As China’s five-day May Day holiday approaches, major attractions across the country have rolled out a series of upgraded tourism offerings, with interactive cultural shows drawing interest.

In Beijing, the Great Wall’s Badaling section has unveiled an upgraded night tour that runs from April 30 to October 6, featuring stunning light shows and up-close cultural performances that encourage audience participation.

A key feature of the tour is a dance performance titled “Bonfire Beyond the Old Frontiers,” which combines traditional and modern art forms to showcase the grandeur of the Great Wall through dynamic choreography and creative use of the square in front of the wall’s historic fortified gatehouse.

While the upgraded Great Wall night experience brings a fresh take on a classic landmark, northwest China’s Shaanxi Province is rolling out a slate of cultural and tourism programs to meet surging travel demand. The programs highlight the province’s history as a cradle of Chinese civilization and its abundance of cultural relics.

Among the most anticipated events is the return of the grand performance, “Dream of Chang’an – The Grand Tang Welcoming Ceremony”, to Shaanxi’s capital city, Xi’an. The immersive show is being held at the historic city wall’s oldest gate, Yongning Gate.

Staged with performers dressed in authentic traditional costumes from the Tang Dynasty (618-907), the production vividly recreates the grand imperial rituals once held to welcome distinguished guests to Chang’an, the name by which Xi’an was known during that era.

The scenic spot at Yongning Gate has also launched a one-stop cultural and tourism consumption package for the duration of the May Day holiday. By combining platform discount coupons with exclusive package offers, the initiative integrates sightseeing, live performances and interactive experiences to stimulate demand for cultural experiences.

According to Shaanxi provincial cultural and tourism authorities, the province has coordinated cultural and tourism venues, scenic spots, cultural districts, and museums across the region to launch 765 themed cultural and tourism events and 110 preferential measures for the May Day holiday.

A Chinese defense spokesman urged vigilance against Japan’s recent military and security policy shifts.

Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, spokesman for China’s Ministry of National Defense, made the remarks on Thursday at a regular press briefing.

According to media reports, the Japanese government has officially revised the Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology and its implementation guidelines, which in principle green-lighted Japan’s export of lethal weapons. In addition, it has resumed military ranks used by the Imperial Japanese Army such as Taisa, and passed a bill to set up a National Intelligence Bureau.

“Japan has recently taken dangerous, adventuristic and provocative actions in the military and security fields. Such moves have already turned against its self-proclaimed identity as a peace-loving country and its ‘exclusively defense-oriented’ principle,” said the spokesman.

“Moreover, Japan is trying to resume the military rank system used by the Imperial Japanese Army, and the intelligence apparatus it plans to form is reminiscent of the notorious Tokko. These actions seriously hurt the national feelings of the people in Asian countries,” he said.

“Japan is making reckless and unchecked strides on the path of remilitarization. Will it once again bring disasters to East Asia?” Zhang asked.

“All peace-loving people should stay on high alert, resolutely stop Japan’s retrogressive moves, and never allow it to undermine peace and bring calamities to the world,” added the spokesman.