Ancient Town of Dali in SW China Sees Surge in Tourist Visits During Summer Peak

The ancient town of Dali in Dali, southwest China's Yunnan Province, has entered its peak tourism season during the summer holiday. According to the ancient town protection and management department, the site recorded over 22 million tourist trips in the first seven months of 2026.

Photos from August 20 and 22, 2026, show tourists visiting the town, posing for photographs, and participating in activities such as dancing around a bonfire. An aerial drone image captured on August 22, 2026, also displays the town's scenery. All images were taken by Xinhua/Hu Chao.

स्रोत: शिन्हुआ। मूल लेख यहां पढ़ें here.

Joint China-Russia media delegation explores culture and innovation in China's Suzhou

Members of a joint China-Russia media delegation visited Suzhou, in east China's Jiangsu Province, from August 22 to 23, 2026. During their trip, they explored Pingjiang Road, a historical and cultural site, where they participated in activities such as tea tasting and learning about traditional Taohuawu woodblock New Year prints. The delegation also toured Taihuxue Sericulture Cultural Park to engage with local cultural heritage.

The group interacted with a Pingtan performer, a traditional Chinese art form, and visited Ecovacs Robotics, a company specializing in smart robotic vacuum cleaners. These engagements provided insights into both Suzhou’s cultural traditions and its technological advancements. The visit aimed to highlight the region’s blend of historical significance and modern innovation.

Throughout their stay, the delegation experienced the charm of China’s Jiangnan culture, which encompasses the artistic, architectural, and social traditions of the region. Their itinerary included multiple cultural and industrial sites, reflecting Suzhou’s reputation as a hub for both heritage and cutting-edge developments.

स्रोत: शिन्हुआ। मूल लेख यहां पढ़ें here.

Retired U.S. Teacher Reconnects with Chinese Friend During China Visit, Reviving Decades-Old Bond Forged in Desert Reforestation Efforts

Retired U.S. teacher Ronald Sakolsky arrived in Beijing on Aug. 23, 2026, for a visit aimed at renewing a friendship with Chinese citizen Yin Yuzhen that began over two decades ago. The 69-year-old plans to plant trees with Yin, a national model worker who has dedicated 40 years to reforestation efforts in the Maowusu Sandy Land of northern China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The pair were reunited at an airport in Ordos, Inner Mongolia, where Yin welcomed Sakolsky upon his arrival.

Their connection originated in 1999 when Sakolsky taught English at a school in Henan Province, central China, as part of a bilateral teacher exchange program. After seeing a television report on Yin’s work combating desertification, Sakolsky raised $5,000 to support her and her husband’s afforestation initiatives. The donation, described as life-changing for Yin’s family, funded saplings that have since matured into a forest of over 50,000 trees. In May 2026, Yin located Sakolsky online, leading to an emotional virtual reunion.

Sakolsky’s 10-day itinerary, organized by the China Education Association for International Exchange (CEAIE), includes participation in China-U.S. teacher exchange events, a visit to his former school in Henan, a press briefing at China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and tours of cultural sites. The trip aims to strengthen educational ties and highlight cross-cultural goodwill, according to a CEAIE official. During his stay, Yin presented Sakolsky with mooncakes, a traditional Chinese symbol of reunion, and tomatoes cultivated in the desert.

China has implemented policies such as special afforestation funds, tax incentives, and community mobilization to combat desertification. Official data indicates the country rehabilitated 152 million mu (10.13 million hectares) of sandified land between 2021 and 2025, contributing to about 25% of global green vegetation growth. Modern afforestation efforts now attract urban volunteers and international students alongside local farmers like Yin.

स्रोत: शिन्हुआ। मूल लेख यहां पढ़ें here.

Rescuers Evacuate Residents Amid Typhoon-Triggered Flooding in China's Guangxi

Rescue teams in Ningming County, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China, have been working to evacuate stranded residents after days of heavy rainfall caused by a typhoon. The region has faced severe weather conditions, leading to widespread flooding and infrastructure challenges. On August 23, 2026, aerial drone footage captured the ongoing rescue operations, showing rescuers assisting individuals in moving to safer locations. The images, taken by photographer Zhou Hua, highlight the collaborative efforts of emergency response forces to mitigate the impact of the extreme weather.

The typhoon-induced rains have battered Ningming County for several days, necessitating urgent evacuation measures. Rescue personnel have prioritized relocating individuals trapped by floodwaters, utilizing available resources to ensure safety. Ground operations were documented alongside aerial perspectives, which provided a broader view of the affected area. These visuals underscore the scale of the disaster and the logistical complexities faced by responders.

In addition to immediate evacuations, authorities have established procedures for displaced residents. On August 23, photos showed individuals registering their information after being relocated, a critical step in accounting for those affected and coordinating further assistance. The operations reflect a multi-phase approach to disaster management, combining rescue, documentation, and post-evacuation support.

The repeated documentation of rescue activities across multiple images emphasizes the sustained nature of the response. While the original captions for the photographs are identical in content, they collectively illustrate the continuous efforts to address the crisis. The focus remains on the collaboration between rescue teams and the resilience of the community amid the typhoon’s aftermath.

स्रोत: शिन्हुआ। मूल लेख यहां पढ़ें here.

Japan's Diplomatic Push Paves Way for Military Expansion

The Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi has been on a diplomatic tour, visiting Australia and India, where he has promoted the strengthening of Japan's "counterstrike capabilities" and the export of Japanese defense equipment.

Analysts have pointed out that Japan's ruling authorities are aggressively pursuing a "diplomacy of military expansion," expanding arms exports and broadening the scope of military activities. This push is aimed at chipping away at the constraints on Japan by the postwar international order and legal frameworks.

The topics on the agenda of Koizumi's latest visits showed that Japan is accelerating its "remilitarization" push abroad along two tracks: expanding arms exports and broadening the scope of military activities. On arms exports, the administration of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has doubled down on efforts to market Japanese weapons and defense equipment overseas since it revised the "three principles on transfer of defense equipment and technology" and their implementation guidelines in April.

The Takaichi administration's push to expand arms exports is not merely aimed at opening up markets for the domestic defense industry. It also seeks to forge closer ties with arms-buying countries on weapons systems, maintenance support, and parts supply, thereby further strengthening Japan's military influence overseas.

On military activities, the Takaichi administration has accelerated efforts to expand the Self-Defense Forces' operational presence abroad, including sending a large contingent of combat personnel to the Philippines for joint military drills for the first time. A 10-year agreement was reached with Australia, which will allow the Self-Defense Forces to use test sites in Australia to conduct test launches of long-range missiles to bolster so-called "counterstrike capabilities."

Analysts have expressed concerns that Japan's push to deepen cooperation with relevant countries in maintenance, logistics, weapons development, and other areas is an attempt to extend its "strategic depth" and military capabilities beyond its borders, a move toward military expansion that runs counter to the principle of "exclusively defense-oriented policy."

Since Takaichi took office, military and security issues have assumed an increasingly prominent place in Japan's diplomacy. Analysts have pointed out that the Takaichi government's diplomatic moves are all paving the way for its military buildup and rearmament, undermining the postwar international order and violating Japan's domestic legal framework, including its pacifist Constitution.

Experts have also raised concerns that the Takaichi administration's exaggerated portrayal of the so-called "the most severe and complex security environment since the end of World War II" represents a return to the dangerous militarist rhetoric. Veteran Japanese journalist Tomoyoshi Kimura has warned that Japan is steadily marching down a "highly dangerous" path of military expansion.

स्रोत: शिन्हुआ। मूल लेख यहां पढ़ें here.