Flocks of people are traveling across China, attending various cultural activities at tourist attractions as well as having a bite of local delicacies during their five-day May Day holiday that started on Wednesday.
Visitors at Huizhou District, Huangshan City of east China's Anhui Province can enjoy themselves by dressing up in ancient costumes, sitting in pavilion and taking part in a cultural activity called "playing catch with embroidered ball".
In the past, an embroidered ball was a symbol of love. A girl could choose her husband by throwing the ball to a young man she liked. The tourist attraction recreated this scene to allow visitors to immerse themselves in cultural enrichment.
In the Laojun Mountain Scenic Area of Luanchuan County, Luoyang City of central China's Henan Province, tourists would ascend to the mountaintop to gaze into the distance, enjoying the magnificent scenery where nature and culture blend harmoniously.
According to statistics from the scenic area management department, nearly 30,000 visitors were received on the first day of the holiday.
In Yixing City, east China's Jiangsu Province, a place known for its purple clay teapots, tourists are able to have hands-on experience in making their own teapots under the instructions of technicians at workshops. Their works will then be fired in electric kilns transformed from traditional ones.
Since 2020, the power supply department in Yixing has been transforming coal-fired kilns to electric-powered ones. Currently, the electric kiln coverage rate is 100 percent. This transformation not only improves the yield of fired products, but also reduces air pollution, making this intangible cultural heritage more environmentally friendly and low-carbon.
Those who want to have a bite of local delicacies were naturally drawn to a food competition held in Xiangyang City, central China's Hubei Province, and to a nostalgic morning tea market in Taizhou City, east China's Jiangsu Province as well to satisfy their taste buds.
During this May Day holiday, popular attractions in northwest China's Shaanxi Province, including the Shaanxi History Museum and Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum, attracted tourists from all over the world.
Visitors waited in line to enter the Shaanxi History Museum to eye millennia-old treasures.
"Our museum has a daily maximum limit of 12,000 visitors and adopts a staggered appointment system to control the flow of visitors. Staff members will manage the flow of people in the exhibition halls during peak times to ensure the safety of both cultural relics and visitors," said Zhang Chengbo, a staff member of the Shaanxi History Museum.
At the Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum, during the May Day holiday, the daily limit for tickets is 65,000, with the peak visiting hours starting from 10:00 to 14:00 every day.
Major tourist destinations in the province are also providing services such as overseas credit card payment acceptance and currency exchange to facilitate international visitors.
Cultural activities, local specialties draw many tourists during May Day holiday
Cultural activities, local specialties draw many tourists during May Day holiday
Cultural activities, local specialties draw many tourists during May Day holiday
Chinese President Xi Jinping held a restrictive meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday at Zhongnanhai in Beijing, during which they had in-depth exchanges on strategic issues of common concern.
The world is undergoing changes unseen in a century and entering a new period of turbulence and transformation, Xi noted, adding that in the face of the ever-evolving world landscape with volatility and turmoil, China has maintained its strategic resolve.
He said that under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, the Chinese people have overcome various difficulties and challenges, and are striving to promote high-quality development and Chinese modernization.
China is willing to work with Russia and other countries to enhance solidarity and cooperation, steer global governance in the right direction, jointly safeguard international fairness and justice, and promote world peace and common development, Xi said.
Noting that China's development is unstoppable and that no force can contain China's growth and progress, Putin said that Russia is willing to improve cooperation with China and other Global South countries to promote international fairness and justice, and to work toward a more equal and multipolar world.
The two heads of state had an in-depth exchange of views on the Ukraine crisis.
Xi elaborated on China's consistent position and efforts to promote the political settlement of the Ukraine issue, stressing that to deal with any major issue, it is necessary to address both the symptoms and the root causes, and to plan for the present as well as for the long term.
He said the core of the Global Security Initiative is advocating the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, and the fundamental solution to the Ukraine issue is to promote the establishment of a new balanced, effective and sustainable security architecture.
Xi said China supports the convening of an international peace conference recognized by Russia and Ukraine at an appropriate time with equal participation and fair discussion of all options, so as to push for an early political settlement of the Ukraine issue, and China stands ready to continue to play a constructive role in this regard.
Putin introduced the relevant views and positions of Russia, saying that Russia appreciates China's objective, just and balanced position on the Ukraine issue and welcomes China to continue to play an important and constructive role in the political settlement of the issue. Russia is committed to resolving the Ukraine issue through political negotiations and is willing to demonstrate sincerity and maintain close communication with China in this regard, he said.
Xi said that over the years, they have had many meetings and every exchange has been candid, in-depth and fruitful.
Xi said he is ready to stay in close contact with President Putin and work together to steer the development of China-Russia relations in the right direction, guide the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for the new era to achieve steady and lasting progress, bring more benefits to the two peoples, and contribute to world security and stability.
Putin thanked Xi for his warm hospitality, saying that he is willing to maintain close communication with Xi, implement the important consensus reached between them, and ensure the full development of the Russia-China comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for the new era.
Xi holds restrictive meeting with Putin at Zhongnanhai
Xi holds restrictive meeting with Putin at Zhongnanhai
Xi holds restrictive meeting with Putin at Zhongnanhai
