KMT chairwoman pays homage to Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum in Nanjing

Cheng Li-wun, chairwoman of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party, led a KMT delegation on Wednesday morning to pay homage to late Chinese revolutionary and statesman Sun Yat-sen in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province.

Sun, a founding figure of the KMT and a revered revolutionary leader who played a pivotal role in overthrowing imperial rule in China, passed in 1925. His remains were buried in Nanjing in 1929.

Cheng first visited the mausoleum honoring Sun 21 years ago during an ice-breaking visit led by former KMT chairman Lien Chan.

In her address at the mausoleum, Cheng called for joint efforts to promote cross-Strait peace and prosperity.

"During this trip to the mainland, we have witnessed remarkable progress and development here, far beyond our expectations and imagination. We should work together to promote reconciliation and unity across the Strait, and to foster prosperity and peace in the region," she said.

Paying homage to Sun Yat-sen has long been an important part of KMT chairpersons' visit to the mainland.

Cheng's trip marks the first time in a decade that a KMT chairperson has led a delegation to the Chinese mainland. The visit is seen as an important part of the exchanges and dialogue between the KMT and the Communist Party of China (CPC) under the new circumstances.

Cheng arrived in Shanghai on Tuesday. The visit, which covers Jiangsu, Shanghai and Beijing, will run through Sunday.

The KMT chairwoman was invited by the CPC Central Committee and Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee.

KMT chairwoman pays homage to Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum in Nanjing

Several crested ibises were spotted engaging in intense battle over a prime nesting site in Hanzhong City of northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

Crested ibises have recently entered their breeding season in Shaanxi Province. According to experts, the birds are extremely selective in choosing nesting sites, and the competition for prime locations is largely driven by the continuous growth of their population.

In a tense and dramatic showdown, four of these wading birds were caught on camera fighting for a nest high up in the trees.

Three of the birds, with their iconic red crest and long black beak, confronted each other aggressively, circling the nest and attacking each other with their beaks. Meanwhile, the fourth bird waited on a nearby branch, watching intently for the right moment to strike.

Suddenly, a fifth crested ibis joined the battle. With swift precision, it landed on the branch and drove away one of the exhausted competitors, immediately joining the intense battle.

The crested ibis was in the past widely distributed across East Asia and Russia's Siberia. It was thought to be extinct in China until seven wild birds were observed in Yangxian County, Shaanxi, in 1981, a discovery that prompted captive breeding and enhanced protection of the species.

Crested ibises spotted fighting for nest