Film carnival brings vibrant entertainment, rich cultural experiences to Beijing's suburb

The 15th Beijing International Film Festival (BJIFF) kicked off its much-anticipated Film Carnival in Huairou District of Chinese capital city, drawing in film lovers and visitors to a vibrant celebration packed with exciting performances and cinematic marvels.

As one of the BJIFF's signature events, this year's Carnival has been unfolded across two iconic locations: the Yanqi Lake International Convention and Exhibition Center and the China (Huairou) Film and Television Base—also known as the China Movie Capital, a hub for film and television production and tourism.

Blending the magic of cinema with traditional arts, gourmet delights, and interactive exhibits, the Carnival is designed to offer a mesmerizing celebration for visitors.

At the China Movie Capital venue, visitors can enjoy classic film screenings, live performances, and exhibitions featuring intangible cultural heritage (ICH). The event also includes zones dedicated to cultural merchandise, local cuisine, and interactive experiences.

One of the biggest highlights is the "ICH in Film" experience zone, where visitors can marvel at traditional Chinese tie-dye art and hand-painted folding fans inspired by famous films and TV dramas.

"We crafted 48 folding fans for this event, all themed around films. For example, one fan features the classic poem Qinyuanchun-Changsha, which has been highlighted in the film '1921'. We've also recreated scenes from TV series 'Dream of the Red Chamber' on some fans," said Xiao Ying, Deputy Secretary-General of the China Fan Art Association.

Visitors can also take part in hands-on workshops, such as traditional tie-dye sessions, for an up-close encounter with Chinese folk arts.

"It's such a rich experience to see these ICH products and tie-dying activities—and even getting to make something by hand. They perfectly blend traditional crafts with film culture. Such a unique and creative idea," said a visitor.

The Carnival also breathes new life into film history by recreating classic movie scenes, such as the opulent world featured in the 1987 epic film "The Last Emperor."

"There are many recreated sets, including immersive exhibition halls filled with original-style costumes," said another visitor.

In addition, six grand live performances including the Film Carnival Arts Gala are offering audiences a rich blend of light, sound, and storytelling.

The Carnival, which opened on Friday, will run through early May.

Running from April 18 to 26, the 15th BJIFF coincides with the 130th anniversary of world cinema and the 120th anniversary of Chinese cinema. At the heart of the festival is the Tiantan Award, which honors outstanding recent films and celebrates diversity in global filmmaking.

Film carnival brings vibrant entertainment, rich cultural experiences to Beijing's suburb

Tensions between Pakistan and India have forced many tourists to give up their trip to the famous Neelum Valley in the Pakistan-administered part of Kashmir.

Neelum Valley is vulnerable to military operations as it is located less than three kilometers away from the Line of Control, which is deemed the border dividing the India-controlled and Pakistan controlled parts of Kashmir.

Many tourists had to halt their trip at the popular Dhani Waterfall as local authorities issued a ban on entering the Neelum Valley, disappointing those who had long been eager for the tourist attraction and driven for hours to get there.

"Firstly, they shouldn't have let the tourists enter Kashmir from Kohala. It wasted a lot of their time. Now they are asking them to turn from the Neelum checkpost," said Mubashir Ali, a local resident.

The security concerns have also emptied guest houses and hotels in the valley, affecting local tourism and people's livelihood a lot.

Tensions between the two South Asian neighbors have escalated following a deadly attack on tourists in the India-controlled Kashmir town of Pahalgam on April 22, in which at least 25 people were killed, according to Indian media reports.

India has accused Pakistan of involvement in the attack, an allegation Pakistan has strongly denied.

On April 23, the Indian government announced several measures against Pakistan, including the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, border closure, and the expulsion of Pakistani personnel.

India's Ministry of External Affairs announced on April 24 that it would suspend all categories of visas for Pakistani nationals starting immediately, and advised Indian citizens against traveling to Pakistan.

In response, Pakistan announced countermeasures against India on April 24, including closing down the Wagah Border Post, suspending certain visa facilities for Indian nationals, declaring the Indian Defense, Naval and Air Advisors in Islamabad persona non grata, closing Pakistan's airspace for all Indian airlines, and suspending all trade activities with India.

Pakistan-India tensions force tourists to give up exploring Neelum Valley