The world is changing fast, but you can learn it at a slower pace.
Special English You're listening to Special English.
Here's the news. Shanghai has unveiled a new policy package to establish itself as a global hub for high -quality internet content creation offering financial incentives, streamlined visa processes and tech support to attract creators worldwide The nine -point policy package designates two downtown districts Huangpu and Yangpu as pilot zones for global content creation clusters with top performing platforms, incubators and industrial parks eligible for an annual city -level reward of up to 10 million yuan, about 1 .4 million US dollars.
Foreign creators will benefit from expedited visas, while more cultural venues and landmarks will open their doors for content production.
Global creator forums and innovation competitions will be hosted within the pilot districts.
AI -driven content projects can receive capital support covering up to 30 % of their costs, while individual creators may receive up to 100 ,000 yuan for standout works.
The package also includes low -interest loans, shared workspaces, and talent housing to lower entry barriers.
Shanghai is set to streamline professional certification for content creators, encourage platforms to participate in skills assessments, and enhance career development pathways.
the city will strengthen university industry internship pipelines within content hubs and include creators in talent award schemes.
This is Special English.
Beijing Normal University has launched China's first undergraduate program dedicated to artificial intelligence education aiming to address a critical shortage of specialized teachers in the field.
The initiative aligns with government directives to boost AI education across primary and secondary schools nationwide.
In late 2024, the Ministry of Education issued issued a directive calling for measures to advance AI education in primary and secondary schools.
This year, Beijing's municipal authorities issued a dedicated AI education plan for 2025 through 2027, demanding the establishment of regular teaching systems and standardized curricula.
An official from the university's Faculty of Education said that the shortage of qualified instructors and the lack of specialized training remain major obstacles.
adding that the program's core mission is to train educators equipped with both advanced AI technical skills and strong pedagogical expertise.
The official said that the university is leveraging its interdisciplinary strengths to cultivate talent that supports the country's strategic drive toward intelligent education.
Unlike purely technical AI degrees, the Beijing Normal University's AI Education Program integrates two essential knowledge streams. The curriculum combines an AI technology module covering generative AI, machine learning, natural language processing, and educational data mining with a foundation in education science, including learning theory, psychology, curriculum design, and assessment.
The program also plans to introduce practical innovation courses such as the application of AI technologies in education.
In addition, compulsory courses cover topics such as AI ethics and data security, instilling in students a core philosophy of technology -serving education.
Beyond theory, the program fosters practical skills through a unique university -enterprise -school collaborative training model, which helps immerse students in real -world teaching environments and technical development projects, Career prospects in the AI education field are broad, with graduates well prepared to become AI or information technology teachers, driving digital transformation in primary and secondary schools.
According to the university's Faculty of Education, the booming educational technology sector also needs their expertise to develop and refine AI -driven learning platforms and courses.
Further career paths include academic research, educational management, and shaping AI education policy.
Yu Shengquan, Executive Director of the University's Advanced Innovation Center for Future Education, said that AI advancements are shaping society at unprecedented rates, profoundly altering education.
You added that developing digital citizens equipped for this new reality is now a central educational imperative.
According to you, the center has previously partnered with Chinese tech giant Tencent to develop a comprehensive AI knowledge framework and curriculum spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
You're listening to Special English.
After much anticipation, 60 -year -old Zhu Fengqing and her husband boarded a special silver train in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, embarking on a 16 -day journey across northern China.
Tailored specifically for elderly travelers, the silver train offers a slower pace and attentive services.
Zhu said that she and her husband prefer travelling by train, adding that they don't have to worry about large suitcases during long -distance trips.
Ju's trip mirrors China's efforts to support its booming retirement travel market, driven by a growing elderly population, numbering over 300 million over 60s by the end of 2024.
Data from China Tourism Academy shows that active travel -ready seniors are projected to surpass 100 million by late 2025.
In January, several government agencies jointly unveiled an action plan to expand and improve tourism train services that are friendly to seniors.
The plan aims to create a nationwide network of specialized trains that cater to older travelers by 2027 with over 100 designed routes and 2 ,500 scheduled trips annually.
To better accommodate the elderly passengers, some trains have been refitted with features such as anti -slip flooring, emergency call buttons in bathrooms, and thoughtful amenities such as reading glasses, sewing kits, and first aid kits.
Menus have also been adjusted to cater to the senior travelers' preferences, offering balanced meals with light flavors.
70 -year -old Huang Ziqiu had only just recovered from a wrist fracture when he decided to set off a silver train trip.
Huang said his biggest concern is his health and felt reassured to hear that the special train had medical staff on board and was equipped with emergency medicine.
To enrich the travel experience, many silver trains feature performances and interactive games.
Zhang Guiying, a passenger on one silver train heading to Harbin in northeast China's Heilongjiang province, said these various activities on board made their journey more colorful.
According to Wei Yi, manager of the Tourism Department of Guangxi Railway Culture and Tourism Group, More tailored routes are currently being developed, including flower viewing tours, summer retreats and autumn journeys.
Wei noted these are all popular among senior travelers and some routes sold out quickly.
However, several hurdles still remain.
Industry insiders have said that the silver train market is still in its early stages with limited trains and transport capacity.
Consequently, there is ample room for development and growth in this area.
According to Tuol Yen Chung, associate professor of College of Tourism and Service Management under Nankai University, Silver trains should go beyond transportation by providing more emotional support, making elderly travelers feel respected, cared for, and valued.
This is Special English.
Chinese researchers have identified a green sea turtle nesting site at Yongshu Reef, part of the Nansha Islands in the South China Sea.
That is according to an ecological and environmental research station of the South China Sea Institute of Oceanology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
The discovery was made during routine ecological monitoring work when scientific staff found an approximately 30 -centimeter -deep irregular circular depression in the sandy area of Yongshu Reef surrounded by disturbed sand particles.
These features exhibit remarkable consistency with the typical nesting behavior of green sea turtles, suggesting that the sandpit marks were left after turtle oviposition.
The team soon launched a joint investigation with the Reef -Based Environmental Protection Department.
Through deploying monitoring equipment and conducting night patrols, researchers successfully obtained video documentation of sea turtle activities on the beach, including both landings and returns to the ocean.
Typical sea turtle eggs were also collected at the site, which were verified by experts as green sea turtle eggs.
Green sea turtles are classified as a first -class protected species in China.
This newly discovered nesting site represents a significant breakthrough for enhancing the protection of this endangered marine species.
Notably, this nesting site extends approximately 800 km further south compared to previously identified sites on Baydal Island, part of the Xisha Islands.
This geographical expansion provides compelling evidence that the superior marine ecological conditions in the waters around the Nansha Islands offer a suitable habitat for this endangered species.
The research team plans to collaborate with the Reef -Based Environmental Protection Department to implement protective monitoring of the area and initiate surveillance of environmental factors to support future incubation research. The researchers said that this discovery will significantly advance China's marine ecosystem protection in the South China Sea islands, while contributing new critical data to global sea turtle conservation networks.
networks. You're listening to Special English.
That's the end of this edition of Special English.
To recap, I'm going to read two of the news items again at normal speed.
Please listen carefully.
Shanghai has unveiled a new policy package to establish itself as a global hub for high -quality internet content creation, offering financial incentives, streamlined visa processes, and tech support to attract creators worldwide.
The 9 -point policy package designates two downtown districts, Huangpu and Yangpu, as pilot zones for global content creation clusters, with top -performing platforms, incubators, and industrial parks eligible for an annual city reward of up to 10 million yuan, about 1 .4 million US dollars.
Foreign creators will benefit from expedited visas, while more cultural venues and landmarks will open their doors for content production.
Global creator forums and innovation competitions will be hosted within the pilot districts.
AI -driven content projects can receive capital support covering up to 30 % of their costs, while individual creators may receive up to 100 ,000 yuan for standout works.
The package also includes low -interest loans, shared workspaces, and talent housing to lower entry barriers.
Shanghai is set to streamline professional certification for content creators, encourage platforms to participate in skills assessments, and enhance career development pathways.
The city will strengthen university industry internship pipelines within content hubs and include creators in talent award schemes.
This is Special English.
Chinese researchers have identified a green sea turtle nesting site at Yongxu Reef, part of the Nansha Islands in the South China Sea.
That is according to an ecological and environmental research station of the South China Sea Institute of Oceanology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
The discovery was made during routine ecological monitoring work when scientific staff found an approximately 30 cm deep irregular circular depression in the sandy area of Yongshu Reef surrounded by disturbed sand particles.
These features exhibit remarkable consistency with the typical nesting behavior of green sea turtles, suggesting that the sandpit marks were left after turtle over position.
The team soon launched a joint investigation with the Reef -based Environmental Protection Department.
Through deploying monitoring equipment and conducting night patrols, researchers successfully obtained video documentation of sea turtle activities on the beach, including both landings and returns to the ocean.
Typical sea turtle eggs were also collected at the site, which were verified by experts as green sea turtle eggs.
Green sea turtles are classified as a first -class protected species in China.
This newly discovered nesting site represents a significant breakthrough for enhancing the protection of this endangered marine species.
Notably, this nesting site extends approximately 800 kilometers further south compared to previously identified sites sites on Bei Dao Island, part of the Xisha Islands.
This geographical expansion provides compelling evidence that the superior marine ecological conditions in the waters around the Nansha Islands offer a suitable habitat for this endangered species.
The research team plans to collaborate with the Reef -Based Environmental Protection Department to implement protective monitoring of the area and initiate surveillance of environmental factors to support future incubation research. The researchers said that this discovery will significantly advance China's marine ecosystem protection in the South China Sea islands while contributing to new critical data to global sea turtle conservation networks.
This is the end of today's program.
I hope you'll join us every day to learn English at a slower pace.
He can't live without the Yellow River in his eyes.
The Yellow River is so noble and elegant.
Both my grandpa and dad made a living from the river.
Would you like to move away from the Yellow River?
I don't think I will.
I love it so much. The Yellow River, the second longest river in China, is regarded as a shaping force in the history, economy and culture of northern China.
Today, about 100 million people live within its water basin, making up nearly 9 % of the country's population.
How is climate change felt at its headwaters, And what are the locals doing to cope with it?
What are the descendants of the boatmen doing?
What has kept some people from leaving their home village by the river?
And what has drawn others back?
Could the fading fishing community revive in a time of digital transformation?
From 2021 to 2024, our reporters visited the upper, middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River.
talk to the herders, farmers, boatmen, fishermen and eco -activists who share a close bond with the river and present their stories in pictures, podcasts and videos all in our 12 -part series The Yellow River Mosaic available only on CGTN Radio South to South, East to West, people in China are chasing their dreams and leaving their mark.
Want to know how they beat the odds and made a difference?
Footprints brings you the true life stories of their journeys.
