Briefly

Cross-Strait ferry users pass 1m mark

The number of tourists commuting by ferry this year between Xiamen, Fujian province, and Jinmen Island off the southeast coast, has exceeded 1 million, with over 90 percent from Taiwan. The figure is a reflection of the increasing number of exchanges between people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. As of Saturday, border inspection authorities in Xiamen have inspected and approved over 5,000 ferry trips between Xiamen and Jinmen this year, with more than 1 million passengers entering and exiting the port, according to data from local border inspection authorities. With a spate of cross-Strait activities and personnel exchanges having occurred since October, the flow of passengers has grown rapidly on the ferry route. The average daily passenger flow in October was nearly 4,000, representing a more than 25 percent increase compared with the previous month, according to local authorities.

Maglev express line construction begins

Construction of a maglev express line linking the cities of Changsha and Liuyang in Hunan province started on Monday, according to local sources. The maglev express line, with a designed speed of 160 kilometers per hour, stretches 48.7 km in total. The first phase, consisting of 39.5 km, will connect seven new stations and require an investment of around 10.44 billion yuan ($1.45 billion). The express line will feature low vibration and reduced noise, and will also be capable of conducting tests of trains with a designed speed of 200 km/h in the future, its developer said.

Forecast warns of continued snowfall

Heavy snowfall hit the northern part of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region on Sunday, blanketing areas including the Ili River Valley, Tacheng and Altay, according to the National Meteorological Center. Northern Altay recorded up to 56.6 millimeters of precipitation, with snow accumulations ranging from 5 to 10 centimeters in certain locations. The meteorological center forecast continued snowfall across northern and southwestern Xinjiang through Thursday, with total accumulations expected to reach 15 to 40 millimeters, and up to 70 millimeters in some areas, potentially bringing new snow depths of up to 80 centimeters. Authorities have urged residents to clear snow from rooftops and roads, warning of low visibility and slippery conditions for travelers. The current weather system is expected to spread snowfall across northern Xinjiang, the northern part of the Xizang autonomous region, southeastern Qinghai province, southern Gansu province, the northeastern part of the Inner Mongolia autonomous region and Heilongjiang province on Monday.

Chang'e 6 lunar soil on display at airshow

China's Chang'e 6 mission lunar samples, collected from the far side of the moon, are being showcased at the 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition on Monday, according to the China National Space Administration. The lunar soil on display, weighing approximately 75 milligrams, is the first from Chang'e 6 to be shown to the public. It was collected from the largest, deepest and oldest impact crater on the far side of the moon, where the lunar crust is at its thinnest. Visitors to the event will be able to view the samples up close. "The lunar samples are expected to draw significant public interest," said Zhang Tao, an official with the CNSA. The exhibition also features the Chang'e 6 return capsule, the parachute that delivered the lunar samples to Earth and the sealed container used for the lunar soil collection.

Xinhua - China Daily