Traditional culture in east China county draws international guests

A large number of international guests have been drawn to Ninghai County in east China's Zhejiang Province, immersing themselves in the culture of its villages and enjoying warm welcomes from local people eager to share their traditional practices.

Recently, a traditional long-table banquet was held in the county's Qiantong Ancient Town, an exceptionally well-preserved town built during the Song Dynasty (960–1279).

Given the rising popularity of rural tourism in China, it was no surprise that the 300 tickets for the event sold out within a few minutes. However, local organizers had not expected the event to bring so many guests from overseas to the 200-meter-long table.

"I especially like the tall (long) table, it's actually a new experience for me," said an international visitor.

"The atmosphere here is lively and I really like it. The dishes arrived still hot, crispy and delicious," said another overseas guest.

Inspired by the stories of Xu Xiake, an explorer and travel writer from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), more than 100 overseas students also visited old villages in the county, where they learned traditional crafting techniques like paper cutting.

"I can experience traditional culture and I also like that in this village. There are some old traditional things," said an overseas student.

"This place is so beautiful, with many delicious foods," another student said.

The students also learned to make a kind of traditional dessert that symbolizes good wishes for longevity.

"It's my first time to see it. It's very interesting. I want to learn new things," said one of the students.

"I feel really amazed there, really happy. I was really enjoying this experience to do it," said another.

Local people were more than willing to share these ancient practices with young people from around the world.

"Through hands-on experience, our foreign friends can more easily understand our traditional culture. Our communication like this is more sincere and unforgettable," said Liang Lanlan, an intangible cultural heritage inheritor.

Traditional culture in east China county draws international guests

U.S. President Donald Trump ordered the country's military not to carry out new airstrikes on Iran on Friday, breaking a streak of attacks that had continued for 13 consecutive days, Axios reported Saturday.

Citing two people familiar with the matter, the media report said that over the past two weeks Trump had approved military strike plans nearly every afternoon, with operations typically executed within hours. On Friday, however, Trump did not sign off on a similar plan and instead directed the military to stand down.

Axios said the pause signaled Trump's willingness to create more space for diplomatic efforts, while reflecting an assessment that the current level of airstrikes may have limited additional impact unless the U.S. escalates its campaign against Iran to a broader level.

The media report added that the U.S. military is still preparing plans for a possible return to large-scale operations, but that Trump has not made a decision.

Axios also reported that just hours before Trump ordered the pause on Friday, an Omani delegation arrived in Iran to discuss new arrangements for reopening the Strait of Hormuz. According to two regional sources, Axios noted, these negotiations have already made progress, and an agreement between Oman and Iran could potentially be reached over the weekend.

Meanwhile, Trump has signaled that the United States' next steps could hinge on whether the ongoing behind-the-scenes negotiations with Iran could revive diplomatic efforts and bring an end to the war.

Speaking to reporters at the White House on Friday, he said the United States and Iran are in talks and that he believes Tehran is getting "more serious." However, he also warned that U.S. forces could intensify military action if necessary.

Trump ordered halt to Friday's strikes on Iran: media