With the May Day holiday just around the corner, cultural tourism markets across China are heating up.
This year,the spring break for primary and secondary schools in places such as Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture in southwest China's Yunnan Province, will align with the May Day holiday, resulting in a consecutive seven-day or eight-day long holiday, which will unleash the concentrated demand for family trips and parent-child vacations.
"During this spring break, my plan is to watch a Dian Super League match and cheer for the Xishuangbanna team, and also go to the library to read some books," said Qiu Yangxin, a student.
As the May Day holiday approaches, multiple tourist attractions in Yunnan are drawing visitors from across the country with rich atmospheres, quality services, and diverse offerings.
In Cangyuan Wa Autonomous County, Lincang City of Yunnan, the host city of the Dian Super League, visitors are exploring the Wengding Primitive Village scenic area to discover Wa ethnic culture.
"The scenery here is truly breathtaking. The phrase 'the mountain doesn't see me, but I go to see the mountain' suddenly came to my mind. During our visit to the Wa ethnic group's Wengding tribe, we experienced body painting, which allowed us to witness the joy of childhood," two tourists echoed each other.
Tourism platform data showed that in recent days, tourism order volume of south China's Hainan Province has grown significantly.
Overseas visitor traffic to Sanya City in Hainan has surged approximately 110 percent year on year. Hotel bookings in Haikou City and surrounding areas have jumped roughly 8.7 times compared to last year, while self-drive car rentals are hitting peak demand.
"We came from Harbin to Hainan for a trip, bringing family and friends along. Renting a five-seat sedan is quite comfortable -- much more convenient than driving our own car," said a tourist surnamed Qin.
"Looking at destination choices, interest among island visitors continues to climb. While tourists are concentrated in traditional hot spots, their travel choices are becoming more diversified," said Zeng Mingzhu, store manager of a service outlet under a chain travel platform.
Holiday travel surges across China ahead of May Day holiday
Iran on Tuesday warned it would deliver a stern response to any new aggression, after U.S. President Donald Trump ordering preparations for a prolonged naval blockade of the country.
Trump has instructed his administration to prepare for an extended blockade of Iran as the ceasefire remains in place amid stalled talks, The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday, citing U.S. officials.
In recent meetings, including a Monday discussion with top security officials in the White House, Trump opted to continue squeezing Iran's economy and oil exports by preventing shipping to and from its ports, said the report.
The president assessed that the blockade, "a high-risk bid" to compel Tehran's nuclear capitulation, carries less risk than other options -- resume bombing or walk away from the conflict, the officials were quoted as saying.
Iranian government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani stated the same day that Tehran has completed "all necessary arrangements" to counter the U.S. naval blockade.
She noted that Iran's primary strategy focuses on maximizing its geographical advantages through effective tactical maneuvers.
Also on Tuesday, Iranian army spokesman Mohammad Akraminia declared that the military considers the current situation a state of war.
Akraminia added that Iran has fully updated its target lists and operational equipment, promising a "stern response" to any further aggression.
Mujtaba Ferdosipour, head of Iran's Interests Section in Cairo, told the IRNA news agency on Wednesday that U.S. attempts to force unilateral demands through a naval blockade are ineffective. He stressed that Iran's extensive land borders with neighboring countries provide viable alternatives to bypass the maritime restrictions.
Ferdosipour reiterated that the Strait of Hormuz is closed only to vessels linked to Israel and the United States. He asserted that Iran has the right to manage security in the strait, maintaining that this position does not violate international conventions.
The envoy further stated that Iran does not trust the United States and has no desire for direct negotiations. He emphasized that Tehran can employ all available means to defend itself against attacks.
According to the latest data from the UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), ship transits through the Strait of Hormuz have plummeted by 95.3 percent since Feb 27. The disruption has caused global food prices to rise by approximately six percent, while crude oil prices in European markets have surged by nearly 50 percent.
Iran warns of stern response as US plans prolonged blockade
