The Longmen Bridge, the longest cross-sea bridge in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, opened to traffic on Sunday, drastically reducing travel time between the Qinzhou Port and the Fangchenggang Port from 1.5 hours to just 25 minutes.
Located in the city of Qinzhou, the 7.6-km-long bridge connects coastal cities along the shore of the Beibu Gulf, and also meets the navigation requirements for 20,000-tonne liners.
It follows a two-way, six-lane, first-class highway construction standard, and is designed for driving speeds of 100 kilometers per hour.
The bridge is an important passage in the Beibu Gulf economic zone, and is expected to aid the zone's high-quality development.
Longest cross-sea bridge in south China's Guangxi opens to traffic
People across the world are celebrating the arrival of 2025 in various ways.
In Thailand, the Menam River in Bangkok hosted a fireworks show as the clock struck midnight that ushered in the first day of 2025. The fireworks illuminated a 1,400-meter canvas of the night sky, painting a vivid tapestry that spanned five kilometers along the river.
Approximately 100,000 locals and foreign visitors gathered there to greet the new year.
"The New Year's Day is a happy holiday. Thai people worked hard throughout the year, and this day is for us to take a rest and have family reunions," said a Thai.
"I wish my family and friends to stay healthy," said a Chinese tourist.
A bustling night market along the river attracted tourists eager to savor local delicacies.
In a commercial street near the Naritasan Temple in Narita, Japan, dozens of shops offer a variety of festival goods, including blessing ornaments and Daruma dolls that symbolize good fortune.
Tourists have crowded the area to pray for good luck and shop for the New Year.
Japanese consumers are expected to spend an average of 43,000 yen (about 274 U.S. dollars) per person on tourism during the 2025 New Year holiday, marking a record high, according to industry data.
At a coastal tourist destination in Cape Town, South Africa, tens of thousands of tourists gathered for grand celebrations for the New Year.
"We are from the Netherlands celebrating the start of 2025. Everybody happy New Year," said a Dutch tourist.
As night fell, the brightly lit streets, dynamic music and lively performances infuse the city with a festive atmosphere around the corner of every New Year, fascinating tourists from across the world.
In Paris, France, fireworks lit up the sky over the Arc de Triomphe to greet the New Year on the Champs-Elysees Avenue.
The celebrations started at 19:00 on the last day of 2024, featuring music performances, light shows and fireworks display at midnight.
New Year celebrated across world
