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Here is the news. A Chinese firm has released Origin Tianjie 4 .0, a self -developed superconducting quantum measurement and control system that supports 500 -plus qubit quantum computers, signifying the advancement of China's production capabilities in quantum computing.
Origin Quantum, a startup based in the eastern Chinese city of Hefei, built and upgraded the fourth -generation system based on its preceding 3 .0 version, which powers origin Wukong, China's independently developed third -generation superconducting quantum computer.
The new system features improvements in scalability, integration, stability, and automation.
Dubbed the nerve centers of quantum computers, measurement and control systems manage precise signal generation acquisition and control for quantum chips.
Kong Wei -Chun, deputy director of Anhui quantum computing Engineering Research Centre and head of the systems development team said Origin TNG 4 .0 will enhance the efficient control and accurate readout of quantum chips, reducing the research and development and delivery timetable of quantum computers.
According to the research center, since it went into operation on January 6, 2024, Origin Wukong has served users in 139 countries and regions over 26 million times, and completed more than 380 ,000 quantum computing tasks, covering a wide range of industries, from finance to biomedicine.
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Once considered a retiree's pastime, birdwatching is captivating a rising number of young people in China amid the steady improvement of the environment and the public's growing embrace of ecological values.
To many of these young people, birdwatching offers a window into another world.
Wu Yue, a generation Z birdwatcher, described her life, before taking up her binoculars, as that of a Muggle, unaware of the magic around her.
Wu said that she never realized there were so many birds around, and it is as if the world suddenly lit up.
Similar revelations often strike China's young birders at unexpected moments.
Lay Fay Ran remembers pointing her night vision scope at the moon, and seeing hundreds of glowing dots, only to discover they were migrating birds phosphorescent in the dark.
But birding doesn't just happen on the trails.
Off the trails, young birders are giving birds playful identities online.
According to birdwatchers, the light -vented bullbull has been dubbed Mr. White -Headed Old Man, the common blackbird has been given the moniker Master Dong, and the scarlet northern Cardinal, has been said to resemble an iconic character from the Angry Birds game franchise.
These entertaining names make it feel like the birds are part of their squad.
China is home to about 1 ,500 bird species, accounting for about 13 % of the global total.
By the end of 2023, there were approximately 340 ,000 bird -watching enthusiasts in China, An increase of about 200 ,000 over a period of five years.
Online platforms like Bird Report help birders log sightings and exchange knowledge.
By the end of 2023, the platform had over 50 ,000 registered users.
– a 49 % increase from the previous year – and recorded almost 3 .6 million new bird observations in the significant rise of 141 % from 2022.
One popular bird -watching destination is Hengshui Lake, a national nature reserve in northern China which is a vital stopover for migratory birds on the East Asian Australasian Flyway.
Thanks to the expertise of professional birding guides, Hengshui Lake attracts 250 ,000 bird -watching tourists each year, offering visitors the chance to observe at least 65 species and over 10 ,000 birds in a single day.
As birdwatching gains momentum nationwide, local tourism authorities are responding to this rising trend with nature -based offerings.
In Da Li, a popular tourist destination, birdwatching routes now guide visitors through mountains and lakes.
Similarly, at Poyang Lake, China's largest freshwater lake, eight themed bird -watching routes have attracted over two million visitors.
Beyond tourism, the bird -watching craze is fueling a boom in related equipment and services sectors.
A search for birdwatching on e -commerce platform Taobao returns a broad range of products, from binoculars to guidebooks.
One popular pair of watching binoculars, priced at 272 yuan, about 38 US dollars, received over 10 ,000 orders in April alone.
Bird -watching is now more than a pastime in rural areas of Yunnan, Guizhou and Hunan provinces.
it is becoming a driver of local development.
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The surge in China's pet economy has turned pet sitting, once a niche sideline, into a sought -after gig for the country's young urbanites.
Around 2019, the role began gaining broader visibility, attracting those drawn to its low entry barriers, flexible hours and growing demand.
For many, providing in -home feeding services on weekends or holidays has become an ideal way to earn extra income, simply by spending time with cats and dogs.
Driving this trend is an explosion in urban In 1924 Chinese cities were home to more than 124 million pets, and almost 77 million pet owners.
Over 70 % of these owners belonged to the post -80s and post -90s generations, highlighting how millennials and Gen Z are reshaping not just lifestyles, but also the labour market.
Such situations are becoming increasingly common in China's fast -paced cities, where long More working hours and packed schedules make daily pet care a logistical challenge.
The strain intensifies during holidays when many owners travel or visit families, triggering a sharp rise in demand for at -home pet services.
The growing need has opened new doors.
In Chongqing, 25 -year -old finance worker Bai Xiao turned her love for animals into a side hustle in 2023.
Through online pet -sitting platforms, she offers home visits and has quickly built up a loyal clientele.
Each appointment lasts about 45 minutes.
She feeds the pets, tidies up, plays with them, and documents everything with photos and videos, sending updates in real time to owners checking in from afar.
Holidays bring a tide of service requests.
During the recent May Day break, Bai was on the move from 10 a .m. to 8 p .m. daily, with barely a pause between visits.
She earns between 60 and 100 yuan, about 8 to 14 U .S. dollars per session.
Still, the work can be unpredictable.
Bai said that it is very seasonal adding that on regular weeks she might make around 1 ,000 yuan a month.
Bai's experience highlights the growing pains of a rapidly expanding pet -sitting industry.
While the sector is flourishing, a lack of oversight has made it vulnerable.
The low barriers to entry mean many enter the field without formal training, leading to inconsistent service quality.
Coupled with the absence of clear regulations, safety concerns have escalated with reports of pets injuring caregivers.
In response, pet sitters are raising the bar by pursuing professional training and certification, often joining regulated platforms to enhance their credibility.
The pet economy in China is booming with vast potential across pet care, veterinary services and products.
According to the 2025 China pet industry white paper the urban pet dog and cat consumer market reached over 300 billion yuan in 2024, growing 7 .5 % year on year.
As the market expands, experts argue that regulation and legal frameworks are becoming essential to ensure sustainable growth.
A park built on the Yuan Mo Ape Man archaeological site has opened to the public in southwest China's Yunnan Province.
Located in the Chuxiongyi Autonomous Prefecture, the park aims to become an integrated cultural space, where visitors can experience millions of years of human history.
The Yuen Mo Ape Man site was where two fossils of ancient human teeth were discovered in 1965.
These fossils date back some 1 .7 million years.
The park has a planned total area of over 370 hectares and is being developed in three phases.
Zhang Wenwang, head of the prefecture, said they are striving to build the park into a comprehensive base that integrates the scientific exploration of human origins and the in -depth study of prehistoric cultural development.
Gao Xing, a researcher at the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology under the Chinese Academy of sciences said that the Yuan Mo, ape, man and culture is an important testament to the survival and evolution of early homo erectus in East Asia.
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A joint study has uncovered how beneficial microbes can improve soil health and boost crop yields.
The research conducted by the Northwest Institute of Eco -Environment and Resources under the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Austrian Institute of Technology focused on maize cultivation in northwest China.
According to Wang Ruoyue, a researcher at the Northwest Institute, the study was conducted in the context of global agricultural sustainability.
In particular, It endeavors to tackle the scientific problem that a large amount of barren alkaline loess on the loess plateau and desert regions in northwest China restricts crop productivity.
The use of plant -friendly microbes as natural soil boosters has attracted widespread attention for their potential to improve both harvests and soil quality.
The researchers conducted a 2 -year field trial in northwest China to test how a microbial inoculant affects soil quality and maize growth.
The study found that increased microbial activity accounted for almost half of the improvements in soil quality and was the primary driver behind the increase in maize yield.
It highlights the potential of beneficial microbes in promoting sustainable agriculture.
The findings of the study have been published in the journal Micro -Biological Research. You're listening to Special English.
That is the end of this edition of Special English.
To recap, I'm going to read 2 of the news items again at normal speed.
Please listen carefully.
A Chinese firm has released Origin Tian -jie 4 .0 a self -developed superconducting quantum measurement and control system that supports 500 -plus qubit quantum computers signifying the advancement of China's production capabilities in quantum computing.
Origin Quantum a startup based in the eastern Chinese city of Hefei built and upgraded the fourth generation system based on its preceding 3 .0 version which powers origin wukong, China's independently developed third generation superconducting quantum computer.
The new system features improvements in scalability, integration, stability and automation.
Dubbed the nerve centres of quantum computers, measurement and control systems manage precise signal generation, acquisition and control for quantum chips.
Kongwei Cheng, deputy director of Anhui Quantum Computing Engineering Research Centre and head of the Systems Development Team said Origin TNG 4 .0 will enhance the efficient control and accurate readout of quantum chips reducing the research and development and delivery timeline of quantum computers.
According to the Research Centre, since it went into operation on January 6th 2024, Origin Wukong has served users in a hundred and thirty -nine countries and regions over 26 million times and completed more than 380 ,000 quantum computing tasks covering a wide range of industries from finance to biomedicine.
This is Special English.
Once considered a retiree's pastime, bird -watching is activating a rising number of young people in China, amid the steady improvement of the environment and the public's growing embrace of ecological values.
To many of these young people, bird watching offers a window into another world.
Wu Yue, a Generation Z bird watcher, described her life before taking up her binoculars as that of a muggle, unaware of the magic around her.
Wu said that she never realised there were so many birds around, and it is as if the world suddenly lit up.
Similar revelations often strike China's young birders at unexpected moments.
Lei Fei Ran remembers pointing her night vision scope at the moon, and seeing hundreds of glowing dots, only to discover they were migrating birds, phosphorescent in the dark.
But birding doesn't just happen on the trails.
Off the trails, young birders are giving birds playful identities online.
According to birdwatchers, the light -vented bullbull has been dubbed Mr. White Headed Old Man, the common blackbird has been given the moniker Master Dong and the Scarlet Northern Cardinal has been said to resemble an iconic character from the Angry Birds game franchise.
These entertaining names make it feel like the birds are part of their squad.
China is home to about 1 ,500 bird species, accounting for about 13 % of the global total.
By the end of 2023 there were approximately 340 ,000 bird watching enthusiasts in China – an increase of about 200 ,000 over a period of five years.
Online platforms like Bird Report help birders log sightings and exchange knowledge.
By the end of 2023, the platform had over 50 ,000 registered users, a 49 % increase from the previous year and recorded almost 3 .6 million new bird observations in a significant rise of a hundred and forty one percent from 2022.
One popular bird watching destination is Hung Shui Lake, a national nature reserve in northern China, which is a vital stopover for migratory birds on the East Asian Austral Asian Flyway.
Thanks to the expertise of professional birding guides, Hung Shui Lake attracts 250 ,000 bird watching tourists each year, offering visitors the chance to observe at least 65 species and over 10 ,000 birds in a single day.
As birdwatching gains momentum nationwide, local tourism authorities are responding to this rising trend, with nature -based offerings.
In Da Li, a popular tourist destination, birdwatching routes now guide visitors through mountains and lakes.
Similarly, at Por Yang Lake, China's largest freshwater lake, eight themed birdwatching routes have attracted over two million visitors.
Beyond tourism, the bird -watching craze is fueling a boom in related equipment and services sectors.
A search for bird -watching on e -commerce platform Taobao returns a broad range of products from binoculars to guidebooks.
One popular pair of bird -watching binoculars priced at 272 yuan, about US $38, received over 10 ,000 orders in April alone.
Bird watching is now more than a pastime in rural areas of Yunan, Guizhou and Hunan provinces.
It is becoming a driver of local development.
That is the end of today's programme.
I hope you'll join us every day to learn English at a slower pace.
Shhh. Listen up. Can you hear the heartbeat of our world?
It's vibrant, and pulsating with the essence of life itself.
From the stem of trees, to the gurgle of rivers.
From From the silent strength of mountains to the icy whispers of glaciers, even the solid ground beneath our feet, right there in the midst of all beats the heart of humanity.
What if those other heartbeats were to stop?
Would ours keep on ticking?
