BEIJING, June 22 (Xinhua) -- A selection of the best press photos from Xinhua.
Customers interact with cat Xiaoxiaomei at Gudaomaone cat cafe in Xiaojuer Hutong of the Nanluoguxiang neighborhood in Beijing, capital of China, on June 10, 2023.
In recent years, cat cafes have experienced a surge in popularity across major Chinese cities, attracting a growing number of cat lovers. One of these establishments, Gudaomaone (Frolics with Cats), is owned and operated by a woman nicknamed Yu Xiaomao (Kitten Yu) in Xiaojuer Hutong of Beijing's Nanluoguxiang neighborhood. Visitors to this cafe can indulge in coffee, sugary snacks, and, most importantly, the delightful and furry company of cats.
Within the cafe's walls live 37 cats, each with their unique appearance and personality. Among them, Zhaocai (Fortune), a short-haired American tabby, stands out as the only one wearing a collar because of an early accident. In 2017, Zhaocai was taken away by a stranger outside the cafe, prompting Yu Xiaomao to exhaust all available resources, both online and offline, to ensure the cat's safe return. This incident occurred during the early stages of Gudaomaone when the cafe had few customers. Surprisingly, the cat's retrieval event significantly boosted the cafe's popularity.
Initially, Yu Xiaomao embarked on her entrepreneurial journey with a nail salon where she kept a few cats to entertain herself. However, she soon discovered that many customers frequented her salon specifically to interact with these adorable feline companions. This realization prompted her to turn her hobby into a full-fledged career by opening a cat cafe.
With a steadfast commitment to providing a nurturing home for her feline "family members," Yu Xiaomao plans to continue running the cafe and catering to the needs of fellow cat enthusiasts like herself. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang)
Students participate in a simulated dragon boat race during an interactive session held by the Chinese Embassy in Kenya in Nairobi, Kenya, on June 21, 2023. The Chinese Embassy in Kenya on Wednesday held the interactive session with Kenyan students to deepen cooperation in the fields of education and culture. (Xinhua/Li Yahui)
A person poses for a photo as the sun rises on the summer solstice at the ancient megalithic observatory of Kokino, North Macedonia, June 21, 2023. (Photo by Tomislav Georgiev/Xinhua)
A Sichuan Airlines charter flight is greeted with a water salute after arriving at Pokhara International Airport in Pokhara, Nepal, June 21, 2023. A Sichuan Airlines charter flight arrived at the Pokhara International Airport on Wednesday morning, being the first international flight to land at the third international airport of Nepal since its inauguration in January. (Photo by Hari Maharjan/Xinhua)
Tourists watch an elephant diving at Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chonburi province in Thailand, June 21, 2023. (Xinhua/Rachen Sageamsak)
This aerial photo taken on June 16, 2023 shows a lantern performance by the long-table banquet in Hule Town of Ningguo City, east China's Anhui Province. Hule Town, an ancient town in east China's Anhui Province, has a tradition of lantern performance to celebrate festivals.
As the Dragon Boat Festival approaches, villagers perform lantern dance with lanterns in the shape of fish and dragon, and place lotus-shaped water lanterns in the river.
A series of activities including the long-table banquet and the lantern fair have been held to attract tourists from home and abroad. (Photo by Li Xiaohong/Xinhua)
A nighttime dragon boat race is held to celebrate the upcoming Dragon Boat Festival in Sanxi Village of Changle District, Fuzhou, capital of southeast China's Fujian Province, June 20, 2023.
The nighttime dragon boat race native to Sanxi Village is a tradition with a history spanning over 600 years. Around the Chinese Dragon Boat Festival, the villagers of Sanxi eagerly participate in this race as night falls. The event carries deep cultural significance and serves as a means of prayer for bountiful harvests and auspicious life. (Xinhua/Jiang Kehong)
People visit the 54th International Paris Air Show held at Le Bourget Airport near Paris, France, June 20, 2023. The International Paris Air Show kicked off here on Monday and will last to June 25, 2023. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)
Aerial photo taken on June 20, 2023 shows spectators gathering to wait for the match to begin at the China's Village Basketball Competition in Taipan Village, Taijiang County, southwest China's Guizhou Province. China's Village Basketball Competition was launched with a match between Team Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture and Team Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture in Taipan Village on Tuesday.
The organizers stated that the competition aims to encourage villagers from across the country to form basketball teams representing their townships or villages. The finals are scheduled to take place in Taijiang this coming October.
Basketball has a long-standing tradition in Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, where Taipan Village is located. Initially, basketball games were part of the celebrations of the Miao ethnic harvest festival during the sixth month of the Chinese lunar calendar. (Xinhua/Tao Liang)■
