STORY: 400-year-old bridge bustling ahead of Spring Festival in China's Guizhou
SHOOTING TIME: Jan. 31, 2024
DATELINE: Feb. 2, 2024
LENGTH: 0:01:48
LOCATION: SHIQIAN, China
CATEGORY: SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the Shiqian County
2. various of the ancient bridge and people
3. STANDUP (Chinese): CHEN QIANG, Xinhua correspondent
4. various of the ancient bridge
5. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): WANG XUEBING, Villager of Lengshuiba Village, Shiqian County
6. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): CHEN HUIBI, Vendor on the bridge, Shiqian County
7. SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): LIU QIN, Vendor on the bridge, Shiqian County

STORYLINE:

China's annual Spring Festival travel rush is now underway. This year, a staggering 9 billion passenger trips are expected to be made during the 40-day travel rush starting from January 26.

As people embark on their journeys home for family reunions, in mountainous Guizhou, bridges play a vital role in facilitating public transportation.

STANDUP (English): CHEN QIANG, Xinhua correspondent
"Now I'm here on Qiling bridge in Shiqian County, southwest China's Guizhou Province. Qiling means open minds in Chinese. It's an ancient stone arch bridge connecting the two sides of the river. During the Spring Festival travel season, we see huge crowds of people on the bridge. Some of them are walking home while some are busy doing New Year shopping."

The bridge, first built 400 years ago and then renovated, is 169 meters long and 5 meters wide.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): WANG XUEBING, Villager of Lengshuiba Village, Shiqian County
"We all cross the bridge on foot. This bridge is mainly for pedestrians, not cars. In recent years, every time I walk through the bridge, I buy something for my children and parents at home, as I come back once a year to reunite with them."

SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): CHEN HUIBI, Vendor on the bridge, Shiqian County
"I sell vegetables and fruits. We all set up stalls here, because there's a higher foot traffic, and locals have to cross this bridge in their daily lives."

SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): LIU QIN, Vendor on the bridge, Shiqian County
"Yesterday, there were relatively fewer people, but today there are quite a lot because many people are setting up stalls here. There is a fair today, so there are more people, and sales are good. We sell a local snack from our village called 'Huangshui Ba' (Yellow rice cake). It's very famous. Nowadays, almost everyone in the village is involved in making it."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Shiqian, China.
(XHTV)