European stocks close mixed

European stocks closed mixed across the board on Wednesday.

The United Kingdom's FTSE 100 index rose 0.14 percent to 10,508.61 points. France's CAC 40 index dropped 0.20 percent to finish at 8,430.79 points. Germany's DAX index advanced 0.10 percent to end the session at 24,934.67 points.

Xingshan County in central China's Hubei Province is leveraging its abundant rafting resources to expand family-oriented tourism consumption by upgrading its cave rafting experience and launching parent-child rafting programs that accommodate entire families.

Relying on its unique mountains and waterways, a local scenic area in the county has developed a "three rafting experiences on one river" model, offering daytime rafting, nighttime rafting and cave rafting.

The daytime and nighttime rafting routes feature steep drops and fast currents, catering to visitors seeking thrilling and competitive experiences.

In contrast, the cave rafting route has relatively gentle currents, making it a popular choice for families traveling with children.

"There are colorful lights inside the cave. We chose the cave rafting experience mainly for our kids," said a tourist.

To better cater to family travelers, local authorities have upgraded the cave rafting experience. Extended from 4.8 km to 6.2 km, the cave rafting route now takes visitors to scenic attractions including a distinctive 100-meter-long water gate, cascading waterfalls and flowing springs.

"The kids are extremely happy and scream with excitement every time we reach a thrilling section," another visitor said.

The addition of interactive water activities and photo-friendly attractions has effectively encouraged visitors to extend their stays, driving consumption in local catering, leisure and other tourism-related services.