Rural tourism across China has surged during the National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday, fueled by immersive folk celebrations and innovative cultural markets that are drawing urban travelers to countryside destinations.
In Mashan County of Nanning City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, a cultural celebration combining folk customs, local cuisine, intangible heritage, and traditional Chinese aesthetics drew large crowds.
Performers in colorful ethnic attire energized the festival with powerful drumbeats and lively dance. A highlight was the "Harvest Festival Village T-Show," where local farmers strutted confidently down the runway in outfits creatively crafted from rice stalks, bamboo strips, and recycled farm tools.
As night fell, hand-made lanterns lit up one after another, forming a dazzling river of light. A grand lantern parade featuring thousands of participants moved slowly through the crowd as the entire square echoed with songs and festivities.
"Compared with previous years, we've added many new activities this time to create a strong festive atmosphere and give visitors more diverse experiences during the holiday," said Wei Wei, director of the Culture, Radio, Television, Sports and Tourism Bureau of Mashan County.
In Xuan'en County, Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, central China's Hubei Province, a floating market recreated the bustling commercial scenes of the Song Dynasty (960-1279). The event blended intangible cultural heritage demonstrations with tourism experiences, delivering a fresh cultural travel offering.
Meanwhile, in Jinggangshan, east China's Jiangxi Province, a large immersive stage production captivated audience. By incorporating cutting-edge technologies such as holographic projection and dynamic lighting and sound, along with close interaction between actors and spectators, the performance brought revolutionary history vividly to life.
"It was incredibly moving. It gave everyone a great opportunity to engage immersively with Jinggangshan's history and its red heritage," said a tourist named Yang Bin.
Jinggangshan City is the heartland of the early revolutionary activities of the Communist Party of China (CPC). It is known as the cradle of the Chinese revolution.
Rural destinations across China draw holiday crowds with folk festivals, immersive cultural experiences
Emergency measures are being put in place to help urban areas across China cope with sweltering daytime temperatures as a severe heatwave grips multiple regions of the country, with local community rest stations being set up to shield residents and provide much-needed respite to outdoor workers amid the scorching weather.
Large swathes of the country are baking as the summer heat takes hold. According to the Central Meteorological Observatory of China, eight of the top ten hottest areas nationwide on Wednesday were in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, where Turpan and Toksun both recorded temperatures above 44.5 degrees Celsius.
The intense heat is unlikely to let up anytime soon, as Hami Meteorological Station has issued a red alert and is forecasting that temperatures in Hami City will exceed 40 degrees Celsius from Wednesday to Sunday.
In an effort to combat the heatwave, the local sanitation department has deployed multiple sprinkler and spray trucks to cover major roads in downtown Hami to help with dust suppression and road surface cooling, while upping the frequency of operations.
Persistent high temperatures have also affected many areas in the southwestern Sichuan Province, with some weather stations recording maximum highs exceeding 42 degrees Celsius and weather alerts being issued in numerous cities.
In Guang'an City, the mercury had already soared to 38 degrees Celsius by 10:00 Wednesday morning, pointing to a long, hot day ahead.
However, the county has opened nearly 350 'rest stations' to help local people escape the heat. These air-conditioned cooling points, equipped with fans, drinking water, emergency medicines, and seating, provide much-needed rest areas for outdoor workers such as delivery drivers and couriers, as well as to the elderly and other passersby.
"This round of high temperatures is characterized by its long duration, high temperatures, and the oppressive, muggy conditions, impacting outdoor workers and the elderly the most," said Yu Jilin, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group at the Wusheng County Federation of Trade Unions.
In the neighboring Chongqing Municipality, a red alert for high temperatures was issued on the same day.
At the exit of a busy highway in Wuxi County, heat waves shimmered on the road surface amid heavy traffic. Police officers on duty were busy checking vehicles under the scorching sun, focusing on any potential safety hazards in passenger and freight vehicles, while enduring the sizzling weather themselves.
"The main issue is the high temperature -- surface temperatures can reach over 50 degrees Celsius. Whenever we are on duty, the exhaust from passing fuel-powered vehicles feels scorching hot against our bodies," said Lin Xianyong, an auxiliary police officer.
Air-conditioned "rest stations" set up to provide respite as scorching heatwave grips China
