Netizen population hits 668 million

The number of China’s online population, the world’s largest, hit 668 million in June, with 594 million of those using mobile devices to go online. Figures from China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC) showed that  China’s total Internet population rose by 18.9 million in H1.  Mobile Internet users grew by 36.8 million and mobile phones are now the main vehicle for accessing the Internet in China, with 88.9 percent of the total online population doing so via their phones. Online payments, shopping and travel booking services via mobile phones rose 26.9 percent, 14.5 percent and 25 percent, respectively. According to the report, there is still room for growth as more people in rural areas have come online. Some 186 million Internet users are rural residents, 27.9 percent of the total online population.

Xinjiang sweats in record heat wave

A record heat wave continued yesterday to scorch northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, forcing people to stay indoors and leaving air conditioners out of stock in shopping centers. The 10 hottest cities in China were all in Xinjiang on Wednesday. The maximum temperature in most cities was above 37 degrees Celsius, according to the Central Meteorological Station. Turpan Prefecture, also known as “Fire State,” topped the chart with temperatures reaching 46 degrees Celsius yesterday. The maximum temperature there has remained above 45 degrees Celsius since July 15. The surface temperature at a highway toll station was as high as 69 degrees Celsius, according to Hua Feng, a Turpan traffic police officer. “The soles of my shoes cracked due to the heat after being on duty for six hours, even though I stood under a shade,” said Hua. The heat is expected to last until Sunday, according to the regional meteorological station.