Illustration - Loire Valley

Illustration - Loire Valley

FRANCE - LOIRE VALLEY - LOIR ET CHER (41) - CASTLE OF CHAMBORD : THE LARGE STAIRCASE WITH DOUBLE REVOLUTION (OR "DOUBLE HELIX"), WHICH ONE PROBABLY OWES TO LEONARDO DA VINCI, INCLUDES 2 RAMPS SUPERIMPOSED IN A HELIX ONE ABOVE THE OTHER ALLOWING, THANKS TO A HOLLOW CORE PIERCED WITH OPENINGS, TO A PERSON WHO DESCENDS NOT TO MEET THE ONE WHO GOES UP. PLACED IN THE CENTER OF THE DUNGEON, A REVOLUTIONARY DESIGN FOR THE TIME, IT SERVES THE TWO FLOORS, THE TERRACE, AND DISTRIBUTES THE ROOMS IN SYMMETRY. THIS PLAN IS INSPIRED BY THE TUSCAN VILLAS, NAMELY A CROSS VESTIBULE SERVED BY A CENTRAL STAIRCASE. NEARLY TWO HUNDRED CARVED CAPITALS ADORN THE PILASTERS OF THE STAIRCASE. Photo by Stephane Compoint/Only France/ABACAPRESS.COM

Illustration - Loire Valley

Illustration - Loire Valley

FRANCE - LOIRE VALLEY - LOIR ET CHER (41) - CASTLE OF CHAMBORD : THE LARGE STAIRCASE WITH DOUBLE REVOLUTION (OR "DOUBLE HELIX"), WHICH ONE PROBABLY OWES TO LEONARDO DA VINCI, INCLUDES 2 RAMPS SUPERIMPOSED IN A HELIX ONE ABOVE THE OTHER ALLOWING, THANKS TO A HOLLOW CORE PIERCED WITH OPENINGS (PHOTO), TO A PERSON WHO DESCENDS NOT TO MEET THE ONE WHO GOES UP. PLACED IN THE CENTER OF THE DUNGEON, A REVOLUTIONARY DESIGN FOR THE TIME, IT SERVES THE TWO FLOORS, THE TERRACE, AND DISTRIBUTES THE ROOMS IN SYMMETRY. THIS PLAN IS INSPIRED BY THE TUSCAN VILLAS, NAMELY A CROSS VESTIBULE SERVED BY A CENTRAL STAIRCASE. NEARLY TWO HUNDRED CARVED CAPITALS ADORN THE PILASTERS OF THE STAIRCASE. Photo by Stephane Compoint/Only France/ABACAPRESS.COM

Mexican Captain confident in China's booming aviation industry

STORY: Mexican Captain confident in China's booming aviation industry DATELINE: July 25, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:52 LOCATION: Beijing CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of flights 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): FRANCISCO HERNAN CASTILLO TAMAYO, Captain of Himalaya Airlines 3. various of aviation industry 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): FRANCISCO HERNAN CASTILLO TAMAYO, Captain of Himalaya Airlines STORYLINE: A Mexican captain of Himalaya Airlines has seen his work getting busier as China's civil aviation sector rebounds. According to China's aviation regulator, the number of daily flights in China rebounded to 89 percent of 2019 level in the first half of the year. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): FRANCISCO HERNAN CASTILLO TAMAYO, Captain of Himalaya Airlines "Gradually we are increasing our frequencies to Beijing. We are also busier a lot more. I believe that people would like to enjoy this part of the culture and the history of these two capitals that have been for years." The captain said China's poverty alleviation eff

Chinese airline launches new direct route linking London, Beijing

STORY: Chinese airline launches new direct route linking London, Beijing DATELINE: June 8, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:25 LOCATION: London CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. STANDUP (English): ZHANG BONING, Xinhua correspondent 2. various of the ceremony 3. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): NIU, Passenger 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): CHEN KE, General Manager, China Southern Airlines London Office 5. various of the Heathrow airport STORYLINE: STANDUP (English): ZHANG BONING, Xinhua correspondent "A Chinese airline launched a new direct air route linking the capitals of the UK and China on Wednesday, providing convenience for tourism, trade, and cultural exchanges between the two countries." Inaugurated by China Southern Airlines, the new route operates one flight daily, departing from Heathrow Airport at 10:30 p.m. local time and landing at the Beijing Daxing International Airport after approximately 10 hours of flying. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): NIU, Passenger "We have never landed at the Beijing Daxing International Airport because i

Tokyo, Moscow to resume exchanges of visits by their chiefs

Tokyo, Moscow to resume exchanges of visits by their chiefs

MOSCOW, Russia - Tokyo Gov. Yoichi Masuzoe speaks to reporters in Moscow on Sept. 7, 2014, after meeting with Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin. Masuzoe said he and Sobyanin agreed to resume exchanges of visits by the leaders of the two capitals, which have had no such exchanges in 20 years.

Masuzoe meets with S. Korean President Park

Masuzoe meets with S. Korean President Park

SEOUL, South Korea - Tokyo Gov. Yoichi Masuzoe meets with the press before meeting with South Korean President Park Geun Hye in Seoul on July 25, 2014. Masuzoe, a former Diet member and health minister, arrived in Seoul earlier on July 23 for a three-day visit aimed at promoting exchanges between the capitals of the two countries.

Flights inaugurated between Tokyo's Haneda, Shanghai's Hongqiao

Flights inaugurated between Tokyo's Haneda, Shanghai's Hongqiao

TOKYO, Japan - Passengers go on board an All Nippon Airways plane at Tokyo's Haneda airport on Sept. 29. ANA, Japan Airlines, China Eastern Airlines and Shanghai Airlines began operating flights linking Tokyo's Haneda airport and Shanghai's Hongqiao airport. The new service is aimed at providing faster access to downtown areas of the two countries' commercial capitals than those between Narita and Pudong airports.

London mayor and Tokyo governor sign Partnership Agreement

London mayor and Tokyo governor sign Partnership Agreement

LONDON, Britain - London Mayor Ken Livingstone (L) and Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara sign a Partnership Agreement in London on May 31 to promote best practices between the two capitals.

Hungary, China resume regular passenger flights

STORY: Hungary, China resume regular passenger flights DATELINE: July 8, 2022 LENGTH: 00:00:52 LOCATION: Budapest CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Budapest Airport exterior 2. various of plane arriving at Budapest Airport 3. passengers check in STORYLINE: A direct flight from Beijing landed at Budapest's Ferenc Liszt International Airport Thursday, marking the official resumption of regular passenger flights between Hungary and China. Direct air links between the two countries were suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020. According to plans, the Beijing-Budapest flight will be operated by Air China every Thursday. Peter Szijjarto, Hungarian minister of foreign affairs and trade, said on his Facebook page earlier that the decision to resume the Beijing-Budapest flight is a milestone that will promote tourism, trade and the overall Hungarian economy. Air China launched the first direct passenger flight between the capitals of China and Hungary on May 1, 2015. Xinhua News Agency cor

Jordanian, Georgian FMs discuss ways to boost ties, cooperation

STORY: Jordanian, Georgian FMs discuss ways to boost ties, cooperation DATELINE: May 30, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:01 LOCATION: Amman CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of the meeting STORYLINE: Top diplomats from Jordan and Georgia held talks in Amman on Sunday, discussing means to foster bilateral relations and expand cooperation. During the meeting, Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi and his Georgian counterpart Ilia Darchiashvili expressed the keenness to enhance bilateral relations and expand cooperation, especially in the fields of the economy, culture, education, defense, agriculture, and tourism, according to a statement by the Jordanian Foreign Ministry. The two sides also called for direct flights between the two capitals -- Amman and Tbilisi -- to promote tourism in the near future, the statement said. Discussions also covered regional and international developments, mainly the Palestinian cause and efforts exerted to resolve the current crises. The Georgian minister expressed

CHINA-INNER MONGOLIA-XILINGOL LEAGUE-SITE OF XANADU (CN)

CHINA-INNER MONGOLIA-XILINGOL LEAGUE-SITE OF XANADU (CN)

(220515) -- XILINGOL LEAGUE, May 15, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Aerial photo taken on May 14, 2022 shows the site of Xanadu in Zhenglan Banner of Xilingol League, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Xanadu was one of the two major capitals during the Yuan dynasty nearly 800 years ago. The Xanadu site was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2012. (Xinhua/Peng Yuan)

CHINA-INNER MONGOLIA-XILINGOL LEAGUE-SITE OF XANADU (CN)

CHINA-INNER MONGOLIA-XILINGOL LEAGUE-SITE OF XANADU (CN)

(220515) -- XILINGOL LEAGUE, May 15, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Aerial photo taken on May 14, 2022 shows the site of Xanadu in Zhenglan Banner of Xilingol League, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Xanadu was one of the two major capitals during the Yuan dynasty nearly 800 years ago. The Xanadu site was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2012. (Xinhua/Wang Zecong)

CHINA-INNER MONGOLIA-XILINGOL LEAGUE-SITE OF XANADU (CN)

CHINA-INNER MONGOLIA-XILINGOL LEAGUE-SITE OF XANADU (CN)

(220515) -- XILINGOL LEAGUE, May 15, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Photo taken on May 14, 2022 shows the site of Xanadu in Zhenglan Banner of Xilingol League, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Xanadu was one of the two major capitals during the Yuan dynasty nearly 800 years ago. The Xanadu site was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2012. (Xinhua/Wang Zecong)

CHINA-INNER MONGOLIA-XILINGOL LEAGUE-SITE OF XANADU (CN)

CHINA-INNER MONGOLIA-XILINGOL LEAGUE-SITE OF XANADU (CN)

(220515) -- XILINGOL LEAGUE, May 15, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Photo taken on May 14, 2022 shows the site of Xanadu under the starry sky in Zhenglan Banner of Xilingol League, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Xanadu was one of the two major capitals during the Yuan dynasty nearly 800 years ago. The Xanadu site was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2012. (Xinhua/Wang Zecong)

CHINA-INNER MONGOLIA-XILINGOL LEAGUE-SITE OF XANADU (CN)

CHINA-INNER MONGOLIA-XILINGOL LEAGUE-SITE OF XANADU (CN)

(220515) -- XILINGOL LEAGUE, May 15, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Aerial photo taken on May 14, 2022 shows the site of Xanadu in Zhenglan Banner of Xilingol League, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Xanadu was one of the two major capitals during the Yuan dynasty nearly 800 years ago. The Xanadu site was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2012. (Xinhua/Peng Yuan)

CHINA-INNER MONGOLIA-XILINGOL LEAGUE-SITE OF XANADU (CN)

CHINA-INNER MONGOLIA-XILINGOL LEAGUE-SITE OF XANADU (CN)

(220515) -- XILINGOL LEAGUE, May 15, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Photo taken on May 14, 2022 shows the site of Xanadu in Zhenglan Banner of Xilingol League, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Xanadu was one of the two major capitals during the Yuan dynasty nearly 800 years ago. The Xanadu site was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2012. (Xinhua/Peng Yuan)

CHINA-INNER MONGOLIA-XILINGOL LEAGUE-SITE OF XANADU (CN)

CHINA-INNER MONGOLIA-XILINGOL LEAGUE-SITE OF XANADU (CN)

(220515) -- XILINGOL LEAGUE, May 15, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Aerial photo taken on May 14, 2022 shows the site of Xanadu in Zhenglan Banner of Xilingol League, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Xanadu was one of the two major capitals during the Yuan dynasty nearly 800 years ago. The Xanadu site was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2012. (Xinhua/Peng Yuan)

CHINA-INNER MONGOLIA-XILINGOL LEAGUE-SITE OF XANADU (CN)

CHINA-INNER MONGOLIA-XILINGOL LEAGUE-SITE OF XANADU (CN)

(220515) -- XILINGOL LEAGUE, May 15, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Aerial photo taken on May 14, 2022 shows the site of Xanadu in Zhenglan Banner of Xilingol League, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Xanadu was one of the two major capitals during the Yuan dynasty nearly 800 years ago. The Xanadu site was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2012. (Xinhua/Wang Zecong)

CHINA-INNER MONGOLIA-XILINGOL LEAGUE-SITE OF XANADU (CN)

CHINA-INNER MONGOLIA-XILINGOL LEAGUE-SITE OF XANADU (CN)

(220515) -- XILINGOL LEAGUE, May 15, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Photo taken on May 14, 2022 shows the site of Xanadu in Zhenglan Banner of Xilingol League, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Xanadu was one of the two major capitals during the Yuan dynasty nearly 800 years ago. The Xanadu site was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2012. (Xinhua/Peng Yuan)

CHINA-INNER MONGOLIA-XILINGOL LEAGUE-SITE OF XANADU (CN)

CHINA-INNER MONGOLIA-XILINGOL LEAGUE-SITE OF XANADU (CN)

(220515) -- XILINGOL LEAGUE, May 15, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Photo taken on May 14, 2022 shows the site of Xanadu in Zhenglan Banner of Xilingol League, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Xanadu was one of the two major capitals during the Yuan dynasty nearly 800 years ago. The Xanadu site was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2012. (Xinhua/Peng Yuan)

CHINA-INNER MONGOLIA-XILINGOL LEAGUE-SITE OF XANADU (CN)

CHINA-INNER MONGOLIA-XILINGOL LEAGUE-SITE OF XANADU (CN)

(220515) -- XILINGOL LEAGUE, May 15, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Photo taken on May 14, 2022 shows the site of Xanadu under the starry sky in Zhenglan Banner of Xilingol League, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Xanadu was one of the two major capitals during the Yuan dynasty nearly 800 years ago. The Xanadu site was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2012. (Xinhua/Peng Yuan)

CHINA-INNER MONGOLIA-XILINGOL LEAGUE-SITE OF XANADU (CN)

CHINA-INNER MONGOLIA-XILINGOL LEAGUE-SITE OF XANADU (CN)

(220515) -- XILINGOL LEAGUE, May 15, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Photo taken on May 14, 2022 shows the site of Xanadu in Zhenglan Banner of Xilingol League, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Xanadu was one of the two major capitals during the Yuan dynasty nearly 800 years ago. The Xanadu site was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2012. (Xinhua/Peng Yuan)

CHINA-INNER MONGOLIA-XILINGOL LEAGUE-SITE OF XANADU (CN)

CHINA-INNER MONGOLIA-XILINGOL LEAGUE-SITE OF XANADU (CN)

(220515) -- XILINGOL LEAGUE, May 15, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Aerial photo taken on May 14, 2022 shows the site of Xanadu in Zhenglan Banner of Xilingol League, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Xanadu was one of the two major capitals during the Yuan dynasty nearly 800 years ago. The Xanadu site was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2012. (Xinhua/Wang Zecong)

CHINA-INNER MONGOLIA-XILINGOL LEAGUE-SITE OF XANADU (CN)

CHINA-INNER MONGOLIA-XILINGOL LEAGUE-SITE OF XANADU (CN)

(220515) -- XILINGOL LEAGUE, May 15, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Aerial photo taken on May 14, 2022 shows the site of Xanadu in Zhenglan Banner of Xilingol League, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Xanadu was one of the two major capitals during the Yuan dynasty nearly 800 years ago. The Xanadu site was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2012. (Xinhua/Peng Yuan)

London mayor and Tokyo governor sign Partnership Agreement

London mayor and Tokyo governor sign Partnership Agreement

LONDON, Britain - London Mayor Ken Livingstone (L) and Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara sign a Partnership Agreement in London on May 31 to promote best practices between the two capitals. (Kyodo)

Flights inaugurated between Tokyo's Haneda, Shanghai's Hongqiao

Flights inaugurated between Tokyo's Haneda, Shanghai's Hongqiao

TOKYO, Japan - Passengers go on board an All Nippon Airways plane at Tokyo's Haneda airport on Sept. 29. ANA, Japan Airlines, China Eastern Airlines and Shanghai Airlines began operating flights linking Tokyo's Haneda airport and Shanghai's Hongqiao airport. The new service is aimed at providing faster access to downtown areas of the two countries' commercial capitals than those between Narita and Pudong airports. (Kyodo)

U.S., Cuba restore full diplomatic relations after 54 yrs

U.S., Cuba restore full diplomatic relations after 54 yrs

People form a line in front of the U.S. Embassy in Havana to obtain visas on July 20, 2015, when the two countries restored full diplomatic ties, severed more than five decades ago, opening embassies in each other's capitals. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

U.S., Cuba restore full diplomatic relations after 54 yrs

U.S., Cuba restore full diplomatic relations after 54 yrs

Photo shows a classic car with a U.S. flag driving besides the U.S. Embassy in Havana on July 20, 2015, when the two countries restored full diplomatic ties, severed more than five decades ago, opening embassies in each other's capitals. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Tokyo governor, Seoul mayor seek to further intercity exchanges

Tokyo governor, Seoul mayor seek to further intercity exchanges

Tokyo Gov. Yoichi Masuzoe (R) and Seoul Mayor Park Won Soon hold dialogue at the World Knowledge Forum in Seoul on Oct. 20, 2015. They agreed to further develop exchanges between the two capitals. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Tokyo, Moscow to resume exchanges of visits by their chiefs

Tokyo, Moscow to resume exchanges of visits by their chiefs

MOSCOW, Russia - Tokyo Gov. Yoichi Masuzoe speaks to reporters in Moscow on Sept. 7, 2014, after meeting with Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin. Masuzoe said he and Sobyanin agreed to resume exchanges of visits by the leaders of the two capitals, which have had no such exchanges in 20 years. (Kyodo)

Masuzoe meets with S. Korean President Park

Masuzoe meets with S. Korean President Park

SEOUL, South Korea - Tokyo Gov. Yoichi Masuzoe meets with the press before meeting with South Korean President Park Geun Hye in Seoul on July 25, 2014. Masuzoe, a former Diet member and health minister, arrived in Seoul earlier on July 23 for a three-day visit aimed at promoting exchanges between the capitals of the two countries. (Kyodo)