Since many of the international flights to Venezuela have been suspended due to U.S. military threats to the country, travel to Venezuela is getting more and more difficult.
One primary way to enter the South American nation now is via a land port from Colombia's Cucuta.
As one of the cities with the highest crime rates in Colombia, it has a cross-border bridge --Simon Bolivar International Bridge that connects to Venezuelan city of San Antonio del Tachira.
The bridge is also one of the most important and busiest land routes between the two countries.
Many Venezuelans come to Cucuta via this bridge to purchase daily supplies; meanwhile most of the vendors and drivers there are Venezuelans as well.
San Antonio del Tachira is considered the most famous border city of Venezuela. It shares similar population composition, culture and diet with Cucuta, the Colombian border city located across the bridge.
Local economic mainstay is frontier trade, including the imports and exports of food, daily necessities and fuels.
Its airport -- Juan Vicente Gomez International Airport -- is only a 10-minute drive from city center.
It only takes about one hour to fly to Caracas, Venezuela's capital, from San Antonio del Tachira.
The Simon Bolivar International Airport, however, did not seem seriously impacted by the flight suspension. On the contrary, it witnesses increasing passengers who are returning home or going on vocation in holiday season.
Travels to Venezuela get more difficult as int'l flights suspend
Spring flowers are blooming across China, drawing people outdoors to enjoy the natural beauty.
Spring came early at a river valley in Xunhua Salar Autonomous County of northwest China's Qinghai Province, where apricot trees lining the riverbanks are now in full bloom.
Pink and white petals swayed in the breeze, filling the riverbanks with a delicate fragrance and announcing spring's arrival.
Further inland, the Liaohe River estuary in central China's Henan Province has been carpeted in golden rapeseed flowers.
The vast swathes of yellow mirrored in the glittering river are creating an almost dreamlike quality.
"The breath of spring is in the air, and its fragrance has made me feel so much more relaxed and refreshed," said Qin Yanhui, a tourist.
The Kaisha Island in east China's Jiangsu Province has come alive as rising temperatures are setting wide swathes of blossoms into bloom, drawing tourists to enjoy tranquil riverside views and the season's floral displays.
Up in the highlands of Qujing City in southwest China's Yunnan Province, mountains are carpeted with a sea of breathtaking high-altitude rhododendrons.
At an altitude of 2,300 meters, red, white and yellow alpine rhododendrons are in spectacular bloom, creating sweeping flower seas that have become a popular spring tourism destination combined with local cultural presentations.
"We can enjoy rhododendrons, experience Yi ethnic traditions and taste local delicacies. It's been a wonderful experience," said Liu Enze, a tourist.
Spring flowers in full bloom across China
