【推荐1】Hua Sheng and Lu Sheng, a retired Tibetan couple, have become trailblazers（开拓者）of grape growing and wine-making in their old ages.

Lu Sheng learned grape planting and winemaking from her grandmother’s sister. Since they retired, the couple have moved to Lhasa from the village of Yakhadi. Though the fact that the region’s capital, which is 3,600 meters above sea level, is considered unfit for growing grapes, Lu Sheng and Hua Sheng began an ambitious project in 2015, planting grapes in Tsalna, a town in the suburb of Lhasa.

They received support from the local government, which is committed to developing business and the economy. The couple’s project provides jobs for rural residents, and, as a result, the government has considered the project part of its poverty relief program.

“Lhasa is an ideal place for planting French grape varieties that are resistant to cold, drought and disease, and adaptable to high-altitude and open-air planting," Lu Sheng said.

“Thanks to the plateau’s sunshine and organic planting, our grapes grow very well here in Lhasa. The grapes are a bit sour and sweet, and they have a high anthocyanin（花青素）content,” she said. Anthocyanins, which are in grape cells and contribute rich color to wine, are water-soluble（水溶性的）.

In 2018, Hua Sheng and Lu Sheng expanded their project, planting on nearly 6.67 hectares. In order to familiarize Tibetan farmers with grape planting and winemaking, they taught the skills to local villagers.

“We have successfully taught the local farmers how to grow grapes and make wine over the three years. They now have a new source of income besides traditional farrming and herding,” Hua Sheng said.

Yudron, a resident of Nam, said she was grateful to the grape planting project in her village, which has contributed to her income and quality of life." After working in the vineyards for years, now we know how to make wine. We drink both barley and grape wine now. We love grape wine more, though, as it is healthier.

【推荐1】Do you enjoy eating a nice piece of a cow? Or pig back meat? Chances are that you do, though you’re more likely to call these dishes beef and bacon. But why do the words for these animals change after they’re killed and served? And why does this change only happen with certain meats?

To answer these questions, we have to step back almost 1,000 years into the past, as the current saying is that this linguistic phenomenon (语言现象) results from the Norman invasion (侵略) of England.

In 1066, the Old French-speaking Normans took control of the Anglo-Saxons, who spoke Old English. The Norman rulers used different measures of oppression (压迫的措施), but they also introduced their language. They used French words for the meat that appeared on their tables. Meanwhile, the Old English words were still used by the Anglo-Saxons who farmed and raised the animals. Such was the Norman influence on England that their terms for meat have always been there as part of the modern English language for cuisine (烹饪).

It’s not just adult cows that got a new name after they were killed and prepared for Norman dinners. A young cow is called a “calf”, and this word comes from Old English. However, the animal is changed into “veal” after it is cooked.

Besides the word pig, which, like cow, has Old English origins (来源), the Anglo-Saxons used to use the word “swine” for these animals. Both became pork when the Normans ate their meat, though.

Chicken is one of several exceptions. While the Normans used the French word poulet for chicken meat, this became “pullet” in English. This word is only really used by chicken farmers. No one is quite sure why this happened! Here’s another exception, as fish is fish regardless of whether it’s swimming in a river or appearing on a dinner table. One possibility for why the French word poisson has never entered the English language is that it’s too close to “poison” — something no one wants to eat!

【推荐1】The “ice city” of Harbin in Northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province has captured widespread attention online due to its stunning ice sculptures, enchanting ice-snow world, and an artificial moon drawing in record numbers of tourists from across China. Visitors, despite enduring temperatures as low as —10℃, flock to experience the city’s cultural traditions and festive atmosphere.

During the three-day New Year’s Day holidays, Harbin saw over 3 million tourists, generating approximately 5.91 billion yuan ($832 million) in tourism revenue, setting a new record. The International Ice and Snow Festival marked the beginning of the peak winter tourism season, with videos of tourists enjoying themselves in Harbin going viral on social media platforms like Sina Weibo.

Harbin’s tourism success is attributed not only to its unique attractions but also to the swift and thoughtful response of the local government and the warmth of its residents. Visitors are greeted with live performances at the airport, free transportation, and samples of local products, creating a welcome atmosphere. The city’s tourism boom has drawn attention internationally, with media outlets highlighting Harbin as a model for successful tourism development. This success is seen as reflecting the region’s rich cultural heritage and its commitment to providing high-quality services.

The surge in tourism has also had economic implications, driving up bookings for hospitality and entertainment services in neighboring cities like Qiqihar. Investors have shown enthusiasm, with stocks related to Northeast China’s revitalization experiencing significant increases in value. The revitalization of Northeast China, including provinces like Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Liaoning, is seen as a key priority for the region’s development. Efforts are underway to leverage the region’s resources, industrial capabilities, and geographical advantages to inspire innovation and attract investment.

In 2023, Northeast China saw positive economic growth, with provinces like Jilin and Liaoning experiencing GDP increases. The region has also attracted foreign investment, with projects such as a major chemical venture in Liaoning and new energy vehicle initiatives in Jilin. The integrated development of tourism is viewed as a catalyst for broader economic growth in Northeast China, encouraging innovation, opening up new markets, and fostering talent retention. The region aims to embrace new opportunities, enhance its innovation capacity, and pursue sustainable development to achieve full revitalization.

As reflected in social media posts, the success of Harbin’s tourism industry serves as a testament to the region’s progress and determination, signaling a prosperous future for Northeast China’s economic revival.

【推荐2】The three astronauts on the Shenzhou XIV mission returned to Earth on Sunday evening after a six-month mission that completed the in-orbit assembly of the Tiangong space station.

A re-entry capsule carrying the crew — Senior Colonel Chen Dong, the mission commander, Senior Colonel Liu Yang and Senior Colonel Cai Xuzhe — touched down on Earth at the Dongfeng Landing Site in northwestern China’s Gobi Desert at 8:09 p.m. after flying nearly nine hours in a re-entry orbit. This has become the first time that Chinese astronauts have returned to Earth at night. Ground recovery personnel soon opened the hatch (舱口) of the capsule and then conducted basic examination on the astronauts’ condition. The crew members told them that they “are feeling very good.”

After preparatory work, ground personnel carried out the astronauts one by one to place them onto chairs in front of the capsule. A lot of equipment used in the recovery operation had been added with additional cold-proof layers to resist against the chilly temperatures in the landing region, as low as minus 14 degrees Celsius. In their chairs, the astronauts shared their feelings with a group of domestic reporters, saying they are proud of the motherland and the country’s space programs. Then they were moved into special care vehicles to take health checks. Carrying Chen’s team, the Shenzhou XIV spacecraft separated from the Tiangong station at 11:01 a.m. on Sunday. On Friday evening, the Shenzhou XIV team handed over the control of the Tiangong station to the Shenzhou XV crew.

Chen’s crew is the third group of visitors to the Chinese station, one of the largest pieces of infrastructure that mankind has ever arranged in Earth’s orbit. The three astronauts were launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the northwestern Gobi Desert on June 5 and arrived at Tiangong later that day.

After the departure of Shenzhou XIV, the Tiangong station currently consists of the Tianhe core module, the Wentian and Mengtian lab modules, the Shenzhou XV spacecraft and the Tianzhou 5 cargo ship. The station is now manned by the Shenzhou XV mission crew — Major General Fei Junlong, Senior Colonel Deng Qingming and Senior Colonel Zhang Lu, who arrived on Wednesday.

【推荐3】With energy bills rising, and global temperatures changing, Deep Green, a small data center startup, and Exmouth Leisure Center have found a way to help each other.

The Internet and computer systems are now integral to the running of most businesses, so there are more and more data centers. In order to keep temperatures down, data centers have to use an effective air conditioning system. In 2022, the data center industry used around 4% of global electricity. The data center market will grow three times in the next ten years.

Since 2020, energy costs for a swimming pool have reportedly increased three times, leaving many centers with no choice but to close. They say by March 2024, 40% of council areas could risk losing their swimming pools if nothing changes. Similarly, data centers have had to raise their fees in order to cover the extra cost of cooling their equipment, making it impossible to offer a competitive rate.

Where most normal data centers waste the heat that the computers create, Deep Green has found a solution to benefit everybody. They have built a small data center in Exmouth Leisure Center, allowing the heat from the servers to heat the swimming pool.

This solution is free of charge, and Exmouth Leisure Center is expecting to save around £20,000 a year. Because the data centers run 24 hours a day and are necessarily built with backup power systems, they make for excellent and continuous heat output.

Deep Green is already in discussion with Greenwich Leisure Limited who run seven swimming pools across London, as well as the Commons Project Foundation who hope to set up a data center to warm 70 London flats.