Blooming spring flowers draw visitors across Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region

The "Blooming Beijing -- 2026 Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Flower-Viewing Season" officially kicked off on Friday, with the three regions releasing flower viewing and purchasing maps and a year-long slate of floral events to deliver rich, diverse flower appreciation, shopping and cultural experiences for residents and tourists.

The kick-off ceremony of the event was held along the banks of the Beixiao River in Beijing's Chaoyang District. Along the waterway, Beijing has created a 4.2-kilometer "cherry blossom river", paired with cherry blossom-themed parks made up of multiple themed amusement areas. Around 6,000 cherry trees of various varieties are currently in full bloom along the river.

The upgraded riverside landscape and public amenities have been warmly received by local residents.

"The start of spring in 2026 has brought remarkable changes to the areas around us. Many residential communities along the river have removed walls to open up green spaces. We can step right out to the riverbank and see greenery everywhere. The area is also fully equipped with facilities including benches, elephant-shaped slides and swings for children to play on. These are exactly what we need," said Qu Yongchun, a local resident.

Beyond the scenic and amenity upgrades, the "cherry blossom river" has also realized a perfect integration of technology and ecology.

For the first time, the waterway has deployed unmanned cleaning and inspection boats, driverless road sweepers and autonomous sightseeing boats along the route.

Officials noted that the riverside cherry blossom attraction is just a preview of the wide range of events planned for the cross-regional, year-long floral celebration.

"We will hold more than 1,000 flower-themed cultural events this year. What's more, we have launched exclusive flower viewing consumption vouchers that cover full-channel services including catering, accommodation, transportation, entertainment and shopping, to bring tangible benefits to residents. Meanwhile, our year-round flower cultural events and exhibitions will also feature sales of characteristic flowers from Hebei and Tianjin," said Zhong Fei, deputy director of the industry development division at the Beijing Municipal Forestry and Parks Bureau.

Blooming spring flowers draw visitors across Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region

The White House Office of Management and Budget released its 2027 budget proposal on Friday, which would raise U.S. defense spending to 1.5 trillion U.S. dollars while reducing funding for domestic programs.

The budget plan "builds on the president's vision by continuing to constrain non-defense spending and reform the federal government," according to a document published on the White House website.

At a White House event on Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump highlighted the defense spending as a priority, noting that domestic responsibilities such as health care should be shifted to the states.

"We're fighting wars. We can't take care of day care. You got to let a state take care of day care, and they should pay for it, too," Trump said.

Aside from cuts to health programs, the White House budget proposal also includes cuts to refugee resettlement aid, renewable energy projects, university grants and housing programs, among others.

The president's annual budget is often seen as a reflection of the administration's priorities, though Congress ultimately holds the authority over federal spending.

The release of the White House 2027 budget proposal came as Congress remains deadlocked over funding for the Department of Homeland Security, with Democrats pushing for immigration enforcement reforms that Republicans refuse to accept. This led to a partial government shutdown that has stretched on for nearly seven weeks.

White House seeks 1.5 trillion USD in defense spending in 2027 budget proposal