Latest news with #Zhangjiajie
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
EXCLUSIVE: Louis Vuitton's New Travel Campaign Highlights the Beauty of China
GREAT ESCAPE: Chinese consumers may have paused luxury spending, but the country remains firmly in the sights of industry leader Louis Vuitton. Days after opening a Shanghai flagship in the shape of a cruise ship, the brand has unveiled its new travel campaign, set in China. For the first installment, U.S. photographer Alec Soth shot the lush green scenery and karst limestone mountains near the Li river in Guilin. More from WWD Designer Nicole Miller and Model Carol Alt Help Judge Albanian Fashion Show Welcome to Can Nikita, an Oasis Made of Love in Ibiza MAC Cosmetics Debuts 'Musical Spaceship' Concept for Nanjing Flagship The brand's Monogram Horizon rolling case and Soft Keepall bag are showcased against a traditional fisherman's bamboo raft. Its Alzer briefcase and small travel trunks are among the items strapped to bicycles crossing the river. 'The campaign's images and video invite viewers to discover the country's lesser-known gems and move beyond the familiar narratives often presented in Western portrayals,' Vuitton said. The campaign launched in display on Tuesday, with print insertions due to begin on July 5, a rollout on Vuitton's local social accounts on July 8, and its global social platforms on July 24. The brand will unveil two more destinations in the coming months: Zhangjiajie, home to the quartzite sandstone pillars of the Wulingyuan District, and Datong, one of the nine ancient capitals in China. Vuitton's last travel campaign, in 2022, was shot by Viviane Sassen in Iceland. Soth, who is based in Minneapolis, is best known for his large-format photography that blends documentary realism with lyrical storytelling. He has published more than 30 books — including 'Sleeping by the Mississippi,' 'A Pound of Pictures' and 'Advice for Young Artists' — and is a recipient of the Guggenheim Fellowship. A member of Magnum Photos, Soth is represented by Sean Kelly in New York, Weinstein Hammons Gallery in Minneapolis, Fraenkel Gallery in San Francisco and Loock Galerie in Berlin. Best of WWD Longtime Vogue Editor Grace Mirabella Dies at 91 First Lady Dr. Jill Biden Helps Forbes Celebrate Its 50 Over 50 List Mikaela Shiffrin Gets Personal in New Series for Outside+
CNN
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
Caves near China's ‘Avatar Mountains' found packed with decade-old trash
Caves near China's 'Avatar Mountains' found packed with decade-old trash A hidden environmental crisis is unfolding in ancient caves near China's Zhangjiajie Forest Park, famed for its massive quartz-sandstone pillar formations, which are said to have inspired the floating scenery that appears in the 2009 Hollywood blockbuster 'Avatar.' Viral social media videos showing piles of trash in the area, some reportedly dumped over a decade ago, are prompting a mass cleanup of the karst caves. 00:59 - Source: CNN Vertical Trending Now 15 videos Caves near China's 'Avatar Mountains' found packed with decade-old trash A hidden environmental crisis is unfolding in ancient caves near China's Zhangjiajie Forest Park, famed for its massive quartz-sandstone pillar formations, which are said to have inspired the floating scenery that appears in the 2009 Hollywood blockbuster 'Avatar.' Viral social media videos showing piles of trash in the area, some reportedly dumped over a decade ago, are prompting a mass cleanup of the karst caves. 00:59 - Source: CNN 50 years of 'Jaws' and shark attacks As Steven Spielberg's summer blockbuster 'Jaws' turns 50, CNN's Harry Enten figures out how likely it is to be attacked by a shark and whether we should fear the waters. 01:57 - Source: CNN Erupting volcano puts Indonesians on high alert Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki, one of Indonesia's most active volcanoes, erupted Tuesday, sending an ash cloud high into the air. The country's volcanology agency has raised the alert level to the highest. 00:59 - Source: CNN The NHL Stanley Cup's perfect imperfections The Stanley Cup is one of the most iconic trophies in all of sports, but one of the reasons the NHL's championship trophy is so lionized is its perfect imperfections. CNN's Coy Wire spoke to The Keeper of the Cup Howie Borrow for a tour of some of the trophy's character-building bloopers. 01:02 - Source: CNN Storm chaser captures 'unprecedented' view of monster hailstones falling from sky Storm chaser and research scientist Sean Waugh has documented softball sized (or greater) hailstones in freefall with an ultra-high-tech camera mounted on a retrofitted research vehicle. The goal – to study and better understand what makes gigantic hail form, and how to better detect it and ultimately improve severe weather warnings. Sean speaks with CNN Meteorologist Derek Van Dam while on the road, capturing imagery of this very impactful and expensive natural phenomenon. (edited) 01:47 - Source: CNN Flash flood destroys apartment building An apartment building in West Virginia partially collapsed as flash floods hit the area. The governor's office said at least five people are dead and four people remain missing following the floods. 00:31 - Source: CNN After talking to hundreds of dads, this podcaster shares his two biggest lessons Dr. John Delony speaks to millions of listeners on his popular podcast about mental health, family and relationships. As a therapist, he's used to offering advice to struggling fathers, but we asked him about the biggest lessons he's learned as a dad. 01:32 - Source: CNN Rare deep-sea squid filmed alive for first time Scientists have captured the first-ever footage of the elusive Gonatus antarcticus squid alive in its deep-sea habitat. CNN's Jeremy Roth describes the rare encounter. For more on this story, visit 01:12 - Source: CNN Trump draws boos and cheers at Kennedy Center President Donald Trump drew charged reactions of both admiration and ire at the Kennedy Center's opening night of "Les Misérables." 00:29 - Source: CNN The many adventures of the Stanley Cup Winner's of the NHL's Stanley Cup each get to take the cup for a day and do whatever they want with it. CNN's Coy Wire recounts some of the Cup's wildest days out. 00:43 - Source: CNN BTS members discharged from South Korean military One of the world's biggest boybands could soon be making a comeback with six out of seven members of K-Pop supergroup BTS now discharged from South Korea's mandatory military service. The band plans to reunite at some point later this year. 00:47 - Source: CNN Combs requests mistrial for a second time CNN's Elizabeth Wagmeister explains that Sean "Diddy" Combs' defense team requested a mistrial for a second time, which was denied. Combs' team accused the prosecution of presenting false testimony from Bryana Bongolan, a friend of Cassie Ventura's, who testified that Combs dangled her over a balcony. 01:26 - Source: CNN Tennessee sheriff's office airlifts escaped zebra to safety DEK: A zebra, that escaped from its owner in Christiana, Tennessee was captured on Sunday and airlifted to safety by the local sheriff's office. The animal, named Ed, had been reported missing just a day after he was acquired by its owners in Rutherford County. They have since been reunited. 00:35 - Source: CNN Jamie Foxx breaks down during BET Awards acceptance speech Jamie Foxx was overcome with emotion while accepting the Ultimate Icon Award at the BET Awards. He reflected on his 2023 health scare. 00:45 - Source: CNN See what's coming to your iPhone and other Apple devices Apple announced major software updates at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference. Most of the new features won't reach users' devices for a few months when OS 26 releases this fall. 01:49 - Source: CNN
South China Morning Post
19-06-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Wingsuit flying, kitesurfing and other daring adventures in Asia
Sometimes described as the closest humans come to true flight, Wingsuit flying is not for the faint-hearted, and to enrol in a training course a novice must already be an accomplished skydiver. Wearing fabric wings stretched between their arms and legs, these thrill-seekers steer with subtle shifts in body position like dive-bombing flying squirrels. One of the most dramatic locations in which the activity takes place is Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park , in Zhangjiajie, Hunan province. Its near-vertical cliffs and the Tianmen Cave, a massive natural arch, create a GoPro-ready setting for daring descents. The World Wingsuit League holds annual championships here (usually in September), with athletes launching from helicopters and threading through narrow valleys at speeds of up to 200km/h. Combining cinematic scenery with extreme risk, Tianmen Mountain is considered one of the ultimate challenges, and dedicated viewing areas are set up for spectators when competitions take place.
New York Times
19-06-2025
- New York Times
This Chinese Park Inspired ‘Avatar.' Videos Show It Also Drew Piles of Trash.
The towering sandstone pillars in central China that climb into the misty sky are renowned for their beauty, inspiring the alternate universe in the 2009 blockbuster 'Avatar.' But in recent weeks, the national park of Zhangjiajie, the location of those stunning formations topped with pine trees, has become known for a sight far less appealing: mountains of trash. The government in Cili County in Hunan Province, which oversees the park, ordered a huge cleanup effort this month after videos posted by cave explorers of the garbage buildup spread widely. As of Wednesday, 51 metric tons of trash have been removed from two caves, according to the local authorities. Villagers started dumping trash and pig manure in the caves in 2010, the official Xinhua news agency reported, after the county authorities banned the burning of waste. It took several years before the county's trash collection services were able to deal with the amount of waste being disposed of, including from the county's large pig-farming industry. A cave explorer and environmental activist who had posted some of the most widely shared videos said in a message that he was shocked when he saw the piles of manure and trash, which he said was seven or eight stories high. The limestone in the karst caves was stained so black that he initially mistook the waste for coal, he added. He spoke on the condition of being identified only by his online pseudonym, Xiaofugege, because of the sensitivity of environmental issues in China. Local authorities said that of the 200 caves they had inspected, about two-thirds were contaminated, though drinking water in the region was found to be safe. The authorities have also suspended four officials and were investigating 12 livestock farms over the unlawful discharge of wastewater. The authorities have also posted videos of the cleanup, with cranes hoisting trash from the depths of the caves. But these efforts were halted after toxic and flammable gases were detected in the caves, China Newsweek, a state outlet, reported. China has struggled with industrial pollution elsewhere. In 2011, a chemical company dumped 5,000 metric tons of chromium into reservoirs in Yunnan, in China's southwest, killing fish and livestock, and poisoning the drinking water of thousands of people. And for the past several years, the authorities in Bijie city in the southwestern province of Guizhou found that sewage water had contaminated the waterways, and that at least 12 of the surrounding karst caves were also clogged, in some cases with sewage water, others with manure, and still others with construction or household waste.
CNN
18-06-2025
- CNN
China works to clear a decade of garbage from caves near ‘Avatar' mountains
May and early June have always been popular times to visit the Zhangjiajie Forest Park in southwestern China's Hunan province, before the oppressive summer heat sweeps in. The stunning area is famed for its massive quartz-sandstone pillar formations, which are said to have inspired the floating scenery that appears in the 2009 Hollywood blockbuster 'Avatar.' But this year, as crowds of tourists pour into the area, just a few dozen miles away a government-ordered mass cleanup operation is taking place, with crews hauling bags of trash out of ancient caves — most reportedly dumped there more than a decade ago. The long-hidden environmental damage, discovered in Cili county, an area administered by the city of Zhangjiajie, first came to light in March, after several cave explorers posted footage of the trash-filled canyons on Chinese social media platform Douyin. In May, the clips went viral, sparking nationwide outrage and prompting investigations by state media and local authorities. The karst caves across Zhangjiajie are among the region's most striking natural wonders, formed over millions of years by water erosion. Inside, they often feature both visible and hidden streams, as well as dramatic limestone formations. One widely shared series of whistleblowing footage, posted by a spelunker named 'Xiaofugege,' showed plastic bottles, cans and even containers labeled as chemicals covering rocks and underground bodies of water inside multiple caves. The most shocking clip, posted on May 29, showed stacked trash 'as high as seven to eight floors' according to the spelunker. In one video, plastic waste can be seen covering an entire surface, prompting the person recording to say: 'Look at how thick the trash is, I can even walk on it.' Chinese leader Xi Jinping has repeatedly said environmental protection is a top priority for the country. Officials announced on June 9 that 51 tons of garbage had already been removed from two of the worst-hit caves. Many of the bags were filled with domestic waste, dumped between 2010 and 2015 after the local government banned trash burning but did not implement any waste removal alternatives. During that period, dumping garbage into caves was not only common but, in some cases, organized. Local officials and residents told state media that the village would send trucks to collect trash and dump it into the karst caves, a regular waste disposal practice back then. One resident said his dad, who lived only 200 meters from a cave, always discarded garbage into it by himself 'for convenience,' state media reported. 'Disposable items, worn-out clothes, plastic bags… all kinds of trash are here,' said one safety officer overseeing the cleanup, according to CCTV. Aside from household garbage, authorities say they are also dealing with animal waste. In one video shared in April, taken deep inside a large karst cave, manure could be seen pouring through holes in the ceiling, forming sludge pools while staining the white stalactites black. Cili county is a major pork producer in Hunan, raising 700,000 pigs annually, according to state media. Local authorities have reportedly launched investigations into 12 livestock farms for illegal waste discharge since footage of the local pollution appeared in March. Chinese social media reactions to news of the cleanup have been scathing. 'What's next? How long will it take for the caves and waters nearby to recover? Hundreds of years, or thousands of years?' wrote one Weibo user. 'The individuals and entities involved should be held accountable and face serious consequences,' said another. Officials told state media that of the 206 karst caves inspected in the area, two-thirds were polluted to some degree. Meanwhile, clean-up was reportedly paused from June 9 to June 12 due to the discovery of toxic air inside the caves. According to experts, it might be too late to reverse the damage. 'Once the pollutants seep into the karst aquifers, they can quickly contaminate downstream surface water, leading to deteriorating water quality and harming aquatic ecosystems,' Shuai Huan, deputy director of a local environmental geology survey center, told CCTV. This isn't an isolated incident. Last year, prosecutors in the city of Bijie, in Guizhou province, confirmed that more than 10 local karst caves were contaminated with household waste, sewage discharge and livestock farm waste following reports from environmentalists. While bags of trash are being pulled up by cranes in Cili county, the crowds continue to swell nearby in the Zhangjiajie Forest Park. During a holiday break from May 31 to June 2, the popular site saw nearly 400,000 tourists, almost 10% more than the same period last year, according to state media. The Zhangjiajie Forest Park is part of the larger Wulingyuan Scenic Area, a UNESCO World Heritage site covering more than 100 square miles in Hunan province. In January 2010, Zhangjiajie officially renamed one of its signature pillars 'Avatar Hallelujah Mountain' to celebrate its cinematic fame, after word got out that James Cameron took inspiration from the area's pillars to create some of the dramatic scenery in his sci-fi film. 'Zhangjiajie not only belongs to the world, but has already made its way to the world,' said a park official at the renaming ceremony. Today, the park is home to many popular attractions, including the 1,070-foot-tall glass Bailong Elevator. Built in 2002, it's said to be the world's tallest outdoor elevator. It travels up and down the side of a cliff in the national park and consists of three double-decker lifts, each of which can transport as many as 46 visitors up the mountain in less than two minutes per trip. The area is also home to the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Bridge, where visitors can experience one of the world's tallest bungee jumps. Among the most recent additions to Zhangjiajie is Tianti, which means 'Sky Ladder' in Chinese. At 551 feet long (168 meters), the suspended ladder stretches between two cliffs at a height of 5,000 feet, according to state media.
