Xiamen-Kinmen Bridge enters new marine construction phase

The Xiamen section of the Xiamen-Kinmen Bridge has entered a new phase of marine intelligent assembly construction, marked by the completion of the first precast pier lifting operation in Xiamen, east China's Fujian Province.

The Xiamen-Kinmen Bridge (Xiamen section) spans 17.34 km, with a total of 85 piers, and is designed to link the Xiamen island with the Xiamen Xiang'an International Airport that is currently under construction.

The first precast pier lifted measures 18 meters in length, 13.8 meters in width, and 13.4 meters in height, weighing around 3,000 tons. 

During the lifting process, the construction unit utilized an intelligent positioning system for the extra-large precast pier, upgrading traditional manual operations to a "digital brain on the sea" that automatically corrects deviations, achieving "one-time lifting, precise placement".

"Through AI, the measured data is transmitted to the computer, and then sent to the control cabinet of our positioning system via the computer's wireless terminal, and then the unmanned operation is carried out to meet the precise positioning of the jack under unmanned operation, which can achieve millimeter-level control. This also reduces the risk of personnel operating on this equipment, which is safe and efficient,"said Deng Yuxin, deputy production manager of Xiamen-Kinmen Bridge’s A2 section at CCCC Second Harbor Engineering Company.

With a total investment of 37.27 billion yuan (about 5.15 billion U.S. dollars), the Xiamen-Kinmen Bridge (Xiamen section) will become the most efficient connection between the Xiamen island and the Xiang'an Airport. Once completed, it will ease traffic congestion and greatly enhance transport efficiency in the region. 

The Xiamen-Kinmen Bridge (Xiamen section) started construction in October 2023, and is expected to be completed simultaneously with the Xiang'an Airport Expressway in 2026. 

Kinmen is an important hub for interaction across the Taiwan Strait. Growing trade and commercial links between Kinmen and Xiamen have made the building of the bridge a common desire of many people in the region.

Xiamen-Kinmen Bridge enters new marine construction phase

Footage of giant pandas filmed recently at the Dujiangyan base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP) in southwest China's Sichuan Province captures them enjoying their meal in tranquil, harmonious scenes.

In the first two clips, male panda Xin Qiao, and in the third, male panda Mao Mao, are seen munching on bamboo with calm, relaxed postures, creating a soothing atmosphere.

Xin Qiao, born in August 2024 at the Shenshuping base of the Wolong National Nature Reserve to mother Mei Mei, shares the spotlight with Mao Mao, who was born in August 2021 at the same reserve to mother Shui Xiu.

The CCRCGP has built the world's largest captive population of pandas and pioneered rewilding research through captive breeding and training. It also runs a global cooperation platform that links 18 zoos in 16 countries and regions with 39 domestic breeding institutions and more than 10 research institutes.

Footage captures giant pandas’ peaceful mealtime in Sichuan