A gala celebrating the 12th National Traditional Games of Ethnic Minorities of China was held in Sanya of southern Hainan Province on Tuesday afternoon, showcasing the country's rich cultural diversity and national cohesion among diverse ethnic groups.
The gala kicked off at Tianya Haijiao, the iconic scenic site in Sanya, referring to the "ends of the earth" in Chinese. Athletes and guests were treated to a variety of interactive activities, including lively performances of traditional songs and dances, as well as displays showcasing intangible cultural heritage projects.
This year, Hong Kong and Macao officially formed delegations to participate in the Games for the first time, while Taiwan continued to send a delegation to compete.
The dragon boat team members from Hong Kong exchanged gifts with the team from southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. "We are very happy with our first-ever participation. The Games has enabled us to acquaint with friends from different ethnic groups and experience the sentiment of the big family of the Chinese nation," said Wong Hei-man, a member of the dragon boat team from Hong Kong. "We can learn and progress together. Through competitions, we can enhance understanding and cultural identity among the various ethnic groups from different provinces. It also makes us feel that all 56 ethnic groups are tightly united like pomegranate seeds. I feel great joy and happiness," said Chen Changyu, an athlete from Jiangxi's delegation.
The Games runs from Nov 22 to 30.
Gala for ethnic minorities games showcases cultural diversity, national cohesion
Gala for ethnic minorities games showcases cultural diversity, national cohesion
The combination of the Shenzhou-23 crewed spacecraft and the Long March-2F Y23 carrier rocket commenced its transfer to the launch area at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on Saturday.
Wind conditions at the launch site are moderate and the weather is clear, making it ideal for the combination's transfer.
With the support of a mobile platform, engineers are transferring the combination vertically towards the launch tower.
The rocket-spaceship assembly stands nearly 60 meters tall.
Such a colossal structure is connected to the mobile platform at its base by only four support points.
With a high center of gravity and a small support area, every step of the transfer must be carried out with the utmost care and caution.
China's manned rocket launch adopts a method where, after the rocket and spacecraft arrive at the site, a series of pre-launch preparations are completed through vertical assembly, vertical testing, and vertical transport.
Vertical assembly involves assembling the rocket and spacecraft inside the final assembly and testing building.
Once testing is complete, the spacecraft-rocket assembly possesses a fully integrated and stable structure.
From this time until launch, the assembly remains in an upright position, which ensures its stability.
After leaving the final assembly and testing facility, the combination will be transferred vertically along a 1.5-kilometer-long seamless steel rail to the launch pad.
This method protects the rocket from natural elements such as wind, sand, rain, and snow, while also reducing the rocket's dwell time in the launch area, thereby enhancing launch efficiency and safety.
Combination of Shenzhou-23 crewed spacecraft, rocket begins transfer to launch area
