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Here is the news. Traveling to a city, specifically for sports, has become a defining trend among China's younger generation, and this has prompted many cities to introduce sports -themed tourism packages, offering fitness enthusiasts and vacationers a diverse array of options.
During the past National Day holiday, Wang Lin began her week -long break, with an adrenaline in fueled adventure, rock climbing at an extreme sports center in the morning, kayaking in the afternoon and indoor swimming in the evening, all packed into just one day.
The 28 -year old sports enthusiast travelled roughly 160km from Wuxi to Li Shue District in Nanjing, both in east China's Jiangsu Province, to enjoy the region's unique sports tourism experiences.
One noted that young people prefer personalized travel experiences, making it a trend to either follow sporting events or engage in sports activities while travelling.
One's exhilarating holiday experiences were part of 18 sports tourism routes curated by Jiangsu's sports department for the National Day Holiday, which covered a wide range of activities, including rock climbing, golf, football, and winter sports, all of which attracted tourists from across the nation.
During this year's National Day Holiday, the tropical province of Hainan hosted the Spartan race, attracting around 4 ,500 global competitors during the holiday.
Hainan has also enhanced its outdoor offerings with mountain trail runs and rural games, adding to its allure as a sought -after tourist destination.
The further spurred interest in both spectator sports and outdoor recreational activities with Chinese audiences showing a growing passion for international events.
According to Tong Chung Travel, the drive to witness sports events first -hand has become a new tourism catalyst.
The Olympics has also sparked domestic interest in outdoor activities, offering adventure -seekers opportunities for fitness and exploration.
The Travel Platform's latest report showed a staggering 87 % year -on -year increase in sports tourism searches from January to July this year.
The rise of sports tourism is not only influencing travel patterns, but also emerging as a significant driver of consumer spending, injecting new momentum into China's economy.
The official data shows that total ticket revenue of the 2024 China Open Tennis Tournament surpassed 80 million yuan, some US $11 million, marking a 60 % increase from the previous year.
Several Chinese cities have already benefited from the sports tourism boom.
For instance, the counties of Taijiang and Rongjiang in southwest China's Guizhou province have gained fame through grassroots basketball and football tournaments.
Wrongjang alone attracted nearly 12 million visitors between mid -May and late -June last year, generating over 13 billion yuan in tourism revenue.
China's State Council has issued guidelines to promote high quality development in service consumption including expanding sports facilities, encouraging diverse sporting events, and deepening pilot projects to stimulate sports -related spending.
According to China's 14th five -year plan for sports development, the total output of sports industry is projected to reach 5 trillion yuan by 2025, with individual sports -related consumption expected to exceed 2 .8 trillion yuan.
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China's domestically developed buoyant airborne turbine has reached a record height in central China's Hubei province, harnessing stronger, steadier winds from higher altitudes to generate power.
According to Beijing S .A .W .E .S.
Energy Technology Corporation, one of the developers of the system, the helium -filled S -500 Blimp ascended to 500 meters above ground in the city of generating power at a rate of over 50 kilowatts.
The operation broke records for both the maximum flying height and power generated by an airborne turbine of such a design.
high -altitude wind is considered a widespread and stable source of clean energy that can be harvest at low cost.
A buoyant airborne turbine system employs a kite -like airship to fly up the generator and send down the electricity through the tethers to the ground.
The S -500 airship has been developed by the company in collaboration with Chinese Institutes including Tsinghua University and the Aerospace Information Research Institute under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
According to Wang Han -Kher, the company's chief technology officer, the airship was developed for scenarios such as emergency rescue, surveying, and mapping, and urban security.
When an earthquake or flood occurs, it can quickly be launched to ensure on -site power supply and communication.
The company has revealed the future plan to test a 100 kilowatt power generator at a height of 1 ,000 meters using the turbine.
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Beijing has launched new supporting measures on strengthening service guarantees for its elderly citizens aged 80 and above.
According to the Municipal Civil Affairs Bureau, the latest 20 measures involve strengthening demand surveys and basic guarantees, optimising service facilities, expanding inclusive services, improving the supply of medical services, as well as making the relevant services more professional, standardized, and smarter.
Guo Han -chiao, deputy head of the Civil Affairs Bureau, said the measures are primarily targeted at the city's elderly individuals aged 80 and above, including those who are physically or cognitively impaired.
Statistics show that there are currently 698 ,000 citizens aged 80 or above in Beijing, among Whom 163 ,600 have lost the ability to take care of themselves.
This is Special English As the migratory season for birds begins in China, the provinces of Hunan, Hubei, Jiangxi and Guangdong, as well as South China's Guangxi -Zhuang Autonomous Region, have launched a collaborative campaign to protect the roots of migratory birds.
This joint protection campaign has been initiated in Lan Shan County, in central China's Hunan Province, aiming to safeguard the birds, and promote sustainable development.
China is home to nearly 1 ,500 species of birds, more than half of which are migratory.
Four of the world's nine major migratory bird roots pass through the country." Yan Jian, secretary general of China Wildlife Conservation Association, said that these five provinces and regions are critical areas along the migratory bird roots, making this protection effort, an important step in China's cross -regional collaboration to protect these birds.
The five provinces and regions will establish a joint protection mechanism to ensure the safety of migratory birds.
This will include regular information sharing, joint law enforcement, and habitat management, while also promoting technical cooperation and the development of eco -friendly economic activities.
They will work together to strengthen inspections in key areas, including markets, restaurants, and online shopping platforms, targeting illegal hunting, consumption, and trafficking of migratory birds and their products.
Monitoring stations will be set up at Provincial borders to protect the birds and track their migration.
During peak migration seasons, patrols will be expanded, and temporary checkpoints will be established to enhance enforcement efforts.
Additional measures will be taken to monitor bird habitats and detect potential diseases.
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An international Ficus Research Centre has been established in the southern Chinese metropolis of Guangzhou, offering a platform for global research exchange and cooperation on the Ficus plant genus.
Located in the Daful Shan Ficus Park, the centre brings together 14 institutions across eight countries, including France, the UK, and Malaysia.
During the launch ceremony, a memorandum of cooperation has been signed, reaching a consensus on research, sustainable utilization, innovation, and information exchange related to the genus.
According to Finn Gelberg, a professor at the French National Centre for scientific research, Ficus species are crucial natural resources that play a key role in maintaining urban biodiversity and ecosystem functions.
The timely establishment of the centre provides It's a platform for domestic and overseas experts and scholars to promote academic exchange and technology.
There are currently 877 Ficus species around the world, with 102 found in China.
As an important component of Guangzhou's ecological foundations, humans, ficus trees, play a significant role in urban greening, which enhances the living environments and regulates regional climates.
Tsai Shang, director of the Guangzhou Municipal Forestry and Landscaping Bureau, said that there are currently 241 tree species lining the streets of Guangzhou, totalling about 586 ,000 individual trees.
Ficus species make up nearly half of the total.
According to Tsai, the Guangzhou municipal forestry and landscaping bureau have collaborated with the South China National Botanical Garden and the Xi Zhuang Ba Na Tropical Botanical Garden to conduct collection surveys in regions where Ficus resources are distributed, clarifying the distribution of Ficus genetic resources further.
This is Special English Did you hear that?
Chilli autumn wind rustling through the air shaking golden leaves loose from their branches.
As the world embraces a gradual chill a delicate layer of frost blankets the earth in the early mornings.
These are signs of the solar term called frost's descent.
It is the 18th solar term on the traditional Chinese calendar and the last one in autumn.
Frost's descent, orAnderson, in Chinese, falls on October 23rd this year.
In Chinese, shuang means frost, while jiang means falling or descent.
So shuang jiang means the falling of frost.
It's a transition period during which the natural world adapts to the coming winter.
Falling leaves create a colorful quilt that blankets the ground.
land, animals work harder to gather food for the cold months ahead, and insects enter hibernation, awaiting the warmth of spring.
On this solar term, nature readies itself for the cold season, and Chinese people also have a unique or, I would say, a delicious way to welcome shuangjian, which is enjoying fresh, sweet persimmons.
Have you ever had this fruit?
Most persimmons are round and squat, bright orange skins and a sweet flavour.
Some varieties are crunchy, while others become soft and jelly -like as they ripen.
In China, persimmons ripen to perfection right around the time of Xuan Jiang.
The ancient Chinese believed that eating persimmons could not only ward off the cold but also strengthen muscles and bones.
Furthermore, in Chinese culture, persimmons are a symbol of good fortune.
They represent a smooth and prosperous journey through life, and have held a special place in the hearts of the Chinese people for centuries.
Here is a captivating legend about eating persimmons on Xuanjiang.
Over 600 years ago, a man called Zhu Yuanjiang founded the Ming Dynasty.
In his youth, Zhu Yuanjiang's family lived in dire poverty.
One year, on Zhuang Jiang, after going for two days without food, he came across a persimmon tree.
Without hesitation, he climbed the tree, and the fruit he picked helped him survive that challenging time.
Later, after he had become the Emperor, and happened to pass through that same village on another Xuan Zhiang.
He found in surprise that the persimmon tree was still standing strong.
In gratitude, he granted a noble title to this tree, and from then on, the tradition of eating persimmons during Xuan Zhiang became popular.
In addition to savouring persimmons, There are other remarkable activities that take place on Xuanjiang.
One notable event is the Xuanjiang Festival, celebrated by the Zhuang Ethnic Group, most of whom live in South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.
At this special festival one will be enthralled by cultural activities such as singing folk songs, dancing and the making of glutinous rice cakes, all in unique, swan, ethnic styles.
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That is the end of this edition of Special English.
To recap, I am going to read one of the news items again at normal speed.
Please listen carefully.
China's domestically developed buoyant airborne turbine has reached a record height in central China's Hubei province, harnessing stronger, steadier winds from higher altitudes to generate power.
According to Beijing SAWES Energy Technology Corporation, one of the developers of the system, the helium -filled S500 blimp ascended to 500 metres above ground in the city of Jingmun, generating power at a rate of over 50kW.
The operation broke records for both the maximum flying height and power generated by an airborne turbine of such a design.
High altitude wind is considered a widespread and stable source of clean energy that can be harvested at low cost.
A buoyant airborne turbine system employs a kite -like airship to fly up the generator and send down the electricity through the tethers to the ground.
The S -500 airship has been developed by the company in collaboration with Chinese institutes, including Tsinghua University, and Aerospace Information Research Institute, under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
According to Wan -Han Kuh, the company's chief technology officer, the airship was developed for scenarios such as emergency rescue, surveying and mapping, and urban security.
When an earthquake or flood occurs, it can be quickly launched to ensure on -site power supply and communication.
The company has revealed the future plan to a 100kW power generator at a height of 1 ,000 meters using the turbine.
That is the end of today's programme.
I hope you'll join us every day to learn English at a slower pace.