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
The 32nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting concluded in east China's Suzhou on Saturday, yielding fruitful results and laying significant groundwork for the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in November.
The trade ministers' meeting focused on "building an open and predictable regional and multilateral economic and trade order" and "fostering new engines of innovative and dynamic trade and investment cooperation."
Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao briefed the media on the meeting's outcomes at a press conference.
Wang said the meeting issued a joint statement titled the Suzhou Statement, and approved the latest edition of the APEC Roadmap for Innovative, Competitive and Resilient Services.
All parties agreed to advance policy innovation and reform in services trade, build an open and predictable investment environment, improve regional trade facilitation and supply chain resilience, strengthen standards coordination, and enhance intellectual property protection, Wang told the media.
He also said that substantial progress was made on a framework document for regional digital trade cooperation and the ministers emphasized promoting inclusive AI development, strengthening AI-related trade, and bridging the digital divide to ensure shared benefits from digital transformation.
The minister noted that the outcomes of the meeting demonstrated strong cooperation willingness, highlighted an innovation-oriented approach, and reflected inclusiveness and shared benefits. "The fact that Asia-Pacific economies can come together, uphold the original aspiration of promoting trade and investment liberalization and facilitation while supporting economic growth and prosperity, and engage in in-depth discussions on the important issue of 'where multilateral and regional economic and trade cooperation is headed,' fully demonstrates that open regionalism and true multilateralism enjoy broad support, and that mutual success and shared development serve the fundamental interests of all economies," Wang said.
2026 APEC trade ministers' meeting concludes with fruitful results
