Latest news with #GreatWall
Forbes
2 days ago
- Science
- Forbes
Don't Miss Tuesday Night's Triple Meteor Shower Bonanza — What To Know
Watch the Perseid meteor shower in 2019 on the beacon tower of the Great Wall in China Are you ready to see two meteor showers peak — just as a third gets going? Late Tuesday, July 29, and into the early hours of Wednesday, July 30, sees the peak of two meteor showers as summer's 'shooting star' season gets underway. The Delta Aquariids and Alpha Capricornids will peak simultaneously under mostly favorable conditions, with the moon setting early in the evening to leave skies dark enough to catch up to 30 meteors per hour. Just to add to the excitement, the annual Perseids meteor shower — which peaks in August — could add to the show. Here's everything you need to know about the three overlapping meteor showers Delta Aquariid Meteor Shower: What To Know Peak night: July 29/30 Meteors per hour: up to 25 It's often overlooked because of the more prolific Perseid meteor shower that occurs just a few weeks later, but this year, the Delta Aquariids will arguably take center stage. With the Perseids bound to be badly affected by the moon, the Delta Aquarids could see about 25 meteors — albeit rather faint ones — visible in moonless night skies on the peak night. However, getting far from light pollution would be wise. It's a meteor shower with a broad peak, so you can start looking for them on any clear night in late July and early August, but note that its radiant point — where the meteors appear to come from — is low in the south as seen from the Northern Hemisphere. Alpha Capricornid Meteor Shower: What To Know Peak night: July 29/30 Meteors per hour: up to 5 A minor meteor shower, the Alpha Capricornids began on July 12 and will ramble on until Aug. 12. Its 'shooting stars' — fragments left behind in the inner solar system by comets — will number around five, which may add to the spectacle created by the Delta Aquariids and the Perseids. Although they may be relatively scant, Alpha Capricornids can often be bright fireballs, so they are worth looking out for. Perseid Meteor Shower: What To Know Peak night: Aug. 12-13 Meteors per hour: up to 75-100 The Perseid meteor shower — one of the year's most prolific in the Northern Hemisphere — kicked off on Jul. 17 and will continue to produce "shooting stars" until Aug. 23. That's lucky because its peak night on Aug. 12-13 occurs only a few nights after a full moon. With a bleached sky, only the very brightest Perseids will be visible, making the last few nights of July the best time to see them. During this period, expect about 5-15 meteors per hour. The radiant point of the Perseids lies in the constellation Perseus, but meteors can appear throughout the sky. How To Watch A Meteor Shower For the best viewing experience, find a dark location away from city lights and check weather forecasts for clear skies. Observing is best done with the naked eye rather than through telescopes or binoculars. Consider bringing a lawn chair or blanket, and avoid bright screens that can impair night vision. Remember to dress warmly, use bug spray, bring snacks, and take breaks from watching the sky every 30 minutes. For exact timings, use a sunrise and sunset calculator for where you are, Stellarium Web for a sky chart and Night Sky Tonight: Visible Planets at Your Location for positions and rise/set times for planets. Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
National Geographic
2 days ago
- National Geographic
7 bullet train journeys across China, from the Great Wall to Shangri-la
On a clear Beijing morning, I settle into my seat on board the G87 bullet train. Bound for Chengdu, we'll make the nearly 1,200-mile journey—about the distance from New York City to Kansas City—in just 7.5 hours. Through the window, buildings blur as we quietly pick up speed and soon we're sailing across the Yellow River, past Xi'an's ancient walls, and into the mountains of Sichuan. China is blazing a new future with its rail network, which includes more than 28,500 miles of high-speed tracks (for comparison, Europe's is around 7,450 miles), from Shanghai's leafy avenues to the soaring heights of the Himalayas and the surreal Terracotta Warrior Army. And, China just unveiled the world's fastest bullet train, topping out at 280 mph. These trains make crossing the country's huge landmass accessible and eco-friendly, even on a shorter visit. The Bund in Shanghai is a popular waterfront district. Photograph by Bodgan Lazar, Alamy Stock Photo 1. Golden triangle Best for: Imperial history and the Great Wall Route: Beijing to Shanghai via Xi'an Journey time: 10 hours (five hours per leg) Distance: 1,170 miles Best done as a journey of two halves, this train trip encompasses China's biggest sights, from Forbidden City in Beijing to the surreal terra-cotta warrior army at ancient capital Xi'an, finishing at the glittering city lights of the Bund in Shanghai. The first journey glides south out of Beijing West Station and across the vast plains of the Loess Plateau through China's industrial heartland before crossing the Yellow River to the ancient city walls of Xi'an. The second leg diverts west to Shanghai, passing the fifth-century Longmen Grottoes and Suzhou's classical gardens and canals on its way. 2. Tibetan Plateau Best for: Himalayan peaks and Buddhist temples Route: Xining to Lhasa Journey time: 20-hour night train Distance: 1,1215 miles Technically the only non-high-speed train on this list, the Qinghai-Tibet Railway is an engineering marvel built on permafrost and traversing challening terrain over some of the world's highest passes. Starting in Xining, the provincial capital of Qinghai province, this overnight journey first passes the blue waters of Qinghai Lake—China's largest—before chugging across the Tibetan Plateau (where you might spot antelope and other wildlife), and up into the Himalayas, arriving the next morning in the lofty Tibetan capital. (Our ancestors walked these trails hundreds of years ago. Now you can too.) On board, heated sleeper carriages and oxygen tanks keep passengers warm and safe from elevation sickness. Once in Lhasa, you can board a high-speed line (opened in 2021) that connects with the city of Nyingchi. To visit Tibet, international tourists need a regional travel permit and must book through registered agencies. Dunhuang was a primary stop along the Silk Road. Photograph by Horizon International Images, Alamy Stock Photo The colorful hills of Zhangye National Geopark are made up of colorful rock formations that look like art. Photograph by Boaz Rottem, Alamy Stock Photo 3. Silk Road Best for: Bazaars, dunes, Buddhist art Route: Lanzhou to Dunhuang Journey time: 8 hours Distance: 690 miles Stretching across the northwest deserts in Gansu province, this high-speed journey follows the camel trails that were used for centuries to trade silk, spices, and philosophy. Today, you can do the journey in a couple of days, or even better, break it up into several legs, allowing time to explore the grand Buddha statues, night markets, temples, and sweeping landscapes along the line. Starting in Lanzhou, home of the original hand-pulled lamian noodles, the train sails through the Hexi Corridor, through Zhangye with its colorful rainbow hills, Wuwei, where the famous Flying Horse of Gansu was uncovered, and Jiayuguan, the western end of the Great Wall, before finally arriving in the desert outpost of Dunhuang, home to giant dunes and the Mogao Caves—one of the most important caches of Buddhist art in the world. 4. Mountains of Shangri-la Best for: Mountains, gorges, ancient architecture Route: Kunming to Shangri-La Journey time: 5 hours Distance: 385 miles This mountainous journey zips across southwest China from Kunming, the provincial capital of Yunnan, to the high mountain town of Shangri-la, named after the mythical Himalayan valley in James Hilton's 1933 book, Lost Horizon. One of China's highest railway lines, it tunnels through the Himalayan foothills and up across the Tibetan Plateau. The journey can be done as a series of stops at towns like Dali and Lijiang, both known for their ancient architecture and minority cultures, or you can speed straight through in about five hours. Passing Lijiang, the region's best-known peak, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, spikes into a perfect triangle in the distance, and later the train crosses a high bridge over the glacial blue waters of the Jinsha River, which carves through Qinghai and Sichuan and into Yunnan. The ice sculptures at the Harbin Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, China. Photograph by Gavin Hellier, Getty Images 5. Wintery northeast Best for: Ice festivals and a cultural mix Route: Beijing to Harbin Journey time: 4.5 hours Distance: 771 miles This sleek, high-speed route shoots northeast from Beijing through the vast plains of Dongbei, a region shaped by heavy snowfalls, dumplings, and faded traces of the Qing dynasty. You'll pass through Shenyang, once an imperial Manchu capital, before reaching Harbin, a city with onion-domed churches, frozen rivers, and a mix of cultures and influences, including from China, Russia, Mongolia, and beyond. Time your journey for January or February and you'll arrive just in time for the Harbin Ice and Snow Festival, where entire palaces and pagodas are carved from blocks of ice and lit up in neon hues. The route follows part of the old Trans-Manchurian corridor, once used by Soviet and Chinese railways heading for Moscow. 6. Rivers and rice terraces Best for: Karst peaks and lush forests Route: Guiyang to Guangzhou Journey time: 3.5 hours Distance: 540 miles This scenic journey traverses the karst landscapes of southern China, including the dramatic limestone peaks near Guilin and the subtropical scenery of Guizhou. This route blends mountainous terrain with modern viaducts and tunnels, which are great for dramatic vistas.
NDTV
7 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
What To Know About The US Decision To Leave UNESCO, Why It Matters
Paris: With the support of international partners and the mobilization of $115 million, the UN cultural agency UNESCO recently helped rebuild the Iraqi city of Mosul after it was devastated by the Islamic State group. The restoration of the historic city's iconic Al-Nouri Mosque and Al-Hadba Minaret was just one of many programs run by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, which is in the spotlight because the United States is leaving it once again. The decision to pull US funding and participation from UNESCO will deal a blow to its work preserving cultural heritage around the world. President Donald Trump exited the agency during his first term, accusing it of promoting anti-Israel speech. The Biden administration had rejoined UNESCO in 2023 after citing concerns that China was filling the gap left by the US in UNESCO policymaking. Beyond the diplomatic disputes, here's a look at the work that UNESCO does: UNESCO names World Heritage sites, including landmarks like the Great Wall of China, the Egyptian pyramids, the Taj Mahal and the Statue of Liberty, and gives them special protection under its World Heritage Sites program. Its World Heritage Committee each year designates sites considered "of outstanding value to humanity" and intervenes when sites are in danger of destruction or damage. The program provides countries with technical assistance and professional training to preserve the sites. It now also includes "intangible" heritage such as folk songs and traditional dances, crafts and cooking in its lists. A World Heritage site designation is coveted and seen as a boost to tourism. Like the rest of the UN, UNESCO was created in response to the horrors of World War II, and particularly Nazi crimes. Amid concerns that the agency's Arab members have used UNESCO to pass anti-Israel resolutions, UNESCO has worked in recent years on Holocaust awareness projects. That includes educational materials and organizing visits to former Nazi concentration camps. UNESCO works to improve literacy, with a special focus on girls in countries hit by war or disasters who get little or no schooling though programs such as the Malala Fund for Girls' Right to Education. In Tanzania, for instance, over 2,500 girls benefited from the creation of safe spaces in 40 secondary schools, The agency provides teacher training and materials and encourages programs for girls to pursue careers in science. One of the agency's goals is coordinating climate knowledge and improving international education about how global warming occurs and affects people around the world. Over 30 UNESCO programs are designed to help its members adapt to climate change and favor sustainable development. UNESCO adopted in 2021 what it calls "the first and only global standard-setting instrument on the ethics of artificial intelligence." Applying to all 194 member states, the recommendation emphasizes the protection of human rights and dignity, grounded in principles like transparency, fairness, and human oversight of AI systems. UNESCO director general Audrey Azoulay said the US decision to leave was expected and that the agency has prepared for it. While the U.S. had previously provided a notable share of the agency's budget, UNESCO has diversified its funding sources. "Thanks to the efforts made by the organization since 2018, the decreasing trend in the financial contribution of the US has been offset, so that it now represents 8% of the organization's total budget compared with 40% for some United Nations entities," Azoulay said. She added that the agency's overall budget has increased and that it has the steady support of "a large number of member states and private contributors."
USA Today
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
How Pedro Pascal got in Mister Fantastic shape for Marvel debut
Hollywood fitness guru Jason Walsh chronicles how the Emmy nominated actor conquered debilitating pain after a stunt injury for the new 'Fantastic Four' movie. A post shared by JASON WALSH (@risemovement) Pedro Pascal swears he would not be walking, much less prepping to play a superhero, if it weren't for this guy. The four-time Emmy nominee is just one of many A-list clients who have achieved action star physiques through physical trainer Jason Walsh's holistic approach to health and fitness. In the case of Pascal, however, the mutual admiration between trainer and client extends far beyond the four walls of Walsh's West Hollywood gym. The two first crossed paths back in 2014 in Qingdao, China, on the set of the action blockbuster "The Great Wall." At the time, Walsh was training the film's star Matt Damon, who played a mercenary warrior alongside Pascal. "We instantly had a good chemistry," Walsh told USA TODAY. "You're going to all these really cool places, the Great Wall, experiencing all this stuff and you got somebody that's a good friend. And I started training him then." A decade after they first met in China, Walsh would help Pascal transform his body to play the brilliant and elastic Mister Fantastic in the upcoming "The Fantastic Four: First Steps," out in theaters nationwide Thursday, July 24. The superhero genre is familiar territory for Walsh, who previously trained Anne Hathaway to play Catwoman in 2012's "The Dark Knight Rises" and Brie Larson to take on the role of the titular intergalactic heroine in 2019's "Captain Marvel." A stunt injury, however, would make Pascal's latest fitness journey the actor's most daunting yet. 'Gladiator II' stunt left Pascal with long-lasting back pain Fans of Pascal may remember the moment photos from Vanity Fair's cover shoot dropped on June 24, showing his physique in its full glory. Unbeknownst to drooling fans at the time, Pascal endured months of turmoil and uncertainty to achieve the muscled-up look. During a stunt for last year's "Gladiator II," he dislocated his shoulder, tore his psoas (lower back) muscle and weakened his hip flexor after tackling co-star Paul Mescal on set. Walsh said Pascal experienced long-lasting back pain that took a psychological toll as a result. Pain and injury can feel extra defeating when someone enters their late 40s or early 50s, Walsh said, adding that "you start to program your mind and start believing that this is the new you. This is the way it's going to be." "He came to me and just said, 'I'm a wreck,'" Walsh recalled. "'I can't step up, I can't lunge, I can't squat, I can't do these things because my back hurts.'" With a looming deadline and hectic schedule ahead of filming for "Fantastic Four" in England, "The Materialists" in New York and Season 2 of "The Last of Us" in Canada, Pascal asked the trainer one question. "'Can it be done?' And I was like, 'absolutely,'" Walsh said. The mission was less about achieving a shredded superhero figure for Pascal and more about reclaiming functionality over his body and conquering his pain, Walsh said. Pascal placed his full faith in the Hollywood strength guru, who had experience with post-injury training. He previously prepared Matt Damon for 2016's "Jason Bourne" after a bike accident broke his collarbone. Walsh explained to Pascal that the process would be slow and tedious, but that the two would eventually change his body. "I just took it on as a project, and I took it seriously because I saw my friend who was in pain and psychologically down," he said. Now, the 50-year-old heartthrob not only looks chiseled but feels well enough to become the next Reed Richards in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Walsh says his secret isn't a 'magic formula' While Walsh had no desire to be a personal trainer growing up — even to clientele like Jake Gyllenhaal, John Krasinski and Bradley Cooper — he saw a void he could fill in the fitness space. He takes a multifaceted approach to training that involves adding calculated amounts of stress to the right parts of the body. With Pascal, Walsh curated a routine that would allow his body to hold onto muscle at his age. The workouts prioritized isometric exercises that built a connection between mind and body while also advancing his tendon strength. "Mostly it's a progressive model. So it's pretty simple. It's just very basic. It's not a magic formula. I don't need to tell you that there's cool exercises that we do that nobody else does. I don't do that [expletive]," Walsh said. Instead, he reinforces solid patterns and proper recovery time, complemented by plenty of sacrifice. He also worked with a chef who prepared a diet focused around caloric intake and macronutrients that would become habitual for Pascal. This nutrition philosophy later prompted Walsh to launch his own protein powder, a plant-based supplement called Rise311, geared toward those who have trouble digesting whey. Walsh posted an Instagram reel in June 2024 of Pascal trying a Rise311 shake for the first time, which the Chilean-born actor called "delicious." A post shared by JASON WALSH (@risemovement) Pascal lost 25 pounds ahead of Marvel shoot Walsh said his first big win with Pascal was when the actor noticed a gap between his belly and a pair of pants on the set of "The Last of Us." "We took 25 pounds off of him by changing up his diet," Walsh said. Beyond the weight loss, Pascal told Walsh he felt his pain and limitations dissipate as his body grew stronger. Before they both knew it, Pascal was ready to put on his blue suit. "You build this little bit of trust with people by fixing something and then reminding them that they couldn't do something [before]," Walsh added. Ultimately, Walsh finds victories like Pascal the most rewarding. "It was just a slow, tedious climb, but he was down for it and now he's asking me for workouts and things because he wants to keep going with it," Walsh said. "He understands the benefit of that kind of sacrifice and dedication and hard work. It pays off."
South China Morning Post
20-07-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Zhang Ziyu, China's ‘strategic nuclear weapon', on verge of medal in senior tournament debut
From the moment she stepped onto a basketball court, China's 7ft 5in (2.26 metre) centre Zhang Ziyu has been a viral sensation. Footage of the 'moving Great Wall' towering above her opponents as teammates passed her the ball before she would simply place it in the net without barely a jump has become a common occurrence since she burst onto the scene a year ago. Being a towering presence on the court is one thing, but being able to back it up with medals is another. At best, Zhang will claim a bronze medal at the Fiba Women's Asia Cup in Shenzhen on Sunday, after losing Saturday's semi-final to Japan 81-90. It is not the prize she would have hoped for, but she goes into the final game as an MVP contender, with 15 points per game, only 1.5 less than the two above her, despite only averaging 13.8 minutes per game. From being born to former professional basketball players, to gaining recognition from some of the world's best, to questions over her stamina and defensive ability, here is everything you need to know about China's 'strategic nuclear weapon'.
