It's time for the annual International Buyukcekmece Culture and Arts Festival celebrating its 20th year! Over 1600 artists from 71 countries participate in the festival taking place in Istanbul, Turkey. CGTN's Michal Bardavid joins us with dancers of four countries who will showcase their traditional folk dances. Join us to learn some of their steps!

Heat waves are sweeping many parts of the world this summer. Cool off on Mount Wutai in north China's Shanxi Province, one of the most renowned Buddhist destinations in the world. The stunning views and cooler temperatures there are attracting more visitors now than during the winter. Join CGTN's Hu Chao for a glimpse of the ancient Buddhist temples and their history and culture.

ChinaJoy is a decade-old video game show in China and is one of the largest in the world by scale. This year, the show gets more international and esports-related. Check it out with CGTN's Gong Zhe with more details you can't find anywhere else.

作为一国元首，常在镜头前出现的习近平很少有机会展现他个人性情的一面。但当他与多年未谋面的老友重聚时，或在繁忙的外事活动间隙里，人们看到了一个不一样的习近平。
As the busy leader of a country of over 1.3 billion people, Chinese President Xi Jinping rarely has a chance to show his personal side to the public. But when revisiting old friends or taking a break from diplomatic tasks, he has revealed glimpses of his personality to the world. 

Thousands celebrated the annual Miao harvest by taking part in a vibrant fishing and duck chasing competition on August 9 in southwest China. The tradition spans over 500 years and is an intangible cultural heritage in Guizhou Province. Miao people believe water and fish in the pond drive away diseases and bad luck.

Editor's note: The article was first published by China Plus on August 18, 2019. The article does not necessarily reflect the views of CGTN.

Police in Fuzhou City, Fujian Province, China, were recently notified after a local sporting goods company received an express package, containing a handgun, from an American sender shipped by FedEx. This is yet another illegal act of the American multi-national courier delivery service after it was investigated by the Chinese authorities two months ago.

Guns are dangerous goods, posing a great threat to life. Any express company and its employees should observe the law and regulations when dealing with gun related issues. None should turn a blind eye to lawbreakers, let alone deliberately break the law by helping the illegal trade in guns.

FedEx has been operating in the Chinese market for more than 30 years. Since the U.S. government added Huawei to the "Entity List" of export controls in May this year, FedEx has intercepted Huawei express deliveries over and over again. It is reasonable to suspect that FedEx might be cooperating with the "long-arm jurisdiction" of the U.S. government.

China opened an investigation into FedEx on June 1, delivered an inquiry notice to FedEx (China) Co., Ltd on June 14, and announced the results of the first phase of the investigation on July 26. It was found FedEx's claim that the Huawei packages were "misrouted in error" to the United States was at variance with the facts. The company was also suspected of holding back more than 100 Huawei-related packages.

Only two months after the official investigation, FedEx was found by Fuzhou police to have illegally transported guns into China. This once again proves that this company has seriously damaged the lawful rights and interests of its clients and has broken relevant Chinese laws and regulations. These are by no means accidental or unintentional mistakes.

China's express delivery market is developing rapidly and has great potential. Companies from countries around the world are all welcome, so long as they respect Chinese laws, market rules and the spirit of contract.

Any contempt for Chinese laws will inevitably impact on its chances in the Chinese market, and any company which conducts illegal acts will have to face punishment according to law.

(If you want to contribute and have specific expertise, please contact us at opinions@cgtn.com.)

Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah, Secretary for Justice of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), called for peace and rationality in ongoing protests this Sunday and said the city's Department of Justice (DoJ) will prosecute all lawbreakers without regard to their political stance. 

The remarks were made ahead of a massive protest scheduled for Sunday that will take place at Victoria Park in Causeway Bay. Cheng urged all participants to protest peacefully and rationally, and make sure protests do not involve any form of violence. 

"Hong Kong is facing a hard time," she said, calling on people from all walks to say no to violence and restore order in society.   

On Saturday, nearly half a million Hong Kong residents took to the streets for an anti-violence rally urging society to safeguard peace in the city. 

Over the weekend, overseas Chinese gathered across Europe to show support for Hong Kong police, waving national flags and condemning violent actions by radical protesters who attacked the police and two mainland residents earlier this week.

Read More: 

Beijing warns of 'terrorism' as petrol bombs hurled in Hong Kong

Hong Kong protesters seize and beat 2 men, including a reporter

According to the Hong Kong police, 420 people have been arrested since June on charges of illegal assembly, assaulting police and rioting, among other crimes.

In response to increasingly violent protests, Cheng said the prosecution team will fulfill their duties fairly and without prejudice or favour. 

The department would not handle the cases differently because of the political beliefs or backgrounds of the people involved, she said, adding that the time required to make prosecutorial decisions depends on a number of factors, including the time it takes to investigate, the amount of evidence, and the complexity of the case.

China stands firmly with the European Union (EU) and supports its anti-epidemic efforts, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said Wednesday in a phone conversation with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

China stands firmly with the European Union (EU) and supports its anti-epidemic efforts, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said Wednesday in a phone conversation with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

China stands firmly with the European Union (EU) and supports its anti-epidemic efforts, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said Wednesday in a phone conversation with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. 

China stands firmly with the European Union (EU) and supports its anti-epidemic efforts, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said Wednesday in a phone conversation with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. 

gengxin--gengxin---As the busy leader of a country of over 1.3 billion people, Chinese President Xi Jinping rarely has a chance to show his personal side to the public. But when revisiting old friends or taking a break from diplomatic tasks, he has revealed glimpses of his personality to the world.As the busy leader of a country of over 1.3 billion people, Chinese President Xi Jinping rarely has a chance to show his personal side to the public. But when revisiting old friends or taking a break from diplomatic tasks, he has revealed glimpses of his personality to the world. 

The protests in Hong Kong have been going on for nine consecutive weeks. Since June 9, the violence has escalated and is taking a heavy toll on peace-loving residents. Let's take a look at what's happening in HKSAR, China. 

A new round of the China-Japan strategic dialogue is set to kick off today in Tokyo. Vice foreign ministers from both sides are attending. The talks had been suspended since 2012, due to a territorial dispute over the Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea.

Recently a new bronze ware museum, the largest of its kind in the country, opened in north China's Shanxi Province. Some pieces were recovered from overseas, involving a lot of efforts from the police. There are more than 25,000 stolen relics recovered by local police amid a campaign against gang crimes. Despite the progress China has made, there are still many more challenges to protect and restore the country's cultural heritage.

In recent years, subsidies from the Chinese government for new energy cars have begun to fall. For competitive vehicle types, the change brought opportunities to grow. Those that are less competitive will likely exit the market. Enterprises said they hope to be able to compete fairly. Follow CGTN’s Zhou Yiqiu to learn more about the story.

On the beach at Sanlucar de Barrameda in Spain, the famous annual horse races are underway. The event takes place every August, attracting tourists from all over the world.

People in Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland are expressing support for the police in the wake of the recent protests in the region. Pro-police campaigns were held simultaneously in various parts of Hong Kong on Saturday. Numerous residents went to police stations to express their gratitude and support. 

Hong Kong-based airline, Cathay Pacific, says it has received inquiries from the public about one of its pilots charged with rioting. It says the pilot has not been assigned to flight since July 30. Its also confirmed that it dismissed two ground staff after leaking passenger information.  

At least 60 people died on Saturday after an overturned petrol tanker exploded in Morogoro, Tanzania. Another 70 have critical burns for trying to scoop fuel coming out of the tanker.

Hong Kong-based airline Cathay Pacific says it has suspended a pilot accused of taking part in a violent protest. The pilot was arrested and charged with rioting on July 28. In an interview with CGTN, Allan Zeman, board member of the airport authority of Hong Kong, expressed his regret over the Cathay Pacific pilot who took part in the riot. "Flying an airplane is not for politics. Flying an airplane is concentrating on the job, concentrating on safety," he said.

Emergency operations due to Lekima are underway throughout affected regions. The typhoon brought life-threatening rainstorms and floods. 

A reporter from Hong Kong China News Agency (CNA) was sieged by Hong Kong rioters recently, and was forced to delete photos. A reporter for Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) asked the CNA reporter to delete photos, because she did not display her press card when shooting.

Syrian Muslims have gathered by Mount Arafat on the second day of the Hajj pilgrimage. They pray for peace in their country, as the conflict between rebels and government forces rages on in its eighth year. Throughout Saturday, Syrian pilgrims will be joined by millions of Muslims from around the world for prayers on Mount Arafat. The site – 20 kilometers east of the holy city of Mecca – is where Muslims believe the Prophet Muhammad delivered his last sermon.

On June 4, 2019, Beijing's electric power grid load reached 203.3 million kilowatts. In theory, it means it can power 20 million air conditioners (at 1 kilowatt per hour) for one hour.

Hong Dapeng, a power line inspector, was sent around the city to verify the electrical network's stability. Many high voltage transformers are located in rural areas, so line inspectors have to be extra careful and work under the harsh sunlight when doing inspections. This is their story.

"My Day" is a CGTN special series that tells stories of ordinary people from all walks of life. We record one day in their life to get a glimpse of how they work, what they dream of and what keeps them going.

"The Olympic spirit, the sport spirit, is able to bring positive values to the young people," said Timothy Fok Tsun-ting, head of the Hong Kong Sports Visiting Group to the second China Youth Games, after visiting Taiyuan, capital of north China's Shanxi Province, on Friday. Timothy Fok noted the significance of the Youth Games, as long-term development in sports relies on youth. 

Pairi Daiza Zoo announced the birth of twin giant pandas on August 8, a species considered vulnerable by nature preservation groups. The mother Hao Hao, a panda loaned to the park by China in 2014, is taking care of the two little 'pink shrimps' with extraordinary love. The twins are the second and third pandas delivered at the park, following the birth of Tian Bao in June 2016. Meanwhile, the zoo mentioned the twins were born on the 8th day of the 8th month, noting that the number is considered lucky in Chinese culture.

Hong Kong residents have rallied behind the police at the police headquarters. They brought cartoons, energy drinks, flowers and cards to express their support. Some are bringing their children along, educating them about the wrongs of the radical protesters. Support for the police is also making it onto the front pages of local newspapers. 

Chinese private space startup Linkspace completed its third vertical takeoff and landing (VTVL) rocket test, taking a step further in its development of a recyclable orbital rocket. It reached a new height of 300 meters before landing steadily and accurately at the designated area.

Protesters have been demonstrating at the Hong Kong International Airport, and they're expected to continue over the weekend. The lingering protests are already impacting the local economy.

Hundreds of people gathered Saturday at the Central Police Station in Hong Kong to show their support for the police. They brought flowers and refreshment for officers still working on the frontlines. They said supporting the police is supporting themselves, supporting Hong Kong and China.

Several thousand protesters thronged into Hong Kong International Airport on Friday and disrupted travelers. A woman got attacked by protesters as she tried to take a U.S. flag from them. "You are Chinese. You are Hong Kong residents. You should love that place and mustn't mess it up," said the woman. 

The latest government measures to boost the night economy support an increasingly inclusive and diverse face of nightlife in China, driven by startups and established businesses alike. Subway lines announced prolonging their operating times, museums and zoos have extended their opening hours into the night, and more and more restaurants are going 24/7. Follow CGTN's Katrin Büchenbacher to get close to nightlife in Beijing.

Italy has been thrown into political uncertainty as the country's interior minister has called for a snap election. No date has been set for parliament to return for the vote, but according to the Italian news agency ANSA, a vote can take place as early as three days after a motion is filed.

New garbage sorting rules have been in effect in Shanghai for over a month. Judging by the comments on social media, the confusing rules and rigid collection schedule are causing considerable trouble. To get a better sense of what's happening, CGTN's Crossover invites three Shanghai residents to tell us how the new policy has impacted their lives. Check it out.

At least 18 people died and more than a million were forced to leave their homes as Typhoon Lekima hits China. Fourteen people are missing after a landslide, triggered by the storm.

Let's now take a closer look at the living conditions of indigenous peoples in Asia and the Pacific. The UN says there are some 260 million indigenous peoples in the region. That's three-quarters of the world's total. However, the poverty rate of indigenous peoples in the region is three times higher than the average rate in all of Asia. 

Shanghai Wild Animal Park opened its night-time zoo on Thursday, offering visitors an opportunity to get a glimpse of the activities of nocturnal animals. The first night zoo attracted hundreds of visitors, who can now visit the zoo between 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. To safeguard the animals from stress, visitors are prohibited from using flashlights. Also, shuttle buses are available for visitors between the zoo and subway stations. 

"I can say that the media are quite biased. They are only showing to the public what the police is doing. They will never show the public what the other side is doing," said Chairman of the Hong Kong Police Inspectors' Association, Wilkie Ng Wai-kei, in an exclusive interview with CGTN reporter Zhu Dan, adding Hong Kong police, who tried their best to protect Hong Kong, face bullies on social media.

"Although it is a huge challenge to us, but as the most competent department in the Hong Kong government, our aim is to protect Hong Kong, and we will carry on," said Wilkie Ng Wai-kei, chairman of the Hong Kong Police Inspectors' Association, in an exclusive interview with CGTN reporter Zhu Dan. Wilkie Ng Wai-kei believes this riot will be finished very quickly.

Stephen Perry, chairman of Britain's 48 Group Club, is one of those who helped break the deadlock between China and the UK in Hong Kong. In a recent interview with CCTV, he gave his insights into the current situation in Hong Kong and why there is foreign interference in Hong Kong affairs.

Beijing warned Washington of countermeasures if it goes ahead with the plan to deploy missiles in the Asia-Pacific region. A senior official from China's foreign ministry strongly criticized the U.S. withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi defended his decision over the removal of Article 370, saying it will greatly help the people of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday while addressing the nation on its 73rd Independence Day.

Normal flight operations have resumed at Hong Kong International Airport after days of protests that led to massive delays and cancellations. Following chaotic scenes on Tuesday, including attacks on the airport, authority obtained a temporary court order on Wednesday to stop people from unlawfully obstructing operations. Only those holding travel tickets and identity documents will be allowed to enter the terminals. The airport authority has expressed deep regret over the disruption of flight operations over the past few days and reiterated its commitment to the safety of passengers and staff.

A journalist from the Chinese mainland was beaten and tied up by rioters at Hong Kong International Airport. After the mob tied the journalist's hands and feet, he said: "I support the Hong Kong police, you can beat me!" Flights were canceled due to violent protests at the HK airport. People affected by the chaos in Hong Kong shared their views of the protesters' behavior. 

Protesters in Hong Kong are demanding that those arrested should not be prosecuted. It's a proposition that has been rejected by chief executive Carrie Lam. But as the demonstrations enter their third month, is that a concession Hong Kong authorities should consider, if it means potentially bringing an end to the disruptions and preventing further violence? Or should the Hong Kong authorities maintain the rule of law as the bottom line? 

The attack on two men from the Chinese mainland by violent protesters at the Hong Kong International Airport on Tuesday has drawn condemnation from foreign experts and government officials.

Zoo Berlin, dubbed the most species-rich zoo in the world, is getting ready to welcome one or two newborn panda cubs as experts say it's very likely that the 6-year-old panda Meng Meng is pregnant. The experts attribute Meng Meng's recent lethargy, lack of appetite and shunning contact with humans to her being pregnant.

A gunman who opened fire on police Wednesday as they were serving a drug warrant in a Philadelphia neighborhood, is in police custody. Six officers were wounded in a standoff that extended into the night, authorities said.

Protesters moved on Tuesday to paralyze Hong Kong International Airport, blocking access to the facility and causing flight delays and cancellations. They capped the night with an attack on two men from the Chinese mainland.

As demonstrations continue in Hong Kong, all sorts of information are circulating online that it has become difficult to distinguish between facts and fake news. How can we separate between the two?

British adventurer and extreme athlete Ash Dykes finished his 6,400-kilometer expedition along the Yangtze River on foot in 352 days on August 12, becoming the world's first person to trek along the world's third-longest river. Fascinated by the beauty and diversity of the landforms in China, Dykes spent two years in planning before beginning his expedition from the source of the river on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau to the Dishuihu Lake in Shanghai. With more than eight million steps, Dykes walked from the west to the east of China, the entire length of the river, achieving his third "world first" record after his trek in Mongolia and Madagascar.

Protesters in Hong Kong are willing to take hostage of a city, millions of people, a prosperous economy and the attention of the entire world. And they believe they are on the right side of history. But they are wrong.

U.S. President Donald Trump likes to portray America as being on the winning end of the trade war with China, but data tells a different story.

The Beijing Subway is the world's busiest subway system, with an average of more than 10.5 million passenger trips made every day.

Line 10 has the most transfer stations among Beijing's 22 lines. It's also the place where Ding Chen has worked as track inspector for the last 14 years. "It ensures that the public is safe," said Ding.

When the last train on line 10 stops operating, Ding Chen and other subway workers begin their work. They step into the dark tunnel to make sure this giant transportation system keeps on going.

"My Day" is a CGTN special series that tells stories of ordinary people from all walks of life. We record one day in their life to get a glimpse of how they work, what they dream of and what keeps them going.

Operations have resumed at the Hong Kong International Airport after days of disruption caused by protesters. But experts say the city's aviation sector will likely suffer after two days of flight cancellations.

On August 14, a Hong Kong court issued an interim injunction order, prohibiting the protesters from staying inside the Hong Kong International Airport, after the aviation hub was paralyzed for two days since Monday.

A birthday party was held for two giant pandas, nine-year-old Hai Bin and six-year-old Xing Bao, at the Qianlingshan Park in Guiyang City of southwest China's Guizhou Province on Sunday.

Rioters surrounded a man from the Chinese mainland at the Hong Kong International Airport on Tuesday night. The angry mob abused him and threw an unknown liquid on him. He was kicked and brutally beaten and fainted once. Violent protesters also tried to block police access to the ambulance crew that arrived to take the man to the hospital. Violent clashes also took place in other sections of the airport.

"I still love Hong Kong," says Chinese mainland reporter Fu Guohao, who was beaten up by rioters on Tuesday, upon being discharged from the Princess Margaret Hospital at around 12:20 p.m.

More than 1,000 firefighters battled wildfires in Greece on Tuesday, with the largest burning out of control through a nature reserve on the island of Evia, causing hundreds of villagers to be evacuated. Greece has called on the European civil protection organization for assistance. 

A brave 12-year-old boy walked across a flooded bridge to show the way to a stranded ambulance on Sunday in Hirerayanakumpe village, southern India's Karnataka state. The ambulance was carrying six children and a woman's dead body. Local media reported that the state government would recommend the boy for a bravery award.

A full Moon was observed in Redondela in the Spanish province of Galicia during the wee hours of Wednesday.

More than a thousand people gathered outside the Japanese embassy in Seoul, demanding full compensation and an apology for the victims of Japan's wartime sexual slavery.

"China: World of Wonders" is a new virtual reality series focusing on popular tourist destinations in the country. In this episode, we visit Qionghai Lake in southwest China's Sichuan Province to see one of the nation's most famous attractions. 

Located in Xichang city, Qionghai is an enormous freshwater lake of clear water. The beautiful lake abounds with fish and shrimp and is both a famous natural fishery and a national wetland park.

Extremists in Hong Kong are becoming increasingly violent. Lee Chu-ming is a Hong Kong barrister, the founding chairman of the United Democrats of Hong Kong and its successor, the Democratic Party. He is also behind the political events like Occupy Central and the ongoing violent protest.

Young tech-enthusiasts' skills in robotics and AI were on full display at the 2019 finals of the RoboMaster Championship, which concluded in Shenzhen City of southern China's Guangdong Province on Sunday. The RoboMaster Championship is an annual robotics competition for Chinese college students, that comes with an e-sports-like feel. Rotating chassis, mechanical moon rover systems, and auto-targeting cannons, these are the technical elements and tactics that have wowed the audience.

Zhang Weili began her journey to a UFC title shot when she was six, spurred on by a mother who made her jump out of ditches to toughen her up in case she needed to fend off violent men. Now Zhang can become China's first UFC world champion if she beats title-holder Jessica Andrade of Brazil in their strawweight showdown at the end of the month.

What is cricket? 

That's the question many Chinese people ask when they first hear about the sport. Yet, there are those who believe cricket has a bright future in China. Huang Zhuo, who represented China at the Asian Games in Guangzhou in 2010 and at Incheon in 2014, is a firm believer. The 33-year-old teaches cricket at school and believes that China is now paving the road for many young people by paying more attention to their training in the sport.

In a recent interview with CCTV, Hong Kong native and martial arts star Jackie Chan talked about what it meant to be Chinese and hoped that Hong Kong would be able to find peace.

An out of control minibus crashed into a bank after steaming across a road. A bank employee sitting with her back towards the glass window was pushed forward. According to reports, the vehicle was not in good condition and the brake had something wrong.

A man was knocked out by protesters at Hong Kong International Airport on Tuesday. The emergency workers and the man were surrounded by protesters, who prevented them from leaving.

In Hong Kong, the international airport has canceled all remaining flights for a second day. All check-ins were suspended starting 4:30 p.m. local time. The airport has been the site of major protests since last Friday.

A man from the Chinese mainland was seriously beaten by rioters at Hong Kong International Airport on Tuesday. The rioters cable-tied the man's hands and feet, put him in a cart and hit him. A foreign reporter failed to stop the attack, and they continued to beat him. Eventually, the man was sent to the hospital. According to Hong Kong Police, the police have arrested five people for offenses including unlawful assembly, possession of offensive weapons, assaulting police officers and breaching of peace. Two police officers were injured and sent to North Lantau Hospital.

A Chinese mainland journalist was seriously beaten by rioters at Hong Kong International Airport on August 13. After the mob tied the journalist's hands and feet, he said: "I support the Hong Kong police!"

Protesters at Queen Elizabeth Hospital staged a sit-in, which influenced the regular operation of the hospital. One of the foreign medical staff members expressed his dissatisfaction over the inconvenience caused by the sit-in and other recent protests in Hong Kong.

This is the moment an elderly man and his wife fight off two armed robbers, who tried to strangle him. Shanmugavel, 75, was sitting outside his farmhouse at Kadayam in southern India on August 11. As he resisted and tried to free himself from the man, his wife Senthamarai, 68, came out, hearing the commotion. Though the men were wielding machetes, the couple threw chairs and other objects at them and forced them to retreat. The couple sustained only minor injuries.