Folk performance in the ancient town of Xinzhou in north China's Shanxi Province drew throngs of visitors on Friday, the first day of the five-day May Day holiday.
Actors in ethnic costumes staged traditional dances and drum shows against a backdrop of grey-brick houses and tiled roofs, turning the streets into a lively open-air theater.
Intangible cultural heritage shows, ranging from the manau dance -- a traditional dance for the Jingpo people, the Dai ethnic dance and Hongze Lake fishing drum -- to local traditions, offered tourists an immersive experience that thrilled many.
Beyond the performance, interactive activities, street parades and trendy markets were available for visitors to enjoy their holidays.
Xinzhou positions folk culture as a medium to attract tourists from across the country.
Folk performance in ancient town attracts crowds of visitors
Folk performance in ancient town attract crowds of visitors
Enduring friendships between giant pandas at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in southwest China's Sichuan Province has been captured in recently released footage, showcasing the success of the base's science-backed animal welfare practices.
Captured at the base's Moonlight Delivery House, Star Giant Panda Nursery House and No. 1 Giant Panda Villa, the video clips feature various pairs of same-age pandas joyfully playing and wrestling together.
The practice of housing same-age pandas together is a form of social enrichment, designed to promote interaction and behavioral diversity among individuals.
Panda enrichment refers to scientific conservation methods employed in captivity to enhance the welfare of these national treasures, meet their physiological and psychological needs, and encourage them to display more natural behaviors.
The Chengdu base is a world-renowned facility for ex-situ conservation, scientific research and breeding, public education, and eco-tourism. It is globally recognized for protecting and breeding endangered Chinese wildlife species such as giant pandas and red pandas.
Footage captures panda friendships at Chengdu base
