Animals at the Shanghai Zoo are still relishing a pleasant environment in the sweltering summer, thanks to their breeders' creative cooling efforts. Besides indoor air-conditioners, the breeders have prepared ice and fresh fruits, and installed misting systems for the animals.
Tiger Hong Tang, who is an online celebrity with many followers, is living in a snug, air-conditioned house that makes stepping outside utterly unappealing. Therefore, her breeders have to try every means to entice her into outdoor activities when the weather is mild.
"I took the toy duck out of the air-conditioned room, and put it into the pool. So, she will rush directly to the pool in the morning to play with the duck. And we also added some smells to the ice to interest her," said Jiang Wenting, the tiger's breeder.
The breeders infused the ice with attractive aromas of catmint, lemon, chicken, and ox blood to draw Hong Tang's attention.
"Now shanghai is too hot, so I want to come here to see how she lives. She can enter and leave the room as she likes. If she feels hot, she can go back to the air-conditioned room. I'm not worried about her now," said a visitor.
For elephants, breeders have modified their daily routine to sidestep the summer heat, providing refreshing showers and serving juicy watermelons at times throughout the day.
"The ground will be very hot in sunshine, and elephant feet will be injured on it. So, we let them go out in the morning and evening, and stay indoors in the other time. The room is equipped with fans and ice to make them cool," said Chen Chao, an elephant breeder.
The breeders have also set up misting systems on the trees favored by red pandas for climbing. Additionally, they've crafted delightful treats, including apples, carrots, and ice-stuffed desserts, to keep the animals cool and entertained.
Shanghai Zoo gets creative to keep animals cool as summer heat takes hold
As foreign trade is an important part of China's open economy and a driving force for national economic development, Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao said China will step up efforts to promote innovative development of its cross-border commerce.
In a recent interview with China Media Group, Wang said that China's foreign trade in goods grew by 3.8 percent year on year to reach 45.47 trillion yuan (about 6.53 trillion U.S. dollars) in 2025, hitting a new record and marking the first time that the volume has exceeded the 45-trillion-yuan threshold. The country is also expected to maintain its position as the world's largest trading nation in goods in 2025.
He stated that the global economy currently faces insufficient growth momentum, persistent geopolitical tensions, and a marked slowdown in trade expansion. The World Trade Organization has also revised its projected growth rate for global trade in 2026 downward to 0.5 percent, reflecting heightened uncertainty in the international trade environment.
In the face of significant challenges and mounting risks, China this year will advance the coordinated development of goods trade, service trade, and digital trade in a comprehensive and systematic manner, with the aim of ensuring stability and resilience in foreign trade performance, Wang stressed.
"We will consolidate and expand diversified markets. We will do a good job in hosting important exhibitions such as the Canton Fair, attract more overseas buyers to attend and purchase, and increase support for enterprises to participate in exhibitions abroad. We will guide the healthy and standardized development of new forms and models of foreign trade such as cross-border e-commerce. China has reached 23 free trade agreements (FTA) with 30 countries and regions. We will support and guide enterprises to make good use of these agreements to expand trade exchanges," he said.
China will promote balanced trade development in 2026, said Wang, adding that it will actively expand imports through measures such as coordinated exhibition events and targeted procurement.
"We will continue to expand the influence of the 'Export to China' brand, hold a series of matchmaking events, make full use of various trade promotion platforms including the China International Import Expo, leverage the role of national demonstration zones for import trade promotion and innovation, enhance the facilitation of import trade, optimize the sources and structure of imported goods, and better meet the needs of industrial development and people's pursuit of a better life," he continued.
China to promote innovative development of foreign trade
