFF has been a symbol of true femininity—magnetic, adventurous, and bold. Renowned for crafting exquisite bespoke jewelry, each piece reflects daring designs and the unmatched artistry of French craftsmanship, showcasing the Maison’s boundless creativity and passion. “Our story began with a diamond, the Black Korloff, the largest brilliant-cut natural black diamond in the world. Its uniqueness, shaped over millions of years, continues to inspire us every day as a symbol of mystery, transformation, and the magic of nature. Natural diamonds possess an authenticity and depth that no other material can replicate. They remind us that beauty is born from time, pressure, and light, forces that mirror the creative journey behind each Korloff jewel.”
Meet the De Beers Institute of Diamonds Experts:
Jodine Bolden, Director of Education De Beers Institute of Diamonds Jodine has previously developed her career as an operations line manager within large FMCG companies, and European HR Management roles within the luxury Health & Beauty industry where she first developed her passion for creating exceptional consumer experiences. After moving to De Beers, she worked as HR Manager for 5 years and discovered her fascination for diamonds as she supported various global functions across the De Beers estate, she then involved creating the Institute of Diamonds Education Service and developing each course that they now offer to their clients.
Since 2018 the De Beers Institute of Diamonds Education Service has provided education on a range of diamond subjects including, Rough Diamond Sorting, Polished Diamond Grading and Laboratory-Grown Detection.
Samantha Sibley, Technical Liaison Manager De Beers Group, UK With over 30 years’ experience in De Beers’ research, development and commercial teams, Samantha brings a wealth of knowledge regarding the characteristics of both natural and laboratory-grown diamonds. She has been involved in the development of De Beers Group’s current and previous suites of verification instruments and currently also facilitates training and educational courses around the world on the use of these instruments for accurate screening results. Other projects involve research into irradiation and HPHT colour treatments and the utilisation of this information to develop screening processes within the De Beers grading laboratories.
Sam has a BTEC Higher National Certificate in Physics, is a diamond fellow of the Gemmological Association of Great Britain (DGA) and holds a team leader qualification from Leadership Management UK and the Chartered Management Institute. She has presented on diamond topics globally and has had first-hand experience of the diamond industry over many years through visits to mines, cutting centres, polishing factories, gemmological laboratories and tradeshows.
Annette Fernando, Commissioned Artist, “The Multi-Faceted Self” at The Forever Gifts: A Natural Diamond Series Annette Fernando (b. 1991, London) is a multi-disciplinary artist and curator. She holds a BA in Fine Art from Central Saint Martins and is currently pursuing an MA in Contemporary Art at Sotheby’s Institute of Art, where she was awarded the prestigious Cultural Leaders Scholarship.
Fernando’s artistic repertoire spans drawing, printmaking, painting, and film. Fernando’s current work is driven to immortalise natures scenes, capturing the beauty of moments often overlooked through various mediums. Fernando’s work has garnered significant recognition, including winning the Jerwood Drawing Prize in 2014 and selections for the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition in 2021 and 2023. Her pieces are held in public and private collections across the USA, France, Hong Kong, and the UK.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About De Beers Group
Established in 1888, De Beers Group is the world’s leading diamond company with expertise in the exploration, mining, marketing and retailing of diamonds. Together with its joint venture partners, De Beers Group employs more than 20,000 people across the diamond pipeline and is the world’s largest diamond producer by value, with diamond mining operations in Botswana, Canada, Namibia and South Africa. Innovation sits at the heart of De Beers Group’s strategy as it develops a portfolio of offers that span the diamond value chain, including its jewellery houses, De Beers Jewellers and Forevermark, and other pioneering solutions such as diamond sourcing and traceability initiatives Tracr and GemFair. De Beers Group also provides leading services and technology to the diamond industry in the form of education and laboratory services via De Beers Institute of Diamonds and a wide range of diamond sorting, detection and classification technology systems via De Beers Group Ignite. De Beers Group is committed to ‘Building Forever,’ a holistic and integrated approach for creating a better future – where safety, human rights and ethical integrity continue to be paramount; where communities thrive and the environment is protected; and where there are equal
opportunities for all. De Beers Group is a member of the Anglo American PLC group. For further information, visit www.debeersgroup.com.
About Lane Crawford
Founded in 1850, Lane Crawford is an iconic luxury department store, with a mission to search the world for the most exciting talent and product, to create the ultimate luxury edit of fashion and lifestyle for its customers across Greater China. Featuring the largest own-bought designer portfolio across Womenswear, Menswear, Beauty & Wellbeing,
Home and Lifestyle, and Fine Jewellery in the region, Lane Crawford constantly evolves its product, experience, and services offer to embrace the most innovative and relevant designers and exceptional craftsmanship of the season, and to reflect the dynamic pace of its market and customers.
With four stores in Hong Kong; and three stores across Shanghai, Beijing and Chengdu, supported by a global digital flagship, and a purpose-built ecommerce site for China and WeChat store, Lane Crawford is Greater China’s first and only omni-channel luxury fashion retailer. Each store is personalised to its location and designed to provide sensory experience, fusing fashion, design, art and music, while offering exceptional service.
Lane Crawford is a part of The Lane Crawford Joyce Group, Asia’s premier fashion retail, brand management and distribution group, which also includes cutting-edge fashion boutique Joyce; and fashion, beauty, and lifestyle brand management and distribution business ImagineX Group.
SINGAPORE, Jan. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Three Partners from Mayer Brown PK Wong & Nair Pte. Ltd. — Suresh Nair, Jennifer Chih, and Bryan Tan, have announced their decision to leave the firm to establish a new independent law practice in Singapore. The new firm, Nair, Jen & Tan LLC will focus on Litigation, Restructuring & Insolvency, Corporate and Employment matters, areas in which the partners are widely recognised.
Partners Suresh Nair, Jennifer Chih and Bryan Tan set up independent Singapore law practice following departure from Mayer Brown PK Wong & Nair.
The breakaway marks a strategic move by the trio to create a specialist platform dedicated to contentious, advisory, and crisis-driven mandates, particularly in the context of heightened restructuring activity, more nuanced employment and immigration issues, and complex commercial disputes including arbitration in Singapore and the wider Asia-Pacific region.
Collectively, the three partners bring decades of experience advising multinational corporations, financial institutions, insolvency practitioners, boards, and senior executives. Their practices span high-value commercial disputes, cross-border restructuring and insolvency proceedings, employment litigation, and compliance-related advisory work.
Suresh Nair has been widely recognised for his leadership in corporate and commercial litigation, insolvency and restructuring, and employment disputes. He has a distinguished record of representing clients in landmark cases and is known for pragmatic, results-oriented advocacy.
Jennifer Chih has almost three decades of experience advising on complex corporate, immigration and employment matters, compliance frameworks, and regulatory strategy. Her work spans M&A transactions, corporate governance, and immigration and labour-related compliance services.
Bryan Tan specialises in corporate and commercial litigation, arbitration, restructuring and insolvency, and employment-related disputes. His practice also encompasses disputes involving technology, digital assets and financial issues, reflecting the evolving needs of commercial clients.
In a joint statement, the three partners said: “We are establishing an independent practice that allows us to deepen our work in core areas where clients increasingly require specialised, senior-level advice. This move enables us to offer a more agile and conflict-free platform while continuing to deliver the depth and quality our clients expect.”
Nair, Jen & Tan is headquartered in Singapore and will operate from their office at SGX Centre 1.
Thoughtful engineering and refined design come together as Tineco presents its latest smart floor care solutions in immersive, modern living spaces
SEATTLE, Jan. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Tineco, a global leader in intelligent home appliances, is returning to CES 2026 to showcase a new lineup of floor care solutions engineered for modern living. Over the years, Tineco has built a global community of more than 23 million users and been recognized as the world’s No. 1 household wet & dry vacuum cleaner brand. Its latest collection brings together enhanced performance, refined design, and advanced technology to elevate cleaning experience.
This year at CES, Tineco moves beyond the traditional booth format to create a fully immersive, visually rich space designed to reflect how people live and interact with their homes every day. In this immersive environment, Tineco will introduce multiple experiential zones, each crafted around unique product identities and contemporary living concepts. Across a series of distinct zones, visitors will discover how Tineco integrates into the rhythms of everyday life through the following floor washers:
The Innovation Lab
FLOOR ONE S9 Scientist – In a futuristic, cyberpunk-inspired environment illuminated with LED accents and bold lighting, the S9 Scientist highlights Tineco’s technical expertise, featuring intelligent mess detection with Tineco’s iLoop™ Smart Sensor and a high-temperature deep cleaning for precision removal of tough stains.
The Creative Studio
FLOOR ONE Station S9 Artist — Designed for refined, design-forward living spaces, the Station S9 Artist blends elevated aesthetics with advanced care performance. It delivers a streak-free, barefoot-ready finish with its StreakFree Scraper, while HydroBurst™ technology uses a high-pressure angled water jet to tackle heavy and dried-on stains. Paired with a Smart Refresh Station that automatically replenishes hot water and a FlashDry™ self-cleaning system with steam, the Station S9 Artist ensures powerful, quiet, and effortless maintenance for modern homes.
The Urban Retreat
FLOOR ONE i7 Fold – Designed for compact, upscale urban homes and tailored to fast-paced, space-conscious lifestyles. This floor washer will make its debut at CES this year. It weighs just under 8 lbs. and features a slim, foldable design for easy storage and a 180° foldable base engineered to reach effortlessly beneath low furniture.
The Flagship Residence
FLOOR ONE S9 Master – Setting the standard for modern luxury living, the S9 Master serves as the flagship of the Master series and represents Tineco’s highest level of performance, including a purposeful design, a 180° lay-flat profile, wide-angle DustReveal™ lighting, anti-tangle brush technology, and a responsive color-shifting display for real-time cleaning guidance.
“CES has always been a place to introduce what’s next, and this year we’re rethinking how we show it,” said Mr. Leng, CEO of Tineco. “Through our Modern Living concept, we’re moving beyond a traditional booth to create design-led environments that bring thoughtful engineering and refined design to life. Introducing the FLOOR ONE Master Series and FLOOR ONE i7 Fold in this setting reflects our commitment to delivering dependable performance and intentional design for modern households.”
At CES, attendees can also explore the brand’s broader lineup, including the PURE ONE A90S and S70 stick vacuums, and the award-winning CARPET ONE Cruiser (TIME Best Inventions of 2025 winner).
Visit Tineco at the Venetian Expo, Bellini Boardroom, Spaces 2103 & 2104, on January 6–9, 2026, for a home-inspired showcase designed for hands-on demonstrations and in-depth conversations.
About Tineco
Tineco (“tin-co”) was founded in 1998 with its first product launch as a vacuum cleaner and, in 2019, pioneered the first-ever smart vacuum. Today, the brand has evolved into a global leader in intelligent appliances spanning floor care, kitchen, and personal care categories. With a growing user base of over 23 million households and availability in approximately 30 countries worldwide, Tineco remains committed to its brand vision of making life easier through smart technology and continuous innovation. For more information, visit au.tineco.com.
BEIJING, Jan. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — A news report from chinadaily.com.cn:
Enjoy a smart journey, and discover China! On Jan 1, China Daily officially launched “China Bound,” an English-language smart-tourism service platform for international tourists. It offers one-stop services from “travel inspiration” to “personalized itineraries, enjoying intelligent Q&A, convenient ticket booking, and sharing travel stories.” With just one click, travelers can unlock the wonders of China. It’s an invitation to friends from all over the world to better “see China, feel China, and fall in love with China.”
The “China Bound” platform operates through a website, mini-programs, intelligent systems, and overseas social media. The English-language website (www.chinabound.cn) uses a “main site + city sub-site” matrix. The main site features four core sections: “Travel Destinations,” “Itinerary Planning,” “Must-buy Items,” and “Must-try Food,” presenting China’s landscapes, culture, modern life, and local customs. It is optimized for both desktop and mobile devices, offering a seamless browsing experience anytime, anywhere. City and regional sub-sites include columns such as “Uniquely in (city),” “Pre-trip Knowledge,” “Specialty Cuisine,” “Popular Attractions,” “Must-buy Items,” “Hotel Accommodation,” and “Festive Activities,” which will gradually expand to cover more popular and unique tourist destinations.
Mini-programs on Alipay and WeChat further enhance convenience. Supported by Ant Digital Technologies, the Alipay mini-program integrates translation, transport and hotel booking, ticketing, currency exchange, and online payment. Users can find it by searching “China Bound” on Alipay.
To precisely cater to tourists’ personalized travel needs, the China Bound platform has introduced a dedicated intelligent assistant that supports multilingual smart interactions. Through conversations with the intelligent assistant, users can customize itineraries, check real-time traffic, and receive cultural background explanations. It offers personalized smart tour guide services like “thoughtful companions anytime, anywhere.”
Amid the continuous optimization of China’s inbound tourism policies and the increasing enthusiasm of international tourists for visiting China, China Daily is actively fulfilling its mission of “connecting China and the world.” The China Bound platform will collaborate with national cultural and tourism institutions, cultural venues, and related service units to provide more credible content, tangible experiences, relatable narratives, as well as intelligent, precise, and warm one-stop services. This initiative will accompany overseas tourists on their journeys from getting to know China to truly understanding China, building an important platform and bridge for spreading Chinese culture and promoting cultural exchanges.
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 1 January 2026 – As Hong Kong welcomed the New Year in style on January 1, the city can look back on a pivotal past 12 months during which visitor numbers rebound sharply, driven, in large part, by the dawn of a new era for sports and entertainment events following the opening of the Kai Tak Sports Park (KTSP). And the positive momentum appears set to continue in 2026.
As crowds gathered for the New Year Countdown, they were able to enjoy a new format experience, with this year’s main event taking place at the Chater Road pedestrian zone in Central, sitting next to the Winter Wonderland display, which transformed Statue Square Gardens into a magical Christmas Town complete with a magnificent 20-metre tree and charming decorations.
Crowds gather for the New Year Countdown in Hong Kong
A series of events including music performances and a light show were arranged by the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) with the aim of conveying positive energy, care, and blessings of peace to both locals and visitors, and to welcome a hopeful new year together.
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government had anticipated a large number of visitors during the festive season, which included a four-day long weekend over Christmas, while January 1 coincided with the start of a three-day long holiday on the Chinese Mainland.
The Government said the number of non-Chinese Mainland visitors reached a post-Covid record every day during the Christmas holiday with around 50,000 visitors daily from December 25 to 27, accounting for around 33% of the total number of travellers during that period.
This influx of festive visitors provided a further boost to Hong Kong’s tourism sector. In 2025, Hong Kong received 50 million visitors, marking a 12% year-on-year rise. This included 38 million visitors from the Chinese Mainland (up 11% year-on-year) and 12 million non-Chinese Mainland visitors (up 15% year-on-year).
In the Euromonitor International Top 100 City Destinations Index 2025, Hong Kong ranked second globally for international arrivals, behind only Bangkok.
The large number of visitors over festive period provided further impetus to the local tourism industry, which had already been buoyed by a series of mega events at the new Kai Tak Sports Park. Since its opening in March 2025, KTSP has become a new hub for major sports and entertainment events.
Kai Tak Sports Park has successfully hosted major events such as the Hong Kong Football Festival
Within the KTSP, the centerpiece 50,000-seat Kai Tak Stadium was ranked third in the world and top in Asia for total ticket sales in 2025 just nine months after its debut, according to Pollstar’s 2025 year-end stadium charts (published mid-December 2025).
Pollstar, a US-based trade publication for the concert and live entertainment industry, also ranked Kai Tak Stadium No.5 worldwide and No.1 in Asia for total gross revenue (1.25 million passes worth US$191.34 million). Meanwhile, its sister venue, the 10,000-seat Kai Tak Arena, was ranked Asia’s No. 8 in terms of total gross revenue.
KTSP has quickly and firmly established itself as a premier destination for mega sports and entertainment events. So far, KTSP has hosted over 90 local and international event days, welcoming more than 7 million visitors, including 1.6 million at Kai Tak Stadium alone.
With its retractable roof and flexible pitch, Kai Tak Stadium successfully hosted in 2025 major events such as the Hong Kong Sevens in March, and concerts by British rock band Coldplay in April, Mandopop rock band Mayday in May and singer Jay Chou in June.
It also hosted the Hong Kong Football Festival in summer, featuring top teams such as Liverpool, AC Milan, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.
Looking ahead, the Kai Tak Stadium will welcome global pop icons BLACKPINK for back-to-back shows of the highly anticipated Asia leg of their WORLD TOUR later this month.