Group birthday party held for pandas in Shanghai zoo

Three giant pandas born in October celebrated their birthday together at Shanghai Wild Animal Park on Friday.

Under the watchful eye of panda fans, seven-year-old Xue Bao and Qian Jin, and five-year-old Kang Kang, enjoyed their special birthday feast presented by animal care staff of the zoo.

The zoo also carefully prepared handmade birthday gifts, including exquisite bamboo beds, swivel chairs, bamboo baskets and other toys.

The giant panda birthday celebration is expected to last for one week. During this period, visitors are welcomed to write blessing cards and make Chinese 'wotou' (steamed bread made from corn, soybeans, rice and eggs) or toys for pandas. The birthday party was held to help the public learn more about these adorable creatures.

China launched a Long March-8A carrier rocket on Saturday in the southern island province of Hainan, sending a group of internet satellites into space.

The rocket lifted off at 15:53 from the Hainan commercial spacecraft launch site. It successfully placed the payloads, the 14th group of low-orbit internet satellites, into preset orbit.

Developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, the Long March-8A rocket is 50.5 meters long with a takeoff weight of 371 tonnes. It is capable of carrying up to 7 tonnes to a sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 700 km.

The rocket completed its maiden flight in February this year and has since entered a high-density launch mode.

This mission marks the first time the Long March-8 series rocket has switched its primary propellant from conventional petroleum-based rocket kerosene to coal-based rocket kerosene.

The new fuel is environmentally friendly, easy to store and transport, and more cost-effective. Its performance remains stable and reliable as petroleum-based rocket kerosene, which can establish a "green power" foundation for subsequent high-frequency launch missions.