Slow and Steady Wins the Race

A woman is going on a bike ride around downtown 南京 (Nánjīng), 江苏省 (Jiāngsū province), China. Photo: 王文瀾 (Wáng Wénlán).

A Lake in the Forest

Tourists enjoy a boat ride in a Metasequoia forest in 渌洋湖湿地公园 (Lùyáng Lake Wetland Park) in 扬州 (Yángzhōu), 江苏省 (Jiāngsū province), China. Photo: VCG/Getty Images.

红灯笼 (Red Lanterns)

A worker at a factory making red lanterns in 泗洪县 (Sìhóng County), 江苏省 (Jiāngsū province), China. Photo: Costfoto/Barcroft Media.

白鯨記 (Moby-Dick)

南通 (Nántōng), 江苏省 (Jiāngsū province), China: A 68-metre long image of a whale formed by plastic waste collected from the ocean during an event to raise awareness of pollution. Photo: AFP/Getty Images.

It’s never too late to change your date

Children rehearse a dance performance in 海安 (Hǎi’ān), 江苏省 (Jiāngsū province), China. Photo: Costfoto/Barcroft Media.

Dress Rehearsal

A farmer sorts roses used to make essential oils at a plantation in 海安市 (Hǎi’ān), 江苏省 (Jiāngsū province), China. Photo: AFP/Getty Images.

雲端運算 (Cloud computing)

The tops of high-rise buildings emerge from heavy fog in 扬州 (Yángzhōu), 江苏省 (Jiāngsū province), China. City authorities issued an alert with visibility reducing to 50 metres. Photo: AFP/Getty Images.

Improvisation in Rehearsal

赵振华 (Zhào Zhènhuá), 90 years old, a survivor of the 南京大屠殺 (Nánjīng Massacre), is today the oldest actress and model in 南京 (Nánjīng), 江苏省 (Jiāngsū province), China. Photo: Costfoto/Barcroft Images.

鐵道模型 (Railway modelling)

A bullet train undergoes a test run between 盐城 (Yánchéng) and 连云港 (Liányúngǎng), 江苏省 (Jiāngsū province), China. Photo: AFP/Getty Images.

Umbrella etiquette

Lotus flowers start to bloom in 扬州 (Yángzhōu), 江苏省 (Jiāngsū province), China. Photo: AFP/Getty Images.

Bread and Roses

Farmers sort edible rose petals in 海安 (Hǎi’ān), 江苏省 (Jiāngsū province), China. Photo: AFP/Getty Images.

There’s a first time for everything

Two first-time winners were crowned this year at the 49th Chinese Open Chess Championship and 42nd Chinese Women’s Chess Championship, which took place from 18–29 April in 兴化 (Xīnghuà), 江苏省 (Jiāngsū province), China. Pictured, from left, are 温阳 (Wēn Yáng) and 翟墨 (Zhái Mò) being awarded by the member of Standing Committee of 兴化 (Xīnghuà) Municipal Party Committee and Propaganda Minister 刘春龙 (Liú Chūnlóng). Photo: qipai.org.cn.

A Postcard Journey

On Monday, December 18, 2017 a “新时代 新征程” (“New Era, New Journey”) Development Summit was held at 天宝花园 (Tiānbǎo Garden) Hotel in 兴化 (Xīnghuà), 江苏省 (Jiāngsū province), China to solemnly commemorate the 30th anniversary of the founding of the city of 兴化 (Xīnghuà) – which happened in December 1987 – through a series of accounts attesting to its economical and urbanistic growth. Four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) (pictured above with pink jacket) – actually born in 兴化 (Xīnghuà) – was among those who attended the symposium. Photos: tianbaohotel-xh.com.cn.

Salt City

韦奕 (Wéi Yì) – David Navara

2017 “恒大杯” (“Héngdà Cup”) Chess Grandmaster Summit Match; match game 3; 盐城 (Yánchéng), January 2, 2018

Queen’s Gambit Accepted D27

Chinese star 韦奕 (Wéi Yì) is playing a four-game match against Czech No. 1 David Navara in 盐城 (Yánchéng), 江苏省 (Jiāngsū province), China from December 31, 2017 to January 3, 2018. After losing the first game and drawing the second, the Chinese Grandmaster eventually won the third. 1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 dxc4 4. e3 e6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. 0-0 a6 7. Nc3 b5 8. Be2 Bb7 9. dxc5 Nc6 10. Qc2. 10. Nd2!? Bxc5 11. Nde4 Nxe4 12. Nxe4 Be7 23. b3 Nb4 is a little more pleasant for Black, Karjakin – Carlsen, New York 2016, World Chess Championship match game 7. If, instead, 10. a3 there might follow 10. ... Bxc5 11. b4 Bd6 12. Bb2 0-0 13. Rc1 Rc8 with equality, Colle – Tartakower, Paris 1925. 10. ... Nb4 11. Qb3 Bxc5 12. Rd1 Qb8!? Probably an improvement on 12. ... Qe7 that after 13. a4(!) gave White the initiative, Wojtaszek – Ponomariov, 61st Spanish Team Chess Championship (División de Honor), Linares 2017. 13. a4 bxa4 14. Qxa4+ Bc6 15. Qa5 Be7 16. Ra3 Nc2? This proves to be Navara’s decisive mistake. Black should have played 16. ... 0-0(!) 17. Rb3 Ra7(!) eventually followed by ... Ra7-b7, holding everything together.

17. Ne5! A powerful refutation. White will win two pieces for a Rook remaining with a decisive advantage, also due to the indefensibility of the a6-Pawn. 17. ... Bb4 18. Rb3 0-0 19. Nxc6 Bxa5 20. Rxb8 Raxb8 21. Nxa5 Nb4 22. f3 Rfd8 23. e4 Rxd1+ 24. Nxd1 Nd7 25. Be3 Ne5 26. Bf4 f6 27. Ne3 Rc8 28. Bxe5 fxe5 29. Nec4 Rc5 30. Nb7 Rc8 31. Nba5 Rc5 32. Kf2 Nc2 33. Bd3 Nb4 34. Ke3 g5 35. Kd2 Kg7 36. Bb1 Kf6 37. Kc3 Rb5 38. Na3 Rb8 39. g4 h6 40. b3 Nc6 41. Nxc6 Rc8 42. Nc4 Rxc6 43. b4 Rc8 44. Bd3 h5 45. gxh5 Rh8 46. Ne3 1 : 0.

韦奕 (Wéi Yì) (L.) vs. David Navara (R.)
Photo: qipai.org.cn

The Kite Runner

A kite flying contest is held in 南通 (Nántōng), 江苏省 (Jiāngsū province), China. Photo: Pacific Press/Barcroft Images.

印象派 (Impressionism)

A mountain of impounded shared bikes can be seen at a parking lot in 南京 (Nánjīng), east China’s 江苏省 (Jiāngsū province). Although the bike-sharing services are booming nationwide in China, it’s challenging to manage bike-sharing and arrange orderly parking, and some bike-sharing companies have gone bankrupt after months of problems. Photo: 方東旭 (Fāng Dōngxù)/Photoshot/Avalon.

A Farewell to Arms

Army dog 多多 (Duō Duō) sits up showing respect as retiring soldiers salute their guard post in 宿迁 (Sùqiān), 江苏省 (Jiāngsū province), China. Photo: CSN/Reuters.

鬥氣夫妻 (Barefoot in the Park)

A couple dance in a park on a foggy day in 淮安 (Huái’ān), 江苏省 (Jiāngsū province), China. Photo: Reuters.

Scarlet and Hyssop

扬州 (Yángzhōu), China: Tourist guides balance books on their heads during an etiquette training class at 瘦西湖 (Slender West Lake), a traditional Chinese lakeside garden. Photo: VCG/VCG via Getty Images.