Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday inspected a section of the Yellow River in Lanzhou, the capital city of northwest China's Gansu province, where he learned about local measures to promote ecological conservation in the Yellow River basin.
Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the visit as part of his inspection tour of Gansu.
The Lanzhou section of the Yellow River stretches for over 150 kilometers and features 21 parks, 55 sculptures, 23 bridges, 12 docks, and 15 cross-river walkways.
It spans an ecological greening area of 150,000 square meters, and has nearly 30 kilometers of fitness trails running along the riverside.
One of the major attractions is the Zhongshan Bridge, which is known as the "First Bridge of the Yellow River." Completed in 1909, it is the oldest bridge in Lanzhou and the first highway bridge built over the Yellow River.
The Zhongshan Bridge section is also a popular destination for residents and tourists seeking leisure and sightseeing. Visitors can stroll along the Yellow River while enjoying the scenery, take in a boat ride, or relax at one of the many riverside tea stalls while taking in the views.
Xi learns about ecological protection situation in Yellow River Basin
Bakers in San Francisco's Chinatown have been adding some new twists to traditional Chinese mooncakes to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival, which falls on Sept 17 this year.
The Mid-Autumn Festival is a traditional Chinese festival celebrated on the night when the moon reaches its fullest and brightest on the 15th day of the eighth month on the lunar calendar. Sharing mooncakes, a classic Chinese baked pastry that symbolizes family reunions during the harvest season, with loved ones is an important part of the festival celebrations.
The iCake Bakery in the heart of the city's Chinatown is especially busy at this time of year. This year, the bakery owner Hannah Zhang invited Judy Lee, the vice president of the San Francisco Chinese Chamber of Commerce, to make mooncakes.
"So we have here a black sesame filling. It's one of the most unique flavors we have at iCafe. And now we're going to put in an egg yolk," said Lee, translating for Zhang.
Just around the corner at the AA Cafe, owner Henry Chen has also been experimenting with some new twists on the classic treat.
"We have a lot of different [flavors], like the date, melon, pineapple, strawberry, mango and seasoned nuts," said Chen.
Visitors to San Francisco's Chinatown can find all sorts of mooncakes, especially in the months leading up to the Mid-Autumn Festival. Whether it is a traditional or modern variety, it is a way to connect with a tradition that stretches back more than a thousand years and to remind people what the historic Chinatown community has to offer.
"In the spirit of the Moon Festival, it gives us another reason to gather with our friends and family to attract people who've never been to San Francisco's Chinatown and see why there's so much preservation here. It is the oldest Chinatown in the nation still," said Lee.
Bakers in San Francisco offer new treats for mooncake lovers for Mid-Autumn Festival
