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You're listening to Special English.
Here is the news. China's AS -700D, Electric Manned Airship, has completed a successful maiden flight, marking a major breakthrough in green aviation equipment in the low -altitude economy sector.
According to the Aviation Industry Corporation of China, the airship's developer, the milestone verified the technical maturity and principles of China's independently developed AS -700D, laying the foundation for the development of subsequent electric airships.
During the maiden flight which was carried out in Jingmen in central China's Hubei province, the airship conducted a vertical takeoff and then quickly climbed to an altitude of 50 After briefly hovering, it performed a vertical landing and then stopped steadily.
Pilot Lin Hong recalled that the flight of the electric airship felt light and smooth just like driving a new energy car.
The AS -700D is a new type of all -electric airship with a comprehensive electrification upgrade based on the AS -700 manned airship, which uses aviation gasoline as fuel.
It utilises an advanced lithium battery electric drive system, propeller system, thrust vector control system and cooling system to replace the aero engine and fuel system.
You're listening to Special English The device locks around the waist and thighs, moving in sync with each step.
As the wearer climbs, it responds, adding a mechanical push to lighten the strain.
Once designed for medical rehabilitation and heavy lifting, robotic leg supports are now showing up across China on popular mountain trails and steep scenic sites.
During the past Spring Festival holiday, these AI -powered exoskeletons first gained attention at Mount Tai, one of China's most famous peaks in the eastern Shandong Province, where Visitors must climb over 7 ,000 steps to reach the summit.
Now ensure Grand Canyon, a vast landscape of cliffs and staircases in central China's Hubei province, is the latest site to test them.
Spanning 108 kilometres and featuring more than 26 ,000 steps the Canyon is among the most physically demanding scenic spots in the country.
Offering visitors a glimpse of how technology could ease even the most grueling climes.
With China's rapidly aging population facing increasing physical limitations, demand for assistive technology is rising.
According to the Smart Health and Care Industry alliance, China's smart health and elderly care sector was estimated to be worth US $6 trillion, around US $820 billion in 2023, driven by growing interest in AI -powered support route, for daily movement and rehabilitation.
The exoskeletons for tourists began trial runs last month.
According to the company operating them at Henchur Canyon, the device weighs 1 .8 kilograms, runs for 3 to 5 hours on a single charge, and provides up to 15 Newton Meters of assistance.
Roughly the force needed to push a bicycle pedal, over 14 km.
Some trial users said they hardly needed to exert any effort, and the device was quite gentle on their knees.
The devices are developed by Kenshing Technology, a Shenzhen -based tech company.
Founded in in 2015, the firm first gained widespread attention during the Spring Festival, when its mountain -climbing robots, launched in partnership with Mt. Thay, went viral.
The introduction of exoskeletons at Mt. Thay has sparked significant public interest, generating over one million views on microblogging platform Weibo.
Many social media users praised the robots for easing the strain of long hikes and have called for their wider adoption at other tourist sites.
Ken Qing, CEO, Yu Yun -bo said that demand has already outpaced supply, with multiple tourist attractions seeking partnerships.
China's exoskeleton market has grown rapidly, surging from €3 million in 2016 to €250 50 million yuan in 2020.
A report by Zhongyuan Puhlhuat Industry Research Institute estimates the market will reach 4 .2 billion yuan by 2025, as demand rises across tourism, healthcare and industrial sectors.
This is Special English.
East China's Shanghai Municipality has introduced a 3 -year action plan, starting in 2025, to promote the high -quality development of the city's tourism industry.
The action plan is aimed at establishing Shanghai as China's primary entry point for inbound tourism and a world -renowned tourist city.
The plan highlights the development of world -class theme parks, an international cruise tourism resort, and an ecotourism hub, along with the deepening integration of culture and tourism.
… technology and investment will play an even bigger role in the development of tourism -related consumption scenarios.
Official data showed that the number of annual tourists to Shanghai has surpassed 300 million in recent years.
During the 2025 Chinese New Year holiday, Shanghai welcomed more than 17 .7 million visitors, a year -on -year increase of 6 .08%.
You're listening to Special English A new air route connecting Xi 'an, the capital of northwest China's Shanxi province with Kuala Lumpur, in Malaysia has officially launched.
China Eastern Airlines operates the daily round -trip flight, which makes a stopover in Kunming in southwest China's Yunnan province.
Founded more than 3 ,100 years ago, Xi 'an is home to the famous terracotta warriors and numerous other historic sites.
It was the capital of 13 dynasties in China.
The new air route offers more convenient choices for tourists to Kuala Lumpur, Shanxi, and picturesque Yunnan and serves as a bridge for economic and cultural exchanges.
This is also the first international air route opened after Terminal 5 of Xi 'an Xianyang International Airport went into operation last month.
Since November 2023, China has continuously purposely adjusted and optimised its visa free transit policy to boost openness and people -to -people exchanges.
Last year, over 20 .1 million foreign visitors entered China under the visa exemption policy, marking a year -on -year increase of 130 ,000 point five percent ineligible transit visa exemption travellers you're listening to special English a recent study has indicated that almost half of global urban vegetation is browning while about 40 % is greening The findings were obtained by a research team from the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
The team conducted a comprehensive analysis of vegetation dynamics politics with high resolution data across more than 11 ,000 cities globally between 1990 and 2021.
It was found that urban vegetation greening is geographically uneven with the South accounting for some 36 percent and the Global North representing 45 percent.
In addition, despite a considerable expansion of green spaces in cities, the percentage of people who actually reap the benefits of this greening remains relatively small.
Researchers have also highlighted a notable link between economic development and urban vegetation greening, with cities boasting higher GDP per capita, typically experiencing more substantial vegetation growth.
Moreover, urbanisation and nitrogen deposition present a complex impact, while these factors may drive vegetation decline in urban peripheries.
They can, conversely, foster vegetation expansion in city centres.
The study showed that compared to browning or unchanged regions, greening areas significantly alleviate the urban heat island effect, particularly during summer daytime.
time. According to the research team, this suggests that long -term efforts to promote urban vegetation greening can not only help address climate change, but also improve the quality of urban living environments.
The study has been published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
This is Special English.
When the first spring thunder cracks the sky, insects emerge from their winter dormancy and become more active.
In China, this period is called Jin Jue or the awakening of insects.
In Chinese, Jing means awakening, and Jue refers to hibernating insects.
As its name implies, Jing Jue reflects the natural phenomenon when animals and insects start to reappear.
It's the third of the twenty -four solar terms, and usually falls in the first week of March, marking the beginning of a busy season for farmers across China.
In ancient times people believed that insects were awakened from their winter sleep by the spring thunderstorms which are common during during this period.
Actually, modern scientific research has proved that it's increasing temperatures and humidity of the soil that really does the waking up.
The increase in sunlight, and longer days also trigger the growth of plants which provide food and habitat for many insect species.
This in turn attracts predators such as birds and other animals, success, leading to the beginning of the Spring ecosystem.
During this time, most parts of China see a fast rise in temperatures, with averages reaching over 10 degrees Celsius, with a significant increase in sunshine, which, in return, provides ideal farming conditions.
Old Chinese sayings such as, once the awakening of insects comes, spring plowing never rests, reveal the importance of this term to farmers.
Traditional Chinese medicine believes that one's body might suffer from the internal heat caused by the rapid rise in temperatures during this period.
As a result, people tend to have sore throats and parched mouths due to the dry air.
Eating pears during this time is regarded as a must.
In China, Pair cooked with rocky sugar is a typical dessert served during the awakening of insects.
The sweet and juicy fruit is the perfect choice to moisten the lungs and help to stop coughing.
During this time of new beginnings and renewal, people across China take part in various customs and practices to welcome the new season and pray for good fortune.
It's also customary to thoroughly clean homes and workplaces during this time, sweeping away any bad luck or negative energy for the year.
In Chinese culture, awakening awakening of insects is associated with the awakening of life and energy.
It is celebrated as a time of renewal and growth.
The term jingjie is often seen as a symbol of hope and optimism for the future.
It reminds us that after the cold and darkness of winter there is always a new beginning, a chance to start afresh and grow.
We can take this opportunity to reflect on our goals and aspirations, and to make positive changes in our lives, whether it's starting a new hobby, learning a new skill, or simply enjoying nature's beauty.
You are listening to Special English.
That is the end of this edition of Special English.
To recap, I am going to read two of the news items again at normal speed.
Please listen carefully.
China's AS -700D electric manned airship has completed a successful maiden flight, marking a major breakthrough in green aviation equipment in the low -altitude economy sector.
According to the Aviation Industry Corporation of China, the airship's developer, the milestone verified the technical maturity and principles of China's independently developed AS -700D, laying a foundation for the development of subsequent electric airships.
During the maiden flight, which was carried out in Qingmen in central China's Hubei province, The airship conducted a vertical takeoff and then quickly climbed to an altitude of 50 metres.
After briefly hovering, it performed a vertical landing and then stopped steadily.
Pilot Lin Hong recalled that the flight of the electric airship felt light and smooth, just like driving a new energy car.
The AS -700D is a new type of all -electric airship with a comprehensive electrification upgrade based on the AS -700 manned airship which uses aviation gasoline as fuel.
It utilises an advanced lithium battery electric drive system, propeller system, thrust vector control system and cooling system to replace the aero engine and fuel system.
This is Special English.
A new air route connecting Xi 'an, the capital of northwest China's Shanxi province, with Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, has officially launched.
China Eastern Airlines operates the daily round -trip flight which makes a stopover in Kunming in southwest China's Yunnan province.
Founded over 3 ,100 years ago, Xi 'an is home to the famous terracotta warriors and numerous other historic sites.
It was the capital of 13 dynasties in China.
The new air route offers more convenient choices for tourists to Kuala Lumpur, Shanxi and picturesque Yunnan, and serves as a bridge for economic and cultural exchanges.
This is also the first international air route opened after Terminal 5 of the Xi 'an Xianyang International Airport went into operation last month.
Since November 2023 China has continuously adjusted and optimised its visa -free transit policy to boost openness and people -to -people exchanges.
Last year more than 20 .1 million foreign visitors entered China under the visa exemption policy, marking a year -on -year increase of 113 .5 percent in eligible transit visa exemption travellers.
That is the end of today's programme.
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