As winter sports prevail in China, ski resorts have become big travel hits, bringing joy and excitement, but only with ski patrols overseeing skiers and snowboarders, and safeguarding a safe environment for all.
In north China's Hebei Province, an eight-year ski patrol from Yunding Snow Park shared his experiences.
"I have been on the Yunding rescue team for eight years. I served in the Beijing Winter Olympics and world and national championships," said Zhang Guozhi.
As the first-aids who confront the danger of skiing, Zhang and his team are fully aware of the potential risks, and stand ready to provide help at any time, no matter minor or major accidents.
Backed by well-equipped medical staff, the ski patrol team follows detailed procedures to deal with emergencies.
"If someone gets hurt, we are able to identify quite quickly how the injury occurred. The inspection process after the collision is to first figure out the first contact point, for example, the leg or the arm, and make a brief assessment. And there will be medical staff during sports events. They will carry out further treatment," said Zhang.
As a senior member of the team, Zhang also takes the responsibility to train his teammates and help newcomers hone rescue skills, and a major course is learning how to transport injured skiers.
"This is the brake chain for our rescue sled, and if we are on a steep hill, we need to put the brake chain over here. When the slope is relatively steep, how do we pull the sled? First, get the safety buckle up and locked. Lift this part up, and then we can move. Drop it so that we can stop," said Zhang, sharing his experiences with new members.
During the three-month-long ski season, close to 400,000 skiers come to this ski resort, and Zhang Guozhi and his teammates are standing by for eight to 14 hours a day to secure all travelers.
Ski Patrols safeguard skiers in Chinese ski resorts
The 4th China (Anhui) Science and Technology Innovation Achievement Transformation Fair, which kicked off on Sunday in Hefei, east China's Anhui Province, has gathered sci-tech innovation resources from across the country, demonstrating robust technological strengths and their application potential.
The three-day fair features eight exhibition zones, showcasing over 2,800 high-quality achievements from more than 1,000 organizations. Notably, over 30 percent of the exhibits are debuting at a national-level event.
During the fair, 13 specialized matchmaking events will be held, covering key fields including artificial intelligence, nuclear fusion energy, and low-altitude economy. These sessions aim to further link national innovation resources and facilitate the translation of more sci-tech achievements into industrial applications in Anhui.
"High-quality outcomes from the three comprehensive national sci-tech innovation centers -- the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the Yangtze River Delta, and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area -- along with cutting-edge achievements from 31 top-tier universities both within and outside Anhui -- are being showcased at the fair. This represents a remarkable convergence of the country's top sci-tech innovation resources," said Chen Longsheng, deputy director of the Anhui Provincial Department of Science and Technology.
Additionally, a dedicated interactive zone has been set up in the main exhibition hall, spotlighting the latest advancements in intelligent robotics. Visitors can engage in immersive, hands-on experiences to gain an up-close appreciation of how technological progress is shaping a better quality of life.
The China (Anhui) Science and Technology Innovation Achievement Transformation Fair serves as an important window to showcase cutting-edge sci-tech innovations and a key platform for business matchmaking and transactions, helping to deepen the integration between technological innovation and industrial growth.
Having been successfully held three times previously, the fair has drawn participants from national ministries, prestigious universities and research institutes, tech companies, and investment and financing institutions. Over its previous editions, the fair has facilitated the signing of 780 technology projects, with a total value approaching 230 billion yuan (about 33.64 billion U.S. dollars).
National sci-tech innovation resources converge at east China's Anhui tech fair
