China’s 47th naval escort taskforce completes new escort mission

The 47th fleet of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy recently wrapped up an escort mission for a civilian cargo ship.

The civilian cargo ship, Zhenhua 35, carried 26 Chinese crew members on board. It marked the 1661st mission of the fleet since it began undertaking escort missions in the Gulf of Aden and the waters off Somalia since late December last year.

The 47th navy fleet comprises a guided-missile destroyer, a missile frigate and a supply vessel. It carries over 700 officers and soldiers, with two helicopters and more than 10 special force members on board.

Various regions across China have vied with one another in rolling out unique cultural tourism programs, including beautiful scenery, performances and folk events, to provide distinctive travel options for tourists during the current peak summer holiday season.

Lotus flowers covering 110,000 mu (about 7,333 hectares) in Guangchang County of east China's Jiangxi Province have entered the peak bloom season recently, attracting visitors to wander through the sea of blossoms, snap photos and fully enjoy the vibrant summer scenery.

"It is breathtaking. I used to think lotus flowers only grow in ponds. This is the first time I have seen such a vast expanse of lotus fields," said Gao Yujia, a tourist.

This year, local authorities have added activities such as traditional Chinese performances and displays of intangible cultural heritage to the flower scenery, allowing visitors to not only enjoy the lotus flowers but also experience the charm of traditional culture.

Since the start of the blooming season, major lotus flower viewing sites in the county have received an average of approximately 8,000 visits each day.

"We have seen a significant increase in tourists, especially on weekends, when rooms need to be booked two or three days in advance. Even nearby restaurants are doing much better business," said Wu Aimin, manager of a local homestay.

In Hanshan County of east China's Anhui Province, over 2,000 mu (about 133 hectares) of wild lotus flowers have reached full bloom. Local authorities have launched tourism activities featuring lotus appreciation, performances, and roadside stalls for shopping, attracting large numbers of visitors.

The Sumu Mountain in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region has staged a mountain-opening ceremony, featuring folk performances including traditional dragon and lion dances, giving visitors a chance to escape the summer heat in fresh mountain air and take part in a variety of fun activities.

"Using this mountain-opening and blessing folk activity as a platform, we will explore the mountain's forest ecology, traditional folk customs, local characteristics and food resources to create an immersive cultural tourism experience," said An Feifei, general manager of a local tourism company.