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Visiting boundary markers becomes new trend in China's National Day holiday travel

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Visiting boundary markers becomes new trend in China's National Day holiday travel

2024-10-06 03:52 Last Updated At:04:17

Visiting boundary markers seems to have become a new trend in holiday-making on frontier regions in Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province neighboring Russia so far in the week-long National Day holiday that started on October 1.

At the border gateways and boundary monuments on the 2,981-kilometer frontier in Heilongjiang, tourists from all over the country are seen stopping to have photos taken with the boundary monuments or markers, with some listening to stories told by frontier police officers about past events associated with the frontier regions.

In China, the National Day holiday is a peak travel and tourism season.

Lying in the easternmost point of China is the Wusu Town Dongji Square in Fuyuan City of Heilongjiang Province. Next to the huge sculpture bearing the Chinese character of "East" in the square, the five-star Chinese national flag is fluttering in the wind. Just beside the national flag is a boundary monument, which has become an attraction to visitors.

Many of the visitors say that having a picture taken with the boundary monument on the occasion of the National Day holiday would make them feel honored about happy powerful their motherland is.

Li Xin, a police officer with the Wusu Town Border Police Station on duty at the Dongji Square, said he has felt the enthusiasm of visitors.

Li said that the number of tourists visiting the Doingji Square so far in the National Day holiday has doubled compared to the same period of last year.

In Mohe, the northernmost city in China which is more than 2,000 kilometers away from Dongji, visitors are also seen flocking to the Beiji (North Pole) Village to have pictures taken with the local boundary marker.

Zhang Jiale, a police officer with the Arctic Border Police Station in Mohe, expressed the same feeling as Li Xin.

In Suifenhe, another frontier city in Heilongjiang, tourists also seen enthusiastically flocking to the boundary monument beside the third-generation border gateway to have pictures taken with it. The Suifenhe Gateway Scenic Spot is located at the zero point of Suifenhe Highway Port G10 Suiman Expressway, the largest land port to Russia in Heilongjiang Province. It is the only longitudinal cross-border scenic spot in China and the only one that integrates three generations of border gateways in China's gateway scenic spots.

In this scenic spot, tourists frequently ask Wang Jiaxing, a police officer with the Suifenhe Entry-Exit Border Checkpoint on duty, to help take photos or ask about how to make a tourist travel to the neighboring country.

Ke Zunlei, a tourist from Shanghai, visited the site with his wife and young daughter.

"Standing at a frontier region of my own country, I feel that this place is quite sacred," Ke said.

In Hutou Township of Jixi City in the province, the boundary marker "292-1-2014," which marks the starting point of the Wusuli River between China and Russia, also attracts many visitors to make a visit and take photos.

Visiting boundary markers becomes new trend in China's National Day holiday travel

Visiting boundary markers becomes new trend in China's National Day holiday travel

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French influencer promotes China's allure through social media

2024-10-06 00:51 Last Updated At:01:17

With over a million followers on social media, French influencer Greg is dedicated to showcasing modern life and culture in China, inviting viewers to experience the country firsthand.

Currently based in Shanghai, Greg leverages his platform to share everything from delectable Chinese cuisine to popular trends, often featuring creative videos such as "Living a day in Shanghai on 100 yuan" and "How many Chinese cities can you visit in a day?"

Greg's connection to China dates back 16 years to when he was a 25-year-old student at a university in France. As graduation approached, he had the opportunity to study abroad and chose China among various options. Upon arriving in China, he quickly envisioned a future in the country and became determined to secure a steady job.

His journey took a significant turn during the Expo 2010 Shanghai China, where he worked as a translator for several travel agencies. His outstanding performance during the event led to an opportunity with a multinational wine trading company, where he served as the marketing director.

"Being a foreigner who speaks Chinese opened up numerous job opportunities for me. Every day has felt like a new adventure. Each day has felt different, and I was discovering new things every day. Even now, in 2024, I still feel this way," he said.

Initially, Greg produced informative videos in his spare time while working in the wine industry. His strong desire for self-expression and creativity attracted a significant following, fueling his inspiration for more content.

"I focus on creating optimistic videos. Because in my mind, China is a place full of optimism and happiness. You can experience anything you want here. You just need to create your own opportunities. I really like this kind of life," he said.

In 2022, after 12 years in the wine industry, he transitioned to full-time content creation. This shift was motivated by his love for the profession and a realization he had during a visit to France two years prior, where he discovered a widespread lack of understanding about China.

"I often complain about how inconvenient things are in France. For example, every time I go out, I forget my wallet, but in China, we don't need a wallet. Everything can be done through our phones. When we want to go shopping in France, we have to line up at the checkout and take all the stuff back home all by ourselves. I told my French countrymates, 'You know what? In China, people can use apps to order takeout, and it can be delivered within half an hour,'" he said.

Greg has made it his mission to create videos that highlight the aspects of China he loves, sharing these stories with audiences in France and around the world.

"People in France like China a lot now because of the videos I post," he said proudly.

He also emphasizes the need for a real-life experience to truly understand China.

"Watching videos is not enough. You have to come and see for yourself. Five hundred videos are nothing when compared to spending just 24 hours in Shanghai. It's only when you experience that you'll truly understand what China is all about. I wholeheartedly invite everyone to visit China, and I hope my videos inspire them to do that," he said.

French influencer promotes China's allure through social media

French influencer promotes China's allure through social media

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