Six stories you may have missed from China this week – and you can click each headline to find out more. 

China reopened its borders to foreign tourists

Foreign tourists are heading back into China for the first time in three years since the COVID-19 pandemic erupted, allowing all categories of visas to be issued.

Industry experts believe China's outbound tourism is expected to explode in the summer, while the revival of inbound tourism may take some time.

Despite the challenges, the resumption of visa issuance for tourists marks a broader push by China to normalize two-way travel between China and the rest of the world.

Elephant rescued after becoming trapped in muddy pond

An exhausted wild elephant was rescued after getting stuck in a muddy pond in Mengman Township, southwest China's Yunnan Province.

The police received a report that a herd of wild Asian elephants was spotted playing in a forest, but one of them had fallen.

Another elephant was stretching out its leg to reach the one stuck, as well as lying on the ground and removing mud from the pond with its trunk. These efforts were unsuccessful and the trapped elephant was unable to climb the steep bank. Thankfully, this story had a happy finale.

China to launch Tianzhou-6 spacecraft in May

China is planning to launch the Tianzhou-6 cargo spacecraft to deliver supplies to the country's space station in May. 

Currently orbiting Shenzhou-15 astronauts Fei Junlong, Deng Qingming and Zhang Lu are in good condition and scheduled to return to Earth in June. 

China will also launch the Shenzhou-16 and Shenzhou-17 manned spacecraft this year.

Tansuo completes first deep-sea research mission in Oceania

China's scientific research ship Tansuo-1 returned to Sanya City in south China's Hainan Province after completing its first international manned deep-diving scientific research mission in waters surrounding Oceania.

The vessel, carrying the deep-sea manned submersible Fendouzhe (Striver), began its mission in October 2022. It traveled for 157 days and sailed more than 22,000 nautical miles around Oceania.

A total of 10 domestic and international organizations participated in the voyage. During the expedition, Fendouzhe successfully completed 63 dives, four of which exceeded the depth of 10,000 meters.

Spring flowers bloom across China

Yongxing Village is known as "the first village of apricot flowers" in Ganzhou District, Zhangye City, northwest China's Gansu Province. 

The local government encourages villagers to plant apricot trees by selling agricultural side-products, such as dried apricots and apricot-peel tea.

The area of apricot trees has expanded to more than 200 hectares in the village, driving the tourism industry to develop. The Apricot Flower Festival has been held annually since 2019, bringing more than 50,000 visitors to the village.

Cute giant pandas steal show at Guangzhou City zoo

Two cute giant pandas have become the new superstars at a zoo in Guangzhou City. 

Thanks to the charming antics of the furry pair, the zoo had more than 100,000 visitors last weekend alone.

Meanwhile, panda cubs have been learning key skills including tree-climbing at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in southwest China's Sichuan Province.

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