Roundup

Fewer commuters

China recorded a decline in passenger transport levels in urban areas in the first seven months of this year, official data showed. During the period, the number of passenger trips in 36 major cities stood at 24.7 billion, down 21.1 percent year-on-year, according to the Ministry of Transport. In terms of transportation modes, bus and tram passenger levels dropped 23.1 percent, while urban rail passenger levels shrank 18.8 percent, according to the ministry.

Exhibition opens

A Chinese exhibition called Silk and Silk Road opened in Prague, the Czech Republic, on Friday to promote cultural exchanges between China and the host country. The exhibition, hosted by the Chinese embassy in Prague and the China National Silk Museum, features silk-making art and techniques, as well as Silk Road history. Fabrics, embroideries and special costumes are on display. The opening ceremony also featured a qipao (traditional Chinese dress) show and other interactive programs such as Chinese calligraphy. The exhibition will last until Aug 26.

Cultural gala

An annual cultural festival focusing on the Yangtze River opens on Saturday in Zhangjiagang, a city under the administration of Suzhou, East China's Jiangsu province. It will last until the end of October. Centering on heritage protection, the inheritance of intangible cultural heritage, arts exchanges and integration of culture and tourism, a rich variety of activities are scheduled for this year's festival, organizers said. The annual event has attracted more than 400,000 participants from 13 provincial regions along the river over the past 18 years.

Wedding expo

Six Marriott hotels in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong province, are showcasing their products and services in a summer wedding exposition in the city this weekend. The wedding teams from six properties－three Sheraton hotels, two Westin ones and a Four Points by Sheraton－hope to create unique memories for newlyweds.

Festive offering

The Ritz-Carlton Nanjing in the capital of Jiangsu province is offering two types of gift boxes for the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday, which is to fall on Sept 10. Drawing inspiration from Song Dynasty (960-1279) arts and culture, the gift boxes－one for mooncakes and the other for chocolate－feature classical Chinese designs. The mooncake box incorporates a noted painting, which was created during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), of Nanjing on its cover. The chocolate box features two bookmarks using Nanjing's signature intangible cultural heritage of Yunjin brocade and a toy lion wearing a robe made of Yunjin brocade.

China Daily - Xinhua