The ever-expanding high-speed railway (HSR) network in China is helping foreigners travel faster between the country's major cities and the rural regions.
Official data show foreign tourists made over 5.72 million visits to China from January to July, surging 403 percent year-on-year, thanks to facilitated entry measures and improved services to enhance convenience, like payment options, for inbound visits.
Many of the foreign tourists have chosen high-speed rail service traveling across their destinations in the country, saying the rail system is time-saving and convenient.
"It's one of the best and convenient ways, you know, take the fast train just for hours and you can get Shanghai," said Jack, a tourist from Netherlands who was to board a high-speed train in Beijing South Railway Station.
While major cities remain popular, exploring small towns via high-speed rail is becoming a popular option.
China has expanded its operational railway tracks to 160,000 km as of September, with the high-speed rail exceeding 46,000 km.
Linking major city clusters, the extensive network has also reached even remote villages in the rural regions.
In the southwestern province of Sichuan, a new section of HSR put into operation in late August has reduced the travel time from the provincial capital Chengdu to Jiuzhaigou National Park to less than two hours. Jiuzhaigou is a UNESCO World Heritage site renowned for its breathtaking natural scenery. Previously, this journey took seven hours by road.
"Today we are going to Jiuzhaigou. And as understanded, if you were to drive it will take several more hours than it is now. So, it's definitely makes it much easier to fulfill the goal of returning to Chengdu within a day," said an American tourist.
Expanding high-speed railway network improves foreigners' travel experience in China
Lebanon's Hezbollah said on Thursday that the group is willing to consider a ceasefire proposal if it includes guarantees for a truce in the war-torn Gaza Strip.
A member of Lebanese parliament from the Hezbollah coalition made the statement at a news conference in Beirut.
He criticized Israel's strike on a Beirut health care facility that killed at least five people, and warned the international community against Israel's continuous violations of international law.
"The world is facing a challenge. Can they find one humanitarian or international law that Israel hasn't violated? All U.N. charters, U.N. Security Council resolutions, Israel has violated them. Isn't it enough that it tore the U.N. Charter? Isn't it enough that it declared the [U.N.] secretary general an undesirable person, a Persona Non Grata" said Ibrahim Al Moussawi, an Hezbollah official and member of the Lebanese parliament.
The group also vowed to continue their fight until it sees a realistic proposal for a ceasefire.
"The decision for a ceasefire is left to those in the battlefield. We consult with those in the field, and we who deal with politics when we receive an offer that is realistic and would also achieve a ceasefire in Gaza as well. Only then we can consider making a deal," said Ibrahim.
The Israel Defense Forces have been carrying out an unprecedented, intensive air attack on Lebanon, dubbed "Arrows of the North", since Sept. 23, after nearly a year of low-intensity cross-border exchanges of fire with Hezbollah. And in another sign of escalation, the country has launched a ground incursion into Lebanon since early Tuesday.
The Israeli air and ground raids have since killed 1,974 people, including 127 children, wounded 9,350 others, and forced more than 1.2 million civilians to flee their homes, according to the Lebanese health minister.
Hezbollah willing to consider ceasefire proposal if it includes guarantees for truce in Gaza: official
