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Here is the news. An exhibition showcasing cultural relics from ancient Pompeii has opened at the Hunan Museum in Changsha in central China's Hunan province.
The exhibition, entitled Meet Pompeii, the Eternal City, features more than 130 artefacts, including frescoes, sculptures and bronze and goldware.
The statue of Venus, the patron goddess of Pompeii, serves as the representative piece of the exhibition.
That is according to Amelia Menner, an archaeologist with the National Archaeological Museum of Naples, which was among the partners that organised the exhibition with the Hunan Museum.
noting that the Roman Empire and ancient China were both important centres of civilisation.
Menner said the exhibition marks another important contemporary exchange between the two civilisations.
Xu Lili, curator of the exhibition, said that this cultural event is part of efforts to introduce major ancient civilizations to the public as they work towards building the Hunan Museum into a world -class institution.
The exhibition runs until November 2nd this year.
Pompeii, situated between Naples and the Amalfi Coast, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The ancient city was buried under volcanic ash and pumice during the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in the year 79 AD.
You're listening to Special English.
The opening of Legoland Shanghai Resort in East China has added momentum to the country's thriving theme park sector, reflecting China's consumption upgrade and potential.
As well as its commitment to opening up to the world.
The resort in Shanghai, currently the largest Legoland globally and the first in China, offers a new amusement option for Chinese citizens and foreigners visiting this metropolis.
The cultural and tourism industries are becoming important growth drivers as the Chinese economy shifts to a consumption -driven pattern.
Earlier this year, the Chinese government made boosting consumption and stimulating domestic demand across the board one of its major priorities.
It urged more efforts to foster new forms of cultural business and vigorously develop the tourism industry.
Meanwhile, authorities also pledged better services and support for foreign investors, aimed at making China a favoured destination for them.
Foreign -funded theme parks have both attested to and benefited from these commitments.
Notably, Shanghai Disney Resort and Universal Beijing Resort have achieved great success.
More diversified demands for tourism products are driving an upgrade in terms of the offerings of this vibrant industry.
For tourists who travel during summer holidays or take family trips, thematic or in -depth experience travels are becoming popular choices.
This means that theme parks are expected to secure a sharp surge of visitors.
Growing tourism consumption has contributed to China's resilient consumer market.
In the first quarter of this year, the number of domestic tourist trips reached over 1 .79 billion, representing year -on -year growth of 26%.
Total tourism expenditure hit 1 .8 trillion yuan, some US $209 billion in this period, up 18 .6 % year -on -year.
Thanks to China's visa -free policies and related measures, the popularity of both travel and shopping in China among foreigners has risen, serving as a boost to the country's tourism development.
Shanghai, being a prime example in this regard, received almost 1 .26 million foreign tourists in the first quarter of this year, up 61 .9 % year on year.
According to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, from July to August, local authorities will organise 4 ,300 activities and provide subsidies totalling 570 million yuan to boost cultural and tourism consumption.
The thriving tourism industry is injecting momentum into the Chinese economy, which grew 5 .4 % in the first quarter of this year and aims for an expansion of around 5 % this year.
South China's island province of Hainan has reported strong offshore duty -free sales over the past five years, following a policy to raise the annual cap on duty -free purchases.
According to Haiko Customs, offshore duty -free sales in Hainan totalled 195 .8 billion yuan, around 27 .4 billion US dollars over the past five years.
During the period, the number of duty -free shoppers neared 28 .59 million.
On July 1, 2020, Hainan raised its annual tax -free shopping quota from 30 ,000 yuan to 100 ,000 yuan per person.
Sales and the number of shoppers saw 315 % and 123 % growth from the five years prior to the major shopping quota increase.
China released a master plan in June 2020 to build Hainan into a globally influential high -level free trade port by the middle of the century.
China aims to build Hainan into a globally influential tourism and consumption destination by 2035.
In recent years, the island province has become an attractive shopping destination for domestic consumers.
Following years of efforts to enhance the local tourism and shopping sectors, Hainan now boasts 12 offshore duty -free stores.
You're listening to Special English.
With practiced silence, armed only with a basket and a wooden stick, the seasoned forager scanned the thick carpet of pine needles beneath ancient trees.
His trained eyes quickly revealed the prize.
5. Pristine Matsutake mushrooms nestled in the forest floor.
Shangri -La, a name synonymous with earthly paradise, yields an astonishing bounty of this global treasure with a yearly production volume of 800 – 1 ,500 tons.
These high high -altitude forests produce 65 % of Matsutake output in Yunnan, a province that accounts for a staggering 40 % of China's entire output.
Global demand is insatiable, with Japan and and the Republic of Korea leading the charge.
In both 2023 and 2024, annual exports destined for Japan alone neared 15 million yuan, about 2 .1 million US dollars.
Jiang said that foragers had agreed on community rules, explaining that they would carefully refill the soil where each mushroom is picked, and harvest only the mature ones, between 9 and 12 centimetres, while younger mushrooms are left to grow, seed and sustain future harvests.
The village economic cooperative sends every single freshly picked Matsutake to a local agricultural operations management company, which, in return, offers a premium price of 5 % above the market rate.
Thanks to the company's investment, drones patrol the conservation zones, while infrared thermal imaging automatically monitors forest health.
These tools enable precise ecological intervention, balancing increased yield with long -term sustainability.
Zhang Yi, the company's deputy general manager, said that they integrate modern eco -technology to protect the environment while boosting the villagers' income.
Across Diching Prefecture, which administers Shangri -La, five Matsutake conservation bases now span 25 ,000 mu, about 1 ,667 hectares.
Zheng Yangbin, deputy director of Diqing's Agriculture and Rural Affairs Bureau, said they promote conscious stewardship and reduce reckless harvesting.
Time is the ultimate test for these forest gems, thanks to a state -of -the -art cold chain.
Zhang Yi said that within China, they deliver across provinces in seven hours, reaching 264 cities within 24 hours, and Japan and the Republic of Korea in just 36 hours.
More than ten rare crested ibises have established a new breeding habitat in Qianyang County in in northwest China's Shanxi Province.
The wild habitat was discovered near a reservoir in Zhangjiayuan Town.
Video footage shows adult birds and chicks foraging.
This marks a conservation milestone for Qianyang.
Since the release of 30 ibises into the nearby Qianhu Wetland in 2014, protective measures, including habitat restoration and patrols, have supported population growth.
The first wild chick hatched in 2016.
A record four chicks fledged from one nest in 2020.
Seven more ibises were released in April 2023.
Jiang Hu, an official with the local Wetland Nature Reserve Administration, said that the ibis's presence, from wetlands to rural reservoirs, vividly reflects Qianyang's ecological progress.
Once near extinction, crested ibises are first -class protected animals in China, revered as an oriental gem.
China has made significant progress in reversing grassland degradation over the past five years, with degraded grasslands shrinking by an average of 50 million mu, approximately 3 .33 million hectares annually.
Officials revealed the data at a National Conservation Conference in North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.
The country has maintained stable grassland vegetation coverage exceeding 50%, while significantly reducing degraded areas.
Strict legal enforcement has addressed almost 30 ,000 violations nationwide since 2021.
Targeted measures successfully controlled overgrazing in key regions like Inner Mongolia, achieving balanced grassland livestock capacity.
Annual fresh grass production now surpasses 600 million tonnes nationwide.
Grass seed supply shortages have been largely resolved.
According to the conference, support policies now benefit more than 16 million farming households.
Future initiatives will prioritise artificial grassland development, sustainable grazing management and stricter protection policies to strengthen ecological security.
This is 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.
An exhibition showcasing cultural relics from ancient Pompeii has opened at the Hunan Museum in Changsha, in central China's Hunan province.
The exhibition, entitled Meet Pompeii, the Eternal City, features more than 130 artefacts including frescoes, sculptures and bronze and goldware.
The statue of Venus, the patron goddess of Pompeii serves as the representative piece of the exhibition.
That is according to Amelia Menner an archaeologist with the National Archaeological Museum of Naples which was among the partners that organised the exhibition with the Hunan Museum.
noting that the Roman Empire and ancient China were both important centres of civilisation.
Menna said the exhibition marks another important contemporary exchange between the two civilisations.
Xu Lili, curator of the exhibition, said that this cultural event is part of efforts to introduce major ancient civilisations to the public as they work towards building the Hunan Museum into a world -class institution.
The exhibition runs until November 2nd this year.
Pompeii, situated between Naples and the Amalfi Coast, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The ancient city was buried under volcanic ash and pumice during the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in the year 79 AD.
You're listening to Special English.
The opening of Legoland Shanghai Resort in East China has added momentum to the country's thriving theme park sector, reflecting China's consumption upgrade and potential, as well as its commitment to opening up to the world.
The resort in Shanghai, currently the largest Legoland globally and the first in China, offers a new amusement option for Chinese citizens and foreigners visiting this metropolis.
The cultural and tourism industries are becoming important growth drivers as the Chinese economy shifts to a consumption -driven pattern.
Earlier this year, the Chinese government made boosting consumption and stimulating domestic demand across the board one of its major priorities.
It urged more efforts to foster new forms of cultural business and vigorously develop the tourism industry.
Meanwhile, authorities also pledged better services and support for foreign investors, aimed at making China a favoured destination for them.
Foreign -funded theme parks have both attested to and benefited from these commitments.
Notably, Shanghai Disney Resort and Universal Beijing Resort have achieved great success.
More diversified demands for tourism products are driving an upgrade in terms of the offerings of this vibrant industry.
For tourists who travel during summer holidays or take family trips, thematic or in -depth experience travels are becoming popular choices.
This means that theme parks are expected to secure a sharp surge of visitors.
Growing tourism consumption has contributed to China's resilient consumer market.
In the first quarter of this year, the number of domestic tourist trips reached over 1 .79 billion, representing year -on -year growth of 26 percent.
Total tourism expenditure hit 1 .8 trillion yuan, some 209 billion US dollars in this period, up 18 .6 percent year -on -year.
Thanks to China's visa -free policies and related measures, the popularity of both travel and shopping in China among foreigners has risen, serving as a boost to the country's tourism development.
Shanghai, being a prime example in this regard, received almost 1 .26 million foreign tourists in the first quarter of this year, up 61 .9 % year -on -year.
According to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, from July to August, local authorities will organise 4 ,300 activities and provide subsidies totalling 570 million yuan to boost cultural and tourism consumption.
The thriving tourism industry is injecting momentum into the Chinese economy, which grew 5 .4 % in the first quarter of this year and aims for an expansion of about 5 % this year.
That is the end of today's programme.
I hope you'll join us every day to learn English at a slower pace.
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