ChineseToday | Guardians of endangered trees in SW China

ChineseToday | Guardians of endangered trees in SW China

(240811) -- CHONGQING, Aug. 11, 2024 Photo by Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM) -- A staff member of the Thuja sutchuenensis research base of Xuebaoshan national nature reserve measures the length of the root of a Thuja sutchuenensis seedling at the research base in Kaizhou District of southwest China's Chongqing, Aug. 7, 2024. Wild Thuja sutchuenensis is an endangered species of gymnosperm endemic to China and under national first-class protection. In 1998, the International Union for Conservation of Nature declared Thuja sutchuenensis extinct, but the species was rediscovered in Chengkou County in 1999. At present, the number of wild adult Thuja sutchuenensis plants in the world is less than 10,000, and they are only distributed in the areas of Daba Mountains including Kaizhou District and Chengkou County of Chongqing. In order to protect this endangered species, Yang Quan from Chongqing Xuebaoshan national nature reserve led a team to carry out the investigation and study of wild Thuja sutchuenensis communities, hopi

Jordan's Jerash witnesses influx of tourists

STORY: Jordan's Jerash witnesses influx of tourists DATELINE: Aug. 9, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:59 LOCATION: Amman CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Jerash 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): JOSEPH MARJI, Turkish tourist 3. various of Jerash 4. various of Ehab Neethami 5. SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): EHAB NEETHAMI, Jordanian craftsman STORYLINE: Jerash, a fascinating ancient Roman city in Jordan, witnesses a considerable influx of tourists this year. According to the state-run Petra news agency, a total of 122,253 local and foreign tourists visited the Jerash tourist attraction in the first four months of this year, a 100 percent year-on-year increase. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): JOSEPH MARJI, Turkish tourist "To see the vibes, I come here almost every year. I love the atmosphere here. I love the people. Everything here is nice. Everything is traditional." Craftsman Ehab Neethami has been selling mosaic souvenirs in Jerash for over a decade. Neethami said that he has witnessed a resurgence of local tourism this year, hopi