Thousands of Lebanese have fled to war-torn Syria to escape Israeli air raids as the Israel-Hezbollah conflict is sharply escalating.
The Israeli army has intensified its airstrikes against Hezbollah across Lebanon since September 23, resulting in an influx of a large number of Lebanese into neighboring Syria, with many border crossings between the two countries recording a sharp surge of entries.
Jusiyah, a major official border crossing between the two countries, has seen more than 60,000 refugees entering Syria from Lebanon.
The crossing, located in Homs, Syria, is a primary gateway to the Bekaa Valley in Lebanon, where many locals support Hezbollah, a militant group and a political party in Lebanon.
It used to serve as a gate for Syrian refugees entering Lebanon during the Syrian civil war. Now as Israel has intensified airstrikes in the Bekaa Valley, a large number of Lebanese have been entering Syria through this crossing.
Among the refugees is an exhausted elderly man who fled Lebanon with his wife to Syria to seek refuge. The arduous journey has exacerbated his illness, and he is currently receiving treatment from local aid agencies.
"A lot has happened in Lebanon. Homes have been destroyed, and civilians have been bombed. They target everything -- buildings, homes, everything. My husband fell ill. For him, I had to leave Lebanon," said the refugee's wife.
Despite having no ties in Syria, a Lebanese woman brought her children to Syria to temporarily escape the conflict.
"Yes, they are my children. Everywhere is full of fear and terror. The bombings target residential areas of civilians. There are no political targets. The children can only get some sleep when they are weary amid the bombings during those nights. There is nothing we can do about it," said a refugee.
Although the war in Syria is still going on, the Syrian authorities have established two refugee centers in the border town of Qusayr to accommodate Lebanese refugee families without other options in Syria.
Israeli forces and Hezbollah have been exchanging fire across the Lebanese-Israeli border since last year, with growing concerns of a wider conflict as the war between Hamas and Israel intensifies in Gaza.
Thousands of Lebanese flee to Syria amid escalating Israel-Hezbollah conflict
Thousands of Lebanese flee to Syria amid escalating Israel-Hezbollah conflict
Various celebrations are being staged across China in anticipation of the fast-approaching New Year's Day and the upcoming Chinese New Year holiday, or Spring Festival, boosting the market for related goods as more revelers get into the festive spirit.
In Beijing, more than 1,000 lanterns themed around fashion and technology are offering a colorful display in the city's Wenyuhe Park, making it one of the largest lantern festivals in the city this year.
In Shanghai, business districts have launched a series of themed decorations, exhibitions, performances, and interactive activities. Local authorities have also distributed consumption coupons, further stimulating consumer spending during the New Year's Day holiday, which falls on Wednesday.
In the nearby city of Hangzhou in the eastern Zhejiang Province, several promotional activities have been introduced to boost consumption. Additionally, business areas and shopping streets have been upgraded to meet the consumer demand for high-quality goods.
Special Spring Festival fairs have also been set up across the country as Chinese people gear up for their largest annual celebration around the Chinese New Year, which lands at the end of January in 2025.
In Huaiyuan County of east China's Anhui Province, a local fair is attracting visitors with a variety of well-known agricultural products. In Zhangzhou City of the coastal Fujian Province, a one-stop feature fair allows both visitors and locals to purchase a wide range of items.
Meanwhile, in northeast China's Jilin Province, local authorities in the city of Ji'an have sought to take advantage of the snowy conditions by integrating winter sports, offering visitors the chance to enjoy a range of snow and ice activities while shopping for Spring Festival goods.
Additionally, flowers are in high demand at many marketplaces across China as more people look to prepare some floral decorations as part of the celebrations.
In Kunming of southwest China's Yunnan Province, a special flower street featuring Chinese New Year flowers has been set up, where over 15,000 flowers are available, including more than 120 varieties of orchids.
Local flower markets area also in full bloom in various other places, from the northern cities of Shijiazhuang and Taiyuan to Hetian in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, all offering a wide variety of creative and unique flowers, which have been well received by residents.
New Year celebrations help boost market for festive goods
