The CMG Film Culture Carnival in north China's Tianjin has fueled a vibrant surge in the city's nighttime economy, with bustling cultural markets, themed river cruises and riverside leisure zones drawing throngs of visitors after dark.
The seven-day carnival kicked off last Friday, with two supporting fairs held at Binhai Cultural Center and Jinwan Plaza.
The Jinwan Plaza became a hub of evening activity, with the festive atmosphere stretching along both banks of Tianjin's iconic Haihe River and spilling over into surrounding consumption scenes.
As night fell, the carnival's intangible cultural heritage market hummed with energy. Opening right at dinnertime, the market gathered a wide array of classic regional delicacies in one place, offering visitors a one-stop chance to sample diverse local flavors.
"We came all the way from Sichuan to wander around. There's such a great variety of food here. It's my first time visiting Tianjin, so I wanted to check out signature dishes from different regions and try all the unique tastes," said Wang Li, a tourist.
The surge in visitor numbers translated into brisk business for vendors at the site.
"Foot traffic at Jinwan Plaza has been massive over the past couple of days. We used to prepare around 80 servings of menzi (traditional snack in Tianjin) and they would all sell out. Today we brought extra stock, hoping everyone gets a chance to taste our food," said Wang Yanran, a merchant at the market.
The area's nighttime appeal extended well beyond the food market. Adjacent to Jinwan Plaza, the Haihe River lit up with a dedicated evening show each day, and river cruises emerged as one of the most popular ways to take in the city's nightscape.
Bookings for Nezha-themed cruise ships saw a sharp spike, fueled by the runaway popularity of the hit Chinese animated film Ne Zha. Beyond the draw of the beloved film character, live Nezha-themed performance and interactive events on board added a fresh, magical dimension to the nighttime cruise experience.
Meanwhile, newly launched outdoor leisure zones along the riverbank grew into trendy consumption hotspots for young people, who gathered with friends by the glowing waterfront to soak up the relaxed evening vibe of the city.
CMG Film Culture Carnival boosts Tianjin's nighttime economy
CMG Film Culture Carnival boosts Tianjin's nighttime economy
Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Sunday formally tasked opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot with forming a government, giving the former military chief a chance to replace Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after Netanyahu's right-wing coalition lost its parliamentary majority in October's election.
Eisenkot, leader of the centrist Yashar party, received recommendations from 67 lawmakers in the 120-seat parliament, compared with 46 for Netanyahu.
At the ceremony, Herzog called for unity and a "stable government that can last."
Eisenkot warned that Israel was facing a "critical moment," saying the objectives of its multi-front conflicts "remained unfulfilled," its international relations were in a "devastating crisis," and its democracy was facing one of its gravest challenges.
"If we continue on the current path, we risk reaching a point of no return," he said, calling for new leadership "that people can look in the eye and trust."
He said he was convinced it was possible to form a new government with a substantial majority in the Knesset, and that he was open to Netanyahu's Likud party and far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich's Religious Zionist Party joining a government under his leadership.
He said they were invited to "support the government under my leadership and the principles I've outlined."
"I intend to be the prime minister of all citizens of Israel, those who voted for me and those who haven't," Eisenkot said.
Eisenkot has 28 days to form a government, with a possible 14-day extension. Netanyahu will remain caretaker prime minister until a new government is sworn in.
Eisenkot's four-party alliance holds only 48 seats and would need support from Arab lawmakers or other parties to form a government.
Netanyahu on Saturday called for a national unity government, while Eisenkot's party said Likud could join a government led by Eisenkot if it abandoned its far-right allies.
Under Israeli law, if Eisenkot fails to form a government within the allotted time, Herzog may assign the task to another candidate, or at least 61 members of the 120-seat Knesset can ask the president to entrust the mandate to a candidate of their choice. If these efforts also fail, the Knesset will be dissolved and new elections will be held.
Israeli opposition leader Eisenkot officially receives mandate to form gov't
Israeli opposition leader Eisenkot officially receives mandate to form gov't
