XI'AN - Chinese online retailer JD.com plans to roll out a drone that can carry packages weighing as much as 200 kilograms for long-distance deliveries. Developed by the Beijing-based company, the new drone VT1 with a hybrid gas-electric engine is 3.4 meters long and can cover a 200-kilometer radius, according to JD.com. JD.com said the new drone was in testing. The drone service will transport goods between distribution stations rather than to customers directly. Xiao Jun, vice president of JD.com, said the VT1 could carry heavier parcels and travel over a longer time. The drones will not be affected by traffic congestion and can improve delivery efficiency and save logistic costs. JD.com started conducting trial deliveries using drones in 2016. Smaller drones are being used in the city of Xi'an in Shaanxi Province and the city of Suqian in Jiangsu Province. From June to July 31, the delivery drones, which can carry items weighing between 15 kg and 30 kg, have flown more than 800 times and traveled over 4,000 km in Xi'an, according to the company. JD.com announced in May that it planned to invest 20.5 billion yuan (3 billion U.S. dollars) over the next five years to build a logistics hub in Xi'an. custom silicone wristbandsballer bandswrist band com coupon code24 hour wristbands
High temperatures push residents to seek respite below ground In addition to shopping malls and libraries, many Nanjing residents have chosen to enjoy the cool air of air-raid shelters, where they may read books, dance or play online games. What I like most about the air-raid shelters is that there are no mosquitoes, said Zhong Yue, a 16-year-old who accompanied her grandmother to Beijiyan Shelter, which is built into a hillside. My grandma goes to the shelter almost every day in summer with her friends to save electricity. I think it's environmentally friendly. However, I wouldn't be here if free Wi-Fi wasn't provided. Since Saturday, Nanjing has opened eight of its air-raid shelters to the public. Tables, chairs and free mineral water are provided, along with dehumidifiers. Beijiyan Shelter, which literally means North Pole rock shelter in Chinese, is located near well-known attractions, such as Xuanwu Lake and Jiming Temple. And it's not just residents. Visitors find their way into the shelter as well. Yuan Man, a Suzhou student who will go to college this September, said that the shelter looks different from what he had imagined. I thought it would be dark and terrifying inside, like in the war movies, said the student, who is traveling in Nanjing. But it's bright and clean. I shivered when I first entered. It's almost 40 C outside and inside it's only half that temperature. Yuan Renshui, a community worker in Qixia district, said people don't get bored, even if they spend the whole day in the Qianxin Yinkuang Shelter. We bought a television this year, he said. The shelter covers more than 200 square meters. It's divided into three rooms for reading, playing poker and dancing. The shelter is the only one in the city that's open all year. Others are open daily from July 15 to late August. Many people come to the shelter around 9:30 am and don't leave until it closes at 5 pm, said Chen Ya, who is retired. Some even bring lunch. Other cities, such as Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, Fuzhou, Fujian province, and Chengdu, Sichuan province have also opened their air-raid shelters to the public. According to the National Meteorological Center, heat will continue to grip parts of eastern, northern and southern China. Temperatures in some parts are expected to hit 37 to 40 degrees. Guo Jun contributed to this story.
