A delegation of some 40 college students from China's Taiwan region wrapped up a five-day visit to Beijing on Friday, after exploring winter sports, historical and cultural heritage, and cutting-edge technology in the capital.
The delegation, led by Hsiao Hsu-tsen, executive director of the Ma Ying-jeou Culture and Education Foundation, visited the Yanqing Olympic Zone which includes the National Alpine Skiing Center, a competition venue for the 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics, and a public skiing center.
They participated in various winter sports and experienced the thrill of ice and snow sports.
"This is my first time to Beijing. I'm quite happy and excited to have an opportunity to ski at a venue of the Winter Olympics," said a Taiwan student.
The students also explored cultural landmarks such as the Palace Museum, the Great Wall, and the Temple of Heaven to experience traditional Chinese culture, and visited the cross-Strait sci-tech innovation center, Xiaomi's automotive mega-factory to witness advanced sci-tech development.
"I think the foremost significance of this trip for our young people from Taiwan is that they experienced history and tradition, as well as innovation and sci-tech. Especially the timing of our visit happened to coincide with the Spring Festival holiday and we even celebrated the Lantern Festival here. It was a chance for people on both sides of the Strait to celebrate the traditional festival together, making it a meaningful experience for the students from Taiwan," said Hsiao.
The Taiwan students on Thursday watched the animated blockbuster Ne Zha: Demon Child Conquers the Sea, or Ne Zha 2, which has yet to be released in Taiwan. The captivating plot and impressive animation left them both moved and amazed.
Ne Zha 2 has become the first Chinese film to gross 10 billion yuan (about 1.39 billion U.S. dollars) in total global earnings, including presales.
"When they watched Ne Zha 2, the box office had surpassed 10 billion yuan, making all the students very excited, and they were more touched, as the film portrays a lot of endearing bonds. I think this was also a great experience for them to see a traditional Chinese folk tale turned to such an impressive film through the latest animation and sci-tech. And for so many years what we watched were all Western and Hollywood animated movies, yet our own animation films produced in the mainland are no inferior to Western films in terms of technology and innovation, which I think was also a new and striking experience to the students," he said.
Taiwan students experience Beijing's charm
According to the Guangxi Emergency Management Department, a rescue helicopter evacuated one patient and family members from Dieshi Village of disaster-hit Hengzhou City to the urban area for treatment on Saturday morning.
As of noon Saturday, the helicopter had completed 15 sorties totaling 18 hours and 6 minutes of flight time. The crew conducted aerial surveys over reservoirs and townships in Hengzhou, as well as districts in Guigang.
A total of 2,764 items of emergency supplies and medicine were airdropped to township governments and villages.
So far, two patients and their family members have been evacuated.
In Guigang City, five counties and districts have been affected by persistent heavy rainfall and flooding starting from early July, triggered by Typhoon Maysak, the 10th typhoon of the year.
All temporary shelters are now operating in an orderly manner, providing food, medical services and supplies.
At the No. 3 Junior High School of Qintang Street, the shelter has received a total of 640 visits from displaced residents and emergency rescue personnel since it opened on July 6.
Currently, about 190 residents and 280 rescue personnel remain at the shelter.
In addition to basic necessities, the shelter has set up a basic medical service point and a psychological counseling room to meet the diverse needs of those taking shelter.
"They provided toothbrushes, toothpaste, toiletries, quilts and pillows, as well as donated supplies including clothes," said Huang Xueqi, a resident sheltered at the school.
"We have a place to stay, food and clothing. Everything is well arranged. This flood has been devastating, but we must stay strong. We are deeply grateful for their help," said Qiu Lijian, another resident.
"The shelter has medical teams to give residents physical checkups and psychological counseling. We also set up a temporary classroom for charging devices to help people stay connected. Our supply storage room has received donations from caring enterprises across the country, so we have enough supplies. We have also prepared special items for vulnerable groups, such as baby formula and diapers. We can fully meet the living needs of those staying here," said Bi Haojun, a faculty member at the school.
Local authorities said shelters in Guigang will continue to provide resettlement services, daily necessities and supplies, with relief efforts dynamically adjusted based on residents' return and recovery progress, to ensure that the basic needs of flood-affected residents are met and they get through the flood season safely.
Helicopters airdrop supplies, evacuate sick people as Guangxi weathers rainstorm, floods
