Qiantang tidal bore hits ancient dam, fascinating onlookers

Waves and bores of the onrushing Qiantang River tides hit onto an ancient dam in Haining City of east China's Zhejiang Province on Monday, forming fascinating scenes.

On Monday, the tides were seen approaching and reaching the Tashan Dam in Huangwan Town, the earliest dam built on the Qiantang River, with a history of over 200 years. Galloping tides hit against the dam, after which waves either kept moving forward or retreated, amazing the onlookers.

The height of the one-line tidal bore reached about one meter.

The Tashan Dam is a T-shaped embankment that spans over 600 meters. As the first long T-shaped dam on the Qiantang River, it is where the tidal bore begins to show its most impressive display.

The tidal bore is mainly caused by the gravitational pull of the moon. The centrifugal force produced by the rotation of the Earth and the trumpet shape of the Hangzhou Bay in Zhejiang makes it easy for the tide to come in, but difficult to ebb, thus giving rise to the largest tidal bore.

The Qiantang River is known for the world's largest tidal bore, featuring four common types of tidal bores: criss-cross tidal bore, one-line tidal bore, back-flow tidal bore, and fish scale tidal.

The tides usually reach their peak on the 18th day of the eighth lunar month.

Qiantang tidal bore hits ancient dam, fascinating onlookers

The multilateral system is "under attack" amid global turmoil, President of the 80th UN General Assembly Annalena Baerbock warned in her remarks on Wednesday.

In her briefing on the priorities for the resumed 80th Session of the General Assembly, the UNGA president noted that the current multilateral system does not collapse all in a sudden, but "crumbles piece by piece" in divisions, compromises, and lack of political commitment.

The president called all the UN member states to defend the UN Charter and international law and promote cross-regional cooperation.

She also urged to push forward the work of the UNGA on certain critical issues with a strong majority, rather than an absolute consensus among all member states. Such act is not a failure of multilateralism, but "an affirmation of it," she said.

The foundational principles of the institution should not be eroded by appeasement, she said, calling the member states to show courage, leadership, and responsibility at the UN's "critical make-or-break moment."

"The UN needs you. Your support, your leadership, your principle, stand, your cross-regional cooperation, if we are to preserve and modernize this institution, if we are to make it, rather than break it," she said.

UNGA President warns global multilateral system "under attack"