Gold, silver futures rise on Wednesday

International gold and silver prices both advanced on Wednesday.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, gold futures for August delivery rose 0.62 percent to settle at 4,381.40 U.S. dollars per ounce, while silver futures for July delivery gained 1.08 percent to close at 70.767 dollars per ounce.

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.