Holding umbrellas and pink paper lotus flowers, thousands of South Koreans joyously filled the wet streets of Seoul in an annual festival anticipating Buddha’s birthday the coming week. Despite the rain, organizers expected a turnout of around 50,000 people for Saturday’s Yeon Deung Hoe, or Lotus Lantern Festival, whose evening parade draws huge crowds out to see the featured floats, some carried and others rolled on wheels along the downtown area of the capital, Seoul. Lanterns hang around Jogye temple as part of festivities to celebrate the birthday of Buddha in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, May 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) The festival — which began more than 1,000 years ago and was registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2020 — aims to spread t...
Read MoreDay: May 13, 2024
Eight more Chinese cities have joined a scheme allowing their residents to travel to Hong Kong on their own, rather than as part of a tour group, as part of efforts to boost Hong Kong's economy. Hong Kong is battling to revive its economy following a national security crackdown and COVID-related controls, which led to many local and expats leaving the city and caused tourist numbers to dwindle to a fraction of pre-pandemic levels. The "Individual Visit Scheme" (IVS) began in 2003 as part of a cooperation agreement between mainland China and Hong Kong to boost the city's economy by allowing Chinese residents to apply for individual travel, rather than in a tour group. FILE PHOTO: Laura Li, 28, poses for photos in front of Victoria Harbour, a day ahead of the Chinese Labour Day 'Go...
Read MoreAhead of the summer vacations, Tourists should be aware of water restrictions in popular European destinations or risk hefty fines. The bathroom experts at Posh.co.uk have revealed six locations where travellers may encounter shower and bath constraints, along with guidance on how to comply with rules. Popular holiday destinations in Europe have already begun implementing strict new rules amid ongoing droughts. Ahead of the summer season, tight restrictions have been implemented in locations such as Barcelona and Sicily with growing concerns they could run out of water. In the Costa del Sol, the Benalmádena City Council has provisionally approved fines of between 6,000 and 600,000 euros, for people flouting drought measures. In Barcelona, people have been limited to 200 litres o...
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