Snow and rime have transformed several regions across China into winter wonderlands, with stunning white peaks and frost-covered plants captivating tourists eager to experience the beauty of nature's seasonal display.
From Friday to Saturday, rain and snowfall in east China's Shandong Province created beautiful rime scenes at Mount Tai, one of China's "Five Sacred Mountains," in Tai'an City on Saturday morning.
The bushes were adorned with a shimmering layer of rime as ice covered the branches, while the mountain's peak was draped in a silver veil, its ridges and valleys elegantly decorated by frost-covered trees and shrubs that sparkled in the sunlight.
To ensure visitor safety, the Mount Tai scenic area organized snow removal efforts using snowplows and shovels. The main mountain trail now has been cleared of snow and ice, and the area remains open to tourists.
High-altitude areas in Jiujiang City, east China's Jiangxi Province, also experienced snowfall recently. As the skies cleared, stunning rime and cloud sea views emerged at Lushan Mountain and Taiping Mountain, attracting many visitors eager to hike, take in the snowy landscapes, and even build snowmen.
"Lushan Mountain is at its most beautiful when it snows. It's worth traveling thousands of miles to witness this snowy scene," said a visitor.
On Saturday morning, snowflakes gently fell over Yunyu Peak in the Huaguo Mountain scenic area of Lianyungang City, east China's Jiangsu Province, blanketing the mountain in a pristine layer of snow.
Despite the cold, the enchanting snow and rime scenes have drawn many visitors to the scenic area to capture the beauty in photos and enjoy the breathtaking views.
Snow, rime create stunning winter landscapes across China
The Japanese society should do soul-searching regarding its history of aggression and adhere to the pacifist constitution, said Shiradori Hiroshi, a professor of the Hosei University, in an interview with China Central Television (CCTV) in Tokyo on April 30.
He said the government's recent move to discuss revising the three security documents deserve particular attention as the country's foreign and security policies have already witnessed major changes.
"People outside of the country hold that Japan's post-war image as a 'peace state' is now facing a major shift. Against the backdrop of tremendous changes in its foreign and security policies, the revision of the three security documents deserves particular attention. There lacks public debate in terms of the procedure, with policy changes decided unilaterally at Cabinet meetings. It is necessary to fully explain to the public as to whether such a practice is proper," said Hiroshi.
The Japanese government held its first expert panel meeting to discuss revisions to the three security documents at the Prime Minister's Office on April 27, local media reported.
Japan's current National Security Strategy and two related documents, formulated in 2022, were designed to cover the next 10 years, but the government led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has decided to move up the timetable to accelerate the revision process.
Increasing defense spending is one of the key topics of the meeting, according to Kyodo News.
Hiroshi said this year marks the 80th anniversary of the opening of the International Military Tribunal for the Far East, or Tokyo Trials, and the Japanese society must do soul-searching regarding its history of aggression in WWII, when it brought enormous catastrophes on Asian countries.
"Eighty years have passed since the opening of the Tokyo Trials. Japan inflicted enormous suffering on Asian countries during WWII, which should serve as an opportunity for the soul-searching. It is exact on the basis of countless sacrifices that Japan's post-war pacifism and its identity as a 'peace state' took shape. On this 80th anniversary, it is necessary for Japan to re-examine and do soul-searching regarding its history," said Hiroshi.
The Japanese government's effort to revise the pacifist constitution is widely opposed by the public.
On Sunday, around 50,000 people gathered at Tokyo Rinkai Disaster Prevention Park, chanting slogans and holding banners against the government's push for constitutional revision and military expansion, the largest turnout of its kind in recent years.
Japan should adhere to pacifist constitution: scholar
