The historical simulation game "Romance of the Three Kingdoms VIII" revisits its classic roots after 20 years. Players can immerse themselves in the evolved "All Characters Playable System" of the Three Kingdoms world, where every character, including rulers, is playable!
This edition introduces numerous character-driven gameplay elements. The "Destiny" system, where relationships between characters significantly alter the storyline, the "Epic Tales" system offering a selection of captivating stories to experience, and a new combat system where a character's "Emotions" can sway the tide of battle. The game's visuals blend 2D and 3D technologies, offering a fresh yet nostalgic experience, enhanced by newly drawn illustrations of numerous characters. This game stands as the pinnacle of the "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" series, featuring the most characters and scenarios ever.
Chengdu has a subtropical humid climate, enveloped in mist throughout the year, with an average annual temperature of about 16°C. The temperature in spring and autumn is comfortable, making these seasons the most suitable for tourism. Specifically, the months of March to June and September to November are the best times to visit. Spring usually arrives early in Chengdu, with flowers blooming across the city around the Spring Festival. Summer in Chengdu can feel somewhat muggy due to its basin topography. The autumn climate is fresh and delightful, while winter, although cold, rarely experiences severe frost.
While Chengdu's summer isn't extremely hot, the relatively high humidity can make it feel stifling; winter temperatures generally remain above 0°C, with infrequent snowfalls but a potential chilliness. For summer travels, destinations like Qingcheng Mountain and Xiling Snow Mountain are ideal for escaping the heat. In contrast, winter trips to Jiuzhaigou and Xiling Snow Mountain offer splendid snowy landscapes.
Moreover, the people of Chengdu place great importance on traditional cultural festivals. For instance, floral exhibitions are held in Qingyang Palace in January and Longquan Mountain in February. During the Qingming Festival, Danjing Mountain features a peony show, and come Mid-Autumn Festival, Xindu County presents an osmanthus flower display. It's indeed a feast for visitors who appreciate floral beauty.
Cambodia has won two prestigious awards from the World Travel Awards for 2023, the country’s Ministry of Tourism said in a news release on Sunday.It emerged as the winner of “Asia’s Leading Cultural Destination” and “Asia’s Leading Youth Travel Destination,” according to the release.
Ministry of Tourism’s Secretary of State and Spokesman Top Sopheak said Cambodia is a cultural and ecological tourism destination.
“We are well known for the Angkor Archaeological Park, a world heritage site in northwest Siem Reap province, and a beautiful bay in southwest Sihanoukville,” he told Xinhua.
Tourism is one of the four pillars supporting Cambodia’s economy.
According to the Ministry of Tourism, the Southeast Asian country recorded some 3.5 million international tourists during the January-August period of 2023, a year-on-year increase of 250.8 percent. Xinhua
Scottish author Irvine Welsh, widely known for his 1993 debut novel "Trainspotting," is back in the spotlight. Set in the 1980s, the novel explores the lives of a group of young people through a series of short stories, capturing their struggles and dilemmas. The book was later adapted into a film by Danny Boyle, in which Welsh also played a role.
Although the work received criticism within political circles for its candid portrayal of drug abuse and social issues, it has also been used as anti-drug educational material. U.S. Senator Bob Dole once condemned the film as morally corrupt, despite not having seen it himself.
Recently, the British TV series "Crime," based on a novel by Welsh, released its second season. In an interview, Welsh spoke about the impact of social media on his writing. He believes that today's writers can easily gather inspiration for crime stories by scrolling through social media, eliminating the need to eavesdrop on private conversations in bars.
Welsh also criticized the way social media exposes the worst aspects of human behavior, stating that people often behave differently online than they do in real life. This led him to conclude that one should focus more on real-life interactions rather than spending time on the internet.
Overall, Welsh feels that while social media provides a wealth of creative inspiration for writers, it also magnifies the less admirable facets of human nature, something that deserves thoughtful consideration.
Beihai Old Street Beihai Old Street was established in 1883 and is composed of Zhuhai Road, Shaji Street, Zhongshan Road, and 25 small alleys. It is a nearly 200-year-old street featuring a blend of Chinese and Western arcade-style architecture. The most authentic old street flavor can be found on the two streets parallel to the old street—Shaji Street and Zhongshan Road. Nowadays, people mainly visit Zhuhai Road, a pedestrian street. The arcade architecture is an extension to the buildings, making the road even wider. Walking under the arcade feels like traveling back in time, witnessing the bustling scenes of the past.
British Consulate - The First Foreign Consulate in Beihai After the signing of the Yantai Treaty between China and the UK in 1877, the British set up a consulate in Beihai. Construction began in 1884 and was completed in 1885. The consulate building was later sold in 1922. Today, it has been transformed into the Beihai Modern Foreign Consulate History Museum, displaying the history of foreign consulates from eight Western countries.
Beihai Catholic Church The church is next to Zhongshan Park, not far from the former German Consulate. The French Catholic Church came to Beihai around the late 1870s. The church we see today is renovated, but the adjacent bishop's residence is original. The building takes up an area of 160 square meters and is located about 30 meters south of the church. On Sundays, the church bell rings, and believers come for worship, singing hymns and listening to God's teachings.
Beihai Postal and Telecommunications History Museum The museum is the oldest and best-preserved post office in Guangxi, showcasing the history of Beihai's postal and telecommunications. The exhibits include various types of weapons from different eras, ranging from Stone Age tools to Qing Dynasty military equipment.
While people often associate Beihai with its beaches, a closer look at the city's lesser-known historical corners and cultural aspects will reveal traces left by different periods of history.
When we think of "hearth food," we envision food prepared on a stove. Over a hundred years ago in Pingyao, snack shops lining the streets featured numerous hearth food stalls. Visitors could enjoy a pot of yellow wine, pastries, and oil tea while catching up with friends. The tradition of using a stove for cooking has persisted in everyday life, offering the delicious aroma of stove-roasted food, which is both green and healthy. So, what kinds of hearth food are there?
Oil Tea Oil tea has a rich history. Shanxi merchants, the leading business community in ancient China, operated for over 500 years, spanning the Asian and European continents. Many Shanxi merchants would go to "Guanwai" (now Mongolia) in their teens to learn the trade, colloquially known as "going to the western outlet." Mothers and wives would prepare high-quality oil tea for these young men who were setting out on their own. It served as convenient dry food for the journey and also as a wish for their safe arrival and future business success.
Mooncakes During the Mid-Autumn Festival, every household in Pingyao makes mooncakes. These have a long history and were traditionally used for offerings to the Moon Goddess. The motifs on the front of the mooncakes are diverse but usually relate to the moon or the jade rabbit, symbolizing beauty and auspiciousness. How to make: Wheat flour is mixed with vegetable oil and a small amount of water. The mixture is then wrapped around the mooncake filling and shaped into small circles. These are placed in specially designed molds and then baked on the stove for several minutes. Freshly made mooncakes are the best, crispy and delicious. Fillings typically consist of brown sugar, sesame, and crushed dry fruits like melon seeds, peanuts, and walnuts. Nowadays, some people also add raisins, enhancing the taste when brushed with honey before baking.
Stone Cakes Stone cakes are named for their cooking process, which involves placing the dough on a bed of small, polished black stones in a large pot. If you've ever seen chestnuts being roasted, you'll get the idea. The reason for this is to allow the cakes to heat evenly and to acquire a unique aroma. The surface of the cooked cakes is uneven, adding an interesting texture. Stone cakes also have their unique historical origins, with the stone's ability to conduct and retain heat being highly valued. The dough is usually made of white flour or bean flour, mixed with sesame oil and yeast, a culinary tradition that has been passed down for thousands of years.
Dry Buns Also known as roasted bun slices, these are made mainly of flour. The buns are steamed, sliced, and then either air-dried or artificially heated to remove moisture, resulting in a crispy texture. They are convenient to eat and have a long shelf life. The tradition of eating roasted bun slices in Pingyao supposedly dates back to the Sui and Tang dynasties. Back then, soldiers living in harsh conditions would receive these slices, dried and baked by people in the rear, as convenient sustenance for the battlefield. Over time, this method of consuming sliced, dried, and baked buns became popular among local households, evolving into today's roasted bun slices.
Hearth food is more than just a type of cuisine; it represents a lifestyle and cultural heritage. Made from natural grains without any artificial additives, it aligns perfectly with the modern pursuit of a balanced and healthy diet. From ancient times to the present, whether it's merchants, households, or scholars, everyone expresses their deep affection for life, hometown, and traditions through this unique culinary art.
