Two giant pandas returned to Beichuan Qiang Autonomous County in southwestern China's Sichuan Province, after living in Australia and Malaysia, and have attracted a new wave of local visitors.
The pandas, Wang Wang and Sheng Yi, made their public debut on Saturday at the Beichuan Giant Panda Zoo and Botanical Garden. As tourists praised them and cameras clicked away, the two pandas leisurely enjoyed fresh bamboo branches.
"Wang Wang and Sheng Yi are very cute. They are so chubby and walk in a wobbly manner," said Wang Shu, a tourist.
To celebrate the arrival of the pandas and encourage spending, the local tourism department has launched a seasonal event focused on consumption. This event features activities centered around giant pandas, including the Panda Cultural Festival, Panda Food Week, and Panda Shopping Month. These initiatives aim to promote a deeper integration of culture and tourism.
During the consumption season, the relevant departments also launched a benefit package: all paid A-level tourist attractions in Beichuan will offer a 50-percent discount on tickets from June 28 to August 31. Additionally , there will be a 20 percent shopping discount on the purchase of intangible cultural heritage cultural and creative products.
"The Beichuan Panda Zoo has a very big event this time. Tickets are 50 percent off, and the food here is also very delicious at an affordable price," said Wang Zhen, another tourist.
Two giant pandas back from abroad draw crowds in their Sichuan home county
U.S. President Donald Trump posted "Tuesday, 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time!" on social media on Sunday, a message that appeared to signal a possible extension of the deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
On March 21, Trump threatened to hit and obliterate Iranian power plants if the country fails to fully open the strait within 48 hours. Two days later, he postponed strikes on power plants for five days, claiming to have held productive conversations with Iran.
On March 26, Trump again pushed the deadline back, saying that he will pause planned strikes on Iranian energy facilities for 10 days, to April 6, the upcoming Monday at 20:00 Eastern Time. On Saturday, Trump reaffirmed that Iran has 48 hours to strike a deal on opening up the strait or face "Hell."
However, in the post on Sunday, Trump appeared to hint at extending the deadline for Iran to reopen the strait for another time.
In a post earlier Sunday, the U.S. president threatened that Tuesday would be "Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one" for Iran, and again urged Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz.
Despite the threats, Trump said on Sunday that he believes a deal can be reached before the deadline, adding that Iran is currently negotiating. If Iran refuses, he said he is considering bombing everything and seizing Iran's oil.
Ali Abdollahi, chief commander of Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, responded Saturday that the Iranian armed forces would not hesitate for a moment to defend the country's rights and protect national assets and will put the aggressors in their place.
Trump also claimed that earlier this year, the U.S. sent weapons to Iranian protesters through the Kurds, though he believes the Kurds took them.
He also said he was very satisfied with a recent operation to rescue the pilot of a U.S. fighter jet that was shot down in Iranian airspace. He said Israel had assisted with the rescue, describing the bilateral relationship as big brother and little brother.
Trump hints at extending deadline for Iran to reopen Strait of Hormuz
Trump hints at extending deadline for Iran to reopen Strait of Hormuz
