World-famous ancient towns in north China's Shanxi Province are expected to see a significant tourist peak during the Dragon Boat Festival holiday period from Friday to Sunday.
Pingyao Ancient City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is projected to receive an average of around 50,000 visitors per day during the holiday period, according to the local tourism bureau.
To manage the anticipated crowds, the local authorities have deployed additional personnel to monitor visitor density in real time and guide tourists for orderly movement.
Founded during the Western Zhou Dynasty more than 2,700 years ago, Pingyao stands as a remarkably preserved example of a typical city from the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties.
Meanwhile, the ancient town in Xinzhou City is also preparing for a major influx during the three-day holiday, with an expected daily visitor volume of about 60,000.
The scenic area has extended its opening hours and released notices regarding parking arrangements, performance schedules, and crowd control measures to encourage visitors to tour during off-peak times.
Xinzhou has a profound history that can be traced back to the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220).
Old towns in Shanxi brace for tourist surge during Dragon Boat Festival holiday
Some Iranian citizens are skeptical about the prospects for a lasting peace agreement, after the United States and Iran agreed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that ended more than 100 days of conflict between the two countries.
Iran, the United States and Pakistan early Monday announced the finalization of the MoU on ending the war in the region on all fronts, including Lebanon. The agreement was signed early Thursday by the Iranian president and his U.S. counterpart, Donald Trump.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance said Thursday at a White House briefing that the MoU triggered a 60-day negotiating period that began on Thursday and is due to expire on Aug 17.
On the streets of Tehran, residents expressed mixed reactions towards the MoU, with some voicing wariness based on past experience with negotiations.
"If an agreement is reached and it serves the interests of our country, we support it. However, during the previous two rounds of negotiations we were attacked, and officials must be cautious and take the interests of the Iranian people into account in these talks and agreements, so that they lead to economic prosperity and improved conditions," said Alireza, a Tehran resident.
"We are not at all optimistic about Mr. Trump. During the negotiations, we were attacked twice. I think this time will be the same as before," said Aziz, another Tehran resident.
On Feb. 28, Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and other Iranian cities. Iran responded with waves of missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and U.S. bases and assets in the region.
Tehran residents express skepticism following signing of Iran-US MoU
