Some U.S. media have bad records on reporting China-related issues, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a press briefing in Beijing on Tuesday, in response to the U.S. president's order to freeze the Voice of America (VOA).
Some 1,300 employees of the VOA, including journalists, producers and assistants have been put on administrative leave, according to media reports Saturday.
This cuts followed an executive order issued by U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday, which designated the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) as part of "unnecessary" federal bureaucracy.
"I'll give no comment on the adjustments of U.S. domestic policy, but I think it is no secret that some U.S. media outlets, as you mentioned, have bad records when it comes to reporting on China," said Mao.
Spokeswoman reminds public of some US media outlets' bad records on China-related reporting
A number of scenic spots across China have been seeking to attract more tourists through cultural activities and promoting local delicacies, as the warmer weather of early spring sees diverse flowers blooming across the country.
As the temperature warms, hundreds of acres of rapeseed flowers in Wufu Village, central China's Hunan Province, have entered the blooming period, attracting many tourists to enjoy the endless sea of golden flowers.
According to local agricultural experts, the best time to appreciate the flowers is from mid-March to early April, with 200,000 tourist arrivals expected this year to bring more than three million yuan (around 415,000 U.S. dollars) of income increase to villagers in the area. In east China's Anhui Province, over 500 hectares of apricot blossoms have bloomed in the Huangli Scenic Area in Huaibei City, attracting tourists and residents to come in droves.
"Each simple press of the shutter guarantees a wonderful picture in here," said tourist Yin Haoming.
The blooming flowers are not only a feast for the eyes and noses, but also an important driver for the local economy. With a series of flower-themed events every year, authorities have further promoted the popularity of the Huangli Scenic Area and attracted more tourists.
Maoming City in south China's Guangdong Province, China's largest lychee-producing area, has attracted tourists with its more than 94,000 hectares of lychee flowers.
Maoming's Gaozhou County held a spring flower appreciation event on Monday, attracting tourists and lychee purchasers.
Wuhan City in central China's Hubei Province is famous for cherry blossoms.
The Wuhan Moshan Cherry Blossom Park, a park in the East Lake area, is one of the most popular destinations for flower viewing, with over 10,000 cherry trees of more than 80 varieties.
The managing team of the park also organized traditional Chinese-style performances, fun fairs, and other activities to add more fun to people's flower-viewing trips.
"We have five to six shows on every spot during the day and the evening. Since the park opened to the public on March 6, it has seen 158,000 visits as of March 15," said Zhao Li, a staff member of the management office.
In addition to the beautiful scenery, Wuhan is also attracting tourists with delicacies.
Recently, a food fair has been held in the city, allowing tourists to taste famous local delicacies from Hubei and 18 other provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions.
In Anhui's Huangshan City, spring bamboo shoots are so prevalent in local cuisine that they are used in various dishes.
The Spring Bamboo Shoot Banquet is a specialty with freshly picked bamboo shoots that both locals and tourists love.
Scenic spots across China promote spring tourism as flowers bloom
