Rummy

00:08

No, this is not an art installation – these are actual clouds, rolling in real time below the snowcapped peaks of Mount Siguniang. Doesn’t it remind you of a sea of cotton? It’s very therapeutic. 

Some roads in Xiangzhou District were severely flooded, Zhuhai City, Guangdong Province, May 4, 2024. /CFP

Some roads in Xiangzhou District were severely flooded, Zhuhai City, Guangdong Province, May 4, 2024. /CFP

China’s National Meteorological Center renewed a yellow alert for rainstorms on Saturday, as heavy downpours are expected to lash parts of the country. China has a four-tier, color-coded weather warning system, with red representing the most severe warning, followed by orange, yellow and blue.

From 2 p.m. Saturday to 2 p.m. Sunday, heavy rain and rainstorms are forecast to hit parts of Guangdong, Guangxi, Jiangxi, Hunan, Fujian, Anhui, Jiangsu and Zhejiang, the center said.

In particular, certain areas in Guangdong and Jiangxi will experience torrential rain, with rainfall of 100-180 millimeters expected, according to the meteorological center.

Southern parts of China are expected to see more rainfall than usual this month, according to the National Climate Center.

Precipitation in many areas in this part of China will be 20 to 50 percent higher than the same period in average years, and this may lead to more floods in these areas, according to the center.

Data showed that average precipitation in China stood at 61.1 mm in April this year, 51.8 percent higher than the overall average and the second highest level since 1961.

In early May, the flood control situation in the middle and lower reaches of the Pearl River Basin and the Yangtze River Basin, particularly the regions south of the Yangtze River, remained severe, the center said.

It called for efforts to prevent secondary disasters such as mountain torrents, landslides and mudslides that could be caused by periodic heavy rainfall, as well as efforts to counter possible urban and rural waterlogging.

Tourists visiting relevant areas are advised to remain vigilant by closely monitoring local weather forecasts and taking safety precautions.

(With input from Xinhua)

The academic seminar on “Exchanges and mutual enrichment of Chinese and French civilizations: retrospectives and perspectives,” jointly hosted by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) and the National Institute for Oriental Languages and Civilizations (INALCO), was held in Paris, France, on May 3, 2024.

During the seminar, Gao Xiang, president of the CASS, said that China and France, the two major civilizations, resemble two bright lights that shine on each other. Enhancing the mutual enrichment of civilizations and cultural exchanges is an intrinsic requirement for the connection of people, the mutual trust and the partnership between the two countries, he said. The two nations should work together to set an example for harmonious coexistence of civilizations and win-win cooperation, especially at a time when some countries, under the complex international situation, have resorted to the “clash of civilizations” argument, he added.

Gao emphasized that both civilizations ought to be cherished and respected during these exchanges and mutual enrichment. One year after the Global Civilization Initiative was put forward, deeper cooperation and exchanges between China and France will surely promote the further implementation of the initiative as well as the sustainable and peaceful development of the entire world, he said.

Gao Xiang, president of the CASS, delivers a speech at the seminar, May 3, 2024. /Xinhua

Gao Xiang, president of the CASS, delivers a speech at the seminar, May 3, 2024. /Xinhua

Jean-Francois Huchet, president of INALCO, said in his speech that France has an academic tradition of attaching importance to China. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the People’s Republic of China and the French Republic, the two countries have continued to deepen academic exchanges in the social sciences and expand the research field, including traditional fields such as language and culture as well as contemporary research such as sociology and economics, he said. There is huge potential for bilateral academic cooperation, he added.

During the opening ceremony, China Social Sciences Press and Paris’ Editions You Feng jointly released the French version of the “Understanding China” book series. A special exhibition on “Sino-French academic exchange” was also held during the seminar, presenting books on the fruitful exchange between the two civilizations.

01:13

Is French difficult to learn for people in China? CGTN’s multilingual reporters have taken the challenge of teaching French sentences to passersby in some hutong of Beijing. The phrases shared by passersby range from quote of the famous French philosopher René Descartes to the words of French President Emmanuel Macron to the people of China.

02:03

An exhibition featuring the works of French philosopher Benoît Vermander has opened at Fudan University in Shanghai, showcasing over 60 Chinese ink paintings. Inspired by the ever-changing nature of existence, Vermander’s works reflect the fluidity of life, drawing parallels to the dynamic movements of the sea and the desert. Immersed in Chinese culture for over 15 years, Vermander’s exploration of calligraphy in China ignited his passion for painting, leading to a seamless fusion of Chinese ink painting techniques with Western motifs.

02:18

Lightweight camping is becoming a new trend in China, where enthusiasts seek to relax amid nature with a view without stress over heavy gear. According to iiMedia Research, the latest trend is attributed to young people who prioritize convenience and ease of transport. CGTN’s Hu Binyi visited a camping park to find out more about the new consumption trend from the younger generation.

A photo taken on April 28, 2024 shows a view of Shanghai’s towering skyscrapers. /CGTN

A photo taken on April 28, 2024 shows a view of Shanghai’s towering skyscrapers. /CGTN

A photo taken on April 28, 2024 shows a view of Shanghai’s towering skyscrapers. /CGTN

A photo taken on April 28, 2024 shows a view of Shanghai’s towering skyscrapers. /CGTN

A photo taken on April 28, 2024 shows a view of Shanghai’s towering skyscrapers. /CGTN

A photo taken on April 28, 2024 shows a view of Shanghai’s towering skyscrapers. /CGTN

A photo taken on April 28, 2024 shows a view of Shanghai’s towering skyscrapers. /CGTN

A photo taken on April 28, 2024 shows a view of Shanghai’s towering skyscrapers. /CGTN

A photo taken on April 28, 2024 shows a view of Shanghai’s towering skyscrapers. /CGTN

A photo taken on April 28, 2024 shows a view of Shanghai’s towering skyscrapers. /CGTN

A photo taken on April 28, 2024 shows a view of Shanghai’s towering skyscrapers. /CGTN

A photo taken on April 28, 2024 shows a view of Shanghai’s towering skyscrapers. /CGTN

A photo taken on April 28, 2024 shows a view of Shanghai’s towering skyscrapers. /CGTN

A photo taken on April 28, 2024 shows a view of Shanghai’s towering skyscrapers. /CGTN

Explore the captivating skyline of Shanghai, China’s bustling business hub, where towering skyscrapers create a breathtaking urban forest. Among these architectural marvels stands the Shanghai Tower, the tallest building in China at 632 meters, offering breathtaking views of the Bund. Embark on a visual journey through this concrete jungle and witness the vibrant expression of prosperity.

A scientist checks the samples brought back in the return capsule of China’s Shenzhou-17 manned spaceship, May 1, 2024. /Science and Technology Daily

A scientist checks the samples brought back in the return capsule of China’s Shenzhou-17 manned spaceship, May 1, 2024. /Science and Technology Daily

A total of 31.5 kilograms of samples making up the new batch of research samples brought back to Earth in the return capsule of China’s Shenzhou-17 manned spaceship were delivered to the Technology and Engineering Center for Space Utilization of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in Beijing on Wednesday.

The samples came from 23 scientific experiment projects involving 32 kinds of life experiment samples, including human bone cells, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, protein crystals, living organic molecules, and seeds. Eighteen kinds of material samples, such as containerless materials, high-temperature materials and extra-cabin exposure materials, are also included.

The life experiment samples were transferred to the CAS center in Beijing and handed over to scientists early Wednesday morning, about eight hours after the capsule touched down at the Dongfeng landing site in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

The scientists will conduct biological analyses, such as transcriptome sequencing and proteomics detection, to search for new clues for disease prevention and intervention by studying cell biological mechanisms in a microgravity environment.

The scientists will also diffract proteins to obtain a more accurate three-dimensional structure of proteins and study target proteins for technical support for drug and vaccine development.

The return capsule of the Shenzhou-17 manned spaceship, carrying astronauts Tang Hongbo, Tang Shengjie and Jiang Xinlin, touched down at 5:46 p.m. Beijing Time on Tuesday.

The three-member Shenzhou-17 crew arrived in Beijing by plane early Wednesday morning after a six-month space station mission.

Read more: Shenzhou-17 astronauts arrive in Beijing

04:10

In Chongren Ancient Town and Anchang Ancient Town in Shaoxing City, Zhejiang Province, let’s follow Caroline Wu on a journey to discover how the new and the old coexist in the ancient buildings and old neighborhoods.

The southern part of China is expected to see more rainfall during the Labor Day holiday from May 1 to 5, the National Climate Center said on Tuesday.

The accumulated precipitation in southern China and the southwestern province of Guizhou is expected to range from 20 to 60 mm, said Jia Xiaolong, deputy director of the center at a press conference.

Tourists go boating in Qianlingshan Park in Guiyang City, capital of Guizhou Province, southwest China, April 29, 2024. /CFP

Tourists go boating in Qianlingshan Park in Guiyang City, capital of Guizhou Province, southwest China, April 29, 2024. /CFP

Some of the aforementioned areas are expected to see accumulated precipitation exceeding 150 mm, accompanied by strong convective weather such as thunderstorms, gales, and hail, Jia added.

The climate center issued a warning regarding potential mountain torrents, landslides and flash floods along small and medium-sized rivers, and advised the public to remain vigilant by closely monitoring local weather forecasts and taking safety precautions, especially when traveling to mountainous or waterside areas.

(Cover: Water level of the Dongjiang River rises in Dongguan City, Guangdong Province, south China, April 29, 2024. /CFP)

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency