Daily life in Riyadh, the capital city of Saudi Arabia, remains largely normal despite a recent surge of attacks targeting civilian infrastructure nationwide.
Urban road traffic, commercial activities and public life in Riyadh continues as normal on Thursday, while King Khalid International Airport remains open despite previous attacks, with passengers completing check-in and boarding procedures as usual.
Saudi Arabia's security situation has drawn intense scrutiny over the past several days, as attacks targeting civilian facilities including airports have increased significantly.
According to the Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation, Houthi strikes on Abha International Airport and King Khalid International Airport on Tuesday and Wednesday killed three people and injured 36.
On Thursday, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said in a statement on social media platform X that the group fired a ballistic missile at King Khalid International Airport around midday, claiming it "successfully hit its target," caused damage and disrupted air traffic.
Aviation services were temporarily disrupted following the attacks, with some flight delays, but no major flight suspensions or widespread operational halts have been reported at major Saudi airports.
Despite the ongoing security jitters and repeated attack threats, there has been no public unrest or panic reported in the capital city.
Riyadh remains largely operational amid Houthi attack claims
China recorded more than 15.46 million cross-border trips during the week-long National Day holiday, as international travel has continued to rebound and visa-free policies have helped drive inbound tourism, official data released on Thursday showed.
According to the National Immigration Administration, border inspection authorities across the country handled a total of 15.462 million inbound and outbound passenger crossings by Chinese and foreign travelers during the holiday, averaging 2.209 million trips per day. The figure was 6.7 percent higher than that in the same period of last year.
Foreign nationals made 682,000 inbound trips during the holiday, up 5.4 percent year on year. Of these, 505,000 entered under visa-free policies, an increase of 9.2 percent from a year earlier.
Major cities, including Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu, witnessed busy cross-border passenger flows.
At the Mohan Railway Port in southwest China's Yunnan Province, nearly 7,000 travelers from 31 countries and regions crossed the border during the holiday. Visa-free foreign travelers accounted for more than 58 percent of inbound passengers there.
In Chengdu City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, international visitors explored attractions such as the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding and Du Fu Thatched Cottage, sampled local cuisine and experienced traditional cultural activities.
As of October 7, Sichuan border inspection authorities had processed more than 141,000 inbound and outbound passenger trips and 840 flights during the holiday, with passenger traffic up 7.8 percent year on year.
Other parts of the country also saw strong travel and consumption activities. In south China's Hainan Province, the offshore duty-free market recorded sales of 855 million yuan (about 127 million U.S. dollars) from October 1 to 7. Nearly 700,000 items were sold, while the number of shopping trips reached 123,000, up 10.41 percent year on year.
In Guangzhou City, south China's Guangdong Province, where the 140th Canton Fair is approaching, ports also recorded heavy passenger flows.
The Guangzhou General Station of Immigration Inspection said its ports handled about 405,000 inbound and outbound traveler trips during the holiday, the highest National Day holiday figure in nearly five years.
"Many businesspeople arrived in Guangzhou ahead of schedule to visit factories and hold business negotiations, bringing a peak in inbound passenger flows at Pazhou Port. We have fully implemented the 16 measures introduced by the Guangzhou General Station of Immigration Inspection to provide services and support for the 140th Canton Fair. We've opened special lanes for Canton Fair businesspeople to ensure that travelers and overseas businesspeople can pass through border controls safely, conveniently and efficiently," said Xiao Yan, an inspection officer at Zhoutouzui Border Inspection Station.
China records 15.46 million cross-border trips during National Day holiday
