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Five nominated sites of the migratory bird sanctuaries along the coast of Yellow Sea the Bohai Gulf of China, have successfully passed the review process to be included on the World Heritage List by the UNESCO.
According to China's National Forestry and Grassland administration, the decision was made during the 46th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee held in New Delhi, India last month.
According to UNESCO, the migratory bird sanctuaries along the coast of the Yellow Sea, Bohai Gulf of China is a serial extension of the property of the same name, that is already listed on the World Heritage List.
The newly admitted 5 sites are part of Phase 2, while Phase 1 sanctuaries were inscribed on the World Heritage List, in 2019.
As part of the world's largest intertidal Wetland System, this area within the Yellow Sea Ecoregion provides vital habitats for birds migrating along the East Asian Australasian Flyway, which stretches across approximately 25 countries from the Arctic to Southeast Asia and Australasia.
UNESCO noted that the wetlands serve as a unique ecological function, as indispensable stopover sites for millions of water birds.
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When it comes to group travel, tourists are often guided through rigid itineraries, shuttling from one attraction to another and battling endless shopping promotions.
But the rise of personalized travel experiences in China is now challenging this norm.
According to Yang Wei, a private travel planner based in northwest China's Ningxia Hui autonomous region, the principle they follow is quite simple never rushing the guests.
As a former media professional, Yang ventured into personalized travel planning in 2013.
Initially, she found it challenging to promote the new travel service to tourists but posting well All crafted content on short video platforms helped her attract a large following and her business gradually took shape.
Yang and her team cover almost every aspect of the travel experience, offering everything from customized itineraries guided tours to travel photography, hotel booking and ticket booking services.
Yang added that the number of tourists usually jumps in June and peaks in July and August, however this year saw a surge of tourists early in April.
According to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, China recorded about 295 million Indian Domestic Tourist trips, during this year's 5 -day May Day holiday, up 7 .6 % year -on -year.
Data from Chinese Payment Services platform, Alipe, indicates that during the holiday, Cross -city payments saw significant growth in cities, including Zhongwei and Wu Zhong in Ningxia.
Study -tour guide Xue Kun is in another emerging profession, providing customized travel services.
She combines education with travel, enhancing students' understanding and appreciation of local history and culture through in -depth explanation.
Zhou Shanyu, who traveled from East China's Zhejiang province, was surprised by the service.
During a study tour in Ningxia, Zhou and her child took part in a straw net -paving experience in the desert, a practice that reduces wind speeds and corrects moving sand dunes.
Emerging professions including travel planners, home stay managers, and study tour guides are revitalizing the tourism sector and creating job opportunities for many locals there.
Looking ahead, Yang Wei plans to expand her business to international tourists.
Yang believes that the tourism market in China is likely to see greater segmentation and diversity in the future.
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If you want to go on a city tour in Shanghai without having to worry about the heavy bags and suitcases, the latest self -service luggage storage introduced by Shanghai Metro offers the perfect solution.
The company has piloted the program at 12 subway stations near major transport hubs, bustling commercial areas, and tourist destinations, including Shanghai railway station, People's Square, Yuyu to accommodate various types of luggage from small backpacks to large trunks.
After passing through security checks and entering the station, passengers can access the service via WeChat or OliPay apps by scanning a QR code at a storage point.
During the trial operation period, which lasts till the end of this month, the service is offered free of charge for up to 8 hours of storage per use.
Starting in September, a tiered pricing structure will be adopted, ranging from $225 yuan, less than $1 US per hour depending on the locker size, with a daily cap of $12 to $30 yuan, respectively.
According to Shanghai Metro, the program is a testament to the city's commitment to enhancing the commuter experience, making travel not only more convenient but also more enjoyable for all.
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Several of China's biggest summer blockbusters have been released with audio descriptions for blind and visually impaired cinema goers.
Audio description, often referred to as barrier -free movies, in China is a separate soundtrack that plays simultaneously during a movie, describing the action as it is happening for blind and visually impaired viewers.
The service, which people typically listen to via a handset and headphones, can help blind people better visualize a scene and understand visual gags and other non -verbal cues that will enrich their enjoyment of the film.
Data from China Disabled Persons Federation shows that China has an estimated 17 million in people living with visual impairments.
The creators of The Traveler, a fantasy -action blockbuster adapted from a popular comic series have made a barrier -free version of the movie available at 74 theatres across China, including in Beijing, Shanghai, Ningbo, as well as Suzhou, Chongqing, and Chengdu.
Similarly, the hit dark comedy Successor released a barrier -free version of the movie on the day it premiered last month.
Though still relatively new in China, audio description is receiving increasing attention from the government, content producers and streaming platforms.
China's 14th five -year plan set the goal of widening the availability of barrier -free services for people with disabilities, including barrier -free films.
Streaming platforms including 10 Cent Video and Youku have announced plans to launch barrier -free channels that will provide audio description for hundreds of popular films and TV series.
Blind and visually impaired movie fans have welcomed the changes, noting that making audio description available in cinemas allows them to live a more normal life.
Li Zhijin, who is blind, noted that it would be great if commercial theaters had barrier -free versions with headsets next to the seats so blind people can listen to the audio description, denying being a fan of screenings specifically for the visually impaired.
Lee added that the most significant thing about barrier -free films is that they allow blind people to mix with sighted people and participate in discussions.
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In Chinese mythology, the seventh day of the seventh month on the Chinese lunar calendar marks the reunion of a parted couple, Nyo Lang, the herdsman, and Zhur Nu, the weaver girl.
Legend has it that on this day all the magpies in the sky form a bridge with their bodies allowing the lovers to meet once a year.
But why do Chinese people celebrate this long distance love story and consider it akin to a Valentine's Day?
Shouldn't couples be together to celebrate their love?
And why do girls seem happier than guys on this day?
Allow me to explain.
The seventh day of the seventh lunar month is a special time when women in China awaken.
Here goes another fable for you.
A long time ago, in Heaven there lived a fairy whose name was Jurnu or the Weaver Girl.
As her name indicates, she was very good at weaving, so that every day she weaved rosy clouds in the sky.
In time, she grew weary of the monotonous task of weaving and fled heaven and entered the mortal world.
She married a herdsman, Nyolong, had kids, and got used to the ordinary life of a human on earth.
the love between a fairy and a mortal was forbidden by heaven, thus the two were banished to the opposite sides of the Silver River, which symbolizes the milky -way in Chinese mythology.
Once a year on the seventh day of the seventh With lunar month, a flock of magpies would form a bridge to reunite the lovers for a day.
This is how the Double Seven or the Chi Shih Festival came to be.
This tale strikingly resembles the challenges of modern long distance relationships.
So why has this festival been celebrated on such a grand scale over the years?
The deep -rooted reason is it's not always about brave love or the cliched statement of love conquers all.
Many believe it's about a woman's desire to be smart, intelligent and skillful.
Various activities were carried out on Qishi in ancient times, girls would worship celestial beings and pray to Zhernu, the goddess of needlework, for wisdom.
They recited traditional prayers for dexterity in needlework.
took, which symbolized the traditional talents of a good spouse.
They made wishes to marry a good and loving husband.
This was also done in domestic settings.
Under the moonlight, young women set a table with tea, fruit, various nuts and other sour sacrifices.
They would eat, chat, giggle, exchange secrets, and wish the best for each other.
That's a form of girls party or ladies night in today's concept, isn't it?
Apart from partying, girls also demonstrated their domestic skills.
ancient needle threading competition required women to pull colorful threads through the needle's holes.
The one who threaded the fastest was said to be handy and skillful in the future while the one who threaded the slowest must give a gift to the winner.
In ancient times, girls who wanted to live a happy life could only do so by marrying a loving and relatively wealthy husband.
They had to prove their skills of being a caring and capable wife.
Today, however, with better opportunities and a more open society, women consist of half the sky.
Domestic skill sets are not essential for being considered a good wife.
The significance of the Chi Chi festival is now about calling for ladies to become a better self as this accomplishment can come from no other place, but from within.
A perfect love is nowhere to be found.
You can have a match based on destiny, but you have to work hard to manage a romantic relationship with patience, care, wisdom, and love.
The story of the herdsman and the weaver -girl might suggest a match made in heaven, but Don't forget that the same match was also destroyed by heaven.
Women of today know deeply that the Chi Chi festival is a time when they wish for happiness and growth.
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That's the end of this edition of Special English.
To recap, I'm going to read one of the news items again at normal speed.
Please listen carefully.
Five nominated sites of the migratory bird sanctuaries along the coast of the Yellow Sea Bohai Gulf of China have successfully passed the review process to be included on the World Heritage List by the UNESCO.
According to China's National Forestry and Grassland Administration, the decision was made during the 46th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee held in New Delhi, India, last month.
According to UNESCO, the migratory bird sanctuaries along the coast of the Yellow Sea, Bohai Gulf of China, is a serial extension of the property of the same name that is already listed on the World Heritage List.
The newly -admitted Five sites are part of phase two, while phase one sanctuaries were inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2019.
As part of the world's largest intertidal wetland system, this area within the Yellow Sea eco -region provides vital habitats for birds migrating along the East Asian Australasian Flyway which stretches across approximately 25 countries from the Arctic to Southeast Asia and Australasia, UNESCO noted that the wetlands serve a unique ecological function as indispensable stopover sites for millions of water birds.
This is the end of today's program.
I hope you'll join us every day to learn English at a slower pace.
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