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Chinese scientists discover new early Jurassic dinosaur species in southwest China's Yunnan

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China

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Chinese scientists discover new early Jurassic dinosaur species in southwest China's Yunnan

2024-12-15 19:22 Last Updated At:19:37

China has unveiled a new species of early Jurassic dinosaur, with a somewhat well-preserved fossil of it discovered in southwest China's Yunnan province, the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP) announced recently.

Named Lishulong wangi, the fossil represents one of the largest known early sauropods from the region.

The well-preserved specimen, which includes an intact skull and nine cervical vertebrae, was unearthed in 2007 in the Chuanjie Basin of Yunnan's Lufeng City.

"(The fossil) was discovered in the back hills of Dalishu Village, and, after years of studies, named Lishulong wangi. The name is to commemorate a man named 'Wang Zhengju' who discovered Lufengpithecus fossils. So, the newly discovered fossil has been named after Mr. Wang Zhengju," said Wang Tao, director of Dinosaur Fossil Conservation and Research Center under Lufeng's Department of Natural Resources.

Scientists from the IVPP have classified Lishulong wangi as an early-branching sauropodomorph, closely related to Yunnanosaurus.

The skull alone measures about 40 centimeters in length, making it the largest of its kind found in the Lufeng Formation.

This discovery increased the diversity of dinosaurs in southwest China, and improved the understanding of the evolution of early differentiated sauropods.

"Its skull and cervical spine are better preserved. It would have been about eight meters long when it was alive," Wang said.

The fossil is now on public display at an exhibition hall in the Lufeng Dinosaur Valley.

Chinese scientists discover new early Jurassic dinosaur species in southwest China's Yunnan

Chinese scientists discover new early Jurassic dinosaur species in southwest China's Yunnan

The number of temporary accommodation registrations of foreign nationals in Shanghai hit a record high of 7.139 million in 2025, up 49.6 percent from the previous year, the Exit-Entry Administration Corps of the Shanghai Municipal Public Security Bureau said at a press briefing on Thursday.

The figure, which had already doubled in 2024, points to a continued rise in the number of foreign nationals visiting and staying in the city, highlighting the metropolis's growing appeal to international visitors.

Shanghai also issued more than 200,000 visas and residence permits to foreigners for the second consecutive year in 2025.

Long-term permits, including residence permits, accounted for a share 10 percentage points higher than the previous year, reflecting growing demand for extended stays.

Officials said the increase mirrors Shanghai's expanding openness and improving services for foreign visitors and residents.

"In 2025, Shanghai processed 7.139 million temporary accommodation registrations for foreigners. Following a doubling from the year before last, the figure rose by another 49.6 percent year on year, marking a historical high in the number of foreign nationals coming to Shanghai," said Song Weiqi, deputy head of the administration corps.

Accommodation registrations are required for foreigners staying in China. In 2025, 94.7 percent of temporary accommodation registrations were handled directly by hotels, resulting in a convenient check-in process.

Among foreigners residing in Shanghai's residential communities, 84.8 percent opted for online self-reporting via a multilingual platform that offers efficient, flexible registration.

Meanwhile, to ease the surge in passport applications for foreign travel ahead of the upcoming Chinese New Year holiday in mid-February, the administration corps announced plans to extend service hours for residents.

Shanghai hits a record-high 7.14 million expat accommodation registrations in 2025

Shanghai hits a record-high 7.14 million expat accommodation registrations in 2025

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