Nigeria Times

By Jin Xin, People’s Daily

As digital technology advances rapidly, its impact can be seen everywhere.

Therefore, it’s essential to ensure that rural and remote communities, as well as elderly individuals and people with disabilities, can fully integrate into the digital society and bridge the digital divide.

In recent years, various regions across China have launched measures to enhance people’s digital literacy and skills, improve digital accessibility, and provide inclusive public services. These efforts aim to promote the equal sharing of digital development benefits for all.

In a “smart living room” at a comprehensive senior service center in Xianxia Xincun neighborhood, Changning district, Shanghai, an instructor was demonstrating how to use smart appliances to elderly residents.

“Lights in the bedroom, living room, and bathroom are connected to motion sensors, so they automatically turn on when someone passes by,” the instructor explained.

Enhancing digital literacy and skills among the elderly is a vital part of helping them embrace digital lifestyles and narrowing the digital gap.

The China Internet Development Foundation has launched programs such as “Silver Digital Literacy Program,” aiming to improve digital literacy of the elderly in 100 communities.

The China Association for Science and Technology has also introduced a relevant program, which plans to establish “tech universities” and teams of volunteers to help seniors learn about digital technology, and host workshops, training sessions, and seminars.

The All-China Women’s Federation has rolled out an action plan to help elderly women learn to use smart phones, smart appliances, and other digital products.

The elderly is not the only group that needs to be taken into consideration.

The vocational and technical training center for persons with disabilities of Jilin province has launched a drone operation training course.

“The instructors not only taught us how to fly drones but also gave us a detailed understanding of drone structure, flight principles, operational guidelines, and maintenance, laying a solid foundation for us to pursue relevant careers,” said one who participated in the training course.

Working to improve digital skills of people with disabilities, the center is creating new job opportunities for them. It offers training courses focusing on new digital business forms such as livestreaming, short video production, commercial photography, and mobile phone repair.

In parallel with digital literacy and skills improvement, efforts are also made to make smart terminals more accessible for the elderly.

China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has facilitated the elderly friendly renovations of over 2,000 websites and apps often used by the elderly. Besides, China’s Ministry of Transport has expanded the reach of “one-click” ride-hailing services and improved accessible transportation options for seniors.

In September 2023, some first-year university students in southwest China’s Guizhou province joined a digital literacy course online. The course was originally designed for freshmen at East China Normal University in Shanghai, and was later extended to ten universities in Guizhou starting 2023, including Guizhou University of Commerce and Guizhou University of Finance and Economics. The course has been joined by over 38,000 students.

Since the launch of a “MOOC (massive open online courses) for Less-developed Western Region” initiative, universities in eastern China have provided 207,000 online courses to western institutions, gaining 590 million views so far.

Moreover, digital technology is advancing rapidly into rural areas. By the end of 2023, the internet penetration rate in rural China had reached 66.5 percent, underscoring the growing demand for digital literacy and skills in these communities.

In Golog Tibetan autonomous prefecture in northwest China’s Qinghai province, villager Drolma attended a workshop on livestream e-commerce, hoping to expand the online sales channel for local farm produce and handicrafts.

This workshop was part of a “Women Up” economic support program for rural women, which combines online and offline entrepreneurial training, startup incubation support, and resource matching to improve digital literacy and skills for rural women in western provinces like Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan, Shaanxi, and Gansu.

Alongside e-commerce, rural communities are increasingly exposed to educational programs on smart device use, internet security, and data security.

With a growing abundance of digital resources, an improving digital environment, and continually rising levels of digital literacy, the light of a digital civilization is illuminating the lives of more people across China.

By Yin Xiaoyu, People’s Daily

China’s first smart electric vehicle (EV) charging and battery-swapping demonstration zone was completed in east China’s Jiangsu province. The zone covers nearly 500 square kilometers in the cities of Suzhou, Wuxi and Changzhou. With about 1,300 charging piles, it serves over 500,000 new energy vehicle (NEV) drivers.

Through efficient interaction among NEVs, charging and battery-swapping stations, and urban power grids, smart EV charging and battery-swapping improves the utilization efficiency of charging piles and reduces the waiting time for drivers.

While providing a convenient and efficient charging experience to users, it promotes the healthy development of the NEV market and contributes to the green and smart development of the transportation sector.

“This app can guide me to the nearest charging station that saves me the most waiting time. It also tells me the number of vacant charging piles at the station and the period when the charging fee is at the lowest,” a tourist surnamed Li told People’s Daily at a public charging station in Binhu district, Wuxi.

According to Li, she drove all the way to Wuxi from Jiangsu’s Changshu. When she arrived in Wuxi, she found her vehicle had only 30 percent of electricity left, and then she was guided to the charging station with the mobile application echargenet.

“It’s around 10 a.m., and the charging price is 1.17 yuan ($0.16) per kWh, with a service fee of 0.51 yuan per kWh. Using a 50 percent discount coupon provided by the platform for the service fee, it saves me over 10 yuan on a full charge,” Li said.

In the past, she always chose the charging station nearest to her when the battery ran low, so she had no way to know whether there were vacant charging piles. When there were many vehicles waiting to be charged, she had to look for other stations.

Yuan Xiaodong, senior technical director of the electric power research institute of State Grid Jiangsu Electric Power Co., Ltd., said that smart charging for EVs integrates and regulates distributed resources within the broader power grid. This includes data aggregation analysis for “vehicle-station-grid,” collaborative planning of network layouts, and an AI platform for operational decision-making.

Specifically, the echargenet app utilizes various algorithm models to provide optimal recommendations based on factors such as driving habits, traffic conditions, and power load on the grid. It can predict when a vehicle’s battery will drop to the charging threshold, offering users with plans that are most time-saving and economical.

If there are long lines of vehicles waiting at a charging station during a specific time period, the platform will issue discount coupons to users based on their preferences, thus guiding parts of them to nearby stations with more vacant piles and reducing the electricity load at one single station.

In Xinwu district, Wuxi, there is a vehicle to grid (V2G) interactive verification base, whose first phase functions as a solar farm, power storage station, charging station and reverse charging station. It has established a multi-energy management system to uniformly monitor and manage the operation of these systems.

Some other bases of this type are also capable of performing battery testing while the vehicles are being charged.

Liu, who has an NEV, noticed a significant decline in his car’s range. Recently, while charging his car at a charging station on Sheng’an Road in Wuxi, he was informed that battery testing could be conducted during the charging process without needing to remove the battery. Therefore, Liu opted for a quick test. About 20 minutes later, he received a report on his vehicle’s power battery.

The report indicated that the coulombic efficiency of the battery of Liu’s vehicle was at a relatively poor level of approximately 92.62 percent, while the energy efficiency was about 88.77 percent, which barely met standard. Liu was advised to visit a dealer for battery maintenance.

In long-distance driving, there is an increasingly evident need for battery swapping. As each NEV model has a different battery type, comprehensive battery swapping stations are particularly necessary.

The second phase of the V2G interactive verification base in Wuxi is currently under construction, which includes a dedicated battery swapping area. This area will feature battery storage that supports battery swapping for mainstream NEVs. When an NEV enters the swapping area, the battery storage will automatically call up the appropriate battery based on its model, and the entire swapping process will be carried out by robots, taking only about three minutes.

Furthermore, the second phase of the base is expected to include facilities such as mobile charging and testing piles, comprehensive energy stations, and 1,000 kW supercharging stations. This will create an innovative base for intelligent microgrid systems and a demonstration area for collaborative micro-energy solutions with diverse elements and scenarios.

By Dong Siyu, People’s Daily

Tana, a 40-year-old herder, lives by a lake in the Badain Jaran Desert, north China’s Inner Mongolia autonomous region. “My family has been living here for generations and living in harmony with nature. I have a deep affection for the desert,” said Tana.

After working out of town for some time, she chose to return to the desert. Now, she and her husband raise over 20 camels and run a B&B hotel, welcoming guests from all over the country to experience the charm of the desert.

The Badain Jaran Desert is located on the Alashan Plateau and is the third largest desert and second largest drifting desert in China. It features the world’s tallest, stabilized sand dune, the highest concentration of inter-dunal lakes, the largest expanse of so-called singing sands and wind-eroded landforms.

Despite the extremely low annual precipitation, 144 lakes have been discovered in the area, with the most famous being Daghtu Lake.

“Due to its rich mineral elements and salt-loving organisms, the water of the Daghtu Lake displays different colors from spring to winter, such as light red, pink, and deep red,” said Dong Zhibao, vice president of Shaanxi Normal University, who has long been studying the Badain Jaran Desert.

With majestic towering sand dunes and colorful lakes among them, the Badain Jaran Desert showcases extraordinary natural beauty. In July this year, the Badain Jaran Desert – Towers of Sand and Lakes, was included on the World Heritage List by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), demonstrating to the world the unique value of lakes and sand dunes as natural heritage while also laying the foundation for further research on the formation of sand dunes and the protection of desert lakes.

After a roar of the engine subsided, Liu Weibin, an official with the Alxa Desert UNESCO Global Geopark, jumped out of an off-road vehicle and took out a handheld monitoring terminal, starting to check the patrol points on the satellite map.

The natural heritage sites are monitored by Liu and his colleagues once a month. Besides, they would also verify the changes in satellite map patches caused by human activities or natural reasons. All identified issues will be immediately reported and resolved, said Liu.

“Desert is a part of the Earth’s ecosystem and is crucial for climate regulation and biodiversity protection,” said Dong. He highlighted that the most effective way to protect natural deserts is to refrain from intervention or destruction, while striving to maintain the originality of their ecosystems.

For hundreds of years, respecting nature and protecting the environment has been the shared belief among local nomadic herders.

“Since I can remember, my family has always advised me against polluting the lakes and harming wildlife,” said Tana.

These herders have turned into a vital force in the protection of natural heritage. Some of them have been appointed as ecological rangers, responsible for daily patrols of heritage sites and instructing other herders on how to manage waste effectively, said Zhang Zhaoxin, deputy head of the forestry and desertification control bureau of Alxa Right Banner.

To strengthen the comprehensive and systematic protection of natural heritage, local authorities have started formulating management plans and regulations. They have also conducted a survey to fully understand the types, quantities, and quality of natural resources in the natural heritage sites, so as to provide data and scientific basis for the protection and management.

“Would we need to relocate if the site is listed as a World Heritage Site?” Tana once had this question.

She was soon reassured after receiving comforting words from Yu Qingzhi, an expert with the International Union for Conservation of Nature: “The local herders contribute to these natural heritage sites and are safeguarded as well. They can still maintain their traditional way of life, but they are restricted from excessive production.”

In the Badain Jaran Desert, there are dozens of herder households like Tana, primarily depending on raising camels and sheep for a living. While applying for World Heritage status, the local government held herder meetings to fully consider their opinions.

Each year from September to October, the Badain Jaran Desert experiences the highest influx of tourists. Since being recognized as a World Heritage Site, there has been a surge in the number of visitors.

“Even though the journey is quite long, seeing such magnificent sand dunes and lakes makes it all worthwhile,” said Zhang Baojuan, a tourist from north China’s Tianjin municipality.

Apart from herding, some herders even work as guides and operate B&B hotels to raise their income. “We are happy to share the beauty of our hometown with the world, and we also wish for tourists to join us in protecting the local ecological environment,” Tana said.

By Shi Yu, People’s Daily

“Quick, quick, quick, it’s up!” With a burst of cheers, Pu, a tourist from south China’s Guangdong province, swiftly scooped up a freshly caught onespot seaperch with a net.

Pu, along with other tourists, was enjoying a sea fishing experience on an oyster farming raft owned by Xu Meizhen, a resident of Xiaxikeng village, located in the waters off Qianlou township, Dongshan county, Zhangzhou, southeast China’s Fujian province.

“This place is near the sea and the environment is beautiful. There are so many fun activities. It’s worth every bit!” said Pu, who’s a fishing enthusiast living in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong province.

Staying at Xu’s B&B hotel, he was taken by Xu together with other guests to join various seaside activities, including fishing, oyster harvesting, and fish net-making, to experience the lifestyle of local fishermen.

Nestled amid mountains and the sea, Xiaxikeng village boasts picturesque scenery.

“We were fully booked all summer, and business is still quite good now,” said Xu, who began running the B&B business in 2019 using her vacant rooms. In recent years, her business has been thriving. “Our village has broad sea and clear waters. Who wouldn’t love it?” she said.

However, a few years ago, the waters around Xiaxikeng village were plagued by pollution from aquaculture. “The water was murky, and a strong fishy smell lingered near the shore,” recalled Shen Haochao, deputy mayor of Qianlou township.

Only pristine water attracts tourists. Starting in 2020, Xiaxikeng village has moved the coastal aquaculture zone 800 meters further offshore and reduced the density of aquaculture activities. Besides, villagers also replaced foam buoys with plastic ones to reduce marine litter.

Embracing the change, Xu upgraded her oyster and seaweed farming facilities in 2022.

 “Gracilaria farming doesn’t require feed, and it can even fix carbon dioxide. Xiaxikeng village produces over 100,000 tons of Gracilaria annually, which earns villagers not only money but also carbon credits,” Shen explained.

According to estimation on the village’s annual carbon sequestration capacity, the village can generate a potential carbon trading volume of 946,000 yuan ($132,827). In 2023, the village sold 420,000 yuan worth of “blue carbon” credits.

“Some of the revenue from carbon credits goes toward collecting marine litter to maintain our ecological environment,” Shen said.

Thanks to the joint efforts of local officials and residents, aquaculture zoning has improved, and the marine environment has noticeably brightened. During the peak tourist season from June to October, Xu is always busy with her B&B business, while from October to May, she focuses on aquaculture.

“In the past, I could only earn money for half a year, but now I have work and income year-round,” she said, smiling.

Like Xu Meizhen, fellow villager Xu Yanfeng also offers a variety of marine experiences on his leisure fishing raft. “Visitors can enjoy over 10 activities such as speedboating, night fishing and crab trapping. Fishing on the raft and eating your catch right away is very popular,” Xu Yanfeng said.

In the past two years, Xiaxikeng village has welcomed nearly 500,000 tourists annually, generating over 20 million yuan in tourism revenue, according to Xu Guixi, the Party chief of the village.

To further enhance collaborative marine management, Qianlou township has made Xiaxikeng village a central hub, partnering with neighboring Dingshang and Yecuo villages to establish an inter-village committee, Shen Haochao told People’s Daily. Addressing environmental issues by dividing the area into distinct zones, the committee aims to further improve the marine ecological environment.

Besides, the villages have invested capital, assets, and resources in programs that integrate fishery and tourism, so as to further increase the income for villagers.