Technology

Chinese researchers and telecommunications engineers have launched what they claim is the world’s first internet service with line speeds over one terabit per second. Called the backbone network, the 3 000-kilometre fibre optic line runs from Beijing to the southern city of Guangzhou, via Wuhan in central China, and transmits data at 1.2 terabits per second…

LONGi Green Energy Technology Company has set a new record with its state-of-the-art silicon-perovskite tandem solar cells, achieving an efficiency rate of 33.9 per cent. The breakthrough was independently verified by the United States National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in early November 2023, according to a press release by the Xi’an-based photovoltaics firm. LONGi edged…

Chinese aerospace firm, iSpace, has reportedly tested their first full-scale reusable rocket in what is a landmark moment for the country’s space programme. The Beijing-based company successfully conducted “hop tests” with its Hyperbola-2Y rocket in the Gobi Desert, paving the way for further experimentation on the firm’s larger Hyperbola-3 rocket systems as soon as 2025,…

In a remarkable feat of ingenuity, Chinese scientists have found a way to transform contaminated wastewater into valuable semiconductor materials. Researchers are hopeful the novel, environmentally friendly production method could boost innovation in China’s chip manufacturing sector. Semiconductors and microchips play a vital role in the functioning of modern society and can be found in everything…

China has reportedly exceeded three million fifth-generation base stations, continuing its dominance as an internet and communications technology powerhouse, outpacing the US in annual 5G installations. Data released by the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) indicated that the Asian superpower has reached a total of 3.19 million stations – an average of…

In a landmark moment for urban passenger mobility, Chinese authorities have green-lit the world’s first flying taxi. Designed and manufactured in Guangdong province, southeast China, the EH216-S uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) loosely resembles a scaled-up hobbyist drone. Passengers sit in a car-sized protective bubble above the UAV’s propulsion and lift system of 16 powerful rotors…

Chinese renewables giant, Ming Yang Energy Group, continues to push the limits of what’s possible in the offshore wind industry, this time announcing plans to build a world-record 22-megawatt turbine with Eiffel-Tower-sized blades. The engineering and design team expects to complete early prototype models within two years, according to Ming Yang insiders. Companies like Ming…

Chinese tech behemoth, Baidu, claims the upgraded version of its AI chatbot is as sophisticated as OpenAI’s ChatGPT-4. On October 17, the Beijing-based internet and artificial intelligence firm unveiled ERNIE 4.0 which its developers say is comparable, if not better, than GPT-4. Speaking at the company’s flagship event, Baidu World 2023, CEO Robin Li put…

A team of Chinese geologists has uncovered a deposit of rare metal ore that could revolutionise the country’s steel, aviation, energy and medical industries. The substance has been dubbed niobabaotite by its discoverers, researchers from the Beijing Research Institute of Uranium Geology of the Chinese National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC). The metal, which consists of several…

Chinese astronomers have told state media that they are working on a prototype version of the Xuntian space telescope to rival the Hubble telescope. The 2.5 gigapixel ultra-violet optical observatory will reportedly have a field of view 300-350 times wider than the NASA-engineered Hubble telescope and will reportedly be operational as soon as 2024. Xuntian,…

Chinese artificial intelligence start-up, Haomo.ai, has announced it has created an affordable autonomous driving assistance system that it claims is cheaper and better than the products offered by its competitors. The Beijing-based company revealed three new ‘L2’ autonomous systems, which it has made available to motor vehicle companies starting from $411 per unit. Each ‘Hpilot’…

A team of Chinese researchers has created a low-carbon building material from brick waste, sand and other mineral grains. The inspiration for their breakthrough came from an unlikely source: sandcastle worms. Also referred to as honeycomb tube worms, the diminutive marine species build reefs by secreting sand particles combined with a glue-like substance, creating small…

In a massive windfall for its domestic semiconductor industry, China has unveiled plans to build a giant particle accelerator to assist in the production of semiconductors. Recent reports suggest the world’s second largest economy is preparing to build a 150-metre facility that will use electron beams to produce the important chips – essential for everything…

China has revealed plans to establish a second satellite “mega constellation” to provide high-speed broadband internet services aimed at competing with Elon Musk’s Starlink network. The constellation, reportedly called ‘G60 Starlink’, will consist of up to 12 000 satellites settled in low earth orbit, according to Chinese state media. When completed, G60 will join the…

Depression affects millions of men and women and is one of the most commonly diagnosed mental disorders globally. The often stigmatised and sinister affliction is the leading catalyst of suicide in teenagers and young adults. Individuals suffering from the disease or symptoms associated with it, have a life expectancy of up to a decade shorter…

In a national first, scientists from Hong Kong’s largest shipping fuel supplier claim to have synthesized an environmentally friendly biofuel for use in marine cargo vessels. The newly developed propellant has a significantly lower carbon footprint than the standard heavy fuel oil, or bunker fuel, found in most commercial freight shipping, according to a senior…

A team of Chinese geneticists claims to have created a bio-artificial liver using stem cell technology that could help millions of people battling cirrhosis and other life-threatening liver diseases. Chinese authorities have approved trials for the device that helps the compromised organ function until it regenerates or until a suitable donor liver is sourced. Every…

After three years of industry speculation, luxury car maker Mercedes-Benz confirmed it will power its new range of electric vehicles (EVs) with the Chinese-developed BYD Blade lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery. The announcement came when the Stuttgart-based automotive giant revealed its CLA sedan EV concept car at the International Mobility Show in Munich. Mercedes is…

Robots may play a pivotal role in preserving the world’s last giant radio telescope. Situated in southern China’s mountainous Guizhou province, the 500-metre aperture spherical radio telescope (FAST) became the only one of its type, after Puerto Rico’s Arecibo telescope collapsed in December 2020. Five intelligent robots have passed preliminary inspections to conduct maintenance work…

Chinese researchers and engineers have developed a new method that accurately detects oil and gas reservoirs underground. The novel technique reportedly resulted in daily extraction figures five times higher than methods traditionally employed by mining firms. The experiment, conducted in the remote Tarim Basin, Southern Xinjiang, was done by China Academy of Sciences researchers, Di…

Chinese researchers say they have created a gene-editing method that could return sight to people afflicted with inherited retinal diseases. Those close to the project say the breakthrough could assist with research into other rare genetic disorders. An estimated two million people suffer from some form of retinal disease, for which there are no known…

Chinese scientists claim to have developed a “2D” semiconductor material, as thin as a single atom, that promises to revolutionise the industry. As electronic devices become smaller and smaller, the need for equally diminutive components has increased. The wafer’s creators are hopeful the new material will solve this dilemma. Reportedly measuring 30.5 centimetres in length,…

The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting has partnered with one of China’s most successful technology firms to integrate its forecasting model into its services. Pangu-Weather, developed by Shenzhen-based internet and communications giant, Huawei, is reportedly much faster at predicting weather patterns than typical forecasting methods used today. Pangu-Weather was chosen because many meteorologists are…

One of China’s premier automotive brands has revealed it will integrate a ChatGPT-like bot into some of its product line up. Great Wall Motors (GWM), the country’s most successful SUV manufacturer, released a statement in early August announcing it had established a partnership with ‘Ernie Bot’ developer and search engine giant, Baidu, as the firm…

Automotive giant, Volkswagen, has tapped Chinese start-up, Xpeng, to jointly develop new energy vehicles. The Wolfsburg-based car manufacturer would invest $700 million to purchase a 4.99 per cent stake in the company and an observer’s seat on the board, according to a LinkedIn post by Volkswagen China chief executive, Ralf Brandsatter. Both companies have outlined…

The world’s most powerful wind turbine is officially operational and grid-connected. Situated offshore in the Taiwan Strait and standing over 150 metres from base to blade hub, the 16-megawatt unit is reportedly capable of generating enough clean electricity to power tens of thousands of Chinese homes. Jointly developed by two Goldwind Science and Technology and…

A Chinese start-up has successfully inserted an experimental communications satellite into orbit. Developed by Beijing-based firm, GalaxySpace, Lingxi-03 features an ultra-thin, flexible solar wing and is testing key technologies for China’s planned 13 000 satellite constellation in what will be China’s answer to Elon Musk’s Starlink. The satellite was launched into orbit at the end…

Scientists in China claim to have built a 12-story facility that can replicate the weightlessness experienced in outer space. China has prioritised space exploration in its latest five-year plan and the newly constructed Microgravity Experiment Facility with Electromagnetic Launch (MEFEL) will allow researchers to rack-up much needed time in low-gravity conditions, at a fraction of…

Scientists from the Shanghai-based AI and robotics firm, Fourier Intelligence, have created a human-looking robot that they claim can aid China’s elderly and disabled citizens. Revealed at the World AI conference, GR-1 is the size of a small adult and can perform a variety of simple functions, such as walking, holding objects and avoiding obstacles.…

Chinese physicists have completed the first and most crucial step towards what they claim will be the world’s first commercial onshore modular reactor. Because it is mobile, the core for the ‘Linglong One’ nuclear reactor, built by China First Heavy Industries, is an ideal candidate for small islands and other remote locations. The breakthrough marks…

Egypt has announced receiving two Chinese-developed satellites for its newly-created space programme. The country joins a growing list of African and Middle Eastern nations, including Namibia, Zambia and Djibouti, looking to establish a presence in space. The prototypes were delivered to the Egyptian Space Agency’s Satellite Assembly Integration and Test Centre (AIT) in Space City,…

Chinese engineers have created “supersized” cast parts that have the potential to cut production costs and assembly times in lightweight electric vehicles (EVs) significantly. Much like Tesla’s “gigacasting” technology, the process involves casting two roughly 2.2-square-metre magnesium alloy parts from a single mould – the car’s chassis and the battery box housing cover. Magnesium alloys…

The country has started constructing its third icebreaker, which officials say could help researchers explore the Arctic and Antarctic sea beds as early as 2025, according to recent reports from Chinese media agencies. The vessel will be capable of hosting crewed and uncrewed deep-sea research missions, as well as transport critical supplies to the country’s…

A group of researchers from China claims to have set a new energy density record when they developed a battery pack with a reported capacity of 711 watt-hours per kilogram – roughly three times more than the Tesla Model 3 ‘4680’ cell. Concerns about battery capacity in electric vehicles (EVs) have been one of the…

Chinese automotive heavyweight, Guangzhou Automotive Corporation (GAC), has revealed what it says is the world’s first internal combustion engine for passenger vehicles powered almost exclusively on ammonia. Unveiled at the company’s annual technology showcase in Beijing, the environmentally friendly, two-litre, 161-horsepower motor produces 90 per cent fewer harmful emissions than gasoline and diesel engines. While…

Chinese officials have approved the country’s first thorium-based nuclear reactor at the Hongshagang Industrial Cluster in Wuwei City. The experimental reactor could open the door to a cheap and safe alternative to uranium-based nuclear energy in the future, according to those close to the project. Located in the far reaches of China’s north-western Gobi Desert,…

Chinese engineers have unveiled the world’s most powerful hydrogen-powered locomotive as the country seeks to decarbonise its freight and passenger rail network. Developed and assembled by the China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC) in Datong, Shanxi Province, “Ningdong” is powered by hydrogen energy and can operate non-stop for nearly 190 hours before needing to refuel.…

A Shanghai-based team of medical researchers claims to have developed a targeted drug delivery “nanoplatform” that fights cancer by locating malignant tumours and deploying medicine to attack the diseased area. The scientists say the novel treatment inhibits the spread of cancer while simultaneously assisting with the body’s immune response. While the treatment could see use…

Chinese scientists have created a floating hydrogen farm that harnesses both the power of the winds and the seas to convert seawater into clean hydrogen gas, without the need for the often energy-intensive desalination process typical in the industry. The offshore platform, dubbed ‘Dongfu Number One’ by its creators, completed a successful 10-day continuous operation…

Chinese engineers have revealed plans to drill a 10-kilometre-deep borehole into the Earth’s crust in an attempt to further our understanding of the planet’s inner workings. Drilling began in late May in the Tarim Basin and will penetrate rock formations from a time when dinosaurs ruled the world. Scientists are hopeful the megaproject will reveal…

After more than a decade of research and development, China’s C919 narrow-body passenger jet has completed its maiden commercial voyage, flying between Shanghai and Beijing. Flight ‘MU9191’ was operated by China Eastern Airlines and carried 130 excited passengers. Chinese officials are hopeful the domestically produced airliner will make the country self-reliant in the industry and…

A group of scientists has developed highly-elastic silicon solar cells that fold like paper. The thin and flexible solar-powered material can be used in areas ranging from aerospace to electronic wearables, according to the Chinese-based research team. Silicon photovoltaic (PV) cells account for an estimated 95 per cent of the market and have been used…

Researchers from China’s Jiangnan University have developed a method to 3D-print complex shapes in mid-air, without the need for a supporting structure. The team’s novel technique involves a quick-curing ceramic paste that allows for the creation of previously impossible designs. Additive manufacturing, commonly referred to as 3D printing, traces its origins back to the streets…

Chinese aerospace chiefs are considering deploying a helicopter in the country’s latest effort to retrieve samples from one of our closest planetary neighbours, Mars. The Tianwen-3 Mars mission is expected to go ahead sometime near 2028. It promises to be the Chinese National Space Agency’s (CNSA) most complex endeavour to date, requiring the launch of…

Chinese researchers have reported a significant breakthrough on their journey to master wireless 6G communication. Researchers from the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation Secondary Institute used terahertz waves to successfully demonstrate the first live transmission of the ultra-fast 6G technology. 6th generation telecommunications or ‘6G’ technology will eventually succeed 5G technology, the latest benchmark…

Chinese battery giant, Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. (CATL), has developed a battery so powerful it has the potential to power aircraft. The company unveiled the 500 watt-hours per kilogram semi-solid state battery at the annual Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition – colloquially referred to as Auto Shanghai – on the 19th of April. Research into…

Chinese engineers recently revealed their “artificial sun” fusion reactor broke yet another one of its records, this time sustaining plasma for 403 seconds. The milestone brings humanity a step closer to realising the near-unlimited potential of nuclear fusion energy. In April, the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) surpassed its previous mark of 103 seconds set…

E-commerce and technology giant, Alibaba, has unveiled its AI chatbot, Tongyi Qianwen. The large language model (LLM) is the Hangzhou-based firm’s answer to Microsoft-backed, ChatGPT, a popular chatbot that has taken the internet by storm since its release in November 2022. Alibaba intends to integrate Tongyi Qianwen into all of its products, according to company…

A Chinese startup has become the country’s first aerospace company to successfully launch a rocket into orbit on its first attempt. Space Pioneer, also known as Beijing Tianbing Technology, conducted its maiden launch in early April from the Jiuquan Spaceport in northwest China. Space Pioneer also became the first Chinese company to use liquid propellant…

Chinese electric vehicle battery technology firm, NaaS Technology, has unveiled its new self-driving battery-charging robot. The diminutive orange and white machine sports several unique design features, including active vehicle locator technology, smart charging and a convenient automatic payment function designed to cater to the increasing demand for mobile, fast-charging solutions. The Zheijing-based company is one…

Zimbabwean authorities are considering a proposal made by the China Energy Engineering Corporation (China Energy) for a 1 000-megawatt floating solar farm on the southern African country’s largest water body, Lake Kariba. The nearly $1 billion project would ease the immense pressure on Zimbabwe’s energy grid which currently fails to meet even 50% of the…

China is preparing to launch its new ‘lobster eye’ x-ray telescope later this year. Called the ‘Einstein Probe’, it is hoped the astronomical satellite may provide valuable insight into some of the universe’s most mysterious phenomena, including supernovas and black holes. Speaking at China’s 35th National Symposium on Space Exploration, lead researcher and principal investigator…

China has just delivered the MSC Tessa container ship to the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC). The colossal 400-metre vessel was independently designed by shipwright, Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding, and the company says it is the now largest container ship in the world, at an estimated capacity of 24 116 containers. The impressive boxship was ordered by the…

A team of Chinese scientists has developed a new method to recover and recycle salvageable materials from discarded solar panels. The novel technique uses a chemical compound known as dibasic ester to separate individual components from one another, without damaging and breaking the desired solar cells. In March 2023, the China Academy of Sciences-based research…

Chinese telecommunications firm, Xiaomi, will make its debut in the country’s electric vehicle (EV) market in the first half of 2024. Xiaomi is one of several smartphone manufacturers that have expressed interest in the fast-growing industry, amid stiff competition from a plethora of domestic players in the field. Company CEO and one-half of the founding…

Chinese automotive firm, BYD, will supply the Zimbabwean government with 18 electric vehicles (EVs). The country seeks to showcase green energy as the world gradually phases out the production of traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. Zimbabwe’s Central Mechanical Equipment Department (CMED) is also enquiring about the purchase of electric buses for use in the…

Just months after its completion, Chinese officials have announced plans to expand the now-operational Tiangong Space Station. Currently consisting of three modules, Tiangong or ‘Sky Palace’, was completed in November 2022 and is the culmination of more than three decades of research and development by the Chinese National Space Administration (CNSA). Despite the station’s operational…

A woman in China’s remote far west has become the first person in the country’s history to have her gallbladder removed via robot-assisted remote surgery. In February 2023, the lengthy procedure was carried out by a surgeon more than 4 500 kilometres away by way of a four-arm laparoscopic robot. Advanced medicine is central to…

A team of Chinese researchers has unveiled a prototype quadcopter drone capable of flying and swimming. The TJ-FlyingFish, the autonomous drone, has four two-stage motors designed to operate in either aerial or underwater environments. Developed by scientists representing the Unmanned Systems Research Group at the University of Hong Kong and China’s Intelligent Autonomous Systems Research…

Chinese automotive player, Zhejiang Geely, recently announced it has successfully tested its electric vertical take-off and landing vehicle (eVTOL). Developed by Geely subsidiary, Aerofugia, the AE200 prototype eVTOL completed its maiden flight in early February, according to online publication Interesting Engineering. Aerofugia became the country’s first licensed eVTOL operator in 2022 and plans to make…

Hard on the heels of the hugely popular launch of the artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot, ChatGPT, several prominent Chinese tech giants, including Baidu and Alibaba, have opted to release their own AI-powered chatbots. Open AI’s Chat Generative Pre-Trained Transformer (ChatGPT) has rapidly become one of the most popular features on the internet since its launch…

Chinese electric vehicle (EV) unicorn and Tesla rival, Xpeng, unveiled its new flagship models to several northern European countries, as it makes a pronounced international push in 2023. The Guangzhou-based startup launched its luxury P7 sedan and G9 sports utility vehicle (SUV) in Denmark, Sweden, Norway and the Netherlands in early February, according to the…

After a bumper 2022 for space exploration, China has set about developing a new lunar rover as it prepares for another mission to the moon in 2026. The Chang’e 7 mission objectives centre around exploring the moon’s south pole and far side. Chang’e 7 forms part of the Chinese National Space Administration’s (CNSA) latest phase…

Scientists in China have built a shapeshifting robot capable of alternating between liquid and solid states. Their creation has many practical applications, especially in areas that a traditional robot could not easily access, said the researchers responsible for the unique robot. While the idea of a liquid robot sounds like it was plucked from the…

China has what it claims is the world’s only hydrogen-powered train for urban environments. The eco-friendly carriages rolled off the line on the 18th of January 2023 in the country’s southwestern city of Chengdu, Sichuan province, with an estimated top speed of 160 kilometres per hour, according to a recent report by Chinese state media.…

A team of Chinese scientists has created a new ultra-strong, ultra-ductile steel that is so strong a fingernail-sized piece can support two tonnes without failing. The metal is well-suited to several industrial applications, including aerospace, motor vehicles, military and heavy machinery. Jointly developed by Northwestern University in Shenyang, the Shenyang National Laboratory for Materials Science,…

A Chinese automotive joint venture between three of the country’s most successful brands is gearing up to launch an all-wheel-drive mini electric SUV set to disrupt the global compact SUV market. Developed by SAIC-GM-Wuling, the KiWi mini EV SUV, the compact off-roader, enters the relatively new market segment fresh off the heels of its predecessor,…

The small East African nation of Djibouti has secured a reported $1 billion in funding from Hong Kong to kickstart its space programme. The initial investment will see the establishment of a satellite and rocket launch facility, according to African Business. The government of Djibouti inked a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Hong Kong Aerospace…

Beijing-based TikTok owner ByteDance’s artificial intelligence startup, Haomo.AI, has unveiled a new infrastructure platform to supercharge China’s burgeoning autonomous driving industry. Jointly developed by fellow ByteDance cloud services subsidiary, Volcano Engine, the data centre Mana Oasis is the largest computer complex dedicated to autonomous driving, with an estimated computing power of 670 petaflops. Haomo.AI was…

A group of Chinese scientists is experimenting with lasers that keep drones airborne forever. The researchers, representing the country’s Northwestern Polytechnical University (NPU), say their method uses high-energy beams that prevent the drone’s batteries from depleting. Drone technology has enjoyed a rapid rise in recent years and subsequently grown into a multi-billion dollar industry. Optics-Driven…

Chinese officials claim to have installed the world’s first operational “natural-direct cooling” (NDC) system for a power plant in the country’s north-central province of Shaanxi. Hailed as a milestone achievement for the industry, the novel cooling method could prevent as many as 54 000 tons of harmful carbon emissions from leaching into the atmosphere yearly.…

Chemical engineers from China have constructed a unique mechanical instrument that splits seawater and isolates pure hydrogen. Typical hydrogen production methods utilise fossil fuels, emitting significant amounts of greenhouse gases during the process. Hydrogen fuel can be produced from renewable resources, like seawater, and once isolated in its natural state, is one of the greenest…

Chinese researchers successfully tested the world’s first “lobster eye” telescope that will produce some of the most accurate X-ray images of the known universe. The sophisticated imaging device was inspired by lobsters and other similar crustaceans whose specialised eye structure allows the ocean-dwelling creatures to see clearly in dark or murky waters. Animals like lobster…

Chinese engineers have unveiled a massive 16-megawatt wind turbine, powerful enough to generate and deliver clean electricity to more than 36 000 households yearly. Jointly developed by two of the country’s most prominent industry players, the turbine’s developers claimed it is the largest ever built and that it affirms China’s position as a leader in…

The first flight-ready COMAC C919 aircraft has been delivered to China Eastern Airlines. Received on December 9, the airline marked the milestone occasion with a 15-minute test flight over Shanghai. The C919 is the first Chinese-developed passenger jet to be manufactured in compliance with international standards. It’s poised to compete with Boeing 737 and Airbus…

A team of Chinese researchers claim to have designed a kinetically-powered watch-type sensor capable of monitoring a cow’s movement, diet, oxygen levels, milk production, diseases and reproductive cycles. Working out of Southwest Jiaotong University, the scientists are hopeful their creation will positively impact food security and the overall efficiency of the supply chain. Wearables have…

The dream of limitless fusion energy is one step closer to being realised. Chinese scientists claim to have developed the first heat-resistant panels engineered for the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER). Officially the world’s largest fusion reactor, ITER is a global collaborative project involving several countries, including the UK, EU member states, India, Russia, Japan…

A team of scientists from Shanghai’s Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics has developed a novel method to generate a ‘laser-like light’ with the potential to boost the communication speeds of everyday electronics. This includes smartphones and barcode scanners, as well as high-precision tools, like laser scalpels. Lasers form when energy, like electricity or light,…

A team of Chinese scientists has developed what it says is the world’s first malleable ceramic material. It can reportedly bend like a metal but has retained the hardness synonymous with ceramics. The breakthrough textile could see use in several major industries, including aviation, motoring, medicine and renewable energy. Ceramics possess several qualities that make…

In what may be a scientific first, Chinese aerospace experts claim to have developed the world’s first kerosene-burning Mach 9 jet engine. The Chinese Academy of Sciences spent months fine-tuning the oblique detonation engine at the state-of-the-art JF-12 wind tunnel in Beijing, before publishing their findings in late November. Hypersonic travel – along with semiconductors,…

A team of Chinese scientists has completed what is now the world’s largest telescopic array. Situated on the very edge of the Tibetan Plateau, researchers aim to direct the massive lens at the sun for several years, ushering in what one Chinese official calls the “golden age of solar astronomy”. The Daocheng Solar Radio Telescope’s…

Chinese automobile giant, BYD, is launching a luxury car brand in 2023 and is starting with the Yangwang SUV. Intending to compete with fellow luxury off-roaders like the Mercedes Benz G-Class and Land Rover Defender, prices for the all-electric and plug-in hybrid SUV will begin at roughly $110 000, making it BYD’s most expensive vehicle…

After several years and multiple missions, China has finally completed its self-developed space station and is the only space-going nation that has sole control of a crewed orbital craft. The country’s national space agency announced it had successfully docked the third and final module of its space station, Tiangong, in late October. Blasted into space…

A supertanker has grabbed news headlines over a design feature not seen on commercial vessels for almost a century: sails. The Chinese Merchant Energy Shipping Company (CMES) took delivery of the mega-ship in late September, with early reports indicating the cargo vessel uses nearly 10% less fuel, thanks to its four massive 40-metre (130-feet) sails.…

A group of Chinese roboticists has developed a compact and dexterous robot hand, capable of a broad range of actions but also robust enough to withstand significant impact forces. Their creation will continue to function, even in some of the most unpredictable and unstructured environments, say researchers from the Harbin University of Technology. Engineering robots…

Chinese researchers claim to have created silk up to 70% stronger than that produced by spiders and other silkworms. According to the team of scientists, their “artificial super silk” is not only resilient but also safe for use in many industries, including textiles and medicine. Silk has been cultivated in China since the Neolithic era,…

Chinese automotive manufacturer, Xpeng, has just debuted its latest creation in Dubai: a flying car. The AeroHT X2, the two-seater, vertical take-off creation is Xpeng’s vision for the future of personal and public transport. The X2 is classified as an electric vertical take-off and landing vehicle (eVTOL) and is in Dubai as part of the…

Car rental firm, Sixt, is discussing the purchase of 100 000 electric vehicles (EVs) from Chinese car firm BYD. The news comes off the heels of BYD’s European expansion. Sixt joins a slew of car hire companies looking to electrify their fleets by the end of the decade. Sixt, a German-based mobility service provider which…

Chinese scientists have successfully tested a new engine for the long-awaited, heavy-lift Long March 9 rocket. Called TF-79, the engine was developed by the Beijing Astronautics Experiment Institute of Technology (BAEIT) for China’s crewed moon missions and possibly interplanetary expeditions. TF-79’s development period suffered early setbacks but, after addressing the length and capacity of each…

A group of Chinese scientists claims to have found a method to significantly cut the cost of commercial hypersonic travel. First picked up by the South China Morning Post, researchers claim an air-breathing engine, fuelled by a mixture of ethylene and ultra-fine coal powder, can create explosive shock waves that travel six times faster than…

The first road test for magnetic levitation (maglev) vehicles has been conducted by engineers representing China’s Southwest Jiaotong University. First reported by the state-run news agency, Xinhua Daily, the university research unit raised a near 2.8-tonne sedan 25 millimetres off the ground and propelled the vehicle down a test track by way of electromagnets. China…

China is preparing to certify its answer to Boeing and Airbus this month. The C919 commercial airliner, developed by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) has already received orders from several domestic airlines and has been described as the realisation of “a Chinese dream”. FlightRadar24, a real-time flight tracking service, identified two C919s landing…

A Chinese research team claims to have developed nanogenerators capable of harvesting power from the ocean’s waves via static electricity. Harnessing energy from waves is not an entirely novel concept. In fact, scientists have toyed with the notion for centuries. In 1799, a Parisian engineer called Girard filed what most scholars believe to be the…

In a world-first, China has approved the production and use of an inhalable Covid-19 vaccine. Created by Tianjin-based CanSino Biologics, the breathable mist has received the green light for use as a primary and booster shot from several countries and the World Health Organisation (WHO). The globe has battled the spread of the virus for…

Chinese engineers announced a successful maiden test flight of a massive solar-powered drone in the country’s northwest, according to state media outlet, CGNT. Called Qimingxing-50 or ‘Morning Star’ 50, researchers are confident the unmanned craft could make meaningful contributions to the country’s security, communications and ecological sectors. Taking off from the a runway, Qimingxing-50’s debut…

Chinese researchers have announced the world’s first engineered mammal using reprogrammed genes. The remarkable breakthrough hints at the significance of chromosomal rearrangement in evolution and the creation of new species. The results have the potential to lead to cures for diseases and conditions like infertility, cancers and even childhood leukaemia. The Beijing-based Chinese Academy of…

A lab in China’s southern city of Hefei recently announced the launch of the world’s most powerful magnet. Only 33 millimetres in diameter, the modestly sized object is a million times more powerful than the Earth’s core, and strong enough to lift an aircraft carrier. The project’s results come after making a significant “technical breakthrough”,…

A team of Chinese scientists say they have created a magnetic levitation (maglev) line that can keep train carriages suspended in mid-air, even when the power goes out. The 800-metre prototype ‘Red Rail’ line is situated in Xingguo country, north of Guangzhou. The experimental maglev line possesses its remarkable sticking power thanks to powerful magnets…

A Chinese tech company has just released a graphics processing unit (GPU) that it claims has world-beating computing abilities. The state-of-the-art processor will be used for cloud-based AI training in data centres and has already attracted interest from several server providers. A product of Shanghai-based Biren Technology, the BR100 seven-nanometre chipset was launched mid-August and…

After years of research and development, Chinese internet giant, Baidu, has launched its self-driving robotaxi services to the public. The citizens of Wuhan and Chongqing will be the prospective customers for the autonomous ride-sharing business, according to a press release issued in early August 2022. The Beijing-based tech firm launched its Apollo autonomous driving platform…

China has successfully launched the penultimate module for its space station. In late July, the Chinese National Space Administration (CNSA) released a statement to the press confirming one of two laboratory modules entered orbit and is meeting up with the almost-complete Tiangong space station. The launch comes while the US space agency, NASA, and its…

China has constructed the world’s longest single-tower suspension bridge, completed on schedule thanks to some robot helpers, according to engineers. Nestled high in the mountains of the country’s south-eastern hills, the half-mile Luzhijiang bridge cuts travel times between major cities in the Yunnan region significantly. One of many belt and road initiative projects underway in…

A Chinese electric vehicle (EV) giant has completed a round of funding where it raised $100 million to develop and manufacture “rideable robot unicorns” for kids. Xpeng Robotics and several backers concluded the Series A round in a month where total investments in China have slumped under the weight of an increasingly volatile global marketplace.…

A group of Chinese scientists has developed a robot fish that ”eats” microplastics. The Sichuan-based team is hopeful the fry-size robofish could play a crucial role in cleaning the world’s oceans and waterways. Microplastics are fragmented plastic particles measuring no more than 5 millimetres that break down from shopping bags, fishing nets, plastic bottles and…

A group of Chinese companies has collaborated to develop and manufacture what is the country’s first solar-electric vehicle (SEV). The Tianjin solar car turned heads when it was unveiled during the sixth annual World Intelligence Conference on the Chinese mainland. The prototype was built in only five months and is the product of a substantial…

A Chinese renewables firm has installed a massive solar plant above a fishery in Cangzhou, Heibei Province. The development comes during a period where numerous farmers worldwide are scrambling to incorporate green solar and wind infrastructure into their businesses. Concord New Energy, a renewables company that specialises in solar and wind installations, constructed a 70…

Chinese researchers have successfully tested an ultra-lightweight, unmanned hypersonic airliner prototype. Dubbed the Nanqiang No. 1, the one-of-a-kind technology demonstrator was tested in a specialised laboratory, recording speeds nearing Mach 6. Engineers working close to the Nanqiang project told Chinese state media that a prototype could be airborne as soon as 2025. Indeed, a great…

A Chinese supercomputer just ran an AI model so complex and sophisticated that it’s comparable to the human brain. The novel machine dealt with more than 174 trillion parameters, roughly equalling the number of synapses in the brain by some estimates, revealed a report from South China Morning Post (SCMP). The results were showcased at…

Chinese software engineers claim to have developed a method to safeguard blockchain networks from potentially harmful privacy breaches. Called Chang’An Chain or Chainmaker, its creators are confident it can protect sensitive or private information transfers from both conventional and increasingly sophisticated quantum attacks. Chainmaker was created by a team of scientists representing the Beijing Academy…

China’s relentless drive to find fossil fuel alternatives continues. This time with the report that the world’s second-largest economy would construct a massive nuclear-powered steam plant in Lianyungang City. Early estimates suggest that the facility could prevent thousands of tons of coal from being burnt and releasing harmful greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The project…

Three Chinese astronauts have successfully blasted off into space aboard the Shenzhou-14 spacecraft. This is what they will call the home for the final six months of its construction. During their 180-day stay, the astronauts will conduct several experiments and oversee the rendezvous and docking of two crewless modules later this year. The launch took…

Chinese scientists claim to have built tiny robot worms that can navigate and inspect narrow pipes with endoscopic cameras. The novel invention could pave the way for a more efficient and cost-effective alternative to pipeline exploration and diagnostics. Researchers say their creation is best suited to exploring aircraft pipes, oil refineries and machinery otherwise inaccessible…

Chinese astronomers are looking for an Earth 2.0 to colonise, as per a May announcement from Chinese state media. The Chinese Academy of Sciences has requested funding to construct and launch a massive telescope capable of spotting hospitable space bodies lightyears away and which may hold the key to off-planet expansion. The ambitious project, dubbed…

China recently launched a massive floating fish farm in the coastal city of Qingdao. Named Guoxin 1, the 250 metre vessel left port in late May and will process 3 700 tons of fish every year, according to the Chinese Academy of Fishery Services. Constructed by the Qingdao Conson Development Group, Guoxin 1 is enormous…

China’s Mars rover has made another discovery that may force astronomers to address previous hypotheses regarding the origins of water on the red planet. The Zhurong Rover, part of the China National Space Administration’s (CNSA) ambitious Tianwen-1 project, has collected enough compelling evidence to suggest that a massive impact site on the surface held water…

The Chinese-made Wuling Hongguang Mini EV continues to dominate domestic electric vehicle sales, despite the diminutive vehicle being just two years into its release cycle. Industry experts believe the little car’s remarkable staying power is likely because of its incredibly modest price tag. At just $5 000, the Wuling Mini EV costs about as much…

Chinese engineers are using AI and 3D printing to build a megadam in only two years. Upon completion, the 590 foot (180m) tall Yangqu Dam will provide much needed energy to the region and will be the single largest object created using 3D printing, dwarfing the previous record holder by 570 foot. High on the…

A research team from Zhejiang University in China says it has developed technology that would facilitate swarms of drones to operate fully autonomously, without the small unmanned crafts crashing into one another. Inspired by how birds almost instinctively fly through wooded areas without collision, the team believes the breakthrough will allow conservationists and ecologists the…

A robotic rat has been created by scientists in China and they believe it could be used in disasters. The small, highly manoeuvrable robot is capable of navigating small spaces and obstacles, climbing steep slopes, and even walking on snow. This makes it an ideal candidate for delivering potentially life-saving aid where humans are otherwise…

China has contacted South African officials regarding the construction of a high-speed rail network and several other large projects, including 5G infrastructure. Large-scale investment into the country is expected to create thousands of jobs in the next three years, said Chinese ambassadors to South Africa. The ambitious rail project had been discussed between the two…

One of China’s largest automotive brands, BYD, has discontinued manufacturing vehicles with internal combustion engines (ICE). The last petrol and diesel-powered motor vehicles had rolled off factory assembly lines in March, announced a recent statement released by the Shenzhen-based firm. Instead, BYD is directing most of its research and development towards greener power units like…

Scientists have developed what social media users have dubbed the ‘magnetic turd’ and they hope the medical field will one day employ to retrieve foreign objects from inside the body. The Chinese researchers responsible for the slimy creation say the brownish, slug-shaped substance, immediately compared to the 1997 sci-fi film Flubber, can reportedly make ‘C’…

After years of delays and pre-feasibility tests, Kenyan officials have selected two sites for the East African nation’s first nuclear energy production facilities. The project will be run in partnership with China’s National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC). Kenya’s Nuclear Power and Energy Authority (NuPEA), scheduled to break ground at the end of the decade, will add…

Chinese automotive heavyweight BYD recently committed to running Baidu’s autonomous driving systems in its vehicles, with the partnership expected to boost profitability for both brands. Sources working closely with the companies told South China Morning Post (SCMP) that Baidu’s natively developed autonomous driving platform, Apollo Navigation Pilot (ANP), had been selected by the Warren Buffett-backed…

Local network operator, Rain, has collaborated with Oppo, one of China’s largest telecommunications companies to develop a new range of 5G routers for the South African market. The fifth-generation wireless system will reportedly be powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X55 chipset, one of the brand’s most powerful semiconductors. Oppo would continue to grow its product offering…

Lunar samples returned by China’s Chang’e-5 mission have grabbed the attention of geologists and astronomers worldwide, starting a research frenzy as Chinese and international scientists alike clamour to have a peek at the alien rocks under a microscope. Scientists like Li Xian-Hua, who formerly dedicated their time and effort to materials of a more terrestrial…

One of China’s largest car manufacturers and Volvo parent company, Geely, has announced plans to install battery swapping stations specifically for long-haul and heavy-duty electric vehicles (EVs). Battery swapping services have been popularised in China for passenger vehicles as more drivers transition to electric alternatives. However, often larger vehicles aren’t catered for as typical swap…

Chinese engineers have successfully completed a pilot project that converts carbon dioxide into fuel. The only facility of its kind, researchers say the breakthrough method could alleviate some of the damage being done to the planet’s atmosphere by harmful greenhouse gases. Developed by Zhuhai Futian Energy Technology and Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics (DICP), the…

A team of researchers in Hefei, China, have developed what they claim is the strongest pure form of tungsten. The super-strong material has a tensile strength greater than most alloys, making it a prime candidate for many demanding projects, including nuclear reactors, aircraft, satellites and heavy machinery. Tungsten (or ‘wolfram’), represented by the letter W…

China has announced plans to install 450GW of renewable power in the Gobi Desert. The nation’s planning committee said the massive project would combine both solar and wind facilities and would dwarf similar operations in the region. The announcement comes as Beijing continues to implement measures to end its reliance on fossil fuels and become…

China’s long-serving Yutu-2 lunar rover has made yet another discovery. This time in the form of several mysterious glass beads. Scientists are hopeful the grape-sized objects contain information about the moon’s history. It is not particularly difficult to find naturally occurring glass formations here on Earth. The substance is created when silicate minerals are exposed…

A group of Chinese researchers have discovered a method to grow rice crops in saltwater. Scientists close to the experiment are hopeful the novel technique will play a significant role in shoring up China’s food security. Working at the Qingdao Saline-Alkali Tolerant Rica Research and Development Center, Wan Jili believes the salt-resistant rice strain can…

While internet users are only just getting to grips with 5G – and while much of the crucial infrastructure required to support the fifth generation of mobile networks is still being built – Chinese engineers have reportedly set a new world record after transmitting a terabyte of data in one second, using 6G. Working out…

Chinese engineers are preparing test flights for what will be the world’s largest amphibious aircraft. Dubbed the ‘AG600’, the jumbo jet-sized prototype will see most of its service in the South China Sea, where it can move unencumbered between China’s many far-reaching outposts. It tested four engine units for the airplane on the 15th of…

The scientific community has been energised by news that Chinese officials have approved the use of gene-edited crops. Food insecurity is present in some form or another on every continent. Current data estimates that 47 countries, predominantly in Africa, will fail to achieve even ‘low hunger’ in the next nine years. Researchers are confident newly…

With the Beijing Winter Olympics officially underway, more than 3 000 of the planet’s finest athletes are once again wowing supporters with their incredible abilities on ice and snow. However, life for competitors inside the “closed-loop” Olympic village may seem otherworldly. Because of the Republic of China’s zero-tolerance approach to the Covid-19 pandemic, human-to-human contact…

Chinese startup, DeepWay, has teamed up with famed Italian design studio, Pininfarina, to create a semi-autonomous truck. The electrified heavy-duty truck, Xingtu, was designed to improve the efficiency, comfort and sustainability of long-haul transit. Founded in 2020, DeepWay, backed by internet mega-firm, Baidu, disrupted the industry when it announced it would collaborate with Turin-based design…

In a world-first, Chinese scientists claim to have successfully constructed an artificial moon. Capable of creating zero-gravity and limited-gravity environments at the switch of a button, the lunar stand-in will be used to prepare astronauts for moon-based operations and to learn more about how matter interacts in low-gravity. Recreating the moon’s gravity on Earth has…

One of China’s largest motoring firms, Dongfeng Motor Corporation, has delivered fifty electric vehicles (EVs) powered by the firm’s solid-state battery, for demonstration. Often referred to as the ‘Holy Grail’ of EV technologies, solid-state batteries are significantly more efficient than traditional liquid-electrolyte power units. The EV, Dongfeng’s E70 model, is the first to house the…

Chinese-based electric vehicle (EV) battery firm, Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL), has launched a battery swapping service. The world’s largest producer of EV batteries says it will allow EV users to swap out batteries in a minute, hopefully alleviating much of the “range-anxiety” experienced by prospective EV owners who might still be sitting on the fence.…

A team of Chinese scientists has developed a little-known method to increase the yields of certain crops using electricity. Working out of Beijing’s Chinese Academy of Sciences, the researchers found that pea yields were increased by almost 20% when a rain- and wind-powered triboelectric nanogenerator was among the plants. While it may sound outlandish at…

China’s “artificial sun” continues to shatter records. This time, the hyper-expensive fusion reactor recorded temperatures five times greater than the surface of the sun. Scientists are hopeful the feat may be the next step to unlocking unlimited power – the holy grail of clean energy. Secured in Hefei, China, the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST)…

The Chang’e 5 lunar lander, China’s latest moon-going vehicle, has become the first craft of its kind to locate water in real-time. The historic first has set the scientific community’s tongues wagging as researchers race to discover more about the anomaly. The presence of water was discovered at the Chang’e 5’s landing site near the…

Chinese engineers are confident their first floating nuclear reactor is sturdy enough to withstand gale force winds. The offshore reactor, located in the Bohai Sea, is used to power ocean-based oil rigs and is reportedly capable of toughing out “once in 10 000-year” storms. The novel 60GW (gigawatt) reactor was subjected to powerful winds and currents…

In the final days of 2021, Zeekr, the Geely-owned manufacturer announced it had teamed up with Waymo, one of the United States’ largest self-driving tech companies, to create a fleet of driverless ‘robotaxis’. Zeekr, the year-old electric vehicle (EV) startup, has created a significant disturbance in the industry. According to a recent Waymo blog post,…

A “mystery hut” has been spotted on the moon by China’s lunar rover, Yutu 2. The cube-shaped object was first observed in early December and since then has become a focus of mainstream media and the scientific community. It turns out the plucky car-sized rover has made several other significant discoveries during its stay on…

A team of Chinese researchers has developed an ultra-absorbent material capable of extracting uranium from seawater. Inspired by the blood vessels inside our anatomy, the group’s new method is reportedly 20 times more efficient than previous techniques. Uranium extraction processes on land involve traditional practices like in-situ leaching and underground or open-pit mining. However, according…

A team of Chinese researchers has developed a new self-supporting, 3D electrode that reduces overpotential, taking another step towards large-scale green hydrogen production. Hydrogen energy development is keenly pursued by the world’s top minds as it is considered one of the least environmentally impactful energy sources available. Green hydrogen, already an attractive energy source because…

Global automotive giant Toyota has tapped Chinese firm BYD to build an affordable electric vehicle for the Chinese market. First reported in early December, the move is seen as an effort by the Japanese automobile company to fast-track its EV ambitions. Toyota, which enjoys a significant 8.8% ownership of the global automobile market, has a…

Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer, Xpeng, has unveiled a new flagship SUV. Called the G9, the semi-autonomous vehicle will make its international debut in Norway, before expanding into the global market. This announcement continues the trend by Chinese EV firms to establish a foothold in the EV-friendly nation, before expanding to a wider audience. While Xpeng…

China is developing a ship capable of launching rockets into orbit, in an effort to increase launch safety and sustainability. Expected to enter service in a year, the “new-type rocket launching vessel” will ease the pressure on the four main launch sites, as China continues to expand its space program at an unprecedented rate. Measuring…

A team of Chinese scientists has achieved a breakthrough in the field of nuclear energy. Working out of a massive specialised facility in Shanghai, the research team has been trying to simulate how the sun creates energy. If successful, the scientists believe they could have a source of sustainable, infinite energy. Lead scientist, Zhang Zhe,…

Farizon Auto, a subsidiary of Chinese automotive titan Geely, recently unveiled a new electric semi-truck. The commercial vehicle, still in its concept phase, is expected to make its debut on public roads by 2024, according to company insiders. Named the Homtruck, Geely’s latest EV project derived its name from the developer’s design motivation to create…

Chinese internet giant, Tencent, has launched three domestically developed chips. The Shenzhen-based tech firm follows fellow Chinese heavyweight, Alibaba, which launched its chip in October. The announcement was made at the company’s Digital Ecosystem Summit in Wuhan in early November. Speaking at the summit, Dowson Tong Taosang, Tencent’s president of cloud and smart industries group,…

China has launched a military satellite into orbit. Its role: destroy space junk. China’s newest satellite will join roughly 5 000 currently in orbit. Of these man-made structures circling the globe, only around 1 950 remain operational. The vast majority of orbiting objects are junk, either decommissioned satellites or satellites that have encountered debris, breaking…

A Chinese electric vehicle (EV) start-up has revealed images of its brand new all-electric pickup truck, the EF1-T. Developed by EdisonFuture, the futuristic EV features a retractable solar roof allowing for on-the-move charging. In a press statement, EdisonFuture, a subsidiary of Hong Kong-based SPI Energy, said the EF1-T’s sloping, retractable roof configuration incorporated “solar mosaic…

Chinese scientists have developed a method to create animal feed from carbon monoxide. The breakthrough could ease China’s reliance on vast amounts of imported soya beans to feed its enormous livestock population. The Feed Research Institute of China’s Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) said it developed a method to hasten a gas fermentation process that…

China has just completed building two new supercomputers with performance speeds that outstrip Google’s Sycamore – and that’s not even close. The pair of superconducting quantum computers perform sets of functions nearly instantaneously, whereas desktop computers would need around 30 trillion years to do the same. News of the significant technological success was broadcast by…

HT Aero, a Guangzhou-based startup backed by Chinese tech unicorn, Xpeng, has secured $500 million to build flying cars, with a potential eye on a 2024 commercial launch date. The round of funding is the single-largest in Asia’s relatively new low-flying vehicle sector to date, according to Business Wire. The Series A funding was led by…

China’s Shenzhou 13 mission has successfully docked with its space station. The three-person crew will spend six months aboard the vessel, testing core technologies and conducting several experiments. The crew launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Gansu Province at roughly 18:23 (CAT) and docked with the Tianhe core module at 23:56, according to…

A group of Chinese researchers have managed to synthesise starch from carbon dioxide, more efficiently than nature. Scientists hope that creating the highly versatile material in industrial laboratories will save land and water, lessening the burden on traditional agriculture. Researchers at the Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, an affiliate of the Chinese Academy of Sciences,…

A Chinese startup, CellX, believes it can produce lab-grown pork cheaper than conventional production methods by 2025. The Shanghai-based biotech firm says it has the technical know-how to overcome some of the challenges posed to the young industry. Food scientists have explored plant-based and lab-grown meat alternatives for several decades now but hefty production costs…

China is ramping up its 6G ambitions at an unprecedented rate. While the world at large is still coming to grips with fifth-generation communication networks, a Nikkei Asia report indicates China accounts for more than 40% of the planet’s 6G patents. The next-generation technology is expected to be operational by the end of the decade.…

China has announced plans to ramp up its hydro-pumped storage capacity by as much as 400% to bolster the nation’s fast-growing solar and wind power facilities. A 2021-2035 development plan issued by China’s National Energy Administration outlines ambitions to increase China’s pumped hydro capacity, currently around 32 GW, to 62 GW by 2025 and 120 GW…

China is further expanding its Mars exploration capabilities. This time China’s National Space Administration (CNSA) looks to add a prototype helicopter to its growing collection of space exploration instruments. Developed by the National Space Science Centre (NSSC), the Mars surface cruiser drone passed its final assessment on the 20th of August, according to China’s Academy…

In September, Xiaomi announced the registration of its electric vehicle (EV) company, Xiaomi EV Inc. The Chinese electronics manufacturer will enter the market with $1.55 billion in capital and has named company founder and CEO, Lei Jun, as its legal representative, according to Reuters. Since announcing its EV intentions earlier this year, the Beijing-based tech…

The National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) recently outlined plans to construct a kilometres-long spacecraft. The five-year project aims to address the “urgent need” to build the massive vessel; included are plans to assess the viability of building large vessels while in space and the development of lightweight structures for the craft. The massive…

Beijing-based internet giant, Baidu, has developed a new chip as well as a “robocar”. The driverless concept car was created to showcase the computing power of the semiconductor, according to a report from CNBC. Unveiled at Baidu’s annual world conference in mid-August, the second-generation microchip, Kunlun 2, has recently gone into mass production, after three…

A Chinese-led study has found a way to reverse the loss of eyesight in the elderly population, without the need for multiple injections and other intrusive methods. Created with assistance from a prominent Australian immunologist, the study may give hope to the 450 million people worldwide affected by vision loss due to age and chronic…

Chinese researchers have created a “glass” that can cut diamonds. The transparent, yellow-hued material may find use in many industrial applications and is reportedly 20 to 100 times stronger than standard bulletproof windows. The research team, led by Professor Tian Yongjun at Yanshan University in Hebei Province, published the results in the blue ribbon science…

The Chinese Olympic team came second in the medals tally for the Tokyo 2021 Summer Games and owes a great deal of that success to the nation’s triumphs in the swimming pool. A significant influence in China’s excellence in the Olympic pool came from an unlikely source: China’s Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC).  …

China’s largest electric vehicle (EV) battery producer, CATL, debuted its first sodium-ion battery in late July. This breakthrough in manufacturing means their new battery can charge to near capacity in only 15 minutes. The $200 billion, Ningde-based company confirmed it would establish a supply chain for the new product by 2023. Typically CATL EV batteries are…

A breakthrough in refrigeration technology has enabled Chinese scientists to reach temperatures nearing absolute zero. This significant scientific advancement may provide the edge needed for China to become self-sufficient in the quantum computing industry. Representatives at the Beijing-based Institute of Physics at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) say that new developments in ultra-low cooling…

Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, NIO, has outlined plans to build more than 4 000 battery swap stations worldwide by the end of 2025, 1 000 of which will be outside of mainland China. The Shanghai-based EV unicorn made the announcement at its Power Day, which the company held on the 9th of July 2021. NIO…

China has unveiled its first 3D-printed retractable bridge. Located in Shanghai’s Wisdom Bay Innovation Park, the proverbial Mecca for 3D technology firms, the near-10-metre bridge is controlled via Bluetooth and retracts or unfurls in around a minute. The massive feat is viewed by those close to the project as a significant step in the large-scale…

A pair of astronauts aboard China’s Tiangong space module have completed a successful spacewalk. The momentous achievement for both the astronauts and China’s manned space program marks another significant milestone for China’s space ambitions for the moon, Mars and beyond. In June, The Chinese National Space Administration (CNSA) launched three astronauts into space. The trio is…

Just a few short weeks after China successfully landed its Zhurong Rover on the surface of Mars, researchers have deployed a similar rover to explore the inhospitable terrain on the ‘Roof of the World’, the Tibetan Plateau. The car-sized rover, named Pandengzhe or ‘The Climber’, spent five days on the icy Kuoqionggangri Glacier, at 18…

China’s prolific space program continues, this time with its first manned space mission for half a decade. The launch was declared a success, safely jettisoning three elite astronauts into space, to connect with China’s space station. In front of a throng of well-wishers, the Shenzhou-12 mission launched into outer orbit from the Jiuquan site in…

A new wind tunnel may put China decades ahead in the race to further develop hypersonic technologies, according to a prominent Chinese physicist. The wind tunnel is the JF-22 facility, situated in Beijing’s Huairou District, and it’s capable of simulating flights moving at Mach 30, thirty times the speed of sound. The JF-22, as well…

The leading public health authority, the World Health Organisation (WHO), has officially approved the Chinese-developed Sinovac Biotech Covid vaccine. The vaccine, which has seen use in more than 30 countries, received the WHO’s emergency use status last Tuesday. This means it can now be considered by COVAX, the global body tasked with ensuring fair and…

A Chinese-built nuclear reactor, constructed to replicate the energy that powers the sun, is closer to creating nuclear fusion. One of China’s most ambitious clean energy projects, it’s something scientists could only theorize about just decades ago. Situated in Hefei, Anhui Province, the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) is one of China’s “artificial suns”. This…

Chinese robotaxi startup, Pony.ai, has been given the green light to test driverless vehicles in three Californian cities. In late May 2021, the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) allowed for the testing in several prominent areas, making Pony.ai one of the only firms allowed to conduct full driverless testing in the state. Pony.ai has been…

A team of Chinese scientists have developed an intelligent material that is capable of curving and curling when external pressures are applied. The fluid motion resembles the mechanics observed in nature more closely than previously thought capable, and is planned for use in the soft- and micro-robotics industries. The researchers, working out of Southeast University…

For the first time in its history, China has landed a rover on the surface of Mars, becoming the second country, alongside the United States, to successfully touch down. China’s Tianwen or ‘Questions for Heaven’ mission made successful contact with Mars at roughly 19:11pm on the 14th of May but, because of the extreme distance…

Debris from a Chinese Long-March 5B rocket has re-entered the Earth’s atmosphere in an uncontrolled descent, landing in the Arabian Peninsula. The spent part was used to send the core module of China’s ‘Tiangong’ Space Station into orbit in late April 2021. The significant size and mass of the structure concerned the scientific community. 5B…

Electric vehicle (EV) maker, NIO, has announced plans to expand outside of China. The Tesla rival announced it would start deliveries to Norway by September 2020. NIO joins fellow Chinese EV manufacturer, Xpeng, in Norway, a nation that has more EVs per capita than any other country. The Shanghai-based firm confirmed it will launch its…

Tianhe or ‘Heavenly Harmony’, China’s core module of its space station was successfully launched into orbit on the 28th of April from Hainan Island, strapped to a Long March 5B rocket. China’s space station – Tiangong or ‘Heavenly Palace’ – is expected to be complete and operational by 2022 and will join the International Space…

With the state of our oceans of critical importance, scientists from China have discovered a plastic-eating bacteria that may be a tool to combat marine pollution. The results have set tongues wagging in the scientific community, but some analysts say more research is needed. A team of researchers from the Institute of Oceanography, at China’s…

With the race to produce vaccines one of the biggest challenges of our time, China may soon have its very own domestically produced messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccine. The revolutionary vaccine technology has only been applied to the Pfizer-BioNtech and the Moderna vaccines so far and is hailed for its ability to generate a stronger…

Currently there are over 5 000 cryptocurrencies in existence and China is fast developing its own digital currency pilot programme.  The Asian power became the first major economy to trial the concept last year and since then, a slew of tech firms and cities have started circulating China’s ‘renminbi’, or digital yuan. China started testing the…

Chinese engineers have developed a new method of encryption: using infrared radiation from the human body to decrypt sensitive data and create uncrackable passwords. The Chinese engineers from Shanghai’s Jiao Tong University published their findings on using body heat to gain access to, or secure, data in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences…

After listening intently to the sounds of the universe for 15 months, the world’s largest filled-aperture radio telescope is now available to all scientists who wish to use it. The colossal structure, roughly the size of 30 football fields, is capable of spotting objects 13.7 billion light years away and is potentially humankind’s latest alien-hunting…

China’s largest vehicle for hire company, DiDi Chuxing, plans to expand into South Africa, starting with Cape Town. The SoftBank-backed giant is expected to compete with the global ride-hailing giant Uber, according to Reuters. Founded in 2012, the Beijing-based firm has services in more than 400 cities in China and users in Latin America, Asia,…

Chinese scientists have found a way to deliver life-saving drugs closer to the source of the affliction than ever before, which is a significant breakthrough in the new field of nanomedicine. The method using new microbot technologies is so effective that scientists believe it may even revolutionise treatments for brain disease. Published in Science Robotics…

China continues to roll out wind farm installations worldwide at an unprecedented rate. In a year ravaged by the Covid-19 pandemic, the globe’s second-largest economy accounted for more than half of 2020’s total installations. The significant increase in wind farm installations in 2020 comes after Chinese President, Xi Jinping said China would become a carbon-neutral…

A team of Chinese scientists have developed a laser capable of seeing through walls from a kilometre away. Once relegated to the realm of science fiction, the significant advancement in quantum electronics may have applications in everything from defence to autonomous driving. Developed by a group of University of Science and Technology of China researchers,…

China’s National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) is attempting to use radiation treatment – a method used to clean medical supplies since the 1960s – to kill Covid-19 in the cold food chain. The research was first conducted in December last year when evidence suggested several Covid-19 cases in China were the result of imported frozen food. CNNC’s…

China and Russia will jointly build an international lunar base station that will orbit the moon’s surface, according to Russia’s Roscosmos space agency. The ‘International Lunar Space Station’ will be a complex of facilities on the lunar surface and in a close orbit dedicated to lunar research and designed to conduct a variety of experiments,…

China’s COMAC C919 single-aisle aircraft is nearly ready to take to the skies as it nears certification, said chief designer, Wu Guanghui. Wu said the C919 narrow-body airliner would be certified by the end of the year, according to the South China Morning Post. The C919 is China’s and the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China’s…

Chinese automotive company, Geely Holding Group, has gained approval to build satellites crucial to communication and navigation for autonomous vehicles. A licence to build a facility in Taizhou, Zhejiang Province was granted by China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) in February. Last year the firm announced plans to construct a $326 million satellite manufacturing…

A small, unassuming electric vehicle (EV) from Chinese motoring firm, SAIC, is outselling Elon Musk’s money-printing machine, the Tesla Model 3, in China. The Hong Guang Mini EV, a joint venture between state-owned SAIC and US motoring giant General Motors, has sold more than 110 000 times units its debut in July. Described as a…

The Covid-19 vaccine roll-out effort is off to an encouraging start throughout Africa as it is significantly aided by Chinese vaccine donations. To date, China has donated or sold vaccines to 19 African nations including South Africa’s neighbour, Zimbabwe. South Africa, a Covid-19 hotbed and global focal point thanks to the N501Y mutation of the…

In the midst of a global semiconductor shortage, SAIC Motors says it will source the chips crucial to its self-driving cars from local chip maker, Horizon Robotics. China’s largest automaker made the move to support the relative newcomer to the industry as Beijing scrambles to boost its access to chip supply. SAIC, the manufacturing partner…

Huawei, the telecommunication equipment giant and China’s largest smartphone maker, is turning to AI-powered swine farming to shore up declining smartphone sales. Stiff trade restrictions imposed under the Trump administration hurt Huawei’s smartphone sales. Huawei-built smartphone sales dropped 42% in the last quarter of 2020 after the chips vital to their performance and Google services…

China’s Belt and Road Initiative has its first hypercar – loosely defined as the most superior of cars and a step up from a supercar. Silk EV, a new automotive startup in Italy, recently announced it would be collaborating with China’s oldest car maker, First Automotive Works (FAW), to create the S9 – an all-electric…

Six and a half months after it left Earth’s gravitational pull, China’s Tianwen-1 Mars mission craft has successfully entered into Mars’s orbit, a Chinese first and the planet’s second visitor this week. The Tianwen craft, which consists of a lander, rover, and orbiter, will remain in a stable orbit until it makes contact later this…

China’s medical products regulator has approved another Covid-19 vaccine for general public use, said Beijing-based medical firm, Sinovac Biotech.   The medical research firm’s two-jab vaccine received approval from China’s Medical Products Association after two-month late-stage clinical international trials concluded. Positive immune responses to the firm’s vaccine were observed in phase one and in two…

Chinese researchers have developed a way to send uncrackable “quantum keys” between ground stations and low-orbit satellites, which is considered one of the most significant breakthroughs in the field. In 2018, researchers from the University of Science and Technology in China (UTSC) devised a way to share quantum keys in secret between a series of…

Chinese scientists have developed a new gene therapy that increases the strength and lifespan of older mice – and may one day have an impact on humans. The Beijing-based Institute of Zoology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) specialising in regenerative medicine, focused on isolating and inactivating the kat7 gene. This particular gene, found in…

Warren Buffet-backed BYD, the world’s largest electric bus manufacturer, has secured a contract from the city of Bogota, Columbia, for more than 1 000 new buses – the single biggest order of BYD electric buses outside of China ever. The contract was awarded to BYD after the Bogota City Public Transport Authority (Transmilenio) released a…

A magnetic levitation – or maglev – bullet train prototype which could carry passengers across China almost as fast as a commercial aircraft was unveiled this month. Researchers from China’s Southwestern Jiaotong University unveiled the prototype on a 165m custom-built section of rail in China’s Chengdu region in early January. The maglev train, designed to…

Chinese fossil fuel mega firm Sinopec has teamed up with renewable energy companies to create ‘green hydrogen’ as part of China’s continued push towards the goal of carbon neutrality. The move is a necessary step for the oil-focused firm as the fossil fuel industry is becoming a thing of the past while renewables and clean…

Two of China’s largest companies are teaming up to disrupt the automotive industry. Internet giant Baidu, and Chinese car manufacturer Geely, have announced a collaboration, continuing the trend of big tech companies diversifying into the future of passenger transportation. On 11 January, Geely, the largest car manufacturer in China, said the two mega-firms would collaborate,…

A team of researchers from China’s Jinjiang University and the University of Edinburgh has taught a robot a fundamentally human trait: learning from mistakes through trial and error. Jeuyjing, the robot dog created for the experiment, uses the memory of real-world experiences to react to external stimuli it encounters. This is a departure from traditional…

China’s Chang’e-5 moon mission has returned safely to terra firma with the planet’s first lunar sample in more than four decades. China has said it would share its findings with the global scientific community. The 23-day mission was a success after the Chang’e-5’s return capsule landed in the freezing deserts of Inner Mongolia on 17…

Chinese scientists have developed a jet engine capable of reaching Mach-16. An aircraft powered by such a powerful thrust could fly from Beijing to London in just two hours. Named the ‘sodramjet’, the prototype testing took place at a wind tunnel in Beijing. The engine displayed excellent fuel efficiency, thrust and operational stability, according to…

Self-driving 5G KFC ‘chicken trucks’ have been spotted in Shanghai, causing a stir on social media. In late November, Twitter users started noticing KFC trucks driving around the Shanghai city centre. The driverless, 5G-enabled food trucks are a project developed between Yum Foods, the parent company of KFC, and Neolix, one of China’s leading tech…

China has launched a mission to the moon to retrieve lunar rocks – the first mission of its kind since the USSR in 1976. Monday’s successful launch was China’s 35th this year, as it cements its title as a ‘space-superpower’. Launched off Hainan Island’s Wenchang Space Site, the mission, named Chang’e-5, is the nation’s ambitious…

Sinovac Biotech, one of China’s most promising Covid-19 candidates, has announced its vaccine has triggered a quick immune response. The news comes hot off the heels of breakthroughs by Pfizer and Moderna. Sao Paolo, the Brazilian state ravaged by the Covid pandemic, has ordered 46 million doses. President Jair Bolsonaro, who himself has recovered from…

Driverless car and AI firm, Pony.ai, has reached a $5.3 billion evaluation after it raised $267 million in a new round of funding. The Chinese start-up, which says it has raised more than $1 billion in its four-year existence, said the financial injection would go into research and development. Pony.ai is the brainchild of Chinese…

Chinese gaming is leading the world

A team of Chinese engineers has managed to ‘walk’ an 85-year-old Shanghai building to safety and a new home, using robotic legs. The nearly century-old education centre, in Shanghai’s eastern Huangpu district, was successfully lifted off its concrete foundations, hoisted on to a network of robotic legs – known as the ‘walking machine’, and moved…

China says it will turn to international investors to further its green crusade as it seeks to become a carbon-neutral country in the next 40 years. The Asian powerhouse said it would incentivise green financing by encouraging climate-friendly projects, enticing international investors to get behind green bonds, phasing out conventional petrol-powered cars and launching a…

China’s first private 5G network will be used in the day-to-day operations at a coal mine in Shandong Province, in line with Beijing’s push to modernise heavy industry through digital transformation. The network, built by state-owned Shandong Energy Group, was deployed at their Baodian Coal Mine subsidiary in East China and went live in late…

Chinese tech juggernaut, Ant Group, has raised $34 billion in a mega initial public offering (IPO), making it the largest stock exchange listing in history. The Jack Ma-owned online payments company listed on the Hong Kong and Shanghai stock exchanges at $10.32 and $10.26 per share respectively. The IPO surpasses Saudi oil firm, Aramco, which…

The world’s second-largest solar farm, 2.2Gw plant, has come online in China’s Qinghai Province. The unveiling comes shortly after President Xi Jinping told the United Nations Annual General assembly that China plans to go carbon neutral by 2060. The plant, in China’s sparsely populated northwest region, took around four months to complete. Qinghai’s solar farm…

Polestar’s 2020 electric vehicle concept car is to go into mass production in a carbon-neutral factory in China, according to the electric vehicle firm. The Polestar Precept made its debut earlier this year as a concept car with an emphasis on sustainability and cutting-edge tech instead of traditional performance figures and specifications. The Geely-owned Volvo…

Chinese electric vehicle (EV) firm, Nio, has launched its semi-autonomous technology, which allows for hands-free driving using high-definition mapping technology. The Shanghai-based EV company’s navigation assistant – called Navigate on Pilot (NoP) – will be available via software update this month. The company, founded in 2014, says NoP is the first assisted-driving function that uses…

Chinese chemical and gas company, Linggas, has started to capture and re-use nitrous oxide during nylon production using new technology. The greenhouse gas is 300 times more harmful to the ozone layer than carbon dioxide. The Beijing-based industrial giant, which sells industrial gases used in electronics, recently took strides towards becoming climate-neutral, something Chinese president…

Warren Buffet-backed Chinese automotive giant, BYD, has delivered a shipment of 106 new electric buses to Finland in the largest delivery ever received by the eco-conscious Scandinavian state. The transaction, the first between Finland and BYD, will see 64 buses introduced to the tarmac of the Finnish capital, Helsinki, which has been at the forefront…

Sending robots to planets, moons and meteors to mine rare space resources will soon be more than the subject of science fiction movies. A Chinese startup, Origin Space, has announced plans to identify, extract and return off-earth resources. The privately-owned Beijing-based group, specialising in off-earth resources, is scheduled to launch its ‘space mining robot’, NEO-1,…

China’s automotive industry has found an unlikely hero after the Wuling Hong Guang Micro electric vehicle (EV), a joint venture between General Motors (GM) and SAIC Motor, outsold the Tesla Model 3 in China. Chinese EV manufacturers eager to be the ”next Tesla” have had to find ways to ride the momentum created by the…

A team of Chinese researchers has developed a biodegradable plastic replacement which promises to lessen the burden placed on the planet by excessive plastic use and waste. Professor Xu Jiachao and his team of researchers at the College of Food Science and Engineering at the Ocean University of China are using an abundant oceanic resource…

Pinduoduo, the world’s largest e-commerce platform and China’s second busiest online marketplace, has announced its plans to sell $145 billion worth of agricultural produce in 2025. The bold claim came shortly after it was announced that Chinese consumers had bought $58 billion worth of agricultural produce online in 2019 – a 27% increase, according to…

Ugandan owned Kiira Motors, an electric bus startup with its roots in plug-in electric vehicle (EV) hybrids, is building Africa’s first e-bus factory, making use of Chinese battery technology. The small bus company based outside the Ugandan capital, Kampala, is already negotiating several contracts for its newest offering, the Kayoola EVS. The company’s origins lie…

Tianjin-based vaccine producer, CanSino Biologics, has won patent approval for its Ad5-nCOV vaccine candidate. The Covid-19 vaccine was approved in Beijing on 11 August, Chinese state-owned media reported citing documents released by China’s Intellectual Property Administration. The Ad5-nCOV candidate was co-developed by CanSino Biologics and a team of infectious disease experts, led by Chen Wei,…

Global wind farm capacity is likely to grow nearly 800% by the end of 2030 – with China at the head of the pack, according to two recent reports. A report by the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) indicates stronger than originally forecasted growth for the sector. The Energy Council had to review its latest…

China is host to the most valuable startups on the planet in the annual Hurun Global Unicorn Index from the Hurun Research Institute. In a year largely interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China, the world’s second-largest economy, has 227 unicorns as of March this year – around 35% of the world’s unicorns. A unicorn is…

China has built the largest seaplane the world has seen since Howard Hughes’s legendary ‘Spruce Goose.’ The Asian superpower’s first-ever attempt at the feat, the AG600, made its maiden voyage on July 26. The AG600, also known as ‘Kunlong’, has been in development since 2009, but the public has seen it only a handful of…

Hengli Petrochemical, one of China’s largest privately-owned companies, has announced a move to turn coal into fabric. The $20 billion undertaking will produce polyester yarn, used in everything from clothing to packaging and bottling, from China’s vast coal reserves. In June, the chemical giant said it would make the multi-billion dollar transition into the coal-to-chemical…

China has successfully completed its first-ever interplanetary mission with the Tianwen-1 Mars mission launch. Propelled into orbit from Hainan Island at 12.40pm local time on 23 July, the Long-March 5 rocket used in the mission is one of the largest and most powerful of the Long March rockets built by China. The craft and its…

Sinopharm, one of China’s leading medical companies and a global contender in the race for a Covid-19 vaccination, may develop the much-needed vaccine ahead of schedule. The drug could be available this year, several months ahead of what was originally thought, according to Chinese state media on 22 July. Liu Jingzhen, chairman of the Beijing-based…

A group of Chinese scientists and Shenzhen-based tech firm, Tencent have created a model that uses artificial intelligence to quickly assess the likelihood of a patient’s Covid-19 infection turning severe or life-threatening. Research, published in the gold-standard journal Nature, showed that nearly 7% of Covid-19 cases can deteriorate rapidly, resulting in a near 50% mortality…

South African telecoms company, Vodacom, and Alipay, China’s largest digital payments platform, have announced a collaboration to further Vodacom’s transition from a telco to a tech giant. The two firms announced on Saturday that they would co-develop a ”super-app’ which will serve as a digital marketplace for goods and services for clients whether or not…

Pony.ai, one of China’s leading autonomous vehicle (AV) firms, has announced it will be beta testing self-driving cars as part of its bid to become a leader in the competitive market. The AV start-up, founded by former Baidu developers, James Peng and Lou Tiancheng, announced Saturday that it would be working with city officials to…

The cloud gaming market in China is expected to grow by 400% in the next 24 months, as the rollout of 5G nationwide spurs growth, said research group CNG. The Beijing-based group, which released the 2020 Cloud Gaming Industry Survey Report in June, says the relatively new marketplace will become a US$141 million sector by…

Construction companies in China are using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to monitor worker safety, efficiency and on-site conduct, as sites using technology are found to have significantly improved output and worker safety, says a China Academy of Sciences report.  The technology, developed by the Institute of Automation in Beijing, syncs with CCTV cameras. It is able…

Beidou, China’s two decades-long global navigation satellite system project, is complete. The Long March 3B rocket carrying the final satellite necessary for the system, was successfully launched into orbit, ending China’s reliance on the United States for the technology. The launch, in Xichang, South China, was declared a success as the Beidou satellite achieved the…

Shenzen-based tech giant, Huawei, will replicate its mobile, digital classroom, DigiTruck, in five more countries, including France and the Philippines, after the success of its programme in Kenya. The repurposed semi-trailer truck, which was trialled in Kenya, is designed to increase accessibility to digital skills. The DigiTruck Project is a collaboration between Huawei and Belgian…

China National Biotec Group (CNBG) is planning late-stage human trials of a potential COVID-19 vaccine after scientists at its Wuhan-based medical facilities noted the experimental drug caused positive antibody responses in 100% of all tested human subjects. Initial trials for the potentially life-saving vaccine started in April this year. Over 1 100 healthy candidates, aged…

A ‘million-mile battery’ unit for electric vehicles that can last up to two million kilometres and for 16 years is ready for mass production, says Chinese battery manufacturer, Contemporary Amperex Technology Limited (CATL). The battery will cost around 10% more than current EV standard power units, says CATL, one of China’s largest manufacturers of EV…

A team of scientists at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has replicated the structure and workings of a human eye, in a world-first that could help to heal the blind or make night vision a reality. Professor Fan Zhiyong and his team, who have been working closely with colleagues at the…

Artificial intelligence (AI) is set to play a significant part in China’s battle against poverty and will also benefit the hard of hearing community in an era of compulsory mask-wearing, says iFlytek, a Chinese speech-to-text, translation and online-education technologies company. Chairman, Liu Qingfeng, says his company, along with other prominent IT giants in China, has…

Internet giant, Baidu, has completed the world’s largest testing facility for autonomous motor vehicles. The Beijing-based tech company announced in late May that the massive project will be used to test autonomous driving and vehicle-to-infrastructure communication. Situated in Beijing’s Yizhuaung Economic Development Zone, Apollo Park is a 13 500 square meter area that will accommodate…

Zambian state-owned power company, Zesco, has announced a partnership with Chinese construction company, PowerChina, to construct three large solar power plants that will add a further 600MW of electricity to the African nation’s grid. The signing of the deal, worth a reported US$548 million, coincides with the news that the Zambian government is aiming to…

Shortly after US President Donald Trump signed a law blocking Chinese telecommunications group Huawei from using US-made hardware and software, Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) reported it had received $2.2 billion in funding. The move is part of China’s efforts to end its reliance on US chips. Shanghai-based SMIC, which creates around 6 000 14-nanometre…

School pupils in Beijing are sporting smart wristbands that track real-time body temperatures. The wristbands are one of a variety of wearables Chinese researchers say may help to track, curb and prevent the spread of COVID-19. Final year students attending junior high schools in Beijing have returned to class where they are piloting technology that…

The Chinese Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation shifted its 2020 Mars Mission plan into overdrive, successfully launching a heavy-lift Long March 5B rocket, on 5 May. This was as the globe limped into month five of the Covid-19 pandemic. After a little reported launch failure in April, a new site, on Hainan Island, a landmass…

Chinese video-sharing app TikTok is targeting growth in African countries, as it offers a new platform for influencers across the continent. TikTok has been raising awareness of its benefits through “creator sessions” for youths in Nairobi, Kenya. It has partnered with Transsion, a Chinese phone maker with a major presence in Africa, to boost a…

TikTok, a social media platform owned by Chinese parent company Bytedance, has been downloaded over one billion times. The app, which has been called the “last sunny corner of the internet” by The Economist, is a video sharing social media app where users create, share and discuss short media content. Learnbonds.com gathered data that indicate…

Shenzhen based automobile manufacturer, BYD, has entered the European electric passenger vehicle market. The BYD Tang EV600 will make its European debut in Norway before the year’s end, the group announced in early May. BYD, the second-largest electric vehicle producer in the world, enjoys a strong presence in the e-bus and public transport sector in…

China has begun trials on the e-RMB or digital Yuan, the world’s first digital currency to be rolled out by a major economic player. The digital Yuan will debut in four of China’s largest cities, according to local media. After initial scepticism about coin offerings, China’s central bank will launch the digital currency before its…

The world’s second largest manufacturer of electric vehicles, BYD, has launched the “Blade Battery”, which it says will significantly increase driver safety. Company president and chairman, Wang Chuanfu, unveiled the battery via an online launch at the end of March. Wang said the battery design reflects BYD’s commitment to making electric vehicles safer, as well as…

Restrictions on movement, production and trade have seen the global automotive industry grind to a halt. But China, once the epicentre of the Covid-19 outbreak, is seeing its employees slowly returning to work. After car sales in China fell 80% in February during the apex of the pandemic, markets a month later are easing back…

Tech behemoth Huawei has unveiled its P40 flagship smartphone, after hundreds of thousands of Huawei employees in China were given the all-clear to return to work. Huawei launched its premium device via livestream on 26 March. The standard, big-event style launches typically associated with new tech showcases are not an option amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.…

With almost all industries feeling the pressure of the Covid-19 outbreak, Chinese robotics company ZhenRobotics Corp, has seen a spike in demand for its robots which are replacing humans in suboptimal conditions. RoboPony is a small, knee-high robot developed and manufactured by ZhenRobotics. The bright yellow, six-wheeled unit has been sold to shopping centres, apartment…

Changan Automobiles, one of China’s top five producers of motor vehicles, this week announced the mass production of its first self-driving car. Company officials say mass production of the ‘UNI-T’ model – with “conditional” self-driving capabilities – will begin in March. The new flagship, four-door sedan, will be the first mass-produced L3 systems car in…

Chinese drone manufacturers, DJI, are moving into global markets. The company has showcased new Light Detection and Radar technology (LiDAR), an innovation that may hold the key to the company’s venture into autonomous driving technologies. Earlier this year, Livox, a subsidiary of DJI, showcased LiDAR at the annual consumer electronics show in Las Vegas. The…

As South Africa and other African states still debate how to deal with the global pandemic of the Covid-19 virus, China, once the epicentre of the outbreak, is recording fewer infections every day. The recovery comes after two months of proactive quarantine measures, medical treatment, and social coordination, all assisted by future tech. Chinese officials…

Staff at Zhongnang Hospital, China, are using AI technology to help combat the Covid-19 (novel coronavirus) outbreak. The experiment aims to screen patients for visual clues associated with the virus. Professor Haibu Xu and the staff at the radiology department of the hospital, located in Wuhan, the epicentre of the epidemic, are hopeful the trials…

Chinese owned AI giant, SenseTime, has launched a series of web tools to help students cope with missing school due to the risks associated with the 2019-nCoV outbreak. The company said it would offer its proprietary digital learning platform for free. This offer was made in response to the Chinese Education Ministry’s call to assist…

The UK is looking to China to complete its long overdue and over budget HS2 high-speed railway from London to the Midlands and other northern cities. The possible call for assistance comes two weeks after the British parliament gave the go-ahead for the ambitious project. The High Speed 2 (HS2) project was budgeted for in…

The Huazhang Unversity of Science and Technology (HUST) and Ph.D. students from the University of Witwatersrand (Wits) have collaborated to establish a way to transfer data across fibre-optic networks securely. The breakthrough will benefit both academia and business. The feat, which was previously impossible, was overseen by Wits professor, Andrew Forbes. The team successfully demonstrated…

Chinese smartphone manufacturers Huawei, Xiaomi, BBK-owned Opo and Vivo are developing a platform that may see them threaten Google Play’s market monopoly. African apps are likely beneficiaries.   The platform, named the Global Developer Service Alliance (GDSA), was initially marked for release in March but has been held off briefly due to concerns about the…

A Chinese prototype space capsule arrived at its launch site in Wenchang, China late January. The capsule, named Tianhe, will form part of the Chinese Space Complex which is due to be completed as early as 2022. The prototype will be unpiloted and serve as a demonstration and test for a manned operation. The capsule is…

Chinese owned automobile company Geely and Mercedes-Benz parent company Daimler have teamed up to create a smart automobile. The joint venture will cost an estimated RMB5.4 billion and is set to shake-up the electric car market. Daimler and Geely will each contribute RMB2.7 billion to the venture. Mercedes-Benz will be responsible for research and design…

Chinese company Country Garden, one of the world’s largest property developers, is to begin mass production of fully autonomous robots designed to assist in large-scale residential construction. The robots have been designed to minimise costs while increasing efficiency. The group, which started its robotics programme in 2018, is set to invest $2.3 billion every year for…

On the eve of the 2020 World Economic Forum in Davos in January, China announced a nationwide ban on single-use plastics as part of a bold five-year environmental plan.   The policy will see a ban on single-use plastic bags and disposable wares such as tape, packaging materials and swabs in China’s metropoles by the…

Sany Heavy Industries, China’s largest industrial equipment manufacturer, has partnered with the regional government of Singida, Tanzania, to construct Africa’s largest wind farm. The company is a newcomer to turbine manufacturing, beginning operations in 2010, but is already China’s fourth largest exporter of turbine units. Sany produces turbine units with 1,5MW 2MW and 3MW operating…

A private 5G network that allows a hospital to track healthcare professionals and patients to optimise wait times and customer care has been set up at West China Second University Hospital. The hospital, Huawei and state-owned network provider China Mobile teamed up to create a private 5G network for the hospital. The endeavour is part…

Aiways has obtained the necessary permits and certifications to enter Europe Aiways is a Shanghai-based startup that will begin selling in China this month Aiways introduced its electric vehicles to the Chinese market in November 2019 and plans to expand to Europe in 2020, with a focus on Norway, the Netherlands and Germany. The Aiways…

China has turned to 5G technology to increase productivity of its tomato crops A new smart greenhouse facilitates this revolutionary technology A new greenhouse at Wuzhen International Internet Agriculture Expo Park will boost China’s tomato production through the use of newly launched 5G technology. 5G technology is expected to enhance the efficiency, yield, distribution and…

Chinese researchers are developing an electric helicopter The goal is to develop a prototype for demonstration purposes Chinese researchers are developing an electric helicopter, starting with the tail rotor, according to the China Helicopter Research and Development Institute in Jiangxi Province in China. Researchers and engineers at the institute are building a prototype tail rotor,…

A magnetic-suspension delivery loop is in the works in Xiongan The autonomous system will be constructed in the next two to three years An intelligent delivery system that connects logistic centres, supermarkets, warehouses and industrial parks is to be built underground in Hebei Province, north of China. The system will make use of an automatic…

Three state telecoms rolled out 5G services on 1 November 5G, or fifth generation internet, will have super fast speeds and wider coverage China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom made 5G plans available in stores and online from Friday,1 November. 5G promises to reduce lag while increasing speed, and is more efficient than its…

Huawei helps bridge the digital gap in African rural areas since 2017 The RuralStar solution provides network coverage to more than 40 million people Huawei released RuralStar, which connects rural areas to cost-effective mobile broadband and voice services, two years ago. RuralStar has been rolled out in over 20 emerging countries, including Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya…

A unicorn company is typically a privately-owned startup that reaches a $1 billion market value China has the highest concentration of unicorns in the world At the beginning of 2019, there were almost 500 unicornsin the world. The term unicorn was coined to emphasise the rarity of a startup reaching a valuation of over $1…

Alibaba has partnered with Flutterwave to provide African traders with Alipay Alipay is an online payment platform founded by Alibaba in China in 2004 Alipay, developed by Alibaba, the world’s second largest e-commerce company after Amazon, has over 900 million users worldwide. A partnership between Alibaba and Flutterwave will increase Alipay’s footprint and provide merchants…

Money transfers between China and Kenya made easier thanks to a partnership between M-Pesa and WeChat London-based fintech firm, SimbaPay, established the link between the two tech giants Millions of people in Kenya use M-Pesa, a cellphone-based service that offers money transfers, financing and microfinancing. Founded in 2007, M-Pesa has more than 80% of the…

Chinese researchers have designed a 500-megapixel facial recognition camera The camera can identify faces in massive crowds The development of a 500-megapixel facial recognition camera by scientists at the Fudan University and Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has changed the game for surveillance systems. The camera,…

Italian company, XEV, has partnered with Chinese company, Polymaker They are going to launch the world’s first mass-produced 3D-printed electric car The first mass-produced 3D-printed electric vehicle was launched by Polymaker, a 3D printing company based in Shanghai, and XEV Italian company at the China 3D-Printing Cultural Museum at the beginning of 2018. The car…

China has built an air purifier in Xian in Shaanxi province said to be the world’s biggest In experimental phase, the tower is performing well so far A 100m tall air purifier tower in the northern city of Xian in Shaanxi province, has been designed and built by scientists at the Institute of Earth Environment…

Chinese company JD.com has been using drones as a delivery option in four pilot regions in China since 2016 JD.com will soon launch 150 drone facilities to expand this offering JD.com, China’s biggest online retailer and e-commerce giant, started piloting delivery of parcels by drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles, in June 2016. The pilot in…

The viability of pig rearing in China has been threatened by the rapid spread of swine fever Chinese technology firms may have found a solution with smart farming technology Almost one-third of China’s pig herds have been wiped out by swine fever or culling as a result of the disease since August 2018. China’s 440…

China plans to build a deep-sea base for unmanned submarine science and defence operations The first of its kind sea base is planned in the South China sea China plans to build an unmanned deep-sea base in the South China sea that will be the first artificial intelligence colony in the world. The project was…

Government signed a deal with EHang to launch its first urban air mobility pilot city programme EHang is a Chinese company that operates autonomous passenger and freight low-altitude vehicles Guangzhou has been chosen as the host city to pilot EHang’s air taxis. EHang will build its very first operational network of air taxis and transport…

HarmonyOS set to be launched later this year The operating system will be launched on Huawei smartphones and later be available on multiple smart devices such as wearable technology Amid the ongoing trade war between China and the US, Huawei could soon lose access to Google’s Android operating system. Instead, Huawei is finalising its own…

Canadian production of wine could see a boost in production thanks to Huawei Vineyards are exploring the application of wireless 5G to reach maximum efficiency Huawei Canada and partners – Global UAV, ARHT Media, Telitek and Hub6 – have recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in which they pledge to explore the possibilities of…

The 500m Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope is still in commissioning phase but is performing well The telescope has been in operation for 3 years and already identified 86 pulsars The Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope, named FAST, has identified 86 pulsars, in partial achievement of its scientific goal. FAST, currently the largest radio telescope, was set…

Chinese scientists are developing a HIV vaccine – the first such vaccine to begin the second phase of clinical trial This is the first time a HIV vaccine has been given the green light for a second-phase human trial Scientists at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention are developing a vaccine that works…

One of the 17 goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is the eradication of hunger An initiative launched in June sees China and Africa cooperating in the rice value chain Rice is a staple food item or an alternative food crop for many Africans. But many African countries depend on rice imports to…

China launched the “Long March 11” rocket from a mobile platform in the Yellow Sea Rocket sends seven satellites into orbit From a mobile launch platform on the Yellow Sea, a seaborne rocket blasts off. Named “Long March 11”, the solid-propellant carrier rocket was the first of its kind to take off from water in…

Chinese phone manufacturer saw a gap in the market in Africa Handsets offer multiple features that cater specifically to African needs Tecno, a flagship brand of Chinese Transsion, is one of the top cellphone brands in Africa. Unlike Huawei and Xiaomi, Tecno did not initially develop in China and then expand. Transsion built its base…

China’s Belt and Road Initiative helps develop science in Africa Agriculture, information technology benefit China is playing a role in growing science across Africa, with agriculture and information technology key beneficiaries. A team of Chinese and Kenyan researchers in Nairobi have developed wine-producing grapes. Developed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the grapes varieties have…

Africa-China relations have strengthened over the years In turn, Africa has benefited from China’s input Africa has seen steady economic transformation over the years – in part, assisted by the relationship between Africa and China. The transformation is visible in infrastructure, agriculture, communication technology and manufacturing, among others. China’s “going out” strategy, which encourages Chinese…

Chinese sales of electric vehicles reached 1.1 million in 2018 This makes up over 55% of all electric vehicles sold worldwide The world is in a race against time to find alternative sources of energy that do not harm the earth, or are likely to run out soon. China has been making headway in all…

China donates agricultural equipment to Zimbabwe This will help boost agricultural production China has donated US$136 000 of agricultural equipment to Zimbabwe to help the country reach its goal of becoming an upper middle-income economy by 2030. The equipment will help improve agriculture, which in turn will boost the economy as farming is the backbone of…

Many Chinese companies are flourishing due to top-notch management and adapting to China’s highly competitive domestic market Chinese government’s investment into key sectors plays a significant part in the success of these companies These Chinese companies are among the best innovators in the world: Huawei Huawei manufactures mainly phones and telecommunication networks. The company is…

China has found a new way to transport cargo with large balloon-like ships China Aviation Industry General Aircraft company to build the airship starting in 2022 China is always on the lookout for new ways to transport goods in a cost-effective manner. Cargo airships may be the answer to delivering produce to remote locations that…

China chooses Ehang to develop passenger drones The drone – known as Ehang184 Autonomous Aerial Vehicle – has wowed critics A quadcopter passenger drone has undergone numerous tests carrying actual passengers in conditions that have mimicked a category 7 typhoon, high temperatures and visibility-hampering fog scenarios. Chinese based drone manufacturer, Ehang, first debuted the drone…

Chinese farmers have swopped heavy backpacks of pesticide for remote controls 1.2 million Chinese farmers use drones Peng Bin was on a road trip in Xinjiang in 2012 when he noticed that elderly farmers were struggling under the weight of pesticide tanks strapped to their backs. This gave him the idea for agricultural drones. Peng…

China has changed its reputation from global factory to the centre of technology innovation  Government initiatives such as “Made in China” encourages innovation China is already far ahead of the rest of the globe in sectors such as e-commerce, financial technology and transport, says Johnny Hon, Chinese angel investor and chairman of Global Group. Chinese…

China is the 3rd country in the world to successfully complete a maiden flight with a hydrogen fuel plane This is a major step towards low-carbon & sustainable transport China has completed 10 test flights for its new hydrogen fuel aircraft as it tries out various tails and types of landing gear. The aircraft, named…

Everyone assumes the fourth industrial revolution will be about technology Actually, it will be centred around renewable energy and led by China There have been three industrial revolutions in the past two centuries. The first, led by the British, was the rising of steam energy which allowed for mechanisation and was implemented widely by railways.…

The 21stcentury is said to belong to China, but the 22ndcentury could be Africa’s The rising of the African Century could be due to rapid Chinese investment coupled with homegrown innovation  Since 2000 China has invested or committed to invest in excess of $359 billion in Africa, according to the China Investment Global Tracker. This…

Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies praises R72 million investment in Hisense factory in Cape Town  150 jobs created Hisense started producing a television production line in Johannesburg in 2000. This was its first foray into South Africa. In 2013, it expanded to Cape Town with a R350 million plant in Atlantis. The company expanded…

The label ‘Made in China’ used to mean poor quality, cheap products – but this is no longer true Most workers enjoy decent working environments, not slave-like conditions China has a reputation for producing poor quality products in slave-like conditions. While this may be true of some manufacturers, these are in the minority. One widely…

The plan: a system of satellites that will provide free internet access  Set to be launched by 2026 Many places around the world, particularly rural areas, don’t have access to the web. China has seen a gap in the market for free and reliable internet access. LinkSure Network, founded in Shanghai in 2013, is heading…

The Chinese company’s new Mavic 2 aircraft use 10 sensors to prevent collisions with objects above and below them, the BBC reported. The drone will also be able to detect threats in front or behind and to their left or right. The foldable aircraft, which is already available on pre-order in some countries, also offer…