Briefly

HUBEI

Culture, tourism expo concludes in Wuhan

The first China (Wuhan) Culture and Tourism Expo concluded on Sunday in Wuhan, Hubei province. With the theme "Beautiful China, Happy Life", the three-day event attracted industry and government representatives from 29 provincial-level regions, 13 countries and two international organizations, organizers said. An exchange and communication platform at the expo showcased iconic cultural and tourism products and new development models, Culture and Tourism Minister Hu Heping said. Hosted by the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and the Hubei provincial government, the expo will be held in Wuhan every two years.

QINGHAI

Bird numbers grow at largest saltwater lake

Nearly 190,000 water birds have been observed at Qinghai Lake, China's largest saltwater lake, since Nov 24, up 36.5 percent year-on-year. The lake's national nature reserve winter patrol found 30 bird varieties, including about 560 whooper swans, a species under second-class national protection in China. The reserve's administration bureau said that was about 230 more than the same time last year. Located in Northwest China's Qinghai province, the lake is a major transit point for birds migrating from Central Asia to India and East Asia to Australia. It also serves as an important winter home for water birds on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

BEIJING

Capital standardizing foreign-language signs

Beijing has issued a regulation requiring the setting up of standardized Chinese and foreign-language signs in five categories of public venues, the municipal government's foreign affairs office said. The regulation is aimed at elevating Beijing's international service level, improving its function as an international exchange center, and promoting the high-level opening-up and high-quality development of the capital. The five categories are: public transportation venues, such as airports and railway stations; venues for large-scale international events, like sports, conferences and expos; communities with lots of foreigners; emergency shelters; and other significant public venues for culture, tourism and sports.

SHANGHAI

Sniffer dogs to resume port inspection work

Shanghai Customs is reintroducing sniffer dogs for port inspection after a nearly two-year suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Thirty dogs were recruited after a recent test, the city's customs authority said. They will be responsible for sniffing out contraband hidden in cargo, luggage and express mail. Previously, 37 sniffer dogs carried out port inspections in Shanghai. The city suspended the dogs' work to ensure their safety, but their training did not stop, customs official Yin Wenchao said. Data from Shanghai Customs showed that nearly 13,000 batches of contraband were detected by the city's sniffer dogs in 2019.

Xinhua