Domestically-produced components enable China's deep-sea manned submersible Jiaolong to undergo a new round of upgrades, paving the way for its next phase of scientific exploration.
The latest round of upgrade, which began in November last year, focused on critical components that are domestically produced.
Jiaolong completed its first month-long trials on March 25, setting a new record by performing four "two-dives-a-day" missions - a feat made possible by its newly upgraded 7,000-meter-class high-energy-density oil-immersed lithium battery system.
"Before the upgrade, Jiaolong needed around 10 hours to recharge after each dive, which made frequent missions nearly impossible. Now, with the new lithium battery system, it takes just three to four hours to fully charge, enabling the submersible to dive again much sooner and more efficiently," said Zhang Yi, senior engineer and diver of the National Deep Sea Center of China.
The ascent, descent, and maneuvering of the Jiaolong depend on the thrusters at its tail.
The replacement of all thrusters in the latest upgrade increases the submersible's cruising speed from 2.5 nautical miles per hour to over three nautical miles per hour.
"Previously, all seven thrusters on the Jiaolong were imported. Now, we've upgraded them with domestically produced ones, boosting the thrust from 89 kg to over 100 kg," Zhang said. The upgraded 36x zoom 4K HD camera set in front of the Jiaolong can be used to observe the deep-sea environment, even enabling researchers to see the fine hairs on the tentacles of sea anemones.
"This round of upgrade includes significant enhancements to the energy supply, especially the batteries. The thrusters, both main and auxiliary ones, have been substantially improved. Additionally, the ascent and descent systems, including the water injection speed and flow rate, have been optimized. These advancements mark a pivotal step in enabling the Jiaolong to carry out more precise operations across a broader area. I think the upgrade is highly valuable and meaningful," said Li Jiabiao, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering.
The submersible has been put into new round of research missions. As scheduled, the Jiaolong is expected to complete more than 80 dives in 2025.
China's Jiaolong submersible upgraded with domestic components for future exploration phase
With the upgrading of tourism products and services, an increasing number of international visitors are opting for in-depth tours in smaller cities to explore and immerse themselves in Chinese culture.
The trend was vividly demonstrated by data from online travel platforms during the 2026 May Day holiday, which ran from May 1 to 5. As of Monday, the number of passengers entering and exiting Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, through Xi'an Port exceeded 700,000 this year, and the number of foreign passengers exceeded 100,000, representing a year-on-year increase of 18.9 percent. The proportion of passengers entering China under unilateral or mutual visa-free policies has increased to 78.9 percent.
At Tangyue Gong, a restaurant and theater featuring elements of the Tang Dynasty (618-907), an immersive Tang-style music and dance performance "Empress of Tang Dynasty" is being staged. The blending of classical music and dance, traditional instruments and court banquets create a panoramic experience for foreign tourists featuring culture of the Tang Dynasty.
"I enjoy the history of China. I am very interested in the country to learn more about your beautiful land, actually, and your history," said a tourist from Australia.
"I've never personally been to China before, never been to Asia, and I was just really excited to try something different, to experience a different culture. [It is] Absolutely fabulous. As soon as I walked in, it was just incredible. I gasped. I was videoing and recording everything. The dresses, the outfits were so beautiful. The food, there were so many different dishes that I've never tried before," said another tourist from the UK.
Zhouzhuang Water Town of east China's Jiangsu Province recently welcomed a large inbound tour group of over 1,800 people from Russia, Türkiye and several Central Asian countries. Tourists strolled through classic spots, appreciating the charm and cultural heritage of this ancient town amidst its bridges and flowing water.
Leveraging overseas cooperation channels, Zhouzhuang has launched exclusive tourism products for international tourists and improved services such as bilingual tours, foreign card payments and tax refunds, thereby promoting steady growth in the number of inbound tourists.
"We provide inbound tourists with a full-scene experience combining ancient architecture, intangible cultural heritage, folk customs and culture, and build a thoughtful full-chain service ranging from overseas market promotion to the visit and immersive experience in Zhouzhuang," said Lu Guilin, head of the marketing department of Zhouzhuang Cultural Tourism Development Group.
Growing number of int'l tourists seek cultural immersion in smaller Chinese cities
