The annual Golden Wutong Festival of Xi'an Jiaotong University opened on Friday at the Xingqing campus in northwest China's Shaanxi Province, attracting numerous students and visitors to experience the picturesque scene.
Pengkang Road, covered in layers of golden leaves, became a popular spot for students and tourists to capture the autumn beauty.
This year's festival includes six stamp collecting spots with different themes, including the Westward Migration and Chinese Culture.
"There is a saying that a single leaf falling heralds autumn. Now, with countless fallen leaves, it's truly awe-inspiring," said Zeng Nuo, a student.
"It's beautiful with the ripeness of autumn filling the air. It holds great significance as a farewell to autumn and a welcome to winter," said Liu Wenxi, another student from Malaysia.
In the 1950s, then-President of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Peng Kang, brought many precious trees and flowers from the eastern parts of China, including the oriental plane, to create a campus environment comparable to those in Shanghai.
Pengkang Road has since witnessed the university's growth and the spirit of the Westward Migration.
Golden Wutong Festival opens in Xi'an Jiaotong University
As vote counting begun following Ireland's general election on Friday, exit polls show a neck-and-neck race between the country's three major political parties, with Sinn Fein, the largest opposition party, taking a narrow lead.
Voting concluded at 22:00 on Friday night and counting began on Saturday morning as Ireland's 3.8 million voters choose new members of the 174-seat lower chamber of parliament, the Dail.
While the final outcome may take several days to determine, an exit poll of some 5,000 people on Friday has given a clear indication of the result.
The poll puts Sinn Fein on 21.1 percent, just ahead of Fine Gael on 21 percent, and Fianna Fail on 19.5 percent.
For over a century since Ireland's independence, every government has been led by one of two main political parties--Fianna Fail and Fine Gael-- both seen as centre-right parties. However, the 2020 general election marked a shift, when Sinn Fein emerged as the second-largest party and largest opposition force in parliament.
Sinn Fein, a left-wing, radical party, has a significant edge among younger voters and low-income groups. It advocates for social reforms and champions the idea of a unified Ireland by any means, including the use of force.
Political analysts suggest that under Ireland's electoral system known as proportional representation, it is unlikely any single party will secure an outright majority in parliament. While Sinn Fein is expected to win a narrow majority of votes in this election, forming a coalition government afterwards remains a challenge for the party.
Some analysts believe that if Sinn Fein successfully forms a coalition with other parties, the issue of Irish reunification could shift from the fringes to the center of the country's political agenda.
Sinn Fein holds slim lead in Irish general election: exit poll
