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South China's Pingwu draws overseas tourists with Baima culture, mountain landscapes

China

China

China

South China's Pingwu draws overseas tourists with Baima culture, mountain landscapes

2026-08-01 17:38 Last Updated At:08-02 17:56

Pingwu County in southwest China's Sichuan Province is attracting overseas tourists this summer with its distinctive Baima Tibetan culture and mountain landscapes, offering a refreshing retreat from the region's sweltering heat.

One of Pingwu's ancient villages, the Baima Tibetan Ethnic Township, sits at more than 2,300 meters above sea level, surrounded by green mountains and clear waters. Summer temperatures average around 18 degrees Celsius, offering refreshing air and pleasant humidity, a welcome retreat from Sichuan's scorching heat, which has topped 40 degrees Celsius in some areas.

Visitors can stroll riverside grasslands or ride horses across the open terrain.

"It's my first time and it has been amazing. The temperature here is so much cooler compared to what I came from in Chengdu. It's very cool, it's very windy, you forget that it's summer. And I was able to do a bit of horse riding which I enjoyed very much. The horses are very calm. It was an activity that I really really enjoyed," said Kilangi Steven Mnwagi, a tourist from Tanzania.

Beyond its refreshing natural surroundings, the area's unique ethnic culture is another major attraction for visitors.

Locals dressed in traditional attire welcome guests with vibrant folk songs, traditional dances, and colorful ribbons that symbolize blessings and good fortune.

"It (the felt hat) is very special, especially because they also told me that it brings good luck. So I feel incredibly honored to be here, to be experiencing the whole thing. It's amazing," said Miambo Kione Dejane, a tourist from Mozambique.

Pingwu blends refreshing summer escapes with rich cultural experiences. The county is making full use of its ecological resources and vibrant Baima Tibetan traditions. Visitors can immerse themselves in nature while also experiencing the charm of cultural exchange.

South China's Pingwu draws overseas tourists with Baima culture, mountain landscapes

South China's Pingwu draws overseas tourists with Baima culture, mountain landscapes

China's central bank announced on Monday that it has added eight banks to its list of authorized institutions for digital yuan operations, in a step to promote the steady development of the digital currency.

The move aims to improve the inclusiveness of digital yuan services, and meet public demand for secure, convenient and efficient digital yuan services, according to the People's Bank of China (PBOC).

The newly added operators, including Ping An Bank, Hengfeng Bank, China Bohai Bank, Bank of Shanghai, Bank of Hangzhou, Huishang Bank, Bank of Changsha, and Guangxi Beibu Gulf Bank, will be linked to the central bank's digital yuan system.

They will start offering digital yuan services after operational and technical preparations have been completed.

This expansion has brought the number of operating institutions for digital yuan business to 30.

The PBOC began research on digital currency in 2014, and pilot programs were first launched in late 2019. Since then, domestic and cross-border trials have seen the digital yuan adopted across a wide range of daily uses, including retail transactions, dining, tourism, education, healthcare, public services, and cross-border settlements that make life easier for foreign visitors.

In October 2025, the PBOC announced that it will support more commercial banks to become authorized operators of digital yuan services, ending a pause of more than two years since Industrial Bank became the 10th such operator in 2022.

In April 2026, the PBOC added 12 banks as new operators of digital yuan at one stroke, with city commercial banks joining the list for the first time.

The central bank said it will continue to expand the number of operators in order to build an open, inclusive and fair competition environment for the development of the digital yuan.

China's central bank adds 8 banks as digital yuan operators

China's central bank adds 8 banks as digital yuan operators

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