Villages in Haining City, east China's Zhejiang Province, are riding the wave of Qiantang River's tidal bore tourism, launching entertainment and leisure activities to attract visitors and boost local business.
The Qiantang River is known for the world's largest tidal bore. The tides usually reach their peak on the 18th day of the eighth lunar month.
Recently, Haining has seen an influx of tourists eager to witness the breathtaking sight of the peak tides. While many choose the traditional method of watching from the shore, Jianshan Village has introduced a thrilling alternative --paragliding.
"When the tide comes in, our tourist numbers surge, particularly from Shanghai and Hangzhou. During peak times, we can handle around 200 flights daily. It's not just our flying base that attracts more visitors; many nearby water activities also experience a surge in tourists," said Jiang Kai, a coach at the paraglider base.
In Jianshan Village, water sports such as motorboating and power surfing have become popular among adventure enthusiasts from surrounding areas.
"I drove an hour from Hangzhou just to experience this. It's incredibly thrilling and full of fun," said Jiang Xiaojie, a tourist.
In Haichao Village, located at one of the most popular tide-watching locations, a charming riverside cafe has emerged as a key attraction.
"It's very beautiful here. Sitting here puts me in a very relaxed state, and I feel so close to nature," said Zhao Mengyi, a tourist.
In addition, tourists can explore local farms and orchards, indulging in delicious regional cuisines after enjoying the spectacular tidal bores.
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.
Tidal bore tourism surges in east China city as villages launch leisure attractions
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said on Sunday the outcome of the ongoing Qatar-mediated consultations hinges on Washington's responses to questions raised by Iran.
Araghchi said an Iranian delegation had traveled to Qatar on Saturday for further discussions, adding that his aide was there to continue consultations with mediators.
The two-day talks remained underway, with no final conclusion reached. Araghchi expressed hope that the United States would rationally opt for diplomacy over other approaches.
An official briefed on the negotiations told the media that Qatar had maintained contact with the White House during the talks. The day before, Qatari mediators held more than 12 hours of talks with Iranian counterparts in Tehran, aiming to clinch a U.S.-Iran agreement to avert renewed conflict after the U.S. midterm elections.
In an interview with Al Jazeera on Saturday, Araghchi dismissed reports of possible meetings as media speculation, saying Iran saw no need to meet with American officials at present. He said Tehran would decide whether to hold direct or indirect negotiations after Washington accepted Iran's conditions.
According to Araghchi, Iran's conditions include recognition of a new shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz that Tehran had worked out with Oman, and the closure of other routes.
He said Tehran also sought the lifting of sanctions imposed after the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), a reduction in U.S. military forces in the region, the restoration of sanctions waivers for Iranian oil exports, and the release of all frozen Iranian funds, including those held in Qatar.
Iran also demanded an end to hostilities on all fronts, including Lebanon, he said.
Araghchi said mediators had presented proposals concerning Iran's nuclear program, which Tehran was reviewing as part of what he described as a second phase.
The Iranian foreign minister also said a letter from U.S. Vice President JD Vance had been reviewed at high-level meetings, describing the American effort to open the door to broader dialogue and understanding as a "positive step."
Iran says outcome of Qatar-mediated talks hinges on US response
