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 Polish government has recently rolled out a series of emergency measures to cushion the impact of energy costs on households in light of rising oil prices and increasing inflation risks.
Amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, international crude oil prices have jumped, pushing fuel prices in Poland up by more than 30 percent over the past month. Starting Tuesday, the Polish government began implementing a package of measures aimed at reducing fuel costs. These include lowering the value-added tax on fuel, cutting excise duties to the minimum level permitted under the European Union (EU) regulations, and cracking down on price gouging to maintain market stability.
Notably, gas stations in Poland have seen an increase in customers following the price cuts. Still, many residents believed the reduction is only temporary and that prices will likely rise again in the future.
"Even though the government has lowered prices, they are still high. I think the price cut might last for a while, but it's hard to say how long. I think this is just the beginning and the prices will rise in the future," said Arkadiusz, a local resident.
Polish economist Tomasz Bieliński said that it remains unclear how long the government can sustain these policies, and that rising energy prices are now transmitting pressure to core areas of the macroeconomy. In his view, if oil prices continue to climb, the European Central Bank and other central banks across the EU may be forced to adjust their monetary policies.
"Interest rates were actually reduced in most of the central banks in Europe. But, this reduction will probably stop, because we have rising prices of pretty much everything on the horizon," he said.
Poland unveils measures to ease pain of soaring oil prices
