Stunning scenes from the sea through the lenses of soldiers

11:47, March 19, 2023

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  Moments of the week (03/13-03/19)

  A handout picture provided by the Iranian Army office on Friday shows warships during a joint military drill between China, Iran and Russia in the Gulf of Oman. Armed forces of the three countries' navies are holding the Security Belt-2023 joint maritime military exercise from March 15 to 19. (Photo: VCG)US Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen appears before a Senate hearing to examine the president's proposed budget request for fiscal year 2024 in Washington, DC, on local time Thursday. Yellen claimed the US banking system remains sound after bank failures stirred economic fear. (Photo: IC)Tourists visit a night fair in Dunhuang, Northwest China's Gansu Province, on Thursday. (Photo: Xinhua)A woman walks past garbage left on the street near the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, on Wednesday. Garbage is likely to continue accumulating in the French capital, since refuse collectors and street cleaners will be on strike until March 20. (Photo: Xinhua)Four giant pandas, Shuang Shuang, Chong Chong, Xi Xi and Qing Qing, enjoy their food, attracting many visitors at Chongqing Zoo, on Wednesday. (Photo: China News Service)Elephants eat fruits during the Thailand's National Elephant Day celebrations in Pattaya, Thailand, on Monday. (Photo: Xinhua)Sunshine casts rays into Ganquan canyon through the fissures, creating mysterious beauty at Ganquan county of Yan'an, Northwest China's Shaanxi Province, on Monday. Rain, water and wind over millions of years have sculpted its red sandstone into various textures and shapes. (Photo: China News Service)This aerial photo taken on Wednesday shows a flood-hit area in the town of Tut, Adiyaman province, Türkiye. (Photo: Xinhua)This photo taken on Wednesday shows a view of the Summer Palace in Beijing, capital of China. (Photo: Xinhua)Photo taken on Thursday shows magnolia tree blooming at the Tidal Basin in Washington, DC, the United States. (Photo: Xinhua)

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  Cherry blossom cultural festival opens Saturday at Yuyuantan Park in Beijing

  A cherry blossom cultural festival opened at Yuyuantan Park in Beijing on Saturday. (Photos: CFP; Compiled by Guo Xingzhe)Cherry trees bloom in Yuyuantan Park in Beijing on Friday. There are currently nearly 3,000 cherry trees of more than 40 varieties in the park, making it one of the largest cherry blossom viewing parks in North China.People enjoy cherry blossoms at Yuyuantan Park in Beijing on Friday. As the temperature rises, different varieties will bloom.This photo shows a cherry-blossom-themed carnival at the festival. The festival is expected to last for a month.This photo shows the food for sale at the carnival.Cherry trees bloom in Yuyuantan Park in Beijing on Friday.

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  Critically endangered river terns spotted in Southwest China's Yunnan

  Several river terns were recently spotted in a national wetland park in Southwest China's Yunnan Province.In this set of photos, river terns are seen either catching fishes or flitting around above the wetland.The river tern is a freshwater bird native to India and East Asia. In recent years, a rapid population decline of the species has occurred due to human disturbance.The species is listed as near threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and it is also under first-class protection in China.There are now only five river terns in China, according to figures provided by Yingjiang National Wetland Park.It's currently the birds' breeding season – In the wetland park, a river tern couple have laid three eggs and are hatching chicks, while another couple is expected to start brooding.(Photos by Ma Yun and Zhu Bianyong; Compiled by Sun Hang)

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  Infographic: China's economic achievements over last three years