Modern Achievements of Our Nation
FoundationThe nation runs the world's largest high-speed rail network, explores space with Shenzhou and the Tiangong station, set records with the HZM Bridge, serves the world with BeiDou navigation, and has ended extreme poverty — achievements tied closely to our lives.
- The nation runs the world's largest high-speed rail network at up to three hundred and fifty kilometres per hour.
- Shenzhou, Tiangong, Chang'e and Zhurong show the strength of its space programme.
- The BeiDou satellite system provides positioning worldwide.
文體小知識：國情教育說明文介紹國家在科技、工程和民生方面的成就，認識今日的中國。
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1In recent decades the nation has made great strides in science, technology and engineering. Its high-speed rail network is the world's largest: trains run at up to three hundred and fifty kilometres per hour; from Hong Kong to Guangzhou takes about an hour, and to Beijing just over eight. The criss-crossing rail links cities and speeds both travel and the economy.
2Space achievements draw the world's eye: Shenzhou spacecraft carry astronauts into orbit; the Tiangong space station runs in orbit with crews taking turns to do science; the Chang'e probes landed on the moon and brought soil samples back; and the Zhurong rover patrols Mars. The BeiDou system of dozens of satellites offers positioning to the world — in phone maps and fishing-boat navigation alike.
3Mega-projects link mountains and seas. The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, fifty-five kilometres long, is the world's longest sea crossing, joining Hong Kong, Zhuhai and Macao. Beijing Daxing Airport stands as a model of large-scale engineering, and the South-North Water Transfer moves water to the north. In livelihoods, the nation has ended extreme poverty, lifting hundreds of millions of people — a remarkable feat.
4The nation's achievements touch Hong Kong closely: the high-speed rail link joins the national network, the bridge eases travel across the Greater Bay Area, and the nation supports Hong Kong's innovation and technology. Knowing these achievements is not only knowledge but part of identity; study science well, and you too may help build the future.
1Summary 重點摘要
The nation runs the world's largest high-speed rail network, explores space with Shenzhou and the Tiangong station, set records with the HZM Bridge, serves the world with BeiDou navigation, and has ended extreme poverty — achievements tied closely to our lives.
2Vocabulary cards Vocabulary
Rail running up to three hundred and fifty kilometres per hour; the nation's network is the world's largest.
The crewed spacecraft carrying Chinese astronauts into space.
China's space station, operating long-term in orbit.
The lunar probes that landed on the moon and returned with soil samples.
China's own satellite navigation system, offering positioning worldwide.
The world's longest sea crossing, fifty-five kilometres long.
A national project of grand scale and advanced technology.
Lifting people out of poverty and improving their lives.
The development region covering Hong Kong, Macao and nine Guangdong cities.
3Step by step Steps
- Step 1: Learn the high-speed railChina's high-speed rail network is the largest in the world, and the trains are extremely fast. For example, trains at three hundred and fifty kilometres per hour reach Guangzhou from Hong Kong in about an hour; family trips north take far less time. High-speed rail makes travel between cities easier — commuting, visiting relatives and touring alike — and boosts economic and cultural exchange, linking cities into one-hour living circles.
- Step 2: Learn crewed spaceflightChina's crewed spaceflight programme keeps advancing, and astronauts have flown to space many times. For example, Shenzhou carries astronauts aloft; inside the Tiangong space station they grow lettuce and run scientific experiments, and have even given space lessons to primary and secondary students across the country. These experiments help humans understand space — and perhaps one of us will become an astronaut and explore even farther starry skies. Space research also serves daily life: waterproof materials and freeze-dried food both came from space technology.
- Step 3: Learn moon and Mars missionsChina's probes have reached the Moon and Mars and gathered precious scientific data. For example, Chang'e-5 brought back over one thousand seven hundred grams of lunar soil for scientists to study the Moon's history; the Zhurong rover drives and photographs on Mars, paving the way for future exploration. These missions prove the nation's space technology has reached the world's advanced level — a source of pride, and an encouragement to study science hard and join research work in future.
- Step 4: Learn BeiDou navigationThe BeiDou system is a satellite navigation network built by China itself, with wide uses. For example, the positioning in your phone map and bus-arrival app may come from BeiDou satellites; fishing boats at sea also rely on BeiDou to find their way. Having its own navigation system makes shipping, flying and daily travel more reliable and the positioning more precise, without depending on foreign satellites.
- Step 5: Learn the mega-projectsChina has completed several world-class mega-projects, showing great building power. For example, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge runs fifty-five kilometres — the world's longest sea crossing — with its undersea tunnel reaching more than forty metres deep, a world-class challenge. Such projects join cities together and speed up travel, and they are the fruit of engineers' and workers' day-and-night efforts, marvelling at the nation's speed and strength in construction.
- Step 6: Learn the livelihood gainsAs the nation develops, people's lives have improved in real ways. For example, with extreme poverty ended, children in remote mountains have new school buildings and nutritious lunches, and roads and networks reach village after village. When children can study and eat well in peace, knowledge has a chance to change their lives, and these gains have made life better for hundreds of millions of families, while medical and old-age protections keep improving too.
- Step 7: Link Hong Kong with the nationHong Kong's links with the nation are ever closer, and we can feel the achievements ourselves. For example, from West Kowloon the high-speed rail reaches many mainland cities, and a one-hour living circle is forming across the Greater Bay Area, with many classmates' families travelling to the mainland for work. Knowing these links helps us plan richer trips and think about how to contribute to the nation in future, and to see Hong Kong's own role in the nation's development.
4Diagrams Diagrams
5Worked example Example
Example: Kit's grandmother lives in Zhuhai. The ferry once took three hours; now the family drives her over the HZM Bridge in about an hour. Explain what the bridge changed, and name another national mega-project.
- The bridge runs fifty-five kilometres — the world's longest sea crossing — joining Hong Kong, Zhuhai and Macao directly.
- Change one: the trip shrank from about three hours to about one, making visits to grandmother easier and family meetings more frequent.
- Change two: people and goods move more among the three places, tightening travel and cooperation across the Greater Bay Area.
- Another mega-project: the high-speed rail, running from Hong Kong West Kowloon straight to many mainland cities.
- Answer: The bridge cut the three places' journey sharply and drew them closer; high-speed rail likewise links Hong Kong with the mainland as a national mega-project — both make travel faster and easier.
6Common mistakes Mistakes
7Quick check Quick check
Q1How fast can the nation's high-speed trains run?
Q2What is the Tiangong space station for?
Q3How long is the HZM Bridge and what is its standing?
Q4What service does BeiDou provide?
Q5What does ending extreme poverty mean?
8Recap Recap
- The nation runs the world's largest high-speed rail network at up to three hundred and fifty kilometres per hour.
- Shenzhou, Tiangong, Chang'e and Zhurong show the strength of its space programme.
- The BeiDou satellite system provides positioning worldwide.
- The HZM Bridge, the world's longest sea crossing, links the three places of the Bay Area.
- Extreme poverty has ended, and these achievements touch daily life in Hong Kong.