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Here is the news. For the first time, lunar samples collected from the Moon's near -and -far sides have been on display together at an exhibition in Beijing.
The exhibition at the National Museum of China is themed around China's lunar exploration Program, over two decades, and is jointly hosted by the Museum and the China National Space Administration.
The samples were collected by China's Chang 'e -5 and Chang 'e -6 missions.
The exhibition also displays hundreds of valuable artefacts, as well as pictures and documents related to China's lunar exploration program that was officially approved in 2004.
According to the organisers, the two -month exhibition provides a comprehensive overview of the country's lunar exploration efforts highlighting its historical background, development, achievement, major achievements and future goals.
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The China Science and Technology Museum has launched a month -long display of 50 films with special visual effects to offer audiences an opportunity to engage with the world's science -themed cinematic works.
Running until May the 5th.
The screening is part of the Sci -tech section of the 15th Beijing International Film Festival.
The films originate from 14 countries including China, Russia, the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom.
They cover a diverse range of topics, from nature and aerospace to frontier technology and fantasy animation.
They will be shown on dome screens, giant screens and 4D.
Other activities such as academic salons, science education initiatives and film concerts will be held along with the film exhibition.
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Shanghai is becoming a key investment destination for international theme park operators, as they look to capitalise on China's expanding entertainment and travel markets.
The influx of more international brands follows the success of two big predecessors – Shanghai Disney Resort and Universal Beijing Resort.
More global brands are seeking to repeat that success in Shanghai by building their amusement parks to cash in on the increasing demand in China, particularly from young people and families, for joyful and immersive travel experiences.
Shanghai Disney Resort welcomes more than 14 million visitors annually.
It is expanding further after the opening of the Zootopia -themed land, the world's first. Meanwhile, Legoland And Shanghai Resort is preparing for its summer opening.
Located in Shanghai's Jinshan district, the 318 ,000 square metre resort is a theme park and hotel destination targeting children aged 2 to 12 and their families.
John Jacobson, chief operating officer of Legoland Resorts, said the company chose the location in Shanghai because the Yangtze River Delta, which also includes the provinces of Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Anhui, and has almost 55 million potential consumers, represents China's vibrant consumer market.
Warner Bros. has partnered with Jinjiang International Holdings, China's major travel and hospitality conglomerate, to build a Making of Harry Potter studio tour at Shanghai Jinjiang Action Park.
The Harry Potter project, scheduled to open in 2027 and with an investment of 2 .8 billion yuan, about $390 million, will be the first of its kind in China, and the third globally.
Unlike its predecessors in London and Tokyo, the Shanghai version will incorporate Chinese elements and digital technologies to bring more interactive experiences for visitors.
The Chinese government has pledged to accelerate landmark investment projects and step up efforts to foster new forms of cultural business and vigorously develop the tourism industry, as per the 2025 Government Work Report.
China's theme park sector is becoming a key field for global investment, driven by its huge population, rising disposable incomes, and the integration of culture and tourism.
Dai Bin, President of the China Tourism Academy, said, the country's vast consumer base, alongside rising disposable incomes and leisure and entertainment spending have made it an attractive market for global theme park operators.
Dai said that China has a huge customer base of young people and young families who are strongly interested in new and premium entertainment experiences and are willing to pay the bill for high quality joyful times.
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Nestled deep in the mountains of southwest China's Chongqing municipality a seafood factory, buzzes with activity as workers skilfully process a batch of northern shrimp, an exotic species they hadn't even heard of just months earlier.
According to Wang Lujie, general manager of Chongqing Jia Jia Rong Foods company, these northern shrimp were imported from Canada, and will be processed in Chongqing before being exported to Japan and other countries.
Spanning 18 ,000 square metres, the factory is located in Tianjiang District, a region nestled within the Wuling Mountains, it officially began operations last December.
Before reaching the factory, the shrimp consignment undertakes a 45 -day journey, being shipped across the ocean to Qinzhou Port, in South China's Guanxi Zhuang autonomous region and Water is then transported via freight trains through the new international Land -Sea Trade Corridor, a vital logistics network linking China's western regions to global markets.
Once at the facility, the shrimp undergo a meticulous deep -processing procedure, that includes cleaning, de -shelling, weighing, quick freezing and packaging.
Within a week, they are transported to Rijiao Port, in east China's Shandong province, before being shipped to sushi restaurants and supermarkets across Japan.
Unlike China's coastal hubs, Chenjiang lacks the geographical advantages typically associated with foreign trade.
Yet, against the odds, the district has carved out a niche in the global seafood industry.
Wang said that the policy support is the golden key that unlocked their access to the international market, as part of China's broader strategy to foster collaboration between its eastern and western regions as well as its rural revitalisation drive, the company has benefited from a host of policy incentives.
These include preferential logistics support for imports and exports along with an abundant local labour force, both of which have helped slash operational costs.
To boost its competitiveness, the company has also sent workers to China's coastal cities to learn advanced processing techniques.
Thanks to these efforts, it expects to export over 80 tons of aquatic products by the end of this month, with an export value of 760 ,000 USD.
According to Wang, the company is set to expand its business operations.
A new domestic sales channel for South American white shrimp is slated to launch by late April or early May, while production of fish puree products is expected to commence in July or August. Wang noted that the company plans to utilise shrimp by -products, such as heads and shells, in industries ranging from fish bait and biopharmaceuticals to cosmetics which is expected to drive growth in downstream industries and inject new momentum into rural development.
This is Special English.
Guan Huijiang, a veteran children's toy merchant based in east China's iwu for over a decade, is fielding surging online orders this year, not from children but a surprising customer cohort.
Seniors at his online store on China's leading e -commerce platform Tmall.
A significant portion of sales now come from fitness and brain now make up 30 % of the store's consumer base, up sharply from previous years.
Guan said that their top sellers in 2024 were wrist exercise balls and rotating bead -puzzle cubes which combine low -intensity physical activity or mental stimulation with entertainment, making them ideal for older adults seeking daily exercise or leisure.
For Guan, the pivot to elderly -friendly toys began after a conversation in 2023 with Cheng Xin, an operations manager overseeing the toy and collectibles sector at Taobao and Timahl, who showed him the promising potential of this niche market.
Over the past year, the platform saw searches for elderly toys jump some 120%, with sales up 70%.
Manufacturing hubs from Yiwu, known as the world's supermarket for small commodities and cities like Changhai and Shanto in South China's Guangdong, actively follow the rising trend.
Chang said that some are new entrants, while most are established children's brands expanding into aging -focused niches.
As Guan's success illustrates, China's demographic shifts are reshaping consumer markets.
China's official data shows that around 310 million people, 22 % of the population, are aged 60 or above, according to the country's Ministry of Civil Affairs.
The demographic is projected to grow by 10 million yearly over the next decade as the silver economy expands to 9 % of China's GDP by 2035, amplifying demand for age -specific products.
Li Simin, an attending doctor from the Third Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University said that engaging with toys provides seniors with joyful distraction and social interactions facilitated by multiplayer toys stimulate oxytocin while reducing stress levels.
Noting that toys can be lifelong companions for people, Chung said that Taobao plans to create a dedicated category for elderly toys, offering targeted support to capitalise on trend.
Data from Chi Cha -Cha, a leading platform, offering company information, inquiry services, shows that in 2024 alone a record 83 ,000 silver economy -related companies were registered, the highest annual figure in 10 years.
Zhang Jinsong, Secretary General of the Elder Education on Aging Committee of China, Gerontological Society, said that as spending has shifted from essentials to premium experiences among cohorts aged 60 to 70 in recent years.
Innovation opportunities have emerged in aging focused sectors like adaptive smart home devices, customized tourism services, functional foods, and Senior Friendly Toys You're listening to Special English.
That is 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.
For the first time, lunar samples, collected from the Moon's near and far sides, have been on display together at an exhibition in Beijing.
The exhibition at the National Museum of China is themed around China's lunar exploration program over two decades, and is jointly hosted by the museum and the China National Space Administration.
The samples were collected by China's Chang 'e -5 and Chang 'e -6 missions.
The exhibition also displays hundreds of valuable artefacts, as well as pictures and documents related to China's lunar exploration program that was officially approved in 2004.
According to the organisers, the two -month exhibition provides a comprehensive overview of the country's lunar exploration efforts, highlighting its historical background, development, major achievements and future goals.
This is Special English.
Shanghai is becoming a key investment destination for international theme park operators, as they look to capitalise on China's expanding entertainment and travel markets.
The influx of more international brands comes following the success of two big predecessors – Shanghai Disney Resort and Universal Beijing Resort.
More global brands are seeking to repeat that success in Shanghai by building their amusement parks to cash in on the increasing demand in China, particularly from young people and families for joyful and immersive travel experiences.
Shanghai Disney Resort welcomes over 14 million visitors annually.
It is expanding further after the opening of the Zootopia -themed land, the world's first. Meanwhile, Legoland Shanghai Resort is preparing for its summer opening.
Located in Shanghai's Jinshan District, the 318 ,000 square metre resort is a theme park and hotel destination, targeting children aged 2 to 12 and their families.
John Jacobson, Chief Operating Officer of Legoland Resorts, said the company chose the in Shanghai because the Yangtze River Delta, which also includes the provinces of Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Anhui, and has almost 55 million potential consumers, represents China's vibrant consumer market.
Warner Bros. has partnered with Xinjiang International Holdings, China's major travel and hospitality conglomerate, to build a Making of Harry Potter studio tour at Shanghai Xinjiang Action Park.
The Harry Potter project, scheduled to open in 2027 and with an investment of 2 .8 billion yuan, about 390 million US dollars, will be the first of its kind in China and the third globally.
Unlike its predecessors in London and Tokyo, the Shanghai version will incorporate Chinese elements and digital technologies to bring more interactive experiences for visitors.
The Chinese government has pledged to accelerate landmark investment projects and step up efforts to foster new forms of cultural business, and vigorously develop the tourism industry, as per the 2025 government work report.
China's theme park sector is becoming a key field for global investment, driven by its huge population, rising disposable incomes, and the integration of culture and tourism.
Dai Bin, president of the China Tours Academy, said the country's vast consumer base, alongside rising disposable incomes and leisure and entertainment spending, have made it an attractive market for global theme park operators.
Dai said that China has a huge customer base of young people and young families who are strongly interested in new and premium entertainment experiences and are willing to pay the bill ...for high quality joyful times.
That is the end of today's program.
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