भारतीय महासागर समाचार

As one of the pioneers in the application of virtual reality (VR) technology in China, the Nanchang VR Theme Park in Jiangxi Province is giving a boost to the development of Nanchang’s local cultural and tourism sectors by offering visitors a visual feast.

A file photo shows visitors experiencing the VR facilities of Nanchang VR Theme Park, Jiangxi Province. /CFP

A file photo shows visitors experiencing the VR facilities of Nanchang VR Theme Park, Jiangxi Province. /CFP

Covering a total area of over 50,000 square meters, it is equipped with the second largest circular-screen cinema in China and has dozens of top-level VR experiencing facilities such as a virtual cockpit of the Boeing-737 airplane and Slide VR, a water slide simulation facility.

Through more than a dozen exhibition projects – such as an augmented reality (AR) interactive wall and a VR sand table, which gives visitors an overview of a landscape – the theme park also serves as a professional popularization center for VR and AR technology in the country.

A file photo shows visitors experiencing the VR facilities in Nanchang, Jiangxi Province. /CFP

A file photo shows visitors experiencing the VR facilities in Nanchang, Jiangxi Province. /CFP

In a world created by VR and AR, visitors to the park can enjoy an immersive experience through multiple themes and scenes such as adventure, traversing, sporting and battling.

The park has also been adding local cultural elements to its experiencing projects. For example, through the VR spatio-temporal tunnel, visitors could visit the ancient city of Nanchang, which was called Hongdu in ancient times. A 3D movie that focuses on the highlights of the history and culture of the city can also be enjoyed at the park without wearing 3D glasses.

A file photo shows visitors experiencing the VR facilities in Nanchang, Jiangxi Province. /CFP

A file photo shows visitors experiencing the VR facilities in Nanchang, Jiangxi Province. /CFP

So far, the theme park has been listed in the first batch of pilot units for cultivating new spaces for an immersive experience of smart tourism by China’s top cultural and tourism authority.

Geese, storks and other migratory birds have arrived near the Miyun Reservoir in the northern Beijing City.

01:06

The Miyun Reservoir serves as a major water source in the Chinese capital and an important stopover as the flocks migrate for the spring.

Taishitun Town on the reservoir’s eastern bank has witnessed the arrival of a variety of cranes, including the red-crowned crane, white-naped crane and Siberian crane.

A bar-headed goose. /CFP

A bar-headed goose. /CFP

Migratory birds such as bar-headed geese, ruddy shelducks and black storks have also been seen foraging, frolicking and resting around the reservoir.

Monitoring systems have been established in key areas in Miyun District to better protect migratory birds. A big data analysis platform has also been used to collect the migratory routes, resting areas and activity patterns of birds to help improve protective measures.

(Cover: white-naped cranes. /CFP)

00:38

A fleet of AI-powered miniature drones developed by Chinese engineers has proven capable of autonomously traversing forests, potentially paving the way for a revolution in disaster response.

The drones, developed by researchers at Zhejiang University in east China, can navigate tight spaces and complex environments without human input.

“While traditional drones require skilled operators to control their flight with a remote controller, we have chosen to let drones make their own decisions, granting them the ability to perceive and observe the environment, make decisions and exercise control without human intervention,” said Zhou Xin, a PhD student at the College of Control Science and Engineering at Zhejiang University.

Rather than relying on satellite navigation systems, the drone fleets communicate with each other to autonomously avoid obstacles and coordinate movement.

“With the help of AI algorithms, drones can acquire the environmental information with their sensors acting as their ‘eyes’ and generate a 3D map of the surroundings. Leveraging this 3D mapping, drones can navigate freely and ensure collision-free movement. Moreover, collaborative algorithms have been developed to facilitate recognition and understanding among multiple drones, allowing for effective control of the entire fleet,” said Zhou.

According to their developers, these drones could have a wide range of applications in various scenarios, from tracking the health of forests to emergency response.

“For example, the drones can assist post-earthquake search and rescue efforts or firefighting operations. They can even accurately locate each tree in the forest environment and evaluate their growth status,” said Gao Fei, a PhD supervisor from the college.

00:45

Wildlife conservation personnel have witnessed a group of wild Asian elephants roaming around their habitat and feeding in a cornfield in Pu’er City, southwest China’s Yunnan Province.

The herd of elephants emerged from the forest and descended the mountainside one late afternoon in March.

“Elephants have their daily routine. They usually forage around 3 or 4 p.m., and they will bathe in rivers in hot weather. Also, they don’t go back to the forest at night until the next morning,” said Ma Wenhong, an Asian Elephant monitor at Jiangcheng County, Pu’er City.

After feasting on a field of growing corn cobs, they moved toward a river nearby.

The Asian elephant is not only the largest living land animal in Asia, but also the mammal with the longest pregnancy. In general, it takes 18 to 22 months for a female to give birth, so the birth rate of the elephants is low.  In Pu’er City, nine baby elephants have been born since 2023, according to the latest data.

In China, the Asian elephants are mainly found in Pu’er City, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, and around Lincang City in Yunnan, with a population of about 360. The species are classified as national first-class protected animals.

A herd of elephants eat corn cobs at a cornfield in Jiangcheng County, Pu’er City, southwest China’s Yunnan Province. /China Media Group

A herd of elephants eat corn cobs at a cornfield in Jiangcheng County, Pu’er City, southwest China’s Yunnan Province. /China Media Group

The giant animals sometimes may threaten villagers’ lives and properties. To better monitor elephants’ activity and prevent the potential harm they may cause to people, the local government has hired professionals to conduct 24-hour tracking and monitoring of Asian elephants with a combination of drones and ground patrol.

Also, people whose croplands were damaged by wild animals, including Asian elephants, will get compensation with the special public liability insurance purchased by the local government. 

“During the new insurance policy period, the city of Pu’er has raised compensation standards for crops damaged by wild animals. For example, the rate for rice has been raised from 810 yuan ($112) per mu (667 square meters) to 1,538 yuan per mu, and for corn from 690 yuan per mu to 1,017 yuan per mu,” said Yang Yong, a senior engineer at the Forestry and Grassland Administration of Pu’er.

“Through these practices, the government hopes to protect wild animals and safeguard people’s interests at the same time,” Yang added.

(Cover image is a screenshot.)

01:52

The launch of Xiaomi SU7 has once again ignited consumers’ enthusiasm for new energy vehicles. CGTN’s Wang Tianyu heads to the streets to find out what’s behind consumers’ preferences for new energy vehicles and traditional gasoline-powered vehicles. Check out the video for answers!