Nightlife tourism has been booming across China during the just-concluded five-day May Day holiday, with tourist attractions providing holidaymakers with colorful options even at night, giving rise to a strong holiday atmosphere.
The May Day holiday, running from May 1 to 5 this year, is typically one of the busiest travel periods of the year in the country. During this time, millions of Chinese travelers hit the road to visit family, explore domestic destinations, or venture abroad.
During this year's holiday, the Bencha Ancient Town in east China's Jiangsu Province, a time-honored scenic spot, became a popular attraction once again.
As night fell, light shows would illuminate the town, with acrobatics and other performances winning applause from the crowd.
"Tourists can taste nice food, see beautiful scenery and take part in amusement activities. Tourists of all ages can enjoy themselves here," said Chen Zhiming, head of the Cangcha Ancient Town.
In the Beichuan Qiang Autonomous County, southwest China's Sichuan Province, the Beichuan Qiangcheng Tourist Area was bustling with holidaymakers in the evening.
The county's night market not only offered travelers local specialties, but also entertained them with folk performances.
Visitors said they were impressed by the culture of the ethnic minority Qiang people, one of China's oldest ethnic groups.
"This place is very lively. There are delicious food to eat and fun things to do. The most important thing is the culture of the Qiang people. Their culture is everywhere. It is very nice," said Ms. Li, a tourist.
In Lianshui County, east China's Jiangsu Province, a lantern show inspired by Shanhaijing, or The Classic of Mountains and Seas, led tourists into a mysterious and magical world.
The Classic of Mountains and Seas is a major source of Chinese mythology that dates back more than 2,000 years.
Nightlife tourism booms across China during May Day holiday
A major port in northern Venezuela came under U.S. airstrikes in the early hours of January 3, which caused extensive damage to civilian infrastructure, destroyed critical medical supplies in a warehouse, and severely impacted centuries-old cultural heritage sites, according to local residents.
The La Guaira Port, a vital hub for imports that support daily life in the region, was heavily damaged during the attack.
Large quantities of medical supplies stored at the port were destroyed. A historic cultural building dating back for some 300 years was also badly damaged by the bombardment.
Residents living near the port recalled the terrifying scenes as explosions shook nearby neighborhoods.
Humberto Bolivar, who lives in a community separated from the port by only a main road, said the blast waves shattered his home's windows, while stray shrapnel struck the water tank on his roof. According to reports, three missiles were fired at the port that night.
Bolivar said that beyond material losses, he is most concerned about the psychological impact on his children, who remain too frightened to leave their home days after the attack.
"The United States invaded our country. The children were frightened. This is not good for them, because it leaves some children with psychological trauma. They do not want to go to school or leave the house, because they are afraid that something worse might happen. We truly do not want this to happen to our country," he said.
Apart from civilian facilities, local cultural heritage site was also affected.
The La Guaira state government building, a structure with nearly 300 years of history and once served as the site of Venezuela's first national customs office, was struck by the force of the explosions.
Windows of the building were shattered, and furniture scattered across the floor.
"As people of La Guaira, we feel deep pain. Our cultural heritage has been bombed. We are living in constant anxiety and suffering, and life can no longer be the same as it was before," said a local named Henry Cumares.
The U.S. side has claimed the airstrikes targeted warehouses allegedly used to store narcotics. However, locals refuted such accusation.
"According to what Donald Trump said, they bombed this place using the excuse that the warehouses here were used to store drugs at the port. But based on the video released by our governor, these warehouses that were burned contained medicine for kidney patients and foods. Many people depend on these supplies to survive. I think the bombing is extremely despicable," said a local resident named Alejandro Capriles.
US strike hits Venezuelan port, wrecking medical supplies, heritage building
