Flowering Chinese fringe trees attract visitors, boost consumption

As temperatures rise across China, Chinese fringe trees (Chionanthus retusus) in full blossom have transformed parts of Fuzhou, capital of east China's coastal Fujian Province, into a sea of fragrant white flowers, revitalizing the local tourism market and boosting consumption.

With the theme of Chinese fringe trees, the Three Lanes and Seven Alleys district, or Sanfang Qixiang, a historic and cultural area built during the Jin Dynasty (265-420), has launched a series of cultural and tourism activities, attracting visitors from near and far to enjoy the breathtaking spring scenery.

The signature latte features a 3D color-printed cartoon IP character placed atop the drink, created using a dedicated 3D coffee printer. The character, named "April," is an original design created by the cafe in Fuzhou, taking direct inspiration from the Chinese trees. Visitors can enjoy the blooming flowers while sipping the coffee. "Local residents and tourists can enjoy the flowers and savor the signature latte under trees. This space is not only a place to appreciate the blossoms, but also an immersive new cultural and creative experience space," said Miao Chenhui, manager of the coffee shop.

Xiaojiake, the starting point of the main stream of the Tarim River in Aral City of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, northwest China, has unveiled a singular panorama where deserts meet emerald waters across the boundless landscape in recent days.

Xiaojiake is where the Hotan, Yarkant and Aksu rivers converge to form the headwaters of the Tarim, China’s largest inland river.

From a bird’s-eye view, the waters stretch silently across the earth in Spring. The broad, meandering riverbed and its banks fan out like an immense sea of sand, gleaming with a soft, warm glow under the sunlight.

In between, vast patches of saline-alkali lands join the currents to sculpt a terrain of sprawling branches, composing the breathtaking scenery of the Tarim River.