Foreign tourists enjoy bustling nightlife, experience cultural charm of Xi'an

Foreign tourists have been experiencing the cultural charms and bustling nightlife in the historic city of Xi'an in northwest China's Shaanxi Province as they take in the sights and sounds of the Datang Everbright City, one of the most iconic scenic spots highlighting Xi'an’s glorious past.

Founded over 3,000 years ago, Xi'an served as the capital city of 13 dynasties across Chinese history, including the Tang Dynasty (618-907), one of the most prosperous eras during ancient China's feudalism history of over 2,000 years.

In a nod to this storied history, the Datang Everbright City has vividly restored the traditional characteristics of the past and has been enchanting visitors from home and abroad since it was first built in 2002.

"I have been in other parts of the world, but I never saw [anything] like this. These lights, the trees, they are very beautiful, very beautiful," said a tourist from Uruguay. 

Meanwhile, a Mexican couple currently travelling in China say they can't believe just how busy the area is even after darkness falls, and were taken by surprise by the huge crowds still swarming to the Datang Everbright City market area late on Sunday night.

"We know there're [a lot] of people. But we didn't imagine this kind of [amount of] people at this time of the day, even [because] it's Sunday, everybody has to wake up tomorrow for work," said Mexican visitor Sicily.  

Another popular attraction is a renowned theater restaurant which has hosted foreign guests for nearly 40 years. It is currently staging a musical drama about Empress Wu Zetian, China's only recorded empress who lived during the 7th century, amusing visitors with passionate performances on stage served alongside a tasty selection of local delicacies.

"I loved the music and I loved the color all the time. This is my first time to China, so I don't know if I had too many expectations, but it's been lovely, everyone has been so nice. The food has been wonderful, the history is so interesting, and I've learned a lot," said an American tourist. 

The theater-restaurant has also brought the show forward so as to give visitors more time to enjoy the many other night-time sights of Xi'an.

"We have moved the performance an hour earlier. In this case, after the guests have finished watching the performance and dining, they can continue to visit other scenic spots such as the city wall and the Datang Everbright City," said Shen Xiuwei, a staff member at the Tang Dynasty Palace restaurant in Xi'an. 

Foreign tourists enjoy bustling nightlife, experience cultural charm of Xi'an

The death toll of south Brazil rainstorm has hit 151, while another 104 people remain missing, Brazil's Civil Defense agency said Thursday.

Since torrential rains began to lash the country's southernmost state, Rio Grande do Sul, on April 29, floods and mudslides have left some 600,000 people homeless.

According to the Civil Defense agency's latest report, over 2.28 million residents have been directly impacted by the disaster in the state, which borders Argentina and Uruguay, and is a center of Brazilian agribusiness, as well as the top rice producer in Latin America.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva visited the area on Wednesday, speaking to those taking refuge in shelters, and pledged more aid for displaced families so they can buy new homes.

The government has set up an extraordinary secretariat in Porto Alegre, which has the ranking of a ministry, to coordinate relief and recovery efforts through February 2025.

In addition to government efforts, statistics show that more than 15,000 volunteers from all over Brazil have contributed to disaster relief in the region.

At a relief supply distribution center in Porto Alegre, capital of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, about 2,000 volunteers have been working in morning and evening shifts to help local authorities receive and distribute donations from all over the country.

Guilherme Miller, a local English teacher, became one of the volunteers after the rainstorms forced the closure of his school.

"Any person who has one hour to help can come here, can help. It's my duty to come here and work every day as much as I can," said Miller.

In a shelter in the hardest-hit city of Canoas, more than 260 people have lost their homes and there is a shortage of medical personnel. Fabio, a doctor of a private hospital in Porto Alegre, took the initiative to provide medical services at the shelter.

"I'm doing my best to help with both medical care and nighttime emergencies. This weekend, 200 volunteer doctors and nurses from Santa Catarina will be here to help," said Fabio.

Death toll from south Brazil's rainstorm hits 151