Time Zone |
Africa/Sao_Tome |
Standard Time GMT / UTC |
UTC+0 |
Daylight Saving Time |
Daylight saving time is not observed in the current region. |
Time Zone |
Asia/Shanghai |
Standard Time GMT / UTC |
UTC+8 |
Daylight Saving Time |
Daylight saving time is not observed in the current region. |
São Tomé and Príncipe is an island country in west-central Africa, consisting of the islands of São Tomé and Príncipe and the surrounding islets, with the capital, São Tomé, located in the northeastern part of São Tomé. Located on the Gulf of Guinea, about 200 kilometers from the African continent, the country was colonized by Portugal in the 15th century and became independent in 1975, with Portuguese as the official language and an economy based on agriculture (cocoa, palm oil) and tourism. It should be noted that "Java" is not a city or region of the country; Java is the main island of Indonesia, with cities such as Jakarta and Surabaya, and has nothing to do with São Tomé and Príncipe, possibly due to a confusion of names.
Located in the central part of Shanxi Province, Pingyao, Shanxi, is the best-preserved ancient county town of the Ming and Qing dynasties in China and one of the World Heritage Sites. The ancient city was first built in the Western Zhou Dynasty, and after many repairs, it still retains the street pattern and buildings of the Ming and Qing dynasties, such as city walls, temples and market buildings. The city's four main streets, eight side streets and 72 winding alleys form a tortoise-shaped bagua layout, symbolizing longevity and good fortune. Pingyao is one of the birthplaces of China's Jin merchant culture, and the Rishengchang Ticket Company, known as "the originator of modern banking in China," has witnessed the rise of the modern financial industry. There are 3,797 traditional residences preserved here, of which 22 are state-protected units, condensing the life scenes and business wisdom of Jin merchant families. The annual Pingyao International Photography Exhibition has given the ancient city a new color and become an important window to showcase China's traditional culture.