Xinjiang's Kashgar has embraced the spirit of autumn with an intangible cultural heritage event that brings customs and traditions to life amid the city's seasonal scenery.
Local residents have welcomed live performances, as troupes put on shows of local stagecraft and styles from other regions of China. Tajik Eagle Dance, puppet shows, iron flower performance and lion dances are presented on the same stage.
The diverse folk performances let visitors and people of all ethnic groups experience the charm of traditional Chinese culture. Crowds were wowed by face-changing, a performance style of southwest China's Sichuan Province in which performers change vibrantly colored masks in a fraction of a second.
"I've watched Sichuan Opera face-changing online. It's thrilling to see it live today. I'm also glad that my children get to experience arts from other regions. I truly feel how rich and colorful Chinese culture is, and how closely ethnic cultures are connected," said Maidina Adili, a local resident.
The lively heritage event has drawn large crowds and boosted rural tourism consumption. Townships have set up specialty markets where residents sell plateau produce, handicrafts and local delicacies.
With snow-capped mountains in the distance, visitors enjoy authentic local experiences in the foreground.
"You can't find this atmosphere back home. I love its food culture, local people and natural landscapes. When you open the door in the morning, you see snowy mountains and golden sunrise peaks. It's incredibly beautiful," said Zhang Tianhong, a tourist from southwest China's Chongqing Municipality.
Autumn event in Kashgar fosters cultural unity, draws tourism
China and Switzerland on Friday signed a protocol to upgrade their free trade agreement (FTA). The move is expected to expand market access, promote two-way investment, and deepen bilateral economic and trade cooperation, according to China's Ministry of Commerce.
Under the protocol, the two sides will make high-standard commitments to further opening up trade in goods, services and investment, while upgrading rules covering rules of origin, trade facilitation, technical barriers to trade, digital trade, competition, and trade and sustainable development.
The upgrade is expected to provide stronger institutional support for bilateral trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, said the ministry, adding that it underscores both countries' commitment to free trade, open cooperation and a rules-based multilateral trading system amid global uncertainties.
Switzerland is China's seventh-largest trading partner in Europe, while China is Switzerland's largest trading partner in Asia, an official with the ministry noted.
The official explained that the upgraded agreement would help unlock greater potential for bilateral trade and investment, and bring new opportunities to businesses and people in both countries.
Data shows that over the past five years, the annual bilateral trade volume between China and Switzerland has exceeded 50 billion U.S. dollars on average. From January to September of this year, bilateral trade reached 89 billion dollars, an increase of 127 percent year on year.
China and Switzerland signed their original FTA in 2013, and the agreement entered into force in July 2014. The two countries launched negotiations to upgrade the agreement in September 2024 and announced their completion in August 2026, after five rounds of talks.
Following the signing, both sides will complete their respective domestic legal approval procedures and work to bring the upgraded agreement into force as soon as possible, the ministry said.
China, Switzerland sign protocol to upgrade free trade agreement
