Tiny sensors leverage hundred-billion-level industrial chain in China's Henan

Zhengzhou City, the provincial capital of central China's Henan, is using tiny sensors to leverage a hundred-billion-level industrial chain, as cities across the province are taking actions to promote the high-quality economic development through vigorously developing high-tech manufacturing industry.

Zhengzhou has been witnessing the rapid development of the local sensor industry, with the number of related companies doubling to 3,000 over the past three years.

A reporter from the China Central Television visited an intelligent sensor laboratory in Zhengzhou on Saturday, where a newly developed "electronic skin" has been tested. The flexible tactile sensor, like a thin film glove, can accurately capture slight touch of the hand and precisely record external pressure changes.

This precise perception is achieved by the sensing points on the surface. There are about 100 sensing points per square centimeter responding at about 1 millisecond, making it possible to reflect pressure changes in real time.

More than a decade ago, China's locally produced sensors were large in size and low in precision, and could easily be replaced in the market. But now, with heavy investment in research and breakthroughs in core technology, the companies in Zhengzhou have the capability to produce extremely small sensors that integrate two different sensing functions in the volume of a grain of rice.

The use of sensors has already been expanded beyond the traditional fields of everyday objects. Their applications include manufacturing and machinery, airplanes and aerospace, cars, medicine, robotics and many other aspects of people's daily life.

In Zhengzhou, the combination of sensors and wind turbines has made power generation safer and more efficient.

At the Huicuishan wind farm in Dengfeng, a county-level city under the jurisdiction of Zhengzhou, each wind wheel makes only 14 revolutions per minute, but it can generate 2,000 kilowatts of electricity an hour, which means that it uses less rotation to make more power than an ordinary full-load generator. "This is the laser wind detection radar dubbed 'wind catching master' which is developed by us. It is more timely and efficient than the conventional wind measurement, and can increase the power generation efficiency by 3 percent to 5 percent, so that the income produced by each wind turbine can be raised by over one million yuan (about 142,000 U.S. dollars). Now we are conducting joint development with enterprises, universities, and scientific research institutes, aiming to develop more sensor products that meet market demand in chip design," said Fang Xin, assistant director of the Zhengzhou Zhongke Integrated Circuit and System Application Research Institute.

"Here, we can do packaging tests on sensors of gas, temperature, pressure and others, and provide the best technical solutions for companies," said Zhou Jirui, deputy director of the advanced packaging test center of the institute.

With the focus on the four key links of intelligent sensor industry -- R and D design, processing and manufacturing, packaging test, material and equipment -- and the traditional dominant position in the gas sensor market, Henan has invested more than 2 billion yuan (about 283.6 million U.S. dollars) to establish the micro nano photoelectron platform of Mozi Laboratory, a key research institution for semiconductor optoelectronic chips based in Zhengzhou.

The construction of an innovation base of Zhengzhou's "quantum valley" has also been launched to further enhance its chip design and production capacity and support the sensor industry's transformation to high-end manufacturing.

Back in 2019, the Programme for China (Zhengzhou) Intelligent Sensor Valley was released, aiming to promote the large-scale, distinctive, differentiated and high-end development of the city's sensor industry. At present, the construction of the project is progressing steadily.

"The China (Zhengzhou) Intelligent Sensor Valley has a space layout of 'one valley with various parks.' The 'one valley' refers to the sensor industry town covering three square kilometers in Gaoxin District of Zhengzhou, and the 'various parks' refer to the themed zones featuring different application scenarios in various cities. This is the pilot plant testing base for intelligent sensing, where Henan's first eight-inch MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical System) pilot test line is under construction. At the start-up area of the valley, entrepreneurs are provided with one-stop industrial services ranging from product development, pilot testing, mass production to product launching," said Shen Pan, operations director of the valley.

Henan has given full play to the leading role of the high-level platforms such as intelligent sensor MEMS R and D service platform, Mozi Laboratory, integrated circuit public R and D platform and integrated circuit pilot test platform. The province is also guiding establishments with advantages in innovation resource to provide pilot scale testing and maturation and secondary development services of R and D results for more colleges, research institutes and related enterprises, so as to transform the scientific research and technology advantages of local intelligent sensor and semiconductor industry chain into product advantages and profit advantages.

Tiny sensors leverage hundred-billion-level industrial chain in China's Henan

Tiny sensors leverage hundred-billion-level industrial chain in China's Henan

An exciting wave of innovative winter tourism experiences is drawing visitors to the icy parts of China, as destinations transform ice and snow resources into immersive, experience-driven attractions that boost local consumption and development.

In Jiuru Mountain Scenic Area in Jinan City, east China's Shandong Province, towering icefalls formed by the area's canyon terrain and sustained winter cold create a spectacular frozen landscape.

Covering around 30,000 square meters, dense icicles and ice curtains hang like crystal glass, offering visitors a prime viewing season.

This winter, the scenic area has creatively incorporated fire elements, installing more than 100 stoves and log cabins throughout the park, creating a unique scene with "a stove available every few steps and a wooden cabin every 100 meters."

"The experience is really amazing and far beyond my expectations," said a tourist named Tian Yujuan.

Beyond sightseeing, the tourist attraction has also introduced more than 20 creative handicraft studios where visitors can make sachets and chocolates, while its snow play park that features ice sleds and snow tubing has become especially popular with families.

Since the New Year's Day, both visitor numbers and operating revenues at the site have more than doubled year on year.

In Yinchuan City, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, local attractions are also expanding winter offerings through a "snow and ice plus" model.

On the Yuehai Lake, tourists wearing specially designed red protective suits float calmly in icy water in an activity known as "ice floating". The suits feature heat-locking inner layers and high-buoyancy outer layers, ensuring warmth and safety, while on-site photography services use drones and cameras to capture the experience.

"On weekends, I am willing to come to nearby cities to experience this kind of effortless relaxation. I find it quite stress-relieving," said a tourist.

In Pingxiliang Village, a small mountain village in suburban Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, ice and snow tourism has become a catalyst for rural revitalization.

Once an extremely impoverished village, Pingxiliang has developed winter cultural tourism by leveraging local resources.

Nowadays, more than 80 percent of households in the village operate homestays, and 236 villagers work in tourism, with related income accounting for over 70 percent of the total revenue.

Meanwhile, at the Sayram Lake in Xinjiang, winter visitors are flocking to newly created blue ice waterfalls -- each about 10 meters high and covering a total area of 15,000 square meters.

Built by staff who erected supports and sprayed water starting in November, the frozen formations preserve the natural shape of cascading water, creating a striking man-made icefall.

Shared widely on social media, the blue ice waterfalls have become a new must-see destination for winter tourists to the Sayram Lake.

China's winter tourism blends ice landscapes with immersive experiences