An aquaculture base deep in the Taklamakan Desert of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has achieved remarkable success in seafood farming, with various species such as pearl oysters, grouper, and seabass flourishing in the desert environment.
Located in Qiemo County, Bayingolin Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture, the facility utilizes advanced technology, including oxygenators and automated feeders, to maintain optimal conditions for marine fish growing in the ponds.
Covering approximately 1.3 hectares, the site includes two fish ponds, a breeding pool, and a seafood production workshop. It began operations in June after three months of construction.
The ponds currently host around 100,000 marine fish, including golden pomfret, grouper, and seabass, as well as two million pearl oyster seedlings and other aquatic species for trial farming.
"Our fish have grown from 3 centimeters to 8 or 9 centimeters, showing excellent growth. All of them are marine species. If things go on well, the first batch of fish will be market-ready in about four months," said Gong Yonghong, chairman of Shishixian Aquaculture Company.
Adapting to local conditions, the facility uses desert saline-alkaline water combined with specially produced microorganisms to replicate marine conditions, marking a significant innovation in aquaculture.
Specialized technicians at the base have been closely monitoring fish growth, adjusting farming strategies as needed, and maintaining a high survival rate through rigorous water quality testing and microbial treatment, ensuring the success of seafood farming in the desert.
Seafood farming thrives in Taklamakan Desert
China delivered its first domestically developed new large liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier to an international customer in Shanghai on Monday, marking a significant advancement in the country's shipbuilding industry.
This vessel, featuring cutting-edge cargo containment systems, fills a crucial gap in China's shipbuilding capabilities in this domain.
Constructed by the Jiangnan Shipyard (Group) Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation, the vessel utilizes the latest third-generation membrane containment system for storing liquefied natural gas.
This technology reduces the insulation and shielding layer thickness from 530mm to 400mm, allowing for increased cargo capacity compared to the previous models. The new design also minimizes cargo evaporation during transport, enhancing safety and promoting energy efficiency, meeting international standards. "This vessel epitomizes the internationally prevalent membrane-type LNG cargo hold structure, divided into four compartments capable of meeting a city's one-month LNG demand in a single trip. Given the stringent safety requirements for LNG transport, the ship is equipped with over 10,000 alarm points and is designed for a lifespan of 40 years," said Song Bowen, the chief construction engineer for the LNG carrier at Jiangnan Shipyard.
The delivery marks a breakthrough for China, breaking the previous dominance of foreign shipyards in the construction of this type of LNG carrier. It also enhances China's position in the high-tech, high-value shipbuilding sector.
"With this vessel, China has achieved a zero breakthrough in this field. The successful construction of this LNG carrier will facilitate closer cooperation in energy transportation and marine equipment. Currently, we have a total of eight orders for this model, and we plan to progressively optimize and iterate on the product to introduce more efficient and leading-edge vessels," said Song.
China's first self-developed new large-scale LNG carrier delivered in Shanghai
China's first self-developed new large-scale LNG carrier delivered in Shanghai
