Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism
As the Year of the Horse approaches, Shanghai is rolling out a series of "Spring Festival Gift Packs" designed to make it easier and more enjoyable for residents and visitors to experience the city during the holiday period. The initiative, led by the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism, features discounted tickets, themed activities, and cultural offerings across 60 popular city attractions.
The gift packs are part of Shanghai's broader push to boost festive tourism and encourage people to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year in the city. By combining discounted admission, zodiac-themed promotions, and integrated tour packages, the program seeks to provide a wide range of affordable options tailored to different visitor groups.
Highlights of the Spring Festival Gift Packs include:
Attraction Discounts: Participating scenic spots are offering tickets at up to 50% off, along with special promotions based on the Chinese zodiac and combo passes, making sightseeing more affordable for families, tourists, and locals alike.
Cultural & Festive Activities: The discounts are complemented by a rich lineup of supporting events, including intangible cultural heritage performances, interactive pet-themed activities for the Chinese Lunar New Year, traditional market fairs, and bazaars featuring China-chic trends -- all crafted to enhance the festive atmosphere.
Integrated Experience Packages: Many venues are bundling accommodation with entry tickets or themed tours, creating convenient and cost-effective ways to explore Shanghai during the holiday period.
Themed Tourism Products: Travel agencies and hotels have curated itineraries with a "Spring Festival vibe" and activities for "Spring Celebration" that cover family-friendly, cultural, and rural leisure experiences, providing multiple options for holiday outings.
The gift packs initiative aligns with the ongoing "Discover Shanghai" Tourism Guide Super Competition, which has inspired practical and innovative tour recommendations now being developed into actual tourism products. The competition's winning guides are expected to be widely used by visitors during the Spring Festival.
Industry observers note that Shanghai continues to strengthen its appeal as a winter destination by combining affordability with cultural depth. The Spring Festival Gift Packs not only make travel more economical but also immerse visitors in the local customs and vibrant spirit of Shanghai during the most important traditional holiday in China.
The offers will be available throughout the Chinese Lunar New Year holiday period, with detailed information accessible through official tourism platforms such as "Hu Xiaoyou" and Trip.com. Through this Spring Festival Gift Packs Initiative, Shanghai demonstrates its commitment to creating a welcoming, dynamic, and visitor-friendly holiday environment, inviting everyone to enjoy a memorable and affordable Chinese Lunar New Year in the city.
Source: Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism
On January 27, Universal Studios Japan, operated by USJ LLC, and The Pokemon Company announced their plan to offer more innovative, immersive, and world-class Pokemon experiences. The project is part of Universal Studios Japan's ongoing effort to enhance its offerings and bring fan-first, trip-driving characters to the park.
Universal Studios Japan is proud to build on its prior success and bring to life the world of Pokemon in new and enriching ways for the first time. Following its debut in Japan, Universal Destinations & Experiences will deliver unique Pokemon experiences across the company's global footprint. Further details about the project will be announced at a later date.
Mark Woodbury, Chairman and CEO, Universal Destinations & Experiences "Collaborating with imaginative and inventive storytellers fuels our ability to create and deliver mind-blowing attractions and experiences that shatter guest expectations. The Pokemon Company is one of the most beloved interactive franchises in the world, and through our ongoing partnership, we will continue bringing its vibrant world to life in new and innovative ways for years to come."
Tak Murayama, Executive Vice President & General Manager, USJ LLC "Since October 2021, Universal Studios Japan has been delivering Pokemon experiences such as parades and shows to guests from around the world. A bold new global project is set to begin at Universal Studios Japan, creating unprecedented and innovative experiences in collaboration with Pokemon -- a beloved franchise born in Japan and cherished worldwide. We are proud to launch this journey from Japan, delivering extraordinary moments filled with surprise and excitement that will far exceed our guests' expectations. We believe this global project will transcend traditional entertainment and contribute meaningfully to society, embodying the very spirit of 'NO LIMIT!'"
Tsunekazu Ishihara, President and CEO, The Pokemon Company "Since announcing our long-term alliance in 2021, we have collaborated with Universal Studios Japan to produce authentic Pokemon experiences such as the NO LIMIT! Parade and Halloween shows. As Pokemon celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, we are thrilled to launch this new project at such a significant milestone. Our mission is to enrich both the real and virtual worlds through Pokemon, and with this project, we aim to create theme park entertainment that surprises and delights fans around the globe."
ABOUT UNIVERSAL DESTINATIONS & EXPERIENCES Universal Destinations & Experiences, a unit of Comcast NBCUniversal, offers guests around the world the most innovative, immersive and popular entertainment experiences. Its portfolio is comprised of world-class theme parks featuring the industry's most thrilling and technologically advanced attractions, exceptional hotels and resorts, unique merchandise, games, virtual and live entertainment experiences. It uses its rich collection of stories and franchises -- from Universal Pictures, Illumination, DreamWorks Animation and more -- to take people to places they couldn't imagine while creating memorable and emotionally fulfilling moments for people of all ages. Further details: https://corporate.universaldestinationsandexperiences.com/
ABOUT UNIVERSAL STUDIOS JAPAN Universal Studios Japan is wholly owned by Comcast NBCUniversal. Universal Studios Japan has succeeded in establishing its position as a prominent entertainment and leisure landmark, drawing many guests from distant areas in Japan and overseas. Universal Studios Japan offers world-class entertainment, such as authentic attractions and shows, based not only on Hollywood blockbusters but also popular entertainment brands such as Japanese anime and a variety of seasonal events, entertaining its guests with the world's highest-quality entertainment. Through "Super Emotional" and "Super Exciting" experiences made possible only at Universal Studios Japan, all park visitors are given the opportunity to break out of their shells and be "Super Energized" in the "Super Energetic District" that is Universal Studios Japan.
Universal Studios Japan has continued to evolve since its opening in 2001. It has recently accelerated its growth with the launch of world-class entertainment experiences such as The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, The Flying Dinosaur, which soars through the entire Jurassic Park area, Minion Park, and the "Hacha Mecha Ride" where guests are able to enjoy the chaotic antics of the Minions, and SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, where guests can unleash their passion to play in an immersive environment based on world-renowned Nintendo characters and their worlds.
ABOUT THE POKEMON COMPANY The Pokemon Company was established to manage the Pokemon brand. Currently, the company develops and produces video games, which is where Pokemon originates, as well as trading card games, animated TV series and movies, merchandise, tie-up promotions, events, and the Pokemon Center, directly-managed Pokemon shops.
Note: Pokemon - the correct notation is e with an accent mark.
HARRY POTTER and all related characters and elements (C) & (TM) Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Publishing Rights (C) J.K. Rowling. MINIONS TM & (C) 2026 Universal Studios. (C) Nintendo TM & (C) Universal Studios & Amblin Entertainment Universal elements and all related indicia TM & (C) 2026 Universal Studios. All rights reserved.
ยูนิเวอร์แซล สตูดิโอ เจแปน มีการพัฒนาอย่างต่อเนื่องนับตั้งแต่เปิดให้บริการครั้งแรกในปี 2544 และล่าสุดก็เติบโตอย่างรวดเร็วด้วยการเปิดประสบการณ์ความบันเทิงระดับโลกมากมาย เช่น โซน The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, เครื่องเล่นรถไฟเหาะ The Flying Dinosaur ที่แล่นผ่านทั่วโซน Jurassic Park, โซน Minion Park และเครื่องเล่น "Hacha Mecha Ride" ที่ผู้มาเยือนจะได้สนุกสนานไปกับความวุ่นวายของเหล่ามินเนี่ยน และโซน SUPER NINTENDO WORLD ที่ผู้มาเยือนจะได้ดื่มด่ำไปกับโลกของเกมอย่างสมจริง รายล้อมไปด้วยคาแรคเตอร์ดังระดับโลกจากเกมนินเทนโด ท่ามกลางโลกของคาแรคเตอร์เหล่านี้
On the evening of January 23, the 32nd Zigong International Dinosaur Lantern Festival officially opened at the Chinese Colored Lantern World in Zigong, Sichuan Province, as 11 large-scale lantern installations and more than 200 smaller displays lit up in succession. Originating in the Tang dynasty and passed down for over a millennium, this luminous celebration shines anew today through the dynamic fusion of tradition and technology.
Hosted by the People's Government of Zigong City, the festival immerses visitors in a sea of shifting light and shadow from the moment they pass through the 35-meter-high entrance gate. A colossal Kunpeng - the legendary giant fish and bird recorded in the Daoist classic Zhuangzi: Carefree Wandering - spreads its wings over a span of 210 meters and rises 32 meters high. Mythical beast lanterns inspired by the ancient Chinese classic The Classic of Mountains and Seas come to life alongside a blazing Fire Phoenix whose wings are assembled from 15,000 chili peppers, resembling frozen evening clouds; a radiant Water Qilin reconstructed from 46,000 recycled medicine bottles; and the imposing "Jinmaohou", a creature from Chinese mythology crafted from 2,000 jin (equivalent to one ton) of hand-harvested rice straw. Romantic imaginations rooted in traditional Chinese culture are transformed into fantastical, immersive scenes.
In the "Creative Dream Lanterns" zone, the displays find their muse in nearly 6,000 children's drawings from around the world. From robots to the cosmos and dinosaurs, the boundless whimsy of childhood has been meticulously brought to life by Zigong lantern artisans. The result is a luminous tapestry that bridges young hearts and dreams across the globe in the most enchanting way.
More than a visual spectacle, the lantern festival also brings out a technology-infused amusement park. The vividly rendered "Legend of Mulan" lantern installation has gone viral online, depicting Hua Mulan - the iconic female general of ancient China - riding alongside her steed, her gaze resolute and her hair flowing. "The most challenging part of character lanterns is capturing facial expressions," said the creative team. "Compared with last year, we introduced 3D modeling at an earlier stage. During production, we increased the density of the facial wire framework, placing steel wires at three-centimeter intervals on average. "
A 22-meter-tall, endearing beast named "Niannian" has become a favorite among children. Equipped with long-distance voice interaction technology, it can "understand" visitors' commands and engage in smooth, natural dialogues. Inside a 30-meter-high auspicious gourd lantern, an integrated sound, light, and electrical projection system animates the domed ceiling, allowing visitors to reach out and seemingly "catch" dynamic characters of light falling from above.
Since ancient times, lantern viewing has been a cherished Chinese folk custom for celebrating festivals. The Zigong Lantern Festival traces its origins to New Year lighting traditions in the Tang dynasty and is now inscribed on China's national list of intangible cultural heritage.
Today, with Zigong lanterns traveling to over 500 cities across more than 80 countries and regions worldwide, a traditional folk practice has become a brilliant calling card of Chinese culture.
The Zigong lantern industry racks up over 6 billion yuan in annual output, sustaining a workforce of more than 100,000 people and claiming a share of 85% in the domestic lantern market. In 2025 alone, enterprises in Zigong's lantern industry delivered 112 lantern projects across 85 cities in 19 countries, such as the United States, France, and the Netherlands, with a global market share of 92%.
In March 2025, Zigong Lantern Group entered into long-term cooperation agreements with France's GL Events Group and Chile's FISA Group. Under the agreements, the "Chinese Lantern Festival" will be staged on an ongoing basis in both France and Chile.
-Revamps Security, Environmental Performance, and Buyer's Consolidation Operations-
Nippon Express Logistics (Thailand) Co., Ltd. (hereinafter "NX Logistics Thailand"), a group company of NIPPON EXPRESS HOLDINGS, INC., moved its container freight station (CFS) in the Lat Krabang district of Bangkok to another location within that same district and made significant upgrades in equipment and functions at the new site before commencing operations there in December 2025.
The Lat Krabang district is located approximately 20 km from the center of the capital city of Bangkok and about 100 km from Laem Chabang Port, Thailand's largest international trade port. It also offers excellent access to the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) being promoted by the Thai government. Proximity to surrounding industrial parks where numerous Japanese companies have established operations, combined with its location outside urban traffic restriction zones, enables smooth transportation with minimal time constraints. NX Logistics Thailand will be transforming its newly relocated CFS in this district into a state-of-the-art facility by bolstering its rapid response capabilities for cargo handling and further enhancing coordination with manufacturing and distribution hubs.
The new Lat Krabang CFS offers considerably enhanced security that employs fingerprint-based access control and 24-hour manned security. It also features equipment such as solar panels for self-generated power and electric forklifts that help reduce the facility's environmental impact and enable sustainable operations.
Additionally, this CFS supports buyer's consolidation (BC)* services that organize dedicated consolidated ocean freight shipments for specific consignees. By customizing container loading to match a customer's operational workflow--e.g., loading cargo in the order in which it will be unloaded, stored and displayed at its destination--the CFS helps streamline unloading and warehouse sorting operations at destination.
NX Logistics Thailand currently provides its own less-than-container load (LCL) ocean freight shipping services from Thailand to 14 destinations worldwide. To meet growing demand for exports from Thailand to India, the company added services to Delhi to its lineup in 2025. Furthermore, the new Eastern Seaboard Logistics Center established in July 2025 in the eastern Thai province of Rayong will serve as a satellite hub capable of handling LCL cargo, enhancing the company's capacity to meet diversifying transportation needs. Leveraging established supply chains and robust infrastructure, the company will continue to provide highly convenient and quality sea freight services as Thailand heightens its presence both within Southeast Asia and as an export hub to the Indian market.
The NX Group remains committed to building high-quality global logistics platforms to support its customers' businesses from a logistics perspective.
*An approach where a single consignee consolidates cargo from multiple suppliers into a container
New CFS profile https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kkcOp8FnbmayseIEdCe7c7MHO6_3DZSt/view?usp=drive_link
About the NX Group: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mbvBL6C8THZNrR5LREgGeafNkEdaAmV-/view?usp=drive_link
NX Group official website: https://www.nipponexpress.com/
NX Group's official LinkedIn account: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nippon-express-group/
The Japan Prize Foundation announced the winners of the 2026 Japan Prize on January 21, 2026. Prof. Cynthia Dwork (USA) has received the Japan Prize in the field of Electronics, Information, and Communication. Prof. Shizuo Akira (Japan) and Prof. Zhijian "James" Chen (USA) have received the Japan Prize in the field of Life Sciences.
- Field Eligible for the Award: Electronics, Information, and Communication
For this year's Japan Prize, Prof. Dwork is being recognized for her contribution to leading research for building an ethical digital society, including differential privacy and fairness. Prof. Akira and Prof. Chen are being honored for their discovery of the nucleic acid sensing mechanism by the innate immune system.
For the 2026 Japan Prize, the Foundation asked approximately 16,000 prominent scientists and engineers from around the world to nominate researchers working in this year's eligible fields. The Foundation received 107 nominations for the field of Electronics, Information, and Communication, and 185 nominations for the field of Life Sciences. This year's winners were selected from a total of 292 nominees.
About the Japan Prize
The establishment of the Japan Prize in 1981 was motivated by the Japanese government's desire to create an internationally recognized award that would contribute to scientific and technological development around the world. With the support of numerous donations, the Japan Prize Foundation received endorsement from the Cabinet Office in 1983.
The Japan Prize is awarded to scientists and engineers from around the world who have made creative and dramatic achievements that help progress their fields and contribute significantly to realizing peace and prosperity for all humanity. Researchers in all fields of science and technology are eligible for the award, with two fields selected each year in consideration of current trends in scientific and technological development. In principle, one individual in each field is recognized with the award, and receives a certificate, a medal, and a monetary prize. Each presentation ceremony is attended by the reigning Emperor and Empress, heads of the three branches of government and other related officials, and representatives from various other elements of society.
นวัตกรรมนี้ไม่เพียงช่วยแก้ไขปัญหาสิ่งแวดล้อม แต่ยังสร้างมูลค่าเพิ่มทางเศรษฐกิจ หนุนเศรษฐกิจชุมชนและส่งเสริมซอฟต์พาวเวอร์ (Soft Power) ของไทยไปสู่เวทีโลกด้วย จนได้รับรางวัลดีเด่นการประกวดผลงานนวัตกรรมสายอุดมศึกษาประจำปี 2567 ด้านพลังงาน สิ่งแวดล้อม เทคโนโลยี และ BCG Economy Model ในงานมหกรรมงานวิจัยแห่งชาติ 2567 และได้รับรางวัล Excellence Award ในงาน The 24th International FABI Fashion Exhibition 2024 จาก Korean Society of Fashion Business ประเทศเกาหลีใต้ รวมถึงยังได้รับทุนสนับสนุนต่อยอดวิทยานิพนธ์ปริญญาเอกในการขยายฐานการผลิตเส้นใยและผืนผ้าทอฯ ในทุน Innovation to Business จากสำนักงานการวิจัยแห่งชาติ (วช.)
การผสานระหว่างความเชื่อเรื่องมงคลกับความรับผิดชอบต่อสิ่งแวดล้อมนี้ทำให้ผลิตภัณฑ์จากเส้นใยทุเรียนตอบโจทย์ความต้องการของกลุ่มลูกค้า Gen Y ได้อย่างลงตัว ซึ่งเมื่อนำผลิตภัณฑ์ลงสู่ตลาดจริงผ่านการทดสอบออกบูธ ก็ได้ผลตอบรับที่เกินความคาดหมาย ผู้บริโภคให้ความสนใจและกระแสตอบรับเป็นอย่างดี สะท้อนให้เห็นว่ากลุ่มตลาดเป้าหมายที่กำหนดไว้ตั้งแต่ต้นนั้นถูกต้องและตรงกับความต้องการที่แท้จริงของผู้บริโภค
