Nigeria Times

By Zhang Tie, Zhang Danhua, People’s Daily

In March 1974, local farmers accidentally unearthed fragments of clay figurines while digging a well in Lintong, northwest China’s Shaanxi province, leading to one of the most significant archeological discoveries in the 20th century — the army of Terracotta Warriors.

As a treasure of Chinese civilization, the Terracotta Warriors offer a vivid glimpse into the formidable national power, burial customs and artistic achievements in the era of Emperor Qinshihuang, the first emperor to unify China, during the Qin Dynasty (221 BC-207 BC).

After 50 years of archaeological excavation, the “underground army” has unveiled its true form. It contains about 8,000 figurines of terracotta warriors and horses and 40,000 weapons, which are spread across three pits, covering an area of over 20,000 square meters.

There are also vividly displayedmilitary formationsdating back to over 2,000 years, accompanied by functional areas such as military camps and tents. Besides, the Terracotta Warriors exhibit diverse clothing and hairstyles, and each warrior is unique in appearance.

The discovery and excavation of the Terracotta Warriors have led to a systematic and comprehensive exploration of the Emperor Qinshihuang’s Mausoleum Site Museum (hereinafter referred to as “the museum”), which covers an area of approximately 56 square kilometers. In 1987, the Emperor Qinshihuang Mausoleum and Terracotta Warriorswereincluded in the World Heritage List by UNESCO.

On September 8, 2024, an emergency protection lab was established and put into operation at pit No. 1 of the museum, while an archaeological excavation and protection platform was set up and started operating at pit No. 2.

The emergency protection lab is equipped with an environment control system, specialized lighting, work recording capabilities, a system for collecting information on cultural relics, and devices for lifting and transporting cultural relics.

According to Shen Maosheng, a researcher with the museum, these systems and equipment were implemented for the purpose of excavating, protecting, and displaying cultural relics simultaneously.It is backed by an innovative approach that combines on-site emergency protection, archaeological platforms, specialized equipment, and information technology.

Over the past 50 years, cultural heritage workers have tackled a number of technological challenges, including the protection of excavation sites, the restoration of the pieces of the painted Terracotta Warriors, and using remote sensing and geophysical prospecting to uncover the secrets of the underground palace.

While the Terracotta Warriors on display to the public seem to be tall and intact, upon their initial excavation,they were mostly in a broken state, with each warrior typically consisting of numerous fragments.

“Before they begin their work, repairersoften spend one to three years practicing even a single technique such as adhesive bonding,” said Lan Desheng, a cultural relicsconservation and restoration expert with the museum. Lan said that even a deviation as small as one millimeter in the bottom fragments can hinder them from aligning properly at the top.

In the restoration process, industrial scanners have been utilized to gather surface information of cultural relics, thereby establishing a three-dimensional database; virtual stitching technology has been employed to assemble the fragments in a specific orderbased onthe measurements of geometric similarity. These cutting-edge technologies are instrumental in restoring the Terracotta Warriors to their original appearance and in enhancing efforts related to the protection, restoration design, and digital display.

The Terracotta Warriors exhibit a diverse range of colors. However, without timely protection, the pigments on the figurines can quickly dehydrate, curl, and peel off within minutes of being excavated.

Since the 1980s and 1990s, scientists from home and abroad have collaborated to research and develop techniques for analyzing and preserving the painted colors, with the goal of maintaining this vibrant and colorful underground world.

In May this year, the museumreached an agreement with the Foundation for Cultural Heritage Sciencesin France to collaborate onresearch for protecting wooden remains and earthen archaeological sites. Besides, ithas partnered with research institutions from Germany, Belgium, the United Kingdom (UK), and other countries to enhance dialogue on safeguarding world cultural heritage.So far, it has received over 160 million visits from home and abroad who came to witness the grandeur of the Qin Dynasty.

The Terracotta Warriors have emerged as a global icon, acting as China’s “golden card.” In 1976, two warrior figurines and a clay horse from the site made their debut in Japan, marking the first overseas showcase of the Terracotta Warriors.

An exhibition related to the Terracotta Warriors in the UK from 2007 to 2008 sold out 100,000 tickets, while the exhibition “Terracotta Warriors and Ancient China: Heritage from the Qin and Han Dynasty” in Japan from 2022 to 2023 attracted over 400,000 localvisitors. Each exhibition overseas featuring the Terracotta Warriors has sparked a surge of interest in Chinese culture.

Since its opening, the museum has welcomed more than 230 foreign heads of state and dignitaries. A total of 277 exhibitionshave been held in nearly 200 cities across over 50 countries and regions, attracting a total of 20 million visits. The number of overseas exhibitions and the size of the audience rank among the best in the world.

“Over the past 50 years, the protection, excavation, research, interpretation, inheritance, and utilization of the museumhaveexemplified China’s innovative practices and dedication to staying current in fields such as archaeological exploration, cultural relic restoration, scientific protection, site display, heritage education, and cultural exchanges,” said Li Gang, curator of the museum.

“We are committed to continuing our efforts in sharing the story of the Qinshihuang Mausoleum and the Terracotta Warriors with the world, establishing a model for the protection, inheritance, and promotion of cultural heritage,” Li said.

By Yu Sinan, Liu Shiyao, Wu Yuehui, People’s Daily

China’s Chang’e-6 mission returned to Earth on June 25, bringing back 1,953.3 grams of lunar samples. The lunar samples, which were collected from the far side of the moon for the first time in human history, have garnered worldwide attention. They will offer fresh perspectives on the disparities between the near side and far side of the moon, as well as the evolution of the moon.

On August 21, China National Space Administration (CNSA)selected 16 research teams from 13 institutesthat excelled in the research of lunar samples brought back by the Chang’e-5 mission to participate in the initial round of sample research proposal and application review for Chang’e-6 lunar samples. The Institute of Geology and Geophysics (IGG) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) secured a spot in this selection based on its exceptional performance in the study of the Chang’e-5 lunar samples.

The Chang’e-5 probe returned to Earth on December 17, 2020, with 1,731 grams of lunar samples. The IGG received three grams of these samples and divided them into two small bottles, one holding one gram and the other holding two grams.

Li Xianhua, an academician with the CAS and a researcher with the IGG, still vividly remembers the moment when he saw thesoil samples. “The moon soil was incredibly fine, with an average particle size of only 50 microns,” said Li.

“We hesitated to open the samples easily because many very fine particles not only adhered to the glass but could also escape from the bottle,” Li recalled.

After receiving the soil samples, the IGG wasted no time in calling for a project kickoff meeting. Wu Fuyuan, head of the IGG, laid out the team’s tasks clearly: conduct radiometric dating, delve into petrology and geochemistry, analyze water content, and study strontium, neodymium, and hydrogen isotopes within a week, followed by the drafting of papers for submission within another week.

The plan was not haphazardly put together. Prior to this, each member of the research team had made thorough preparations, possessing a wealth of knowledge and technological expertise.

Through relentless efforts, the team quickly achieved the first significant milestone as planned, setting a new benchmark for speed in lunar soil research. With just 0.15 grams of lunar soil, the team completed the analysis in seven days, finalized the paper in 16 days, and published three papers on Nature within 100 days, pushing back the known end time of lunar magma activity by one billion years.

“The swift progress was also attributed to the careful selection and assessment of the landing area by researchers before the Chang’e-5 mission, enabling the successful collection of the youngest lunar basalt samples. The new samples that had never been studied before allowed us to swiftly gain many new insights,” said He Huaiyu, a member of the research team and a researcher with the IGG.

Over the past three-plus years, the CNSA has shared 85.48 grams of lunar samples collected by the Chang’e-5 mission with 131 Chinese research teams in seven batches. The initial round of international applications has undergone expert evaluation. To date, more than 100 papers have been published, continuously enhancing human understanding of the moon.

International cooperation was a prominent aspect of the Chang’e-6 lunar probe mission. The mission carriedfour international payloads, including Pakistan’s ICUBE-Q.

It marked Pakistan’s first venture into lunar exploration. The cube satellite was jointly developed by Pakistan’s Institute of Space Technology and China’sShanghai Jiao Tong University, with Professor Wu Shufan from the university’s School of Aeronautics and Astronauticsleading the Chinese team.

“Despite its small size, ICUBE-Q boasts quite many technological innovations,” Wu said. For instance, it is equipped with on-orbit fault diagnosis algorithms that enable the satellite to automatically detect and diagnose potential system failures. The satellite also implements dynamic intelligent task scheduling strategies and utilizes advanced materials such as special magnesium alloys and honeycomb carbon fibers.

According to the mission requirements, the satellite was designed for a nominal lifespan of five hours, but in reality, it was operational in orbit for 55 days, continuously transmitting images and monitoring data,and providing valuable firsthand information for Pakistan’s lunar research.

“The achievements have far exceeded expectations,” Wu said.

China’s Chang’e-7 lunar exploration mission will carry six international scientific instruments developed by six countries and one international organization, and Chang’e-8 will offer 200 kilograms of international payload capacity and has garnered over 30 applications.

“Chang’e” belongs not only to China but also to all humanity, providing a broad stage for international space cooperation, and contributing Chinese wisdom and strength to global deep space exploration. The Chinese lunar exploration project will continue advancing without pause.

By Li Shuo, People’s Daily

The 2024 Women’s Tennis Association (WTA)Guangzhou Open tennis tournament concluded on Oct. 27 in Guangzhou, capital of south China’s Guangdong province. This event, which enjoys a history of 20 years, once again swept China with a “tennis fever.”

“Breakthrough” is what defines China’s tennis in 2024.

This year, Chinese tennis players have constantly made breakthroughs in their personal performance and world ranking. At the Paris Olympics, Zheng Qinwen claimed the women’s singles gold, and the Chinese duo Zhang Zhizhen and Wang Xinyu won a silver in the mixed doubles. Their success made China’s tennis a trending topic.

Besides, ticket sales of tennis tournaments in China soared. The Chinese people are having an increasingly higher passion for watching tennis games and joining the sport.

Unlike in table tennis and badminton, tennis has not been a traditional area of strength for China. The sport is demanding in skills, court conditions and training cost, which once hindered its development in China and made it difficult for the sport to get close to the public.

It was in 2004 when Chinese tennis players won a gold medal in the women’s doubles at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens that the sport embarked on a development path with Chinese characteristics in China.

Medals won by Chinese athletes at the Paris Olympics brought a tennis boom in China.

Since the conclusion of the Paris Olympics, tennis has embraced explosive development in China, as proved by the non-stop inquiries received by tennis training agencies and the surge in the sales of tennis apparels and equipment.

The tennis tournaments being hosted across the country pushed the “tennis fever” to new highs. They provided opportunities to tennis fans to watch top-notch games and cheer for players around the courts.

Bai Xilin, director of the tennis administration center under the General Administration of Sport of China, believes that the prospering development of the sport of tennis is an epitome of China growing from a major sports country into a sporting powerhouse.

On the evening of Oct. 13, the women’s singles final match of the WTA Wuhan Open tennis tournament was staged at the Optics Valley International Tennis Center in Wuhan, central China’s Hubei province. The spectators stand was fully-seated, immersed in the cheers for Chinese player Zheng Qinwen.

According to statistics, both the single-day and total ticket sales of the WTA Wuhan Open made historical highs this time. A total of over 180,000 tennis fans came to the court to watch the games, up 80 percent from the same period in 2019.

The China Open and Shanghai Masters tennis tournament, which were held during China’s National Day holiday in the beginning of October, delivered even more impressive results. The ticket revenue of the 2024 China Open surpassed 80 million yuan ($11.21 million), a 60 percent increase from last year, setting a new record in the tournament’s history. The Shanghai Masters also broke event records for both attendance number and ticket sales, with over 220,000 spectators attending in person.

The sport of tennis mirrors drastic changes in Chinese people’s lifestyles and will release huge consumption potential. Studies show that the sports industry soars when per capita GDP exceeds $8,000. As the living standard and ability of consumption of Chinese residents keep growing, the foundation for the popularization of tennis will be further cemented.

Expanded tennis population and sufficient tennis courts also contributed to the rapid development of the sport in China.

According to a 2021 report by the International Tennis Federation, China ranked second globally in tennis participation, with 19.92 million people involved in the sport, accounting for 22.9 percent of the world’s tennis population. The country also had 49,767 tennis courts, the second highest number in the world.

China’s tennis still enjoys immense growth space given the country’s population and potential in economic and social development, Bai noted.

This year, many international tennis events were hosted in China, showcasing to the world the new vibrancy of China’s tennis.

According to Chinese Tennis Association, China hosted 98 international tennis tournaments in 48 cities this year, which were joined by athletes, coaches and technical officials from 52 countries and regions. These numbers prove the high recognition from the international tennis community for China’s atmosphere and ability to host tennis events.

Tennis events are building a bridge for better communication and an image of openness and friendship.

In Hangzhou, east China’s Zhejiang province, Chinese professional tennis player Wu Yibing and Russian athlete Karen Khachanov toured the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, where they learned to make paper cutting and savored tea together. American player Coco Gauff and Spanish player Carlos Alcaraz jointly visited the Palace Museum in Beijing and posed for pictures in traditional Chinese costumes together.

What’s more, the Shanghai Masters this year hosted an exhibition doubles match, in which Roger Federer teamed up with Chinese pop singer Eason Chan and faced off against Zhang Zhizhen and Olympic table tennis champion Fan Zhendong. This fun game that featured a sport-entertainment crossover attracted high attention from the world.

“China is gradually instilling Chinese sportsmanship and Chinese civilization in and will make its unique contribution to global tennis development,” Bai said.