An ancient county in east China's Anhui Province has blended Chinese cultural traditions with modern science and technology to create an immersive experience for visitors who chose to spend their Qingming Festival holiday in the town.
The Qingming Festival, a traditional Chinese holiday that falls 15 days after the Spring Equinox, marked the start of a three-day national holiday this year on Saturday. As the fifth solar term of the Chinese lunar calendar, Qingming evokes both mourning and the lively renewal of spring, embodying a poignant and graceful beauty.
Shouxian County in Anhui honored the traditional 24 solar terms by outfitting its 24 Solar Terms Museum with digital displays and interactive technology, making agricultural wisdom both visible and tangible.
"The AR devices in the museum brought history to life, and the children had a good time here," said Zhao Lingfeng, a visitor.
"In addition to naked-eye 3D and AR, we have introduced holographic projections to recreate historical scenes and use big-data analysis of visitor preferences to optimize visitor flow," said Hu Yue, deputy director of the Shouxian County Culture and Tourism Bureau.
As the sun set, shifting scenes of the 24 solar terms were projected onto the ancient city walls, drawing many tourists to take photos.
According to statistics, Shouxian ancient city welcomed a total of 110,000 visitors during the Qingming Festival holiday.
Tech-enhanced ancient county boosts tourism during Qingming holiday
Chinese President Xi Jinping awarded Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic the Friendship Medal of the People's Republic of China in Beijing on Monday.
As solemn music played and the golden doors slowly opened, Xi and Vucic entered the hall together, followed by Xi's wife Peng Liyuan and Vucic's wife Tamara Vucic.
Applauding guests rose to their feet, and paid respect to the two heads of state.
A Guard of Honor escorted the Friendship Medal into the hall, and amid solemn music, Xi formally presented the medal to Vucic.
Xi highlighted Vucic's long-standing commitment to advancing China-Serbia friendship and underscored the significance of the honor.
"President Vucic has long stayed committed to China-Serbia friendship, and he has always given China the firmest and clearest support on issues concerning China's core interests and major concerns. He gains the respect from the Chinese people. This medal is not only a high recognition of President Vucic's contributions to bilateral friendship, but also carries the earnest expectations of both peoples for building a China-Serbia community with a shared future in the new era," Xi said.
The Friendship Medal is China's highest state honor for foreigners, reserved for those who have made outstanding contributions to China's modernization drive, promoting exchange and cooperation between China and the world, and safeguarding world peace.
At the invitation of Xi, Vucic is on a state visit to China from Sunday to Thursday, with this marking his first state visit to China and his ninth trip to the country overall.
Xi awards Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic China's friendship medal
