People across China enjoy vibrant spring blooms during Qingming Festival holiday

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠People across China have been enjoying the spring blossoms during the three-day Qingming Festival holiday, which began on Friday, with tourists taking full advantage of the break to explore parks and delight in the vibrant display of blooming flowers.

With a 2,500-year history, the Qingming Festival -- also known as the Festival of Pure Brightness -- is observed in early April and uniquely blends ancestral worship with the celebration of spring.

Flower viewing, the traditional custom of enjoying beautiful blossoms in spring, is one of the most popular activities during the Qingming holiday.

Pear blossoms are in full bloom in the picturesque ancient town of Lili, Suzhou, in eastern China's Jiangsu Province. Clusters of white petals cover the branches, creating a stunning springtime scene.

Cultural and creative products inspired by pear blossoms have become new consumer favorites, with the "Pear Blossom Latte" emerging as a seasonal hit.

Colorful tents dot the lawn of a lakeside park in Wuning County, Jiujiang City, in eastern China's Jiangxi Province. Tourists gather around camping stoves to make tea and enjoy picnics, while children fly kites or play in the sandpit, savoring the leisure of spring days.

"Because it's relatively close to the county center, the air here is fresh, and the natural scenery is beautiful. It's a lovely place to bring children and enjoy the holiday," said Huang Yuanmei, a tourist.

In Wuhai City, located in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, blooming peach blossoms in various parks have drawn crowds of tourists eager to admire the dazzling sea of flowers.

Meanwhile, many visitors head to the Wuhai Lake scenic area for birdwatching, hoping to capture the joy of witnessing birds in their most striking moments.

"The water is clear and the sky is blue. The scenery is beautiful, creating a sense of calm and happiness. It also brings a refreshing and novel feeling. I think it's truly wonderful," said Liu Linlin, a visitor.

China's outstanding aggregate social financing -- the total amount of financing to the real economy -- reached 442.12 trillion yuan (about 63.4 trillion U.S. dollars) as of the end of 2025, up 8.3 percent year on year, central bank data showed on Thursday.

The country's aggregate social financing stood at 35.6 trillion yuan (about 5.1 trillion U.S. dollars) in 2025, up by 3.34 trillion yuan (about 479 billion U.S. dollars) from the year 2024, said the People's Bank of China (PBOC), the country's central bank.

According to the data, the M2, a broad measure of money supply that covers cash in circulation and all deposits, increased 8.5 percent year on year to 340.29 trillion yuan (about 48.8 trillion U.S. dollars) as of the end of December.

In addition, outstanding yuan loans stood at 271.91 trillion yuan (about 39 trillion U.S. dollars) at the end of 2025, up 6.4 percent year on year.