The Russian navy has launched its planned large-scale Ocean 2024 strategic exercises, which will run through Sept. 16, the country's Defense Ministry said in a statement released on Tuesday.
"The exercise will become one of the most important events of the Russian armed forces' operational and combat training in 2024," according to the Defense Ministry statement.
In the statement, the Defense Ministry said that the exercises will involve over 400 warships, submarines and support vessels, as well as over 120 naval aircraft, 7,000 units of weaponry, military and special hardware, and more than 90,000 personnel.
The drills will be conducted across the Pacific and Arctic Oceans, as well as the Mediterranean, Caspian and Baltic Seas.
According to the statement, the Ocean 2024 strategic command and staff exercise will test the readiness of the Russian Navy's senior staff to command all-arms groups of forces and the ability to solve non-standard operational tasks. Russian forces will also practice the use of high-precision and modern weapons.
The drills also aim to "expand cooperation with the navies of partner countries to perform joint maritime missions," according to the statement.
Russia launches large-scale Ocean 2024 strategic drills
Russia launches large-scale Ocean 2024 strategic drills
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
