Here are six stories from China over the past week that you might have missed.

13th Arctic expedition sets sail

A team of scientists set sail on a mission to explore the Arctic Ocean and Pacific Sector that is expected to last until late September. The journey will cover some 15,000 nautical miles. Experts will be monitoring long-term environmental and geographical factors in the region. 

Scientists are also expected to carry out research along with counterparts from Russia and Thailand among other countries. This is China's 13th expedition to the Arctic. 

Meihekou records population bloom

A small city in northeast China has surprised its neighbors after seeing its population soar by 60 percent.  Meihekou, an obscure city in Jilin Province, has bucked the regional trend of population decline by offering attractive job opportunities and a welcoming living environment. 

The region had experienced a population decline of over 30 percent between 2010 and 2020 as many people moved to other parts of the country.

Cold-chain train between Russia and China

The first cold-chain special freight train importing meat and ice cream products from Russia to China completed a 15-day journey, arriving at Chengdu International Railway Port in southwest China's Sichuan Province. The train had 36 containers, including 31 containers of meat weighing about 830 tonnes and five containers of ice cream.

Farmers eye increased rice yield in Jiangxi

Jiangxi Province is set to see a 10 percent increase in its rice yield this year. Farmers in the major rice producing area are expected to finish the harvesting in about two weeks. The area has invested heavily in improved rice varieties and mechanized rice harvesting equipment. 

Authorities in the town estimate this year's yield to reach 75 kilograms per square kilometer – up from 67.5 kilograms last year.

Brunei-China shipping route opens

Brunei has opened a container shipping route between its only deep-water port and a major Chinese port. This is the first such route between the two countries and is expected to slash transport costs by about 30 percent while reducing shipping times from one month to about a week. 

The line is expected to become a new transport passage between the new land-sea corridor in China's western region and the Brunei-Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area.

Yangtze finless porpoise turns 18

The world's first artificially-bred Yangtze finless porpoise celebrated its 18th milestone in Wuhan City in central China's Hubei Province. Tao Tao is a fresh water porpoise and is considered one of the world's most endangered animals. 

While it may look like a dolphin, one of its defining features is its lack of a dorsal fin and its often described as having a permanent grin.

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Video editor: Steve Chappell