In this episode ofHoliday Blues, we dive into a familiar but rarely named emotional state: the quiet psychological turbulence that builds in the days leading up to a major holiday. Beneath the festive music, travel ads, and cheerful expectations lies a dense mix of anxiety, worry, and relentless busyness that many people experience—but struggle to articulate. Through an insightful, conversational deep dive, this episode introduces the concept of “pre-holiday syndrome,” breaking it down into three core symptoms: time-driven anxiety, uncertainty-fueled worry, and fragmented, exhausting busyness. From the surreal experience of being physically at work while mentally halfway home, to the high-stakes battle of booking tickets, and the emotional paralysis of choosing the “right” gift, the discussion reveals why the season meant for reunion so often feels overwhelming.
A burly tractor rumbles across the vast snowfield, hauling two snaking lines of adventurers. Each is nestled in an inflatable snow tube, all roped together, gliding effortlessly through the howling wind and swirling snow with cries of delight. 一輛粗壯的拖拉機在遼闊的雪原上轟鳴前行，牽引著兩條蜿蜒的遊客隊伍。遊客們各自坐在充氣雪圈中，被繩索串聯在一起，在呼嘯的寒風和飛旋的雪花中輕快滑行，歡呼聲此起彼伏。 At the Jingpo Lake scenic area in Ning'an, Heilongjiang province, the sled takes them to the lake's frozen heart to witness the traditional winter ice fishing. 在黑龍江省寧安市的鏡泊湖景區，雪橇將遊客帶到冰封湖面的核心區域，近距離觀賞傳統的冬季冰上捕魚活動。 The fishermen chant and carefully lower a massive net into the icy depths. The climax comes when dozens of them work together to haul the net up, revealing a spectacular harvest of fish leaping onto the ice. 漁民們一邊高聲吟唱，一邊小心翼翼地將巨大的漁網放入冰冷的湖水深處。高潮時刻隨之到來，數十人齊心協力將漁網拉出水面，成群活...
China's national immigration authorities significantly enhanced their service efficiency in 2025, processing a record 697 million border crossings, a 14.2 percent increase from the previous year. 2025年，中國國家出入境管理機關大幅提升服務效率，處理出入境人次達6.97億次，創歷史新高，較上年增長14.2%。 According to data announced by the National Immigration Administration on Wednesday, foreign nationals accounted for more than 82 million crossings, a year-on-year rise of 26 percent. Notably, over 30 million foreign nationals entered China visa-free, almost 50 percent more than last year, making up 73 percent of all foreign entries. 根據國家移民管理局週三公布的數據，外國公民跨境入境超過8200萬人次，同比增長26%。值得注意的是，逾3000萬外國公民免簽入境中國，較去年增長近50%，占外國入境總量的73%。 Residents from the Chinese mainland made 335 million crossings, up 15 percent, while those from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan made nearly 280 million crossings, up 10 percent compared with 2024. 來自中...
The recent surge in users in the United States abandoning TikTok after the announcement of a so-called "Americanized" joint venture offers an ironic footnote to the long-running political drama around the popular video-sharing app. 美國用戶近期大規模放棄TikTok的現象，恰恰為圍繞這款熱門視頻分享應用的長期政治風波增添了諷刺性的注腳。此前美國政府宣布將成立所謂“美國化”的合資企業。 For years, some US politicians have claimed that TikTok represents a grave "national security threat". Invoking slogans such as "privacy leakage risks" and "China threatens US data security" they created the specter of "Big Brother spying" on users of the app in the US. 多年來，美國某些政客聲稱TikTok構成嚴重的“國家安全威脅”。他們打著“隱私泄露風險”和“中國威脅美國數據安全”等口號，在美國用戶中制造出“老大哥監視”的幽靈。 Yet, now that a deal has been forced through for US capital to acquire control of the app in the country under these pretexts, it is not China that users in the US appear to fear. It is th...
Hundreds of thousands of supportive viewers flooded actor Li Yapeng's Douyin livestream on Friday, snapping up tea products in a charity-driven surge aimed at helping save from closure a children's hospital he cofounded. 上週五，數十萬支持者湧入演員李亞鵬的抖音直播間，在慈善熱潮中搶購茶產品，旨在幫助挽救他參與創辦的一家瀕臨關閉的兒童醫院。 The outpouring of public support followed widespread attention to the financial plight of Beijing Smile Angel Children's Hospital, founded by Li in 2012, which provides free and subsidizedcleft lip and palate surgeries. 公眾的慷慨支持源於北京嫣然天使兒童醫院的財務困境引發廣泛關注。該兒童醫院由李亞鵬於2012年創立，致力於為唇齶裂患兒提供補貼以及免費手術。 The hospital faces accumulated debts exceeding 26 million yuan ($3.5 million) in unpaid rent and fees, and risks being shut down. 該醫院面臨累計逾2600萬元（約合350萬美元）的租金及費用拖欠債務，面臨停業風險。 After Li addressed the hospital's situation online earlier this month, donations to the Smil...
Kim Keon-hee, wife of the impeached former South Korean president Yoon Suk-yeol, was sentenced to 20 months in prison for taking bribes, live footage showed Wednesday. 週三的直播畫面顯示，韓國被彈劾的前總統尹錫悅的妻子金建希因受賄被判處20個月監禁。 The Seoul Central District Court handed down the prison sentence with a forfeiture of 12.81 million won (about 9,010 US dollars), saying Kim exploited her position as the first lady for private profit. 首爾中央地方法院作出上述判決，並判處没收1281萬韓元（約合9010美元），法院認定金建希利用第一夫人的身份謀取私利。 The court found her not guilty of the charges of violating the capital markets act and the political funds act. 法院裁定其不構成違反《資本市場法》和《政治資金法》的罪名。 Kim was charged with receiving valuables from Unification Church officials in return for favorable treatment of the religious group in 2022.The court rejected the special counsel's claim of Kim's involvement in stock rigging, saying it was difficult to confirm ...
Spurred by the government's "Shopping in China" initiative and other consumption-supporting measures, customs authorities in top-tier cities reported a strong increase in tax refund volumes in 2025 and forecast further growth this year. 在政府“中國購物”倡議及其他消費扶持措施的推動下，2025年一線城市海關退稅量顯著增長，並預測今年將持續攀升。 According to Guangzhou Customs, Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport Customs in Guangdong province processed more than 50,000 departure tax-refund applications from overseas travelers in 2025, with the total value of refund claims exceeding 496 million yuan ($71.3 million). 據廣州海關統計，2025年廣東省廣州白雲國際機場海關為出境旅客辦理退稅申請逾5萬筆，退稅金額累計超過4.96億元人民幣（合7130萬美元）。 The figures show year-on-year increases of 470 percent in the number of applications and 60 percent in the total refund amount. 數據顯示，申請數量同比增長470%，退稅總額同比增長60%。 At the tax refund counter of Terminal 1 at the Guangzhou airport, ...
Chinese tourist numbers to Japan have plummeted amid diplomatic frictions, security warnings, large-scale flight cancellations, and growing concerns over natural disasters and disease outbreaks, experts said on Tuesday. 專家週二表示，受外交摩擦、安全警告、大規模航班取消以及對自然災害和疾病暴發的擔憂加劇影響，赴日中國遊客數量急劇下降。 Chinese carriers have canceled nearly half of all flights from the Chinese mainland to Japan this month. The downturn began in November, when remarks by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi involving Taiwan triggered public backlash, according to Yang Jinsong, a researcher at the China Tourism Academy. 中國航空公司本月已取消近半數從中國大陸飛往日本的航班。中國旅遊研究院研究員楊勁鬆指出，自去年11月日本首相高市早苗涉及臺灣問題的言論引發公眾強烈反響后，航班量便開始下滑。 Yang said the drop in traveler demand is the result of multiple overlapping factors. "In addition to fluctuations in bilateral relations that have fueled public sentiment, travelers are...
Journalists invited to cover the 2026 two sessions China is inviting journalists from home and abroad to cover the annual sessions of its national legislature and national political advisory body, as the media center for the two sessions is scheduled to open in Beijing on Feb 27, according to an official statement on Tuesday. 中國政府週二發表聲明稱，將邀請國內外記者報道全國人大和全國政協年度會議。兩會新聞中心定於2月27日在北京開放。 The fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress is set to begin on March 5, while the fourth session of the 14th Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee is scheduled to kick off on March 4. 第十四屆全國人民代表大會第四次會議定於3月5日開幕，而第十四屆中國人民政治協商會議全國委員會第四次會議則定於3月4日召開。 News coverage of the two sessions can be conducted through various methods, with a strong emphasis on on-site reporting, the statement noted, which was jointly issued by the general offices of the National People...
Move over Labubu. Equine collectibles and keepsakes are capturing the hearts — and wallets — of consumers in the run-up to Chinese New Year. 在春節臨近之際，馬主題收藏品和紀念品正俘獲著消費者的心以及錢包。 As the spirited horse — a symbol of good fortune and success in the Chinese zodiac — kicks up a wave of cultural creativity matching the magnetic appeal of the ubiquitous Pop Mart dolls, the approaching Year of the Horse is helping many shops do brisk business. 隨著充滿活力的、在中國生肖中象征好運與成功的象征“馬”掀起一股與無處不在的泡泡瑪特玩偶同樣具有磁性吸引力的文化創造浪潮，即將到來的馬年正助力眾多店鋪生意興隆。 The Beijing Gongmei Group's Yuxun Jingxi store is a classic example. "We've noticed that horse-themed items boasting intricate craftsmanship, cultural stories and contextual significance are particularly popular among our customers," said Wang Jingjing, deputy general manager of the group. 北京工美集團予尋景西店便是典型案例。該集團副總經理王晶晶表示：“我們注意到...