Russia's three-day local and regional elections, including in the war-affected western Kursk region, concluded on Sunday.
The 2024 elections were held in large part of the country on Sept. 8, with several regions allowing voting on Sept. 6 and 7.
Security was beefed up in Kursk, where voting started earlier than in other regions in this year's elections.
According to Russian Central Election Commission, the Acting Governor of Kursk Alexey Smirnov won more than almost 65.3 percent of the votes to become governor of the region.
Meanwhile, by-elections for the Russian State Duma were also held.
Russia did not postpone the vote in Kursk despite the Ukrainian incursion and fierce front-line battles.
Lyudmila Dremova, Chairperson of the Public Headquarters of Observers for the Elections of the Governor of the Kursk Region, said that the elections proceeded smoothly, and no irregularities were reported.
"During its operation, the public monitoring center has received more than 7,000 reports and short messages from our polling stations. I would like to say that the entire process proceeded as normal. We have received no reports of any irregularities," said the chairperson.
"Peace" and "prosperity" were the words that were heard more often than others during the elections in Kursk, with young people also calling for attention to be paid to everyday issues.
"There were less bombings, yes. It became quieter. I don't remember the last time the explosion happened. The nights have become calmer. We sleep peacefully," said Ilya Plesovskikh, a resident of Kursk.
"There are not enough parks in the city. We hope that more entertainment places can be built for young people. Somehow more efforts have been made in this direction. Something new began to be built for the young people," said Maria, another local resident.
Local elections conclude across Russia
The rising popularity of Guochao, also known as the trend of "China-chic", has contributed to a consumption boom and more diversified consumption scenarios ahead of the Mid-Autumn Festival.
China-chic refers to fashion trends native to China, which incorporates unique native cultural elements into the latest trends.
For this year's Mid-Autumn Festival, the brand-new event "The Empress's Mid-Autumn Feast" at the Mingtang Tiantang Scenic Area in the National Archaeological Site Park of Sui-Tang Luoyang City in central China's Henan Province has attracted many visitors.
Through interactive experiences such as the performance of court music and dance, and the Empress Wu Zetian bestowing incense, it recreated the Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations in the Tang Dynasty (618-907) palace, allowing visitors to fully immerse themselves in the festive atmosphere of the holiday.
The "Hanfu craze" in Luoyang City has led to an increase in the number of tourists visiting scenic spots and has extended the overall economic chain. This trend has boosted the popularity of services such as Hanfu rental, makeup and styling, and professional photography, making them widely popular.
In Luoyang's Luanchuan County, activities such as the "Fairy Palace Moon Viewing Party" at the peak of the Laojun Mountain, which stands over 2,000 meters above sea level, have driven a surge in business for the Hanfu stores at the mountain's summit, leading to a peak in consumer activity.
"This year's Mid-Autumn Festival is witnessing an increase of over 50 percent in Hanfu rentals and sales, as well as travel photography services, compared with the same period last year. With such beautiful scenery as a backdrop, the demand for traditional China-chic consumption remains strong," said Jin Ge, owner of a Hanfu store atop the Laojun Mountain.
Driven by the rise of China-chic, creative cultural products are continuously updated with new offerings.
At a glazed glass workshop in Zibo City, east China's Shandong, skilled workers were busy crafting creative glassworks featuring lively jade rabbits, a symbol of the Mid-Autumn Festival.
As soon as the products hit the market, they quickly became popular both online and offline.
"While inheriting tradition, we've been exploring something new, developing creative products that better meet current market demands, thus winning the favor of a wide range of consumers," said Liu Jianhua, deputy general manager of Xiye Workshop.
The Mid-Autumn Festival, celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese lunar calendar, is a cherished occasion for family reunions in China. It falls on September 17 this year.
China-chic boom fuels consumption for Mid-Autumn Festival
