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Millions revel in nature, cultural feast during China's May Day holiday

China

China

China

Millions revel in nature, cultural feast during China's May Day holiday

2024-05-01 23:03 Last Updated At:05-02 15:47

Tourists across China are enjoying the five-day International Workers' Day, or May Day, holiday availing themselves of plentiful sunshine, spring flowers and vibrant local festivities to make the most of this special time of year.

In Anhui province's Shexian County, picturesque peach blossom gardens were in full bloom, providing the perfect backdrop for relaxation and photography.

In Dandong City, in the northeastern province of Liaoning, tourists strolled through vast fields of fragrant cherry blossoms while thousands of miles away in Wujiaqu, a county-level city in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, 2.8 million tulips added a splash of color for visitors.

"The flowers are blooming beautifully. I'm very happy, and came out to relax and touch nature. I feel very relaxed here," said Zhao Xiaoqin, a tourist.

For those reluctant to take long tours, urban parks also hosted lively celebrations.

In Suzhou in Jiangsu Province, several famous classical gardens saw record visitor numbers with over 35,000 people flocking to the Humble Administrator's Garden, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to admire the scenic views.

Colorful hot air balloons in Hebei Province's Lulong County provided an immersive experience as crowds stopped to capture the vibrant displays on camera.

In Beijing’s Beihai Park the number of tourists has hit a record high so far this year. Tourists enjoyed boat rides and browsed new handicrafts at the park's lakeside on what was one of the busiest days of the year so far.

"Today we come here mainly to row a boat, and then we want to visit the cultural creation shop. The whole process is very happy," said Li Chen, a tourist.

For some, cultural exploration was the main attraction.

In Yunnan Province's city of Mile, visitors learned ethnic dances and went shopping in a cultural products fair. In China's northeastern province of Heilongjiang, spectators were treated to shadow puppetry shows.

Meanwhile in Sichuan Province's Dazhou City, the ethnic Tujia people staged traditional dances and folk performances to welcome visitors.

"It is impressive and makes me feel the very rich ethnic customs," said Zhou Li, a tourist.

Alternative agri-tainment activities like tea-picking and rural harvest tours proved popular as well. In Zhengzhou City in Henan Province, guests picked fresh cherries and enjoyed a sound sleep in farm houses after experiencing nature up close.

Others enjoyed scenic lakeside camping, music and food in Jilin Province's Meihekou county-level city. Floating down rivers in bamboo rafts amid lush scenery appealed to tourists in Pixiang City of Jiangxi Province.

By offering a glimpse into diverse local customs and flavors, China's colorful May Day celebrations brought joy to visitors and residents alike with their vibrant displays of art, culture and community spirit.

Millions revel in nature, cultural feast during China's May Day holiday

Millions revel in nature, cultural feast during China's May Day holiday

Millions revel in nature, cultural feast during China's May Day holiday

Millions revel in nature, cultural feast during China's May Day holiday

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Displaced Gaza residents suffer unbearable anguish in "humanitarian zone"

2024-05-17 11:58 Last Updated At:12:37

The Israeli military has continued its military operation in the southern Gaza Strip, forcing a large number of Gaza residents to flee to Al-Mawasi, west of Khan Younis. The so-called humanitarian zone, as decreed by Israel, is in fact a sandy wasteland with almost no facilities to provide basic humanitarian needs.

Al-Mawasi stretches approximately 12 kilometers long and one kilometer wide, occupying just 4 percent of the entire Gaza Strip. Once a coastal desert with about 9,000 residents, it now shelters hundreds of thousands of displaced people.

Makeshift tents constructed from wooden boards and plastic sheets divide the once sandy ground into narrow pathways, surrounded by heaps of trash and clothes worn by refugees, who walk barefoot on the sandy terrain.

Raed Abu Taima, a man in his 40s from central Gaza, has experienced the hardships of displacement. Over the past six months, he and his family have repeatedly fled due to Israeli military actions.

"We left our home with nothing and sought refuge in a school. We lived there for four months until the Israeli army surrounded us and forced us to leave. We didn't even have blankets. We walked through the Israeli checkpoints to reach Rafah. We have no tents or blankets, we have nothing," he said.

However, before reaching Rafah, Raed encountered another Israeli military blockade and was apprehended for 52 days. It was only after the Israeli army determined that he had no affiliation with armed organizations that he was released in Khan Yunis. Thereafter, Raed embarked on a search to find his family in Al-Mawasi.

Although he was eventually reunited with his family, Raed found that Al-Mawasi lacks any public services. Food is sporadically distributed by UN agencies and consists of limited supplies of flour and vegetables, while water needs to be fetched from distant wells. Every day, Raed scours for firewood and scraps of paper to cook meals.

"We don't have gas for cooking, and there is no food available in the market. Food and basic supplies are only distributed to us through relief organizations. Our lives seem to have turned into a desert. Poor sanitation conditions have led to the spread of diseases among children. One of my children has diarrhea and another has contracted chickenpox," he said.

Displaced Gaza residents suffer unbearable anguish in "humanitarian zone"

Displaced Gaza residents suffer unbearable anguish in "humanitarian zone"

Displaced Gaza residents suffer unbearable anguish in "humanitarian zone"

Displaced Gaza residents suffer unbearable anguish in "humanitarian zone"

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