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something that i admire and "dream" to do after retired! drive to china, ship the car back, fly home ... not so siong to drive home ... driving there already epic and enjoy the moments ... not so "enthusiastic" to drive back ... LOL 1hr long video but nicely done and not boring ...

Take note if you're travelling to China, taking their domestic flights. 😁 China bans uncertified power banks on domestic flights starting Jun 28 over fire risk BEIJING: China will ban uncertified power banks on all domestic flights starting Saturday (Jun 28), as aviation authorities tighten safety rules following several onboard fire incidents linked to portable chargers. Passengers will no longer be allowed to bring power banks that lack the official China Compulsory Certification (CCC) mark, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) said in a notice on Thursday. Power banks that have faded or illegible CCC labels or are part of a product recall will also be barred, added the national civil aviation regulator. The notice cited recent incidents of power banks catching fire or emitting smoke mid-flight, along with multiple product recalls involving major brands. “These developments indicate that the power banks carried by passengers present safety and quality hazards, and the risks posed to civil aviation safety are growing,” CAAC said. Under the new rule, passengers without a valid CCC-certified device risk having their portable chargers confiscated at security or being denied boarding altogether. Airlines and their agents have been instructed to step up awareness campaigns about the fire risks associated with power banks, while airports are required to tighten inspections. CAAC has also called for improvements in the installation and maintenance of charging facilities at terminals. A record 730 million people flew domestically in 2024, according to CAAC. While most were Chinese residents, a portion included international visitors travelling within the country. In recent months, multiple in-flight smoke and fire incidents have been linked to power banks. On May 31, a China Southern Airlines flight from Hangzhou to Shenzhen was forced to turn back 15 minutes after take-off, after smoke was detected from a passenger’s camera battery and power bank. Two months earlier, a Hong Kong Airlines flight from Hangzhou to Hong Kong was diverted to Fuzhou when a mid-air fire broke out in the overhead compartment. The blaze was suspected to have been caused by a power bank. Multiple Asian airlines, including carriers from Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong, have barred the in-flight use of power banks, though most still allow them to be carried in cabin luggage. At the same time, made-in-China power banks have come under scrutiny. Two major Chinese electronics manufacturers, Anker and Romoss, recently recalled more than 1.2 million portable chargers, citing battery issues that posed a fire risk. Certain power bank models from other Chinese brands, including Baseus and Ugreen, have also had their CCC certification suspended or revoked in recent months over safety concerns, according to local news reports. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/east-asia/china-ban-power-bank-uncertified-domestic-flights-fire-risk-5206791

Note: This is the third instalment of a series covering my trip to southwestern China. Read Pt. 1 and Pt. 2 here. CHENGDU Day 7: We savoured one last morning view of the Chongqing skyline from our rooms before heading to Shapingba Railway Station for our ride to Chengdu. Because we had quite a bit of luggage, we split into pairs upon our arrival and took different taxis to our accommodation. When Mum and I got there, my brother was waiting alone. Apparently, upon reaching the hotel, Dad realised he had left his backpack, including his recently-purchased tablet, on the train to Chengdu. He had to wait for the already-departed train to make its way to Chongqing (an hour one way) and back before retrieving it. After checking into Atour Chengdu Taikoo Li, the rest of us walked around in the vicinity, taking pictures with the “I AM HERE” panda perched on Chengdu IFS. Once Dad returned, we made our way to Tianfu Red Mall. The scant information courtesy of Google showed an Animate store had recently opened, which was why I wanted to visit, but as we stepped into the mall we realised it was entirely dedicated to ACG (animation, comics and games) - a pleasant surprise for me. I gleefully walked around the shops, purchasing merchandise from one of my favourite games - one a China-exclusive, and the other at almost half of its cost in Singapore due to the lack of shipping fees (though I needed some encouragement from my brother, as I was stuck there overthinking it). Day 8: First thing in the morning, we stepped out of the hotel to see our driver in a ZEEKR 001, which my family was impressed with (and it became my favourite ZEEKR). We were taking a day trip to Leshan, famous for the 71-metre tall Giant Buddha that is not only the tallest pre-modern statue in the world, but also the tallest stone Buddha statue. We first toured the nearby Suji old town with its rather interesting bridge and had lunch. Now, the main attraction. The climb up to the top of the hill to see the Buddha from above was somewhat tiring, but the climb down to the Buddha’s feet via steep stairs jammed with tourists was, in a word, terrifying. And we still had to climb back up to the exit. After we made it out of the park, our driver brought us to a hotpot restaurant. Not a conventional place for afternoon tea, but he perhaps wanted us to get the experience. It was quite atypical in the sense that we got to choose the skewers we wanted by taking them off the shelves the way one does in a málà restaurant. For dinner, we ended up in a small restaurant as recommended by our guide. Of note was a particular drink, a lychee soda made with water claimed to be sourced from the melting snow off the nearby Emei Mountain. I liked it enough to take a picture in the event I wanted to buy more from a supermarket during the rest of the trip, but sadly I never saw it again. Day 9: For some reason, Mum wanted to see the pandas despite the initial lack of interest. A late start to the day meant we arrived at the Chengdu Panda Base close to noon, and because we’d fulfilled our purpose about 15 minutes into the park (seeing live pandas), we walked around for another hour to make good use of our entrance fees (about SGD$10-15, but the park was pretty big anyway, so we had a good look around). Heading back to the heart of Chengdu, we went to Kuanzhai Alley, stopping in a tea house to watch traditional performances including biàn liǎn (face-changing), a signature of Sichuan opera. Interestingly, some of the performers went around the tables doing their routines like pouring tea and giving high-fives. It was a pretty standard trio of old streets otherwise. Later, we made a visit to People’s Park as my parents wanted to see the area dedicated to matchmaking. The effectiveness of matchmaking aside, it was somewhat comforting for this singleton to see that in this day and age, people of all ages (I saw profiles of people my age and even a few from my parents’ generation) are still looking for love. My cynical side, however, wonders how many of these forms were submitted out of cultural obligations to get in a relationship and eventually marriage. Either way, I’m not convinced filling up physical forms and putting them up in public is the way to go. Day 10: For our last day in Chengdu, we covered several “cultured” locations, like the Du Fu Thatched Cottage, where the famed Tang dynasty poet lived for five years till he escaped amid a rebellion. We then visited Wuhou Shrine. I read Romance of the Three Kingdoms in graphic novel form as a kid, so seeing quite a number of familiar names given a canonised form, if you will, was both awe-inspiring and… puzzling. Perhaps it was just the way he’s been depicted, both in the graphic novel by AsiaPac I read and in Koei’s Dynasty Warriors game franchise (often as the face of the games no less), but Zhao Yun seemed oddly old for a member of the Five Tiger Generals with his ghostly-white complexion. Finally, we headed south of the city centre to the New Century Global Centre, a mixed-use complex with a claim to fame of being the world’s largest building by floor area. It turned out to be underwhelming once we realised much of the massive space was occupied by the water park, with the shopping mall comparable to the average-sized mall. CLOSING THOUGHTS Honestly, I came to find Chengdu in general underwhelming towards the end of our time there. Beyond the aforementioned cultural sites and Tianfu Red Mall, it is not a city I am particularly enthusiastic about revisiting any time soon. I will admit though: There are still some places I would have liked to visit, like a cafe operated by the Chengdu-based audio company Moondrop which I could only find via Baidu Maps while I was there. It was sadly too far to fit into our already packed itinerary (an hour’s bus ride from the city centre). I would’ve also liked to visit some music venues given that the city is home to a burgeoning hip-hop scene, with the four-man group Higher Brothers being Chinese hip-hop’s biggest export. Doing research on China as a tourist sure is tough. ~ Wei Feng Images: Myself

I went to these three cities recently and took some unique photos, which others say are nice. I will share them with you over the next few days. I am sharing them on a separate thread instead of tapping on other threads, as the trip path for these cities is unique. My first return to Shanghai after 8 years it started with a some chill at the airport lounge having a plate of chicken rice as I would be missing out on SG food for the following weeks or so. Was craving for a plate of Hokkien mee but that has to wait.

This will be the 16th China EV brand (passenger vehicle only) to hit our shore in the past 3 years. Consumers are supposedly spoilt for choice, but it will be carried by Premium Automobiles, which is known for charging a premium... Premium Automobiles to distribute Changan, Huawei, CATL-backed luxury EV brand Avatr in Singapore China luxury electric vehicle (EV) brand Avatr will be distributed and sold by Premium Automobiles in Singapore. Lee Hoe Lone, Premium Automobiles’ managing director, told The Business Times that the brand will be officially launched in the Republic in late July or early August. The brand’s first model, the Avatr 11 sport utility vehicle (SUV), will debut at the same time, with another SUV, the Avatr 07, to follow in 2025. More about Avatr 11 mid size SUV. The rear opening is unconventional... Dimensions: 4,895mm (L) x 1,970mm (W) x 1,601mm (H) x 2,975mm (WB) Power (tentative): 237KW Torque: 396Nm Drive: RWD Weight: 2,310Kg 0 - 100Km/h: 6.5sec Top Speed: 200Km/h Battery: Ternary Lithium Capacity: 116.79KWh Range: 815Km (CLTC Standard) 0 - 80%: 35 min

Volvo has revived the XC70 nameplate after a decade of hiatus. @Volvobrick from the teaser photos, it look like a crossbreed between wagon and SUV, which isn't as out of place as the new ES90. My cup of tea actually (without considering the selling price), as EREV (longer range than typical PHEV like the XC60 T8) bridges the gap between ICE and BEV, allowing one to enjoy road trips up north per normal. Coming soon: the new Volvo XC70, Volvo Cars’ first extended-range plug-in hybrid The new Volvo XC70 mid-size SUV is Volvo Cars’ first extended-range plug-in hybrid. It provides a pure electric range of up to 200 kilometres*, making it Volvo Cars’ longest-range plug-in hybrid to date. Built on the new SMA** platform, a premium extended-range plug-in hybrid architecture, the XC70 represents an important product addition for Volvo Cars. The new XC70 is designed to meet the demand for longer-range plug-in hybrids in China, where it will be available for order later this year. Volvo Cars is exploring potential additional markets at a later stage. “The XC70 marks our strategic entry into the extended-range plug-in hybrid segment, a perfect bridge to full electrification,” says Håkan Samuelsson, president and chief executive of Volvo Cars. “It enables us to maintain and develop a balanced product portfolio, while offering a highly attractive alternative to customers who are not yet ready for fully electric cars. This is also an example of regionalisation, where we adapt to the local market needs.” With its extended electric range and fast charging capabilities, the XC70 lets you handle most daily travel without tailpipe emissions and at a lower cost, while the efficient combustion engine provides freedom and flexibility for longer trips. This means you could travel longer distance without worrying about charging or refuelling. Combined with its versatility that offers space and comfort for all passengers, the XC70 is a car for every type of journey. Building on Volvo Cars’ tradition of solid and purposeful design, the new XC70 reflects a modern take on the company’s Scandinavian design heritage. Its commanding stance and distinct features express calm confidence and rational simplicity, with seamless lines flowing from front to rear. In combination with a sweeping roofline, the sculpted shoulder creates a robust yet dynamic silhouette. At the front, the shield-like closed grille – inspired by the company’s all-electric models – is paired with an active grille shutter that adjusts automatically to optimise aerodynamics, cabin climate and cooling. This feature contributes to improved energy efficiency, which in turn extends driving range. The signature Thor’s Hammer design has evolved to a bolder expression, and just below these daytime running lights, the XC70 features headlights with Matrix LED technology. It allows the headlights to adjust intelligently to road and traffic situations, which helps to improve both visibility and safety. Towards the rear, the vertical C-shaped taillights are seamlessly integrated into the rear glass, creating a flush, contemporary appearance that is both striking and functional. The new XC70 shares its name with one of Volvo’s most iconic cars. When the original XC70 was first introduced, it was an adventurous evolution from the more traditional V70 estate. The name reflects its character: a versatile family car, ready for all kinds of adventures. The new XC70 continues this legacy in a mid-size SUV format, slightly larger and more spacious than the Volvo XC60. More details about the new XC70 will be revealed in the coming months, so stay tuned. * The driving range is estimated based on testing done according to the CLTC standard and is only applicable to the China market. ** Scalable Modular Architecture.

The most absurd news to many but good news for tiko peh. 🤣 Can this case be cited as an example of work-life balance?🤪 Chinese Security Guard Dies While Having Sex at Work, Family Awarded Compensation as It’s an “Industrial Accident” (https://worldofbuzz.com/chinese-security-guard-dies-while-having-sex-at-work-family-awarded-compensation-as-its-an-industrial-accident/) A man in his 60s who worked as the only security guard at a small factory in China passed away while having sex with his girlfriend during work hours. According to the South China Morning Post, his death was later classified as an “industrial accident,” which entitles his family to compensation. Zhang was with his girlfriend in the factory’s security room, where he usually rested, and while the two were having sex, he suddenly died mid-act. Police later confirmed it was a sudden, natural death with no foul play involved. About a year later, Zhang’s son applied for compensation from the Municipal Social Security Bureau. However, the authorities turned down his request, saying his dad’s death didn’t count as a work-related accident since it didn’t happen while he was actually doing work. In 2016, Zhang’s son decided to take both the factory and the social security authority to court. He argued that his dad’s death should count as a workplace accident because he had to be on duty 24 hours a day with no days off. Since he couldn’t leave his post, he had no choice but to meet his girlfriend at the factory’s security room, adding that taking breaks is a basic worker’s right. A lawyer from Chongqing also argued that because Zhang had to work 24 hours a day with no time off, dating his girlfriend became a natural physiological need. “Since he was with his girlfriend and not hiring a prostitute, his actions didn’t violate social norms,” the lawyer said. According to the country’s Industrial Injury Insurance Rule, if an employee dies suddenly at their post during working hours, it should be classified as an industrial accident. The court agreed, ruling that Zhang’s death happened during work hours and at his work post. Both the factory and the social security authority appealed, but a higher court upheld the original verdict. Later, the social security authority issued a document confirming that Zhang’s death was classified as an industrial accident, though it did not specify the amount of compensation his family would receive.

A rebadged Deepal S07? Mazda is fast-tracking its EV expansion by leaning on its Chinese partner. After launching the EZ-6 last year, the sedan’s SUV counterpart has now been revealed on the Weibo social media platform. The EZ-60 is also coming alive courtesy of a tie-up with Changan, a state-owned automaker. Their 50:50 joint venture, founded over a decade ago, helped Mazda launch the 6e in Europe. Similarly, this new model should be sold outside China as the CX-6e. Essentially, we’re dealing with a production version of the Arata concept. It’s an attempt at making another electric SUV with the hope that it’ll be more successful than the slow-selling MX-30. It looks sharp, and we’re pleasantly surprised to see flying buttresses, which are uncommon in this body style. In case you're wondering, mirror-replacing side cameras have been legal on production vehicles in China for about two years. The Tesla Model Y competitor is likely a Deepal S07 underneath the skin, implying a fully electric drivetrain and a range-extending variant with a 1.5-liter gas engine. However, whether the latter powertrain will be available in Europe is unclear. Mazda only offers the Model 3-fighting EZ-6 sedan as a pure EV for now. If you're unfamiliar with Deepal, it's the electric subsidiary brand of Changan. Mazda is considering a third and fourth model from its JV with Changan. If approved, the additional vehicles will be released between 2028 and 2030. In the meantime, the Zoom-Zoom company is working on its own platform for EVs. The first model is scheduled to come out in 2027, with derivatives to follow by the decade's end.

https://www.carz.com.my/2025/04/fake-made-in-thailand-tyres-scandal A Chinese tyre manufacturer is under investigation by Thailand’s Industry Ministry. Said tyremaker allegedly smuggles sub-standard tyres into the country, rebranding them, and falsely labelling them for export as new products

Decided to share this little detour that I took in Feb this year when going to Xiamen for holiday. The original intention was to visit ancestor villages but due to lack of efforts, ended up just spent time in Xiamen and Huangshan (黄山). In short, Huangshan is not just a mountain but a series of ridges divided into north and south region supported by 4 cable car systems. You can choose to hike or take cable cars up the ridges, and then do the hiking, then descend by foot or cable cars. There is a short cable car ride within the ridges more for scenery at west side. To enter the mountain, you need to take the shuttle bus to the ticketing counters whether at north or south ends, pay entrance fee, and cable car fees if you intend to take cable car up the mountain which is highly recommended unless you are very fit and want to challenge the 3 to 6 hour route up depending on which one. Then after hiking the ridges which would take hours you can take the cable cars down the mountain or hike. The fees vary according to season, and this year all foreigners need to pay half price for entrance fee. It is advisable to spend one night on the ridges to catch the sunset and sun rise. Normally a visitor would arrive at foot of 黄山风景区 and stay one night to get ready for the strenuous hike. The South side also got 前山 and 后山 options supported by cable cars while the north side only supported by one cable car system, so now you know which side is more popular with hikers. The most popular route would be entering by 后山 and leaving by the 前山. The foot at south side got many hotels and I would recommend my choice of stay due to many reasons. https://www.trip.com/hotels/huangshan-hotel-detail-110631164/huangshan-yilong-anyue-hotel-huangshan-scenic-area-south-gate-transfer-center/?locale=en-XX&curr=SGD Firstly the hotel is cheap and clean, costing less than S$40 for 2 pax/night, think less than 2 years old. Secondly it has very friendly staff including those from the attached restaurant and minimart. Seems all owned by same boss. Ate in the restaurant for 2 dinners and very happy with the meals. No need to leave the hotel at all. Thirdly the onsite travel counter offers fantastic hiking service by doing a thorough explanation of the whole place and the best route to take depending on your liking or fitness, then help to make booking for all the tickets without any markup. I paid a RMB19 fee to join the hiking tour to have a guide following to tell you where are the famous stones and making sure everyone is safe throughout the trip. This was really wonderful as I would otherwise have to figure out where to buy the tickets at the counters but now it is all taken care of. Literally no need to do any pre-planning also can. Fourthly, the hotel is located just beside one of the shuttle bus stop so it is very convenient when returning to the hotel. The hiking tour that day would start from the north gate and coming back from the front gate at the south. The cable cars at the back gate at the south side were closed for maintenance when I was there, So now coming to the actual hiking part. My fellow traveler was my FIL and coming 75 years old. I overestimated his ability to walk up the endless flight of stairs at the beginning of the hike, so ended up paying RMB600 for the bamboo sedan chair ride for him for the first leg of the hike ending at 光明顶 (the building with a globe which serves as weather station) which is not related to the 武侠小说。It was supposed to be a 3.5km walk taking about 3 hours for one with normal fitness. After a short break at 光明顶 we walked for another 5km taking about 3.5hours to reach the cable car station to go down the mountain. If you are reasonably fit, you will benefit from the chirpy tour guide who tiredlessly shared many stories with regards to the numerous stones all over the place. I was proud that my FIL was able to complete the second leg of the trip despite stopping many time along the way. The bamboo sedan chair is really useful for those who have difficulty completing the hike and are reasonable priced also. I really enjoyed the hike as the weather was nice and scenery really beautiful. The pictures I took really did not do justice haha. By the way to reach the 黄山风景区, I took highspeed train to the 黄山北 station then took a taxi ride to the hotel. I spent another night at the hotel after the hike before taking the train ride back to Xiamen to continue my tour. Good to cater one or 2 rest days to allow recovery as the hike is really not that easy. Good if can spend time climbing stairs before the trip to have more enjoyable time instead of just panting and panting all the time in the beautiful mountain haha. So above is a brief sharing of my trip. Do let me know if you need more details. Good to watch more youtube videos to know more about the place before embarking on the trip.

Note: Click here to read Pt. 1, where the journey began in Hong Kong. NEXT UP: CHONGQING Day 3, cont.: Dad had decided on the scenic route to Chongqing - train. We did not realise that the immigration process at the Hong Kong Kowloon West station involved both the Hong Kong and Chinese authorities, so we found ourselves in a rush to board the train (we boarded minutes before the scheduled departure). Through the eight-hour journey, the passing sights made me realise the diversity of China’s terrain, perhaps an Eastern equivalent to the US (ironically I’m the only one among the four of us to have never stepped on American soil). Arriving at Yuzhong district in a DiDi from Chongqing West Station, I was blinded by the lights of the hyper-modern landscape. The best part? Entering our hotel rooms to what I might call the best view I’ve seen from a room (only Scandic Ishavhotel compares), though I’m afraid I couldn’t do it justice with my camera (these photos are all stills from the videos I shot). Yitel Chongqing, our residence for our time there, is located above the tourist hotspot that is Hongya Cave. Reviews said it was noisy due to the crowds below, but staying on the highest floor (16th floor) meant the din was not as loud as at home in Singapore where random motorists rev their engines close to midnight. We then went out for dinner (or was it supper?), with attractions like the Chongqing Art Museum and the Jiefangbei CBD area surprisingly close to Yitel. At a food court, we had spicy dumplings among other things. Surprisingly bearable, coming from someone who can’t even take wēi là (mild spice) in Singapore, but it was probably because it was more numbing than spicy. Day 4: Our first full day in Chongqing. An arduous climb through Yuzhong District’s hilly terrain brought us to quite a number of attractions, from the Mountain City Path and Eighteen Stairs to Baixiangju and Raffles City Chongqing (yes it’s real, and it looks more like Marina Bay Sands) and back to our hotel, culminating in an hour’s wait for the lights of Hongya Cave to turn on. I unfortunately suffered a nosebleed throughout our hotpot dinner (as it usually goes for me in cold and dry places) and went back to my room for the rest of the night while my family went grocery shopping. Day 5: At my request, we took a day trip to Wulong Karst, having first seen some of its sights in Transformers: Age of Extinction. We woke up rather early (5.00am-ish) to meet our driver, who picked us up in her Hongqi E-QM5 EV. After a three-hour ride, we arrived at the entrance to the Longshui Gorge Geofracture. It took over an hour to traverse, arriving at the exit quite a distance away from where we started. We had lunch at a restaurant in the nearby town, and while the dishes were nice, my favourite was the rice cooked with potatoes that had a mild flavour. I enjoyed it so much I forgot to take a picture of it. We then headed to the Three Natural Bridges, which turned out to be a lot more massive than I imagined, having to strain my neck to look up at the top of the nearby formations. Also, it seems the Transformers movie was pretty well-appreciated for its tourism potential, the quality of the movie itself aside. At night, our driver dropped us off at Guanyinqiao, a popular shopping district, though we spent too much time eating that we only had a brief amount of time to walk around a mall before closing time. I was quick to snap some photos of the Xiaomi SU7 EV at the Xiaomi store in Paradise Walk Guanyinqiao just before the staff started bringing the shutters down. Day 6: While Christmas is not an official holiday in China, there were still some Yuletide vibes as we went about covering our remaining itinerary. The rooftop plaza of Kuixing Building was every bit as terrifying as it has been depicted in many videos. Liziba Station, a massively popular attraction on social media, turned out to be nothing particularly special as a long-time Bukit Panjang resident. Having lived near the now-defunct Ten Mile Junction LRT station when it was still in operation, the concept of a train going into a building is not as novel for me as it seems to be for most other tourists. On our way to our next stop, we entered a restaurant for lunch, and ordered tǐ huā soup, a popular Chongqing dish featuring pork knuckles in a collagen-rich broth that is recommended for those not used to the otherwise spicy cuisine. I’m not sure if it was just that restaurant, but it was just okay. The sour fish in comparison was better. Eventually, we arrived at Huangguan Escalator, the third longest in Asia. It takes about 2.5 minutes to complete a trip one way, connecting users to two different train stations at the top and bottom of a hill. This therefore makes it a form of public transport, requiring the purchase of tickets. Making up for the previous day’s tardiness, we went back to Guanyinqiao, which had a Christmas tree-shaped display and a pop-up store for who-knows-what. As daylight waned, we arrived at Xiahao Lane, another old town packed with tourists especially after its modernisation. The view of the Dongshuimen bridge did feel a bit reminiscent of the view in Damien Chazelle’s La La Land, which was how it was described by social media posts Dad had seen while researching, but the locals seemed to have no idea what we were talking about. CLOSING THOUGHTS In all, Chongqing was probably the highlight of the trip. Not that the other places were bad, but the hype around this “hyper-modern” city was real, and then some. I found myself surprised, impressed and eventually in awe as I realised that Chongqing still retained much of its traditional architecture while imbuing new life into the city with its 144 skyscrapers. It has become one of my favourite cities in the world despite only having scratched the surface of China's largest city by municipal boundary, and I would definitely recommend anyone interested to just go for it. Next up: Chengdu. ~ Wei Feng Images: Myself

It used to be that when a person was visiting China for the first time, the natural choice was Beijing. No better way to learn about a country than a visit to its capital, amirite? Having had their fill of Peking duck and climbed the Great Wall of China, the next places they would likely look at are those on the east coast - Shanghai, Nanjing, perhaps Harbin. In recent times though, the southwestern parts of China have gotten much coverage on social media. Chongqing, the country’s largest city by municipal boundary, has had its juxtaposition of modern skyscrapers and stilt-buildings dating back to the ancient Ba state go viral online. A pretty good summary of Chongqing that briefly touches on the virality of it from a YouTuber I discovered recently. Why is that? I took a trip with my family towards the end of 2024 to find out. HOW IT ALL STARTED It happened that my father had been wanting to revisit Yunnan province after his first visit about 30 years ago with his family (probably before he married my mother), but over the years he had to hold back as the rest of our family opted for more “exciting” destinations (the usual suspects: Japan, Scandinavia, etc.). When we were discussing our next destination sometime in 2024, Yunnan came up again. This time however, we were more interested, having last been to China in 2012 (to my paternal grandfather’s birthplace, Hainan). The “hyper-modern” architecture of modern Chinese cities like Chongqing was what compelled my brother and I to agree to the trip. With some persuasion, Mum relented (she didn’t like visiting China), and so it was settled. FIRST STOP: HONG KONG Day 1: We couldn’t get a morning flight to Hong Kong, one of our family’s favourite overseas spots, so we arrived in the evening. Our last visit was in 2018, so seeing once-familiar sights slowly undergoing China-fication (e.g. cha chaan tengs [Hong Kong-style diners] becoming Sichuan restaurants) was somewhat depressing. Day 2: Our one full day in Hong Kong. Mum was disappointed during the planning stage of the trip as a Cantonese speaker, but the rest of us felt it was enough time to eat the things we missed and buy the things we wanted. This was when I realised my parents were getting old - though they had travelled the world via cruise the year before, they got tired enough to need an afternoon nap. Nevertheless, I did what I could to savour being in one of my favourite cities in the world. Having a proper camera now in the Sony ZV-E10, I realised how photogenic (or videogenic in my case) Hong Kong was. Something about sunlight falling on things hits different. Day 3: After a quick breakfast at the Australian Dairy, we headed to the Hong Kong Kowloon West Station for our train to our next stop, Chongqing. Given that this was a 16-day trip, I decided to cut what could possibly have become the longest single MCF blog post into parts dedicated to each area. Stay tuned! ~ Wei Feng Images: Myself

Ngee Ann Polytechnic said the school has no affiliations with any political parties. The Chinese embassy in Singapore noted that one of the organisations referred to in the job descriptions in the listings does not exist in China (中国共产党青年团). “The information contained in the two job postings is fake information, clearly untrustworthy and unreliable,” it said. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) told The Straits Times on Dec 24 that it is aware of the matter and that police reports have been received. https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/mha-looking-into-job-listings-supposedly-by-ngee-ann-poly-branch-of-communist-youth-league-of-china?utm_campaign=stfb&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2YanfjMlxLR6G4CDQp7ZSlkR8zD8pBErPeKIg2s9IwdUA8u8UmTuv7BWo_aem_q69E1MfXtIZaxayMTsmrEA&_nei=00606c7d-6f99-47f1-9ebf-0cf30c1d5828

The last few years I have been planning driving trips to USA and Australia, quite hectic and taking alot of efforts to put together. So this coming year decided to take a breather before another epic USA trip in 2026. Then out of nowhere, this short clip popped out and piques my interest: I took some efforts to find out more about this train to Lhasa. In brief, the train departs from Xining spanning 2000km and taking about 21.5hrs, costing about RMB800 per way for 4-berth soft-sleeper. However as you need to apply for permit to enter Tibet, best let the tour company assist to book both the train tickets and Tibet permit for you. But I found out that there are also other train packages that can take you from major cities such as ChongQing, Beijing, Shanghai, Guan Zhou, etc, etc, with Xining to Lhasa as the core component of the trip. So my intention is to fly to either Beijing or Guang Zhou to take the train rides to Lhasa, spent a few nights in Lhasa, then take the scenic train back to the city and spend a few days jalan around before flying back to Singapore. Currently I am thinking of Guang Zhou with 53hrs train time haha. https://www.tibettravel.org/tibet-train/xining-to-lhasa-train.html And there are also other train rides in China that are very scenic, taking passengers through beautiful terrains, which I am also considering with one departing from Fuzhou heading to Hefei with stops at Huang Shan.. As never recall anyone here sharing on such trips, I would like to ask around if anyone here has embarked on such trips before? I have come across many Youtube videos and experience seems quite positive. And would be good also if you feel motivated to take on such rides haha. Feel free to contribute. I would not be moderating, just putting out awareness that such trips are easy to put up and embark. If I were to go on such trip by end of the year, I am sure to do some sharing. This is another video from Beijing to Lhasa with some mention about high altitude sickness and that the trains provide such facility:

With travel opening up, many are catching up on the in person meetings that have been replaced by zoom, and more people are now going back to traveling. With a brace of invites, I got invited to this place for work and teaching, and whilst I knew little about this place initially, a quick search showed that it was the land of the Hakka, and that meant that I could see some of the famed ancient abode of the Hakka, and also enjoy their cuisine. And no... it's not yong tau foo but much much more... The most direct route from Singapore is via Xiamen, then an hour's worth of fast train to reach Long Yan, a city of a few million located in a basin surrounded by mountains in the Fujian Province. You can also reach it via trains from HKG or other larger airports. To whet your appetite on what this place is about... how about some pictures of the most famous attractions first?

Dear Forumers, Starting this topic as I believe some of us here may be in the same situation as me and I also hope to learn from the rest of the EV forumers here with respect to being a likely first-time EV owner. So, my 'hunt' started with a visit to the car showrooms at Leng Kee with a family member who was shopping for a car. Unwittingly, the 'shopping bug' latched on to me as well and I found myself 'magically' drawn to the showrooms myself with my family in tow. With regards to my current profile, I am driving an Alphard (Year 2021) thus when comparing 'apple to apple', an equivalent replacement would be another MPV. For the new Alphard, it costs anywhere between $360,000 - $400,000 (depending on dealer) with an annual depreciation from $31,000 onwards. From the online pictures and review, I didn't bother to check out the current Alphard as there wasn't any significant updates from my current ride. Instead, I paid a visit to the Lexus showroom to view the Lexus LM (7-seater). At > $600k, I didn't find the interior quality to be worthy of it's price tag. Even the SA commented that the LM is meant for would-be Alphard buyers with money to spare and distinguishing themselves from the 'peasants' Alphard crowd. Unsatiated, I looked elsewhere and found my gaze drawn to the EV MPVs from China, that were flooding the market coincidentally at this point in time. And thus, the impetus for this topic as to who will dethrone the long undisputed king of MPVs that is the Alphard. 1. Xpeng X9: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1e6BfFyfb5mHigWXyuQo2YwiXHm-iblhs/view?usp=sharing This is the newest kid on the block and while the car is in the showroom, it is undergoing homologation at LTA thus no test drive is possible. As per the SA, the selling price is likely to be at $310,000 and depreciation (my estimate) about $28,000 - $30,000. Pros: This is the most futuristic MPV among the lot, in both its exterior and interior. My family loved the interior the most due to the TV (for rear passengers) ala the 7-series which folds down dramatically at the touch of a button. Most of the other functions in the cabin are also operated by 1-touch buttons making it seamless and modern. Last but not least, its 3rd row recess electrically into the boot at the touch of a button creating a completely flat rear cabin. Cons: In my opinion, the looks of the X9 is going to be divisive with polarising opinions. Personally, I am not able to fathom it's appearance, especially its rakish rear 3rd quarter. In some ways, it seems like it is modelled after the Tesla Cybertruck but I don't think it was pulled off as successfully. Therefore, I have my doubts as to its eventual resale value due to this main consideration. 2. Zeekr 009: https://drive.google.com/file/d/10SmD8B66eUKu5shV8Q2-SDRBFnk5fGOK/view?usp=sharing This is the car with a similar price tag as the new Alphard. I didn't enquire with the SA about the depreciation due to its initial hefty price tag and associated cost (more on that later). Pros: This is also a modern-looking MPV that drew comments like 'it looks like a Rolls Royce' from my family. It also features the most luxurious interior with it's trimmings and overall build quality. Most cars will also be left helpless in it's wake in a traffic light sprint as it's 0-100km/hr is in a class leading 4.5 seconds. Cons: Beyond the hefty price tag, the road tax is at a crazy $6.5k per annum. As one of the motivation for switching to EV is to lower the operating cost, this is definitely a huge red flag and therefore reduces it's appeal (didn't even test drive as don't want to waste the SA time). 3. Maxus Mifa 7/9: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vDibRvN8KYnmNLWnWJQc6f0qldVE_ka3/view?usp=sharing This is the most affordable car among the lot. Visited the showroom just to draw a level of comparison but didn't test drive as wasn't really keen on it. A note though that, this was the only showroom where we were not accosted by a SA thus maybe they had hit the sales quota for 2024. Pros: This has the lowest price tag and first mover rights as it was the first large 7-seater electric MPV to make its foray into the local market. Cons: No disrespect to current Mifa 7/9 owners, but I feel that the interior build quality and trimming reflects in the price tag. For the Mifa 9, the instrument cluster and head unit is really below par as more of an afterthought. However, I believe this was the best option in the past as it was the only sizeable MPV that is an EV and therefore, owners really didn't have much choices to consider. 4. Denza D9: https://drive.google.com/file/d/10YwRQpBtBkR2Jj_Rjc5syg2nzcVwhsHD/view?usp=sharing This was the only car I test drive as from the online research, it had ticked all the right boxes. Pros: First and foremost, it is unpretentious in its intention and looks like an Alphard. Therefore, I believe its design is more palatable for existing Alphard owners making the transition. Next, the price tag (depreciation at $27-$28k for the FWD Elite model) is 'reasonable' in current market conditions and undercuts the Alphard by $3-4k a year in depreciation. It makes decent power and have sufficient range, and it's road tax is only $480 more than the new Alphard. It's interior build quality and trim is also 'value for money' in terms of its quality. An initial collaboration between BYD and Mercedes, this is apparent in the cabin such as the wood trimmings (same as in Mercedes products) and ambient lighting. It also offers better seat comfort in the 3rd row as compared to the Alphard/X9 and perhaps comparable to the 009. This is because the seats are inclined a few degrees towards the ceiling thus making it significantly more comfortable as compared to the Alphard which is flatter and has shallower seat bottoms. In terms of the drive, it also feels more 'continental' - same secured/rooted/engaged sensation as premium makes that I had driven before that hails from Germany/England. Cons: From the B-pillar onwards, one may be surprised to find that the D9 offers less in terms of cabin space than the Alphard despite its longer length/wheelbase. This is due to the 'thicker materials' used (like the captain seats) and a 410L fixed boot (Alphard has none). The ambient lighting also looks like it is underpowered (too dim even at its brightest settings) unlike its ex-sister brand Mercedes. Finally, there isn't any TV for rear passengers like the 009 and X9 which was a severe disappointment for my family (as we have 1 in our existing Alphard). As you would have guessed it by now, all things considered, the Denza D9 is in my opinion going to give the Alphard a real run for its money in its uninhibited attempt to wrestle the 'King of MPV' throne in Singapore. There is nothing wrong with the Alphard (past and present). From the B-pillar onwards, in my opinion, it beats the more luxurious contemporaries such as the Mercedes S-class or 7-series. It also leverages intensively on its branding as the most reliable car brand in the world (and rightfully so as my past 3 years of ownership had been uneventful compared to my previous experiences). On the flip side, it offers an emotionless and soul-less drive. It's interior build quality is at best average and the 3rd row seat comfort is mediocre. With the new Alphard at >$30k in annual depreciation, it really makes no financial sense at all to choose the new Alphard as its interior build/quality is still average and features almost non-existent. For MPVs, the 2nd row seats are the 'money seats' and therefore, it must be the most important point of reference for these luxury MPVs. For instance (past/new Alphard), in its most basic trim, there are no touch-screen control panels at its captain chairs, no ventilated or massage seats. And all these comes standard in the D9. Therefore, all things equal, it is bewildering why one would consider the new Alphard over the D9, when you paying more for less! Furthermore, in terms of operating cost and assuming an annual mileage of 20,000km for the average driver and based on a fuel consumption of 12km/l and RON 95 petrol at $2.20/l for the Alphard, it costs $3667 in petrol cost per year. For the D9, it has a consumption of 4.66km/kwh and based on $0.5 kwh charging costs, one would pay $2145 per year which translate to a saving of $1522. If one would to minus $480 (due to the higher annual road tax of the D9 compared to the Alphard), it would still translate to a saving of $1042 yearly. This saving would be even higher if petrol costs increases and if one has access to home charging (at $0.3 kwh compared to 3rd party service providers). Also, we haven't factored in the lower maintenance costs of EV (dealer for D9 offering 10-years battery warranty/maintenance) compared to ICE. All-in-all, it is certainly financially compelling to jump ship to the D9. Finally, what may be the other cons stopping Alphard owners? To me, it would be the branding and resale value down the road. And I also appreciate any other forumers inputs who have been there and done there (by transiting to EVs). At $300k a pop, the D9 ain't exactly loose change thus I am also worried if I had missed out any 'blind spots' in my analysis. Awaiting your valuable inputs and hope my sharing had offered other forumers who are in the same situation as me in making a better decision on their next purchase, thanks!

AUDI E Concept Noticed something unusual with this new concept from Audi? The grill (or rather the lack of one), it headlights, taillights on the rear bumper, or yah you get it, the missing 4 rings. If I tell you this is NOT an Audi, I believe one of the very first thing that pops up in your mind is that this a copycat from China, am I correct? Well the car IS from China, but just NOT copycat. This isn’t an Audi but an AUDI. Confused? So am I. Audi Is Launching a New Car Company Called… AUDI tl;dr: This a new sub brand by Audi and China SAIC, for the Chinese. With many new sub-brand formed in China every other weeks, they decided to go with AUDI and call it a day. To prevent confusion (what an irony), its logo is a 4 letter words in capital, instead of the 4 rings on the parent Audi. These AUDIs will peacefully coexist with the regular crop of Audis featuring the historic logo harkening back to the Auto Union era. And you have guess, the brand new AUDI will only be carrying EVs, no gasoline model in its lineup of 3 model (in 2025). On a side note, if one day you see a CARBON82 in MCF, it is not me but maybe a new account of Carbon82 for posting some nonsense here. @kobayashiGT boleh / KYM?

When you cannot beat them, BAN them. Damn United States of Ass! GoPro used to be the leader in portable action camera and the pride of US, but have since been beaten (badly) by DJI in both function and cost, so banning DJI seems to be a natural progression. Just like what they did to Huawei when it become a threat to Apple 🍎 News by Reuters WASHINGTON, Oct 18 (Reuters) - China-based DJI sued the U.S. Defense Department on Friday for adding the drone maker to a list of companies allegedly working with Beijing's military, saying the designation is wrong and has caused the company significant financial harm. DJI, the world's largest drone manufacturer that sells more than half of all U.S. commercial drones, asked a U.S. District Judge in Washington to order its removal from the Pentagon list designating it as a "Chinese military company," saying it "is neither owned nor controlled by the Chinese military." Being placed on the list represents a warning to U.S. entities and companies about the national security risks of conducting business with them. DJI's lawsuit says because of the Defense Department's "unlawful and misguided decision" it has "lost business deals, been stigmatized as a national security threat, and been banned from contracting with multiple federal government agencies." The company added "U.S. and international customers have terminated existing contracts with DJI and refuse to enter into new ones." The Defense Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. DJI said on Friday it filed the lawsuit after the Defense Department did not engage with the company over the designation for more than 16 months, saying it "had no alternative other than to seek relief in federal court." Amid strained ties between the world's two biggest economies, the updated list is one of numerous actions Washington has taken in recent years to highlight and restrict Chinese companies that it says may strengthen Beijing's military. Many major Chinese firms are on the list, including aviation company AVIC, memory chip maker YMTC, China Mobile , and energy company CNOOC. In May, lidar manufacturer Hesai Group (ZN80y.F), opens new tab filed a suit challenging the Pentagon's Chinese military designation for the company. On Wednesday, the Pentagon removed Hesai from the list but said it will immediately relist the China-based firm on national security grounds. DJI is facing growing pressure in the United States. Earlier this week DJI told Reuters that Customs and Border Protection is stopping imports of some DJI drones from entering the United States, citing the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act. DJI said no forced labor is involved at any stage of its manufacturing. U.S. lawmakers have repeatedly raised concerns that DJI drones pose data transmission, surveillance and national security risks, something the company rejects.

Look like something taken from a sci-fi movie! 🤩 10.2" display and thickness of just 3.6 to 4.75mm when unfolded, very impressive specs indeed. Single screen: 156.7 mm (length) × 73.5 mm (width) × 12.8 mm (thickness) Dual screen: 156.7 mm (length) × 143 mm (width) × 7.45mm/4.75mm (thickness) Triple screen: 156.7 mm (length) × 219 mm (width) × 3.6mm/3.6mm/4.75mm (thickness) Weight: 238 grams If not for the sanction imposed by US, which restricts Huawei from using Google OS, Apple, Samsung, Google etc. all going to eat grass. Hahahaha But the pricing is confirm not for the mass market. 16GB + 256GB = RMB 19,999 (SGD 3,666) 16GB + 512GB = RMB 21,999 (SGD 4,032) 16GB + 1TB = RMB 23,999 (SGD4,399)

So I'm a big movie buff, and visiting places where movies I watched were filmed is a big deal.. So when a work opportunity came to visit Lanzou in Gansu Province came, a little light bulb lit up and I thought, New Dragon Gate Inn! One of my favorite shows from the 90s was filmed in Dun Huang and I can work something in to visit it! This was one of the first HK movies to be filmed in China and what a location! Plus, I get to overload on Lanzhou La Mian (兰州拉面), another one of my favorite stuff. And the further I research, the more interesting the sites over there. Now getting over to Lanzhou is no mean feat, requiring two flights last over 10 hours with stops in between and more driving and flying to reach the remote sites. There will also be extreme heat, dry searing conditions especially I have to go during the height of summer for the work part. If you think the two week spell of rainless conditions is hot, try 40c heat standing in the desert barefoot.... So begins my journey..

Two Chinese nationals were killed when a tour bus, driven by a man with no driving licence, overturned while travelling downhill from Genting Highlands on June 29, reported New Straits Times (NST). The tour bus was carrying 21 people – 18 Chinese tourists and three Malaysians – when the accident occurred at about 10.40am. Pahang Fire and Rescue Department director Wan Mohamad Zaidi Wan Isa told The Star that both male victims suffered head injuries, and their bodies were taken to Bentong Hospital. The department’s deputy director of operations Ismail Abdul Ghani said that the two victims were trapped in the vehicle, while the other passengers managed to exit the vehicle with light injuries, NST reported. Gaming giant Genting Malaysia, which runs an integrated resort in Genting Highlands, said in a statement that the tour bus, which was ferrying Chinese tourists from Yunnan, was owned by a third-party operator. The 32-year-old bus driver was driving without a licence, said the Bentong district police chief, Superintendent Zaiham Mohd Kahar, adding that the man had been issued 27 traffic summonses. The latest accident was a “stark reminder of the persistent road safety issues” facing Malaysia, said Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, chairman of the Alliance for a Safe Community. https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/two-chinese-tourists-dead-after-tour-bus-overturns-in-genting-highlands

https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-covid-propaganda/ The U.S. military launched a clandestine program amid the COVID crisis to discredit China’s Sinovac inoculation – payback for Beijing’s efforts to blame Washington for the pandemic. One target: the Filipino public. Health experts say the gambit was indefensible and put innocent lives at risk. At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. military launched a secret campaign to counter what it perceived as China’s growing influence in the Philippines, a nation hit especially hard by the deadly virus. The clandestine operation has not been previously reported. It aimed to sow doubt about the safety and efficacy of vaccines and other life-saving aid that was being supplied by China, a Reuters investigation found. Through phony internet accounts meant to impersonate Filipinos, the military’s propaganda efforts morphed into an anti-vax campaign. Social media posts decried the quality of face masks, test kits and the first vaccine that would become available in the Philippines – China’s Sinovac inoculation. Reuters identified at least 300 accounts on X, formerly Twitter, that matched descriptions shared by former U.S. military officials familiar with the Philippines operation. Almost all were created in the summer of 2020 and centered on the slogan #Chinaangvirus – Tagalog for China is the virus. READ MORE https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-covid-propaganda/

Designed by ChangAn Mazda JV, this model is currently and likely be for the Chinese market only. Sitting on 19-inch aero wheels, the Mazda EZ-6 has a large panoramic glass roof and frameless doors. Reports from China indicate the electric/plug-in hybrid sedan is based on the ChangAn Deepal SL03 but pushed upmarket with a fancier interior. The cabin doesn't appear to have much in common with the Mazda products sold globally, which would explain the Chinese connection. It does seem like a nice place to be in, and that full-length "floating" center console is interesting. The Mazda EZ-6 gets a rear-wheel-drive setup as an electric model. It has a perfect 50:50 weight distribution and a multi-link rear suspension. The unspecified battery pack is good for 600 Km of range per the China Light-Duty Vehicle Test Cycle (CLTC). The plug-in hybrid can cover 1,000 Km before running out of gas and battery juice. As for size, it's 4,920 mm long, 1,890 mm wide, and 1,483 mm tall. That makes it slightly bigger than the outgoing 6. Speaking of which, Mazda has already ruled out replacing the 6 we all know with a new generation on the company's RWD platform with inline-six engines. For now, that architecture is exclusively used by four SUVs: CX-60, CX-70, CX-80, and CX-90.

Might as well let this ride for those heavy days and passengers?

Can buy from Taobao.. Wonder which local authority to approve if someone were to bring in to Singapore, LTA or CAAS? https://www.msn.com/en-xl/travel/other/chinese-flying-taxi-maker-ehang-sells-autonomous-passenger-drone-for-us-332000-on-taobao-as-nation-s-low-altitude-economy-takes-off/ar-BB1k9Kkg Chinese flying taxi maker EHang sells autonomous passenger drone for US$332,000 on Taobao as nation’s low-altitude economy takes off EHang's EH216-S electric vertical take-off and landing vehicle will be available in overseas markets at a suggested price of US$410,000 from April 1 The EH216-S, which was first announced in February 2018, has reportedly completed over 42,000 successful test flights in more than 14 countries Chinese flying taxi maker EHang is selling its EH216-S electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicle on Alibaba Group Holding's Taobao marketplace, weeks before the Nasdaq-listed company makes the autonomous passenger-carrying aircraft available in overseas markets. Based in Guangzhou, capital of southern Guangdong province, EHang has put its EH216-S for sale at a unit price of 2.39 million yuan (US$332,000) on e-commerce giant Alibaba's primary domestic retail platform. Alibaba owns the South China Morning Post. In February, EHang announced that the EH216-S would be sold at a suggested retail price of US$410,000 outside the mainland from April 1. Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team. The ambitious domestic and international marketing campaigns show EHang's confidence in generating strong market demand, months after its self-developed EH216-S became the world's first recipient of a Type Certificate and Standard Airworthiness Certificate for pilotless eVTOLs. Those certifications were issued last October and December, respectively, by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). "This significant achievement has had a profound impact on our business, as it has sparked a surge in demand for our remarkable EH216-S," EHang founder, chairman and chief executive Hu Huazhi said last Friday, when the company released its latest financial results. "The market response has been overwhelmingly positive, leading to strong quarterly and yearly revenue growth." EHang reported fourth-quarter revenue of 56.6 million yuan, a 260.9 per cent jump from 15.7 million yuan in the same period in 2022, on the back of an increase in orders for its EH216-series products. Total 2023 revenue reached 117.4 million yuan, up 165 per cent from 44.3 million yuan the previous year. Sales and deliveries of the company's EH216-series products totalled 52 units last year, compared with 21 in 2022. Multiple EH216-S aircraft built by EHang are seen parked at a vertiport - an area that supports the landing and take-off of these types of passenger vehicles - in Guangzhou, capital of southern Guangdong province. Photo: Handout© Provided by South China Morning Post After completing aircraft certification, EHang conducted EH216-S production under the supervision of CAAC representatives at the company's factory in Yunfu, a city in Guangdong. The firm began deliveries of certified aircraft to customers in the December quarter. EHang did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The company's shares were up 4.71 per cent to US$16.23 in pre-market trading on Tuesday. The EH216-S, which was first announced in February 2018, has reportedly completed over 42,000 successful test flights in more than 14 countries. The two-passenger aircraft has a top speed of 130-kilometres per hour, a cruising speed of 100km/h and a maximum altitude of 3,000 metres. It has a range of 30km and a flight time of 25 minutes. It is built with 16 propellers, recharges its batteries in 120 minutes and provides a maximum payload of 220 kilograms. The luggage boot can accommodate an 18-inch suitcase to satisfy general commuting and short-distance travel requirements. EHang's EH216-S electric vertical take-off and landing vehicle is seen on display at the 2023 Indonesia International Motor Show held in Jakarta on February 23, 2023. Photo: Shutterstock The autonomous flight capabilities, fully electric propulsion, comprehensive redundancy safety features, and intelligent command-and-control systems of the EH216-S make it an ideal solution for various urban air mobility (UAM) applications, including air taxi services, aerial tourism, airport shuttles and cross-island transport, according to EHang. The company earlier this month forged a UAM cooperation pact with the municipal government of Wuxi, a city in eastern Jiangsu province, covering an order of 100 EH216-S units. Last October, EHang entered into a strategic cooperation deal with the municipal government of Hefei, a city in eastern Anhui province, for joint development of a low-altitude economy ecosystem, with US$100 million in extended support that can be used to facilitate a minimum order of 100 EH216-series products. The low-altitude economy, which is expected to be driven by the wide adoption of aircraft like eVTOLs and pilotless aerial vehicles, was identified as one of the national strategic emerging industries during the Central Economic Work Conference held in Beijing in December. About 20 provinces across the country have prioritised the development of the low-altitude economy this year, according to EHang. That is expected to contribute between 3 trillion yuan and 5 trillion yuan to China's economy by 2025, according to a white paper published last year by the International Digital Economy Academy in Shenzhen. More Articles from SCMP