Smart manufacturing has been boosting the new energy vehicle (NEV) industry in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, streamlining production, cutting costs and enhancing quality.
At a NEV super factory located in the city's Liangjiang New Area, over 1,000 intelligent devices and 3,000 robots are running seamlessly to execute intricate tasks, with a fleet of logistics robots efficiently navigating production lines with minimal human oversight.
Unlike traditional factories bustling with thousands of workers alongside buzzing machines, this intelligent factory operates quietly and efficiently 24 hours a day.
The factory's assembly workshop has achieved an automation rate of 52 percent -- more than doubling the industry average.
The artificial intelligence-powered inspection system at the factory automatically monitors over 300 critical processes throughout manufacturing, guaranteeing quality and precision throughout production.
The installation of 162 bolts connecting the vehicle chassis and body is also closely watched by the intelligent system, which detects and reports even the slightest errors.
The factory has introduced the world's first 9,800-ton super-intelligent die-casting machine, which can integrate 87 components into a single body part. This innovative technology has allowed the vehicle to shed 212 parts and 1,440 welding points, reducing weight and boosting efficiency.
Chongqing produced 997,000 vehicles from Jan to May this year, reclaiming its title as "China's Auto Capital." The NEV output during this period surged by 144.1 percent to 306,000 units.
As Chongqing continues to upgrade its modern industrial system, the city's NEV industry, powered by the smart manufacturing technologies, is set to reach new heights.
Smart manufacturing boosts Chongqing's NEV industry
An increasing influx of elderly overseas travelers now choose to spend some of their post-retirement time traveling in China as the country keeps improving its visa policies and tourism services.
With more elderly travelers coming to China from abroad, the country's inbound tourism market has experienced significant growth. In the first seven months of this year, the country received about six million visits from foreign travelers, marking an over-400-percent increase year on year, according to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China.
Six Dutch tourists recently visited Xi'an City in northwest China's Shaanxi Province to see the terracotta warriors at the site of Emperor Qin Shihuang's Mausoleum.
They are all above the age of 60 and most of them came to China for the very first time. Wilco Poppeliers, one of the travelers, said he has long been expecting this travel and he could only make it after his retirement.
"I think it was very [much] on my bucket list still to visit China. Now I'm retired, I have the time to travel to visit places like this," he said.
For elderly couples from Mongolia, Chinese destinations also maintained strong attraction. Altogether 12 of them have an average age of about 60, with the oldest already 88.
"China is just next to Mongolia. I have visited many places in China like Wutaishan, Zhangjiajie, Hohhot, and Beijing. China has been developing very fast," said one of the tourists.
Along the Lijiang River, famous for its karst landscapes, some 30 overseas tourists recently visited the riverside Moya cliff sculptures and inscription.
The elders said they have been traveling around China before arriving at the cliff site in the southern city of Guilin, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.
"We have traveled around the country and visited a wide range of cities. The travels were very smooth and convenient," said Marcia Akemi Fujinami, a visitor from Brazil.
The rich cultural heritage is what attracts him to China, said Fabrizio, an Italian tourist, adding that visiting the country has been easier as now there are many flights between Europe and China.
"Traveling to China is nowadays quite simple. There are a lot of flights coming from Europe. China is one of the countries with the largest number of UNESCO heritage places in the world. So we are very happy about visiting this country," he said.
China has been promoting inbound travels by accelerating the resumption of flights and improving tourism services for travelers from abroad. Scenic spots across the country have also been facilitating visits for international tourists while enhancing the quality of their products.
With improved visa policies, customs clearance policies, and more payment options, including cash payment, QR code and bank cards, overseas visitors can now enter and enjoy better services in China.
China sees increasing elderly overseas tourists following improved policies, services
