Li Haigang, a member of the People's Armed Police Force's Shanghai squad, guides visitors at the site of the Communist Party of China's First National Congress in Shanghai. [ZHANG HAI/FOR CHINA DAILY] Knowledgeable volunteers guide locals, tourists around historic Party sites in Shanghai; offer free social services As the People's Republic of China nears its 69th anniversary, a law enforcement division in Shanghai is helping people better appreciate the magnitude of events leading up to and following the historical event in 1949 - as well as diversifying its role in society. The People's Armed Police Force unit in Shanghai aims to shoulder a greater role in working for the people in the context of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, while also meeting expectations for a stronger and more diverse military, according to officials. In addition to new volunteer activities to help improve society, the force has also shouldered the responsibility of maintaining social stability and guarding the nation's assets and pledged to focus on fighting terrorism and maintaining public order. Wang Yu, a member of the force's Shanghai squad, is the 71st docent - or tour guide - at the site of the Communist Party of China's First National Congress, which took place on July 23, 1921. As a member of the armed police, it's my privilege to introduce the history of the CPC and the development of the country to Chinese and foreign visitors, said Wang, who started as a guide last month. jordan wristband rubbersupport braceletsglow wristbands
A finless porpoise is taken for a physical examination in Jiangxi province. The species has been classified as critically endangered. Recent research may provide good news about the endangered species, as Cheng Si and Liu Kun report from Wuhan. The rate of decline in the number of finless porpoises in the Yangtze River may have slowed in the past six years, according to experts in the field. Wang Ding, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Institute of Hydrobiology, said official statistics will not be released until March, but recent research may indicate positive steps in the conservation of the species, which is classified as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. However, the river's environment is still deteriorating as a result of overexploitation of natural resources, while waterway regulations and water-related construction projects pose great threats to the porpoise's natural habitat, Wang said. His comments came at the end of a scientific survey of the porpoise that was launched in Wuhan, Hubei province, on Nov 11. The survey, conducted by CAS, reviewed the status of the species in the Yangtze River, its major tributaries and two lakes called Dongting and Poyang. Financed by the World Wide Fund for Nature and charities in Hubei, the 40-day survey covered 3,400 kilometers of water, from Wuchang, Hubei, to Shanghai. In 2006, a survey found that there were 1,800 finless porpoises in the wild. However, the number had fallen to 1,405 by 2012, indicating an annual rate of decline of 13.7 percent. The number is now estimated to be less than 1,000, and the ministry placed the species under the highest level of State protection in May. Freshwater species The finless porpoise, a member of the toothed whale family, is so named because it lacks a true dorsal fin. Females produce a calf once every two years, and have a gestation period of 10 to 11 months. The species makes both high-and low-frequency tones and uses ultrasound to communicate.
