Flower decorations set up along Chang'an Avenue in Beijing to greet National Day

Vibrant floral decorations and festive plant sculptures have been installed across Beijing, creating a lively holiday atmosphere as China's National Day approaches.

The displays -- including 10 three-dimensional flower beds along Chang'an Avenue -- were arranged to mark the upcoming 77th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. Their themes range from revolutionary history and emerging industries to green development, urban renewal, and garden-city development.

"I think the flowerbed is exquisite. I feel that our motherland is getting better in every respect. I wish our motherland prosperity and our people happiness and well-being," said Zhang Xuemei, a tourist.

"Each flowerbed has its own unique features. Our motherland has grown strong and prosperous, and we are very proud," said Liu Chiju, another tourist.

This year, a total of 350 flower varieties, including 50 new and improved varieties, are used in the displays, according to Beijing Municipal Forestry and Parks Bureau.

"Each display features a main character design to draw tourists in for a closer look. The displays come in diverse shapes and feature premium plant varieties. Although the flowerbed is small, we have created a rich floral landscape effect through spatial composition," said Lan Hailang, chief designer of the displays.

Flower decorations set up along Chang'an Avenue in Beijing to greet National Day

Flocks of crested ibises were spotted foraging in a rice field after the autumn harvest in Hanyin County, northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

The crested ibis, with its iconic red crest and long black beak, is a first-class protected species in China and was formerly a critically endangered species. Rice fields after the autumn harvest serve as a haven for the birds, allowing them to consume a wealth of fallen grains and insects.

Conservation measures in Hanyin have paid off in recent years, providing a safe place for crested ibises to forage. These measures include fishing bans, water source protection, and the Lake Chief System, a governance model where local leaders take direct personal responsibility for management and protection of lakes.

Since the local forestry department first discovered crested ibises in 2010, the bird's population in the county has exceeded 130.

In the past, the crested ibis was widely distributed across East Asia and Russia's Siberia. It was thought to be extinct in China until seven wild birds were observed in Shaanxi's Yangxian County in 1981, a discovery that prompted captive breeding and enhanced protection of the species. As of the end of 2025, the global population of the crested ibis had exceeded 12,000.

Endangered crested ibises spotted foraging in Shaanxi rice field after autumn harvest