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CHINA has unveiled a massive inflatable dome in the middle of a major city to help shield residents from a construction site.
The whopping 50m-high inflatable is reported to be the largest of its kind in the world.
Measuring 20,000 square metres, the dome is designed to protect the surrounding neighbourhoods from dust and noise during construction.
A viral video shows the incredible moment the inflatable swallows up the building site in the city of Jinan.
Viewers can see the dome gradually inflating to its enormous size through a jaw-dropping timelapse.
Mao Ning, a spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry, revealed the giant dome in a Facebook post on July 2.
The balloon uses negative pressure and air filtration systems to stop construction dust affecting nearby areas, according to Times Now News.
Its design is said to allow for easy inflation and dismantling so it can be deployed where needed quickly.
The dome is made from lightweight PVDF-coated polyester, with four big fans keeping it inflated.
Transparent panels let in natural sunlight, allowing the inside to keep well lit during the day without the need for artificial lighting, the Bridge Chronicle has reported.
But the viral clip has also drawn a lot of attention on TikTok, with many users sharing their reactions to the vast inflatable.
One user jested: “This is really dangerous because if it gets too big it becomes really soft and a giant might see it and come to take a nap.”
But another said it is “such a clever way to protect both the environment and the people living nearby”.
“How does one even manufacture a single sheet that large?”, asked another.
It comes as China continues to face issues with many of its major construction projects.
A giant skyscraper in the city of Tianjin had stood unfinished for nearly a decade before construction was resumed.
Goldin Finance 117, nicknamed The Walking Stick due to its architectural shape, had loomed uncompleted over the city for many years.
But work on the £8billion project was halted following the 2015 Chinese stock market crash.
Standing at a staggering 1,959 feet, the Walking Stick is nearly twice as tall as The Shard.
But Chinese state media has since reported the skyscraper will now resume construction.
It will no longer get to claim the title as China’s tallest building that had been forecast, however.
Two taller skyscrapers, the Shanghai Tower and Shenzhen’s Ping An Finance Centre, have topped out since then.
Why has Trump hit China, Canada, and Mexico with tariffs?
DONALD Trump has imposed 10% tariffs on Chinese imports and Beijing has retaliated. Trump also hit Canada and Mexico with 25% tariffs, but walked back many of them on March 6
China:
- Trump believes China has not done enough to stop the production of chemicals used to make the drug fentanyl.
- China has slammed Trump for the claim and described fentanyl as America’s problem.
- The country also said the tariffs are a “serious violation” of the World Trade Organization rules.
- China is filing a lawsuit with the WTO against the US for “wrongful practice.”
- China serves as a major supplier of auto parts to the US.
- Phones, computers, and other key electronic devices were also in the top imports from China last year, according to Commerce Department data.
- In 2023, the US imported around $427 billion worth of products from China, according to the US Census Bureau.
- Data reveals that 78% of all smartphones imported from the US came from China.
- Trump’s tariff threat has sparked fears of price rises for fashion items and toys.
- Beijing has responded by outlining its own tariffs on American goods, sparking fears of an all-out trade war between the two superpowers.
Canada:
- Trump ignited a trade war with Canada and Mexico during his first days in office as part of a campaign promise to stop the flow of fentanyl and illegal immigrants into the United States.
- He said both countries had not done enough to halt the drug flow and the mass influx of migrants from reaching US soil.
- A total of 59 pounds of fentanyl was seized at the northern border by US agents between 2022 and 2024, according to the Canadian government.
- Meanwhile, almost 62,000 pounds of the drug was seized at the southern border.
- The 25% tariffs Trump proposed on Canadian goods were destined to come into force on March 4.
- Canada responded with a 25% tariff on $155 billion of American imports.
- On March 6, Trump warned the 25% tariff on steel and aluminium would come into force on March 12.
- Ontario Premier Doug Ford responded with a 25% surcharge on electricity exported to Michigan, Minnesota, and New York.
- Trump then threatened to double the 25% tariff to 50%.
- The Ontario premier warned that he “will not hesitate to increase” the levies or completely shut off power to the three US northeastern states.
- Both sides then agreed to talk and toned down their threat.
- Ford then paused the electricity surcharge.
Mexico:
- Mexico has managed to twice postpone Trump’s tariffs on Mexican goods.
- On February 1, Trump signed an executive order to impose tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico, and China.
- But, on February 3, Trump agreed to pause the levies against Canada and Mexico after the countries took steps to appease Trump’s concerns on border security and drug trafficking.
- Trump then threatened that the 25% tariffs would come into force on March 4.
- Two days later, Trump announced a delay on most goods covered under the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement.
- Trump credited Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum’s progress on border security and drug smuggling as a reason for the pause on the levies.
- The Mexican Navy has seized thousands of kilograms of drugs from criminal gangs.
- Sheinbaum promised to deploy 10,000 extra troops to the Mexico-US border.
- Still, Trump has maintained that on April 2, the US will begin imposing reciprocal tariffs on all its trading partners, including Mexico.
