A mesmerizing pattern of concentric circles, mirroring Saturn's iconic rings, have appeared at the exposed lake bed of the Bandir Blue Lake in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.
The spectacular terraces, rising like giant stairwells from the lake's edges, were revealed by seasonal falls in water levels at the lake, also known as the Xiabandi reservoir.
Nestled beneath the snow-capped peaks of the Pamirs Plateau, the elevated and layered shoreline regularly draw visitors to marvel at the otherworldly scene whenever it appears.
Spectacular "Saturn's rings" emerge on iconic lake bed in Xinjiang
Spectacular "Saturn's rings" emerge on iconic lake bed in Xinjiang
As of 19:49 on Monday, China's total box office revenue for the Qingming Festival holiday had surpassed 300 million yuan (about 43.6 million U.S. dollars), according to data from online platforms.
The holiday lineup features animation, family, suspense, and other genres, with "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie", "Project Hail Mary", "It's OK", and "Now I Met Her" leading the tally.
The Qingming Festival is a traditional Chinese holiday that falls on the 15th day after the Spring Equinox, and China's three-day Qingming Festival holiday started on Saturday this year. While it is a time to enjoy the greenery of springtime and to visit the graves of ancestors, the holiday has also become a busy period for cultural and tourism activities in China, including visits to the cinema.
Cinemas in Beijing's Chaoyang District, as one of the first pilot areas for China's "movie plus" initiative, are actively exploring the "ticket stub economy," allowing moviegoers to present their ticket stubs from cinemas to receive discounts and added services in subsequent consumption scenarios.
In Xi'an City, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, the Xi'an Film Studio Experience Center for Arts of Film integrates film history with tourism, immersing visitors in the glory of classic movies.
"The exhibition gave me a systematic understanding of the historical development of Chinese film industry, allowing me to follow the footsteps of films to learn new things. I harvested both happiness and novel knowledge," said Qiu Keyu, a tourist.
The XR cinema in the park immerses visitors in film scenes.
"After putting on the XR device, I felt completely immersed - it was quite exciting," said Liu Bin, a moviegoer.
Qingming holiday box office hits 300 mln yuan
