Northwest China's Gansu and Ningxia have experienced windy and dusty weather over the weekend due to cold air.
Triggered by the cold air, strong winds with speed of more than 10 meters per second swept many parts of Gansu from Saturday to Sunday, with gusts reaching speed of more than 17 meters per second. Blowing sand and floating dust were reported in some locations.
Most parts of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region were also hit by strong winds with gusts with speed of around 20 meters per second, accompanied by blowing sand and falling temperature.
Maximum daytime temperatures across the region dropped to minus 3 to 2 degrees Celsius on Sunday, according to forecasts released by Ningxia's Ecology and Environment Department and the region's meteorological authorities.
The lowest temperatures are expected to fall further to minus 11 to minus 8 degrees Celsius early Monday morning and the region is likely to experience heavy air pollution, according to the weather forecast.
Cold air brings strong winds, sand, dust to northwest China
An American pawn shop owner and content creator who shot to viral fame in China has shared some of his insights and impressions after spending time in the country, which comes amid an unexpected new online trend that is shining a spotlight on Chinese culture and lifestyle.
A new wave is sweeping across the online world, where users declare they are "becoming Chinese", with the phrase "you've met me at a very Chinese time of my life," accompanied by videos of users adopting Chinese habits, gaining traction across social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram.
Among those caught up in the phenomenon is U.S. citizen Evan Kail, who has gained fame in China for his generous donation of a rare photo album documenting Japanese war crimes during World War II. Kail handed over the collection of some 30 photos to the Chinese Consulate General in Chicago back in 2022.
He has since lived and traveled extensively across China and even made a special guest appearance on last year's Spring Festival Gala, an hours-long television extravaganza broadcast on the eve of the Chinese New Year which is recognized as the world's most-watched annual TV program.
In a recent interview with the China Global Television Network (CGTN) talking about the new online trend and the increasing global fascination with China, Kail reflected on his experiences in the country, noting it was the advanced level of technology and connectivity which proved to be the biggest surprise and made the biggest impression.
"I say this again and again: I wish America had the high speed trains. I would be able to go see my parents, they live 2.5 hours away from me. I'd be able to see them in 30 minutes, not a 2.5-hour car ride. It blows me away that America does not have technology like China has. And I think it really showcases how much China is advancing, and the work at least that my country has to do in order to catch up on the world stage with technology," he said.
Kail also shared the contrasts he observed during a recent visit back home over the Christmas holiday, saying it appears the U.S. is lagging behind when it comes to the everyday adoption of technology.
"When I got back, I went home over the Christmas holiday to go see my parents, and I got back to Minneapolis, Saint Paul Airport. There's a robot cleaning, it's mopping. And these people, these Midwesterners, are all standing around this thing, like they're watching a sorcerer do magic, because they've never seen a robot cleaning before. And I'm just like: 'You guys - go to China. This is nothing'," he said.
Given the unexpected celebrity status he has now cultivated in China, Kail says he views his role as a bridge, striving to dismantle preconceived notions about the true nature of countries, while encouraging others to explore and appreciate the richness of diverse cultures.
"You've got to see it to believe it. Don't judge a book by its cover as they say. So that is what I see my role is now, with this popularity that I have, is breaking down these constructed ideas, these artificial ideas of what a country actually is, and getting people to travel. And it doesn't just go [for] the Americans and Chinese," he said.
US content creator hails China's tech advancements, urges others to see for themselves
