Photo: VCGWe are diving into the deep: this time, into an otherworldly ocean. "Avatar: The Way of Water,”directed by James Cameron, takes you to explore Pandoras glittering oceans.In the movie, the ilu is the childrens mount, an indispensable means of transportation for the seaside tribes. The ilu is intelligent, sociable and easily domesticated, with a long neck, six flippers and rudder-like tail, closely resembling Earths extinct Plesiosaur species.The Plesiosaur, which existed from 228 million years ago to 61.6 million years ago, was an aquatic reptile of the Jurassic period. It used four fins and a short broad tail for mobility, and had a serpentine neck almost as long as the rest of its body, with a small head at the end. It was at home in European seas and around the Pacific Ocean, including Australia, North America and Asia.Photo: VCGBeginning in 1824 when Victorian naturalist William Conybeare named Plesiosaurus after an almost complete skeleton, all types of Plesiosaurus – from small-headed, long-necked to large-headed, short-necked – used their four large flippers to flap and fly through the water. This way of swimming is very different from the lateral, fish-like manner of most other marine reptile lineages.Scientists have long wondered about the Plesiosaurs neck – what did it do with such a long neck? British geologist William Conybeare believes that the long neck may have forced it to swim at the surface, arching its long neck like a swan, occasionally darting it down at the fish which happened to float within its reach, or the equivalent of a snake in the grass, relying on the suddenness and agility of its attacks. Argentine museum exhibits giant Plesiosaurs skeleton. /CFPHowever, paleontologists including a marine-reptile expert told National Geographic that the range of motion of the neck is limited by the flattened joint surfaces between the bones. "The close fit, the relatively flat surface of the articulation ...
Moviegoers pick up their tickets at a cinema in Ganzhou, Jiangxi province, on Feb 6, 2022. LIU LIXIN/CHINA NEWS SERVICE BEIJING -- China's box office revenue exceeded 30 billion yuan (about $4.4 billion) in 2022, with 85 percent coming from domestic films, according to statistics released by the
FengKaipingdustsBuddhastatuesatJindengTempleinPingshuncounty,Shanxiprovince。
Singer Ren Xianqi.[Photo provided to China Daily] Dragon TV’s New Year’s Eve gala will air at 7:30 pm today to herald celebrations of the new year and inspire Chinese people to strive for a promising future. The gala featuring a variety of performances, magnificent stage designs and high-tech ele
UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Postal Administration (UNPA) will issue a special-event stamp sheet to celebrate the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year.The stamp sheet, to be issued on Jan. 20 according to the UNPAs program, consists of 10 stamps of a denomination of 1.40 U.S. dollars each, with a gongbi-style (meticulous painting) white rabbit against the background of a golden moon surrounded by clouds, as the Chinese lunar year for 2023 is the Year of the Rabbit.The UN logo on the left serves as the tab of the stamp and can be replaced with photos for personalization.UNPA completed the entire Chinese zodiac cycle of 12 animals in 2021. The new rabbit stamp is the second of a new zodiac cycle issued for UNPAs Lunar New Year stamp series.The stamp sheet features artwork by Tiger Pan of China, who also illustrated the Lunar Calendar series for 2022 and 2018.The Chinese Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, is the most important holiday for Chinese around the world. The Spring Festival for 2023 falls on Jan. 22.
BEIJING, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) -- Chinas cultural and related sectors sustained steady growth in 2021, official data showed Friday.(Photo: VCG)Before deducting the price factor, the sectors added value went up 16.6 percent in 2021 from a year earlier to reach nearly 5.24 trillion yuan (about 752.38 billion U.S. dollars) -- accounting for about 4.56 percent of the countrys gross domestic product -- according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).Among the industrys sub-sectors, cultural services secured a 64-percent share in the total added value of the industry, down 0.2 percentage points year on year, NBS data showed.The added value of cultural manufacturing stood at about 1.37 trillion yuan, accounting for 26.1 percent of the total added value of the industry, the data revealed.
A scene from the new Puss in Boots film features the eponymous feline hero (right), and his romantic interest Kitty Softpaws. (Photo provided to China Daily)An old proverb says a cat has nine lives. Unfortunately, this legendary "gift" has become a millstone around the neck of one of the worlds most famous feline characters, Puss in Boots.His latest cinematic outing, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish — the long-awaited follow-up to the 2011 Academy Award-nominated blockbuster Puss in Boots — was released across domestic theaters on Dec 23.Three days before its theatrical release in China, the movie held a premiere at Universal Beijing Resort, with one of the highlights being a 2.7-meter-tall ice sculpture of the dashing protagonist placed outside the Universal CityWalk Cinema.Appearing in his trademark outfit — the musketeer hat, a black cloak and high boots — the charismatic cat, with his beguiling accent courtesy of veteran Spanish actor Antonio Banderas, starts the movie with a hilarious and dazzling fight with a giant tree monster. However, the fearless hero soon finds he is facing an unprecedented peril: After his lifetime of adventure, he has only one life left!Despite following a veterinarians advice to bury his sword and boots to live a secure life as one of the many pets in an elderly womans house, Puss misses the adventurous past, propelling him to embark on a quest to find the mythical Wishing Star, which he believes can restore his lost lives.First appearing in DreamWorks Animations 2004 Oscar-nominated Shrek 2, the milk-loving, swashbuckling feline character quickly accumulated popularity across the globe. His role increased in two further Shrek sequels as a result, winning the character a solo film, as well as appearances in multiple short DreamWorks Animation videos and a TV series.Banderas says the voice-over job felt like visiting a dear and clever friend that he hadnt heard from for years. Noting that both he and the...
"FullRiverRed,"aperiodfilmbyrenownedChinesedirectorZhangYimou,willbereleasedfortheupcomingSpringFestival,HuanxiMediaannouncedTuesday。
Li Xincao, conductor and president of China National Symphony Orchestra. (Photo provided to China Daily)China National Symphony Orchestra announced its program list for the 2023 season on Dec 27 in Beijing.Chinese conductors, including Chen Xieyang, Lin Daye and Tan Lihua, will perform with the orchestra in the new season. German conductor Christian Ehwald will take the baton and perform with the orchestra with a concert marking the 190th anniversary of German composer Johannes Brahms.Musicians, such as violinist Lyu Siqing, pianist Chen Sa and suona player Liu Wenwen, will also be featured in the new season.According to Li Xincao, renowned Chinese conductor and president of the orchestra, concerts will be held to mark great Western composers, such as Brahms, Sergei Rachmaninoff and Aram Khachaturian. Two former presidents of China National Symphony Orchestra, Li Ling and Yan Liangkun, will also be commemorated with concerts to mark their 110th anniversary and 100th anniversary.The China National Symphony Orchestra was established in 1956 and was created from the former Central Orchestra. It has a long history of performing classic Chinese music pieces, especially patriotic music works born during wartime, such asYellow River Cantata by composer Xian Xinghai. Audience can also enjoy these classic Chinese music works in the new season.During the new season, the orchestra will also bring a concert version of the opera Don Pasquale by Italian composer Gaetano Donizetti, marking the operas 180th anniversary of its premiere.Eleven chamber music concerts will also be presented by the orchestra.
The new series of Bing Dwen Dwen unveiled in Beijing, December 28, 2022. (Photo: CFP)Beijing Winter Olympics sensational mascot Bing Dwen Dwen was back in the market on Wednesday in the Chinese capital, this time with a new look.As the Year of the Rabbit in Chinese lunar calendar will fall on January 22, 2023, Bing Dwen Dwen, originally a panda shaped mascot, is dressed as Lord Rabbit, or Tuer Ye, a traditional folk figure in Beijing.The new series of Bing Dwen Dwen unveiled in Beijing, December 28, 2022. (Photo: CFP)After consultation and communication between the Chinese Olympic Committee and the International Olympic Committee, the new edition is allowed to go on sale in the domestic market, as a celebration of the one-year anniversary of the Beijing Winter Olympics, as well as good wishes to the coming new year.Chinese zodiac culture is widely recognized globally, and the combination of Lord Rabbit and Winter Olympics convey the message of happiness, peace and health, according to Rabbit Dwen Dwens designer Lin Cunzhen, deputy dean of the School of Design under the Central Academy of Fine Arts.The new series include stuffed toys, badges, key rings as well as creative displays, priced between 68 yuan to 168 yuan (about $10 to $24).
The fading North Atlantic right whale will remain protected under the Endangered Species Act, and the species requires a series of protective steps to stave off extinction, U.S. federal authorities said Tuesday.The whales number only about 340 and they have declined in population in recent years. Americas National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) released a review of the whales status on Tuesday that said the whale "is continuing to decline and has not met many of the recovery criteria outlined" in its recovery plan.Protection of the whale is a source of dispute between conservationists and commercial fishermen because one of the top threats to the animals is entanglement in fishing gear. NOAA performed a required five-year review of the whales status that said the animal is continuing to decline because of threats from fishing gear, collisions with ships and other factors. A washed-up lobster trap and tangled line sits on a beach in Biddeford, Maine, U.S., November 13, 2009. (Photo: CFP)NOAA also released recommended actions to try to stabilize the whales population. The actions include partnering with the Canadian government to reduce collisions and entanglements. The whales migrate every year from the waters off Georgia and Florida to New England and Canada.The agency also recommended more research and implementation of fishing gear modifications that reduce risk to the whales. It also said there should be more emphasis placed on the removal of derelict fishing gear from the whales range.NOAAs announcement came a week after Maines congressional delegation announced plans to use the federal spending bill to attempt to delay new protections for the whales for six years. That would put a halt to new restrictions on lobster fishing, an industry based largely in Maine. The delegation and Democratic Gov. Janet Mills said in a statement that the planned restrictions would "not meaningfully protect the rig...
Revelers enjoy a sleigh ride at Taoranting Park in Beijing on Saturday, after an ice and snow festival opened. Holidaymakers are expected to enjoy a wide range of activities during Spring Festival next month. (Photo provided to China Daily)The Ministry of Culture and Tourism is offering support for cultural events across the country to enliven celebrations for the upcoming holidays.While ensuring the publics health and safety is taken into consideration, the ministry is encouraging cultural activities, including village galas, folk performances, exhibitions and tours during the New Year holiday, from Dec 31 to Jan 2, and the Spring Festival holiday, from Jan 21 to 27.More than 70 village galas are already being planned, including in Sanjianxi, Shandong province, Banyan, Qinghai province, and Simola Wa, Yunnan province.The galas will be developed by farmers and showcase their local customs and culture as well as village charm and the beauty of the countryside, said Zhu Bo, an official with the ministrys department in charge of public cultural service.The galas will be livestreamed on the online platforms culturedc.cn and tv.cctv.com.The online launch ceremony for the livestreams will be held on Dec 30.Demonstrations of intangible cultural heritage from different areas are also being prepared, the ministry said."We will mobilize and organize the intangible cultural heritage inheritors and practitioners to carry out a wide range of intangible cultural heritage demonstrations and related activities to find the connections between traditional culture and modern life," said Li Xiaosong, an official with the ministrys intangible cultural heritage department.There are more than 200 national intangible cultural heritages that are related to the Spring and Lantern festivals, such as dragon and lion dances, papercut art and temple fairs.The ministry will support full implementation of intangible cultural heritage activities nationwide to create a str...
December 25, 2022, Songyuan, Jilin Province, the annual winter fishing in Chagan Lake is in full swing.Early in the morning, the winter fishing team hastened the carts and moved toward the center of Lake Chagan. The team scans the area before setting out a fish net. It will take roughly eight hours to complete the whole process.The word Chagan, which means holy, clean, and white in Mongolian, stands for Sacred Lake or Holy Water Lake. Chagan Lake is one of the top ten freshwater lakes in China and the largest natural lake in Jilin Province.Every year in winter, local residents follow a traditional way of fishing, with fishermen dragging a 2-kilometer net through a horse-drawn winch to round up the fish under the ice. These fishing and hunting skills can date back nearly a thousand years.Fishermen avoid using dense nets to catch fish in order to practice sustainable fishing, allowing little fish to filter out and return to the lake where they can grow.Winter fishing at Chagan Lake is a popular tourist destination as it is considered a national intangible cultural heritage. The large-scale winter fishing for this year got underway on December 24 when the winter fishing team drove into the deep sea. The overall catch is anticipated to be around 1,500 tonnes for the winter fishing season, which runs until February 2023.(All images via CFP)
Archaeologists extracting fossilized skull. (Photo: Xinhua)A fossilized "No. 3 Skull of Yunxian Man" has been successfully unearthed, and researchers have begun to repair and research it, the Hubei provincial department of culture and tourism announced on Monday.The skull is believed to be the most intact Homo erectus specimen of its age found in inland Eurasia. It was discovered on May 18 at an early Paleolithic period site in central Chinas Hubei Province, where the first and second of such skulls, dating back 800,000 to 1.1 million years, were unearthed in 1989 and 1990 respectively.The excavation encountered difficulties as the third skull was surrounded by multiple animal fossils. It took archaeologists six months to remove the rock surrounding the skull and separate the human fossils from animal fossils and stone.Researchers carried out three-dimensional modeling over 20 times, took more than 200,000 photos, videoed the whole excavation process, and extracted more than 1,400 sedimentary samples, said Lu Chengqiu, director of the excavation project.Gao Xing, a researcher at the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said the well-preserved third skull will fill the research gap left by the deformed nature of the first two.The new skull will provide important evidence for the evolution of the Homo erectus and its origin and development in East Asia, Gao said.A significant number of stone tools found at the site have also proven that Yunxian Man was able to hunt, making and using tools from a million of years ago. Multiple fossils of herbivorous animals such as elephants, horses and cattle were also unearthed at the site, and researchers speculate they may be the remains of Yunxian Mans meals.
Archaeologists extracting fossilized skull. (Photo: Xinhua)A fossilized "No. 3 Skull of Yunxian Man" has been successfully unearthed, and researchers have begun to repair and research it, the Hubei provincial department of culture and tourism announced on Monday.The skull is believed to be the most intact Homo erectus specimen of its age found in inland Eurasia. It was discovered on May 18 at an early Paleolithic period site in central Chinas Hubei Province, where the first and second of such skulls, dating back 800,000 to 1.1 million years, were unearthed in 1989 and 1990 respectively.The excavation encountered difficulties as the third skull was surrounded by multiple animal fossils. It took archaeologists six months to remove the rock surrounding the skull and separate the human fossils from animal fossils and stone.Researchers carried out three-dimensional modeling over 20 times, took more than 200,000 photos, videoed the whole excavation process, and extracted more than 1,400 sedimentary samples, said Lu Chengqiu, director of the excavation project.Gao Xing, a researcher at the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said the well-preserved third skull will fill the research gap left by the deformed nature of the first two.The new skull will provide important evidence for the evolution of the Homo erectus and its origin and development in East Asia, Gao said.A significant number of stone tools found at the site have also proven that Yunxian Man was able to hunt, making and using tools from a million of years ago. Multiple fossils of herbivorous animals such as elephants, horses and cattle were also unearthed at the site, and researchers speculate they may be the remains of Yunxian Mans meals.
File photoShilin (Stone Forest), located in Chinas Yunnan Province, celebrated its selection as one of the first 100 Geological Heritage Sites on Monday. It is the third international recognition awarded to Shilin, which was previously dubbed a Global Geopark and a Natural World Heritage Site.As the only karst stone forest in a subtropical plateau region in the world, Shilin presents diverse forms of karst, including tall pillar-like limestone, sword-shaped limestone, mushroom-shaped limestone, and tower-like limestone. Its a typical example reflecting the evolution and development of karst topography.In October, the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) announced the "First 100 IUGS Geological Heritage Sites." Two of the seven Chinese geological sites listed, Chengjiang Fossil Site and Shilin, were based in Yunnan.(Compiled by Li Qinfang)
Pulling in an estimated $90 million, "Avatar: The Way of Water" has blown away the competition even as a massive storm kept millions at home over the four-day Christmas weekend, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations said Monday.(Photo: AP)The James Cameron sci-fi sequel has now earned 20th Century $287.7 million domestically, becoming the fifth highest-grossing film of 2022. But while analysts said it had exceeded expectations on a storm-depressed weekend, three new releases produced far more modest returns.Universals family-oriented "Puss in Boots: The Last Wish," a computer-animated spin-off of the "Shrek" franchise, took in $17.5 million for the Friday-through-Monday period.Sonys biopic "Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody" earned just $6.8 million. English actress Naomi Ackie portrays the late superstar.And comedy-drama "Babylon," helmed by Oscar-winning director Damien Chazelle, opened with a mere $5.3 million despite a cast including Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie. Variety.com called that an "especially terrible start."But David A. Gross of Franchise Entertainment Research suggested that the over-the-top epic can expect a boost "if it picks up big awards nominations," as many expect.Fifth place for the long, cold weekend went to "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever," at $5.3 million. Its domestic total is now $428 million.Rounding out the top 10 were:"Violent Night" ($4.3 million)"The Whale" ($1.5 million)"The Menu" ($1 million)"The Fabelmans" ($900,000)"Strange World" ($675,000)
SceneryofthenationaldesertparkinZhanangCountyofShannan,southwestChina'sTibetAutonomousRegion,Dec.24,2022。
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Giant rabbit installed in Nanjing to celebrate upcoming Chinese New Year(1/3)
Recently, more than 60,000 overwintering migratory birds were spotted in various parts of the Duchang water area of the Poyang Lake in east Chinas Jiangxi Province, jointly monitored by the Duchang Monitoring Station of the Poyang Lake Reserve and Duchang Migratory Bird Nature Reserve.The Poyang Lake, the largest freshwater lake in China, is an important wintering ground for migratory birds on the East Asia-Australasia flyway. It is a seasonal lake, storing water in wet season and discharging water in dry season. During the dry season, normally between October to March in the next year, a number of separate dish-shaped lakes form because of dropping water level. The marshes and mudflats of the lake area also gradually show up. Benthic animals, such as mussels and fish, and submerged plants in the dish-shaped lakes provide abundant food for the birds. A dried dish-shaped lake in Duchang County, Jiangxi Province, September 23, 2022. (Photos: CFP)Drought in Poyang LakeGiven the fact that, this year, the Poyang Lake suffers the most serious drought since 1961 due to the combined effects of high temperatures, reduced upstream water and less precipitation. The water level started to drop earlier in July. As of December 22, the water level at Xingzi Station, an iconic hydrological station at the Poyang Lake, dropped to 6.97 meters.There should be 11 dish-shaped lakes in the Migratory Bird Nature Reserve in Duchang County, but eight of them dried up this year, according to a staff member from the reserve. Migratory birds in the dish-shaped lake of Zhupao Mountain, Duchang County, Jiangxi Province, November 12, 2022.Ecological water supplySince September 19, Duchang County Migratory Bird Nature Reserve, under the guidance and support of provincial forestry departments, has implemented ecological water replenishment in the dish-shaped lake of Zhupao Mountain.This lake is one of the most important dish-shaped lakes in Duchang water area of the Poyang Lake, said Li Y...
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