Snows in the past few days have turned many places in northern China into winter wonderlands and drawn flocks of visitors.
The Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Spring Scenic Area in Dunhuang City, Gansu Province in northwest China had its first snow of this winter on Sunday, which blanketed the well-known tourist attractions.
The snow also turned the usually golden sand dunes into white, weaving a picture with yellow reeds and the spring in the snowy desert.
"It's rare to see such a snowy landscape in the desert. It's completely beyond my expectations," said Zheng Bowen, a tourist from Jiangsu Province in east China.
Meanwhile, the snow has added a touch of desolation to the ancient sites at the Yangguan Pass and Yumen Pass, making them more charming.
The snows in early winter have also draped a pristine white coat over the Kunlun Mountains in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, where the snow-covered peaks and ridges sparkle in majestic tranquility.
Snows create breathtaking sceneries in northern China
Chinese President Xi Jinping awarded Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic the Friendship Medal of the People's Republic of China in Beijing on Monday.
As solemn music played and the golden doors slowly opened, Xi and Vucic entered the hall together, followed by Xi's wife Peng Liyuan and Vucic's wife Tamara Vucic.
Applauding guests rose to their feet, and paid respect to the two heads of state.
A Guard of Honor escorted the Friendship Medal into the hall, and amid solemn music, Xi formally presented the medal to Vucic.
Xi highlighted Vucic's long-standing commitment to advancing China-Serbia friendship and underscored the significance of the honor.
"President Vucic has long stayed committed to China-Serbia friendship, and he has always given China the firmest and clearest support on issues concerning China's core interests and major concerns. He gains the respect from the Chinese people. This medal is not only a high recognition of President Vucic's contributions to bilateral friendship, but also carries the earnest expectations of both peoples for building a China-Serbia community with a shared future in the new era," Xi said.
The Friendship Medal is China's highest state honor for foreigners, reserved for those who have made outstanding contributions to China's modernization drive, promoting exchange and cooperation between China and the world, and safeguarding world peace.
At the invitation of Xi, Vucic is on a state visit to China from Sunday to Thursday, with this marking his first state visit to China and his ninth trip to the country overall.
Xi awards Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic China's friendship medal
