Here are six stories you may have missed from China this week.
3D seismic exploration completed
China completed its first 3,000-meter-deep 3D seismic exploration. The achievement, announced by the China National Offshore Oil Corporation on Thursday, was made after three months of working with the home-grown marine seismic exploration and acquisition equipment Haijing system.
The operation was conducted in a 3,000-meter-ultra-deep water area, located at the Pearl River Estuary Basin.
Shenzhou-17 crew members undertake spacewalk
The Shenzhou-17 crew members on board China's orbiting space station completed their first extravehicular activities (EVAs), or spacewalk. Three Chinese taikonauts Tang Hongbo, Tang Shengjie, and Jiang Xinlin collaborated to complete all planned tasks with the assistance of the space station's robotic arm and scientific staff on the ground.
After their spacewalk, which lasted about seven and a half hours, Tang Hongbo and Tang Shengjie returned to the Wentian lab module safely. During the extravehicular activities, the pair successfully completed a series of tasks, including the repair test of solar panels on the Tianhe core module.
Jiaozi dumplings are eaten by people in the northern parts of China on the first day of Winter Solstice, or dongzhi in Chinese, which fell on December 22. /CFP
Winter Solstice - the shortest day and longest night - was marked with festivities across China. Known as dongzhi in Chinese, it marks an important festive day in the Chinese lunar calendar and gives people the chance to taste delicacies and practice traditional customs.
500 rowers take part in inaugural ice dragon boat race
The first-ever Chinese University Ice Dragon Boat Championship kicked off in Xilinhot, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.
A total of 501 athletes from 18 universities and three cities formed 85 teams to race in 24 events. The tournament moved dragon boat racing, a traditional Chinese sport, from water to ice to create a fun-filled winter event that utilizes dragon boating techniques and ice skating mechanics.
The Adora Magic City, China's first domestically-built large cruise ship, berths at the Shanghai Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal. /CFP
Cruise ship undergoes final launch preparations
China's first domestically-built large cruise ship, the Adora Magic City, commenced its trial voyage on Saturday, with the first commercial journey set for January 1, 2024.
The cruise ship, spanning 323.6 meters and boasting a gross tonnage of 135,500 tonnes, can host up to 5,246 passengers, featuring a total of 2,125 guest rooms, as confirmed by the China State Shipbuilding Corporation's Shanghai Waigaoqiao.
An army of snowmen
A 500-strong two-meter-tall snowman army in the streets of Changbai in northeast China's Jilin Province thrilled residents and tourists alike. The resort, located in the Erdaobai River Town at the foot of Changbai Mountain, launched the creative 'Happy Snowman' project in 2015 and its been a hit since.
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