Summary: Former Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the 14th and 15th CPC Central Committees, passed away on August 12, 2026, at age 98. His remains were cremated on August 18 at Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery in Beijing. Xi Jinping, Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi, and Han Zheng paid respects at the ceremony, while Hu Jintao sent a wreath. The leaders observed a moment of silence, bowed three times, and offered condolences to Zhu's family. No mention was made of the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: President Xi Jinping met with Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa at the Great Hall of the People on August 18, marking the 10th anniversary of their comprehensive strategic partnership. Xi emphasized deepening political trust, aligning development strategies, and expanding cooperation in energy, infrastructure, digital economy, and green development, while supporting Ecuador’s path and regional stability. Noboa affirmed Ecuador’s respect for China’s sovereignty and stance on Taiwan, welcoming more Chinese investment. The two leaders witnessed signing of cooperation documents in green industry, trade, digital economy, and livelihoods. Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended the events.
Summary: Premier Li Qiang signed a State Council decree amending the "Regulations on the Administration of Housing Provident Funds," effective September 20, 2026. The amendment broadens withdrawal and usage, removing the rent-to-income ratio threshold and adding scenarios like home renovation and property fees. It enhances management efficiency by simplifying procedures and promoting national mutual recognition of contribution records for easier transfers and cross-regional loans. The decision strengthens risk control by establishing public credit information and clear legal liability for fraudulent withdrawals or loans. It expands coverage to allow voluntary contributions from self-employed and flexible workers.
Summary: Chairman Zhao Leji presided over the 71st meeting of the Council of Chairmen of the 14th NPC Standing Committee in Beijing on August 18. The meeting decided that the 24th session of the Standing Committee will convene from August 25 to 28. The agenda includes reviewing multiple draft laws, such as those on medical insurance, cultivated land protection, and agricultural law revisions, as well as a proposal to approve a China-Hungary extradition treaty. Reports on economic performance, budget execution, and rural revitalization are also scheduled for review. NPC Secretary-General Liu Qi reported on the agenda, with Vice Chairmen including Li Hongzhong, Wang Dongming, and others in attendance.
Summary: According to a State Council Information Office press conference, rural retail sales grew 2.4% year-on-year in the first seven months, outpacing urban areas by 1.3 percentage points for the 55th consecutive month, with county-level sales reaching 39.1% of total retail. The growth is attributed to urbanization, a 42.8% cumulative rise in rural disposable income since the 14th Five-Year Plan period, and improved commercial logistics. The Ministry of Commerce and other agencies issued a policy document to further stimulate county-level consumption. No U.S. or U.S.-China relations were mentioned.
Summary: The China Machinery Industry Federation reported that the value-added output of above-scale enterprises in the machinery sector grew 6.4% year-on-year in the first half of the year, with a notable acceleration in June. Machinery exports reached $559.3 billion, up 20%, driven by a more balanced global market layout and a rising share of high-value-added products. The development of "new quality productive forces" is gaining momentum, as intelligent equipment manufacturing grew 16.7%, with output of 3D printers, industrial robots, and automatic control instruments surging significantly. Traditional sectors, such as the machine tool industry, are accelerating upgrades toward high-end and intelligent manufacturing, leading to substantial profit growth in the period.
Summary: At an August 18 State Council Information Office press conference, Commerce Ministry Assistant Minister Yuan Xiaoming announced a new policy document aimed at boosting consumption in county-level markets, which cover 90% of China's land area and 40% of its economic output. The measures focus on improving rural commercial infrastructure, expanding supply chains, encouraging chain stores to expand downward, and supporting local brands and new business models. Commerce Department official Li Jialu outlined plans to promote new energy vehicles and green products in rural areas, while market regulator official Du Linya noted that over 78 million individual businesses operate in these markets. Agriculture Ministry official Song Danyang and Culture and Tourism Ministry official Gu Kewei discussed plans to strengthen agricultural product marketing and develop rural tourism as a new consumption hotspot.
Summary: Chinese President Xi Jinping, during a September 2023 inspection of Zhejiang, called for strengthening enterprises' role in technological innovation and accelerating the commercialization of research results, according to the article. In response, local institutions such as the Hangzhou Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics are helping researchers navigate the gap between laboratory breakthroughs and market production, having incubated over 70 enterprises. Zhejiang's Tsinghua Yangtze Delta Research Institute and the China Eye Valley are also collaborating with firms to develop products like smart health-monitoring beds and vision-screening devices, driven by market and clinical needs. The province has granted companies greater autonomy in talent evaluation, with firms like Zhongke Lide using performance-based criteria to recognize technical staff. Zhejiang's Department of Science and Technology reports that over 80% of major technology needs come from enterprises, which lead or participate in over 80% of provincial key science and technology projects.
Summary: The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, the Central Social Work Department, and the Ministry of Civil Affairs jointly issued a notice to optimize urban and rural community positions to absorb college graduates. The policy promotes multiple recruitment channels, including hiring dedicated community workers, developing service posts, and mobilizing enterprises and social organizations. It requires the unified publication of grassroots job listings and the organization of offline recruitment events. Additionally, the notice mandates training for graduates in these roles and supports their participation in social worker professional qualification evaluations. The initiative aims to alleviate graduate employment pressure while strengthening grassroots governance capacity.
Summary: The Songhua River特大桥梁, a key control project of the northern ring section of Harbin's metropolitan loop highway, was successfully closed on August 18, connecting the Yongyuan-Shuangjing segment and completing the core node of the northern ring project. The bridge, spanning 4,668.5 meters, lays the foundation for future traffic opening. Once completed, it will further improve the highway network system of the Harbin metropolitan area.
Summary: The article highlights Zaozhuang City's efforts to build a "15-minute convenient living circle" centered on the Huxi community, where government and market forces jointly manage public amenities and services. Deputy commerce bureau director Qin Jing emphasized shifting from a "caretaker" to "operator" model, with state-owned enterprises managing East Lake Park and community-run companies generating revenue to sustain services. Zaozhuang Party Secretary Zhai Jun stated the city will adopt tailored solutions per district, leverage fiscal funds to attract private investment, and deepen government-market collaboration to perfect this convenience radius. No mention is made of the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: The State Administration for Market Regulation, the National Development and Reform Commission, and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment jointly issued the "Carbon Emission Measurement Capacity Building Guidance Catalog (2026 Edition)." This updated document, a revision of the 2024 edition, aims to refine China's national carbon measurement technical system and support green, low-carbon transitions across industries. The new catalog significantly expands its scope, increasing key measurement parameters from 39 to 58, testing standards from 82 to 169, and measuring instruments from 108 to 229. The issuance reflects a coordinated inter-agency effort to bolster technical infrastructure for carbon governance. No specific officials were named as accompanying the announcement.
Summary: The China-Laos Railway has cumulatively transported over 90 million tons of cargo, including over 21 million tons of cross-border freight, with more than 80,000 freight trains operated. Since its launch on December 3, 2021, cargo volumes have steadily increased, with daily freight averaging over 67,000 tons since the start of 2026, surpassing the 80-million and 90-million ton milestones in succession. The report highlights the railway's growing efficiency as an international logistics "golden corridor" linking China and Southeast Asia. No specific officials or accompanying personnel were mentioned in the article. The report does not address U.S.-China relations.
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Summary: Chinese-built roads in Ethiopia, such as the "teff road" connecting Asala to Adama, have significantly improved agricultural transport, cutting travel time from six hours to 1.5 hours and reducing teff spoilage, according to local farmers. The 75.6-kilometer road, upgraded by China Railway No.3 Group, has boosted crop yields and lowered costs, with Oromia agriculture official Dejene Hilpa praising it as vital for food security. Other projects, including the "cement road" and "coffee road," have enhanced industrial distribution and coffee exports, with Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy noting the cement road's role in national infrastructure. The article highlights that over 230 local workers have been trained, with China supporting road projects like the Mieso-Dire Dawa highway as a model of South-South cooperation, per Ethiopian policy adviser Baru Demissie.
Summary: The article, by a Japanese lawyer, warns that Japan is sliding toward remilitarization and must be stopped from abandoning the pacifist principles of Article 9 of its Constitution. It criticizes the Liberal Democratic Party for accelerating constitutional revision, and notes that Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae has said a Taiwan contingency could constitute a “survival crisis” for Japan and declared at an LDP convention that the time for constitutional revision has come. The piece argues that Japan’s shift away from “exclusive defense” toward “counterstrike capability,” record military spending, and loosened arms export rules will increase rather than reduce the risk of war. It calls on Japanese citizens to defend the peace constitution and steer Japan back toward peaceful development.
Summary: French sinologist高大伟 (David Gosset) released a report in Paris on China's science popularization system, describing it as systematic and integrated into national long-term strategy through legal, administrative, and financial arrangements. He highlighted China's annual investment exceeding 20 billion RMB, 1,890 science museums, and over one million lectures, which aim to enhance citizens' scientific literacy and public participation in innovation. Gosset noted that Chinese society rapidly adopts new technologies like AI and mobile payments, with digital platforms expanding outreach and making even abstract math topics viral. He praised China's science culture, including sci-fi like *The Three-Body Problem*, as fostering public imagination and youth curiosity, and concluded that China seeks to build not only a tech power but a knowledge-based society.
Summary: An Egypt-focused "Export to China" event was held in Cairo on August 17, where Chinese and Egyptian firms signed trade deals totaling nearly $170 million. Egyptian Investment and Foreign Trade Ministry Asia Director Saeed Fouad thanked China and expressed interest in long-term cooperation. Egyptian Exporters Association head Mohamed Kassim called for regular exchange mechanisms and deeper understanding of China's market. Chinese Commerce Ministry official Chang Hui said the event marked the first stop of the "Export to China" series in Africa, highlighting China's commitment to opening up and multilateral trade. About 170 business and government representatives attended.
Summary: Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa attended the inauguration of a water supply project in Santo Domingo, built by Chinese firm PowerChina, which now provides stable, clean water to 500,000 residents. The project, funded at over $23 million, was completed in May after construction began in February 2021. Noboa noted that many families had long awaited this vital infrastructure, while Carlos Rivera, president of Ecuador's development bank, praised Chinese companies for their technical expertise and project management. The project marks a key achievement in China-Ecuador infrastructure cooperation, with local residents reporting improved living conditions. No mention was made of the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: A University of Manchester report released on August 17 states that China's large-scale support for green industries has reduced the costs of batteries, electric vehicles, and solar technology, aiding the global low-carbon transition. The report notes China leads in green technologies such as solar, wind, batteries, hydrogen, and EVs, and that its industrial development is effectively supporting global green transformation. It argues that affordable green technology is crucial for climate goals and urges nations to focus on cooperation. The report specifically advises the UK to deepen its cooperation with China in green technology. It concludes that such collaboration presents a significant opportunity to elevate UK-China relations.
Summary: Zhu Rongji, a former member of the Politburo Standing Committee and former Premier of the State Council, passed away in Beijing on August 12, 2026, at the age of 98. The obituary highlights his early career in Shanghai, where he pioneered economic restructuring, housing reform, and the development of Pudong. As Vice Premier and Premier, he is credited with engineering a "soft landing" for the overheated economy, clearing triangular debts, and implementing major fiscal, financial, and state-owned enterprise reforms. He also oversaw China's accession to the WTO and led efforts to expand domestic demand and maintain growth during the Asian financial crisis and major floods. After retirement, he remained loyal to the Party, supporting successive central leaderships including that of Xi Jinping.
Summary: This commentary emphasizes the importance of grassroots governance and policy implementation, arguing that officials must understand local realities and maintain a long-term, sustainable approach to serving the people. It cites Xi Jinping's early career examples—his promotion of the "big contract" agricultural reform in Zhengding County in 1982 and his study trips to Anhui's Xiaogang Village and Sichuan before building biogas pools in Liangjiahe—as models of combining policy understanding with practical investigation. The piece highlights the value of learning from advanced regions, citing Hebei Zhuozhou's successful recruitment of 61 Beijing projects and Hubei Anglu's rapid signing with a Zhejiang company, to illustrate how regional cooperation can drive development. It concludes by quoting Xi's 2006 essay that "being responsible to the Party is being responsible to the people," urging cadres to continuously ask themselves whether their work aligns with what the Party and people truly need.
Summary: Liaoning province has consolidated its provincial-level economic development zones, merging or abolishing 49 zones to address issues like redundant industries, internal competition, and heavy fiscal burdens. The reforms, guided by Xi Jinping's call for quality over speed, have streamlined administrative functions and shifted focus toward investment, enterprise support, and industrial cultivation. Zones now pursue differentiated development strategies—such as Shenyang and Dalian targeting high-tech sectors, and coastal areas focusing on port-linked industries—to avoid homogeneous competition. New evaluation metrics prioritize land efficiency, R&D input, and green development, moving from policy-based to service-based competition. The article reflects a broader shift in local governance toward sustainable, high-quality growth, with no mention of the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: China launched its first carbon dioxide geothermal project in Zhengzhou this May, using supercritical CO₂ to extract underground heat for residential heating. The article highlights CO₂'s expanding industrial uses, including power generation, chemical feedstocks, and synthetic sugar production, framing these as part of China's green transition. It stresses that emission reduction drives innovation, citing examples like CCUS in oil fields and cement industry efficiency gains. The piece also showcases international cooperation, such as Chinese-built solar projects in Nauru and Ethiopia, and references the newly issued 15th Five-Year Plan carbon peak action plan. No specific officials or U.S.-China relations are mentioned.
Summary: The article reports on a cultural shift in rural Ningxia's Xihaigu region, where villages like Wuzhuang are increasingly valuing education over material wealth as a measure of success, exemplified by 19 students entering university this year, including one admitted to Peking University. It quotes villagers saying, "Now, everyone compares education, not wealth," and highlights achievements across several villages, including one with an academician and dozens of PhDs. The piece attributes this transformation to concrete government support, specifically the regional "Spring Bud Plan" launched in 1997 and the national "Two Exemptions and One Subsidy" policy from 2005, alongside the integration of urban and rural educational resources. The author argues that this redefinition of the "value yardstick"—prioritizing knowledge and family legacy over financial assets—is essential for comprehensive rural revitalization. The article does not discuss the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: The article reports that new energy heavy truck sales in China reached approximately 140,000 units in the first half of the year, a 78.6% year-on-year increase. Application scenarios are expanding from port and coal corridor logistics to urban delivery and cross-province freight. The industry structure is shifting from diesel dominance to a diversified mix with a rising new energy sector. The piece also cites a national plan to build 30,000 kilometers of zero-carbon road transport corridors and over 3,000 electric heavy truck charging and swapping stations by 2030.
Summary: The article, written by the Party secretary of Yanshou Town in Beijing's Changping District, argues that good ecology must be converted into economic benefits through integrated development. It highlights a 2026 mountain running World Cup event that attracted 3,500 competitors from 19 countries, boosting local tourism and specialty products. The town uses fine-grained planning, zoning into ecological, cultural, and sports areas, while demolishing illegal structures to optimize limited space. It promotes multi-industry integration, such as under-forest mushroom cultivation and cycling-friendly infrastructure, to link ecological assets with marketable products. Finally, it emphasizes talent cultivation through "Qingmiao" and "Toutou" projects to support rural entrepreneurship and brand building, aiming for green-led prosperity.
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Summary: The article reports on the modernization of the Qingtongxia Irrigation District in Ningxia, one of China's six largest irrigation areas and part of a UNESCO-recognized heritage site. Project team leader Bai Lu and project managers He Qiang and Bai Zhanbin described how the renovation uses prefabricated concrete components and relocated sluice gates to upgrade the ancient canal system while preserving its original layout. The project also includes a digital transformation with sensors, smart monitoring, and an AI-driven control platform that enables precise water dispatch, reducing operational time from two hours to 30 minutes. According to Ningxia Water Resources Department official Bao Xiaoming, the unified platform shifts decision-making from "experience-based" to "data-based" approaches. Upon completion, the project is expected to achieve a 44% efficient water-saving irrigation rate, save 53.79 million cubic meters of water annually, and increase grain output from 1.92 million to 2.24 million tons.
Summary: The CR450, China's newest high-speed train developed by China State Railway Group, targets a test speed of 450 km/h and an operational speed of 400 km/h, with a demanding braking requirement: an emergency stop from 400 km/h within 6,500 meters on dry, straight track—unchanged from the CR400's lower-speed standard. Foreign firms reportedly deemed this impossible, but the braking innovation team spent six years overcoming the challenge through a two-pronged approach: designing an optimal deceleration curve and control system, and developing brake discs capable of withstanding 700°C temperature spikes. The team tested six major iteration versions, with brake discs undergoing over 2,000 fatigue tests and key pneumatic components enduring millions of cycles. Following prototype trials, dozens of emergency braking tests at 400 km/h showed error margins under 2%, and the author—a deputy director at the China Academy of Railway Sciences—proudly affirms the world's fastest high-speed train now runs and stops reliably. The CR450 is currently undergoing a 600,000-kilometer operational assessment before commercial launch.
Summary: Zhu Rongji, a former premier of China and member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee's 14th and 15th Politburo, died in Beijing on August 12, 2026, at age 98. The official obituary details his long revolutionary career, including his roles as Shanghai party secretary and mayor, vice premier, central bank governor, and premier from 1998 to 2003. It credits him with leading China's macroeconomic "soft landing," financial and fiscal reforms, state enterprise restructuring, and WTO entry talks, as well as handling the Asian financial crisis and supporting Hong Kong. After retirement, he backed successive party leaderships and supported anti-corruption efforts. The announcement praises his loyalty, integrity, and dedication to the Party and people, calling his death a major loss and urging continued unity under Xi Jinping.
Summary: The Macao SAR government officially released its third Five-Year Plan (2026–2030) on August 18, with Chief Executive Sam Hou-fai and principal officials attending the press conference. Sam stated the plan implements President Xi Jinping’s directives, incorporates 40 research sessions and 36 studies, and aligns with the national 15th Five-Year Plan’s requirements for Macao. The plan sets eight development goals, including economic diversification, the Hengqin cooperation zone, and deeper integration into national development. It also outlines four major tasks, such as advancing the Macao-Hengqin integration and urban renewal. No reference was made to the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: The Ministry of Education, along with the National Language Commission, the All-China Women's Federation, and the National Ethnic Affairs Commission, held a demonstration event in Xinjiang promoting the use of the national common language and script among families in ethnic regions. The event, themed "Passing on Good Family Traditions, Building a Shared Family-Nation Dream," aimed to enhance the language awareness and skills of youth and family members in these areas. Family representatives from various ethnic groups showcased their achievements in learning and using the language through diverse performances. The initiative coincides with the first year of implementation of two newly revised laws on ethnic unity and the national common language.
Summary: Jiangsu Province has issued an implementation opinion aimed at building a highland for科技成果转化 (commercialization of scientific and technological achievements), effective August 21. The document outlines 20 measures and 22 supporting policies across six areas, including enhancing supply of high-quality achievements, strengthening market-oriented technology transfer institutions, and deepening reform. It seeks to address problems of "unwillingness to transfer" and "inability to transfer" by promoting models like "enterprises pose problems, joint solutions" and encouraging collaboration on key core technologies. The plan also includes developing innovation belts and clusters, such as the Zijin Mountain Innovation Belt and the Wusong River Science and Innovation Belt. No U.S.-China relations were mentioned.
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Summary: The article reports on China's booming "customized passenger transport" sector, where routes and stops are tailored to passenger demand, with the number of such lines growing 36.9% annually during the "14th Five-Year Plan" period. It highlights the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei custom express bus, which uses cross-departmental coordination and a unified platform to enable commuters from Yanjiao to reach Beijing's CBD in about an hour, with 12 main routes and 60 branches now operating. The piece also features "station buses" in Yunnan and other regions, where internet platforms like DiDi partner with traditional operators to offer themed, scenario-based services such as medical and student routes, achieving high occupancy rates. In Chongqing and Chengdu, a "convenience express bus" revived a defunct long-distance line by using digital tools for flexible stops and dynamic scheduling, carrying nearly 80,000 passengers in its first month. Officials from the Ministry of Transport and the China Road Transport Association note that such services break the traditional "station-to-station" model, creating flexible, point-to-point systems that complement high-speed rail and better meet diverse travel needs.
Summary: The article reports that CAS Space's independently developed Lixun-1 upper stage has completed a series of power system tests and is scheduled for its first flight in the first quarter of next year. Chief designer Yang Haoliang explained that the upper stage, likened to a "space shuttle bus," addresses launch challenges such as high-orbit satellite deployment, multi-satellite networking, deep-space missions, and non-standard orbits. He noted it overcomes the basic stage's orbital insertion limits, saves satellite propellant, and enables efficient one-rocket-multi-satellite distribution. After months of testing, the upper stage accumulated 5,211 seconds of engine ignition trials, qualifying it for flight testing. Yang added that combining the Lijian-2 rocket series with the Lixun-1 upper stage would expand mission capabilities and fill gaps in private medium-to-large rocket deep-space capabilities.
Summary: A national children's choral performance event, "Voices of Childhood in China," was held in Shenyang on August 18, featuring young singers from across the country performing songs celebrating the Party, the nation, and socialism. The event, structured around themes of revolutionary heritage, joyful growth, and national strength, showcased the children's enthusiasm and commitment to contributing to China's prosperity. Organizers noted that over 80,000 choral groups participated this year, the third consecutive year of the activity. The event was co-hosted by multiple central bodies, including the Central Spiritual Civilization Development Office, the Ministry of Education, and the Communist Youth League Central Committee, with provincial officials from Liaoning assisting in organization. The article did not mention the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: The China National Immigration Administration approved three optimized measures under the "cooperative inspection, one-time release" model, effective August 18, at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, Hengqin, and Qingmao ports. These measures streamline document verification for Hong Kong and Macau residents and expand eligibility for both pedestrian fast lanes and "joint one-stop" vehicle lanes. First launched at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge in 2018, the model has been replicated across the region, cutting Hengqin's single-vehicle clearance time from eight minutes to under 90 seconds. The Zhuhai General Station of Exit and Frontier Inspection, in coordination with Macau authorities, completed system adjustments, personnel training, and on-site signage updates to ensure implementation.
Summary: Anhui Agricultural University, in collaboration with the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, released "Fengshu" 2.0, a vertical large model for soybean research, at the 32nd National Soybean Science and Production Symposium. The model integrates six functional modules and builds China's first generative AI breeding platform covering the full soybean life cycle, aiming to shift soybean breeding from experience-based to data-assisted decision-making. It enables farmers and researchers to diagnose diseases and extract phenotypic traits via smartphone photos, while syncing data across devices for real-time analysis. The model supports applications such as disease diagnosis, parent selection, virtual cross-design, and molecular marker-assisted breeding, improving data processing efficiency and reducing repetitive work. No reference was made to the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: The article highlights the Pioneer Shaxi Bai Ethnic Group Bookstore in Beilong Village, Shaxi Ancient Town, Jianchuan County, Dali, Yunnan, which was converted from an old granary into a cultural landmark. Its extensive book collection and architectural space have made it a notable humanities destination in the region. The bookstore's rising popularity has attracted numerous tourists to the village, stimulating local economic development. This serves as an example of cultural infrastructure driving rural revitalization in China. No specific officials or U.S.-related topics were mentioned in the report.
Summary: The China National Intellectual Property Administration has officially granted geographical indication (GI) product protection to "Ningxia Caixin" (Chinese flowering cabbage) via announcement No. 687, marking its successful conversion from an agricultural GI to a formal product GI. The designation covers 18 counties across 5 prefecture-level cities, with strict standards for variety, cultivation, and sensory qualities that leverage the region's fertile soil and large temperature differences. The Ningxia Market Supervision and Administration Department (Intellectual Property Office) will collaborate with agricultural departments to establish standard, testing, and quality assurance systems. They plan to adopt a development model of "GI leadership, brand drive, and industrial upgrade" to expand the vegetable's reach. This initiative aims to boost Ningxia's modern specialty agriculture and enhance its competitiveness in broader domestic and international markets.
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Summary: The State Council approved revisions to China's Housing Provident Fund regulations, effective September 20, 2026, expanding fund usage from six to nine categories—adding home renovation, property fees, and other approved housing consumption—while strengthening rental support. Housing ministry officials and researchers (including Qin Hong and Pu Zhan) said the changes respond to shifting housing needs from "having" to "better quality," transforming the fund into support for the full cycle of renting, buying, repairing, and maintaining homes. The revisions also allow flexible workers (self-employed, gig workers) to voluntarily participate in the scheme, citing pilot programs in 36 cities with over 2 million participants. Additionally, loan approval times are shortened to 10 days, and nationwide mutual recognition of contribution records will facilitate cross-city transfers and loans. Experts like Wu Jing noted that policy details are delegated to local governments to balance "doing one's best" with "acting within capacity," as over 60 cities have already tailored their provident fund policies this year.
Summary: The article reports on China's "15th Five-Year Plan" for expanding consumption, highlighting a shift from buying goods to service-oriented and experience-based spending, with service retail sales up 5.0% year-on-year from January to July. It details the surge of indoor skiing in Fujian, where venues like Panda Ski Club in Fuzhou and Snow World in Xiamen attract growing numbers of consumers, particularly youth and families, with bookings up 15% annually. The trend is expanding beyond children to all age groups, with parents joining lessons and schools organizing educational ski trips. Businesses are creating new consumption models through cross-sector partnerships, such as combining ski passes with VR experiences and local dining, while the Fujian Provincial Sports Bureau organizes youth ski competitions that boost cross-city tourism. Major new indoor ski complexes are being planned, including a 5000-square-meter facility in Fuzhou and an 11.8-billion-yuan project in Xiamen's Jimei district.
Summary: China's "China Yangpu Port" ship registry surpassed 100 vessels (101 total, over 8.9 million deadweight tons) on August 18, with certificates issued to the vessels "Guoxin Hai" and "Rongsheng Xing" in Hainan's Yangpu. The Hainan International Ship Registration Authority, China's first such body, has integrated 33 high-frequency administrative procedures under a "one-stop" mechanism, cutting paperwork by over 60% and boosting processing efficiency by 90%. The fleet's composition has expanded from bulk and container shipping to include reefers, semi-submersibles, and offshore engineering vessels, maintaining a zero-detention record.
Summary: Shanghai Customs has launched a new "sea-rail intermodal transit" supervision model, with the first shipment departing from Guangzhou via rail to Shanghai's Luchao Port station, then by truck to Waigaoqiao docks for export. Exporters now only need to submit a single multimodal transport application at the origin customs, enabling "release upon departure." The initiative streamlines logistics for goods such as clothing and small appliances. No U.S. or bilateral relations topics were discussed.
Summary: The article reports on a Shanxi-based company utilizing imported Sri Lankan coconut shells to produce activated carbon for supercapacitors, a high-performance energy storage device. Chief Engineer Yang Senlin explained that roughly 60% of supercapacitor raw materials come from this carbon, which operates via pure physical adsorption and boasts a cycle life of up to one million times. Yang detailed that one kilogram of the activated carbon has a total surface area equivalent to over 300 football fields, serving as a charge storage warehouse. Company head Li Qingming stated that the supercapacitors will be applied in power grids, AI computing centers, coal mine storage, and emergency power systems. Li added that they will leverage Shanxi's new energy policy advantages—where new energy accounts for over 50% of installed capacity—to build a green, low-carbon, and secure new power system.
Summary: China's Standardization Administration issued its first mandatory national standard for cosmetics, "General Safety Requirements for Cosmetics," effective in 2028, integrating scattered technical rules into a full-chain safety framework. The new standard imposes stricter microbial limits on children's cosmetics (for ages 12 and under) and high-risk products like eye and lip items, making them ten times tighter than ordinary products and exceeding ISO standards. It also caps harmful substances like mercury, lead, arsenic, and cadmium at 1–10 mg per kilogram, requiring stricter residue controls on raw materials. Consumers are advised to verify product registration via the NMPA website or app, avoid medical or exaggerated claims, and check for the "Little Gold Shield" logo on children's cosmetics.
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Summary: In a July 30 study session of the 20th CPC Central Committee Political Bureau, Xi Jinping emphasized that political loyalty is the foundation of the People's Liberation Army, and that the Party's absolute leadership over the military must be upheld to ensure the armed forces follow Party commands. The article argues that political construction is essential for maintaining the correct direction of military modernization, addressing risks from external containment and technological bottlenecks, and resolving deep-seated problems in military development. It stresses that political guidance, ideological indoctrination, organizational strength, talent cultivation, and discipline are key mechanisms for advancing national defense modernization. The piece also calls for integrating military goals with the Party's broader modernization agenda and strengthening Party leadership across all military affairs.
Summary: The article argues that scientific decision-making is essential for officials, and that a correct view of political achievements underpins it, citing Xi Jinping's statement that decisions must gain public support and withstand practice and history. It highlights Xi's past decision on the West Lake protection project in Zhejiang as an example of people-centered governance, contrasting it with officials who prioritize personal advancement over public welfare. The piece stresses that decisions must be based on actual conditions and objective laws, requiring thorough investigation, systematic thinking, and policy continuity. It also calls for institutional safeguards, including improved evaluation metrics beyond GDP and stricter accountability mechanisms for reckless decisions. No mention is made of the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: The article, authored by a professor at Beijing Foreign Studies University, outlines how China plans to optimize its green tax system to support low-carbon development and build a "Beautiful China," as emphasized by Xi Jinping and the "15th Five-Year Plan." It details measures including reforming core tax types like resource and environmental protection taxes, expanding tax incentives for green production and consumption, and enhancing coordination with fiscal, financial, and environmental policies. The piece stresses the use of tax data and digital tools to improve collection efficiency and targeted regulation of high-polluting enterprises. It argues that a robust green tax framework is essential for driving traditional industries' low-carbon transformation and achieving ecological security. The article contains no discussion of the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: The State Council, under Premier Li Qiang, issued Decree No. 844 amending the Housing Provident Fund Management Regulations, effective September 20, 2026. The revisions expand withdrawal eligibility to include rent, home decoration, and property fees, while raising penalties for fraudulent withdrawals (3-year ban) and loans (5-year ban). The amendments also mandate digitalization and nationwide mutual recognition of provident fund records to facilitate transfers and cross-regional loans, and allow flexible employment workers to voluntarily contribute. Penalties for unit non-compliance were increased to fines between 50,000 and 300,000 yuan, and investment scope now includes policy financial bonds. No U.S.-related content appears in the decree.
Summary: The State Council has promulgated a revised Regulation on the Management of Housing Provident Funds, aiming to strengthen fund oversight, protect contributors' rights, and meet diversified housing consumption needs. The regulation establishes a governance framework involving a decision-making committee, a dedicated management center, designated bank accounts, and fiscal supervision, with specific provisions for contribution rates, deposit, and withdrawal procedures. It notably expands the permissible uses of funds to include rent, property renovation, and property fees, and formally allows flexible employment personnel to voluntarily participate. The regulation emphasizes digitalization and nationwide mutual recognition of contribution records to facilitate smoother fund transfers and cross-regional loans. It also stipulates strict penalties for fraudulent withdrawals, loan fraud, and misappropriation of funds, underscoring enhanced accountability and enforcement mechanisms.
Summary: At the 2026 Shanghai Book Fair, industry leaders discussed the survival of physical bookstores, with Wang Yaohua of the Shanghai Book Distribution Association insisting that selling books must remain their core function despite diversification into coffee,文创, and events. Liu Jun of Dayin Bookstore reported closing 12 stores, attributing failures to poor location and lack of differentiation, while others like大众书局's Liu Sheng noted declining mall traffic and the need to attract and retain customers. Many stores now see book sales fall below 10% of revenue, as online discounting and price wars erode margins, prompting a shift toward "bookstore+" models or small, specialized spaces. Zhejiang's Xiaofeng Bookstore founder Zhu Yufang emphasized maintaining humanities-focused curation and community ties, while some sellers find success through live-streaming and deep literary analysis. Despite challenges, there is consensus that books must remain the protagonist, with the fair's themed displays proving that specialized, curated book offerings can still drive sales growth.
Summary: China’s domestically-led life sciences journal *Vita* has published its first print issue, receiving over 400 submissions and releasing 60 papers, with plans to benchmark its academic level against top global journals like *Nature*, *Science*, and *Cell*. The journal, supported by a Life Sciences Open Alliance of 39 universities and institutions from the mainland, Hong Kong, and Macau, adopts a "main journal plus sub-journals" model and an innovative "evaluate journals by papers" system rather than relying solely on impact factors. Westlake University President Shi Yigong stressed the urgency of creating top domestic journals, noting that China produces world-class results but publishes most of its best papers abroad. Fudan University President Jin Li stated that alliance members have committed to treating *Vita* journals as equivalent to top international journals in research evaluations, aligning with the Ministry of Education's push for representative outcome assessments. The journal will use a fully open-access model without charging authors publication fees, reflecting China's ambition to actively shape global scientific excellence and openness.
Summary: The "Village Songs Resounding" 2026 national exhibition concluded in Ordos, Inner Mongolia, guided by the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles and the Inner Mongolia Party Committee's Propaganda Department, and co-hosted by several state cultural bodies. The three-day event gathered over 1,000 participants from 49 teams across 31 provinces and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, featuring themed performances and cultural tours. The performances highlighted local village songs and traditional culture, such as Hunan's "Climbing the Lotus" and Jiangnan's "Field Songs," to showcase rural transformation. Concurrently, volunteer art troupes dispatched by the federation conducted two grassroots performances, delivering cultural services directly to factory workers and herders.
Summary: The third National Crop Heterosis and Biological Breeding Academic Conference and Agricultural Zhongguancun Seed Industry Innovation Promotion Meeting is being held in Beijing's Pinggu district from August 16 to 20. Centered on the theme of technology-industry integration and green efficient agriculture, the conference features reports from over 150 academicians and experts across various forums. During the event, the Agricultural Zhongguancun Science and Technology Innovation Strategic Advisory Committee was established, with 21 domestic and international academicians and experts, including Wan Jianmin, appointed as members. The committee aims to provide think tank support, strategic planning, and professional consultation to advance key core technologies and national agricultural science and technology self-reliance. The meeting is co-hosted by the University of Science and Technology Beijing, the Beijing Pinggu National Agricultural Science and Technology Park, and the China Rural Professional Technology Association.
Summary: The Second World Humanoid Robot Games will open in Beijing on August 22, featuring football matches with significantly improved robot agility and speed. Cheng Hao, CEO of Beijing Accelerated Evolution Technology, said qualifying rounds are complete, with 32 teams in three categories, and his company's Booster T2 robot can shoot at up to 130 km/h. Team captain Guo Tong of Tsinghua University's Huoshen team highlighted enhanced "tactical" play, including short passes and dribbling. A middle school team from the Central University for Nationalities also advanced, using robots to teach students AI through soccer. Cheng noted that football serves as a testing ground to accelerate humanoid robots' deployment in factories, schools, and homes.
Summary: Heilongjiang Province has initiated the construction of a provincial AI education and teaching research center, led by Harbin Institute of Technology, with sub-centers established at several other universities covering science, engineering, agriculture, medicine, and humanities. The initiative leverages regional strengths in aerospace, marine engineering, energy, smart agriculture, and ice-snow economy to develop a differentiated "AI + Heilongjiang advantageous fields" strategy. The center will prospectively study AI's impact on industrial transformation, job restructuring, and skill demands over the next 5-10 years. Its goal is to reform disciplinary structures, talent training, and scientific research paradigms, bridging the gap between education supply and industrial demand. The project also explores new educational forms—such as future schools, learning centers, teachers, and classrooms—to deeply integrate AI technology throughout the entire education process.
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Summary: The article announces that on August 19, 2026, the ninth Chinese Doctors' Day, JD Health partnered with Health China, People's Health, and Sina Weibo to launch the third "Thank You! My Treasure Doctor" story collection and tribute campaign. The initiative encourages netizens to share heartwarming stories between patients and doctors to express high respect for medical workers. Users can search for "医师节" (Doctors' Day) on the JD app before August 31 to view these stories. No officials were quoted, and no mention is made of the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: The article profiles six Chinese doctors sharing their wishes on the 9th Physicians' Day (August 19), highlighting their dedication to patient care and personal sacrifices. Among them are obstetrician Chu Zhenhao, who waded through floodwaters to perform emergency surgeries; orthopedic surgeon Li Jiaqi, who performs about 500 spinal operations annually; Tibetan grassroots doctor Suolang Pianduo, who has served remote border communities for 15 years; retired "silver-age" physician Wang Licheng, who relocated from Henan to Yunnan to build a cardiac surgery team; 95后 village doctor Zhou Zihao in Zhejiang; and 00后 Huang Zhibo, who returned to her Hunan hometown to carry on her father's legacy as a village doctor. Each expresses professional hopes for better patient care and local medical capacity, alongside personal wishes for more family time, such as accompanying children, traveling with spouses, or helping aging parents.
Summary: The article emphasizes that urban development requires both broad vision and attention to small details, as seen in Shanghai’s metro cooling zones, Beijing’s benches and awnings, and similar initiatives in Chengdu, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen. These low-cost, modest measures—such as pet drinking stations, bicycle shelters, and pocket fitness corners—address everyday needs of residents and reflect responsive governance. The piece argues that such micro-level solutions, from elevator installations for the elderly to time-limited parking for markets, effectively tackle pressing concerns and improve quality of life. It concludes that when citizens receive considerate care in daily situations, cities become more humane and livable. No U.S. or U.S.-China relations are discussed.
Summary: The article highlights the east-west collaboration between Zhejiang's Xiaoshan District and Wangcang County in Sichuan, which has boosted the local tea industry over 30 years. Xiaoshan provided technology, new tea varieties, and full-chain development support, leading to the creation of the Micangshan green tea drink, which sold over one million bottles in Xiaoshan since March. E-commerce infrastructure and logistics improvements helped expand sales, with Wangcang now exporting tea to 13 countries and generating 7.924 billion yuan in comprehensive output value. In the first half of 2025, tea output exceeded 7,000 tons, raising average household income for 29,000 tea farmers by 14,500 yuan. The county is now advancing tea-tourism integration and new tea beverage development for domestic and international markets.
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Summary: The article reports that China's National Climate Center predicts a super El Niño event will peak around November-December 2025, potentially becoming the strongest since observational records began roughly 150 years ago, or since 1951 in China. It states that current sea surface temperatures in the equatorial central-eastern Pacific are rising rapidly, with the event expected to significantly impact China's climate, including abnormal summer rainfall patterns and stronger typhoons. The article quotes chief forecaster Chen Lijuan, who notes that the strongest climate impacts typically occur in the year following a strong El Niño event due to oceanic lag effects. It also cites academician Tan Zhemin, president of Nanjing University, who warns of increased flood risks in the middle-lower Yangtze and southern China, and urges preparations based on rolling real-time monitoring. The piece recommends adaptive measures across agriculture, transportation, urban infrastructure, and public health sectors to mitigate potential disasters.
Summary: The article reports on China's push for low-carbon heating and cooling systems following the July issuance of the "15th Five-Year Plan" carbon peak action plan, highlighting pilot projects in Shenzhen, Wuhan, and Nanjing. Shenzhen's Qianhai district uses centralized cooling stations that produce chilled water distributed via municipal pipes, with AI algorithms predicting demand and interlinked networks for cross-station support, yielding energy savings and reduced emissions. In Wuhan and Nanjing, river water source heat pump systems draw from the Yangtze River to cool buildings, operating on separate water loops that exchange energy without consuming or polluting the water. These systems cut costs by eliminating rooftop units, cooling towers, and large equipment rooms, reducing maintenance costs by about 80% while providing stable temperature and humidity. The article does not mention the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: The article reports on local government efforts in the Ruoergai (Zoige) Wetland, a critical water conservation area for the upper Yellow River located in Sichuan's Aba Prefecture. Authorities are implementing an integrated ecological restoration project covering mountains, rivers, forests, farmlands, lakes, grasslands, and deserts. Specific actions include riverbank reinforcement, mine rehabilitation, shoreline repair, grassland desertification control, and wetland restoration for water retention. As of now, the local government has completed ecological restoration on a total area of 232,500 hectares. The report focuses on these administrative achievements without mentioning any specific officials or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: Tianjin plans to add 250 pocket parks over the next five years, primarily in small urban spaces near communities, schools, and hospitals, according to a municipal government press conference. The city will also implement age-friendly and accessibility renovations, aiming for 90% compliance in park barrier-free facilities. It will open at least 2 million square meters of shared green space and create over 20 demonstration sites for public leisure. Additionally, Tianjin will adopt refined maintenance standards to protect 100% of its ancient and heritage trees. The initiative includes low-carbon transitions, such as water-saving irrigation and waste recycling, to support China's dual-carbon goals.
Summary: The Gansu Provincial Department of Ecology and Environment announced the issuance of the "Implementation Plan for the Protection and Construction of Beautiful Rivers and Lakes in Gansu," which includes 17 specific measures across four areas and establishes three lists for targets, key tasks, and evaluation. The plan focuses on continuously improving water quality by tracing and rectifying pollution sources, upgrading sewage collection and treatment infrastructure, and enhancing industrial and agricultural pollution control. It also emphasizes ecological protection and restoration, including surveys of aquatic life, conservation of key ecological zones such as the Gannan Yellow River source area and the Qilian Mountains, and protection of natural shorelines. Regular efforts to address illegal activities in rivers and lakes will be standardized. The plan sets a goal to fully establish a monitoring and supervision system for sewage outlets by 2027.
Summary: The Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Emergency Management have pre-allocated an additional 60 million yuan in central disaster relief funds to Henan province. This follows an earlier allocation of 40 million yuan, bringing the total to 100 million yuan. The funds are intended to support flood control and emergency rescue operations in response to heavy rainfall caused by the remnants of Typhoon "White Dolphin." The money will be used for the resettlement of affected residents, emergency hazard removal, transitional living assistance, and repairs to damaged homes. The goal is to mitigate disaster losses and ensure the basic living needs of the affected population.
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Summary: The article reports on global efforts to bridge the digital divide for older populations, highlighting the UN's International Telecommunication Union's calls for inclusive digital policies. In South Korea, the government is expanding AI digital learning centers from 37 to 69 and implementing "smart elderly care homes," with officials like Lee Do-gyu stating AI should be a shared technological benefit for all citizens. France has implemented the European Accessibility Act (June 2025) and launched the "Silver Valley" innovation zone, developing products like the LiNote tablet and companion robots for elderly care. Australia's My Aged Care platform, supported by the 2024 Aged Care Act and a 2.2 billion AUD investment, serves over 1.5 million seniors, with Aged Care Minister Sam Ray emphasizing digitalization as key to service efficiency. No mention is made of the United States or U.S.-China relations in the article.
Summary: 法国BFM商业频道专题节目《汽车行业：中国的崛起》引发欧洲产业界热议，嘉宾普遍认为中国电动汽车凭借全产业链优势和高效迭代能力已在欧洲站稳脚跟。数据显示，今年上半年中国车企在欧洲市场份额升至9.5%，6月达10.9%，中国品牌新车注册量在西欧首次超越日本车企。产业专家雅克·莱热感叹中国新能源汽车变革的规模如“海啸”，并指出中国车企研发速度约为欧洲两倍，成本仅为三分之一。调查显示，愿考虑购买中国品牌汽车的欧洲消费者比例从31%升至47%，首次超过美国品牌。文章认为欧洲应借竞争重塑创新力，开放合作比筑墙自保更符合长远利益。
Summary: Japan's Defense Minister Koiso and Australia's Deputy PM Richard Marles agreed to allow Japanese Self-Defense Forces to test long-range missiles in Australia for "counterattack capability," while also expanding defense equipment cooperation including Australian procurement of upgraded Mogami-class frigates. Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov criticized Japan's military路线, suggesting Tokyo focus on domestic issues rather than attacking Russia, and accused Japan of allying with the US to "rewrite" international law. South Korean President Lee Jae-myung stated he would push to regain wartime operational control from the US during his term, citing South Korea's sufficient defense capabilities and emphasizing the strong ROK-US alliance. Colombian President Del Espriella reported that the earthquake affected a third of national territory, with 289 dead and 4187 injured across 15 provinces. These defense moves by Japan and South Korea are seen as potentially escalating regional military tension.
Summary: The 26th International AIDS Conference concluded in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with WHO and UNAIDS releasing reports highlighting both progress and risks of reversal in global efforts against HIV and viral hepatitis. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that funding interruptions, humanitarian emergencies, and persistent inequalities could rapidly offset gains, emphasizing that current progress remains fragile. The reports noted that international AIDS funding fell to a 20-year low, dropping from $8.8 billion in 2024 to $7.3 billion in 2025, severely impacting community services in high-debt, low-income African nations. Tedros called for sustained political determination, continuous funding, and multilateral solidarity to ensure prevention and treatment coverage for all in need. The article does not discuss the United States or U.S.-China relations.
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Summary: China is advancing comprehensive rural revitalization, with regions leveraging local resources to develop distinctive industries, preserve cultural heritage, improve ecological conditions, and apply technological innovation. The article highlights specific examples such as yellow flowers, shou-dai birds, fish lanterns, thangka paintings, smart farms, and lotus ponds to illustrate progress in industrial development and environmental improvement. Foreign visitors from various countries have been invited to document rural life, capturing both scenic beauty and the momentum of development in Chinese villages. Their firsthand observations provide external perspectives on the tangible changes and vitality emerging in China's countryside. The piece underscores how rural transformation reflects broader trends in economic growth, cultural continuity, and living standard enhancement.
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Summary: The article highlights an unexpected boom in off-season down jacket sales in Pinghu, Zhejiang, where an order fair attracted over 10,000 domestic and international buyers, generating orders exceeding 6 billion RMB, marking the busiest period for the industry in 20 years. It argues that despite the overarching issue of weak aggregate demand, tapping into specific niche demands—such as new travel and sports scenarios—reveals significant growth potential for traditional industries. The piece emphasizes that shifting from broad, diversified strategies to highly specialized, precise ones ("sharpening one needle") is essential for enterprises and regions to thrive in today's saturated market. It points out that Pinghu's success stems from a "creating something from nothing" approach, as the city lacks down resources but leveraged innovation and reform to become the world-famous "Down Jacket Capital," similar to other Zhejiang cities like Haining and Tongxiang. Ultimately, the article presents this case as a lesson in transforming crises into opportunities through innovative thinking, a pioneering spirit, and resilience amid rapid global changes.
Summary: The article reports on Qian'an, Hebei, as a model for China's shift to premium steel production, moving from basic construction steel to high-value products like electrical steel for EVs and robotics, with prices rising from thousands to over ten thousand yuan per ton. Su Hong, deputy director of Qian'an's data and industry bureau, defines premium steel as high-performance materials for advanced manufacturing, noting the sector's potential for further upgrading as over half of local output remains ordinary steel. Jiang Wei, party secretary of the China Iron and Steel Association, urges firms to shift from competing on volume to competing on product variety, technology, and added value, emphasizing quality branding over homogenized competition. The article highlights enterprise-level innovations, including customized small-batch production at Tangshan Yanyang Cold Rolling and AI-based weld inspection at Zhengda, alongside green transitions like an electric arc furnace at Shougang Qian'an cutting carbon emissions by over 60%. Looking to the "15th Five-Year Plan," Qian'an aims to pursue high-end, intelligent, and green development, with officials like Yang Li of Zhongan Iron suggesting firms should deepen technology and explore new markets rather than expand capacity.
Summary: Weifang, an ancient city in Shandong with over 8,000 years of cultural history, blends a rich heritage from Dongyi civilization to Qi culture and modern industrial legacies, including the historic Jiaoji Railway industrial districts. Renowned as the birthplace of China's agricultural industrialization, it uses only 1‰ of the nation's freshwater and 1.7‰ of its farmland to produce significant shares of grain, vegetables, and meat, earning titles like "World Kite Capital" and "Capital of Chinese Painting." Its modern industries, from kite manufacturing to power equipment, are rooted in historical traditions, while contemporary agricultural innovations echo ancient texts like the *Qimin Yaoshu*. The article, written by a special researcher for the Shandong center on Xi Jinping Thought, portrays Weifang as a model for cultural continuity driving economic vitality. No mention is made of the United States or U.S.-China relations.
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Summary: The article analyzes the decline of Wenheyou, a once-viral Chinese restaurant chain that expanded from Changsha to cities like Shenzhen but has largely retreated to its original location. It attributes the initial success to recreating nostalgic local street scenes, while noting that the Shenzhen branch diluted both Hunan and Cantonese authenticity, leading to a short-lived boom. The author argues that the brand's reliance on internet traffic and capital-driven expansion, prioritizing marketing and queues over core quality and taste, is unsustainable. The key to converting traffic into lasting retention is repeat purchases, which are hindered by long queues and inconsistent product quality. The article concludes that the restaurant industry must prioritize taste, quality, and fair pricing over traffic, as genuine culinary value, not viral hype, sustains urban vitality.
Summary: The article profiles Chen Li Ji, a 426-year-old traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) company in Guangzhou recognized by Guinness World Records as the longest-operating pharmaceutical factory, highlighting its blend of ancient craftsmanship with modern technology. Brand director Wang Xiaobin noted that while the old workshop required 107 workers to produce 30,000 wax-coated pills daily, the new automated车间 now produces up to 500,000 pills with just 10 workers. The company maintains traditional processes—such as using costly antelope horn in its Shihu Yeguang granules—while innovating with new products, including a Kunxian capsule that pioneered advanced separation technology and a 2025 reformulated Yupingfeng tea. Chen Li Ji has expanded into a "tangerine peel plus" lifestyle brand, opening over 200 wellness tea houses nationwide and launching products like陈皮 ice cream and snacks to attract younger consumers. Party secretary Liu Guowei stated the firm aims to triple its business model toward a "three-in-one" integrated industry chain and achieve 3 billion yuan in sales during the "15th Five-Year Plan" period.
Summary: The article reports on the evolution of China's underground commercial spaces, such as the Xingyuemao underground streets, which have become popular summer retreats and shopping destinations amid nationwide heatwaves. It highlights the government's push under the "15th Five-Year Plan" to efficiently utilize urban underground space, with the Ministry of Natural Resources publishing 22 typical cases across 17 provinces. The piece details how these spaces integrate local culture, introduce new brands and formats to county-level markets, and add community services like student tutoring and rest areas for workers. Beijing Xinshanghe Commercial Development Co. official Tan Tiehua is quoted saying underground commerce is transitioning from "passage-style" to "scenario-based, experiential, community-oriented" spaces, with plans to use commercial profits to support civil air defense maintenance. The article emphasizes the strategy of converting emergency infrastructure into everyday public spaces to boost county-level consumption.
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Summary: Ge Jiediao, a Red Army soldier from Yudu, Jiangxi, carried a German-made "Fei Ren" hand-cranked sewing machine through the entirety of the Long March, refusing to abandon it even during the湘江 retreat and the grasslands crossing. After being wounded five times in battle, he transitioned from combat to sewing, leading a squad that produced the Red Army's first standardized uniforms, which featured black-edged collar tabs commemorating Lenin's death. He treated the machine as a comrade-in-arms, protecting it through snow mountains and marshes until reaching northern Shaanxi in October 1935. His son donated the machine to the Yudu Central Red Army Long March Memorial Hall in 1996, where it remains on display. The article contains no references to the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: The article is an opinion piece on the common problem of having grand ambitions but insufficient ability ("志大才疏"), particularly among young people. It contrasts historical figures like Zhao Kuo and Ma Su, who failed due to this flaw, with exemplars such as Zhuge Liang, Wang Yangming, and surgeon Wu Mengchao, who combined high aspirations with real competence. The author argues that true success requires both lofty goals and the gradual cultivation of practical skills through grounded, persistent effort. A personal anecdote about a hotel management graduate who rose from a room attendant to general manager by building experience step-by-step is used to illustrate the ideal path. The piece concludes that ambition provides direction, but only solid ability, developed through hard work, can turn it into achievement.
Summary: The article reflects on a small city's river crossing evolution, where bridges replaced ferries, symbolizing development as old boats yielded to concrete structures. It highlights historic spans like the 1937 Jinsha Road Bridge, the abandoned narrow-gauge railway bridge with its preserved station, and newer bridges like Tianma (2000), the pedestrian and scenery bridges (2001), and the Sixth Bridge (2015), which retired a veteran ferryman. The old ferryboat now rests as a nostalgic landmark within a riverside wetland park connecting the bridges. With high-speed rail planned to cross upstream, the city anticipates more modern "rainbows" over the river. No mention of the United States or U.S.-China relations appears.
Summary: The provided text is a caption identifying a Chinese painting titled "Nanxi Green Water Reflects Green Mountains" by the artist Zhai Mingshuai. It contains no political reporting, official statements, or commentary on U.S.-China relations.
Summary: The article is a poem speculating whether Su Dongpo ever wrote poetry about Jieshou, a district of Fuyang. It imagines he would have written about the Sha River, old streets, painted pottery, and hot noodles. The poem notes Su wrote many verses about Fuyang but received a transfer order before finishing any about Jieshou. It playfully concludes such poems would have been even better, since Su's poetry improved over time. No mention is made of the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: An exhibition commemorating the 130th anniversary of Mao Dun's birth opened on July 4, 2026, at the China Museum of Modern Literature, using spatial design to trace the literary giant's life from his Wuzhen hometown to his Beijing residence. The curators employed six colors to represent different emotional phases of his life and incorporated artifacts such as the origin story of his pen name "Mao Dun," a Citroën car model reflecting a suggestion from Qu Qiubai, and diary entries showing his daily routines. A digital knowledge graph of his novel "Midnight" allows visitors to explore character networks, demonstrating how Mao Dun used literature for social network analysis of 1930s Shanghai. The exhibition also highlights his posthumous donation of 250,000 yuan to establish the Mao Dun Literature Prize, which has supported novelists for over four decades.
Summary: This article is a cultural and nostalgic essay about the traditional craft of making "伏秋酱油" (soy sauce made during the dog days of summer) in rural Yancheng, Jiangsu, highlighting its seasonal process and significance in local cuisine. The author recounts childhood memories of his mother's meticulous method of sun-drying and dew-exposing the sauce, which transforms from bitter to savory. The piece emphasizes the sauce's role in family hospitality, featuring dishes like soy sauce steamed eggs and braised chicken. Critically, it includes a historical anecdote where a local woman, Zou Daniang, used this soy sauce to prepare a nourishing chicken dish for a wounded New Fourth Army soldier during the anti-Japanese war, symbolizing strong military-civilian unity. The narrative concludes with the author and a childhood friend recreating the dish, evoking a deep sensory connection to their shared past.
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Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, August 18 — The remains of Comrade Zhu Rongji, an outstanding member of the Communist Party of China, a long-tested loyal communist fighter, an outstanding proletarian revolutionary and statesman, a distinguished leader of the Party and the state, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the 14th and 15th Central Committees of the Communist Party of China, and former Premier of the State Council, were cremated on the 18th at the Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery (八宝山革命公墓) in Beijing.
Comrade Zhu Rongji passed away in Beijing at 11:06 on August 12, 2026, due to illness, at the age of 98.
During Comrade Zhu Rongji's serious illness and after his passing, comrades Xi Jinping, Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi, Han Zheng, Hu Jintao, and others visited the hospital or expressed deep condolences over Comrade Zhu Rongji's passing through various means, and extended heartfelt sympathy to his family members.
On the morning of the 18th, the Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery memorial hall was solemn and dignified, with funeral music playing softly. Above the main hall hung a black-bordered white-character banner reading "Deeply Mourning Comrade Zhu Rongji," and below the banner was a portrait of Comrade Zhu Rongji. Comrade Zhu Rongji's remains lay peacefully amid flowers and evergreen cypress branches, draped with the bright red flag of the Communist Party of China.
At approximately 9:30 in the morning, Xi Jinping, Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi, Han Zheng, and others walked slowly to Comrade Zhu Rongji's remains to the sound of funeral music, stood in silent tribute, bowed three times before Comrade Zhu Rongji's remains, and shook hands one by one with Comrade Zhu Rongji's family members to express their condolences. Hu Jintao sent a wreath to express mourning over Comrade Zhu Rongji's passing.
Relevant leading comrades of the Party and the state went to bid farewell or expressed mourning through various means. Responsible comrades of relevant departments of the central Party and state organs, Comrade Zhu Rongji's friends during his lifetime, and representatives of his hometown also went to bid farewell.
Return to TopBEIJING, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) — (Reporter Yang Qiaochu (杨翘楚)) On the afternoon of August 18, President Xi Jinping held talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing with President Daniel Noboa of Ecuador, who was in China for a state visit.
Xi Jinping noted that this year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Ecuador. No matter how the international situation changes, China has always viewed its relations with Ecuador from a strategic height and a long-term perspective, and stands ready to work with Ecuador to continuously bring bilateral relations to new levels and better benefit the two peoples.
Xi Jinping stressed that China and Ecuador should consolidate political mutual trust and continue to understand and support each other on issues involving each other's core interests and major concerns. China respects and supports Ecuador's exploration of a development path suited to its national conditions, and is willing to strengthen exchanges between the two countries' governments, legislative bodies, political parties, and other fields, enhance exchanges of governance experience, and walk hand in hand on the path of realizing the modernization of their respective countries. The series of new progress in China-Ecuador relations is both a dividend released by the bilateral free trade agreement and a demonstration of the potential of China's super-large market. The two sides should strengthen the alignment of development strategies, implement the cooperation plan for jointly building the "Belt and Road," carry out well cooperation projects in energy, minerals, infrastructure construction, finance, and other fields, actively explore cooperation in the digital economy, green development, new energy, artificial intelligence, and other areas, continue to tap the potential of the free trade agreement, and let the dividends of free trade benefit more enterprises and consumers. China is willing to carry out cooperation with Ecuador in medical and health care, poverty alleviation and reduction, disaster prevention and mitigation, and other fields, and support Ecuador's national development. The two sides should strengthen exchanges in education, culture, youth, sports, and local-level exchanges, facilitate personnel exchanges, and enhance friendship between the two countries.
Noboa said that China is an important partner and friend of Ecuador, and President Xi Jinping is a great leader. Through the joint efforts of both sides, Ecuador-China relations have entered a new stage, bringing tangible well-being to the two peoples. Ecuador is willing to deepen political mutual trust with China, support China in safeguarding sovereignty and territorial integrity, and respect China's position on the Taiwan issue. Ecuador attaches great importance to cooperation with China and is willing to strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation with China in trade, finance, minerals, renewable energy, science and technology, culture, and other fields, expand exports to China, welcome more Chinese enterprises to invest and do business in Ecuador, and help Ecuador improve its people's lives and achieve national development.
The two heads of state exchanged views on the situation in Latin America and the Caribbean. Xi Jinping stressed that China has always maintained that the status of Latin America and the Caribbean as a zone of peace should not be shaken, the path of development and revitalization of Latin American and Caribbean countries should not be interrupted, and the right of Latin American and Caribbean countries to independently choose their cooperation partners should not be interfered with. China supports Latin American countries in adhering to independence and autonomy, conducting external cooperation in accordance with their own national interests, and safeguarding regional peace and stability. Noboa said that Ecuador attaches great importance to China's position and role and is willing to always be China's good friend on the other side of the Pacific.
After the talks, the two heads of state jointly witnessed the signing of multiple cooperation documents in the fields of green industry, economic and trade cooperation, digital economy, and people's livelihood.
Before the talks, Xi Jinping held a welcoming ceremony for Noboa in the North Hall of the Great Hall of the People.
When Noboa arrived, honor guards lined up to pay tribute. The two heads of state ascended the reviewing stand, the military band played the national anthems of China and Ecuador, and a 21-gun salute was fired at Tiananmen Square. Noboa, accompanied by Xi Jinping, reviewed the guard of honor of the People's Liberation Army of China and watched the march-past.
In the evening, Xi Jinping held a welcome banquet for Noboa in the Golden Hall of the Great Hall of the People.
Wang Yi attended the above activities.
Return to TopXinhua News Agency, Beijing, August 18 — Premier of the State Council Li Qiang recently signed a State Council decree, promulgating the "Decision of the State Council on Amending the Regulations on the Administration of the Housing Provident Fund" (hereinafter referred to as the "Decision"), to take effect on September 20, 2026. The Decision consists of 20 articles, mainly providing for the following contents.
First, broadening the scope of withdrawal and use. With regard to withdrawing housing provident funds to pay rent, the threshold restriction requiring rent to exceed a prescribed proportion of household wage income is no longer imposed; new circumstances under which housing provident funds may be withdrawn are added, including decorating a self-occupied dwelling, paying property management fees for a self-occupied dwelling, and other housing consumption circumstances approved by the State Council. The channels for investing and utilizing housing provident funds are appropriately broadened, clarifying that housing provident fund management centers may use housing provident funds to purchase policy-oriented financial bonds.
Second, improving management and service efficiency. Procedures for employees to apply to withdraw housing provident funds are simplified, the review time limit for housing provident fund loan applications is shortened, mutual recognition and mutual trust of housing provident fund contribution records and other matters nationwide is realized, and the convenient and efficient handling of such operations as housing provident fund transfer and continuation and cross-regional loans is promoted.
Third, strengthening risk prevention and control. The competent department of housing and urban-rural development under the State Council determines public credit information in the housing provident fund field; housing provident fund management centers establish comprehensive, complete, and accurate credit records and incorporate them into the national credit information sharing platform; clear legal liability is provided for acts such as illegally withdrawing housing provident funds or obtaining housing provident fund loans by means of fraud, forging supporting documents, and other such means.
Fourth, expanding the coverage of the system. It is clarified that individually owned businesses, non-full-time employees, and other flexible employment personnel may voluntarily contribute to housing provident funds and enjoy corresponding policy support in accordance with regulations.
(The full text of the Decision is on page 10.)
Return to TopReported from Beijing, August 18 (Reporter Peng Bo): The 71st meeting of the Council of Chairmen of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress was held on the morning of the 18th at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Chairman Zhao Leji presided over the meeting. The meeting decided that the 24th session of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress will be held in Beijing from August 25 to 28.
The Council of Chairmen meeting proposed that the 24th session of the Standing Committee of the 14th NPC review the draft Medical Security Law (医疗保障法), the draft Cultivated Land Protection and Quality Improvement Law (耕地保护和质量提升法), the draft revision of the Agriculture Law (农业法), the draft revision of the National Defense Mobilization Law (国防动员法), the draft amendment to the Lawyers Law (律师法), the draft revision of the Enterprise Bankruptcy Law (企业破产法), the draft revision of the Banking Supervision and Administration Law (银行业监督管理法), and the draft revision of the Water Law (水法); review the proposal submitted by the State Council regarding the draft revision of the Road Traffic Safety Law (道路交通安全法); review the proposal submitted by the National Commission of Supervision regarding the draft Anti-Cross-Border Corruption Law (反跨境腐败法); and review the proposal submitted by the State Council regarding the ratification of the Extradition Treaty between the People's Republic of China and Hungary.
Other agenda items for the 24th session of the Standing Committee proposed by the Council of Chairmen meeting include: reviewing the State Council's reports on the implementation of the national economic and social development plan since the beginning of this year, on budget implementation since the beginning of this year, on government debt management for fiscal year 2025, on work to improve the quality of cultural products and services, and on work to continuously consolidate and expand the achievements of poverty alleviation and solidly advance comprehensive rural revitalization; reviewing the report of the Credentials Committee of the NPC Standing Committee (全国人大常委会代表资格审查委员会) on the qualifications of individual deputies; and reviewing relevant appointment and dismissal proposals, among others.
The Council of Chairmen meeting reviewed the analysis report of the Financial and Economic Affairs Committee of the National People's Congress (全国人大财政经济委员会) on economic operation since the beginning of this year, and reviewed the report on the work of handling letters and visits from the public by the organs of the National People's Congress since 2026.
At the Council of Chairmen meeting, Liu Qi, Secretary-General of the NPC Standing Committee, reported on the draft agenda and schedule of the 24th session of the Standing Committee. Relevant Deputy Secretaries-General of the NPC Standing Committee and heads of relevant special committees of the National People's Congress and relevant working committees of the Standing Committee reported on relevant topics.
Vice Chairpersons of the NPC Standing Committee Li Hongzhong, Wang Dongming, Xiao Jie, Zheng Jianbang, Ding Zhongli, Hao Mingjin, Cai Dafeng, He Wei, Wu Weihua, Tie Ning, Peng Qinghua, Zhang Qingwei, Losang Jamcan, and Shohrat Zakir attended the meeting.
Return to TopOur newspaper Beijing, August 18 (Reporter Wang Ke (王珂)) — The reporter learned at a press conference held by the State Council Information Office (国新办) that in the first seven months, retail sales of consumer goods in villages cumulatively grew by 2.4 percent year on year, 1.3 percentage points higher than in cities and towns, and have been higher than or basically on par with cities and towns for 55 consecutive months; the share of retail sales of consumer goods in counties and townships in total retail sales of consumer goods has already reached 39.1 percent, an increase of 0.3 percentage points over the same period last year.
That county-level consumption has run at "accelerated speed" is no accident. New urbanization has brought enormous increments, with county populations gradually concentrating from villages toward county seats. Income growth has provided strong momentum — during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (十四五), the cumulative growth in per capita disposable income of rural residents exceeded 42.8 percent, 13.9 percentage points higher than that of urban residents. Commercial outlets in counties, townships, and villages have continued to improve, logistics and distribution networks have been constantly perfected, and chain brands have accelerated their layout, further enriching consumption choices.
Recently, the Ministry of Commerce, together with relevant departments, issued the Opinions on Further Stimulating the Vitality of Lower-Tier Markets and Activating County-Level Consumption (关于进一步激发下沉市场活力 活跃县域消费的意见). Relevant departments will continue to improve the policy system and guide localities in exploring county-level consumption development models suited to local characteristics.
(Related report on page 2)
Return to TopBeijing, August 18 (Our Newspaper) (Reporter Li Xinping) — The reporter learned from the China Machinery Industry Federation: In the first half of the year, the value-added output of China's machinery industry above-designated-size enterprises grew by 6.4% year on year; in particular, in June, the growth rate of indicators rose markedly, with all sub-sectors showing an across-the-board recovery trend.
In the first half of the year, the machinery industry's export performance was outstanding. The machinery industry completed a goods trade export value of US$559.33 billion, a year-on-year increase of 20%. The layout of international market diversification has become more balanced, and the share of high value-added products in exports has continued to rise.
The development momentum of new quality productive forces in the machinery industry is good. The value-added output of the intelligent equipment manufacturing industry grew by 16.7%, and the output of 3D printing equipment, industrial robots, and industrial automatic regulating instruments and control systems increased by 48.5%, 28.0%, and 25.1% year on year, respectively.
The results of transformation and upgrading in some traditional industries are becoming apparent. Driven by demand from high-end manufacturing and intelligent manufacturing, the machine tool industry has accelerated its upgrading toward high-end and intelligent directions, with profits growing substantially in the first half of the year.
By: 本报记者 王 珂
On August 18, the State Council Information Office held a press conference to introduce the situation regarding stimulating the vitality of the lower-tier market and activating county-level consumption.
Continuing to advance the construction of the rural modern circulation system
The lower-tier market covers both urban and rural areas, connects production and sales, and serves people's livelihoods. It carries the broadest consumer groups and also contains the most potentially promising consumer demand, with county areas being an important component. Yuan Xiaoming, Assistant Minister of Commerce, introduced that China's county areas account for approximately 90 percent of the national land area, 50 percent of the permanent resident population, and 40 percent of the total economic output. The proportion of county and township consumption in total retail sales of consumer goods has been steadily rising, making it the most important source of potential for expanding consumption.
Recently, the Ministry of Commerce, together with relevant departments, issued the Opinions on Further Stimulating the Vitality of the Lower-Tier Market and Activating County-Level Consumption (hereinafter referred to as the Opinions), to promote the close integration of consumption promotion and benefit to people's livelihoods, strengthen the coordinated linkage between new supply and new demand, cultivate demand through new urbanization, enrich supply with high-quality facilities, business formats, goods, and services, improve efficiency through modern circulation methods such as chain operations, and strengthen safeguards with a sound business environment, so as to better meet residents' demand for quality and diversified consumption.
The Opinions mainly include four aspects. First, optimizing the county-level business environment. Accelerate the renewal of existing commercial facilities, optimize the layout of commercial outlets, improve commercial service supporting facilities, and revitalize idle resources and assets. Improve the efficiency of urban-rural circulation networks, smooth two-way urban-rural circulation channels, and guide coordinated online-offline development. Second, enriching county-level consumption supply. Guide chain enterprises to accelerate their expansion into lower-tier markets, promote the integrity and innovation of local brands, and develop new business formats in light of local conditions. Expand the supply of quality goods at fair prices, accelerate the improvement of service formats such as those for the elderly and young children, and promote the integrated development of commerce, agriculture, culture, tourism, and sports. Third, strengthening consumption safeguard capacity. Promote stable employment and income growth through expanded income channels, and stimulate consumption potential through entrepreneurship support and housing security. Support a number of enterprise headquarters and platform enterprises in laying out operations in county areas, provide more employment opportunities, and cultivate new forms of employment groups rooted in county areas. Fourth, strengthening factor integration. Introduce a number of concrete and practical measures in finance, taxation, land, and the business environment, to drive the concentration of various resource factors toward county areas.
Since 2021, the Ministry of Commerce has deeply advanced the construction of the county-level commercial system, effectively driving the dual improvement of farmers' income and rural consumption.
Circulation facilities have continued to upgrade. A total of 3,159 county-level comprehensive commercial service centers, 15,000 township-level commercial centers, and 168,000 village-level convenience stores have been built and renovated, and the country has basically achieved full coverage of commercial outlets at the county, township, and village levels.
The logistics distribution system has become increasingly complete. A cumulative total of more than 3,600 county and township logistics distribution outlets have been supported for upgrading, and more than 100 million parcels enter and leave rural areas every day.
The transformation and upgrading of the agricultural product supply chain has progressed. Nearly 4,000 facilities for agricultural product sorting, pre-cooling, and primary processing have been supported for construction, and the capacity for commercialized processing and off-peak sales of agricultural products has been significantly enhanced, helping more good products sell at good prices.
Circulation business formats and methods have accelerated innovation. During the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, rural online retail sales exceeded 3 trillion yuan, with a cumulative increase of 1 trillion yuan, and the number of rural online merchants exceeded 20 million.
Yuan Xiaoming stated that the Ministry of Commerce will continue to advance the construction of the rural modern circulation system, promoting the upgrading of commercial networks, circulation methods, service formats, and the market environment.
Optimizing approval processes such as the joint handling of licenses for "individual businesses transforming into enterprises" in county areas
Li Jialu, Director of the Department of Circulation Industry Development of the Ministry of Commerce, introduced that the Ministry of Commerce will adapt to changes in county-level consumption demand and take multiple measures simultaneously to prosper the consumer market.
Work on both the sales and production ends to enrich the supply of quality goods. Jointly with relevant departments, vigorously promote the distribution of new energy vehicles and green, intelligent products to rural areas, and encourage enterprises to develop quality products that fit the consumption characteristics of county areas.
Simultaneously focus on key points and fill shortcomings to elevate the level of service consumption. Drawing on the experience of building the 15-minute convenient living circle in cities, create convenient living circles in county areas according to local conditions.
Coordinate the introduction of external enterprises and the cultivation of local ones to strengthen the main body of quality commerce. "Introducing external enterprises" means guiding more brand chain enterprises to expand into county-level markets. "Cultivating local ones" means supporting small shops, time-honored brands, and workshop-style brands that carry local culture, helping them enhance their brand-building and sustainable operation capabilities, and cultivating a number of business entities in fields such as cultural and creative handicrafts, home living, and food and tea beverages.
Pay equal attention to promoting innovation and strengthening regulation to advance innovation in business formats and models. Encourage qualified localities to develop virtual reality, immersive experiences, and "artificial intelligence + consumption" and other new formats.
Individual businesses are the most numerous business entities in the lower-tier market. Du Linya, a person in charge of the Registration and Administration Bureau of the State Administration for Market Regulation, introduced that as of the end of July 2026, the ratio of registered individual businesses to enterprises in the lower-tier market was 209:100, significantly higher than the 85:100 in first- and second-tier cities, with the number exceeding 78 million, of which 86 percent are engaged in service-related industries.
The Opinions propose "implementing 'one license, multiple locations' for chain enterprises and commercial individual businesses in qualified county areas" and "further optimizing approval processes such as the joint handling of licenses for 'individual businesses transforming into enterprises' in county areas."
Du Linya said that "one license, multiple locations" for individual businesses and the joint handling of licenses for "individual businesses transforming into enterprises" are two institutional innovations introduced by the market regulation departments. "One license, multiple locations" means that an individual business can apply to register multiple physical business premises within the jurisdiction of its registration authority, with all physical business premises recorded on the business license. The joint handling of licenses for "individual businesses transforming into enterprises" means that an individual business can directly transform into an enterprise through change-of-registration procedures, lawfully retaining business elements such as its trade name, establishment date, and unified social credit code, and can simultaneously handle tax registration, seal engraving, social insurance registration, and housing provident fund deposit registration and other matters.
Effectively promoting agricultural product consumption and advancing the quality improvement and upgrading of county-level cultural tourism
Agricultural product consumption is connected to the people's dining tables on one end and agricultural production on the other, playing an important role in activating county-level consumption. Song Danyang, a person in charge of the Department of Market and Information of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, introduced that in recent years, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, together with relevant departments, has strengthened work guidance, optimized the supply end, innovated the circulation end, and activated the market end, effectively promoting agricultural product consumption.
To sell at good prices, the focus is on brand cultivation. Deeply implement the agricultural brand quality cultivation plan, guide all localities to establish agricultural brand catalogs, and create a number of regional public brands with strong influence and driving force, driving the coordinated development of enterprise brands and product brands.
To find good sales channels, the focus is on production-marketing linkage. Continue to implement the "Internet +" agricultural products going out of villages and into cities project, and promote the establishment of stable linkage relationships between large e-commerce platforms, wholesale markets, and chain supermarkets and major production areas.
To integrate into new business formats, the focus is on creating consumption scenarios. Combined with new business formats such as leisure agriculture and agricultural experience activities, create new agricultural product consumption scenarios such as harvest markets and intangible cultural heritage workshops, encourage all localities to hold diverse forms of agricultural product consumption promotion activities, and guide urban and rural residents to consume nearby and in an integrated manner, so that county-level consumption has not only "the flavor of everyday life" but also "new vitality."
Song Danyang said that the Ministry of Commerce will accelerate the construction of an agricultural product marketing service system, implement the agricultural product agricultural brand enhancement action, regularly carry out consumption promotion activities, and release the consumption potential of diversified, quality-oriented, and differentiated demand.
Gu Kewei, a person in charge of the Department of Industrial Development of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, said that "county-bound travel" and rural tourism have become new consumption hotspots in the lower-tier market. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism will focus on three aspects — product format supply, scenarios, and activities — to advance the quality improvement and upgrading of county-level cultural tourism and promote cultural tourism consumption to burst forth with greater vitality.
Improve supply quality so that county-level cultural tourism has something worth seeing. Guide 113 counties to carry out pilot projects for empowering rural revitalization through the cultural industry, and implement actions to enhance quality and increase efficiency in rural tourism.
Expand consumption scenarios so that the lower-tier market has heat. Research and formulate relevant industry standards, guide the healthy and orderly development of nighttime cultural tourism economy, and support qualified localities in creating distinctive nighttime cultural tourism consumption scenarios.
Enrich activity carriers so that cultural tourism services have warmth. Hold the National Day cultural tourism consumption month, launch a series of cultural tourism activities, benefit measures, and convenience services around welcoming the National Day and appreciating autumn scenery, and increase the promotion of county-level and rural cultural tourism destinations.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 李君强 齐志明 刘军国
In the crystal growth workshop of Zhejiang Hangzhou Fujia Gallium Industry Technology Co., Ltd., a gallium oxide single crystal with a bottom diameter of 305 millimeters is jet black throughout. In March of this year, Fujia Gallium Industry produced a 12-inch gallium oxide single crystal, bringing the key material for fourth-generation semiconductors one step closer to industrialization.
In September 2023, General Secretary Xi Jinping noted during an inspection tour of Zhejiang, "Strengthen the principal position of enterprises in scientific and technological innovation, promote the deep integration of the innovation chain, industrial chain, capital chain, and talent chain, and accelerate the transformation and application of scientific and technological achievements."
How can enterprises be placed at the forefront of scientific and technological innovation? Scientific researchers are an important link. "Many scientific researchers hold key technologies in their hands but are unfamiliar with markets, capital, and business operations, so their achievements often get stuck on the road from the laboratory to the production line." Qi Hongji, Director of the Hangzhou Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics and Chairman and General Manager of Hangzhou Fujia Gallium Industry Technology Co., Ltd., stated that what the Hangzhou Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics is doing is accompanying scientific researchers through this "reef zone."
In selecting technologies, both whether they are advanced and whether there are application scenarios are considered. After a project is selected, the platform joins as an angel investor, accompanying the project all the way from product R&D to team building. As of now, the Hangzhou Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics has incubated more than 70 enterprises, gathered a number of national-level talent teams, and multiple enterprises have achieved several-fold or even dozens-fold increases in valuation.
As of now, there are 15,637 specialized, refined, distinctive, and innovative small and medium-sized enterprises, a net increase of 1,225 compared with the same period last year. The results of enterprise talent introduction and cultivation continue to expand, with a cumulative total of 8,444 authorized enterprises and 57,000 independently recognized talents. In the first half of the year, 193 new key "little giant" enterprises were added, ranking among the forefront nationally... These sets of data bear witness to the robust growth of scientific and technological innovation enterprises in Zhejiang.
Entering the exhibition hall of the Yangtze Delta Region Institute of Tsinghua University, Zhejiang, a smart bed automatically rises and lowers, with health data such as heart rate and respiratory rate displayed in real time on the screen. In the final assembly workshop of Jiaxing Qisheng Technology Co., Ltd., one such bed comes off the production line every 120 seconds.
"It is not just a bed, but a smart health management system." said Tang Guohai, Chairman of Qisheng Technology. Centering on this demand, the Yangtze Delta Region Institute of Tsinghua University and the enterprise established a joint company, with the research team responsible for technology R&D and the enterprise responsible for production and market operations. From sensor selection to signal processing algorithms, the two sides cooperated to tackle each challenge one by one, producing the first sample in less than half a year. Today, annual product sales have jumped to the million-unit level.
"Wherever the market has needs, scientific research directs its efforts there." said Huang Kaisheng, Party Secretary and President of the Yangtze Delta Region Institute of Tsinghua University. At present, the institute has established strategic cooperation with 119 central and state-owned enterprises, undertaking more than 100 horizontal contracts annually.
Enterprise innovation requires not only technology, but also matching application scenarios and user needs. At the China Eye Valley in Wenzhou, Yin Shiqi, co-founder of Zhejiang Qingda Shiguang Technology Co., Ltd., picked up a portable vision testing device and said, "Parents can check their children's vision data on 'Zheli Ban' (浙里办), and we then match intervention plans accordingly." At present, this device is being promoted in campuses and communities across multiple locations in Zhejiang.
The seemingly simple screening device conceals a complete chain from clinical needs to product implementation. Relying on platforms such as the Eye Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, the China Eye Valley has built a transformation system covering R&D, validation, clinical trials, medical device registration, and market promotion. Whether a technology works is judged not only by laboratory indicators, but also through clinical validation, registration approval, and doctor feedback. At present, the China Eye Valley has gathered more than 770 industry-related enterprises and facilitated the implementation of over 100 eye health products.
To unleash innovation vitality, enterprises have more autonomy in talent evaluation. In 2025, Zhejiang Zhongke Lide New Materials Co., Ltd. obtained provincial authorization for independent evaluation of industrial enterprise talents and established an evaluation system centered on innovation capability, quality, practical results, and contribution. Talents who overcome key technologies or achieve landmark results may enter the "green channel" without being restricted by academic qualifications or seniority, and evaluation results are linked to compensation, promotion, and project decision-making authority.
Technical backbone Zhou Changji shuttles year-round between the laboratory, the workshop, and customers, participating in overcoming difficulties in marine polysaccharide modification technology, with related products having been applied by more than 200 customers cumulatively. In 2025, he was rated a Zhejiang Provincial Industrial Young Talent based on his actual performance. In recent years, Zhongke Lide has used natural polysaccharides as raw materials to produce water-based binders, achieving domestic substitution of key auxiliary materials.
From helping scientific researchers establish enterprises, to organizing research around enterprise needs; from opening up clinical scenarios, to handing talent evaluation authority to enterprises — Zhejiang is accelerating the convergence of innovation factors toward enterprises, placing enterprises at the forefront of scientific and technological innovation. "Accelerate the integrated cultivation and integrated development of large, medium, small, and micro enterprises; major technology demands from enterprises account for over 80 percent; provincial major science and technology plan projects led or participated in by enterprises account for over 80 percent; and promote industry-university-research integrated innovation led by enterprises." said Zhou Tufa, Member of the Party Leadership Group and Deputy Director of the Department of Science and Technology of Zhejiang Province.
(Our reporter Dou Hao participated in the reporting and writing)
Return to TopReport from our newspaper in Beijing, August 18 (Reporter Qiu Chaoyi) — The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (人力资源社会保障部), the Central Social Work Department (中央社会工作部), and the Ministry of Civil Affairs (民政部) recently jointly issued the Notice on Optimizing Work to Absorb College Graduates into Employment in Urban and Rural Community Positions, proposing a series of policy measures to promote more college graduates to find employment in urban and rural communities.
The Notice clarifies that all channels for college graduates to find employment in urban and rural communities shall be smoothed. Optimize community full-time worker teams to recruit a batch; develop urban and rural community service positions to hire a batch; mobilize enterprises and social organizations in the field of urban and rural community services to absorb a batch; advance the recruitment of urban and rural community internship positions to take on a batch.
The Notice requires that job postings be well published, with the mechanism for collecting and uniformly publishing urban and rural grassroots positions improved, positions to be recruited for in urban and rural communities published in a unified manner, and offline recruitment activities actively carried out. Service capacity shall be improved by relying on training resources such as various talent training bases to carry out training for college graduates employed in urban and rural communities. The incentive mechanism shall be improved, with support for eligible personnel to participate in the professional qualification evaluation for social workers.
Return to TopOn August 18, the key controlling project of the Yongyuan (永源)-Shuangjing (双井) section of the North Ring of the Harbin metropolitan area ring line in Heilongjiang Province — the Songhua River Extra-large Bridge — was successfully closed, achieving complete through-connection of the core node of the North Ring project and laying a solid foundation for subsequent opening to traffic. The Songhua River Extra-large Bridge has a total length of 4,668.5 meters. After the project is completed, it will further improve the expressway network system of the Harbin metropolitan area.
Photo by Zhang Tao (张涛), reporter with Xinhua News Agency.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 李 蕊
Raising the level of convenience in life-service consumption, developing community-embedded services and the 15-minute convenient living circle, advancing the renewal of traditional commercial districts, and optimizing the service-consumption experience in areas such as elderly care, childcare, and housekeeping.
——Excerpted from the "15th Five-Year" Plan Outline
Early morning, Zhang Zhaochuan, a resident of Huxi Community, Yong'an Town, Shizhong District, Zaozhuang City, Shandong Province, tightened his shoelaces and stepped out the door.
A five-minute walk brought him to Donghu Park. Accompanied by the breeze, he jogged two laps around the lake; he turned into a nearby supermarket to pick out a few fresh vegetables; then he brought home a bowl of steaming hot tofu pudding, convenient and pleasant.
His daughter is on summer vacation, but Zhang Zhaochuan is not worried—the community daycare picks his daughter up in the morning, and she has lunch at the community canteen, so dual-income parents do not have to be pulled in two directions. In the evening, the family walks more than ten minutes to the Dongjiekou commercial district, picks a restaurant to their taste, and chats about family matters while eating.
Morning exercise and leisure, daily shopping, medical care, education, childcare, and eldercare... with home as the center and a 15-minute walking distance as the radius, this small circle "encloses" the daily life of three meals and four seasons, full of flavor, and most of the rigid needs and quality pursuits of life are met.
But a few years ago, the scene here was quite different—
In 2017, as the city developed westward, Huxi Community was completed, governing 10 residential quarters with more than 38,000 residents. "People moved in, but the supporting facilities did not keep up." Qin Jing, deputy director of the Shizhong District Commerce and Investment Promotion Bureau and director of the District Commercial Circulation Service Center, spread out a map and circled points with the tip of her pen. "At that time, to the east of the community was coal-mining subsidence land, where water had accumulated into puddles; to the west of the community was still a stretch of wasteland."
Zhang Zhaochuan and his wife remember that when they first moved to Huxi Community, if they wanted to take their child to a shopping mall, they had to drive half an hour to the city center. "The elderly kept complaining that they wanted to do square dancing but could not find a proper square; young parents scratched their heads because good schools were too far away, and winter and summer vacations were even more of a headache," said Zheng Yong, secretary of the Huxi Community Party Committee.
The government took action, transforming the coal-mining subsidence land into Donghu Park, replacing the sand on the beach with new sand, installing smart light poles around the lake, building a yangge square that can accommodate several hundred people, and setting up a health station where people can consult about chronic diseases and have their blood pressure measured. But the subsequent "guarding of the park" has been under "mountain-like pressure": water quality maintenance, trail repairs, facility replacement—everything costs money.
"As the city develops westward, planning, construction, and management must advance in tandem to ensure the long-term operation of public supporting facilities," Qin Jing said. The Shizhong District repeatedly weighed two accounts: one was the environmental account—if park management and maintenance lag behind, a sound ecological environment cannot be guaranteed; the other was the funding account—relying solely on fiscal investment cannot provide lasting support for the routine maintenance of green spaces.
The government does not have to play the "chief steward" in everything; sometimes it should better serve as the "referee" and "partner." The development approach of "government builds, state-owned enterprises manage, the market enlivens" gradually became clear—in August 2022, Donghu Park was officially handed over for operation to the state-owned enterprise Shandong Zhongxing Cultural Tourism Development Group Co., Ltd., with its subsidiary Zaozhuang Xingchuang Cultural Tourism Development Co., Ltd. responsible for upgrading and renovation.
Paving trails, adding greenery, building plazas, and renovating old wooden houses into study rooms, milk-tea shops, and cafés—the park took on a new look. Nearby residents were satisfied, but some also worried, "We are just afraid it will be a flash in the pan. The early-stage investment was quite large, but afterward no one will take care of maintenance."
"The mindset has to change, from 'guarding the park' to 'operating the park.'" Ding Dandan, deputy manager of Xingchuang Cultural Tourism Company, said, "The beach and lawn are leased out to the public, and we host events such as competitions, team-building activities, and weddings, with the proceeds feeding back into the park's operation and maintenance."
"Communities opening up the 'last hundred meters' of convenience services likewise have to make good use of market logic," Qin Jing said.
"Community funds are limited. To satisfy residents' diverse needs as much as possible, we need to revitalize idle resources and achieve self-generated造血." Zheng Yong explained that the community established a self-operated company, with the canteen undertaking group meals; idle rooms were converted into daycare centers, self-study rooms, and health-care points. Since the company's establishment in 2025, its turnover has exceeded 750,000 yuan, with the proceeds used to fill gaps in community services such as daily life, health care, and childcare.
While making good use of the market's hand, the government must also proactively move forward and coordinate scientifically.
"In response to residents' quality-consumption needs, we comprehensively considered factors such as business-format complementarity and long-term operation, and introduced three commercial complexes to complement one another, jointly meeting residents' shopping needs together with the community's street-level shops," Qin Jing said. Many residents are also concerned about educational facilities, so the Shizhong District entrusted an established prestigious school to run the new school, enabling it to quickly gain a foothold. "Many young families have told us that they chose to settle here because of the community's commercial amenities and its continuously improving educational resources," Zheng Yong said.
"The 15-minute convenient living circle of Huxi Community not only absorbs the spillover demand of the old urban area but also brings popularity to the central urban area. The city's westward development has not only a skeleton but also substance and warmth," Qin Jing said.
This year, Zaozhuang is advancing urban construction with high quality, continuously improving the city's functional quality, and has identified 14 key urban construction projects in the central urban area. Zhai Jun, secretary of the Zaozhuang Municipal Party Committee, introduced, "We will formulate solutions 'one circle, one policy,' fully leverage the leveraging role of fiscal funds, attract various business entities to participate, and let the government and the market work in concert to draw the circle of 15-minute happiness more completely."
Night deepens, and the lights along the shore of Donghu Lake come on one after another. After dinner, Zhang Zhaochuan's family strolls along the lake. On the beach, laughter rings out in bursts; in the square, song and dance rise and fall.
Our newspaper, Beijing, August 18 (Reporter Lin Lili (林丽鹂)). Recently, the State Administration for Market Regulation (市场监管总局), the National Development and Reform Commission (国家发展改革委), and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (生态环境部) jointly issued the Guidance Catalogue for Carbon Emission Measurement Capacity Building (2026 Edition). As an updated version of the 2024 Edition catalogue, the 2026 Edition catalogue further improves the national carbon emission measurement technical system, providing technical support for the green and low-carbon transition of all industries.
The 2026 Edition catalogue achieves all-round expansion and systematic optimization, with a broader scope of technical coverage and a greatly enhanced completeness of the standards and specifications system. Among them, key measurement parameters have increased from 39 to 58, standard testing methods have expanded from 82 to 169, and measurement instruments and equipment have increased from 108 to 229.
Return to TopKunming, August 18 (Reporter Ye Chuanzeng (叶传增)) — On the 18th, cumulative freight transport on the entire China-Laos Railway exceeded 90 million tons, of which cross-border freight transport surpassed 21 million tons; cumulative freight train departures exceeded 80,000, and cross-border freight train departures exceeded 23,000.
Since the China-Laos Railway commenced operations on December 3, 2021, transport volumes have climbed steadily. Since 2026, daily average freight transport has exceeded 67,000 tons, successively passing the 80-million-ton and 90-million-ton thresholds, and the international logistics efficiency of the "golden grand passage" (黄金大通道) continues to be released.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 邹 松
In the early morning, in Ethiopia's Oromia State, farmer Gatent Babi drove a truck loaded with teff along a brand-new road toward the grain purchasing station. "In the past, during the rainy season the dirt roads were muddy and vehicles could not pass. Teff had to be carried by people or transported by donkeys to the market," Babi said. With the road repaired, what used to be a 6-hour drive now takes only 1.5 hours.
This road, built by a Chinese enterprise, is a transportation artery connecting Asala, the main teff-producing area in Ethiopia, with the agricultural product processing city of Adama, and is also known as the "Teff Road." In Ethiopia, Chinese enterprises have participated in building many roads vital to the country's national economy and people's livelihoods. Similar to the "Teff Road," there are also the "Coffee Road" and the "Cement Road." These roads connect urban and rural areas, promote industrial development along the routes, and have become "development roads," "prosperity roads," and "happiness roads" for improving people's lives.
"Solving the teff transportation problem that has plagued the local area for many years"
Teff is the main raw material for injera (a fermented flatbread), Ethiopia's traditional staple food, and is widely cultivated in the central part of the country. According to records, about 3,000 years ago, residents of the Ethiopian highlands began cultivating teff, and the history of baking injera is at least 2,500 years old. It is regarded as Ethiopia's "national food."
Backward transportation conditions have long been a "stumbling block" to the development of the local teff industry. Every link, from field harvesting and material transport to market sales, faces obstacles — medium and large agricultural machinery such as seeders and harvesters cannot smoothly enter the fields, making teff planting and harvesting inefficient; fertilizers, pesticides, and other production materials are also difficult to transport to the fields, so teff yields have always struggled to increase. In particular, the teff maturation period coincides with the rainy season. The roads are muddy and difficult to traverse, and large quantities of mature teff cannot be transported out in time, piling up in the fields and becoming moldy and spoiled.
The Iteya–Robi Road Upgrade Project, undertaken by China Railway No. 3 Engineering Group (中铁三局), has changed this situation. The project has a total length of 75.6 kilometers, upgrading the original 6-meter-wide gravel road surface to a 10-meter-wide asphalt concrete pavement. It passes through 9 villages and towns, benefiting a densely populated residential area and teff-growing region of 22.9 square kilometers. At the end of last year, the main line of the road was opened to traffic, and it is currently in the stage of auxiliary supporting facilities and finishing work.
"In the past, to buy a bag of fertilizer, you had to hire someone to pull an oxcart for two days, and during the rainy season it was simply impassable. Sometimes by the time the fertilizer arrived, the farming season had already passed," Babi said. Now the road leads directly to the fields, agricultural machinery can operate smoothly, and materials such as fertilizer and pesticides can be delivered the same day. The teff yield on his family's land has also increased from the original 1.7 tons per hectare to more than 2 tons, and planting costs have dropped by nearly 30%.
Previously, the road from the Asala production area to Adama City was rough and bumpy, and the transport loss rate for teff exceeded 15%. "Now I haul a truckload of teff to Adama every day and sell it all the same day, without ever worrying about it getting damp and spoiling," local farmer Edas told reporters. Calculated at the current rate, his annual income can increase by nearly 40,000 birr (about 1,680 yuan), and the family's living conditions have improved markedly.
Ethiopian National Television produced a special documentary, evaluating this road as a "livelihood road" and "prosperity road" that injects momentum into the development of the local agricultural industry. "This project has solved the teff transportation problem that has plagued the local area for many years," said Dejene Hirpa, an official of the Oromia State Agriculture Bureau. The completion of the road is of irreplaceable significance for safeguarding the state's food security and increasing farmers' incomes.
"Enabling our coffee to reach the world at a faster speed"
One road drives one industry; one network activates the regional economy. Since entering Ethiopia in 2004, China Railway No. 3 Engineering Group has successively undertaken 14 infrastructure projects, covering railways, highways, municipal works, and other fields.
In Ethiopia's northern Amhara State, beside the Mukturi–Kokeb Mesk road, stands the country's largest cement plant — the Lemi National Cement Factory. The plant has Africa's first production line with a daily output of 10,000 tons of cement clinker, accounting for more than 40% of national output. In February 2025, after the upgrade of the Mukturi–Kokeb Mesk road opened its main line, hundreds of trucks transport cement to all parts of Ethiopia every day over the smooth, wide road. This road is known as the "Cement Road." Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy said that the opening of this road allows the Lemi National Cement Factory to play a greater role in the country's infrastructure construction.
In south-central Ethiopia, the town of Yirgacheffe and its surrounding areas produce coffee with a distinctive flavor, making it the renowned production area for the specialty coffee "Yirgacheffe." However, high-quality coffee from this area has long faced transportation difficulties. In March 2023, the 60-kilometer-long "Coffee Road" — the Cheko–Yirgacheffe road — was completed, connecting Yirgacheffe town with the Dilla town distribution center, shortening the previous 2-hour drive to 50 minutes and reducing the coffee bean loss rate to below 5%. According to reports, the average annual coffee freight volume on the Cheko–Yirgacheffe road has exceeded 15,000 tons, accounting for 80% of the total exports from the Yirgacheffe production area. Gizat Worku, General Manager of the Ethiopian Coffee Exporters Association, said: "The improvement of the roads enables our coffee to reach the world at a faster speed." The Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority stated that smooth roads have shortened the export cycle for coffee from the production area to 7 to 10 days, directly helping Ethiopia's coffee export value reach a historical peak last year.
"Injecting strong momentum into Ethiopia's sustainable development"
"When I first started working, I couldn't even do simple surveying. My Chinese master showed great patience, guiding my growth step by step from basic construction techniques to complex technical standards," said Tamiru, a local employee on the Iteya–Robi Road Upgrade Project. "I gradually mastered core technologies such as subgrade construction and pavement laying, and rose from an ordinary worker to an assistant engineer. I am full of confidence in participating in more national construction projects."
During project construction and maintenance, Chinese technical personnel provided one-on-one guidance to local employees. Over the years, they have trained a total of 230 local technical backbone personnel, of whom 12 have been promoted to foremen and 8 serve as site engineers. The Ethiopian branch of China Railway No. 3 Engineering Group has also jointly established a China–Ethiopia Infrastructure Skills Training Center with local institutions such as Adama Science and Technology University, creating an "education plus practice" training system and forming a skilled industrial workforce with a localization rate exceeding 85%. Liu Zhonghua, Africa Regional Representative of China Railway No. 3 Engineering Group, introduced that each project department conducts systematic training in safety, technology, and other areas for local employees through a combination of "classroom teaching and on-site practice," ensuring that local employees fully master construction techniques and standards.
Proactively building access roads for remote villages, assisting with flood rescue and relief immediately after heavy rain disasters, regularly carrying out "Walking with Love" community慰问 activities... Alongside project construction comes community co-building, allowing the people to feel the warmth of joint development.
With the support of Chinese enterprises, more road projects in Ethiopia, such as the Mieso–Dire Dawa Expressway and the southern Chida Road, are under construction and will further unleash local development vitality upon opening to traffic. Baru Demissie, Senior Advisor at the Ethiopian Policy Studies Institute, said: "By supporting the construction of Ethiopia's road network, China promotes industrial revitalization and improves people's livelihoods. It also shares professional technology and creates job opportunities through one project after another, injecting strong momentum into Ethiopia's sustainable development. This is another example of South-South cooperation."
By: 伊藤真
War is the gate leading to loss of control and destruction. We must 竭尽全力 (jié jìn quán lì - "use up one's full strength," spare no effort) to stop Japan from sliding toward this dangerous road and firmly hold the peace bottom line of Article 9 of the Constitution.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the promulgation of the Constitution of Japan. After its defeat in World War II, Japan passed this Constitution of Japan, known as the "Peace Constitution," in 1946. Article 9 clearly stipulates that Japan forever renounces the waging of war, does not recognize the state's right of belligerency, and does not maintain war potential, laying a solid rule-of-law foundation for postwar Japan to step onto the road of peaceful development. However, today, 80 years later, Japan's Liberal Democratic Party is going all out to advance the constitutional revision agenda, seeking to forge Japan into a so-called "normal country" (正常国家) that can proactively wage war. Does Article 9 of the Constitution really hinder Japan's security? Reviewing Japan's postwar development course, it is not difficult to reach the conclusion that pursuing non-military neutrality is the long-term way out that Japan should firmly adhere to.
Combing through Japan's modern history, the track of aggressive invasion runs through it from beginning to end. From the first invasion of China's Taiwan in 1874 to the defeat in World War II, over more than 70 years Japan frequently launched wars in the Asian region, inflicting profound disasters on the peoples of countries in the region. Over the more than 80 years since the end of the war, Japan has been able to maintain a situation of peaceful development; Article 9 of the Constitution is one of the core guarantees: adhering to the principle of "exclusively defense-oriented" (专守防卫), exercising only the right of individual self-defense, abiding by the "Three Non-Nuclear Principles" (无核三原则), strictly restricting the Self-Defense Forces' overseas operations over the long term, and keeping the ratio of defense spending to gross domestic product below 1 percent over the long term. But at present, this important foundation sustaining peace is steadily loosening.
As early as 2012, Japan's Liberal Democratic Party published a draft constitutional revision. To this day, far from being shelved, the relevant agenda has instead kept accelerating, and the posture of advancing it is growing increasingly radical. In 2022, the Japanese government revised the "three security documents" (安保三文件), declaring that Japan should possess "counterstrike capability" (反击能力), that is, "the capability to attack enemy bases," which in essence completely discarded the "exclusively defense-oriented" principle. In November last year, Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae openly stated in the Diet that a "Taiwan contingency" (台湾有事) could constitute a "survival-threatening situation" (存亡危机事态) for Japan. Extrapolating according to this logic, even if Japan has not been attacked, it can take the initiative to launch military strikes. This statement is extremely out of line. In April this year, Takaichi Sanae again stated at the Liberal Democratic Party convention that the "time has come" for constitutional revision, stressing that promoting constitutional revision is the LDP's 与生俱来 (yǔ shēng jù lái - "comes together with birth," inherent) mission.
Japan's current government, on the one hand, makes verbal statements opposing war, and on the other hand continuously seeks to strengthen military deterrence; the two are fundamentally unable to be logically self-consistent. The Japanese side claims that as long as it strengthens military deterrence, it can safeguard national security, and to this end it is wildly expanding its armaments and continuously breaking through the fetters of military policy. Wanting to rely on deterrence to maintain peace itself contains an internal contradiction that is difficult to resolve. The lessons of history and reality have repeatedly shown that no matter how much armaments are expanded, deterrence strategies carry the risk of failure and will in the end instead raise the probability of conflict breaking out. Once the flames of war are ignited, they are hard to bring to a close; countless ordinary people, especially women and children, will be the first to bear the brunt — 首当其冲 (shǒu dāng qí chōng - "first to bear the onslaught," to bear the brunt) — and become victims. War has never been a natural disaster; it is a choice made by human beings. Rather than continuously strengthening deterrence, expanding armaments, and preparing for war, it is better to proactively avoid the risk of war and eliminate the root causes of conflict.
What is worrying is that Japan is currently going farther and farther down the erroneous road of "remilitarization." Japan's current "three security documents" have long broken through the scope of mere "defense," and it is also attempting to further loosen relevant restrictions within this year. The entire set of documents has in essence already formed a complete plan for war operations, with the core goal of promoting the transformation of Japan's state form — from a peaceful state under the constitutional framework to a state that prioritizes military values. Japan's military spending continues to set new historical records; it is establishing a "National Intelligence Agency" (国家情报局), liberalizing the export of lethal weapons, incorporating civilian airports and ports into the scope of military requisition, and the rhetoric of relying on the military industry to drive the economy keeps rising. Blindly chasing "remilitarization" brings the Japanese people not security guarantees but heavier economic burdens and continuously rising war risks. War is the gate leading to loss of control and destruction. We must make every effort to stop Japan from sliding toward this dangerous road and firmly hold the peace bottom line of Article 9 of the Constitution.
The "Peace Constitution" carries the ideal of peace. Safeguarding the peaceful character of Japan's constitution requires the joint efforts of all Japanese people. The world can change, and Japan can likewise make the correct choice. Pushing Japan back onto the correct track of peaceful development is the responsibility that the Japanese people should shoulder at the present moment.
(The author is director of the Constitutional Research Institute of the Japan Academy of Law (日本法学馆宪法研究所) and a lawyer.)
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 尚凯元
"The scale, coordination methods, and implementation pathways of China's science popularization system have their own characteristics, and its experience in institutional development, social mobilization, and public participation can provide inspiration for other countries." David Gosset, founder of the China-Europe-America Global Initiative and a French sinologist, said recently in an interview with our reporter.
Co-sponsored by the China Science Writers Association and the China Science and Technology Development Foundation, among others, the release conference for the report China's Science Popularization Undertaking and the Construction of an Innovative Society was recently held in Paris, France, with Gosset as the report's author. He conducted an in-depth review of the institutional foundations of China's science popularization system and believes that China has incorporated science popularization into legal provisions, administrative coordination, fiscal arrangements, and national development strategies, forming a network jointly participated in by government departments, schools, scientific research institutions, science and technology venues, media, enterprises, and social organizations. In his view, the most distinctive feature of this system is its systematic nature — science popularization is not a marginal or stage-based activity, but a public policy integrated into China's long-term national development strategy. "These institutional arrangements embody a development philosophy: science and technology are regarded as resources shared by the whole society and the foundation of national modernization," Gosset said.
Data show that China's annual funding investment in science popularization work has exceeded 20 billion yuan, and in 2024 the country had 1,890 science and technology museums and science and technology-themed museums nationwide, held more than one million science popularization (technology) lectures, and the scientific literacy of citizens has continued to improve. Gosset said: "In China, science popularization does not merely mean disseminating scientific knowledge, but aims to improve citizens' scientific literacy, encourage public participation in innovation, and foster a social environment conducive to technological change."
Gosset believes that Chinese society has a strong capacity to accept and adapt to new technologies, and that the public can embrace new technologies such as mobile payment, artificial intelligence, electric vehicles, and robots at an extremely fast pace. He said: "Innovation depends not only on researchers, but also on whether the public understands, trusts, and is willing to use new technologies. Through use, feedback, and adaptation, the public becomes a participant in the innovation process. This open attitude toward change is an important advantage of China's innovation ecosystem."
In recent years, digital platforms such as short videos, live streaming, and knowledge communities have further expanded the social coverage of China's science popularization work and improved its dissemination efficiency. In 2026, two Chinese mathematicians won the Fields Medal, and highly abstract mathematical problems such as the three-dimensional Kakeya conjecture quickly became hot topics in online science popularization. Gosset believes this phenomenon shows that basic science is being understood by more and more Chinese people, rather than being exclusive to professionals. Research institutions, scholars, media, and digital platforms collaborate with one another, enabling even complex scientific questions to enter the public sphere.
"China attaches importance to results-oriented research and applied innovation, and has further increased investment in basic research and scientific culture." Gosset said that the growth of top-tier talent depends on a complete scientific ecosystem, including sound basic education, long-term stable research support, open international exchange, and society-wide respect for the value of science. "An individual's scientific achievements are never isolated; they are always a reflection of the collective scientific culture."
In China, scientific culture also enters public life through vehicles such as literature, film and television, and games. Gosset is particularly fond of Liu Cixin's The Three-Body Problem. In his view, Chinese science fiction has become an important part of contemporary culture. Science fiction culture is not merely a concomitant phenomenon of scientific and technological progress; it can also expand the public's imagination of the future, stimulate young people's curiosity about science, and foster a social atmosphere that encourages innovation, "just like the role Jules Verne played in France during the Industrial Revolution of the 19th century."
"Studying China's science popularization undertaking allows the international community to see a dimension that is often overlooked: what China hopes to build is not only a strong country in science and technology, but also a knowledge-based society." Gosset said that Chinese-style modernization is reflected not only in visible achievements such as complete infrastructure, industrial upgrading, and scientific and technological breakthroughs, but is also built on the deep foundations of universal education, knowledge dissemination, and human capital accumulation. In the process of modernization, Chinese civilization — an ancient yet vibrant civilization — "is working together with other civilizations to contribute to the progress of all humanity."
Return to TopOur newspaper Cairo, August 18 (Reporters Huang Peizhao (黄培昭), Shen Xiaoxiao (沈小晓)) — The "Export to China" Egypt special event was held on the 17th in Cairo, the capital of Egypt. Chinese and Egyptian enterprises signed multiple trade agreements at the event, with total contract value nearing US$170 million.
Sayed Fouad, Director of the Asian Affairs Department of the Egyptian Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade, thanked the Chinese side for holding the "Export to China" special event in Egypt. He stated that the Egyptian side is willing to establish longer-term cooperation with the Chinese side, strengthen economic and trade exchanges, and promote better development of bilateral economic and trade relations.
Mohamed Kassem, Chairman of the Egyptian Exporters Association, expressed hope that Chinese and Egyptian enterprises would establish a regular exchange mechanism, and stated that Egyptian enterprises should gain an in-depth understanding of Chinese market demand and sales channels in order to achieve more economic and trade cooperation results.
Chang Hui (常晖), Second-Level Inspector of the Foreign Trade Department of China's Ministry of Commerce (商务部), stated that the "Export to China" Egypt special event is the first stop of the "Export to China" series of activities entering African countries. Holding the "Export to China" series of matchmaking activities is a vivid practice of China expanding high-level opening up and promoting balanced trade development, and is also an innovative measure to share development dividends with various trading partners and firmly uphold the multilateral trading system and free trade.
This "Export to China" Egypt special event was organized by the Trade Development Bureau of China's Ministry of Commerce (商务部外贸发展事务局) and the Egyptian Exporters Association. Approximately 170 representatives from the political and business communities of the two countries and entrepreneurs attended the event.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 时元皓
Santo Domingo is the capital of Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas Province in northwestern Ecuador and an important regional economic center. For decades, the problem of scarce domestic water has plagued local residents. Not long ago, with the Santo Domingo water supply project undertaken by PowerChina put into use, 500,000 local residents gained stable, safe, and clean domestic water.
For a long time, Santo Domingo's water supply depended on a water treatment plant on the nearby Lelia River. Because the plant's treatment capacity was limited, the city could only supply water by district and on a limited-time basis, and the stability of the water supply was also affected by multiple factors such as climate. "In the past, my neighbors and I often had to buy water from other places; a truckload of water cost 30 dollars, which was no small expense," said local resident Ruperto Zamora.
As a key local livelihood project, the Santo Domingo water supply project has a total investment of more than 23 million U.S. dollars. Construction began in February 2021, and it was officially put into use in May this year. Chinese enterprises built a new water intake project near the Otongo River in the south of Santo Domingo, with water supply facilities such as transmission pipelines, distribution pumping stations, water purification plants, and booster pumping stations — 一应俱全 (yī yìng jù quán - "all present in full," complete with everything needed) — comprehensively making up for the shortcomings in the local water supply and adding approximately 500 liters per second of drinking water production capacity for the city.
"We are well aware that many families have long been 翘首以盼 (qiáo shǒu yǐ pàn - "raise the head to await," to eagerly look forward to something), hoping that this important project concerning people's livelihood would be completed and put into operation as soon as possible," Ecuadorian President Noboa said at the inauguration ceremony.
The implementation of the livelihood project has brought local people a sense of happiness. "Now we have water available every day and don't need to spend more money to buy water," Zamora said. With the water supply project smoothly completed and put into use, everyone can use clean tap water without interruption. "Our living conditions have been genuinely improved."
Carlos Rivera, president of the Development Bank of Ecuador, said that Chinese enterprises fully leveraged their advantages of solid professional technology and mature project management, efficiently advanced all construction work, and played a 至关重要 (zhì guān zhòng yào - "of utmost importance," crucial) role in the smooth implementation of the project.
The Santo Domingo water supply project is an important achievement of China and Ecuador deepening practical cooperation in the field of infrastructure. Zhang Tailei (张太磊), the Chinese project manager, said that after the project was put into operation, the stability of the local water supply has greatly improved, providing infrastructure support for urban construction and the development of livelihood undertakings.
Return to TopXinhua News Agency, London, August 17 — A report released by the University of Manchester on the 17th said that China's large-scale support for green industries has lowered the costs of technologies such as batteries, electric vehicles, and solar power, making these technologies more accessible and providing important impetus for the global transition to a low-carbon economy.
The report was led by researchers at the university. The report said that China holds a leading position in technology fields needed for the green transition, including solar power, wind power, batteries, hydrogen energy, and electric vehicles. Since the beginning of this century, China has supported the development of green industries through multiple measures, cultivated related domestic demand, and driven declines in the cost of related technologies and increases in their accessibility.
The report holds that in green industry fields represented by batteries, electric vehicles, and solar power, China's industrial development is in fact providing support for the global green transition. Access to affordable green technology is crucial to achieving climate goals, and all countries should place more attention on cooperation.
The report recommends that the United Kingdom deepen cooperation with China in the field of green technology. The report points out that green technology cooperation provides an important opportunity for elevating the China-UK relationship.
Comrade Zhu Rongji, an outstanding member of the Communist Party of China, a long-tested loyal communist fighter, an outstanding proletarian revolutionary and statesman, a distinguished leader of the Party and the state, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the 14th and 15th CPC Central Committees, and former Premier of the State Council, passed away in Beijing at 11:06 on August 12, 2026, due to illness despite medical treatment, at the age of 98.
Comrade Zhu Rongji was born on October 23, 1928, in Changsha, Hunan. He joined revolutionary work in December 1948 and joined the Communist Party of China in October 1949. In his youth, he loved the motherland, was diligent and eager to learn, pursued progress, and was determined to serve the country. From 1947 to 1951, he studied in the Electrical Machinery Manufacturing specialty of the Department of Electrical Engineering at Tsinghua University and participated in the "New Democratic Youth League." From 1951 to 1952, he served as deputy director of the Production Planning Office of the Planning Division of the Northeast Industrial Department. From 1952 to 1958, he successively served as group leader in the Fuel and Power Bureau and the Comprehensive Bureau of the State Planning Commission, deputy division chief of the Office of the Chairman of the State Planning Commission, and deputy division chief of the Comprehensive Division of the Machinery Bureau of the State Planning Commission. From 1958 to 1969, he served successively as a teacher at the State Planning Commission Cadre Spare-time School and as an engineer in the Comprehensive Bureau of the National Economy. From 1970 to 1975, he was sent down to labor at the State Planning Commission "May 7th" Cadre School (五七干校). From 1975 to 1979, he served successively as deputy director of the General Office and deputy chief engineer of the Electric Power and Communications Engineering Company of the Pipeline Bureau of the Ministry of Petroleum Industry, and as office director of the Institute of Industrial Economics of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. From 1979 to 1983, he served successively as division chief of the Fuel and Power Bureau, deputy director of the Comprehensive Bureau, director of the Technical Transformation Bureau of the State Economic Commission, and member of the State Economic Commission. From 1983 to 1987, he served successively as vice chairman and member of the Party Group of the State Economic Commission, and vice chairman and deputy secretary of the Party Group of the State Economic Commission. He proposed that the management functions of national economic management departments regarding enterprise technological progress should complete "three transformations": from mainly investment support to mainly policy support, from mainly mandatory planning to mainly guidance planning, from mainly administrative means to mainly economic and legal means, shifting the work focus to formulating plans, policies, regulations, and organizing coordination, inspection and supervision, so as to strengthen macro-management; in foreign trade, it was necessary to adhere to the principle of combining technology introduction with trade expansion, and intensify enterprise technological transformation.
From December 1987 to April 1991, Comrade Zhu Rongji served successively as deputy secretary of the Shanghai Municipal Party Committee, mayor, and secretary of the Shanghai Municipal Party Committee. He emphasized that, facing the dual challenges of international and domestic economic competition, Shanghai's fundamental way out was to resolutely adjust the industrial structure, reorganize new development advantages, enhance international competitiveness, take the path of developing an export-oriented economy, utilize international economic resources, and strive for greater development space. He steadily advanced the adjustment and upgrading of Shanghai's industrial structure, developed deep-processing, knowledge- and technology-intensive leading industries and key sectors, transformed traditional industries with new technologies, strengthened the construction of raw materials industries, enhanced industrial coordination and supporting capabilities, and pushed Shanghai to take solid steps on the path of transformation and development. He paid attention to invigorating Shanghai's local state-owned enterprises, guiding enterprises to shift from product economy concepts to commodity economy concepts, from inward-oriented management thinking to outward-oriented management thinking, introducing competition mechanisms, implementing the contract management responsibility system, and truly enabling enterprises to assume sole responsibility for their own profits and losses and improve economic efficiency. He made great efforts to strengthen quality management, emphasizing that quality is life and quality is efficiency, fully leveraging Shanghai's scientific and technological and talent advantages, developing new products and new varieties, and taking the path of superior quality at superior prices. He attached importance to the opening and development of the financial industry, actively introduced foreign-funded banks and foreign-funded insurance companies, and promoted the establishment of the Shanghai Stock Exchange. He accelerated the construction of transportation-centered infrastructure, building Shanghai's hub-type, functional, and networked modern urban infrastructure system. He vigorously promoted housing system reform, took the lead in implementing the housing provident fund system nationwide, put forward the overall concept of renovating Shanghai's old urban areas and shantytowns, and provided important experience for housing commercialization reform and strengthening housing security work. He paid close attention to the "Vegetable Basket Project" (菜篮子工程), implemented the "one-stop" reform of production, supply, and marketing, and pushed Shanghai to initially form a modernized non-staple food production, purchase, and sales system. He raised the level of urban management, improved government efficiency, optimized the investment environment, and established Shanghai's image as an international city. He implemented the major strategic decision of the Party Central Committee on the development and opening of Pudong, researched and introduced a series of policy measures that both reflected Pudong's characteristics and were operable, and pushed the development and opening of Pudong into the substantive launch stage. Through actively promoting reform and opening up, making great efforts to improve people's livelihood, and stabilizing and developing the economy, he brought about major changes in the city's economic and social landscape in a relatively short period, laying a solid foundation for Shanghai's further reform, opening up, and development.
In April 1991, Comrade Zhu Rongji was appointed Vice Premier of the State Council, and later concurrently served as director and Party secretary of the State Council Production Office, director and Party secretary of the State Council Economic and Trade Office, in charge of machinery, electronics, energy, railways, transportation, metallurgy, chemicals, light industry, textiles, and other work. In October 1992, Comrade Zhu Rongji was elected as a member of the Political Bureau and the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau at the First Plenary Session of the 14th CPC Central Committee, in charge of the day-to-day work of the State Council. In June 1993, he concurrently served as Governor of the People's Bank of China. He actively publicized and implemented the spirit of Comrade Deng Xiaoping's southern tour talks, implemented the spirit of the 14th CPC National Congress, and made great efforts to promote reform, opening up, and modernization. He resolutely implemented the central government's guiding ideology and policies for economic work, correctly handled the relationship among reform, development, and stability, made great efforts to improve the quality and efficiency of economic growth, and overcame the tendency to blindly expand projects and one-sidedly pursue output value and speed. In response to the problems of excessively rapid investment growth, excessively fast industrial production growth, and the "development zone fever," "real estate fever," and "stock fever" that appeared at one time, he researched and formulated ideas and measures for strengthening and improving macro-control, used more economic and legal means to regulate economic operations, and did a large amount of effective work to reverse economic overheating, curb inflation, and achieve a "soft landing." He organized the clearing of "triangular debt" (三角债), based on addressing the root causes, adopted measures such as limiting production and reducing inventory and the "dual linkage of loan compression" (压贷双挂钩), basically curbed the trend of debts being cleared then re-accumulating, and enhanced the vitality of enterprises. He made great efforts to rectify fiscal and tax order, strictly enforce financial discipline, strengthen tax collection and management, accelerate fiscal and tax reform, strictly control tax reductions and exemptions and fiscal expenditures, strictly implement fiscal budgets, and carry out work to increase production and practice economy and increase revenue and reduce expenditure. He improved the financial regulation system, promoted the transformation from direct regulation using loan scale to indirect regulation using interest rates, open market operations, and deposit reserves, realized the convertibility of the Renminbi under the current account, implemented a single, managed floating exchange rate system based on market supply and demand, strengthened securities and futures market supervision, and regulated financial order. He promoted the reform of grain pricing and purchase and marketing systems, established a grain purchase and marketing system that meets the requirements of the socialist market economy, is convenient for purchase and sale, and flexible in dispatch, narrowed the price scissors between industrial and agricultural products, protected farmers' enthusiasm for growing grain, and stabilized grain production and supply. He reformed the circulation system for agricultural production materials, stabilized the price level of chemical fertilizers and other agricultural materials, fully leveraged the main channel role of supply and marketing cooperatives, and did a good job in rural market supply. On the basis of farmers' voluntariness, he implemented large-grain-grower contracting and developed moderate-scale operations, vigorously developed the socialized agricultural production service system, and gave more support to large grain growers.
In September 1997, Comrade Zhu Rongji was re-elected as a member of the Political Bureau and the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau at the First Plenary Session of the 15th CPC Central Committee. In March 1998, at the First Session of the Ninth National People's Congress, he was appointed Premier of the State Council, and later served as secretary of the Party Group of the State Council. Facing the impact of the Asian financial crisis and the severe domestic flood disaster, he, in accordance with the decisions and arrangements of the Party Central Committee, correctly grasped the direction and intensity of macro-control, shifted from implementing a moderately tight fiscal policy and monetary policy to implementing a proactive fiscal policy and a prudent monetary policy, made great efforts to expand domestic demand, curb the deflationary trend, deepen reforms in key areas, maintained stable and rapid economic growth, safeguarded the overall stability of society, significantly improved people's lives, and continuously enhanced China's international standing. He comprehensively adjusted the industrial structure, regional structure, and urban-rural structure, strengthened infrastructure construction, vigorously developed high-tech industries, especially the information industry, transformed and upgraded traditional industries, actively supported the accelerated development of the modern service industry, strengthened product quality management, and made great efforts to improve the quality and efficiency of economic growth. He placed the resolution of the "three rural issues" (agriculture, rural areas, and farmers) in a prominent position, promoted agricultural structural adjustment in accordance with local conditions, increased investment in the management of major rivers, lakes, and large water systems, rural power grid transformation, and national grain reserve warehouse construction, strengthened rural poverty alleviation and development, implemented the reform of converting rural administrative fees into taxes (费改税) and reforms of township institutions and county-township fiscal systems, ensured the reduction of farmers' burdens and increase of their incomes, and promoted coordinated urban-rural development. He adopted a series of policy measures to expand opening up and encourage exports, adhered to the non-devaluation of the Renminbi, implemented the market diversification strategy and the strategy of winning by quality, intensified the fight against smuggling, actively attracted foreign investment, participated in international economic and technological cooperation and competition, and made better use of both domestic and international markets and resources. He resolutely supported the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in maintaining the linked exchange rate system, consolidating its status as an international financial center, and stabilizing confidence in all sectors, enabling Hong Kong's economy to recover rapidly and withstand severe tests. He adhered to the path of sustainable development, intensified ecological environment protection and construction, implemented large-scale returning farmland to lakes in the Yangtze River basin through measures such as breaking dikes for flood discharge and relocating residents to build new towns, strengthened the management of land, mineral, freshwater, marine, and biological resources, concentrated efforts on controlling pollution in key river basins and regions, strengthened environmental infrastructure construction, and promoted coordination between economic development and population, resources, and the environment. He always maintained a high degree of concern for the vital interests of the people, continuously improved public services, improved people's health, increased urban and rural residents' incomes, made great efforts to solve problems such as arrears of workers' wages and reemployment of laid-off workers, strengthened comprehensive management of public security, and established a work safety responsibility system. He deeply transformed government functions, promoted government institutional reform, implemented a relatively large-scale State Council institutional reform plan, further reorganized comprehensive economic departments into macro-control departments, adjusted and reduced specialized economic departments, strengthened the functions of market supervision and law enforcement departments, and changed the government institutional framework that had long been formed under the planned economy system. He made great efforts to strengthen government self-construction, continuously raised the level of law-based administration, changed working methods and work styles, and enhanced the transparency of government work.
After becoming Premier of the State Council, Comrade Zhu Rongji also concurrently served as director of the Central Special Committee, director of the State Commission for Restructuring the Economic System, head of the National Science, Technology and Education Leading Group, director of the Three Gorges Project Construction Committee of the State Council, director of the National Defense Mobilization Commission, and head of the State Council Leading Group for Western Development, devoting tremendous effort to economic system reform, science and technology, education, western development, and the defense industry. He adhered to the strategies of rejuvenating the country through science and education and strengthening the country through talent development, increased investment in science, technology, and education, improved the national science and technology evaluation system and reward system, initially established effective mechanisms for the transformation and industrialization of scientific and technological achievements, optimized institutional measures for talent cultivation, introduction, and use, and continuously improved the capacity for scientific and technological innovation and the quality of the people. He promoted the implementation of the western development strategy, actively developed distinctive economies and advantageous industries, strengthened economic exchange and cooperation among the eastern, central, and western regions, and successively organized and implemented a number of major engineering projects such as the West-to-East Power Transmission, the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, and the West-to-East Gas Transmission, effectively promoting economic development and social progress in the western region.
During the period when Comrade Zhu Rongji served as Vice Premier and Premier of the State Council, China was in a critical period of transition from the planned economic system to the socialist market economic system. Under the strong leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Jiang Zemin at its core, he organized and implemented a series of major reforms and promoted the establishment of the basic framework of the socialist market economic system. He presided over fiscal and tax system reform, comprehensively implemented a major tax reform centered on fair tax burden and simplified tax system, implemented a tax-sharing fiscal system based on the reasonable division of powers between the central and local governments, established central tax and local tax systems, implemented a turnover tax system with value-added tax as the mainstay and business tax and consumption tax as supplements, consolidated and integrated income taxes, and effectively enhanced the government's capacity for macro-control and provision of basic public services. He actively promoted financial system reform, further standardized the functions of the central bank, strengthened financial supervision, promoted the transformation of state specialized banks into commercial banks, established policy banks, organized the establishment of urban cooperative banks in large and medium-sized cities where conditions permitted, and promoted the establishment of a nationally unified, open, orderly competitive, and strictly managed financial market system. He took the reform of state-owned enterprises as the central link of economic system reform, accelerated the establishment of a modern enterprise system in accordance with the requirements of "clear property rights, clear rights and responsibilities, separation of government and enterprise, and scientific management," strategically adjusted the layout of the state-owned economy and reorganized state-owned enterprises, reduced the burden and historical baggage of enterprises through measures such as debt-to-equity swaps, raised the level of modern enterprise management, basically achieved the three-year reform and turnaround goals for state-owned enterprises, and enabled the state-owned economy to better play its leading role in the national economy. He promoted the establishment of a unified, standardized, and complete social security system framework, gradually established the "three guarantee lines" system of basic livelihood security for laid-off workers from state-owned enterprises, unemployment insurance, and minimum livelihood security for urban residents, required that the basic living allowances for laid-off workers from state-owned enterprises be paid in full and on time without any discount, and that basic pensions for retired enterprise personnel be paid in full and on time, made every possible effort to promote reemployment of laid-off and unemployed workers, deepened the reform of basic old-age insurance, basic medical insurance, and the medical and health system for urban workers, and provided strong support for maintaining social stability and promoting economic development. He solidly promoted housing system reform, gradually implemented the monetization of housing distribution, established and improved a multi-level urban housing supply system, and accelerated the resolution of housing problems for urban residents with housing difficulties. He continuously deepened the reform of the grain circulation system, implemented the purchase of surplus grain from farmers at protective prices without limit, the sale of grain at profitable prices by state-owned grain purchase and marketing enterprises, and the closed operation of grain purchase funds, and gradually opened up the grain purchase market and prices in major grain-consuming areas. He presided over the completion of the arduous negotiations for China's accession to the World Trade Organization, promoted the expansion of opening up in breadth and depth, won broader development space for China, and had a profound impact on promoting economic system reform and modernization.
Comrade Zhu Rongji was full of deep affection for the people, always kept the people's hardships in his heart, and emphasized that government workers must remember that they are public servants of the people and must not seek special privileges. He put forward a "three-point covenant" (约法三章) regarding domestic inspections, streamlining meetings, and participation in routine activities. He was realistic and pragmatic, enterprising and pioneering, dared to speak the truth, was not afraid of offending people, took on heavy burdens and gnawed at hard bones with a strong sense of responsibility, and devoted all his efforts to pursuing the interests of the people and doing practical things for them. He paid attention to investigation and research, was good at listening to the voices of the masses, mobilized and brought into play the initiative of all sides, personally went to the front line on many occasions to direct and command flood fighting and disaster relief work, emphasized that ensuring the safety of people's lives must be placed first, and made every effort to reduce losses. He donated all proceeds from his book publications to poverty alleviation, disaster relief, and education support, providing assistance to students in rural compulsory education schools and students with special difficulties.
In March 2003, Comrade Zhu Rongji no longer served as Premier of the State Council. After retiring from leadership positions, he resolutely supported and upheld the Party Central Committee with Comrade Hu Jintao as General Secretary. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, he has resolutely supported and upheld the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, has always cared about the great cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and firmly supported the construction of Party conduct and clean government and the fight against corruption.
Comrade Zhu Rongji was an alternate member of the 13th CPC Central Committee and a member of the 14th and 15th CPC Central Committees, a member of the Political Bureau and the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau.
In his revolutionary career of more than 70 years, Comrade Zhu Rongji was always loyal to the Party, loyal to the people, and loyal to the cause of communism. He had firm communist ideals and convictions and strong Party spirit, was politically minded and considered the overall situation, always placed the interests of the Party and the people first, and worked conscientiously and unremittingly for the cause of the Party and the people. He earnestly studied Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, the important thought of Three Represents, and the Scientific Outlook on Development, deeply studied and implemented Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, resolutely implemented the Party's line, principles, and policies, and unswervingly maintained a high degree of consistency with the Party Central Committee in thought, politics, and action. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, he has firmly established the political consciousness, the consciousness of the overall situation, the core consciousness, and the consciousness of alignment, resolutely safeguarded General Secretary Xi Jinping's core position in the Party Central Committee and the Party as a whole, and resolutely safeguarded the authority and centralized, unified leadership of the Party Central Committee. He adhered to seeking truth from facts and proceeding from reality in everything, creatively applied the Marxist stand, viewpoint, and method to analyze problems, solve problems, guide practice, and promote work. He adhered to truth and principles, had a strong political acumen and political discernment, took a clear-cut stand on major issues of right and wrong, and truly achieved loyalty to the Party, sharing the Party's concerns, fulfilling duties for the Party, and benefiting the people. He was diligent in self-cultivation, strict with himself, honest and clean, open and aboveboard (光明磊落, guāng míng lěi luò - "bright and open," open and aboveboard), strict with his family members and staff around him, resolutely opposed corrupt practices and unhealthy tendencies, and always maintained the political character of a Communist. He respected knowledge and talent, cared about comrades and cherished cadres, and was deeply respected and loved by the broad masses of cadres and the people.
Comrade Zhu Rongji's life was a life of revolution, a life of struggle, a glorious life, a life of serving the people wholeheartedly and devoting himself to the cause of communism. His passing is a great loss to the Party and the state. We must turn grief into strength, learn from his revolutionary spirit, noble character, and fine work style, unite more closely around the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, hold high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics, fully implement Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, deeply understand the decisive significance of the "Two Establishments," strengthen the "Four Consciousnesses," firm up the "Four Confidences," and achieve the "Two Upholds," strengthen confidence and unite as one (同心同德, tóng xīn tóng dé - "one heart, one virtue," united in purpose), and strive together for comprehensively advancing the building of a strong country and the great cause of national rejuvenation through Chinese-style modernization.
Comrade Zhu Rongji will live forever!
(Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, August 18)
Return to TopBy: 尹双红
Clarify the problems, see the direction clearly. Prescribe the right remedy and take steady steps, and you are sure to achieve a good life.
After a friend finished a temporary posting at the grassroots level, he shared a story. The village carried out improvement of the living environment and set up centralized garbage drop-off points, but there were always villagers who secretly dumped garbage by the roadside. The villagers' complaints contained the crux of the problem: "Throwing away garbage means walking that far. You young people can manage the walk, but can the elderly who are advanced in years manage it?"
Later, the village increased the number of garbage bin points, and also collected garbage door-to-door at fixed times every day, and greened both sides of the roads. After dinner, when the villagers went for a stroll, they could toss their garbage at the designated spots while walking.
My friend sighed, "Sometimes when the masses are uncooperative, it is actually because the work is not being done responsibly, and people only think about quickly 'completing' the task to hand it in."
The grassroots level is the last mile for serving the masses, and also the last mile for the implementation of policies. Working in this position means bearing both the trust of the organization and the expectations of the people. One must unify responsibility to superiors with responsibility to subordinates. Only by "having a clear picture in mind, having strategies in hand, and taking vigorous action" can one truly produce solid achievements that stand up to testing.
Having a clear picture in mind means ascertaining the actual situation. One must be good at looking upward, understanding both the what and the why of the Party's principles and policies; one must also be diligent in looking downward, asking the people about their needs and seeking advice from the people, grasping what the masses are thinking and hoping for, and ascertaining the actual conditions of regional development.
In 1982, the Central Committee issued Document No. 1, proposing that fixing output quotas to households and fixing output quotas to individual households were both "production responsibility systems of the socialist collective economy." Although at that time in Hebei "the province had no directive and the prefecture had no arrangement," Comrade Xi Jinping, then deputy secretary of the Zhengding County Party Committee, strongly advocated piloting the "big contract" (大包干) system, and that year the agricultural output value of Lishuangdian Commune doubled.
Behind the courage to be the first lies a deep understanding of the Central Committee's principles and policies, as well as a full grasp of the county's agricultural realities and the voices and wishes of the masses. Only in this way can one do a complete and unswerving job of implementing work, guarding the turf one is responsible for, and fulfilling the duties of that turf.
With strategies in hand, work can be done right on target. Sometimes, when faced with intractable problems, instead of working behind closed doors, it is better to go out and explore the road, learn from the approaches of advanced regions, and borrow from the solutions of similar regions. Once one's horizons are broadened, one's thinking becomes flexible, and countermeasures emerge.
Before Comrade Xi Jinping promoted the "big contract" system in Zhengding, he specially wrote letters of introduction and sent cadres to Xiaogang Village in Fengyang, Anhui, to experience the changes and development, learn relevant experience, and bring back all the good methods. Before building biogas digesters in Liangjiahe, Shaanxi, he also went in person to Sichuan to investigate and "seek the scriptures," and after returning, successfully lit the first biogas lamp on the northern Shaanxi plateau... Looking in all directions, humbly seeking advice, digesting, absorbing, and then innovating — this often allows one to avoid detours and climb higher by borrowing strength.
Only by finding the right place to make a move in development can one open up room for growth. Zhuozhou, Hebei, benchmarks Beijing's urban planning, compiles industrial investment attraction maps, and visits enterprises in Beijing at a frequency of at least once a week. Last year, it attracted a cumulative total of 61 projects from Beijing, with a planned investment of 9.82 billion yuan. Anlu, Hubei, keeps a close watch on project trends in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai. When it learned that Meigao Electric planned to move out of Zhejiang, it quickly organized a special team to connect, and signed the contract in less than three months. By seeking new tracks and opportunities in coordinated regional development, even a "passing wind" can bring "landing rain."
With a well-thought-out plan, action is vigorous. What counts as vigorous? It means both seeking truth from facts and adapting measures to local conditions, finding a development path that fits reality, and also doing one's utmost and persevering, continuing firmly once one has set one's sights on something.
There is a saying that Min Hongyan, secretary of the Party committee of Yanhe Village, Gucheng County, Hubei, often mentions: "Don't seek achievements for the moment; pursue long-term, sustainable ones!" More than 30 years ago, Yanhe Village had "bare mountains and worried people." He proposed planting tea, and some villagers did not understand. Min Hongyan did not argue; he took the lead and did it. More than 30 years later, the barren mountains have become tea gardens, the poor village has become a national 4A-level tourist attraction, village collective assets exceed 200 million yuan, and the average annual per capita income of villagers is around 40,000 yuan.
Having recognized the path of planting tea, this is finding a way out based on reality; knowing that a poor mountain village cannot become fat in one bite, and therefore continuing to exert effort, this is persevering for the long haul. Not seeking temporary glory, but adhering to a long-term approach, yields lifelong results. If one follows through on every matter to the end, handles one matter after another, and works year after year, moving forward in small quick steps with unremitting effort, then there is no goal that cannot be achieved.
In 2006, Comrade Xi Jinping, then secretary of the Zhejiang Provincial Party Committee, wrote an article pointing out that "being responsible to the Party is being responsible to the people; being responsible to the people is being responsible to the Party. The two are unified in being highly responsible to the cause of the Party and the people."
We might as well ask ourselves several questions: "Are we busy with things completely unrelated to the Party's fundamental purpose? Are we wholeheartedly doing things for the people? Are we working around the central tasks of the Party and the state? Do we think more about whether the things we do are what the Party and the people need us to do?"
Clarify the problems, see the direction clearly. Prescribe the right remedy and take steady steps, and you are sure to achieve a good life.
(This series of commentaries concludes here.)
Return to TopBy: 郝迎灿
"Thanks to the merger of the two development zones, services have not been interrupted and procedures are more efficient. We are now busy handling construction formalities, and the project can start soon." In Taian County, Liaoning, the deputy general manager of a food company told a reporter about its new investment.
The company is located in the Taian High-Tech Agricultural Development Zone. In the past, due to the zone's planning restrictions, new projects could not be launched. At the beginning of this year, the High-Tech Agricultural Development Zone was merged into the Taian Economic Development Zone, and the idle land of the economic development zone gave the project room to land, and the company finally got what it wanted.
Why merge the development zones? Multiple zones in one county, homogeneous industries, and "involution" in investment attraction; some development zones took on social affairs such as people's livelihoods and comprehensive governance, with misplaced functions and bloated institutions; some development zones carried heavy debt burdens and faced considerable fiscal pressure... These "growing pains" once limited the pace of development.
"Development must have a certain speed, but must pay more attention to quality and efficiency"; "If one cannot see or is even unwilling to acknowledge new changes, new situations, and new problems, and still thinks about the old extensive high-speed development, accustomed to spreading out projects and launching initiatives, one will fall behind the times"... Thoroughly studying and implementing General Secretary Xi Jinping's important speech spirit, establishing and practicing a correct view of political achievements, Liaoning has "resolutely merged and abolished, showing no leniency" toward provincial-level economic development zones with poor growth prospects, fiscal deficits, and unreasonable planning layouts, using reform to revitalize the development zones. Since last year, Liaoning has merged and abolished provincial-level economic development zones in two batches, 49 in total, a reduction of more than 50%.
Grasping the "subtraction" and "addition," slimming down and strengthening the body to calibrate the direction of development. For a period of time, some places were accustomed to judging by quantity and scale, keen on "spreading out projects and launching initiatives" to create visible achievements, causing many development zones to fall into the misconception of "emphasizing establishment over operation, emphasizing investment attraction over cultivation." While the number of provincial-level economic development zones in Liaoning decreased, 54 provincial-level and above development zones剥离了 education, sanitation, and other social functions, internal institutions were streamlined by 13.3%, and the proportion of investment attraction and service institutions rose to 83.1%. While vigorously merging and consolidating, and clarifying primary responsibilities and main businesses, large numbers of cadres have devoted their main energy to the front lines of project introduction, enterprise assistance, and industrial cultivation. Slimming down is for strengthening; between increase and decrease, a profound shift in development philosophy and achievement orientation is reflected.
Coordinating the "one domain" with the "whole picture," differentiated competition shapes new development advantages. To avoid "involutionary" competition, one must establish a concept of playing as one chessboard, insisting on coordinated development and differentiated development. Shenyang and Dalian anchor on integrated circuits, equipment manufacturing, high-end biomedicine, and so on, building highlands for scientific and technological innovation; Anshan, Benxi, and other places coordinate the steel and deep-processing industries, extending the advantage chain of heavy industry; coastal areas focus on deploying port-adjacent characteristic industries such as shipbuilding, fine chemicals, and cross-border logistics, activating the window of opening up. Based on industrial advantages, identifying the main track of competition, resolving regional homogeneous competition through differentiated layout, relying on upstream and downstream industrial chain complementarity to gather cluster development momentum, the industrial foundation for revitalization is being consolidated.
Coordinating the "present" with the "long term," solving current pain points while also laying a solid long-term foundation. In response to weak innovation capacity, promoting development zones and universities and research institutes to jointly build pilot test bases and concept verification centers, establishing industry-university-research collaborative innovation platforms; in response to shortcomings in the business environment, comprehensively implementing the reforms of "land acquisition means immediate commencement" and "standard land + commitment system," greatly compressing the time for enterprise establishment; in response to deviations in the assessment baton, establishing an evaluation system centered on per-mu benefits, R&D investment, and green and low-carbon development, promoting development zones to shift from "competing on policies" to "competing on services" and "competing on ecosystems." From slimming down and strengthening to differentiated development, from solving immediate problems to planning long-term layouts, when the view of political achievements is correct and the view of development is on the right track, development with efficiency, quality, and sustainability can be achieved.
During the interview, a grassroots cadre said: "In the past, we compared who built taller buildings; now we compare who can retain enterprises and who has stronger development momentum." Persisting in arming the mind with the Party's innovative theory, guiding practice, adapting measures to local conditions, highlighting characteristics, the momentum toward new development is stronger and the track is broader.
(The author is a reporter for this newspaper's Liaoning branch.)
Return to TopBy: 王 可
【Phenomenon】 Carbon dioxide—can it also be used for "heating"? In May this year, China's first CO2 geothermal energy project was put into operation in Zhengzhou, Henan. A 2,500-meter-deep geothermal well, a fully sealed circulation system, and a new heat transfer working fluid enable supercritical CO2 to act as an "energy porter," conducting heat from deep underground layers to the surface, providing a clean heat source for centralized residential heating.
【Commentary】
When it comes to CO2, some may first think of the greenhouse effect and global warming. In fact, the application value of CO2 should not be underestimated, and its industrial utilization is extremely extensive.
As the 2030 carbon peak timeline approaches step by step, the change in perceptions of CO2 and the change in its development and utilization have become a vivid footnote to green development.
So, what else can CO2 be used for?
For power generation. In May this year, the second unit of "Super Carbon No. 1" (超碳一号) successfully achieved grid-connected power generation, marking the full completion of the world's first supercritical CO2 waste heat power generation technology demonstration project, with a thermal-to-electric conversion efficiency 75% higher than traditional steam power generation.
As a chemical feedstock. In the petrochemical industrial park of Xuwei New Area, Lianyungang, Jiangsu, CO2 is transformed into polyether polyols, which can be used in automotive composite foam, adhesives, water-based synthetic leather, and coating industries.
For food production. Following the laboratory artificial synthesis of starch from CO2, the Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has done another "magical" thing—turning CO2 into sugar.
From "carbon burden" to "carbon resource," from a troublesome greenhouse gas to a production material with enormous potential, behind the "full utilization of carbon" and value reassessment lie the leap in innovation capability and the renewal of development concepts.
The green practice of turning waste into treasure and "turning carbon into gold" provides a good perspective for observing green and low-carbon transformation.
Technological innovation is the key engine of green development. To save energy, reduce carbon, and promote development, we must seek space and momentum from innovation. At the immiscible CCUS (carbon capture, utilization, and storage) demonstration base of Aonan Oilfield, No. 7 Production Plant of Daqing Oilfield, liquid CO2 is continuously injected underground through high-pressure pipelines to drive oil with carbon, both improving oil recovery rates and achieving geological storage of CO2. As of the end of 2025, Jilin Oilfield has cumulatively stored 3.61 million tons of CO2, equivalent to planting more than 30 million trees. Only by focusing on key areas such as efficient utilization of clean energy, advanced energy storage technology, and carbon asset management, and concentrating efforts on breaking through a batch of original and leading technologies, can we continuously consolidate the foundation of green transformation.
Emission reduction is not reducing productivity, but rather using emission reduction to force industry innovation. Carbon reduction is not simply doing "subtraction," but supporting higher-quality growth with lower resource consumption. At Jiangsu Yicheng Southern Cement Co., Ltd., energy conservation and carbon reduction have become the company's core competitiveness, with waste heat power generation from exhaust gases meeting more than 73% of clinker production electricity needs. Compared with 2020, carbon dioxide emissions per 10,000 yuan of added value in China's cement industry fell by 15.8% in 2025, with green and low-carbon upgrading nurturing new development opportunities and opening up entirely new development space. Practice has proven that properly handling the relationship between development and emission reduction, achieving a win-win between protection and development, progress in both carbon reduction and efficiency enhancement, and sharing of opportunities and dividends, can greatly stimulate the endogenous momentum of low-carbon transformation.
Broadening our horizons, deepening the sharing of low-carbon technologies and pragmatic ecological cooperation with countries around the world demonstrates the broad-mindedness of 天下一家 (tiān xià yī jiā - "all under heaven as one family," universal brotherhood) and 和衷共济 (hé zhōng gòng jì - "with one heart to cross the river together," to work together in unity through difficulties). In Nauru, the photovoltaic project contracted by a Chinese enterprise generates enough electricity to meet the country's entire demand. In Ethiopia, the "Addis Ring Road" (亚环路) project adopts full-area new energy facilities and rainwater resource recycling facilities, effectively reducing energy and resource consumption. In advancing carbon peak and carbon neutrality, China's actions will not slow down, and its pace will not stop. "Taking the world's benefit as benefit," with 高屋建瓴 (gāo wū jiàn líng - "pour water from a high rooftop," to operate from a strategic vantage point with irresistible momentum) and concrete results, there are solemn commitments, firm determination, and even more pragmatic actions.
The "15th Five-Year Plan" Carbon Peak Action Plan (《"十五五"碳达峰行动方案》) recently issued has drawn a "construction blueprint" for the next five years of pursuing green development. Through the "dual carbon" actions, the world will once again witness China's wisdom of harmonious coexistence and China's responsibility of "saying what we mean and doing what we say."
Return to TopBy: 孙莉华
This summer, Wuzhuang Village in Kaicheng Town, Guyuan City, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, once again became the focus of news: a total of 19 students in the village passed the college entrance examination and had their names on the honor roll, one more than last year, and one of them was admitted to Peking University.
In 2007, this small village produced its first college student. Since then, every year names have appeared on the honor roll, and in total nearly 100 children have been admitted to colleges, universities, and secondary specialized schools, including one pursuing a doctorate at Oxford University.
This is an inspiring story. But what is truly moving is not just the numbers themselves, but the plain-spoken words of the villagers — "Now, people no longer compare wealth, but education."
In many people's impression, traditional rural society often uses family assets as the yardstick for measuring success. How much money a family has saved, how large a house it has built, and what brand of car it has bought are the "hard currency" by which many villagers compete. Today, however, Wuzhuang Village has turned "whose child has promise" into a new yardstick. Such a change is not the work of a single day; it requires a generation or even longer to practice what one preaches, proving through action that studying can change one's fate and education can prosper a family.
In the Xihaigu region, villages like Wuzhuang that revere education are not rare. In the depths of the mountains of Tongxin County, Wuzhong City, Wangjiayuan Village, with a registered population of fewer than 2,000 people, has produced 1 academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, 21 doctoral degree holders, 35 master's degree holders, and more than 1,100 graduates of colleges, universities, and secondary specialized schools. Xuyuan Village, located at the border between Ningxia and Gansu, is one of the most remote mountain villages in Pengyang County, Guyuan City. In recent years, many students from the village have been admitted to prestigious institutions such as Zhejiang University. Binhe Jiayuan San Cun in Yueyahu Township, Xingqing District, Yinchuan City, a resettlement village whose residents moved from Xihaigu, has also produced 80 college students in just five years, and its reputation as a "village that values education" has spread throughout the neighboring areas.
At a time when the "uselessness of education" theory occasionally surfaces, these villages' persistence in promoting learning and cultivating talent is especially precious. And this steadfastness stems precisely from the power that education brings to people — a power that nourishes silently and whose efforts are never in vain.
When education becomes a shared consensus, villagers not only escape material poverty, but also cultivate a rural civilization that takes pride in education and is rooted in family traditions. The various policies of the Party and the government have provided strong support for this. In those days, Wuzhuang Village was so poor that "even drinking a mouthful of water was difficult." In 1997, the regional Party committee and government sent personnel to provide paired assistance to Wuzhuang Village, relying on the "Spring Bud Project" (春蕾计划) to strengthen educational efforts. In 2005, the national "two exemptions and one subsidy" (两免一补) policy was implemented, and children no longer had to worry about being unable to afford school. Now, with the optimization and integration of urban and rural educational resources, village children enjoy the same quality educational resources as city children.
Education has never been a quick product. Its returns may be intangible, and may come late, but they will surely manifest in the development trajectory of a family or a village. When "comparing family traditions rather than family assets" is upheld as the value yardstick, education has already reshaped and enriched the spiritual world of the villagers. How can this kind of "use" be measured by money?
In promoting the comprehensive revitalization of rural areas, what is difficult is not only building roads and bridges, nor only industrial support, but also changing the "yardstick" for measuring value deep in people's hearts. When villagers learn to define success by "knowledge" rather than "wealth," and to judge worth by "family traditions" rather than "family assets," they truly possess confidence that cannot be defined by others, and only then can they act boldly and strive courageously to carve out a new world for themselves.
(Excerpted and adapted from Ningxia Daily, original title: "This Kind of 'Use' — How Can It Be Measured by Money?")
In the first half of this year, cumulative sales of new-energy heavy-duty trucks nationwide reached approximately 140,000 units, a year-on-year increase of 78.6%, and application scenarios have expanded from port collection and distribution and coal trunk routes to urban logistics and inter-provincial freight transport. The structure of China's heavy-duty truck sector is shifting from "diesel dominance" to "diversified coexistence with the rise of new energy." According to relevant plans, by 2030, China will build 30,000 kilometers of zero-carbon road freight corridors, supported by more than 3,000 battery-swapping and charging stations for electric heavy-duty trucks.
This is precisely the picture:
Range anxiety is gradually dispelled,
The market expands to new heights step by step.
Application scenarios steadily broaden,
Toward the new and chasing green, a spring tide surges.
By Chen Yixian
Return to TopBy: 聂慧松
The environment is people's livelihood; green mountains are beauty; blue skies are happiness. But a good ecology will not automatically bring a good life. We must do well in the article of internal integration, continuously broaden the path of transforming green waters and green mountains into gold and silver mountains, and transform beautiful environments into a beautiful economy.
How to transform? First, we must identify the ignition point of ecological industry development, then use points to drive the whole area and achieve breakthroughs. Located in the Yanshan Mountains, Yanshou Town (延寿镇) of Changping District (昌平区), Beijing, broke ground by developing and utilizing a mountain trail.
In April this year, the 2026 Mountain Running World Cup China · Beijing Changping Station and the Beijing Changping Yanshou Trail Challenge were held, attracting 3,500 competitors from 19 countries and regions. One trail race drove the development of boutique homestays, farmhouse restaurants, village cafés, and other business forms, and boosted consumption of agricultural specialty products such as chestnut mushroom sauce and mountain walnut oil. Using sports events to gather popularity, and leveraging the agriculture-culture-tourism-commerce linkage to stimulate agglomeration effects, the beauty of ecology is better transformed into development effectiveness.
Development effectiveness contains scientific planning, refining the use of limited space. Located in a mountainous area, 96.5% of Yanshou Town's territory is non-construction space. Development cannot "spread out stalls"; it can only be done with precision. Optimize spatial zoning by dividing the town into an ecological wellness zone, a cultural experience zone, and a leisure sports zone; adhere to strict development control to "clarify bottom lines" and "draw boundary frames" for development. From 2014 to the present, the total area of illegal structure demolition has exceeded 220,000 square meters, and more than 340,000 square meters of land has been vacated and returned. Integrate resources such as "mountains, waters, villages, and scenery," launch cycling routes, hiking routes, and self-driving routes, and realize the linked development of quality scenic areas, themed homestays, and distinctive villages. Space is limited; achievement is unlimited. With the same stretch of mountains and waters, through rational planning and systematic integration, village dwellings and rural fields can all become composite spaces that can be toured, run through, lived in, and consumed.
Development effectiveness contains the article of integration, chaining development resources. To give full play to the endowment advantages of green waters and green mountains, the key is to explore integrated development of multiple business forms and vigorously promote ecological industrialization and industrial ecologization. From fine mountains and waters to fine products, from a fine ecology to fine business forms, we must concentrate resource factors on shaping regional characteristics, increasing cultural connotations, and enhancing consumption experiences. Do well in the article of agricultural specialty products: relying on specialty products such as chestnut mushrooms, chestnuts, walnuts, and honey, launch a number of geographical indication products; explore the development of the under-forest economy, planting morel mushrooms and other edible fungi. Nearly a hundred households in the town have relied on chestnut mushroom cultivation to achieve more than 900 person-times of employment, with an average household income increase of more than 30,000 yuan. At the same time, strive to build a cycling-friendly town, introduce professional organizations, strengthen cycling infrastructure construction, organize and carry out sports activities, and gather momentum and attract people for development. Focusing on "ecology +," with accurate strategies and solid measures to promote multi-industry integration, we can better blaze a new path of symbiosis and co-prosperity between humans and nature and two-way flow between urban and rural factors.
Development effectiveness contains organizational building, giving full play to people's potential. The key to accomplishing things lies in people. To open up a new situation for development, we must excavate batches of people who have passion, are good at innovation, and are willing to work hard, creating opportunities and providing stages for them. We have launched the "Green Sprout Project" (青苗工程), placing young cadres on the front line for training; under the guidance of the "Leading Goose Project" (头雁工程), we attract native villagers to stay home and find employment, returned villagers to start businesses with experience, and new farmers to take root with resources, allowing all types of talent to display their respective strengths. Recently, we have continued to leverage the demonstration effect of principals such as Heishan Roasting House (黑山烤房) and Yanshou Coffee (延寿咖啡), cultivating a batch of new farmers and principals who understand management and are good at operations, guiding them to participate in brand building and village construction. With Party building as the guide, projects as the driver, and interest linkage as the bond, making talent cultivation more adapted to the industrial layout, the road of development will surely become wider and wider.
If people do not betray the green mountains, the green mountains will surely not betray people. The "Beautiful China Construction" 15th Five-Year Plan (《美丽中国建设"十五五"规划》) proposes "expanding channels for realizing the value of ecological products according to local conditions." Relying on ecological advantages, with ecological co-protection, industrial resonance, organizational co-construction, and talent co-cultivation as the focal points, and adhering to the path of endogenous and differentiated development, we will strive to create more quality ecological products and achieve the transition from green to prosperity and the simultaneous flourishing of green and wealth.
(The author is the Party Secretary of the CPC Committee of Yanshou Town, Changping District, Beijing)
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Return to TopBy: 本报记者 秦瑞杰
The Ningxia Plain, water from the Yellow River flows along leaf-vein-like channels into the fields. Beside the Daqing Canal, in the newly built rectangular concrete canal troughs, the water flows silently, its surface smooth as a mirror.
"The canal's alignment has not changed, but its 'inner substance' has been completely transformed." Bai Lu (白璐), head of the Qingtongxia Irrigation District Modernization Project Team under the Water Conservancy Project Construction Center of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, crouched down and knocked on the thick, sturdy canal wall. "In the past, these were earthen canals and prefabricated slab canals, with siltation and seepage every year; now, with this 'reinforced concrete overcoat,' water delivery is faster and water is saved."
The Qingtongxia Irrigation District is one of the six extra-large irrigation districts in the country and an important component of the Ningxia Yellow River Diversion Ancient Irrigation District, a World Heritage Irrigation Structure. In March 2025, the modernization project was fully launched, and the ancient irrigation district began to be fitted with a "digital brain."
"The ancient irrigation district is not an antique in a museum; it is a tool that can be used," Bai Lu said.
"Upgrading in place on the original canal alignment, with the canal route and water distribution pattern completely unchanged"
The Daqing Canal was first dug during the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty, and since then its alignment has barely changed, but the canal itself is no longer able to bear the load.
"The earliest section was an earthen canal, a manually excavated ditch, with severe seepage," said He Qiang (何强), project manager of Section 6 of the Daqing Canal construction. The hexagonal prefabricated slabs later installed did not last long either—spalling, surface sanding, and frost-heave detachment became the norm, and half the canal was blocked by silt. "Irrigation for 89,000 mu of farmland was in crisis every year; during every irrigation season, we had to rely entirely on dredging boats to keep things going," He Qiang said.
The severe cold of winter makes construction inconvenient, leaving only about 40-plus days from March to April before the spring irrigation, and 50-plus days from September to October after the autumn irrigation, for construction work. "The days available for work in a year, all told, amount to only about a hundred or so," He Qiang said.
This time, the team put forward a new plan for factory-prefabricated reinforced concrete rectangular canals. At the construction site, concrete components were arranged in neat rows. In 28 days, the prefabrication plant can produce and form these prefabricated components and transport them to the site for assembly.
He Qiang explained that during construction, expansion water-stop strips are pressed between each slab, and the outer surface is coated with epoxy mortar. As he spoke, he used a spirit level to measure the joints—the slab surfaces were smooth, with almost no visible gaps. "With double-layer seepage prevention, the concrete can fully withstand the severe cold." He Qiang did the math: for the same 5 kilometers of canal, traditional cast-in-place construction requires 300 workers, while prefabricated assembly needs only 150, and civil works and prefabrication can proceed in parallel without waiting for cement to set.
The renovation of the Daqing Canal began in September last year and was fully completed this April. "With the traditional cast-in-place method, we could only wait for the construction window period at the end of August. Now, with prefabricated slabs assembled on site, efficiency has doubled," He Qiang said.
The new canal has also brought unexpected benefits. The rectangular canal occupies less land than the trapezoidal canal, reducing the felling of trees on both sides; reserved holes on the top of the canal allow for the installation of steel railings, which are safer and more aesthetically pleasing than the corrugated guardrails previously installed along the roadside. The smooth concrete inner walls increase flow velocity and stabilize flow conditions. "Look, the water flows fast without splashing, which shows high water delivery efficiency and reduced siltation. In the past, half the canal was mud; now the canal bottom is much cleaner." Pointing at the canal, He Qiang said that a damaged prefabricated slab can also be replaced individually, lowering maintenance costs.
"Prefabricated assembly is especially suited to the overall direction of the next phase of the Qingtongxia Irrigation District's transformation." Gazing at the surging water in the new canal, Bai Lu said, "We are upgrading in place on the original canal alignment—the canal route and water distribution pattern remain completely unchanged; only the materials and techniques have changed."
"Letting the ancient irrigation district better serve present-day life"
The Huinong Canal was dug 300 years ago and flows through six counties and districts; the Longmen Bridge intake gate is the control structure below the head of the canal.
Although the current gate floor slab and bent frame were built in 1970, the lower structure is relatively well preserved. Walking at the intake gate, one can see the rough gate slots.
"Annual desilting is a major problem," said Bai Zhanbin (白占斌), project manager of Section 1 of the Huinong Canal construction. "Silt deposits more than a meter deep in front of the gate, and by the time the water reaches here it has lost its force. The old gate pier sits right next to the village's production road, and the constant flow of people and vehicles is also a hazard."
The initial proposal was to demolish and rebuild on the original site. "The old gate floor slab and bent frame are relatively intact; demolishing them would be a pity for the water conservancy heritage," Bai Zhanbin said. After repeated deliberation during the planning phase, it was finally decided to build the new gate 75 meters upstream at a new site, while preserving the old gate in place.
On the construction platform of the new gate, the bent frame has already risen from the ground, and workers are installing the gate leaves and solar panels. The new gate has been changed from 9 openings to 7, with the flow width expanded from 27 meters to 35 meters, greatly enhancing control capacity. More importantly, it is adjacent to the original escape gate, and the two gates form a joint dispatch and linkage, with a connecting corridor specially designed in the gate chamber. "During high-water periods or when water is stopped, the escape gate can be used to flush away silt deposits in the front section; the silted section between the old gate and the escape gate will no longer exist," Bai Zhanbin said.
The relocation also brings an additional layer of safety. "Now the new gate operates independently, cleanly and neatly, avoiding interference with the adjacent road," Bai Zhanbin said. The new gate is equipped with solar control panels, using clean energy to power the gate house lighting—a green footnote for the construction of an ecological irrigation district.
Standing between the new and old gates, Bai Lu looked at the World Heritage Irrigation Structure marker for the "Ningxia Yellow River Diversion Ancient Irrigation District" standing securely. "Letting the old gate carry historical memory and the new gate shoulder modern functions—all of this is to let the ancient irrigation district better serve present-day life," Bai Lu said.
"Using modern technology to give the thousand-year-old irrigation district new vitality"
Running parallel to the new canals and gates is an "invisible" digital transformation. The first to undergo transformation were the Qin Canal and Han Canal of the Qingtongxia Irrigation District.
At the dispatch center of the Qin-Han Canal Management Office, an electronic screen displays in real time the water levels and flow rates along the entire East Main Canal, the core canal line, as well as the operating status of every measurement and control gate. During last year's spring irrigation, a "fingertip water dispatch" was carried out here: an operator clicked a mouse to issue commands, and within 30 minutes, dozens of gates along the East Main Canal had all been adjusted, with flow deviation controlled within 0.02 cubic meters per second and water level fluctuation precision reaching millimeter level. In the past, starting spring irrigation required dozens of people working on site and took at least 2 hours.
This is not a "solo performance" by the Qin Canal and Han Canal. Walking along the Qingtongxia Irrigation District Modernization Project route, one can see that under the aqueducts, seepage prevention and deformation sensors are constantly sensing; along the canals, water level gauges and video monitoring are scattered everywhere; gates and pump stations are all connected to the control system... Tens of thousands of sensing points form a three-dimensional monitoring network.
"In the past, the six canal management offices in the irrigation district were each independent, with no data exchange between them; dispatch relied on telephones, and canal inspection relied on foot patrols," said Bao Xiaoming (鲍小明), director of the Science, Technology and Informatization Division of the Department of Water Resources of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. This informatization transformation integrates the mature digital twin modules of the Qin Canal and Han Canal, and the "forecast, pre-rehearsal, early warning, and contingency plan" system of the Hanyan Canal. Ultimately, a unified irrigation district management and control platform will be established, achieving a leap from "experience-based decision-making" to "data-based decision-making."
Once the platform is built, artificial intelligence technology can be applied to realize functions such as water supply-demand analysis and dispatch pre-rehearsal. "By inputting meteorological and other data, the model can automatically deduce the optimal gate adjustment plan, with precision down to the hour," Bao Xiaoming gave an example: in a previous trial run, the system precisely allocated the head flow of the canal, and nearly 10,000 mu of corn was watered in time for the jointing stage. "In the past, releasing water relied on the experience of old hands; now, with a click on the big screen, the model runs, and the gates move on their own—saving both water and time."
Completing integrated informatization across the entire region is a key step for the Qingtongxia Irrigation District in moving from "water management" to "smart water management."
According to statistics, since the systematic renovation began in 1998, the volume of water diverted from the Yellow River by the Qingtongxia Irrigation District has dropped from 6.6 billion cubic meters to 3.206 billion cubic meters, and with the irrigated area unchanged, it has strongly supported urbanization and ecological water use. After the completion of this modernization project, the district's high-efficiency water-saving irrigation rate will reach 44%, saving 53.79 million cubic meters of water annually, and grain output is expected to increase from 1.92 million tons to 2.24 million tons.
In the evening, the sun slants westward. The water of the Daqing Canal still flows silently, and the newly installed laser water level gauges and smart cameras operate quietly, transmitting real-time data back to the dispatch center. "Using modern technology to give the thousand-year-old irrigation district new vitality—this is what true inheritance means," Bai Lu said.
Extended reading
The Qingtongxia Irrigation District is located in the north-central part of Ningxia. It is one of the six extra-large irrigation districts in the country, with a history of more than 2,000 years of Yellow River diversion irrigation, and is also one of China's oldest extra-large irrigation districts. The district has an irrigated area of 5.06 million mu, comprising 7 irrigation sub-areas, and within it, ancient Yellow River diversion canals such as the Qin Canal and Han Canal still play an important role today.
In December 2024, the Qingtongxia Irrigation District Modernization Project was included in the national water conservancy sector's "two major" landmark projects, with a total investment of 7.384 billion yuan and a construction period of 3 years. The project mainly renovates 387.4 kilometers of main canals and 915.3 kilometers of branch canals, with supporting renovation of 12,284 canal system structures, construction of 9 new storage and regulation projects, and simultaneous construction of a three-dimensional sensing system and digital twin platform covering the entire irrigation district.
After the completion of this modernization project, the district's high-efficiency water-saving irrigation rate will reach 44%, saving 53.79 million cubic meters of water annually, and grain output is expected to increase from 1.92 million tons to 2.24 million tons, which is of great significance for safeguarding regional food security, promoting intensive and economical use of water resources, and inheriting and protecting the culture of the ancient irrigation district.
(Compiled by our reporter Qin Ruijie (秦瑞杰))
By: 蔡 田
The CR450 EMU is the newest generation of high-speed EMU developed under the organization of China State Railway Group, with a test speed of 450 kilometers per hour and an operating speed of 400 kilometers per hour. For the EMU's braking system, this is a tremendous challenge and also an entirely new exploration.
Overcoming the braking technology of the EMU is especially critical. At the very start of CR450 EMU development, China State Railway Group, proceeding from national strategy and market demand, formulated four top-level technical indicators, one of which was the braking indicator — namely, that when the EMU decelerates from 400 kilometers per hour to 0 kilometers per hour, the emergency braking distance on dry, straight track must not exceed 6,500 meters.
This requirement is the same as the emergency braking distance of the CR400 EMU decelerating from 350 kilometers per hour to 0 kilometers per hour. With a higher speed yet an unchanged emergency braking distance, extremely high demands are placed on the braking system. Taking braking energy alone: when speed increases by 15 percent, braking energy increases by 32 percent. If not handled properly, this will cause the temperature of the brake discs to rise rapidly, substantially reducing their material mechanical properties and creating safety hazards.
This posed a tremendous challenge to the braking system innovation team. Some foreign enterprises once stated that this technical indicator was impossible to achieve.
But we did not lose heart. Striving toward the goal of a 6,500-meter emergency braking distance, we chose to proceed from two aspects.
On the one hand, we sought solutions from the braking control side. First, we designed for the CR450 EMU a braking deceleration curve aimed at system optimization. Second, we designed a safe and reliable control system to realize this curve.
Compared with rubber tires on asphalt pavement, the friction between an EMU's wheelset and the steel rail is smaller. If the braking force applied at one time is too great, a sliding phenomenon will occur. This is like driving on an icy surface: if you brake heavily, the vehicle will skid; only by braking intermittently to reduce sliding can the vehicle be brought to a stop more effectively.
The innovation team spent a full two years before calculating this optimal braking deceleration curve — one that avoids overusing the friction force between wheel and rail, ensures the braking distance meets the requirement, and keeps all key components of the braking system in ideal operating conditions.
Thereafter, the innovation team spent more than three additional years, through multiple iterations and a large number of tests, developing a highly reliable braking control system that turns the curve on paper into the control pressure of compressed air charged into the brake cylinders during emergency braking.
On the other hand, we sought solutions from the brake disc design side. Through developing new alloy formulas, optimizing heat treatment processes, and other means, the innovation team continuously improved the performance of the brake discs, enabling them to withstand the test of a temperature rise of 700 degrees Celsius in a short period and to absorb and dissipate the energy generated during braking with high efficiency.
满打满算 (mǎn dǎ mǎn suàn - "count fully, calculate fully," at the very most, all told), the entire development of the CR450 EMU braking system spanned six years. We tried two technical routes and rolled out six major version iterations in total. Among these, the brake discs alone went through three generations of development, each generation completing at least 1,000 fatigue tests on a 1:1 test rig, and the final product installed on the train completed more than 2,000 fatigue tests. The key pneumatic components completed one million fatigue tests and also underwent environmental adaptability tests at minus 40 degrees Celsius and plus 70 degrees Celsius.
After the CR450 EMU prototype rolled off the production line, under the organization of China State Railway Group, our braking system further completed tests on the complete train under different environments, different operating conditions, and different speed levels. Among these, we completed dozens of emergency braking tests at 400 kilometers per hour, with test braking distance error not exceeding 2 percent, and the braking process was stable throughout.
Having gone through actual operational testing on the complete train, I can very proudly tell everyone that we have truly enabled the world's fastest high-speed train to run fast and stop reliably.
At present, the CR450 EMU prototype is undergoing a 600,000-kilometer operational assessment. This is equivalent to the EMU's probation period. We will use this one-year period to examine the reliability, stability, safety, and maintainability of the braking system, ensuring the safety of the EMU.
We very much look forward to the CR450 EMU meeting the public, and hope that the new generation of high-speed EMU can bring everyone a more convenient, safer, and more comfortable experience.
(The author is an associate researcher at the Locomotive and Rolling Stock Research Institute of the China Academy of Railway Sciences and deputy director of the Braking Development Department; this article was compiled from an interview by staff reporter Li Xinping of this newspaper.)
Extended reading
What features does the CR450 EMU have?
The CR450 EMU has a test speed of 450 kilometers per hour and an operating speed of 400 kilometers per hour. After it is put into commercial operation in the future, it can further compress time-space distances and make passenger travel more convenient and efficient.
In terms of main indicators, the CR450 EMU is in an internationally leading position. Looking at safety: the EMU has a shorter braking distance and better operational stability. Looking at energy consumption: the EMU's overall running resistance is reduced by 22 percent and weight is reduced by 10 percent. Looking at comfort: interior noise is reduced by 2 decibels, passenger compartment service space is increased by 4 percent, and it can provide diversified, convenient, and personalized services, delivering a better riding experience.
After the CR450 EMU prototype was unveiled in Beijing, it completed multiple type tests at different speed levels and in different application scenarios. In the first half of this year, the EMU prototype completed its operational assessment on the Chongqing-Guizhou section of the Chongqing-Xiamen high-speed railway, and it is currently completing the remaining assessment mileage on the Xiong'an-Shangqiu high-speed railway. Only after completing the 600,000-kilometer operational assessment can the CR450 EMU be formally put into commercial operation.
(Compiled by staff reporter Li Xinping of this newspaper.)
Return to TopAn outstanding member of the Communist Party of China, a loyal communist fighter tested through long trials, an outstanding proletarian revolutionary and statesman, a distinguished leader of the Party and the state, Comrade Zhu Rongji, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the 14th and 15th CPC Central Committees and former Premier of the State Council, passed away in Beijing at 11:06 on August 12, 2026, due to ineffective medical treatment, at the age of 98.
Comrade Zhu Rongji was born on October 23, 1928, in Changsha, Hunan. He joined the revolutionary work in December 1948 and the Communist Party of China in October 1949. In his youth, he loved the motherland, was diligent and eager to learn, pursued progress, and was resolved to serve the country. From 1947 to 1951, he studied electrical machinery manufacturing in the Department of Electrical Engineering at Tsinghua University and joined the "New Democratic Youth League." From 1951 to 1952, he served as deputy director of the Production Planning Office of the Planning Division of the Northeast Ministry of Industry. From 1952 to 1958, he successively served as group leader of the Fuel and Power Bureau and the Comprehensive Bureau of the State Planning Commission, deputy division chief of the Director's Office of the State Planning Commission, and deputy division chief of the Comprehensive Division of the Machinery Bureau of the State Planning Commission. From 1958 to 1969, he successively served as instructor at the Cadre Spare-time School of the State Planning Commission and engineer of the Comprehensive Bureau of the National Economy. From 1970 to 1975, he was sent down to labor at the "May 7" Cadre School of the State Planning Commission. From 1975 to 1979, he successively served as deputy director of the Office and deputy chief engineer of the Electric Power and Communications Engineering Company of the Pipeline Bureau of the Ministry of Petroleum Industry, and director of a division of the Institute of Industrial Economics of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. From 1979 to 1983, he successively served as division chief of the Fuel and Power Bureau of the State Economic Commission, deputy director of the Comprehensive Bureau, director of the Technical Transformation Bureau, and member of the State Economic Commission. From 1983 to 1987, he successively served as deputy director and member of the Party Group of the State Economic Commission, and deputy director and deputy secretary of the Party Group of the State Economic Commission. He proposed that the state economic management departments should accomplish "three transformations" in their management functions regarding enterprise technological progress, namely, shifting from investment support as the main means to policy support as the main means, from mandatory planning as the main means to guidance planning as the main means, and from administrative measures as the main means to economic and legal measures as the main means, focusing their work on formulating plans, policies, and regulations and on organization, coordination, inspection, and supervision, so as to strengthen macro-management; in foreign trade, it was necessary to adhere to the principle of combining technology introduction with trade expansion and intensify enterprise technological transformation.
From December 1987 to April 1991, Comrade Zhu Rongji successively served as deputy secretary of the Shanghai Municipal Party Committee, mayor, and secretary of the Municipal Party Committee. He emphasized that, facing the dual challenges of international and domestic economic competition, the fundamental way out for Shanghai was to resolutely adjust the industrial structure, reorganize new development advantages, enhance international competitiveness, take the path of developing an export-oriented economy, utilize international economic resources, and strive for greater development space. He steadily promoted the adjustment and upgrading of Shanghai's industrial structure, developed deep-processing, knowledge- and technology-intensive leading industries and key sectors, transformed traditional industries with new technologies, did a solid job in raw materials industry construction, strengthened industrial coordination and supporting capabilities, and pushed Shanghai to take solid steps on the path of transformational development. He paid attention to invigorating Shanghai's local state-owned enterprises, guiding enterprises to shift from product economy concepts to commodity economy concepts, from inward-oriented management thinking to outward-oriented management thinking, introducing competition mechanisms, implementing the contract management responsibility system, and truly enabling enterprises to assume sole responsibility for their profits and losses and improve economic efficiency. He made great efforts to strengthen quality management, emphasizing that quality is life and quality is efficiency, and that it was necessary to fully leverage Shanghai's scientific, technological, and talent advantages, develop new products and new varieties, and take the path of good quality commanding good prices. He attached importance to the opening and development of the financial industry, actively introduced foreign-funded banks and foreign-funded insurance companies, and promoted the establishment of the Shanghai Securities Exchange. He accelerated the construction of transportation-centered infrastructure and built Shanghai's hub-type, functional, and networked modern urban infrastructure system. He vigorously promoted the reform of the housing system, took the lead in the country in implementing the housing provident fund system, put forward the overall concept of renovating Shanghai's old urban areas and shantytowns, and provided important experience for the commercialization reform of housing and the strengthening of housing security work. He paid close attention to the "vegetable basket project," implemented the "one-stop" reform of production, supply, and marketing, and pushed Shanghai to initially form a modern non-staple food production, purchase, and sales system. He raised the level of urban management, improved government efficiency, optimized the investment environment, and established Shanghai's image as an international city. He implemented the Party Central Committee's major strategic decision on the development and opening up of Pudong, researched and introduced a series of policy measures that both reflected Pudong's characteristics and were operable, and pushed the development and opening up of Pudong into the substantive launch stage. Through actively promoting reform and opening up, making every effort to improve people's livelihoods, and stabilizing and developing the economy, he brought about major changes in the city's economic and social landscape in a relatively short period, laying a solid foundation for Shanghai's further reform, opening up, and development.
In April 1991, Comrade Zhu Rongji became Vice Premier of the State Council, and later concurrently served as director and Party secretary of the Office of the Production Office of the State Council, and director and Party secretary of the Office of Economic and Trade of the State Council, overseeing machinery, electronics, energy, railways, transportation, metallurgy, chemicals, light industry, textiles, and other work. In October 1992, Comrade Zhu Rongji was elected member of the Political Bureau and member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau at the First Plenary Session of the 14th CPC Central Committee, responsible for the day-to-day work of the State Council. In June 1993, he concurrently served as Governor of the People's Bank of China. He actively publicized and implemented the spirit of Comrade Deng Xiaoping's southern tour talks, implemented the spirit of the 14th CPC National Congress, and made every effort to promote reform, opening up, and modernization. He resolutely implemented the central government's guiding ideology and principles and policies for economic work, correctly handled the relationship between reform, development, and stability, made every effort to improve the quality and efficiency of economic growth, and overcame the tendency to blindly expand projects and one-sidedly pursue output value and speed. In response to the problems that emerged at one time of excessively rapid growth in investment scale, excessively rapid growth in industrial production, and the development zone fever, real estate fever, and stock fever, he researched and formulated ideas and measures for strengthening and improving macro-control, used more economic and legal means to regulate economic operations, and did a large amount of effective work to reverse economic overheating, curb inflation, and achieve a "soft landing." He organized the clearing of "triangular debt," based on addressing the root causes, adopted measures such as limiting production and reducing inventory and the "dual linkage of loan reduction" (压贷双挂钩), basically curbed the momentum of debts being cleared in the front and accumulating in the back, and enhanced the vitality of enterprise operations. He made every effort to rectify fiscal and tax order, strictly enforce financial discipline, strengthen tax collection and management, accelerate fiscal and tax reform, strictly control tax reductions and exemptions and fiscal expenditures, strictly implement fiscal budgets, and carry out work to increase production and practice economy and to increase revenue and reduce expenditure. He improved the financial regulation system, promoted the shift from direct regulation using loan scale to indirect regulation using interest rates, open market operations, and deposit reserves, realized the convertibility of the Renminbi under the current account, implemented a single, managed floating exchange rate system based on market supply and demand, strengthened supervision of the securities and futures markets, and regulated financial order. He promoted the reform of the grain price and purchase and marketing system, established a grain purchase and marketing system that meets the requirements of the socialist market economy, is convenient for purchase and sale, and flexible in dispatch, narrowed the scissors gap between industrial and agricultural product prices, protected farmers' enthusiasm for growing grain, and stabilized grain production and supply. He reformed the circulation system for agricultural production materials, stabilized the price level of chemical fertilizers and other agricultural materials, fully brought into play the role of supply and marketing cooperatives as the main channel, and did a good job in rural market supply. On the basis of farmers' voluntariness, he implemented contracting by large grain-growing households and developed appropriate-scale operations, vigorously developed the socialized agricultural production service system, and gave more support to large grain-growing households.
In September 1997, Comrade Zhu Rongji was re-elected member of the Political Bureau and member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau at the First Plenary Session of the 15th CPC Central Committee. In March 1998, at the First Session of the Ninth National People's Congress, he was appointed Premier of the State Council, and later served as secretary of the Party Group of the State Council. Facing the impact of the Asian financial crisis and the extraordinary flood disasters at home, he, in accordance with the decisions and arrangements of the Party Central Committee, correctly grasped the direction and intensity of macro-control, shifted from implementing a moderately tight fiscal policy and monetary policy to implementing a proactive fiscal policy and a prudent monetary policy, made every effort to expand domestic demand, curb the deflationary trend, deepen reforms in key areas, maintained stable and rapid economic growth, safeguarded the overall stability of the social situation, markedly improved people's lives, and continuously enhanced China's international standing. He comprehensively adjusted the industrial structure, regional structure, and urban-rural structure, strengthened infrastructure construction, vigorously developed high-tech industries, especially the information industry, transformed and upgraded traditional industries, actively supported the accelerated development of the modern service industry, strengthened product quality management, and made every effort to improve the quality and efficiency of economic growth. He placed the resolution of the "three rural issues" in a prominent position, promoted the adjustment of the agricultural structure in light of local conditions, increased investment in the management of major rivers, major lakes, and major water systems, rural power grid renovation, and national grain reserve depot construction, strengthened rural poverty alleviation and development, implemented the reform of rural "fees-to-tax" and reforms of township institutions and county and township fiscal systems, ensured the reduction of farmers' burdens and increase of their incomes, and promoted coordinated development between urban and rural areas. He adopted a series of policies and measures to expand opening up and encourage exports, adhered to the non-devaluation of the Renminbi, implemented the market diversification strategy and the strategy of winning by quality, intensified the fight against smuggling, actively attracted foreign investment, participated in international economic and technological cooperation and competition, and made better use of both domestic and international markets and resources. He resolutely supported the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in maintaining the linked exchange rate system, consolidating its status as an international financial center, and stabilizing the confidence of all sectors, enabling Hong Kong's economy to recover rapidly and withstand severe tests. He adhered to the path of sustainable development, intensified ecological and environmental protection and construction, implemented large-scale returning of farmland to lakes in the Yangtze River basin through measures such as leveling dikes to release floodwaters and relocating residents to build new towns, strengthened the management of land, mineral, freshwater, marine, and biological resources, concentrated efforts on the treatment of pollution in key river basins and regions, strengthened the construction of environmental infrastructure, and promoted the coordination of economic development with population, resources, and the environment. He always showed great concern for the vital interests of the people, continuously improved public services, raised the level of people's health, increased the incomes of urban and rural residents, made great efforts to solve problems such as arrears in workers' wages and the reemployment of laid-off workers, strengthened comprehensive management of public security, and established a work safety responsibility system. He deeply transformed government functions, promoted the reform of government institutions, implemented a relatively large-scale plan for the reform of State Council institutions, further restructured comprehensive economic departments into macro-control departments, adjusted and reduced specialized economic departments, strengthened the functions of market supervision and law enforcement departments, and changed the framework of government institutions that had long been formed under the planned economy system. He made every effort to strengthen the construction of the government itself, continuously raised the level of law-based administration, changed working methods and work styles, and enhanced the transparency of government work.
After becoming Premier of the State Council, Comrade Zhu Rongji also concurrently served as director of the Central Special Committee, director of the State Commission for Restructuring the Economic System, head of the State Leading Group for Science, Technology and Education, director of the Three Gorges Project Construction Committee of the State Council, director of the State National Defense Mobilization Committee, and head of the State Council Leading Group for Western Development, devoting great efforts in the fields of economic system reform, science and technology, education, western development, and the defense industry. He adhered to the strategies of rejuvenating the country through science and education and strengthening the country through human resource development, increased investment in science, technology, and education, improved the national science and technology evaluation system and reward system, initially established effective mechanisms for the transformation and industrialization of scientific and technological achievements, optimized institutional measures for the training, introduction, and use of talent, and continuously improved the capacity for scientific and technological innovation and the quality of the people. He promoted the implementation of the western development strategy, actively developed distinctive economies and advantageous industries, strengthened economic exchanges and cooperation among the eastern, central, and western regions, and successively organized and implemented a number of major engineering projects such as the West-to-East Power Transmission, the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, and the West-to-East Gas Transmission, effectively promoting economic development and social progress in the western region.
During the period when Comrade Zhu Rongji served as Vice Premier and Premier of the State Council, China was in a critical period of transition from the planned economy system to the socialist market economy system. Under the strong leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Jiang Zemin at its core, he organized and implemented a series of major reforms and promoted the establishment of the basic framework of the socialist market economy system. He presided over the reform of the fiscal and tax systems, comprehensively implemented a major tax reform centered on fair tax burden and simplified tax system, implemented a tax-sharing fiscal system based on a reasonable division of powers between the central and local governments, established central and local tax systems, promoted a turnover tax system with value-added tax as the mainstay and business tax and consumption tax as supplements, consolidated and integrated income taxes, and effectively enhanced the government's capacity for macro-control and the provision of basic public services. He actively promoted the reform of the financial system, further standardized the functions of the central bank, strengthened financial supervision, promoted the transformation of specialized state banks into commercial banks, established policy banks, organized the establishment of urban cooperative banks in large and medium-sized cities where conditions permitted, and promoted the establishment of a national financial market system that is unified, open, orderly competitive, and strictly managed. He took the reform of state-owned enterprises as the central link of economic system reform, accelerated the establishment of a modern enterprise system in accordance with the requirements of "clear property rights, clear rights and responsibilities, separation of government and enterprise, and scientific management," strategically adjusted the layout of the state-owned economy and reorganized state-owned enterprises, reduced the burden and historical baggage of enterprises through measures such as debt-to-equity swaps, raised the level of modern enterprise management, basically achieved the goal of the three-year reform and turnaround of state-owned enterprises, and enabled the state-owned economy to better play its leading role in the national economy. He promoted the establishment of a unified, standardized, and complete social security system framework, gradually established the "three lines of protection" system of basic livelihood security for laid-off workers from state-owned enterprises, unemployment insurance, and minimum livelihood security for urban residents, required the full and timely payment of basic living allowances to laid-off workers from state-owned enterprises and the full and timely payment of basic pensions to retired enterprise personnel without any discount, made every effort to promote the reemployment of laid-off and unemployed workers, deepened the reform of the basic old-age insurance system for urban workers, the basic medical insurance system, and the medical and health system, and provided strong support for maintaining social stability and promoting economic development. He solidly promoted the reform of the housing system, gradually implemented the monetization of housing distribution, established and improved a multi-level urban housing supply system, and accelerated the resolution of housing problems for urban residents with housing difficulties. He continuously deepened the reform of the grain circulation system, implemented the purchase of surplus grain from farmers at protective prices without restriction, the sale of grain at profitable prices by state-owned grain purchase and marketing enterprises, and the closed operation of grain purchase funds, and gradually opened up the grain purchase market and prices in major grain-consuming areas. He presided over the completion of the arduous negotiations for China's accession to the World Trade Organization, promoted the expansion of opening up in breadth and depth, won broader development space for China, and had a profound impact on promoting economic system reform and modernization.
Comrade Zhu Rongji was full of deep affection for the people, always kept the sufferings of the masses in mind, and emphasized that government workers should always remember that they are public servants of the people and must not seek privileges, and he put forward "three rules of appointment" (约法三章) regarding domestic inspections, streamlining meetings, and participation in routine activities. He was realistic and pragmatic, enterprising, dared to tell the truth, was not afraid of offending people, took the initiative with a strong sense of responsibility to shoulder heavy burdens and gnaw hard bones, and went all out to seek benefits for the people and do practical things. He paid attention to investigation and research, was good at listening to the voices of the masses, mobilized and brought into play the enthusiasm of all sides, personally went to the front line on many occasions to direct and command flood fighting and disaster relief work, and emphasized that ensuring the safety of people's lives must be placed first and that every effort should be made to reduce losses. He donated all the proceeds from his books to poverty alleviation, helping the needy, and supporting education, providing assistance to students in rural compulsory education schools and students with special difficulties.
In March 2003, Comrade Zhu Rongji no longer served as Premier of the State Council. After retiring from his leadership position, he resolutely supported and upheld the Party Central Committee with Comrade Hu Jintao as General Secretary, and since the 18th CPC National Congress, he has resolutely supported and upheld the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, has always been concerned about the great cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and firmly supported the construction of a clean and honest Party and the fight against corruption.
Comrade Zhu Rongji was an alternate member of the 13th CPC Central Committee and a member of the Central Committee, member of the Political Bureau, and member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the 14th and 15th CPC Central Committees.
In his revolutionary career of more than 70 years, Comrade Zhu Rongji was always loyal to the Party, loyal to the people, and loyal to the cause of communism. He had firm communist ideals and convictions and strong Party spirit, stressed politics, took the overall situation into account, always placed the interests of the Party and the people first, and worked diligently and unremittingly for the cause of the Party and the people. He earnestly studied Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, the important thought of Three Represents, and the Scientific Outlook on Development, deeply studied and implemented Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, resolutely implemented the Party's line, principles, and policies, and unswervingly maintained a high degree of consistency with the Party Central Committee in thought, politics, and action. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, he has firmly established the political consciousness, the consciousness of the overall situation, the core consciousness, and the consciousness of alignment, resolutely safeguarded General Secretary Xi Jinping's core position in the Party Central Committee and the whole Party, and resolutely safeguarded the authority of the Party Central Committee and its centralized, unified leadership. He adhered to seeking truth from facts, proceeded from reality in everything, and creatively applied the Marxist stand, viewpoint, and method to analyze problems, solve problems, guide practice, and promote work. He upheld truth and principles, had a strong political acumen and political discernment, took a clear-cut stand on major issues of right and wrong, and truly achieved loyalty to the Party, sharing the Party's concerns, fulfilling his duties for the Party, and benefiting the people. He was diligent in self-cultivation, strict with himself, clean and honest, open and aboveboard, strict in his demands on his family members and staff around him, resolutely opposed corruption and unhealthy practices, and always maintained the political character of a Communist. He respected knowledge and talent, cared about comrades and cherished cadres, and was deeply respected and loved by the broad masses of cadres and the people.
Comrade Zhu Rongji's life was a life of revolution, a life of struggle, a glorious life, a life of serving the people wholeheartedly and devoting himself to the cause of communism. His passing is a great loss to the Party and the state. We must turn grief into strength, learn from his revolutionary spirit, noble character, and fine work style, unite more closely around the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, hold high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics, fully implement Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, deeply understand the decisive significance of the "Two Establishments," strengthen the "Four Consciousnesses," firm up the "Four Confidences," and achieve the "Two Upholds," strengthen confidence and unite as one, and strive together for the comprehensive advancement of the building of a strong country and the great cause of national rejuvenation through Chinese-style modernization.
Comrade Zhu Rongji will live forever in our hearts!
(Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, August 18)
Return to TopMacau, August 18 (Reporters: Fu Zimei) — The Macau SAR Government officially published on the 18th the Third Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Macau Special Administrative Region (2026–2030), setting out the goals for Macau's economic and social development over the next five years.
A press conference was held that afternoon at the SAR Government Headquarters, attended jointly by the Chief Executive of the SAR, Sam Hou Fai, and the principal officials of the SAR Government's Administration and Justice Secretariat, Economy and Finance Secretariat, Security Secretariat, Social Affairs and Culture Secretariat, and Transport and Public Works Secretariat.
Sam Hou Fai stated that the Macau SAR Government has thoroughly implemented the spirit of the series of important speeches and important instructions of President Xi Jinping, established a leading group and dedicated work teams, extensively conducted a total of 40 sessions of preliminary research, and completed 36 special-topic studies, laying a scientific and public-opinion foundation for the drafting of the plan. Macau's "Third Five-Year Plan" fully reflects scientificity, forward-looking vision, and feasibility; fully reflects and gives play to the advantages of executive leadership; fully reflects integration into and service of the national development strategy; and fully reflects democratic consultation and the凝聚 of broad social consensus. In the next step, the SAR Government will also, through formulating lists of key projects, division of responsibilities for key work, and major reform measures, refine task deployment, strengthen primary responsibilities, and ensure the orderly advancement and implementation of the plan.
He said that the "Third Five-Year Plan" is an important innovative measure for Macau to deepen the practice of "one country, two systems" and to integrate into and serve the national development strategy. The national "15th Five-Year Plan" has made new deployments and new demands on Macau, providing new major opportunities. The SAR Government has proactively positioned and planned Macau within the overall context of the nation's development, and actively implemented the deployments concerning Macau in the national "15th Five-Year Plan."
The "Third Five-Year Plan" consists of 10 parts, 36 chapters, and 68 special columns, totaling approximately 86,000 characters. The plan sets out eight major development goals: the holistic approach to national security is comprehensively implemented; the effectiveness of law-based governance is further enhanced; substantive new progress is made in appropriate economic diversification; the construction of the Hengqin Cooperation Zone advances with high quality; results emerge in the integrated development of education, science and technology, and talent; residents' welfare is effectively safeguarded and gradually optimized; important progress is made in building a beautiful and smart Macau; and Macau better integrates into and serves the national development strategy.
Sam Hou Fai stated that the "Third Five-Year Plan" is the roadmap and task book for Macau's march toward a new stage of high-quality development. In the next five years, Macau will focus on advancing four major tasks: taking the four major engineering projects and the government guidance fund as the starting point, solidly advancing appropriate economic diversification; deepening the integrated development of Macau and Hengqin, and advancing the construction of the Hengqin Cooperation Zone with high quality; accelerating urban renewal and building a beautiful and smart Macau; and strengthening internal connectivity and external openness, to better integrate into and serve the national development strategy.
He stated that the SAR Government will unite and lead all sectors of Macau society, doing the implementation work of the plan down-to-earth, one task after another, one year after another, promoting the realization of the beautiful visions of a "rule-of-law Macau," a "vibrant Macau," a "cultural Macau," and a "happy Macau," and opening up a new situation of high-quality development in the practice of "one country, two systems" with Macau characteristics.
According to the introduction, the SAR Government conducted public consultation on the "Third Five-Year Plan" from May 20 to June 28, soliciting opinions from all sectors of society, and received a total of 1,716 submissions containing 8,230 opinions. The official text of the plan has incorporated opinions and suggestions, adding approximately 30,000 characters compared to the consultation text.
Return to TopReported from Beijing, August 18 (Reporter Ding Yasong (丁雅诵)): The reporter learned from the Ministry of Education that recently, the Ministry of Education and the National Language Commission (国家语委), together with the All-China Women's Federation (全国妇联) and the National Ethnic Affairs Commission (国家民委), held in Xinjiang the "Carry Forward Good Family Traditions, Jointly Build the Family-Nation Dream" (传承好家风 共筑家国梦) demonstration event for families in ethnic regions to learn and use the national common language and script.
This year marks the year in which the Law of the People's Republic of China on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress (中华人民共和国民族团结进步促进法) and the newly revised Law of the People's Republic of China on the Standard Spoken and Written Chinese Language (中华人民共和国国家通用语言文字法) were officially implemented. This event aims to enhance the awareness and ability of youth and family members in ethnic regions to use the national common language and script. During the event, family representatives from various ethnic groups took the stage together and, through rich and varied forms, demonstrated the achievements of learning and using the national common language and script, evoking strong resonance among the audience at the scene.
Return to TopOur newspaper Nanjing, August 18 (Reporter Yao Xueqing (姚雪青)). Recently, Jiangsu issued and promulgated the Implementation Opinions on Highlighting Market Orientation and Building a Highland for the Transformation of Scientific and Technological Achievements (《关于突出市场导向建设科技成果转化高地的实施意见》), which puts forward 20 measures from 6 aspects — enhancing the supply of high-quality scientific and technological achievements, excavating and activating the value of scientific and technological achievements, building strong market-oriented technology transfer institutions, expanding the professional technology manager workforce, building high-energy-level platforms for the transformation of scientific and technological achievements, and comprehensively deepening reform empowerment for the transformation of scientific and technological achievements — and is accompanied by 22 supporting policies, further breaking the difficulties of being "unwilling to transform" and "unable to transform" in the transformation of scientific and technological achievements. The implementation opinions will take effect on August 21.
The implementation opinions clarify that Jiangsu will enhance the supply of high-quality scientific and technological achievements, build the Zijin Mountain Innovation Belt (紫金山创新带) from a high starting point, build the Wusong River Science and Innovation Belt (吴淞江科创带) at a high level, build university-surrounding innovation and entrepreneurship clusters with high quality, and cultivate future industry pioneering development clusters 因地制宜 (yīn dì zhì yí - "adjust measures to local conditions," to act according to local circumstances); implement the "enterprises pose questions, joint problem-solving" model, support leading enterprises in establishing research institutes and taking the lead in establishing joint basic research funds; highlight the industry innovation orientation, with scientists and entrepreneurs jointly studying major technological issues, and encourage enterprises, universities, and research institutes to jointly carry out "chokepoint" (卡脖子) technology breakthroughs.
Return to TopBy: 韩 鑫 游 仪 薛子怡
Have you noticed that the passenger bus services around you have changed — boarding points are no longer at passenger stations, and you can conveniently board at subway entrances; the vehicle type is no longer a single large coach, with mini-buses gradually becoming the mainstay; routes are no longer fixed, flexible enough to provide "door-to-door" exclusive services...
The recently released China Custom Passenger Transport Development Report (2025) shows that during the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, the number of custom passenger transport routes grew at an average annual rate of 36.9%. As of the end of last year, approximately 3,600 scheduled bus passenger transport enterprises nationwide had deployed over 70,000 operating vehicles and opened more than 11,000 custom passenger transport service routes, a year-on-year increase of about 25%, driving a substantial increase in highway commercial passenger volume.
How did the once-silent bus passenger transport become "customized," and why did it "make a comeback"? Recently, reporters visited multiple localities to investigate the transformation and upgrading of bus passenger transport.
Cross-departmental coordination —
Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei custom express buses bring the "one-hour commuting circle" around Beijing into reality
By the banks of the Chaobai River, greeting the morning light, the town of Yanjiao in Langfang, Hebei, awakens. At the entrance of the Hawaii Blue Bay residential community, commuters heading to Beijing gather in small groups, waiting for the arrival of a bus.
Security check, ID card swipe, facial recognition verification... At 6:30, the bus arrives punctually. Han Yun, a woman born in the 1980s, deftly completes the entire process and quickly boards the coach bound for Beijing Guomao.
"With this custom express bus, my commuting happiness has greatly improved!" Living in Yanjiao, Hebei, and working in Beijing Guomao, Han Yun has commuted across provinces for six years and has deep insight into the changes in travel —
In the past, carpooling round trips were expensive and time was not guaranteed; squeezing onto regular buses was even more exhausting, whether you got a seat depended on luck, and a one-way trip took at least an hour and a half.
Now, the custom express bus offers one person one seat, tickets are booked in advance on the mini-program, boarding is at the community gate, vehicle location updates in real time, and it reaches Guomao directly in one hour, with the 18-yuan fare also affordable.
The code to the upgrade is hidden in the word "custom."
How stops are set and how schedules are arranged are no longer decided by the operator alone, but by the passengers. More than 100,000 valid questionnaires,叠加 hundreds of face-to-face exchanges, have precisely captured the needs of "commuters" and mapped them into the operating chart.
"The 'Jingu Aishuhe' (金谷爱舒荷) stop was added in the past two years in response to the needs of surrounding residents," said driver Wang Ying, who has long worked the route from the three northern counties of Langfang, Hebei, into Beijing. "Since the route was piloted in 2022, stops have expanded from just a handful at the beginning to multiple large residential communities," Wang Ying introduced.
Behind custom passenger transport lies a cross-regional collaborative innovation.
"The custom express bus connects Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei, involving multiple departments such as transport, public security, and urban management. Through the establishment of a coordination mechanism, barriers of administration, region, and resources have been broken down," said a relevant official of the Beijing Municipal Commission of Transport. The resulting "Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Custom Express Bus" service platform possesses multiple advantages — the transport departments of the three localities have established a normalized coordination mechanism, opened green channels for rapid approval of new routes, and routine stop optimization only requires filing; the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Intercity Bus Service Co., Ltd. has built a unified service platform, where passengers' information verification is completed upon online ticket purchase, and entry checkpoints into Beijing are "inspection-free" for direct passage; custom express buses have been approved to use bus lanes, further speeding up urban sections...
Twelve main lines and 60 branch lines have been fully rolled out, covering multiple localities and extending to Xiong'an New Area, with an average daily passenger volume of over 10,000 person-trips. The "acceleration" achieved by the custom express buses is hastening the realization of the "one-hour commuting circle" around Beijing.
"The reason custom passenger transport has won market recognition and achieved rapid development lies in its breaking of the traditional scheduled bus model of 'vehicles enter stations, people return to fixed points,' and its construction of a more flexible and precise 'door-to-door, point-to-point' service system," said a relevant official of the Research Institute of Highway, Ministry of Transport. In 2025, nine custom passenger transport service platforms including the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Custom Express Bus integrated the capacity resources of 1,495 passenger transport enterprises nationwide, set up 98,900 stops, completed over 78 million custom passenger transport trips throughout the year, and completed a transaction volume of nearly 2.8 billion yuan.
Scenario-based services —
Station buses let traditional passenger transport ride the internet express
In the tropical botanical garden of Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, a bus painted in the colorful hues of the rainforest is particularly eye-catching. The interior is decorated with simulated greenery and plush toys, making passengers feel as if they have stepped into a miniature "tropical rainforest."
This is the immersive rainforest-themed station bus "Heart of the Rainforest" (雨林之心), jointly created by Didi and the Xishuangbanna Nakunman Transport Company. It was welcomed by passengers as soon as it launched last December.
Driver Wang Wenjin introduced that more than a year ago, the long-distance buses he often drove between Kunming and Jinghong were basically suspended, and his income dropped accordingly. Now, he is the dedicated driver of this themed bus, with a monthly income of over 5,000 yuan.
The change comes from a complementarity of strengths between online and offline. With "Didi Bus" as the landing point, passenger transport companies provide vehicles, drivers, and operating qualifications, while Didi provides support through technology and traffic, empowering routes and capacity with data, and intelligently planning and dynamically adjusting schedules, stops, and routes. Under this model, cooperative passenger transport enterprises have shifted from the previous fixed-route operation model to an "internet + passenger transport" model.
Taking the "Heart of the Rainforest" tourism-themed route as an example, over the past year, it has carried over 380,000 passengers, with a vehicle load factor of around 80%, and during the peak tourism season, tickets are even hard to come by.
This new model, explored through cooperation between internet platforms and traditional passenger transport enterprises, is allowing traditional buses to drive into the depths of life in a new form —
In Lishui, Zhejiang, the "medical treatment special line" passes through the East Campus of Lishui People's Hospital and has dedicated boarding and alighting points, facilitating medical travel for residents of surrounding counties and cities.
In Nanning, Guangxi, two student-specific routes, Nanning to Wuming University Town and Nanning to Fusui, offer low fares and cover multiple subway stations, effectively solving the commuting pain points of university students.
In Xingtai, Hebei, Xingtai Jiaojian Huaying Intercity Bus has cooperated with Didi to launch online ticket purchase services for intercity night buses, providing safe and economical new travel options for citizens commuting at night or returning from other cities.
Precisely matching travel needs with scenario-based services has become an important path for the rapid growth of custom passenger transport. The report shows that in 2025, custom passenger transport service platforms, in conjunction with passenger transport enterprises, developed multiple special service routes around high-frequency travel scenarios such as commuting, medical treatment, tourism, and school commuting, better meeting passengers' scenario-based, precise, and differentiated travel needs, and enhancing the passenger travel experience and satisfaction.
Digital upgrade —
Convenience express buses meet diverse travel needs
In Chongqing Liangjiang New Area, as dusk falls, at Min'an Avenue Rail Transit Station, an orange electric bus bearing the "convenience express bus" logo pulls in steadily.
"Get off the subway, get on the bus — very convenient." Zhang, a man in his 60s, said that in the morning he takes this bus to Chongqing to eat hotpot and spend the day, then returns the same way in the evening to Wuguiqiao bus stop in Chengdu. "100 yuan round trip, very comfortable!"
Wuguiqiao Station is a landmark of the old Chengdu-Chongqing passenger transport corridor.
In 1995, when the Chengdu-Chongqing Expressway opened to traffic, the Wuguiqiao Chengdu Bus Terminal was put into operation simultaneously, and Chengdu-Chongqing buses became the main mode of transport connecting the two cities. At its peak, as many as 100 buses ran between Wuguiqiao and Chongqing, carrying up to 3,000 passengers in a single day.
Twenty years later, when the Chengdu-Chongqing High-Speed Railway opened, long-distance bus transport began to decline, with passenger volume plummeting from a peak of 5.8 million per year to 380,000 in 2022. In June 2023, after 28 years of operation, Wuguiqiao Station closed entirely, and the Chengdu-Chongqing long-distance route fell silent.
The turning point came this year. On June 26, the Chengdu-Chongqing round-trip convenience express bus officially began operation. Wuguiqiao Station, once "eliminated" by high-speed rail, has returned in a new guise as a custom passenger transport stop.
From a bleak "exit" to a renewed "entrance," how did this bus route achieve "rebirth"?
"Traditional passenger transport lost to high-speed rail not just in speed, but even more in model," said Wan Yuesheng, deputy general manager of Chengdu Fulin Changyun Group Co., Ltd. Compared with traditional passenger transport, the convenience express bus has lighter assets, is closer to demand, and offers high cost-performance. By shedding the huge operating costs of stations, flexibly setting stops at transport hubs, and switching to new energy vehicles, the cost savings feed back into low fares, enabling sustainable enterprise operation.
Behind the cost reduction and quality improvement, digitalization is taking effect.
"Relying on the 'Tianfu Xing' (天府行) online platform, the convenience express bus uses big data to precisely empower customized operations," Wan Yuesheng introduced. Based on passenger flow distribution data, the express bus has eliminated remote stations, set up convenient stops at subway hubs, residential areas, and commercial districts, achieving nearby boarding and convenient connections; in addition, it has abandoned the fixed-route model, dynamically optimizing routes in response to passenger flow changes, achieving flexible route adjustment. In the more than one month since operations resumed, the Chengdu-Chongqing convenience express bus has carried nearly 80,000 passengers, with a seat occupancy rate of over 80%.
"Digital upgrading is the key to the smooth operation of the convenience express bus," said a relevant official of the China Road Transport Association. By integrating digital technology into multiple links such as product design, traffic introduction, and vehicle dispatch, operational efficiency has been greatly improved. At present, 27 provinces and more than 300 passenger transport enterprises have organized "convenience express bus" brand promotion work on over 600 passenger transport routes.
Looking at a deeper level, the "rebirth" of the route is rooted in diverse travel needs. "High-speed rail is fast, buses are more economical. The re-entry of the convenience bus forms a differentiated complement with high-speed rail, giving citizens more choices," Wan Yuesheng said. The next step will be to explore intelligent customer service, intelligent scheduling, and passenger flow forecasting, using data to drive operational decisions.
High-speed rail carries the efficiency of long-distance travel; buses satisfy the diversity of daily life. When different travel needs are met at differentiated levels, the distance between cities will draw ever closer. Bus passenger transport is not merely making a return — it will usher in new development opportunities.
Return to TopBeijing, August 18 (Our newspaper) (reporter Liu Shiyao) — The reporter learned from CAS Space (中科宇航) that recently, the Lixun-1 upper stage independently developed by CAS Space successfully completed a series of power system tests, and is planned for first flight in the first quarter of next year.
The so-called upper stage is like a "space ferry." It is generally installed between the rocket and the spacecraft it carries. After the rocket sends them into space, the upper stage completes the subsequent satellite orbit insertion work, and the "passenger" satellites are delivered one by one by the upper stage to the designated "stops."
Yang Haoliang, chief designer of CAS Space's Lixun-1 upper stage, introduced that launch vehicles configured with upper stages mainly target several types of typical launch scenarios: first, high-orbit satellite launches, such as geostationary orbit communication satellites; second, one-rocket-multiple-satellite constellation networking missions, batch-launching multiple satellites in different orbits; third, deep space exploration missions, sending probes into Earth-Moon and Earth-Mars transfer orbits; fourth, non-standard orbit launches at special inclinations and special altitudes. The base stage of an ordinary rocket can only send payloads into a low-Earth parking orbit and cannot directly reach the target position, so the upper stage is needed to continue completing the orbital mission.
Yang Haoliang stated that adding an upper stage can solve launch difficulties in multiple aspects.
First, it solves the problem of the limited orbit insertion capability of the rocket's base stage. After the rocket's base stage completes flight within the atmosphere and exhausts its fuel, the upper stage can ignite multiple times in space for orbit changes, sending payloads to higher and farther orbits.
Second, it can save the satellite's own propellant. If relying on the satellite's own engine to climb orbit, a large amount of fuel would be consumed, greatly shortening the on-orbit lifespan; with the upper stage completing the orbit raising, the satellite's working years are effectively extended.
Third, it can solve the problem of one-rocket-multiple-satellite distribution. The upper stage can be switched on and off multiple times, and through multiple orbit changes, distribute multiple satellites to orbits of different altitudes and different inclinations, achieving rapid constellation networking. At the same time, launch missions can be optimized; some missions can directly send payloads into target orbits, shortening the satellite orbit insertion and commissioning period. After the mission ends, the upper stage can also carry out controlled de-orbit disposal, reducing space debris, and enhancing the safety and reliability of launch missions.
After several consecutive months of testing, the Lixun-1 upper stage has accumulated 5,211 seconds of engine ignition test firing, marking that it has met the conditions for transitioning to the flight test phase.
Yang Haoliang stated that the Lijian-2 series rockets paired with the Lixun-1 upper stage will greatly expand the boundaries of rocket missions, filling the gap in the deep space exploration capability of medium and large commercial rockets. This combination can also undertake customized launch missions for special orbits, covering the needs of the vast majority of commercial satellite launches, while also possessing the capability to participate in major national aerospace engineering applications.
Return to TopXinhua News Agency, Shenyang, August 18 — The 2026 "Voices of Childhood in China" national children's and youth singing event's centralized performance was held on the 18th in Shenyang, Liaoning Province. Children's and youth singing teams from across the country used their heavenly, pure voices to sing the main theme of the era of loving the Party, loving the country, and loving socialism, vividly displaying the spirited and upward-looking demeanor of the new era's children and youth.
The centralized performance was composed of segments including "Passing the Torch from Generation to Generation · A Red Heart Devoted to the Party," "Poetic Years · Happy Growth," and "A Strong Nation Has Me · Striving to Be Pillars of Talent," presenting a children's and youth themed activity with a distinct theme and rich content through forms such as live singing and video exhibitions.
Throughout the entire event, the children's voices were clear and bright, moving and beautiful, displaying the contemporary children and youth's spiritual outlook of loving the Party and the country, being diligent and eager to learn, and developing in an all-around manner. The children present expressed one after another that participating in this activity was very meaningful, and that in the future they will not fear hardship, will work hard and strive, will temper their will, and will practice their skills well, building the motherland into an even more prosperous and strong nation.
It was learned that the activity has been held continuously for three years, and this year attracted more than 80,000 singing teams to participate. This activity was jointly hosted by the Central Spiritual Civilization Construction Office, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League, the All-China Women's Federation, the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, and the National Working Committee for Children and Youth, and was undertaken by the Sports and Youth Programs Center of China Media Group, the Publicity Department of the CPC Liaoning Provincial Committee, and the Liaoning Provincial Spiritual Civilization Construction Office.
Zhuhai, August 18 (Reporter He Linping) — The reporter learned from the Zhuhai General Station of Exit-Entry Frontier Inspection (珠海出入境边防检查总站) that, with the approval of the China Immigration Administration (中国出入境管理局), starting from 00:00 on August 18, the three joint-inspection ports of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, Hengqin (横琴), and Qingmao (青茂) officially implemented three facilitation measures optimizing the "joint inspection, one-time release" inspection model, enhancing the passenger clearance experience and further facilitating the movement of people in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
The three facilitation measures include: optimizing the method for Hong Kong and Macao residents to present and verify documents, expanding the scope of personnel eligible to use the cooperative fast lanes, and expanding the scope of personnel eligible to use the "joint one-stop" lanes. Since the "joint inspection, one-time release" inspection model was first launched at the Zhuhai highway port of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge in 2018, it has been replicated and extended to the Hengqin and Qingmao ports, with the applicable population and application fields continuously expanding. At present, the clearance time for a single vehicle through the "joint one-stop" lanes at Hengqin Port has been compressed from the original 8 minutes to within 90 seconds.
To ensure the smooth implementation of the measures, the Zhuhai General Station of Frontier Inspection has, together with relevant Macao departments, completed work including adjustment and testing of the inspection systems, personnel training, and updating of on-site signage.
Return to TopOur newspaper Hefei, August 18 (Reporter Xu Jing). The reporter learned from Anhui Agricultural University: at the 32nd National Soybean Research and Production Symposium, the soybean-domain vertical large model "Fengshu" (丰菽) 2.0, jointly developed by the university's Soybean Intelligent Design Breeding Innovation Team and the Institute of Crop Sciences of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (中国农业科学院作物科学研究所), was officially released.
The model has constructed China's first generative artificial intelligence breeding platform oriented toward the full life cycle of soybeans, and is expected to promote the transformation of soybean breeding from reliance on experience to data-assisted decision-making, providing a new technical path for increasing soybean yield per unit area.
According to the introduction, "Fengshu" 2.0 integrates six functional modules — Bean Encyclopedia, Bean Molecules, Bean Literature, Bean Diseases, Bean Phenotypes, and Bean Breeding — aggregating multi-source data including soybean core germplasm resources, genomes, phenotypic images, and research texts, and constructing a "multi-source verification — intelligent fusion — trustworthy output" knowledge and technical architecture. Facing the same soybean professional question, different models can each conduct independent analysis separately, and then the "Fengshu" summary module, combining domain knowledge, private data, and expert rules, conducts structured comparison and comprehensive assessment of the consensus, differences, and evidence completeness in the answers, effectively reducing the answer deviation of a single model and outputting clearer and more reliable professional conclusions.
After optimization, researchers only need to photograph soybean leaves or plants with their mobile phones to rely on the large model for disease diagnosis and phenotypic feature extraction, achieving "snap and diagnose" (随拍随诊); at the same time, the data barrier between the computer end and the mobile end has been broken through, and breeding trial records, molecular marker-assisted breeding data, and candidate gene functional analysis results can be synchronized in real time in the cloud, facilitating research teams to conduct virtual combination design and data retrieval anytime and anywhere.
At present, "Fengshu" 2.0 can assist in core scenario applications around important soybean agronomic traits, including disease diagnosis, breeding parent screening, virtual combination design, phenotypic data analysis, molecular marker-assisted breeding, and candidate gene functional analysis, and can significantly improve the efficiency of research data processing, reduce repetitive work, and achieve intelligent mining of superior alleles and virtual design of optimal parent combinations.
During the summer vacation period, inside the Librairie Avant-Garde Shaxi Bai Ethnic Bookstore in Beilong Village, Shaxi Ancient Town, Jianchuan County, Dali, Yunnan, customers are reading books. The Librairie Avant-Garde Shaxi Bai Ethnic Bookstore was converted from an old grain warehouse; within its tall and spacious building, books covering an entire wall present a magnificent sight, making it a cultural landmark of Shaxi Ancient Town. As the bookstore gained popularity, Beilong Village has welcomed many tourists, driving the development of the village. Photo by Zi Jingchun (Images of China).
Return to TopYinchuan, August 18 (Reporter Jiao Siyu (焦思雨)) — Recently, the National Intellectual Property Administration (国家知识产权局) issued Announcement No. 687, granting geographical indication product recognition and implementing protection for products including "Ningxia Caixin" (宁夏菜心). This marks the smooth conversion of "Ningxia Caixin" from an agricultural product geographical indication to a geographical indication product, adding another national-level intellectual property "business card" for Ningxia's characteristic agricultural products.
According to the protection requirements for geographical indication products, the production area of "Ningxia Caixin" covers 18 counties (cities, districts) across 5 prefecture-level cities in Ningxia, stipulating quality requirements including variety, site conditions, cultivation management, product harvesting, sensory characteristics, and physicochemical indicators. The Ningxia Plain has fertile soil and large diurnal temperature differences, providing 得天独厚 (dé tiān dú hòu - "obtaining heaven's unique generosity," blessed with exceptionally favorable natural conditions) conditions for producing high-quality caixin. The growing period of caixin is fully extended, forming a unique quality of fine fibers, refreshing sweetness, and crisp tenderness.
Next, the Market Supervision and Administration Department (Intellectual Property Administration) of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region (宁夏回族自治区市场监督管理厅（知识产权局）) will coordinate with the agriculture and rural affairs department to plan and implement the construction of protection systems for "Ningxia Caixin" including the standard system, testing system, and quality assurance system, adopting the development model of "geographical indication leadership + brand drive + industrial upgrading," enabling Ningxia's cool-climate vegetables to reach broader domestic and international markets, and promoting the quality improvement and efficiency enhancement of Ningxia's modern characteristic agriculture.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 李心萍
The State Council's Decision on Amending the Regulations on the Administration of the Housing Provident Fund (hereinafter referred to as the Decision) has been promulgated and will take effect on September 20, 2026. What amendments does the Regulations on the Administration of the Housing Provident Fund (hereinafter referred to as the Regulations) undergo? What impact will it have on housing consumption? A reporter conducted interviews.
Broader Scope of Use
Shifting Toward Supporting Full-Cycle Housing Consumption
"One of the key elements of the Decision is broadening the scope of housing provident fund withdrawal and use, to better meet the diversified housing consumption needs of contributors," said a person in charge of the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development.
Specifically, the circumstances for housing provident fund withdrawal have been expanded from 6 categories to 9. The 3 newly added categories are: first, renovating a self-occupied dwelling; second, paying property management fees for a self-occupied dwelling; third, other housing consumption circumstances approved by the State Council. The 1 amended category is: revising "where rent exceeds the prescribed proportion of family wage income" to "paying rent," strengthening support for renting.
What considerations underlie the expansion of the scope of use?
The demand for housing consumption has changed. Qin Hong, senior researcher at the National Academy of Development and Strategy of Renmin University of China, analyzed that in the past period, the principal contradiction in the real estate market was aggregate shortage, and the housing provident fund focused on home purchase loans, effectively supporting many families' dream of "settled dwelling."
At present, the per capita floor space of housing for urban residents in China has exceeded 40 square meters, and housing development has entered a stage where both increments and existing stock are emphasized. "Simultaneous development of renting and purchasing" is an important element of the new model of real estate development. "It can be said that people's housing needs have shifted from 'whether one has it' to 'whether it is good,' not only pursuing living space but also placing greater emphasis on quality improvement needs such as renovation of old residential communities and age-friendly renovation," Qin Hong said.
Therefore, the housing provident fund's original function centered on home purchase loans can no longer easily meet the people's diversified housing consumption needs.
"After the amendment, the provident fund will form all-round housing consumption support for contributors in purchasing, renting, repairing, and maintaining housing," introduced Pu Zhan, deputy director of the Policy Research Center of the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development. The housing provident fund has achieved a transformation from mainly supporting home purchase and renting to supporting full-cycle housing consumption of "renting, purchasing, repairing, and maintaining."
It is worth noting that this revision also reserves room for reform in the future scope of housing provident fund use.
"In the past, the Regulations adopted an enumerative approach to withdrawal and use, with a limited scope of use," Pu Zhan introduced. This revision adds "other housing consumption circumstances approved by the State Council" as a catch-all provision, enabling the scope of housing provident fund withdrawal to respond more flexibly to changes in contributors' housing consumption and leaving room for expanding the scope of use in the future.
Expanded Coverage
Flexible Employment Workers May Voluntarily Participate in the Housing Provident Fund System
Another breakthrough in this revision is expanding the coverage of contributions. Individually owned businesses, part-time workers, and other flexible employment workers may voluntarily participate in the housing provident fund system.
At present, China's population and employment structures have undergone relatively major changes, the platform economy and new forms of employment are developing rapidly, and the scale of new employment groups in flexible employment is growing quickly. Therefore, it is necessary to improve and perfect the housing provident fund contribution mechanism to help flexible employment workers solve their housing problems.
In 2021, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development launched a pilot program for flexible employment workers to participate in the housing provident fund system.
Taking Yichang, Hubei as an example, food delivery riders, couriers, ride-hailing drivers, online streamers, freelancers, and casual laborers can all apply to participate in the housing provident fund. Their contribution methods are divided into two types: monthly contributions and flexible contributions. The two modes can be changed at any time and take effect in real time.
"My wife and I, as long as we both open accounts and contribute for one month, can apply for a housing provident fund loan, and can also enjoy a subsidy of 3% of the loan amount," said Li Zhizheng, a food delivery rider. Each person also receives a 100-yuan account-opening red envelope.
Data show that at present, more than 2 million flexible employment workers in 36 pilot cities have participated in the housing provident fund system. After the new version of the Regulations is implemented, the inclusiveness of the system will be further enhanced.
The person in charge of the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development stated that, taking into account the actual circumstances of the flexible employment group and differences in regional development levels, the Decision adheres to respecting the will of flexible employment workers on the issue of expanding the coverage of the housing provident fund system, without imposing coercion or a "one-size-fits-all" approach. At the same time, it authorizes local people's governments at or above the level of cities divided into districts to formulate specific measures.
Convenient Use
Achieving Nationwide Mutual Recognition and Mutual Trust of Housing Provident Fund Contribution Records
Another key point of this revision lies in optimizing the use procedures of the housing provident fund, making housing provident fund services more convenient and more efficient.
For example, the Decision shortens the time limit for the housing provident fund management center to approve loans from 15 days from the date of accepting the application to 10 days, and proposes strengthening digital and intelligent construction.
Among these, the most noteworthy point is that the Decision proposes enhancing the efficiency of housing provident fund management services, achieving nationwide mutual recognition and mutual trust of housing provident fund contribution records, and promoting the convenient and efficient handling of businesses such as housing provident fund transfer and continuation and cross-regional loans.
What is mutual recognition and mutual trust?
For example, on May 25, Xi'an, Shaanxi formally achieved mutual recognition and mutual trust of housing provident funds with cities in Qinghai Province. This means that if a contributor has contributed to the housing provident fund in Xining, Qinghai for a full 6 months and wants to buy a house in Xi'an, they can directly apply for a housing provident fund loan in Xi'an by relying on the housing provident fund contribution record from Xining, with the loan amount, interest rate standards being completely identical to those for local workers in Xi'an. Throughout the entire process, there is no need to transfer accounts, no need to find a guarantor, and no discount on the loan amount.
"With economic and social development, the cross-regional flow of factors such as contributors and funds is becoming increasingly frequent, and the demand for cross-regional public services is becoming ever more urgent," said Wu Jing, director of the Real Estate Research Center of Tsinghua University. Adding relevant content to the Regulations promotes more convenient and more efficient housing provident fund services.
At present, the Yangtze River Delta region has achieved integrated handling of housing provident fund contribution, lending, and withdrawal across the entire region; multiple cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area have opened cross-city housing provident fund joint handling channels; and Sichuan and Chongqing have cumulatively supported cross-regional housing provident fund loans exceeding 7.1 billion yuan.
Policies Tailored to Each City
Grasping the Balance Between "Doing One's Best" and "Acting Within One's Means"
Carefully examining the new version of the Regulations, many policy details are left to local governments to determine autonomously.
Wu Jing stated that this is to better grasp the balance between "doing one's best" and "acting within one's means."
From January to July this year, more than 60 cities nationwide have adjusted and optimized housing provident fund policies, formulating differentiated policies.
— Meeting age-friendly renovation needs. For example, many places in Gansu stipulate that the withdrawal limit of the housing provident fund for age-friendly renovation can reach up to 100,000 yuan; Shenyang, Liaoning has announced that starting this year, the housing provident fund will be used for age-friendly renovation; Chengdu, Sichuan has clarified that children may withdraw the housing provident fund to install elevators for their parents' residences.
— Expanding usage scenarios. Cities such as Yangzhou and Suqian in Jiangsu have further optimized policies, clarifying that the housing provident fund can be used to pay community property management fees... "The highlight of these usage scenarios lies in the two characters 'people's livelihood,' extending to real and tangible daily matters in living such as heating and property management, allowing the money lying in contributors' accounts to be more directly used to reduce daily burdens," Wu Jing said.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 施 钰
The "15th Five-Year Plan" for Expanding Consumption proposes focusing on consumption experience and cultivating new business forms, new models, and new scenarios of consumption.
Residents' consumption focus is shifting from "buying goods" to "enjoying services" and "valuing experiences." From January to July, retail sales of services grew by 5.0% year on year, and demand for immersive and experience-based consumption continues to be released. This edition launches the "Summer Consumption New Scenarios" series of reports, showcasing the ever-emerging new landscape of consumption.
— Editor
"Keep your center of gravity, look straight ahead, and again!" At the Panda Ski Club store in Rongqiao Waitan No. 1 Mall, Cangshan District, Fuzhou City, Fujian Province, an indoor ski simulator ran at a steady speed, and a club coach was guiding a boy wearing ski protective gear to refine his single-plank edge-change movements.
"These days, reservations for training on the store's two ski simulators are fully booked. The hotter the weather, the busier the store gets," said Liu Ye, head of the ski club. Since the club opened in 2023, foot traffic has grown by an average of 15% annually.
Entering the summer period, indoor skiing has gained popularity in Fujian, also giving rise to new consumption business forms and markets.
Breaking Seasonal Limits
From simulated ski halls to real-snow ski resorts
"I've arranged ski lessons for my child three or four times a week, and after returning home, I accompany her to digest and consolidate what she has learned," said Ms. Zhao, a Fuzhou resident, while watching her daughter practice double-plank skiing movements and listening to the coach explain the essentials. Her 7-year-old daughter has been learning to ski at the ski club for over a year. "Fuzhou doesn't see snow, but I hope my child can experience ice and snow sports."
With the rise of indoor ski resorts, skiing, once limited by season and region, is opening a new track in southern cities.
"Skiing has a certain technical threshold and often requires considerable practice time to ski proficiently," Liu Ye explained. Many parents treat indoor skiing as a long-term quality development program for their children. Of those coming to experience or practice skiing, 70% are teenagers, with children from kindergarten to lower primary school grades being the main group. "All four of the club's experience centers are located in commercial complexes in urban areas, with convenient transportation for consumers to come and exercise."
Indoor simulated ski venues have achieved lightweight and routine consumption of skiing, while real-snow ski resorts better meet consumers' demand for an authentic skiing experience.
Inside the Xue Yi Shi Jie (Snow World) Ski Hall at the Sea World Mall in Huli District, Xiamen City, the temperature drops to minus 6 degrees Celsius, and the 130-meter-long ski slope sends a chill through visitors.
"One ticket includes rental of equipment such as ski suits, skis, and ski boots. Consumers can directly experience skiing with just a pair of warm gloves," said Cao Jiyuan, a coach at the Xue Yi Shi Jie Ski Hall. The ski hall receives about 4,000 visits per week. "We operate from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m."
Ms. Lin, a Xiamen resident, is a regular at Xue Yi Shi Jie and often uses her spare time to practice single-plank skiing. "I'll polish my skills here, and in winter, I'll go to natural snow resorts in the north." On the slope, Ms. Lin rode her single plank down smoothly, the board kicking up fine snow particles. Speaking of her training plan, she was full of confidence.
Audience Continues to Expand
Extending from the youth group to all age groups
The appeal of ice and snow sports is extending from the youth group to all age groups.
"Seeing our child practice so well, we also wanted to try this sport," said Ms. Tan, a Fuzhou resident. After her child had practiced skiing for a year, she and her husband also began learning to ski on indoor ski simulators. "This has become our family's weekend exercise activity."
"At present, a cumulative total of 43,000 people in Fuzhou have experienced indoor skiing." Liu Ye, who is also president of the Fuzhou Skiing Sports Association, noted that the indoor skiing craze among teenagers has effectively driven parents to participate. "We have also launched courses such as parent-child training camps accordingly."
In addition to youth training and parent-child sports, various indoor ski halls are also continuously innovating and exploring more possibilities for consumption scenarios.
Not long ago, third- and fourth-grade students from the Affiliated Primary School of Xiang'an District Teacher Training School in Xiamen City came to Xue Yi Shi Jie for a study tour, where the children experienced the charm of ice and snow sports through science popularization explanations and immersive experiences.
Based on the youth group, ice and snow study tours have become a distinctive consumption growth point.
The microscopic forms of snow, the operating principles of snow groomers, Winter Olympics ice and snow events, low-temperature protection knowledge... a series of interesting science popularization content allowed the children to get close to ice and snow and understand ice and snow sports up close.
"Relying on the ski hall and the snow play hall, we have developed systematic ice and snow science popularization study tour courses to promote and popularize ice and snow sports," introduced the on-site manager of Xue Yi Shi Jie. The venue also offers customized activity products such as member-themed salons and corporate team building. "For different audience groups, we precisely segment needs, create differentiated skiing experience plans, and explore new consumption space."
Connecting Diverse Business Forms
From cross-industry linkage in commercial districts to cross-regional linkage
"Since accompanying my child to practice skiing, our family has also traveled more." This year, Ms. Tan accompanied her child to participate in the Second Fujian Province Youth Skiing Points Series, hosted by the Fujian Provincial Sports Bureau, in cities such as Fuzhou and Xiamen. "After the competition, we would look around locally and take a short trip."
To promote skiing, the Fujian Provincial Sports Bureau has organized provincial-level youth skiing open competitions, youth skiing points series, and other brand events since 2025, building a professional competitive platform for young skiing enthusiasts while also effectively driving cultural tourism consumption around the events.
"This year's points series adopted a three-city, five-stop tour points system, with about 400 young competitors participating, of whom 60% of the children have already competed in four stops, directly driving cross-city family travel consumption," Liu Ye explained. The Panda Ski Club store was also one of the competition venues. "During the competition period, we linked up with surrounding catering merchants through methods such as consumption vouchers, boosting foot traffic in the commercial district."
Xue Yi Shi Jie has similarly launched combined tickets with the surrounding Ferris wheel and VR (virtual reality) experience hall, and has also linked with the Cheng Yi Nature Exploration Hall in Jimei District, Xiamen City, connecting skiing experiences with leisure amusement and technology exploration projects, achieving customer traffic exchange through cross-industry cooperation.
Relying on commercial complexes, various indoor ski venues are actively carrying out cross-industry linkage within commercial districts, and ski venues in various places are also exploring the formation of cross-regional linkage models.
"From ski simulators to real-snow environments, on-site training is essential. Clubs equipped with ski simulators in other places have also established cooperation with us, organizing trainees to come and experience the real snow venue environment," introduced the on-site manager of Xue Yi Shi Jie. The venue is currently the only real-snow indoor ski venue in Fujian Province, attracting many consumers to come and experience it.
The consumption-driving effect of indoor skiing projects is prominent, and a number of large ice and snow complex projects in Fuzhou, Xiamen, and other places are accelerating implementation. In July this year, Fuzhou's first large indoor real-snow ski resort was signed, planning to build a nearly 5,000-square-meter four-season skiing sports complex; the Maluan Bay indoor ski resort project in Jimei District, Xiamen City, was also signed in the same month, with a total investment of 1.18 billion yuan, planning to build a high-standard ice and snow world, hotels, apartments, and other diverse business forms, with slopes covering beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels.
Beijing, August 18 (Reporters Han Xin, Dong Zeyang) — On the 18th, as the vessels "Guoxin" and "Rongshengxing" were issued ship ownership certificates for the "China Yangpu Port" (中国洋浦港) registry port in Yangpu, Hainan, the total number of vessels registered under "China Yangpu Port" surpassed 100, reaching 101, with total capacity exceeding 8.9 million deadweight tons.
Since its approval and establishment, Hainan International Ship Registration Administration, China's first international ship registration management body, has continuously promoted institutional integration innovation for the "China Yangpu Port" system, established a "one thing, one run" work mechanism, integrated 33 high-frequency government affairs items, reduced ship registration materials by more than 60%, and improved processing efficiency by 90%.
The "China Yangpu Port" fleet structure has expanded from traditional bulk cargo and container transport to high-end fields such as refrigerated ships, semi-submersible vessels, and offshore engineering vessels, maintaining a zero-detention record.
Return to TopOn August 17, a batch of export goods from Guangzhou, Guangdong, including clothing and small household appliances loaded in containers, arrived at Shanghai's Luchaogang Railway Container Center Station via rail freight train, then connected to road transport and moved to the terminal area of Shanghai's Waigaoqiao Port, where they directly boarded ships for overseas departure. The first case under Shanghai Customs' new "sea-rail transit multimodal transport" customs supervision model was successfully implemented — export enterprises only need to submit a multimodal transport application form once at the customs office at the place of departure to achieve "release upon departure."
Photo by Shen Chunchen (China Images)
By: 本报记者 马睿姗
Sri Lanka's discarded coconut shells, crossing the ocean to China — what use can they be put to?
Workers feed the coconut shells into a high-temperature carbonization furnace, where the shells slowly carbonize and turn black, and after full dehydration bind into charcoal blocks. After machine grinding and pulverization, they are made into bagged coconut shell activated carbon, becoming the core raw material for supercapacitors.
A supercapacitor is a high-performance short-duration, high-power energy storage device with high power density, long cycle life, and rapid charge-discharge capability, able to maintain stability and reliability of performance under extreme temperatures. "About 60 percent of supercapacitor raw materials come from coconut shell activated carbon. The principle is that during charging, electrostatic adsorption occurs; during discharging, the electrostatic attraction on the electrode surface disappears, the adsorbed anions and cations desorb, and diffuse back into the bulk electrolyte. The entire process relies on purely physical reactions, and the cycle life can reach one million times," introduced Yang Senlin (杨森林), chief engineer of Shanxi Hongxin Supercapacitor Energy Storage Technology Co., Ltd. (山西鸿信超级电容储能科技有限公司).
Walking into the production workshop, robotic arms are methodically picking up and placing raw materials, adding binders, pure water, conductive agents, and other raw materials to the coconut shell activated carbon, and stirring them into a slurry. The extrusion head of the coating equipment continuously coats the slurry evenly onto aluminum foil; after drying, the tape applicator affixes high-temperature tape to the stacked "core packs," and finally they are transferred to the liquid injection process. Equipment commissioning personnel precisely adjust the weight of injected electrolyte to ensure that the injection volume of every supercapacitor meets process requirements.
How much energy can a small coconut shell help a supercapacitor release?
Coconut shell activated carbon powder, magnified ten thousand times under a microscope, shows dense honeycomb-like pores — these pores are the spaces where the supercapacitor stores charge. "One kilogram of coconut shell activated carbon has a total surface area of about 2.6 million square meters, equivalent to more than 300 football fields. During charging, charge is adsorbed in the pores inside the activated carbon; the larger the surface area of the activated carbon, the more charge it adsorbs, becoming a 'charge energy storage warehouse,'" Yang Senlin explained.
Opportunity lies hidden in market demand. Shanxi's new energy installed capacity has exceeded 50 percent, and the volatility of wind and solar power generation places enormous frequency-regulation pressure on the power grid. Market choices and increasingly diverse application scenarios have enabled supercapacitors to enter large-scale production.
"Supercapacitors will play a role in multiple fields, including the power grid, artificial intelligence computing power centers, coal mine system energy storage, and emergency power supplies. In the future, we will rely on Shanxi's new energy policy advantages, improve our product and service systems, and jointly build a green, low-carbon, safe, and efficient new power system," said Li Qingming (李青明), head of Shanxi Hongxin Supercapacitor Energy Storage Technology Co., Ltd.
By: 本报记者 申少铁
Recently, the National Standardization Administration issued the first mandatory national standard for cosmetics, Cosmetics — General Safety Requirements, which will be officially implemented in 2028.
What safety requirements does the new national standard focus on? What should consumers pay attention to when selecting cosmetics?
A relevant official from the Cosmetics Supervision and Administration Department of the National Medical Products Administration introduced that the new national standard organically integrates and improves dispersed technical requirements such as the Cosmetics Safety Technical Specifications, and clarifies the full-chain safety requirements for cosmetics in the form of a mandatory national standard.
In the past, the definitions of prohibited substances and restricted ingredients in certain individual cosmetics were overly broad, posing certain safety hazards. The new national standard comprehensively standardizes relevant terminology and definitions for cosmetics, and more scientifically defines the connotation and boundaries of cosmetics quality and safety management.
Children's cosmetics refer to products such as cleansers, moisturizers, body powders, and sunscreens used by children aged 12 and under. Children's skin barrier function, immune system, and other aspects are all in the developmental stage, with resistance lower than that of adults, so the safety of cosmetics used by children has drawn the attention of parents.
The new national standard imposes limits on the total bacterial count for children's cosmetics and cosmetics acting on the periorbital skin, eyelashes, and lips that are 10 times stricter than those for ordinary products, implementing strict control over high-risk products. Industry experts stated that the new national standard has a broader scope and stricter requirements for child protection than the internationally prevailing ISO standards. For example, the ISO standard sets the total bacterial count limit for cosmetics for children under 3 years old at "100 colony-forming units" per gram or per milliliter of product; China's new standard requires that cosmetics for children aged 12 and under all implement this strict limit.
The new national standard strictly controls hazardous substances in cosmetics. It sets strict limits for harmful substances such as mercury, lead, arsenic, and cadmium, requiring residual amounts per kilogram of product to be controlled within 1 to 10 milligrams. For raw materials that readily produce residues such as methanol, asbestos, and benzene, enterprises are required to strictly control residues and strengthen testing.
After the release of the new national standard, how should consumers select cosmetics?
First, one should select cosmetics produced by manufacturers with proper qualifications, and carefully examine the production enterprise name, address, production license number, as well as the special cosmetics registration certificate number or ordinary cosmetics filing number indicated on the cosmetics label. Verify the registration or filing information of cosmetics through the National Medical Products Administration website or the mobile app "Cosmetics Supervision" (化妆品监管), and do not purchase cosmetics that have not been registered or filed, or that do not match the registered or filed information.
Second, examine the promotional language of the cosmetics. Cosmetics are prohibited from explicitly or implicitly indicating that the product has medical effects, and are prohibited from using false, exaggerated, or absolute terms to make deceptive or misleading descriptions. One should be wary of efficacy products claiming rapid and potent results, and be wary of absolute or false claims such as "pure botanical" or "pure natural."
Finally, when selecting children's cosmetics, pay attention to whether the product label bears the children's cosmetics mark — the "Little Golden Shield" (小金盾). If this mark is absent, refuse to purchase.
Return to TopBy: 习近平强军思想研究中心
On July 30, at the 27th group study session of the Political Bureau of the 20th CPC Central Committee, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: "Political building of the military is the foundation of the people's army's establishment, and it concerns the direction and underlying character of national defense and military modernization. We must uphold and strengthen the Party's absolute leadership over the military, comprehensively implement the strategy of political building of the military in the new era, strengthen theoretical arming, deepen ideological rectification, consolidate the ideological foundation of officers and soldiers listening to the Party and following the Party, and ensure that the gun barrel always obeys the Party's command." This important assertion profoundly elucidates the special status and role of political building of the military, reveals the fundamental principle by which political building of the military leads the modernization of national defense and the armed forces, and elevates our understanding of the laws of national defense and military modernization to a new height. This year is the opening year of the "15th Five-Year Plan" and also the year of tackling hard problems in achieving the centenary goal of military building. Our military's construction is at a critical stage of improving quality and increasing efficiency. The deeper the modernization of national defense and the armed forces develops, the more we must adhere to a firm and correct political direction; the heavier the tasks and the more intertwined the risks, the more we must consolidate the political foundation, brighten the political character, and thicken political advantages.
Political building of the military concerns the direction and underlying character of national defense and military modernization.
Only when politically unbreakable can construction advance with swift hooves and steady steps. The quality of political building of the military bears on the nature and purpose of the people's army, bears on the rise or fall of the cause of building a strong military, and bears on the long-term stability and security of the Party and the state. The Party Central Committee, the Central Military Commission, and Chairman Xi have exercised deep planning and far-sighted consideration (深谋远虑 — shēn móu yuǎn lǜ, "deep planning, far-reaching consideration," to plan with great foresight) and scientific orchestration, laying out the modernization of national defense and the armed forces from the political dimension, and leading the way onto the path of building a strong military with Chinese characteristics. We must deeply comprehend and comprehensively implement the strategy of political building of the military in the new era, and establish scientific guidance for high-quality advancement of national defense and military modernization.
The political requirements for ensuring that national defense and military modernization proceed steadily and reach far. Chairman Xi pointed out: "The question of the path is the primary question bearing on the rise or fall of the Party's cause; the path is the Party's life." The foundation of political building of the military lies in the Party's absolute leadership over the military, which determines the political character and forward direction of national defense and military modernization. Over the past century, the Party has led the people's army from the former "millet plus rifles" step by step into a powerful military accelerating the integrated development of informatization, mechanization, and intelligence. Precisely because our Party has always built and commanded the military from the ideological and political dimensions, the modernization of national defense and the armed forces has always kept its path undeviating, its course unchanged, and its character unaltered. Now, the construction and development of our military is shifting from whether quantity is "large enough" to whether quality is "good enough," from whether scale is "big enough" to whether strength is "strong enough." Whether in the formulation of planning objectives or the advancement of strategic tasks, it is necessary to continue to bring into play the unique advantages of political building of the military, implement all requirements with high quality, and ensure that national defense and military modernization always advance boldly along the correct political direction.
The important magic weapon for responding to risks and challenges in national defense and military modernization. History has proven that political building of the military has always been the notable advantage distinguishing the people's army under the Party's leadership from other armies, and it is the "ballast stone" for our military to effectively respond to risks and challenges. At present, the once-in-a-century transformation of the world is accelerating, the international situation is intertwined with turbulence and change, and the instability and uncertainty of our country's security situation are increasing. In the face of external encirclement, containment, and suppression, national defense and military modernization may face the risk of being interrupted; in the face of the rapid development of a new round of scientific and technological revolution and military revolution and the profound evolution of war forms, national defense and military modernization face the predicament of key core technologies being "choked at the neck," "cut off from supply chains," and "walled off by high barriers." To respond to and resolve these risks and challenges, we must rely on political building of the military to grasp the overall situation and major trends, boost confidence and morale, and strengthen the spirit of struggle, ensuring that in an environment of treacherous waves and strange clouds (波谲云诡 — bō jué yún guǐ, "waves treacherous, clouds strange," turbulent and unpredictable) we maintain strategic resolve, make scientific decisions under the posture of overlapping multiple security threats, and seize the window of opportunity amid a thousand threads of construction tasks, running out acceleration and building out high quality.
The fundamental guarantee for resolving prominent problems in national defense and military modernization. Political nature is the essential attribute of the military, and many problems in military construction are associated with political issues, all of which can only be fundamentally resolved by addressing them from the political dimension. Since the 18th National Congress of the Party, our military's modernization level and actual combat capability have improved significantly, and the cause of building a strong military has achieved historic accomplishments and undergone historic changes. At the same time, it must be seen that the operational effectiveness of the military system is not yet high enough, and the driving force and vitality for innovation and development are not yet sufficient. These deep-seated contradictions and problems constraining our military's high-quality development still exist in reality. Many of these contradictions and problems are associated with political issues. If they are not understood and resolved from the political dimension, we will fall into the passive situation of treating the head when the head hurts and treating the feet when the feet hurt. Only by strengthening political awareness, enhancing political consciousness, and improving political judgment, political comprehension, and political execution can we resolve problems from the root and the source, making political building of the military truly the "golden key" for overcoming difficulties and the "booster" for promoting high-quality development.
Political building of the military embodies the objective laws of national defense and military modernization.
Politics governs direction, governs the soul, and governs the fundamentals. Political building of the military is the infusion and transformation of the military by our Party using its own excellent qualities that other political parties and political forces cannot compare with, giving our military a lofty political mission, advanced political consciousness, and pure political character, enabling it to withstand any storm and trial and achieve one victory after another. This is the key code to why the Communist Party of China can do it and why the people's army can win. To advance the modernization of national defense and the armed forces with high quality, we must firmly grasp political building of the military as the foundation, study its mechanisms, analyze its principles, and grasp its laws.
Adhere to using political leadership to set the course and direction for national defense and military modernization. The people's army is an armed group that executes the Party's political tasks. The primary task of national defense and military modernization is to answer fundamental questions such as "what banner to raise, what path to take, whose command to obey, and for whom to fight." If the political direction is not firm, the foundation of national defense and military modernization will not be stable. The stronger the political leadership, the more stable the modernization of national defense and the armed forces; the more powerful the political guarantee, the more efficient the modernization of national defense and the armed forces. At present, great-power competition is becoming increasingly intense, struggles in the ideological sphere are acute and complex, and various currents of thought can easily impact officers and soldiers' cognition and disrupt the construction layout. The more arduous the tasks and the more complex the situation, the more we must uphold, employ, and develop this important magic weapon of political building of the military, ensuring that national defense and military modernization always advance in the direction guided by the Party.
Adhere to using ideological soul-casting to unite hearts and gather strength for national defense and military modernization. National defense and military modernization is a systematic project, covering combat systems, military personnel, logistical support, weaponry and equipment, national defense mobilization, and various other aspects. It involves many challenges, large investments, long cycles, and strict tests. Equipment, technology, and institutions alone cannot resolve issues of value identification, spiritual motivation, and organizational mobilization; it is necessary to rely on strong ideological leadership to unite hearts and gather strength. National defense and military modernization competes in technology but even more in the hearts of the people, competes in hardware but even more in faith, competes in material but even more in spirit. High-quality political building of the military means casting souls and educating people, strengthening the foundation and consolidating the roots, uniting hearts and gathering spirit, using the Party's new-era innovative theory to unify thinking, using the red bloodline and military-strengthening culture to inspire fighting spirit, and using strong ideological mobilization, model leadership, and mass work to form a powerful joint force of the military and the people advancing national defense and military modernization together.
Adhere to using organizational strengthening to consolidate foundations and empower national defense and military modernization. Chairman Xi emphasized: "The Party's strength comes from organization; when the organization is strong, the military is strong." National defense and military modernization is vast in scale and complex in system. Accomplishing all goals and tasks ultimately depends on Party organizations at all levels to lead and advance. In those years, under the centralized and unified leadership of the Party Central Committee, relevant departments across the country coordinated and cooperated, concentrated efforts on tackling key problems, brought into play the advantages of the whole-nation system, maximally concentrated human, material, and financial resources, and successfully developed the "two bombs, one satellite." This major achievement is a model of transforming political advantages, organizational advantages, and institutional advantages into advantages for national defense and military modernization under the Party's strong leadership. Facts tell us that the Party's organizations are powerful because they possess political leadership, ideological guidance, mass organization, and social appeal, and are able to make meticulous operational decisions, broadly mobilize forces, and effectively overcome difficulties. High-quality advancement of national defense and military modernization especially requires linking the construction chain through strong organizational leadership and transforming the political capabilities of Party organizations at all levels into construction and tackling capabilities.
Adhere to using the emergence of talent to provide support for national defense and military modernization. People are the core element of combat effectiveness and also the decisive factor in national defense and military modernization. Advanced equipment and advanced systems must be mastered by "brave hearts and strong hands" and must be operated by a revolutionary and professional talent contingent. Reviewing history, our military has grown from small to large, from weak to strong, and the road of national defense and military modernization has grown ever broader. The key lies in the support of large numbers of cadres and talents with strong political quality and professional expertise. Entering the new era, we have strictly selected the worthy and capable according to the standards of good military cadres, concentrated efforts on forging high-quality, professional new-type military talents capable of shouldering the heavy responsibility of building a strong military, and supported the vigorous advance of national defense and military modernization. High-quality political building of the military requires grasping and implementing well this decisive factor of talent, strengthening the building of a revolutionary and professional talent contingent, and achieving the synchronous improvement and coordinated development of political literacy and scientific and technological literacy.
Adhere to using the rectification of conduct and discipline to purify the ecosystem for national defense and military modernization. Corruption is the road-blocking tiger and stumbling stone in the course of the Party's and the state's development, and it is a malignant tumor that must be excised in national defense and military modernization. There must never be anyone in the military who harbors disloyalty to the Party, and there must never be a hiding place for corrupt elements. Today, the scale of funding invested in national defense and military modernization is growing larger and larger, and the number of major engineering construction and high-tech equipment procurement projects is increasing, with integrity risks and security risks stacking up simultaneously. Only when political building of the military takes the lead and standards are strictly enforced can key links be controlled, ensuring that every cent of military expenditure, every construction project, and every set of equipment can withstand the test of practice and history. High-quality political building of the military requires full and rigorous Party self-governance and full and rigorous military governance, eliminating accumulated ills through political rectification training, regulating power through intra-Party supervision, and discovering problems through mass supervision, so as to build a solid defense line for the high-quality advancement of national defense and military modernization.
Political building of the military manifests the distinctive advantages of national defense and military modernization.
Political building of the military is the principle and activity by which our Party builds and commands the military from the ideological and political dimensions. Its starting point is politics, and its implementation must also rely on politics. This is our military's distinctive feature and unique advantage. Now, the new "three-step" strategy for national defense and military modernization has reached the historical juncture of strategic transition. We must advance political building of the military without a moment's pause, deeply research and explore the practical paths for transforming distinctive advantages into developmental advantages, and promote national defense and military modernization to continuously open up new prospects.
Strengthen the ideological stance of political leadership. As the foundational project of political building of the military, ideological soul-casting is essentially about, through systematic theoretical arming and value shaping, firming up officers and soldiers' faith and conviction, cultivating political loyalty, and providing enduring endogenous driving force for national defense and military modernization. In advancing the process of national defense and military modernization, it is necessary to strengthen political leadership, more actively and voluntarily integrate into the great process of Chinese-style modernization, and ensure that military construction objectives remain consistently aligned with the Party's struggle objectives; continuously deepen theoretical arming, study and apply well Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, especially Xi Jinping's thought on strengthening the military, guide officers and soldiers to deeply understand and grasp the Party's basic theory, basic line, and basic strategy, and effectively use the major decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee and Chairman Xi on advancing modernization to unify thinking and action; strengthen ideological and political education, stimulate the spirit of striving for first-class and the drive to forge ahead, temper the will and courage for innovation and pioneering, form a strong atmosphere of unity and collaboration, and contribute wisdom and strength to the high-quality advancement of national defense and military modernization.
Strengthen the political consciousness that the Party leads everything. Chairman Xi emphasized: "Party, government, military, people, academia; east, west, south, north, center — the Party leads everything." Reflected in military construction, this means that all work must be placed under the unified leadership of Party committees, and all important issues must be studied and decided by Party committees. To advance national defense and military modernization with high quality, it is necessary to bring into play the key role of Party organizations at all levels in tackling major tasks, resolving prominent contradictions, and solving development difficulties. Uphold the Party's management of military affairs, carry Party leadership through all aspects of military training and combat readiness, deeply advance the transformation and upgrading of military training, accelerate the building of advanced combat effectiveness, grasp well new-domain and new-quality combat forces, gradually build an intelligent military system, and accelerate national defense scientific and technological innovation and the transformation of advanced technology. Uphold the Party's management of cadres, implement the standards for good military cadres, systematically improve the work of selecting and employing personnel, raise the capacity and level of supplying various types of talent, and realize the positive interaction between talent team building and national defense and military modernization. Uphold the Party's management of industries, improve the supervision system for major projects, strengthen military-civilian integrated supervision, standardize industrial order, consolidate and enhance the integrated national strategic system and capability, and effectively transform the Party's leadership advantages into advantages for national defense and military modernization.
Strengthen the rigid constraints of improving quality and increasing efficiency. In giving full play to the role of political building of the military in the high-quality advancement of national defense and military modernization, the key lies in transforming its principles and requirements into institutional mechanisms that ensure the high quality of national defense and military modernization. Always uphold the implementation of the system of the Chairman of the Central Military Commission assuming responsibility as the highest political requirement to observe and the highest political discipline to maintain, strengthen inspection tours, audit supervision, and supervision of rectification, ensuring that wherever Chairman Xi's decisions and deployments on high-quality advancement of national defense and military modernization reach, political supervision follows. Always uphold combat effectiveness as the fundamental orientation and testing standard, improve and perfect the combat-oriented indicator system, evaluation system, and supervision system, and use whether it is conducive to improving combat effectiveness to test the quality and effectiveness of national defense and military modernization. Unswervingly rectify conduct, enforce discipline, and combat corruption, continuously deepen political rectification training, strengthen the rectification and governance of key industries and fields, strengthen awareness of laws and regulations, strictly advance construction according to plans, carry forward fine traditions, uphold thrifty military building, create a sound ecosystem for the high-quality advancement of national defense and military modernization, and ensure that all construction is guaranteed in quality, guaranteed in capability, and guaranteed in integrity.
Strengthen the responsibility and commitment of practical work to invigorate the military. Practical work is the inevitable path to achieving success and is also the inherent requirement for the high-quality advancement of national defense and military modernization. National defense and military modernization is an undertaking with no predecessors in antiquity (前无古人 — qián wú gǔ rén, "no predecessors in antiquity," unprecedented in history), and it cannot be separated from hard work and practical work for even a moment. It is necessary to strengthen the sense of responsibility, establish and practice a correct view of political achievements, adhere to the spiritual realm of "success need not be attributed to me" and the historical responsibility of "success must include my contribution," and firmly shoulder the heavy responsibilities entrusted by the Party and the people. Improve the ability to struggle, strengthen ideological tempering, political training, practical exercise, and professional training, continuously enhance the courage to dare to struggle and the ability to be good at struggling, be brave in gnawing hard bones and taking hot potatoes, and weather storms, see the world, strengthen the sinews, and grow talents in severe and complex struggles. Practice a pragmatic work style, carry forward the spirit of driving nails, adhere to painting one blueprint to the end, resolutely oppose formalism and bureaucratism, and be firm actionists and doers in advancing national defense and military modernization.
Return to TopBy: 张 鑫
Scientific decision-making is an important manifestation of leading cadres performing their duties and responsibilities. Whether decisions are scientific determines the quality and effectiveness of development and affects the well-being of the people. A correct view of political achievements is the internal support for scientific decision-making. Judging from the exposed problems of stalled projects, idle projects, and wasted resources, the surface appearance is hasty and improper decision-making, but the root cause lies in the misaligned and deviated view of political achievements among a small number of leading cadres. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Whether a decision is scientific is fundamentally measured by whether it gains the approval and support of the people, and whether it can withstand the test of practice and history." This important exposition provides fundamental guidance for leading cadres to calibrate their political achievement coordinates, and also clarifies action standards for regulating major decision-making and preventing willful decision-making.
When Communists undertake undertakings, the ultimate goal is to enhance the well-being of the people. How can political achievements truly be anchored in benefiting the people? That requires anchoring the starting point of decision-making: when formulating decisions, focus on solving the people's urgent, difficult, and anxious concerns, firmly safeguard the people's fundamental and long-term interests, and make decisions that fit the people's hearts, conform to the people's will, and benefit the people's livelihood. When Comrade Xi Jinping worked in Zhejiang, through solid investigation and research, he made great efforts to advance the comprehensive protection project of West Lake, and established principles such as "people-oriented, returning the lake to the people." As the project progressed smoothly, the fences around West Lake were dismantled, the lakeside parks were gradually opened to the public free of charge, and the people's West Lake was returned to the people. Behind the decision to advance the comprehensive protection project of West Lake is a high sense of responsibility to the people and to history, and it is a powerful support for the view of political achievements that benefits the people. However, some cadres, when formulating decisions, think not about whether they can bring tangible benefits to the people, but whether they can attract the attention of superiors and whether they can bring themselves promotion opportunities. They are obsessed with a glossy facade, emphasizing visible image over the substance of people's livelihood. With such an inversion of priorities, decisions will inevitably be improper and go astray. Whether the people are truly placed in the most important position will definitely produce different directions and effects in decision-making.
Decision-making is the first step in the practical activity where the subjective meets the objective. Scientific decision-making must proceed from reality and follow objective laws. To advance the comprehensive revitalization of rural areas, what industries should be developed? To develop new quality productive forces, which track should be targeted? These decisions all require comprehensive consideration of a locality's locational factors, natural resource conditions, economic and social foundation, historical and cultural accumulation, and also require understanding the development laws, market prospects, constraint conditions, and risk cycles of these industries and tracks. Only by fitting reality and conforming to laws can decisions be precisely implemented and smoothly carried out. Some leading cadres make decisions by patting their heads, launching projects out of thin air divorced from resource endowments, and setting targets arbitrarily regardless of carrying capacity. This not only wastes fiscal funds and leaves projects half-finished, but also dampens the enthusiasm of grassroots cadres and erodes the credibility of the Party and government. A correct view of political achievements requires us to adhere to seeking truth from facts, and we must never engage in armchair planning behind closed doors. We must unify adapting measures to local conditions with following development laws, unify adhering to top-level systematic planning with grassroots practical exploration, and unify adhering to overall regional coordination with precise local implementation, so that decisions are effectively transformed into a blueprint for promoting development.
To firmly establish a correct view of political achievements and achieve scientific decision-making, it is necessary to temper solid abilities in performing duties. Practice the investigation and research skill of squatting down. Walk out of government compounds, go beyond paper ledgers, regularly go deep into the front line, listen to the people's urgent, difficult, and anxious concerns at zero distance, and only with feet covered in soil can decisions fit the people's conditions. Practice the overall planning skill of calculating the big picture. Adhere to a systematic approach, coordinate the political account, economic account, livelihood account, ecological account, and long-term account; based on the whole region as one chessboard, balance current construction with long-term layout, and development speed with the safety bottom line. Practice the perseverance skill of driving in nails. Political achievements value constancy. As long as decisions conform to practical requirements and the people's wishes, they must not be arbitrarily overturned. The specific arrangements of decisions can be continuously improved according to new circumstances, and short-sighted behaviors such as changing ideas with each new term and overturning plans upon taking office must be eliminated.
To prevent willful decision-making, attention should also be paid to giving play to the constraining role of institutions, and to controlling power and regulating decision-making procedures by improving the political achievement assessment and evaluation system. Continue to improve the differentiated assessment system for cadres, further break the assessment inertia of GDP-only (gross domestic product), increase the weight of indicators such as livelihood improvement, ecological protection, long-term operation and maintenance, and risk prevention, and guide leading cadres to coordinate visible achievements and potential achievements, and consciously abandon short-sighted political achievement thinking. Strengthen supervision over decision-making procedures, and promote the implementation of rigid links such as on-site investigation, public opinion collection, expert demonstration, risk assessment, and collective deliberation. Improve the lifelong accountability system for major decisions, and for those responsible who exceed legal procedures and make blind decisions causing large property losses and livelihood problems left behind, regardless of position adjustment or departure from office, they must be held accountable according to regulations and discipline, forcing leading cadres to revere power and make prudent decisions.
By: 牛华勇
General Secretary Xi Jinping has emphasized: “Continue to optimize the economic policy toolbox that supports green and low-carbon development.” The “15th Five-Year Plan” outline proposes: “Innovate protection and investment incentive mechanisms, and implement fiscal, tax, financial, investment, price, science and technology, and environmental protection policies that promote green and low-carbon development. Optimize the green tax system, carry out pilot projects for levying environmental protection tax on volatile organic compounds, and implement tax preferences that support resource conservation and the use of green products.” Green taxation, as an important institutional tool for optimizing resource allocation, reducing pollution emissions, and incentivizing green innovation, is an important support for promoting the comprehensive green transformation of economic and social development and for building a Beautiful China. We must deeply study and implement Xi Jinping's economic thought and Xi Jinping's thought on ecological civilization, implement the deployment of the “15th Five-Year Plan” outline, optimize the green tax system, and contribute to the construction of a Beautiful China.
Improve the tax system framework and consolidate the foundation for green development. In recent years, China has basically established a green tax system featuring “multi-tax co-governance” through taxes such as environmental protection tax, resource tax, and cultivated land occupation tax, and “multi-policy combination” through systematic tax preference policies such as corporate income tax, value-added tax, consumption tax, and vehicle purchase tax, covering the five major links of resource extraction, production, circulation, consumption, and emission. On this basis, further improving the green tax system requires focusing on key links and promoting deepening reform and policy optimization. First, optimize the design of core tax categories. This includes comprehensively implementing the pilot of converting water resource fees to taxes and levying water resource tax in accordance with the law; improving the environmental protection tax collection system and carrying out pilot projects for levying environmental protection tax on volatile organic compounds; and improving the resource tax policy system, appropriately expanding the scope of adjustment, and refining the policy implementation standards. Second, improve the tax preference policy system, expand policy coverage, and improve policy precision. Promote the healthy development of the environmental services industry, implement tax preferences for green research and development, green manufacturing, green consumption, and other links, and guide business entities to practice the concept of green development. At the same time, standardize the management of tax preferences, establish a dynamic adjustment mechanism, ensure that policies are precisely targeted and efficiently implemented, and lay a solid institutional foundation for green development.
Enhance green momentum and promote the transformation of traditional industries. Giving play to the incentive and constraint role of the green tax system is an important lever for promoting the green and low-carbon transformation of traditional industries and for promoting the optimization and upgrading of the economic structure. Green taxation raises the cost of pollution emissions and resource consumption, while releasing the momentum of innovation through tax preferences, thereby promoting the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries. For example, the Environmental Protection Tax Law clearly stipulates that where taxpayers' concentration values of taxable air pollutants or water pollutants are lower than national and local standards by a certain proportion, corresponding tax preferences shall be granted. This mechanism prompts enterprises to calculate their “environmental protection accounts” clearly, proactively increase investment in pollution control, and upgrade production processes. For another example, the Resource Tax Law, by setting up multiple preference policies, guides enterprises to improve resource utilization efficiency, reduce extensive extraction and resource waste, and promotes business entities to change their development models and take a green, low-carbon, intensive, and efficient development path. It is necessary to continuously strengthen the constraint of green taxation, promote traditional industries to optimize their energy structure, raw material structure, and technological processes, eliminate outdated production capacity in accordance with laws and regulations, and make green transformation a conscious choice for industrial development.
Coordinate policy implementation and safeguard the ecological security barrier. The full play of the role of green taxation requires coordination and linkage with fiscal, financial, environmental protection, and other policies to form a joint force. First, strengthen the mutual coordination of green taxation and fiscal expenditure policies. The focus of the green tax system lies in the incentive and constraint on resource allocation, while the focus of fiscal expenditure policies lies in direct support for key areas; the two form a significant complementarity. Second, deepen the coordination of green taxation and green finance, implement emission reduction support tools, guide financial institutions to increase the issuance of green credit and green bonds, and combine tax preferences with financial support to reduce the financing cost of green projects. Third, strengthen inter-departmental coordination and connectivity, and build a collection and management mechanism of “tax collection, enterprise declaration, environmental protection monitoring, information sharing, and collaborative governance.” Relevant departments should strengthen cooperation to achieve interconnection and intercommunication of pollutant discharge monitoring data and tax declaration data, and improve the precision of collection and management. Promote the coordination of green taxation with industrial, price, and standard policies, strengthen the source prevention and control of the ecological environment for high energy consumption and high emission construction projects, deepen environmental access and control requirements, and combine tax constraints with standard guidance to promote the formation of green production and lifestyle.
Improve tax efficiency and safeguard the construction of a Beautiful China. Optimize collection and management services, strengthen data empowerment, and improve supervision levels so that green tax policies can be precisely delivered and efficiently implemented. First, optimize collection and management services and improve the effectiveness of policy implementation. Tax departments should continue to deepen the reform of the administrative approval system, simplify the procedures for handling green tax preferences, and reduce the tax compliance costs of enterprises. Carry out publicity and guidance on green tax policies, conduct precise training for key industries, and help enterprises understand and make good use of policies. At the same time, strengthen professional training for grassroots tax personnel, improve the capacity for green tax collection and management, and ensure that policy implementation is precise, standardized, and consistent in standards. Second, strengthen data empowerment and improve the level of precise supervision. Relying on tax big data, build a green tax monitoring and analysis system, track enterprise energy consumption, emissions, resource utilization, and other data in real time, accurately identify high energy consumption and high emission enterprises, and implement differentiated supervision. Through big data analysis, evaluate the implementation effect of green tax policies and provide data support for tax system optimization. In addition, improve cross-regional and cross-departmental tax coordination mechanisms, strengthen joint supervision of cross-regional pollution and resource extraction behaviors, severely crack down on tax evasion of green taxes, and safeguard tax fairness and ecological order.
(The author is a professor at the International Business School of Beijing Foreign Studies University)
Return to TopOrder of the State Council of the People's Republic of China
No. 844
The Decision of the State Council on Amending the Regulations on the Administration of Housing Provident Funds, adopted at the 93rd executive meeting of the State Council on July 31, 2026, is hereby promulgated and shall come into force on September 20, 2026.
Premier Li Qiang
August 10, 2026
The State Council decides to make the following amendments to the Regulations on the Administration of Housing Provident Funds:
1. After "safeguarding the lawful rights and interests of housing provident fund owners" in Article 1, add "to better meet the diverse housing consumption needs."
2. Amend Article 5 to read: "Housing provident funds shall be withdrawn and used in accordance with the provisions of these Regulations, and no unit or individual may misappropriate them for other purposes."
3. Amend Article 6 to read: "The deposit and loan interest rates of housing provident funds shall be determined by the State Council."
4. Add one item to Article 9 as item (7): "(7) approving applications for the write-off of bad debts of housing provident funds."
5. Amend Article 18 to read: "The contribution ratios of both employees and units to housing provident funds shall not be lower than 5% of the employee's average monthly wage of the preceding year, and shall not be higher than the maximum contribution ratio prescribed by the State. The specific contribution ratio shall be drafted by the housing provident fund management committee, and after review by the people's government at the corresponding level, shall be reported to the people's government of the province, autonomous region, or municipality directly under the Central Government for approval."
6. Amend Article 23 to read: "The housing provident fund contributed by a unit on behalf of its employees shall be included in the relevant costs and expenses in accordance with the provisions; for State organs and public institutions, it shall be itemized in their budgets."
7. Amend the first and second paragraphs of Article 24 to read: "Employees may withdraw the stored balance in their housing provident fund accounts under any of the following circumstances:
(1) paying rent;
(2) purchasing, constructing, renovating, or carrying out major repairs on self-occupied housing;
(3) repaying the principal and interest of a housing purchase loan;
(4) decorating self-occupied housing;
(5) paying property management fees for self-occupied housing;
(6) retiring or leaving office due to old age;
(7) completely losing the capacity to work and terminating the labor relationship with the unit;
(8) settling abroad;
(9) other housing consumption circumstances approved by the State Council.
Where housing provident funds are withdrawn in accordance with items (6), (7), and (8) of the preceding paragraph, the employee's housing provident fund account may be cancelled at the same time."
8. Amend Article 25 to read: "Where an employee applies to withdraw housing provident funds, the housing provident fund management center shall, within 3 days from the date of accepting the application, make a decision on whether to approve or disapprove the withdrawal and notify the applicant; where the withdrawal is approved, the entrusted bank shall handle the payment procedures."
9. Amend the second paragraph of Article 26 to read: "The housing provident fund management center shall, within 10 days from the date of accepting the application, make a decision on whether to approve or disapprove the loan and notify the applicant; where the loan is approved, the entrusted bank shall handle the loan procedures."
10. Amend "may use housing provident funds to purchase government bonds" in the first paragraph of Article 28 to read "may use housing provident funds to purchase government bonds and policy-oriented financial bonds."
11. Amend Article 29 to read: "The value-added income of housing provident funds shall be deposited into a special account for the value-added income of housing provident funds opened by the housing provident fund management center at an entrusted bank, and shall be mainly used for establishing a risk reserve for housing provident fund loans, the management expenses of the housing provident fund management center, and supplementary funds for public expenditures in the housing sector, including the construction, raising, operation and maintenance of public rental housing, and the full life-cycle safety management of housing."
12. Amend the second paragraph of Article 30 to read: "The standards for the management expenses of housing provident fund management centers shall be formulated by the competent department of housing and urban-rural development of the people's government of the province, autonomous region, or municipality directly under the Central Government, together with the finance department at the same level, in accordance with the expense standards prescribed by the State for public institutions."
13. Add one article as Article 31: "The competent department of housing and urban-rural development of the State Council, the competent departments of housing and urban-rural development of the people's governments of provinces and autonomous regions, and housing provident fund management centers shall strengthen digital and intelligent development, enhance the efficiency of housing provident fund management and services, achieve mutual recognition and mutual trust of housing provident fund contribution records nationwide, and promote the convenient and efficient handling of business such as the transfer and continuation of housing provident funds and cross-regional loans."
14. Amend Article 34 to Article 35, and amend "the housing provident fund management center and employees have the right to supervise the unit in performing the following obligations on time" therein to "the housing provident fund management center shall supervise the unit in performing the following obligations on time."
Add one paragraph as the second paragraph: "Employees have the right to supervise the unit in performing the obligations prescribed in the preceding paragraph on time."
15. Add one article as Article 38: "The competent department of housing and urban-rural development of the State Council shall determine the public credit information in the field of housing provident funds. Housing provident fund management centers shall establish comprehensive, complete, and accurate credit records and incorporate them into the national credit information sharing platform."
16. Add one article as Article 41: "Where housing provident funds are illegally withdrawn by means of fraud, forged supporting materials, or other means, the housing provident fund management center shall order the return of the illegally withdrawn housing provident funds within a specified time limit, and the person concerned shall not withdraw housing provident funds or use housing provident fund loans within 3 years.
Where housing provident fund loans are illegally obtained by means of fraud, forged supporting materials, or other means, the housing provident fund management center shall order the return of the loan funds within a specified time limit, and the person concerned shall not withdraw housing provident funds or use housing provident fund loans within 5 years."
17. Amend Article 40 to Article 43, and amend "administrative department of construction" therein to "competent department of housing and urban-rural development," and "administrative sanction" to "sanction."
Amend item (7) to read: "(7) using housing provident funds to purchase government bonds or policy-oriented financial bonds without approval."
Add one item as item (8): "(8) failing to supervise the unit in performing obligations such as the registration of housing provident fund contributions on time."
18. Add one article as Article 49: "Individual industrial and commercial households, non-full-time employees, and other flexible employment personnel may voluntarily contribute to housing provident funds and enjoy corresponding policy support in accordance with the provisions. Specific measures shall be formulated by local people's governments at or above the level of a city divided into districts.
The competent department of housing and urban-rural development of the State Council and other relevant departments shall strengthen guidance on the contribution of housing provident funds by flexible employment personnel."
19. Delete Article 46.
20. Make the following amendments to certain provisions:
(1) Amend "administrative department of construction" in Article 7 to "competent department of housing and urban-rural development," "the People's Bank of China" to "the People's Bank of China and the banking regulatory authority of the State Council," and "branches of the People's Bank of China" to "branches of the People's Bank of China and dispatched offices of the banking regulatory authority of the State Council"; amend "construction, finance, and the People's Bank of China" in Article 8 to "housing and urban-rural development, finance, the People's Bank of China, and the banking regulatory authority"; amend "the People's Bank of China" in Article 12 to "the People's Bank of China and the banking regulatory authority of the State Council"; amend Article 32 to Article 33, and amend "the finance department and the housing provident fund management committee" therein to "the finance department, the competent department of housing and urban-rural development, and the housing provident fund management committee"; amend Articles 39 and 45 to Articles 42 and 48 respectively, and uniformly amend "administrative department of construction" therein to "competent department of housing and urban-rural development."
(2) Amend Article 37 to Article 39, and amend "a fine of not less than 10,000 yuan but not more than 50,000 yuan" therein to "a fine of not less than 50,000 yuan but not more than 300,000 yuan"; amend Article 41 to Article 44, and amend "administrative department of construction" therein to "competent department of housing and urban-rural development," and "be given administrative sanctions of demotion or dismissal from office" to "be given sanctions in accordance with the law"; amend Articles 43 and 44 to Articles 46 and 47 respectively, and uniformly amend "administrative sanction" therein to "sanction."
This Decision shall come into force on September 20, 2026.
The Regulations on the Administration of Housing Provident Funds shall be correspondingly amended in accordance with this Decision, with the article numbers correspondingly adjusted, and shall be promulgated anew.
Return to TopChapter 1 General Provisions
Article 1 These Regulations are formulated to strengthen the administration of housing provident funds, safeguard the lawful rights and interests of housing provident fund owners, better meet diversified housing consumption needs, promote urban housing construction, and improve the housing standards of urban residents.
Article 2 These Regulations apply to the deposit, withdrawal, use, administration, and supervision of housing provident funds within the territory of the People's Republic of China.
For the purposes of these Regulations, "housing provident fund" means the long-term housing savings deposited by state organs, state-owned enterprises, urban collective enterprises, foreign-invested enterprises, urban private enterprises and other urban enterprises, public institutions, private non-enterprise units, and social organizations (hereinafter collectively referred to as "units") and their on-the-job employees.
Article 3 The housing provident fund deposited by an employee individually and the housing provident fund deposited on the employee's behalf by the employing unit shall belong to the employee personally.
Article 4 The administration of housing provident funds shall implement the principles of decision-making by the Housing Provident Fund Management Committee, operation by the Housing Provident Fund Management Center, dedicated account storage in banks, and supervision by the finance department.
Article 5 Housing provident funds shall be withdrawn and used in accordance with the provisions of these Regulations; no unit or individual may misappropriate them for other purposes.
Article 6 The deposit and loan interest rates for housing provident funds shall be determined by the State Council.
Article 7 The competent department of housing and urban-rural development under the State Council shall, together with the finance department under the State Council, the People's Bank of China, and the banking regulatory authority under the State Council, formulate housing provident fund policies and supervise their implementation.
The competent departments of housing and urban-rural development of provinces and autonomous regions shall, together with the finance departments at the same level, the branches of the People's Bank of China, and the dispatched offices of the banking regulatory authority under the State Council, be responsible for supervising the implementation of housing provident fund administration regulations and policies within their respective administrative regions.
Chapter 2 Institutions and Their Duties
Article 8 Municipalities directly under the Central Government, cities where the people's governments of provinces and autonomous regions are located, and other cities divided into districts (prefectures, leagues) shall establish Housing Provident Fund Management Committees as the decision-making bodies for housing provident fund administration. Among the members of the Housing Provident Fund Management Committee, responsible persons of the people's government and relevant departments such as housing and urban-rural development, finance, the People's Bank of China, and the banking regulatory authority, as well as relevant experts, shall account for one-third; trade union representatives and employee representatives shall account for one-third; and unit representatives shall account for one-third.
The chairperson of the Housing Provident Fund Management Committee shall be held by a person with public credibility.
Article 9 The Housing Provident Fund Management Committee performs the following duties in housing provident fund administration:
(1) Formulating and adjusting specific administrative measures for housing provident funds in accordance with relevant laws, regulations, and policies, and supervising their implementation;
(2) Drafting the specific deposit ratios for housing provident funds in accordance with the provisions of Article 18 of these Regulations;
(3) Determining the maximum loan amount for housing provident funds;
(4) Approving plans for the collection and use of housing provident funds;
(5) Deliberating plans for the distribution of value-added income from housing provident funds;
(6) Approving reports on the implementation of plans for the collection and use of housing provident funds;
(7) Approving applications for the write-off of bad debts of housing provident funds.
Article 10 Municipalities directly under the Central Government, cities where the people's governments of provinces and autonomous regions are located, and other cities divided into districts (prefectures, leagues) shall, in accordance with the principles of simplification and efficiency, establish one Housing Provident Fund Management Center to be responsible for the operation and administration of housing provident funds. Counties (cities) shall not establish Housing Provident Fund Management Centers.
The Housing Provident Fund Management Center specified in the preceding paragraph may establish branches in counties (cities) where conditions permit. The Housing Provident Fund Management Center and its branches shall implement unified rules and regulations and conduct unified accounting.
The Housing Provident Fund Management Center is a non-profit independent public institution directly under the people's government of the city.
Article 11 The Housing Provident Fund Management Center performs the following duties:
(1) Compiling and implementing plans for the collection and use of housing provident funds;
(2) Being responsible for recording the deposit, withdrawal, and use of employees' housing provident funds;
(3) Being responsible for the accounting of housing provident funds;
(4) Approving the withdrawal and use of housing provident funds;
(5) Being responsible for the preservation and repayment of housing provident funds;
(6) Compiling reports on the implementation of plans for the collection and use of housing provident funds;
(7) Undertaking other matters decided by the Housing Provident Fund Management Committee.
Article 12 The Housing Provident Fund Management Committee shall, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the People's Bank of China and the banking regulatory authority under the State Council, designate commercial banks entrusted with handling housing provident fund financial business (hereinafter referred to as "entrusted banks"); the Housing Provident Fund Management Center shall entrust the entrusted banks to handle financial business such as housing provident fund loans and settlements, and procedures such as the establishment, deposit, and repayment of housing provident fund accounts.
The Housing Provident Fund Management Center shall sign entrustment contracts with the entrusted banks.
Chapter 3 Deposit
Article 13 The Housing Provident Fund Management Center shall open dedicated housing provident fund accounts with the entrusted banks.
Units shall register for housing provident fund deposit with the Housing Provident Fund Management Center and complete the procedures for establishing housing provident fund accounts for their employees. Each employee may have only one housing provident fund account.
The Housing Provident Fund Management Center shall establish detailed ledgers for employees' housing provident funds, recording the deposit and withdrawal of employees' individual housing provident funds.
Article 14 A newly established unit shall register for housing provident fund deposit with the Housing Provident Fund Management Center within 30 days from the date of its establishment, and shall complete the procedures for establishing housing provident fund accounts for its employees within 20 days from the date of registration.
Where a unit is merged, divided, revoked, dissolved, or declared bankrupt, the original unit or the liquidation organization shall, within 30 days from the occurrence of the aforesaid circumstances, complete procedures for change registration or cancellation of registration with the Housing Provident Fund Management Center, and shall, within 20 days from the completion of the change registration or cancellation of registration, complete procedures for the transfer or sealing of housing provident fund accounts for its employees.
Article 15 Where a unit employs an employee, it shall complete deposit registration with the Housing Provident Fund Management Center within 30 days from the date of employment, and complete procedures for the establishment or transfer of the employee's housing provident fund account.
Where a unit terminates the labor relationship with an employee, the unit shall complete change registration with the Housing Provident Fund Management Center within 30 days from the date of termination of the labor relationship, and complete procedures for the transfer or sealing of the employee's housing provident fund account.
Article 16 The monthly deposit amount of an employee's housing provident fund shall be the employee's average monthly wage of the preceding year multiplied by the employee's housing provident fund deposit ratio.
The monthly deposit amount of the housing provident fund deposited by the unit on behalf of the employee shall be the employee's average monthly wage of the preceding year multiplied by the unit's housing provident fund deposit ratio.
Article 17 An employee newly joining the workforce shall begin depositing the housing provident fund from the second month of employment, and the monthly deposit amount shall be the employee's wage for the current month multiplied by the employee's housing provident fund deposit ratio.
An employee newly transferred into a unit shall deposit the housing provident fund from the date the transferring unit begins to pay wages, and the monthly deposit amount shall be the employee's wage for the current month multiplied by the employee's housing provident fund deposit ratio.
Article 18 The housing provident fund deposit ratios for both employees and units shall not be lower than 5% of the employee's average monthly wage of the preceding year, and shall not exceed the maximum deposit ratio prescribed by the state. The specific deposit ratio shall be drafted by the Housing Provident Fund Management Committee, and after review by the people's government at the corresponding level, shall be reported to the people's government of the province, autonomous region, or municipality directly under the Central Government for approval.
Article 19 The housing provident fund deposited by an employee individually shall be withheld and remitted by the employing unit from the employee's wages each month.
The unit shall, within 5 days from the date of paying wages to employees each month, remit the housing provident fund deposited by the unit and withheld on behalf of employees into the dedicated housing provident fund account, and the entrusted bank shall credit it to the employees' housing provident fund accounts.
Article 20 Units shall deposit housing provident funds on time and in full, and shall not make overdue deposits or under-deposits.
Where a unit genuinely has difficulty in depositing housing provident funds, after discussion and approval by the unit's employees' congress or trade union, review by the Housing Provident Fund Management Center, and approval by the Housing Provident Fund Management Committee, the deposit ratio may be reduced or payment may be deferred; after the unit's economic performance improves, the deposit ratio shall be increased or the deferred amount shall be made up.
Article 21 Housing provident funds shall accrue interest at the rates prescribed by the state from the date they are deposited into employees' housing provident fund accounts.
Article 22 The Housing Provident Fund Management Center shall issue valid certificates of housing provident fund deposit to employees who deposit housing provident funds.
Article 23 The housing provident fund deposited by a unit on behalf of its employees shall, in accordance with the provisions, be included in the relevant costs and expenses; for state organs and public institutions, it shall be itemized in their budgets.
Chapter 4 Withdrawal and Use
Article 24 An employee may withdraw the stored balance in the employee's housing provident fund account under any of the following circumstances:
(1) Paying rent;
(2) Purchasing, constructing, renovating, or carrying out major repairs on self-occupied housing;
(3) Repaying the principal and interest of a housing purchase loan;
(4) Decorating self-occupied housing;
(5) Paying property management fees for self-occupied housing;
(6) Retiring with honor or retiring;
(7) Completely losing the capacity to work and terminating the labor relationship with the unit;
(8) Settling abroad;
(9) Other housing consumption circumstances approved by the State Council.
Where an employee withdraws the housing provident fund in accordance with items (6), (7), and (8) of the preceding paragraph, the employee's housing provident fund account may be cancelled at the same time.
Where an employee dies or is declared dead, the employee's heirs or legatees may withdraw the stored balance in the employee's housing provident fund account; where there are no heirs and no legatees, the stored balance in the employee's housing provident fund account shall be included in the value-added income of the housing provident fund.
Article 25 Where an employee applies to withdraw the housing provident fund, the Housing Provident Fund Management Center shall, within 3 days from the date of accepting the application, make a decision to approve or disapprove the withdrawal and notify the applicant; where the withdrawal is approved, the entrusted bank shall handle the payment procedures.
Article 26 Employees who deposit housing provident funds may, when purchasing, constructing, renovating, or carrying out major repairs on self-occupied housing, apply to the Housing Provident Fund Management Center for housing provident fund loans.
The Housing Provident Fund Management Center shall, within 10 days from the date of accepting the application, make a decision to approve or disapprove the loan and notify the applicant; where the loan is approved, the entrusted bank shall handle the loan procedures.
The risks of housing provident fund loans shall be borne by the Housing Provident Fund Management Center.
Article 27 An applicant applying for a housing provident fund loan shall provide security.
Article 28 On the premise of ensuring the withdrawal of housing provident funds and the provision of loans, and with the approval of the Housing Provident Fund Management Committee, the Housing Provident Fund Management Center may use housing provident funds to purchase treasury bonds and policy-oriented financial bonds.
The Housing Provident Fund Management Center shall not provide security for others.
Article 29 The value-added income of housing provident funds shall be deposited into a dedicated value-added income account opened by the Housing Provident Fund Management Center with the entrusted bank, and shall be mainly used for establishing risk reserves for housing provident fund loans, the administrative expenses of the Housing Provident Fund Management Center, and supplementary funds for public expenditures in the housing sector such as the construction, raising, operation and maintenance of public rental housing and the full life-cycle safety management of housing.
Article 30 The administrative expenses of the Housing Provident Fund Management Center shall be compiled by the Housing Provident Fund Management Center as a total annual budget expenditure in accordance with the prescribed standards, and after approval by the finance department of the people's government at the corresponding level, shall be turned over from the value-added income of housing provident funds to the finance department at the corresponding level, and shall be allocated by the finance department at the corresponding level.
The standards for the administrative expenses of the Housing Provident Fund Management Center shall be formulated by the competent department of housing and urban-rural development of the people's government of the province, autonomous region, or municipality directly under the Central Government, together with the finance department at the same level, in accordance with the state-prescribed expense standards for public institutions.
Article 31 The competent department of housing and urban-rural development under the State Council, the competent departments of housing and urban-rural development of provinces and autonomous regions, and the Housing Provident Fund Management Centers shall strengthen digital and intelligent development, improve the efficiency of housing provident fund administration and services, achieve mutual trust and mutual recognition of housing provident fund deposit records nationwide, and promote the convenient and efficient handling of business such as the transfer and continuation of housing provident funds and cross-regional loans.
Chapter 5 Supervision
Article 32 The finance departments of relevant local people's governments shall strengthen supervision over the collection, withdrawal, and use of housing provident funds within their respective administrative regions, and shall report to the Housing Provident Fund Management Committee of the people's government at the corresponding level.
When compiling plans for the collection and use of housing provident funds, the Housing Provident Fund Management Center shall solicit the opinions of the finance department.
When the Housing Provident Fund Management Committee approves plans for the collection and use of housing provident funds and reports on the implementation of such plans, the finance department must participate.
Article 33 The annual budget and final accounts of housing provident funds compiled by the Housing Provident Fund Management Center shall, after review by the finance department, be submitted to the Housing Provident Fund Management Committee for deliberation.
The Housing Provident Fund Management Center shall submit financial reports to the finance department, the competent department of housing and urban-rural development, and the Housing Provident Fund Management Committee on a regular basis each year, and shall publish the financial reports to the public.
Article 34 The Housing Provident Fund Management Center shall accept audit supervision by the audit department in accordance with the law.
Article 35 The Housing Provident Fund Management Center shall supervise units in performing the following obligations on time:
(1) Deposit registration or change registration and cancellation of registration for housing provident funds;
(2) The establishment, transfer, or sealing of housing provident fund accounts;
(3) Depositing housing provident funds in full.
Employees have the right to supervise units in performing the obligations specified in the preceding paragraph on time.
Article 36 The Housing Provident Fund Management Center shall supervise entrusted banks in promptly handling the business agreed in the entrustment contracts.
Entrusted banks shall, in accordance with the provisions of the entrustment contracts, regularly provide relevant business materials to the Housing Provident Fund Management Center.
Article 37 Employees and units have the right to inquire about the deposit and withdrawal of their own or their unit's housing provident funds, and the Housing Provident Fund Management Center and entrusted banks shall not refuse.
Where employees or units have objections to the stored balance in a housing provident fund account, they may apply to the entrusted bank for re-checking; where they have objections to the re-checking result, they may apply to the Housing Provident Fund Management Center for re-verification. The entrusted bank and the Housing Provident Fund Management Center shall provide written replies within 5 days from the date of receiving the application.
Employees have the right to expose, report, and accuse the misappropriation of housing provident funds.
Article 38 The competent department of housing and urban-rural development under the State Council shall determine the public credit information in the field of housing provident funds, and the Housing Provident Fund Management Center shall establish comprehensive, complete, and accurate credit records and incorporate them into the national credit information sharing platform.
Chapter 6 Penalty Provisions
Article 39 Where, in violation of the provisions of these Regulations, a unit fails to register for housing provident fund deposit or fails to complete the procedures for establishing housing provident fund accounts for its employees, the Housing Provident Fund Management Center shall order it to complete the procedures within a prescribed time limit; where it fails to do so within the time limit, a fine of not less than 50,000 yuan but not more than 300,000 yuan shall be imposed.
Article 40 Where, in violation of the provisions of these Regulations, a unit makes overdue deposits or under-deposits of housing provident funds, the Housing Provident Fund Management Center shall order it to make up the deposit within a prescribed time limit; where it still fails to make the deposit within the time limit, the Housing Provident Fund Management Center may apply to the people's court for compulsory enforcement.
Article 41 Where a person illegally withdraws housing provident funds by means of fraud, forged supporting materials, or other means, the Housing Provident Fund Management Center shall order the illegally withdrawn housing provident funds to be returned within a prescribed time limit, and the person shall not withdraw housing provident funds or use housing provident fund loans for 3 years.
Where a person illegally obtains a housing provident fund loan by means of fraud, forged supporting materials, or other means, the Housing Provident Fund Management Center shall order the loan funds to be returned within a prescribed time limit, and the person shall not withdraw housing provident funds or use housing provident fund loans for 5 years.
Article 42 Where the Housing Provident Fund Management Committee approves housing provident fund use plans in violation of the provisions of these Regulations, the competent department of housing and urban-rural development under the State Council together with the finance department under the State Council, or the competent department of housing and urban-rural development of the people's government of the province or autonomous region together with the finance department at the same level, shall, in accordance with their administrative authority, order corrections within a prescribed time limit.
Article 43 Where the Housing Provident Fund Management Center, in violation of the provisions of these Regulations, commits any of the following acts, the competent department of housing and urban-rural development under the State Council or the competent department of housing and urban-rural development of the people's government of the province or autonomous region shall, in accordance with their administrative authority, order corrections within a prescribed time limit; the persons in charge who bear responsibility and other directly responsible persons shall be given sanctions in accordance with the law:
(1) Failing to establish dedicated housing provident fund accounts in accordance with the provisions;
(2) Failing to approve employees' withdrawal and use of housing provident funds in accordance with the provisions;
(3) Failing to use the value-added income of housing provident funds in accordance with the provisions;
(4) Entrusting institutions other than the banks designated by the Housing Provident Fund Management Committee to handle housing provident fund financial business;
(5) Failing to establish detailed ledgers for employees' housing provident funds;
(6) Failing to issue valid certificates of housing provident fund deposit to employees who deposit housing provident funds;
(7) Using housing provident funds to purchase treasury bonds or policy-oriented financial bonds without approval;
(8) Failing to supervise units in performing obligations such as housing provident fund deposit registration on time.
Article 44 Where, in violation of the provisions of these Regulations, housing provident funds are misappropriated, the competent department of housing and urban-rural development under the State Council or the competent department of housing and urban-rural development of the people's government of the province or autonomous region shall, in accordance with their administrative authority, recover the misappropriated housing provident funds and confiscate the illegal gains; the responsible persons of the people's government and the responsible persons of relevant government departments who misappropriate or approve the misappropriation of housing provident funds, as well as the persons in charge who bear responsibility and other directly responsible persons of the Housing Provident Fund Management Center, shall be investigated for criminal responsibility in accordance with the provisions of the Criminal Law on the crime of misappropriation of public funds or other crimes; where the circumstances are not serious enough to constitute a crime, sanctions shall be given in accordance with the law.
Article 45 Where the Housing Provident Fund Management Center violates financial regulations, the finance department shall impose administrative penalties in accordance with the law.
Article 46 Where, in violation of the provisions of these Regulations, the Housing Provident Fund Management Center provides security for others, the directly responsible persons in charge and other directly responsible persons shall be given sanctions in accordance with the law.
Article 47 Where state organ staff members abuse their powers, neglect their duties, or engage in malpractice for personal gain in the supervision and administration of housing provident funds, and the circumstances constitute a crime, criminal responsibility shall be investigated in accordance with the law; where the circumstances do not constitute a crime, sanctions shall be given in accordance with the law.
Chapter 7 Supplementary Provisions
Article 48 The measures for the financial management and accounting of housing provident funds shall be formulated by the finance department under the State Council in consultation with the competent department of housing and urban-rural development under the State Council.
Article 49 Individual industrial and commercial households, non-full-time employees, and other flexible employment personnel may voluntarily deposit housing provident funds and enjoy corresponding policy support in accordance with the provisions. The specific measures shall be formulated by local people's governments at or above the level of cities divided into districts.
The competent department of housing and urban-rural development under the State Council and other relevant departments shall strengthen guidance on the deposit of housing provident funds by flexible employment personnel.
Article 50 These Regulations shall come into force on the date of promulgation.
(Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, August 18)
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 曹玲娟
“Booksellers today are working very hard — selling books, cultural and creative products, coffee, and light meals, running livestreams, building reading centers, setting up exhibition halls — it is all very lively. But selling books is our foundation. If you do not sell books, what kind of bookstore is it still?” Wang Yaohua (汪耀华), vice president and secretary-general of the Shanghai Book and Periodical Distribution Industry Association, raised the question.
From August 12 to 18, the 2026 Shanghai Book Fair and the “Nation of Readers” Shanghai Week were held. To explore the development space for physical bookstores, the Shanghai Book and Periodical Distribution Industry Association set up a “Yangtze River Delta Brand Physical Bookstore Exhibition Area” at the book fair, inviting 20 bookstores from Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui to participate, and held a symposium on “Bookstores: How to Sell Good Books Today.”
In February this year, the Regulations on the Promotion of Reading for All was formally implemented. In March, “supporting the development of physical bookstores” was written into the Government Work Report. How should physical bookstores develop today? How should upholding the fundamentals and pursuing innovation be balanced? Meeting challenges and changes — this is the common topic facing practitioners in the physical bookstore industry.
Challenges
“Find ways to attract people and keep them”
“We have closed 12 bookstores in total.” said Liu Jun (刘军), founder of Dayin Bookstore (大隐书局).
Founded in 2016, Dayin Bookstore opened its first store in Shanghai’s Wukang Mansion. In 2023 it opened the periodical-themed bookstore “Dayin Bookstore · Tea and Periodicals Club” (大隐书局·刊茶社), and in 2026 it opened “Hongshufang” (虹书舫), a special reading space themed on world literature, which has become one of Shanghai’s popular landmarks.
Now, Dayin Bookstore’s Lingang store, located by Dishui Lake in Shanghai, has closed. The Lingang store once had an average daily foot traffic of nearly a thousand people.
“After falling so many times, thinking through the logic, I believe that to sell good books, the first thing is to select good books and emphasize differentiation. Also, choose good traffic entry points — do not believe that ‘good wine needs no bush.’ Several of our bookstores with attractive appearances but remote locations still did not survive.” Liu Jun analyzed. He believes that for a bookstore to survive, it must also do well in related business formats — “Hongshufang” has eight business formats, including cultural and creative products, catering, performances, and a one-square-meter collection exhibition space called the “Curiosity Corner” (好奇角).
Facing multiple challenges including operational pressure and the book pricing system, physical bookstores today have generally shifted toward diversified operations: expanding into stationery, cultural and creative products, coffee, light meals, and other formats, supporting these with various reading activities, attempting to build reading centers and urban living rooms, and increasingly presenting a “bookstore +” appearance.
“The underlying logic of all ‘bookstore +’ models is that you need people — find ways to keep the people who have taken the trouble to come in.” Liu Sheng (刘晟), operations center manager of Dazhong Bookstore (大众书局), said frankly that many Dazhong Bookstore branches are located in shopping malls, and as mall foot traffic declines, the bookstores are also affected. “To survive, we have added open seating and small private rooms. One of our stores has even tried introducing bead-sorting activities, trying to attract people and keep them. Only with people can a bookstore survive.” Liu Sheng said.
For most bookstores, books can no longer easily serve as the main source of revenue.
Wu Jun (吴军), general manager of Century Duoyun (世纪朵云), compared the operational differences between two of its stores. At Sinan Books (思南书局), book sales account for about 50 percent of revenue, and by continuously holding reading clubs, it has accumulated a stable base of readers. Duoyun Academy · Flagship Store (朵云书院·旗舰店) presents a different picture — 85 percent of its visitors are tourists, and book sales account for less than 10 percent of revenue. Wu Jun explained that the store is also adjusting its operational methods. Previously, the observation deck at Duoyun Academy · Flagship Store was limited to customers who purchased coffee; now, to boost book sales, those who buy books worth 88 yuan or more can also go to the observation deck.
Because of this, “bookstores’ concept of selling books has become increasingly faint, and bookstores are getting harder and harder to run.” Wang Yaohua said.
Exploring the Way
“Only by selecting good books can you sell good books”
With the rise of mobile devices and e-reading, physical bookstores have been impacted. “As reading media change and communication technology transforms, will the number of people who have a fascination with and reverence for paper books decrease in the future?” someone asked.
Book prices are also a hurdle. “Bookstores generally purchase books at about 60 percent of the cover price, at the lowest 55 percent. Selling at 20 percent off already leaves very little gross margin. If we could sell at the original price, everyone would be delighted. But now, from online discounts to publishers’ livestreams, books are sold at 40 to 50 percent off, making it impossible for physical bookstores to survive on selling books alone.” Wang Yaohua did the math.
When consumers become accustomed to comparing prices online, bookstores are weakened in their key ability to monetize as a sales channel; when books yield meager profits due to price wars, the rent, utilities, and labor costs of physical bookstores cause costs to exceed revenue… Selling books is not a “good business.” Those who persist in the field are always people who truly want to do bookstores well.
Liu Jun said that the bookstore industry as a whole still has many onlookers and many who leave. In an industry that does not make money, there is no hierarchy — only mutual respect.
Industry analysis suggests that the entire bookstore industry is developing in two directions: either breaking through the traditional boundaries of book sales and transforming into “urban living rooms,” or pursuing the small and beautiful, the small and refined, the small and specialized. Outside perceptions of bookstores are also diverging: some believe a bookstore should look like a bookstore; others believe bookstores should explore an appearance more adapted to the times.
Some readers commented on Zhoushan Island Bookstore (岛上书店) in Zhejiang: “This is what a bookstore should be.” Liu Xiaona (刘晓娜), general manager of Zhoushan Island Bookstore, said this is because “the bookstore has been operating for over 30 years, and the volume of books in stock is too large.” Some readers criticized that “many stores nowadays do other things under the name of bookstore.” Some readers said bluntly, “There are many options for coffee, and many options for cultural and creative products; the core advantage of a bookstore is not these.” Some readers also believe, “With mobile bookshelves in communities and comprehensive library services, it is very good for bookstores to transform into cultural spaces at people’s doorsteps.”
Despite the difficulties, physical bookstores still need to rethink the value of their existence.
Zhu Yufang (朱钰芳), founder of Hangzhou Xiaofeng Bookstore (晓风书屋), introduced: “We have 23 stores in Hangzhou, with book sales accounting for about 30 percent. The bookstore emphasizes the combination of reader service, brand, and locality. For example, when the TV drama The Peaceful Years (太平年) was popular, we launched a themed blind box, and we also leveraged celebrity book signings to sell signed editions that are scarce on the market.”
Yueyue Books (悦悦图书) exceeded 100 million yuan in online sales within half a year. Its chairman, Zou Bin (邹斌), explained: “We screen key book categories and supply nearly a thousand distribution clients, who promote them.” Xiao Ai (小艾), a bookstore practitioner, once ran a physical bookstore for 10 years and has now chosen to transition to livestreaming. Not long ago, the platform pushed a weighty translated literary work to her. Having read the English original of the work, Xiao Ai gave an in-depth interpretation in her livestream and sold 50 copies in a single session. In Zou Bin’s view, this confirms a principle: “Only by selecting good books can you sell good books.”
Prospects
“There will always be bookstores that form beautiful relationships with readers”
Facing the continuously changing reading market, practitioners are seeking solutions through exchange, striving to keep books in physical spaces holding onto readers. The business models explored by various bookstores differ in emphasis, but there remains a consensus — books are the unshakable protagonist of the bookstore.
In the immersive setting of the Shanghai Book Fair, 20 bookstores each chose themes based on their regional culture and individual characteristics, selling only books, with sales growing at a rate of 30 to 40 percent every day. Anhui Huangshan Kong Yiji Bookstore (孔乙己书店) brought 400 kinds of books, focusing on Huizhou historical and literary classics; Dazhong Bookstore focused on portable pocket editions of literary classics, suited to fragmented reading during commutes…
Wang Yaohua explained that the physical bookstore exhibition area at this year’s book fair, through themed book displays, concentratedly showcased the irreplaceable offline value of physical bookstores, creating a centralized, professional, and distinctive book-selection scene, highlighting the professional service capabilities of physical bookstores — “giving play to the value of physical bookstores and managing the main business of books well.”
In the view of many readers, through bookstores, the relationship between people and books enters public space, and in this space, readers can encounter types of books they have never come across before — this is the value of the bookstore’s existence.
Even in some new-type cultural spaces, books remain an important component of their value. Taking “Hongshufang” as an example, Liu Jun explained: “Book sales now account for about 15 percent, with average daily retail of over 6,000 yuan. In absolute terms, this result is also very good. Local readers account for about 70 percent, and readers aged 24 to 45 account for about 60 percent — the precision of the reading audience is also very high.”
Liu Jun believes that from the perspective of promoting reading for all, the new life of physical bookstores is just beginning. Today, the various forms of cultural spaces transformed from bookstores have more opportunities to layer on more scenarios and better integrate reading into people’s life needs.
Exploring the way, trial and error, perseverance… Zhu Yufang admitted that in the 30 years since Xiaofeng Bookstore was founded, it has experienced many twists and turns. Opening bookstores in museums, universities, scenic areas, and other places requires localized adaptation, while the bookstore also becomes a public space accommodating exhibitions, concerts, launches, and other events.
On the opening day of the 2026 Shanghai Book Fair, the documentary But There Are Still Bookstores (但是还有书店) announced the start of filming at the fair site. “We will not avoid the difficulties of bookstore operations.” said Li Xiang (李芗), the film’s chief director. “I believe that whether today or in the future, there will always be bookstores that form beautiful relationships with readers.”
Zhu Yufang, founder of Hangzhou Xiaofeng Bookstore:
Holding onto the humanistic warmth of paper books
From its founding in early 1996 to today, Xiaofeng Bookstore and I have walked a full 30 years together. The bookstore now has 23 offline stores in Hangzhou, and the “Reading West Lake” (阅见西湖) cultural space newly built in 2025 has hosted nearly 200 cultural events in 10 months.
Looking back, the industry has changed, and so have we. Our business model has iterated — moving beyond simply selling books to building multi-scenario composite cultural spaces. Our reader base has been renewed — previously mostly scholars and middle-aged book lovers, now young people and parent-child families account for 65 percent of foot traffic. We have deepened localization — laying out themed stores of multiple types in communities, scenic areas, and hospitals, embedding bookstores into urban culture and tourism.
Our original aspiration has never changed. We adhere to humanistic book-selection standards — renowned publishers, renowned works, renowned translations — holding onto the humanistic warmth of paper books. The long-lasting bonds among book lovers have not changed — we now have over 300,000 registered members, and many old readers actively supported us during the industry’s low points. The sentiment of bookstore people has not changed — we want to keep an undying lamp of book fragrance lit for the city.
Difficulties still exist. Rent and labor costs rise year by year, and low-priced online book sales divert customers. Converting foot traffic is difficult — many people come to take photos, but few settle down to read and select books. Study spaces, intangible cultural heritage markets, author salons — multi-format operations are also a process of constant “trial and error.”
The city’s profound cultural heritage and the long-term companionship of old book friends are the precious confidence for bookstores to survive and keep going. Now, the return of large numbers of readers, support from the government level, and the two-way engagement of the local cultural circle all let us truly receive the warmth extended by the entire city, giving us more confidence and strength to keep going.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 丁雅诵
Recently, the first print edition of the life sciences journal Vita, led by China, was released. Vita has received more than 400 submissions and published 60 papers, including the latest important original research results from multiple Chinese research teams. The quality of the articles has reached a top-tier level and has attracted widespread attention from the academic community.
The word "Vita" originates from Latin, meaning "life." Li Dangsheng, co-editor-in-chief of the journal and chief scientific officer of the Shanghai Shangsi Institute of Natural Sciences, introduced that the academic level of the main journal of Vita is planned and constructed roughly in line with the world's three top journals, Nature, Science, and Cell. The Vita series of journals adopts a "main journal + sub-journals" publishing model, committed to building China's own first-class journal series in the field of life sciences.
"We are producing more and more world-class scientific research results and contributing respectable knowledge and technology to the world, but the vast majority of our good articles are published in overseas journals. Making a good journal in China, making a series of good journals, is very important, and we feel an increasing sense of urgency," said Shi Yigong, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and president of West Lake University.
In the early stage of founding a journal, how can one obtain better policy support and academic resources? Relying on the Life Sciences Open Alliance, composed of 39 universities and research institutions from the mainland, Hong Kong, and Macao, the Vita series of journals is advancing its construction. At a time when the impact factor is widely used as an evaluation yardstick, Vita innovatively explores an "evaluating journals by their articles" evaluation system, assessing the academic level of journals through appraisal of the academic level of the original research papers they carry, aiming to guide journals back to their academic essence and promote the creation of a sound academic ecosystem.
"The specific approach is that three years after the founding of the Vita series of journals, original papers from the evaluated journals will be randomly sampled, and close-peer experts will score them according to the academic level and scientific quality of the papers, calculating an average value as a reflection of the journal's true academic level," Li Dangsheng explained.
Currently, the Ministry of Education continues to promote the adoption of representative achievement evaluation in faculty title assessment and appointment and routine assessment, encouraging more achievements to be published in world-class journals run in China. Jin Li, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and president of Fudan University, introduced that member universities and research institutions of the Life Sciences Open Alliance have committed to incorporating the Vita series of journals into their research evaluation as homogeneous and equivalent to the top international journals and their sub-journals that they benchmark against.
In addition, amid the continued rise in article processing charges for international journals, the Vita series of journals has announced the adoption of a fully open access model, charging no publication fees to authors, conveying a positive stance of open scientific exchange.
"As a vital member of the global scientific community, China has the responsibility to actively participate in shaping the landscape of scientific exploration and in defining what constitutes excellence in scientific research." This sentence from the inaugural editorial of Vita articulates the starting point of this journal and also reflects China's unremitting pursuit of accelerating the cultivation of world-class scientific and technological journals.
Return to TopThis newspaper Ordos, August 18 (Reporter Zhao Jingfeng) — Recently, the "Village Songs Resounding" (村歌嘹亮) 2026 National Centralized Performance concluded in Ejin Horo Banner, Ordos City, Inner Mongolia. The event was guided by the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles and the Publicity Department of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Party Committee, and co-hosted by the China Literary and Art Volunteers Association, the Inner Mongolia Federation of Literary and Art Circles, the Department of Culture and Tourism of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, and the Publicity Department of the Ordos Municipal Party Committee.
The performance lasted 3 days, bringing together 49 teams and more than 1,000 people from 31 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the central government) and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps. It featured segments including an opening ceremony, thematic performances, and a closing ceremony, and through forms such as pairing guidance by renowned artists, a cultural and tourism fair, and centralized showcases, it promoted the direct delivery of high-quality cultural resources to the grassroots.
During the performance, distinctive village songs from various regions were performed in succession. "Climbing the Kelian" (爬柯莲) fully displayed the rustic charm of Hunan, "Field Song Work Songs" (田歌号子) recreated the lively atmosphere of field labor in the Jiangnan water towns, "Lion Boy" (雄狮少年) sketched the image of rural youths bravely pursuing their dreams, and "Drum Rhythms of Jia Village" (鼓韵贾村) brimmed with rustic vitality through drum music... The 49 performing teams used local accents and local tunes to tell of rural changes, showcasing the charm and heritage of China's excellent traditional culture. Concurrent with the performance, the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles' literary and art volunteer service teams went deep into the grassroots to carry out two benefit performances, delivering literary and art services to the front lines of workshops and to the doorsteps of farmers and herders.
Return to TopReport from our newspaper, Beijing, August 18 (Reporter Pan Junqiang): From August 16 to 20, the Third National Crop Heterosis and Biological Breeding Academic Conference and Agricultural Zhongguancun Seed Industry Innovation Promotion Meeting (农业中关村种业创新推进会) was held in Pinggu, Beijing.
With the theme of "Integration and Innovation of Science, Technology and Industry and Green, Efficient Agricultural Development," the conference organized reports by academicians and specially invited experts, including the National Forum of Agricultural College Deans, the Science and Technology Backyard and Graduate Student Forum, forums on biological breeding, plant protection, horticultural plants, crop fertility and heterosis, and international journal development reports, with more than 150 academicians and experts of significant academic influence delivering conference reports.
At the meeting, the Agricultural Zhongguancun Science and Technology Innovation Strategic Advisory Committee was established, and 21 domestic and international academicians and experts, including Wan Jianmin, were appointed. The Strategic Advisory Committee brings together intellectual resources in the fields of crop science, biological breeding, plant protection, horticultural plants, and smart agriculture. It will play a think-tank supporting role in strategic planning, technological innovation, and system construction, provide professional consultation for tackling key core technologies in agricultural science and technology innovation, and serve the nation's self-reliance and self-strengthening in agricultural science and technology. This conference was jointly hosted by the University of Science and Technology Beijing, the Beijing Pinggu National Agricultural Science and Technology Park (北京平谷国家农业科技园区), and the China Rural Professional Technology Association (中国农村专业技术协会).
By: 本报记者 王昊男
Powerful shots, dribbling runs, diving saves... On August 22, the Second World Humanoid Robot Games will open in Beijing. A reporter walked into the National Speed Skating Oval, the "Ice Ribbon," and saw a group of "football players" in training.
"Compared with last year, the robots' bodies, joint performance, and motion and perception capabilities have all improved by a large margin," said Cheng Hao, CEO of Beijing Acceleration Evolution Technology Co., Ltd. "The qualifiers have already concluded, and 32 teams in three categories have entered the finals."
Run-up, acceleration, leg lift, shot — with a "bang," the football was accurately driven into the goal, and the screen displayed: ball speed 100 km/h. "During testing, the ball speed has reached 130 km/h," Cheng Hao explained. This 140-centimeter-tall robot is the bipedal robot Booster T2, the latest development of Acceleration Evolution, and is a "player" in the large-size category of this Games' football competition.
The new robot is not only taller and stronger. Cheng Hao provided a set of data: for the T2 Pro edition, on-device computing power is 10 times that of the previous generation, and system latency has been compressed from 10 milliseconds on the T1 to 4 milliseconds.
More critical is the evolution of the "brain." "This year's gaits are richer." Tsinghua University's Huoshen (Fire God) Team is the defending champion of last Games' 5v5 football competition and also won the championship at the 2025 RoboCup Robot World Cup. Huoshen Team captain Guo Tong, an undergraduate in automation at Tsinghua University, explained that through development and training, the robots have progressed from simply walking, running, and kicking long balls to short passes, dribbling, and follow-up runs, bringing a "tactical" flavor to the pitch.
On the training ground, a group of young figures was especially eye-catching. The Haoye (Good Night) Team from the High School Affiliated to Minzu University of China is one of the few middle-school teams to reach the finals; they selected the Booster K1 robot developed by Acceleration Evolution. Team leader and teacher Yang Jianli said the school has opened dedicated embodied intelligence general courses and extension courses in both junior and senior high school, "using football to let more students come into contact with artificial intelligence and cultivate their interest."
Robots playing football makes the venue both a competition ground and a testing ground. "Every run, pass, and coordinated defense is preparation for technological iteration and upgrading," Cheng Hao said. "Starting from the football field, humanoid robots will accelerate their entry into factories, schools, and homes."
Our newspaper Harbin, August 18 (Reporter Fang Yuan) — Recently, the Heilongjiang Province Artificial Intelligence Education and Teaching Research Center began construction. The Heilongjiang Provincial Department of Education (黑龙江省教育厅) supports Harbin Institute of Technology in taking the lead in building the Heilongjiang Province Higher Education Institutions Artificial Intelligence Education and Teaching Research Center (provincial-level center), and supports Harbin Engineering University, Northeast Forestry University, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin Medical University, Harbin University of Science and Technology, and other universities in establishing branch centers, covering multiple disciplinary categories including science, engineering, agriculture, medicine, and humanities.
The center will rely on the advantageous and distinctive disciplines of each university in fields such as aerospace science and technology, marine engineering, energy development, smart agriculture, and the ice-and-snow economy, and, centering on national strategies and the development needs of the province's key industries, will build a differentiated development pattern of "AI + Longjiang advantageous fields" (龙江优势领域), conduct forward-looking research on the impact of artificial intelligence over the next 5 to 10 years on industrial transformation, job restructuring, and capability demands, promote paradigm changes in disciplines and programs, talent cultivation, and scientific research, and open up the "last mile" between educational supply and industrial demand. It will explore and create entirely new educational forms such as future schools, future learning centers, future teachers, and future classrooms, and promote the deep empowerment of artificial intelligence technology throughout the entire educational process.
Return to TopAugust 19, 2026 marks the ninth Chinese Doctors' Day. JD Health, together with Healthy China (健康中国), People's Health (人民健康), and Sina Weibo, jointly launched the third "Thank You! My Treasure Doctor" story collection and Doctors' Day tribute activity, sharing heartwarming stories between netizens and doctors, and paying the highest tribute to the broad ranks of medical workers.
Thank you! My treasure doctor
Before August 31, open the JD app and search for "Doctors' Day" to view the heartwarming stories.
Return to TopAugust 19 this year marks the ninth Chinese Doctors' Day, with the theme "Forging the Soul and Strengthening the Foundation, Lofty Virtue and Consummate Skill." On the front line of safeguarding the people's health, the vast number of doctors practice the spirit of "revering life, rescuing the dying and healing the wounded, willingly dedicating themselves, and showing boundless love" through long years of silent perseverance. What wishes do they have in their work and life? On this Doctors' Day, let us listen to the wishes of doctors.
——Editor
Chu Zhenhao, an obstetrician for whom "this shift is a must"——
To patients: "I hope for a cry of a newborn, and that mother and child are both safe"
To family: "I want to accompany my children in enjoying the joy of sports"
By our reporter Liu Jiahua
"Waa——" the cry of a newborn baby rang out in the operating room. Beneath the shadowless lamp, the ticking of the monitor was steady and crisp. Chu Zhenhao straightened up, took off his mask, and let out a long breath. "Mother and child are both safe." These four words — he has heard them for 22 years since becoming a doctor, and each time he feels the same relief and joy.
"I hope for a cry of a newborn, and that mother and child are both safe." This is Chu Zhenhao's most simple wish. As an obstetrician at Shengjing Hospital affiliated with China Medical University, the 47-year-old Chu Zhenhao knows that that loud cry proves the baby was born safely and the mother is well.
The birth of a newborn knows no day or night, no clear skies or storms. The work of an obstetrician cannot wait.
On July 13 this year, Shenyang in Liaoning was hit by heavy rainfall. A Level I emergency response to flood control was activated, and the whole city was urged to work from home. A video shot by a citizen went viral: in waist-deep water, a man pushed a bicycle as he struggled to move forward. Netizens asked one after another: "Does this shift really have to be worked?"
The man in the video was none other than Chu Zhenhao. That day he had two complex surgeries scheduled, one of which was a cesarean section for a high-risk pregnant woman with placenta previa. Some departments in the hospital could schedule operations for a later date, but childbirth cannot wait. Early that morning, he found that the area around his residential compound was severely flooded and he could not drive, so he had no choice but to push his bicycle into the rain — riding where the water was shallow, pushing where it was deep, the bicycle serving as a "probing pole." More than an hour later, soaked through, he stepped into the hospital.
That day, Chu Zhenhao completed two surgeries. At the moment the baby's cry rang out, he felt that all his efforts had been worth it. After the video of his wading to work was posted online, his response was widely shared: "There are people waiting for me at the other end of the road. Giving birth cannot wait, so we obstetricians can only keep moving forward — even when there are difficulties, we must keep moving forward." Netizens condensed it into one sentence — this shift, it must be worked.
For Chu Zhenhao, that was just an ordinary day in his medical career. He said that in the heavy rain there were many people like him who held their posts.
Chu Zhenhao is the father of two children — his daughter is a sophomore in university, and his son is in fourth grade. "Outside of work, I also want to accompany my children in enjoying the joy of sports, take them running, cycling, and camping along the Hun River, and experience the beauty of life." The reason this is a wish is that he is often too busy to spend time with his children. "The children have mentioned several times that they want to go to Universal Studios in Beijing, but I also have to be on duty on weekends, so we have never made it. This year I will try to fulfill this promise." Chu Zhenhao sighed, "When I take off my white coat, I am also an ordinary person; when I put it on, I have to shoulder the burdens that must be shouldered."
Li Jiaqi, an orthopedic surgeon who performs about 500 spinal surgeries a year——
To patients: "I hope patients can shed their pain and stand up straight"
To family: "I want to hold on to the warmth of everyday life outside of work"
By our reporter Ma Chen
"As a spinal surgeon, I have two simple wishes: at work, I hope patients can shed their pain, stand up straight, and regain the dignity of movement; in life, after a busy day of surgeries, I want to catch the hot dinner at home, not always miss the time sitting around the table with my family, and after a tiring day, I can take a comfortable hot shower, sleep soundly until I wake up naturally on rest days, and sit down and chat properly with my family, making up for the companionship I have missed." The wishes of Li Jiaqi, a doctor at the Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University, are simple and sincere, holding within them the softest steadfastness of a healer and the most solid aspirations of an ordinary person.
At 7:30 in the morning, the ward is already bustling. Putting on his white coat, Li Jiaqi begins a day of intense work. In recent years, he has performed about 500 spinal surgeries annually. Each operation under the shadowless lamp stems from the weighty professional wish of "letting patients stand up straight."
This wish comes from real experiences of dealing with patients time and again. There was once a patient suffering from pain in the lower back and legs who underwent endoscopic removal of a free nucleus pulposus, and recovered well after the operation. Some time later, the pain in the patient's lower limbs recurred. Watching the patient bend over in pain and walk with difficulty, Li Jiaqi was anxious. He carefully studied the imaging data, and after a comprehensive physical examination of the patient, decisively performed a second surgery. After a period of rehabilitation and recuperation, the patient was finally able to stand up straight and walk and live independently. When he saw the patient stretch out his back and walk out of the ward, Li Jiaqi truly felt that his wish was gradually becoming reality.
There was also an elderly patient with severe lumbar spinal stenosis at two segments of the lumbar spine, whose walking distance was limited and who suffered from numbness in both legs. The patient was advanced in age and also had underlying conditions such as diabetes and cerebral infarction, making open surgery under general anesthesia too risky. But if conservative treatment were chosen, the elderly man would have to endure long-term pain and severely restricted mobility. To fulfill the old man's wish of walking freely again, Li Jiaqi's team chose endoscopic minimally invasive spinal surgery. They made only three 1-centimeter incisions on the back of the lumbar spine, and relying on the magnified view of the endoscope, precisely relieved the nerve compression. The surgical trauma was small, the elderly man passed smoothly through the recovery period, gradually regained normal walking ability, and his quality of life greatly improved.
Taking off his white coat, Li Jiaqi is also an ordinary husband and father. With surgeries packed into every day, he often enters the operating room early in the morning and is too busy to eat on time, cold meals becoming the norm, and he is frequently absent from the family dinner table. "Practicing medicine is a responsibility; life is what one longs for." Li Jiaqi said frankly, "To be a doctor, you must be able to bear the expectations of patients, but I also want to hold on to the warmth of everyday life outside of work."
Suolang Pianduo, a grassroots doctor who has held the frontier for 15 years——
To patients: "I hope villagers can see a doctor more conveniently"
To family: "I want to find time to help my child with homework"
By our reporter Xu Youyao
Just returning from a village follow-up visit, Suolang Pianduo, director of the health center of Zongga Township, Gyirong County, Shigatse, Tibet, had not yet taken off her white coat when a voice message from her daughter came through on her phone: "Mom, when are you coming back to help me with my homework?" On the eve of Chinese Doctors' Day, this grassroots doctor who has held the frontier for 15 years told our reporter about her wishes.
"I hope villagers can see a doctor more conveniently, and that more young medical staff can take up the 'relay baton' to guard the people's health on the border front line. What we lack most here is people, especially doctors who can treat illnesses." Suolang Pianduo paused, "Another thing is that I hope more practical skills training programs can be held, giving us grassroots doctors the chance to study alongside doctors at county hospitals and city hospitals — even half a month at a time would be good — to improve our skills."
In 2011, Suolang Pianduo graduated from the medical department of Tibet University and came to the Gongdang Township health center in Gyirong County. At that time, more than 1,000 villagers in the township were scattered across 11 natural villages, and the health center had only three pieces of equipment: a blood pressure monitor, a stethoscope, and a thermometer. Before long, the doctors who had come left one by one, transferred away one by one.
She too had wavered, but in the end she chose to stay: "I grew up in the countryside, and I know the difficulties of the grassroots lacking medicine and doctors. If even I don't stay, it will be even harder for others to stay."
At that time, in order to deliver services to the doorsteps of the masses, Suolang Pianduo learned to ride horses. The mountains were high and the valleys deep, with hundred-meter cliffs at her side. Together with her colleagues and township cadres, they delivered medicine to thousands of households. In her heart she kept a "health ledger": which pregnant woman was nearing her due date, which child was due for vaccination, which elderly person had a chronic illness...
One early morning in July 2014, before dawn, the phone suddenly rang: a woman who had just given birth was bleeding heavily and in critical condition. It had just rained, and the dirt road was muddy and slippery. Suolang Pianduo and her colleagues hurried along in the dark. When they arrived, the woman was already too weak to speak. She immediately treated her, and more than an hour later, the patient was out of danger. Only then did her suspended heart settle, and she realized her clothes were soaked through with sweat and dew.
In 2018, an elderly grandmother suddenly vomited a large amount of blood while herding livestock. Suolang Pianduo rode a motorcycle to the foot of the mountain, then rode a horse up the mountain. She administered medicine, set up an IV drip, and gave a painkiller injection. After the patient's condition stabilized, she stayed overnight. Half a year later, the grandmother's daughter met her on the road and said gratefully, "Thanks to your timely arrival, you saved my mother's life."
She can account clearly for the ledger of her work, but the ledger of her family has always been in arrears. Suolang Pianduo's home is in Jiangzi County, more than 600 kilometers from Gyirong County, a ten-hour drive. In more than ten years of work, she has rarely gone home for the New Year. Speaking of this, Suolang Pianduo choked up several times: "This place is also my home, and the villagers are also my family. Over all these years, I have spent too little time with my child. Every time she calls, she asks, 'Mom, when are you coming back?' I want to find time to help my child with homework, and I hope to be able to spend more time with my child in the future."
Wang Licheng, a "silver-haired doctor" serving the frontier after retirement——
To patients: "I hope to serve the frontier and save lives"
To family: "I want to travel across the land of Yunnan with my wife"
By our reporter Ye Chuanzeng
After more than four hours, an emergency surgery for acute Type A aortic dissection was successfully completed. Walking out of the operating room and taking off his mask, Wang Licheng gave a thumbs-up to the young surgeon beside him: "The surgery was very well done! For you to grow and stand on your own is my greatest wish."
Wang Licheng is 62 years old this year and has been engaged in clinical work for nearly 40 years. Before retirement, he was the director of the Second Ward of the Cardiovascular Disease Hospital of Zhengzhou, Henan Province. After retiring in 2024, through Yunnan Province's "Silver-Haired Doctors" action plan, he came to the People's Hospital of Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture to lead the establishment of a cardiac surgery team.
From Zhengzhou to Dali, spanning more than 2,000 kilometers, some people asked him: "You're retired, why are you still working so hard?" Wang Licheng's answer has always been resolute: "I hope to bring my experience and skills to the west and help the frontier region improve its level of cardiac surgery diagnosis and treatment."
Before retirement, Wang Licheng had come to Dali several times to provide volunteer medical services. He found that many patients could not receive effective treatment locally and had to be referred to Kunming or other cities. "The hospital lacked a professional cardiac surgery team and relevant talent, making cardiac surgery difficult to carry out, especially for life-threatening critical conditions such as acute Type A aortic dissection and acute myocardial infarction." Wang Licheng went to the local emergency center to review records and found that some patients had died during transfer. Cases like these caused him great pain. "At that time I hoped to serve the frontier and save lives," he said.
After retirement, Wang Licheng gave up the generous re-employment offers from hospitals in developed regions and came to the People's Hospital of Dali Prefecture without hesitation. He organized collective discussions of difficult cases, personally went on the operating table, and mentored young doctors. At the same time, he won the support of hospital leaders and sent young medical staff out in batches for further study and training. "One person's ability is limited. Looking to the long term, we must focus on cultivating local talent, transforming from 'blood transfusion' to 'blood production,'" Wang Licheng said.
Through continuous refinement and accumulation, the cardiac surgery team at the People's Hospital of Dali Prefecture has become increasingly mature. Last year it performed more than 240 surgeries, and the quality of surgery has improved rapidly. Team members can independently complete various types of cardiac surgery, filling more than 30 gaps in local medical technology.
In May this year, Wang Licheng led the team in applying minimally invasive cardiac valve interventional techniques to successfully treat three elderly high-risk patients with heart valve disease. The 80-year-old patient, Uncle Pan, also recovered well after the surgery.
Outside of work, Wang Licheng likes to take a walk along the shore of Erhai Lake with his wife, or stroll on the Cangshan Mountain trails. He said: "I want to travel across the land of Yunnan with my wife, appreciate the beautiful scenery, just like Xu Xiake." Cardiac surgery is high-intensity work — a single operation can take several hours, and staying up late and working overtime is the norm. He also hopes that the young people on his team can balance work and life well — working diligently and living happily.
"I want to pass on my experience and skills to young doctors without reservation, so that the masses can get good medical treatment at their doorstep," Wang Licheng said.
Zhou Zihao, a post-95s village doctor striving to win the trust of villagers——
To patients: "I hope to bring villagers a bit more peace of mind"
To family: "I want to take my parents to Beijing to see Tiananmen"
By our reporter Liu Junguo
"I hope that when the uncles and aunties in the village see me, they no longer whisper among themselves about whether I can treat illnesses well, but instead smile and call out, 'Little Doctor Zhou, you look well today.' I hope to bring villagers a bit more peace of mind." So said Zhou Zihao, a general practitioner at the Beichuan Village health service station in Jiapu Township, Changxing County, Huzhou City, Zhejiang Province.
August 15 was a Saturday. Early in the morning, the 29-year-old Zhou Zihao was already busy on his feet, shuttling between the pharmacy, the consultation area, and the treatment room. The Beichuan Village health service station has only him as its doctor, and he has only one fixed rest day per week, with few days off even during holidays.
At 10 a.m., after treating the patients who had come to the health service station, Zhou Zihao immediately took off his white coat, shouldered his medical bag, and rode an electric bicycle through the village paths.
However, this "Little Doctor Zhou," affectionately called so by the villagers, was still worrying about how to win the villagers' trust five years ago.
At that time, Zhou Zihao had just graduated from medical school and came to this village surrounded by mountains on three sides with inconvenient transportation to become a village doctor. Facing this post-95s young man younger than their own grandchildren, the villagers muttered: "He's so young — can he really treat illnesses well?"
For the first three months, the old village doctor took him door to door to "show his face"; after three months, he alone shouldered the burden of guarding the health of more than 1,200 villagers in Beichuan Village.
Over the years, Zhou Zihao has become a "family member" whom villagers are willing to pull aside for casual chats. When villagers see Zhou Zihao, they greet him, and Zhou Zihao responds with a smile in the local dialect.
At noon, Zhou Zihao returned to the health service station and heated up the food he had brought from home that morning. After eating, he immediately recorded the details of his morning visits. "The longer I practice medicine, the deeper my understanding of a doctor's duty," Zhou Zihao said. A medical record can note vital signs and prescriptions, but it is hard to write down a patient's inner anxiety; medication can relieve physical pain, but long-term companionship and equal listening are equally a dose of good medicine.
"My parents are getting older and have worked hard for half their lives. I hope to have more time to accompany them. I want to take my parents to Beijing to see Tiananmen and climb the Great Wall. I want to take them on my mother's birthday, and give them a meaningful birthday while we're at it." Speaking of his personal wish, Zhou Zihao said with a smile.
Huang Zhibo, a post-00s girl who wants to "follow her father's footsteps" to become a village doctor——
To patients: "I hope that whenever the villagers need me, I can step up"
To family: "I want my father to rest well and be safe and healthy"
By our reporter Yang Xun
"Returning to my hometown to be a village doctor, to properly take over and pass on my father's old medical bag" — this is the most simple thought in the heart of Huang Zhibo, a post-00s girl from Pingxi Village, Dongping Town, Anhua County, Hunan.
More than 2,700 villagers of Pingxi Village live scattered deep in the mountains. In June 2024, Huang Zhibo, who had just graduated from Changsha Medical University with a major in medical laboratory technology, returned to her hometown and took over the medical bag passed down from her elders.
After returning to the Pingxi Village clinic, giving injections, changing dressings, cleaning wounds, and dispensing medicine became Huang Zhibo's daily work. Deep in the mountains, there are many elderly people left behind who have difficulty moving and face many obstacles in seeking medical treatment, often relying on the grassroots clinic. Although her major was medical laboratory technology and clinical wound management was not her specialty, faced with the ailments of her fellow villagers, Huang Zhibo pushed herself to learn and grow through hands-on practice. She has a wish: "I hope that whenever the villagers need me, I can step up."
In November 2025, Chen Jianlan, a villager in her 70s, had stomach pain. Only she and her husband were at home, and they were unable to go to the county hospital for an examination. Learning of the elderly woman's difficulty, Huang Zhibo took the initiative to drive her to the county hospital, accompanying her through registration, waiting, and all the examinations.
For Huang Zhibo, her father Huang Houwang is the best role model on her path to practicing medicine and the greatest source of confidence in her return to her hometown. Her father has spent 35 years as the village doctor in Pingxi Village. His phone that never turns off, his motorcycle ready to go at any moment, and his worn, faded medical bag are the images she has known best since childhood.
Huang Zhibo often saw her father put down his chopsticks mid-meal and go out to deliver medical care to the villagers. For the elderly living alone and families in difficulty in the village, he insisted on treating first and collecting payment later, not haggling over medical fees and not proactively going door to door to press for payment.
"As long as I can still run, I'll keep running — nothing concerning the villagers is a small matter." This admonition from her father has accompanied Huang Zhibo as she grew up, and also deeply planted in her heart the seed of returning to her hometown to practice medicine and guard her neighbors. Now father and daughter stand side by side on duty at the village clinic — one old, one young, both rooted in the soil of their hometown.
Huang Zhibo's wish for life is simple and warm. In the past, her father rushed around the mountain villages all year round and rarely had leisure to rest properly. "Now, I want my father to rest well and be safe and healthy," Huang Zhibo said. She also quietly noted her father's wish, planning to accompany her parents to see the scenery outside when the clinic work is less busy, fulfilling their dream of traveling.
(Wu Siyi contributed to this report)
By: 刘子赫
Urban development must have a "big-picture vision," but it must also be grounded in "small details." The foundational character of urban governance is hidden in the attentive care for the daily comforts and hardships of the masses, and is embodied in the proper response to the people's appeals.
Shanghai subway stations have set up public cooling rest areas, allowing passing citizens to go in and take a break when hot or tired; a primary school in Beijing's Shunyi District has cleverly used crossbars to transform them into public benches, allowing parents waiting to pick up their children to sit for a while; Beijing's Tongzhou District and Shijingshan District have erected cantilevered shade canopies on streets, allowing cyclists to avoid the sun while waiting at red lights at intersections... These three different scenes have drawn a unanimous response from netizens: Thumbs up! Share! Recommend for promotion!
Providing places to escape the heat, creating rest spaces, and putting up shade barriers—these measures may seem minor, yet they meet the daily needs of the masses. The foundational character of urban governance is hidden in the attentive care for the daily comforts and hardships of the masses, and is embodied in the proper response to the people's appeals.
Urban development must have a "big-picture vision," but it must also be grounded in "small details." School gates, transportation hubs, streets and alleys—these urban "capillaries" are the life scenes the masses encounter most often. How to balance traffic safety at school gates with waiting convenience, how to balance intersection traffic efficiency with travel comfort in high temperatures—these specific and minute governance questions serve as a yardstick for measuring the level of urban governance.
Many cities are taking practical measures in the fine details. Some parks in Chengdu, Sichuan, have set up "pet drinking stations" in concentrated pet areas and provide free poop bags, balancing the needs of pet owners with the rights of other citizens. Around multiple subway entrances in Baiyun District, Guangzhou, Guangdong, non-motorized vehicle parking racks and rain shelters have been installed, resolving the chaos of shared bikes and private e-bikes having "nowhere to be placed." In some old residential communities in Shenzhen, Guangdong, "pocket fitness corners" have been added using leftover corner spaces, equipped with low-intensity fitness equipment suitable for the elderly, making "exercise as soon as you go downstairs" a reality. These measures cost little and involve minor changes, yet they target weak links and governance shortcomings, applying meticulous effort in the fine details, meeting the diverse needs of different groups, and conveying the warmth of service through the precision of governance.
"Think what the masses think, be anxious about what the masses are anxious about, formulate and implement effective policies and measures, persist with sustained effort, handle the matters of concern to the people one by one, and continuously improve the people's livelihood and well-being." Adding elevators to old residential communities solves the travel difficulties of the elderly; adding time-limited parking spaces around vegetable markets resolves the unloading troubles of merchants; community convenience canteens are established to solve the dining difficulties of elderly people living alone... These practical matters that are down-to-earth and warm the heart may seem trivial and ordinary, yet they precisely respond to the people's urgent difficulties and concerns, fill the shortcomings of urban governance, consolidate the foundation of people's livelihood in the fine details, and paint the happy foundational color of the city.
When citizens can be treated with gentleness while escaping the summer heat for a moment, picking up a child once, or waiting for a red light, our city weaves a better life within its rich human warmth.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 董丝雨 本报通讯员 唐 彪
During the summer, at the Wangcang Agricultural Specialty Products Store (旺苍农特产品专营店) in Xiaoshan District (萧山区), Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province, Micang Mountain (米仓山) green tea beverages from Wangcang County (旺苍县), Guangyuan City, Sichuan Province, have become a popular summer refreshment highly favored by citizens.
Early in the morning, Liu Wenmao (柳文茂), the person in charge of the specialty store, was busy sorting the newly arrived Micang Mountain green tea. In Shuimo Town (水磨镇), Wangcang County, more than 1,000 kilometers away, villagers were rushing to prepare a new batch of Micang Mountain green tea based on the orders sent back by Liu Wenmao.
During a break in sorting, Liu Wenmao told reporters: "Micang Mountain green tea beverages have a refreshing and smooth taste. They are a new product created this year through Zhejiang-Sichuan joint action, relying on East-West cooperation (东西部协作). The tea leaf raw materials come from the Micang Mountain planting area in Wangcang County, and the production and R&D technology is provided by Xiaoshan District. Since its launch in March this year, more than 1 million bottles of the beverage have been sold in Xiaoshan District."
Zhejiang and Sichuan have joined hands for a long time.
In 1996, in accordance with the overall deployment of the central government, Zhejiang provided paired assistance (对口帮扶) to Guangyuan. At that time, the rural industry development foundation in places such as Wangcang County was weak. Combining climate and soil conditions, Zhejiang took the tea industry as the breakthrough point for assistance.
Over the past 30 years, Zhejiang has continuously exerted efforts in areas such as the promotion of tea planting technology and the introduction of new tea varieties, helping Wangcang County cultivate nationally renowned tea brands such as "Micang Mountain Tea" while also promoting the construction of 51,000 mu of yellow tea gardens in Wangcang County.
"Now, one mu of green tea here has an annual comprehensive income of 6,000 yuan, and one mu of yellow tea has an annual comprehensive income of 15,000 yuan." Shi Yiliang (石义良), a tea farmer in Sanhe Village (三合村), Mumen Town (木门镇), Wangcang County, said that with the application of Zhejiang tea planting technology and the promotion of new tea varieties, the locally grown tea has good quality and excellent taste, and is sold to all parts of the country.
In 2021, the East-West cooperation pairing was adjusted, and Xiaoshan District was paired to assist Wangcang County. Over the past 5 years, Xiaoshan District has comprehensively introduced Zhejiang's full industry chain development experience in the tea industry in Wangcang County, starting from base construction, enterprise support, e-commerce sales, and deep processing of products, allowing Wangcang tea to go out of the mountains and out of Sichuan.
It is reported that Xiaoshan District has assisted Wangcang County in newly building (or continuing) 9 standardized tea gardens, supporting 5 major tea enterprises, establishing the Xiaowang E-commerce Industrial Park (萧旺电商产业园), cooperating with the postal service to build 68 village-level convenience service stations, and jointly developing new tea beverage products such as Micang Mountain green tea beverages with Zhejiang Tianshun Holdings Group Co., Ltd. (浙江天顺控股集团有限公司).
"In the past, most summer and autumn tea was left abandoned on the trees." Yang Hanwei (杨汉伟), business manager of Guangyuan Nanwang Jinxiao Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd. (广元市南旺今萧农业科技有限公司), said that now, relying on projects such as the "Micang Mountain Tea Full Industry Chain Demonstration Project" (米仓山茶全产业链示范项目), summer and autumn tea is used as raw material, and with the cold brewing and de-astringency processes provided by Xiaoshan District, Micang Mountain green tea beverages have been launched. While improving the comprehensive utilization rate of tea leaves, this has also opened up new channels for tea farmers to increase their income.
E-commerce empowerment allows good tea from deep mountains to fetch good prices. To solve problems such as poor logistics and single sales channels, Xiaoshan District has invested assistance funds to help Wangcang County improve its e-commerce logistics system, build a comprehensive service center for agricultural products going upstream, and establish a three-dimensional sales network.
At present, Wangcang County has 250,000 mu of high-standard tea gardens, with an annual tea output of 9,600 tons. Products are exported to 13 countries and regions, and the comprehensive output value of the tea industry has exceeded 7.924 billion yuan. From January to June this year, the county's tea output exceeded 7,000 tons, with an output value of 6.5 billion yuan, driving 29,000 tea farmer households to increase their income by an average of 14,500 yuan per household.
It is reported that Wangcang County is comprehensively promoting the quality improvement of tea gardens, innovatively developing new-style tea beverages, actively exploring domestic and international markets, deepening the integrated development of tea and tourism, and accelerating the high-quality development of tea culture and tourism.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 蒋雪鸿
"Possibly the strongest in nearly 150 years" or "possibly the strongest climate event since 1951"... Recently, news about the formation of a super El Niño in 2026 has attracted much attention. Many people do not know how this time span is calculated or what it means. In fact, "translated," it means "the strongest since observational records began." Scientific and reliable ocean observation records date back about 150 years, while China began systematic and standardized meteorological observation records in 1951.
The National Climate Center has assessed: the current sea surface temperature in the equatorial central and eastern Pacific continues to rise, and is expected to reach its peak around November to December this year, forming a super El Niño event, with a high probability of becoming the strongest since observational records began. Since this summer, China's climate characteristics have reflected the typical impacts of the El Niño development stage: the eastern part has two rain belts running north and south, with rainstorm processes covering a wide area with strong intensity, overlapping affected regions, and compounding disaster effects; typhoons have been active and strong, with prolonged wind and rain impacts.
Trend: It is expected to reach the peak of this El Niño event around November to December
El Niño is a climate phenomenon in which sea surface temperatures in the equatorial central and eastern Pacific remain abnormally high and cause anomalies in atmospheric circulation.
Under normal conditions, the seawater of the equatorial Pacific is "warm in the west and cold in the east"—the western Pacific is warm while the eastern Pacific is relatively cold. Trade winds blow from east to west, piling warm surface water in the west, while deep cold water in the east upwells to replenish. But when El Niño occurs, the trade winds weaken or even reverse, the warm water in the eastern Pacific is no longer "blown away," and sea temperatures continue to rise.
How large is this area of warming ocean? The Niño 3.4 region alone—an artificially delineated area used to monitor average sea surface temperatures in the equatorial central and eastern Pacific—covers approximately 6 million square kilometers.
It is easy to imagine that the warming of such a large body of seawater releases enormous amounts of heat into the atmosphere and alters the atmospheric circulation over the equatorial Pacific—the Walker circulation—thereby affecting weather, climate, and the marine environment around the world.
El Niño typically lasts 9 to 12 months, with the sea surface temperature peak generally occurring in autumn and winter, from November to February of the following year. The opposite phenomenon is called La Niña, which refers to anomalous cooling of the eastern Pacific. This ocean region typically exhibits a cycle of "El Niño—normal state—La Niña" occurring in succession, with a cycle length of 2 to 7 years.
Monitoring data from the National Climate Center show that the equatorial central and eastern Pacific entered an El Niño state in May of this year. Sea surface temperatures have continued to rise rapidly in recent times. In July, the monitoring region's sea temperature index reached 2.09 degrees Celsius, up 0.49 degrees Celsius from June; by the first half of August, it had further climbed to 2.64 degrees Celsius, with very rapid warming.
According to the national standard "Methods for Discriminating El Niño/La Niña Events" (GB/T 33666—2017), when the 3-month running mean of the sea temperature index in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific reaches or exceeds 0.5 degrees Celsius in absolute value and persists for at least 5 months, an El Niño event can be determined. Among these, if the peak intensity reaches or exceeds 2.5 degrees Celsius, it is determined to be a super event.
It should be noted that although the sea temperature index in the first half of August has already exceeded 2.5 degrees Celsius, according to the 3-month running mean algorithm adopted by the national standard, the current running mean has not yet reached the threshold for a super event. In other words, a super El Niño event has not yet formally formed.
It is expected that sea surface temperatures in the equatorial central and eastern Pacific will continue to maintain a fluctuating upward trend, reaching the peak of this event around November to December this year. Given the current obvious warming trend, the 3-month running mean peak will most likely exceed the 2.5 degrees Celsius threshold, forming a super El Niño event, which is expected to be the strongest since observational records began. This event features prominent characteristics such as rapid development, strong intensity, and significant impacts on climate.
Impacts: This summer's climate anomalies in China were, to a large extent, influenced by the rapid development of El Niño
The most widespread impact is heat waves. In the summer of 2026, many parts of the world experienced rare heat waves, with Germany, the Czech Republic, Poland, and others recording all-time high temperatures in their national histories.
China's climate anomalies this summer were, to a large extent, influenced by the rapid development of El Niño. The western Pacific subtropical high and the monsoon trough were further north and stronger, combined with frequent intrusions of cold vortices in the upper atmosphere over northern China, resulting in two rain centers in the north and south of China. Along with the strengthening of the summer monsoon, typhoons in the northwestern Pacific and the South China Sea increased in number and intensity, causing more rainfall in South China and the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River; while North China and Northeast China saw more rain—on the one hand, the northward-shifted subtropical high meeting cold vortices easily produced sustained rainfall, and on the other hand, the western Pacific subtropical high and typhoons transported water vapor over long distances, leading to continuous strong winds and heavy rainfall weather in the north.
Typically, in the autumn of an El Niño development year, precipitation is above normal in the south-central part of East China, the south-central part of Central China, the northern part of South China, and the eastern part of Southwest China, while precipitation is below normal in the northern part of Central China and the eastern part of Northwest China; temperatures are above normal in most of the country, with the majority of East China, the majority of Central China, the eastern part of Southwest China, and Xinjiang significantly above normal.
Chen Lijuan, chief forecaster at the National Climate Center, introduced that according to historical data and expert analysis, in the year following a strong El Niño event, its impact on global climate often reaches its peak. Because the ocean's influence on the atmosphere has a lag effect, it generally becomes fully apparent half a year to one year after the event's peak.
Response: Make solid preparations based on rolling-updated real-time monitoring and dynamic forecasting
How should a super El Niño event be addressed? The discussion can be carried out by sector.
Agriculture will be significantly affected by El Niño. Tan Zhemin, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and president of Nanjing University, pointed out that in the year following El Niño, precipitation in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River and South China increases significantly. Therefore, attention should be paid to periodic heavy rainfall, and vigilance is needed against rice root hypoxia, lodging, and yield reduction caused by frequent farmland waterlogging and basin-wide flooding, while also guarding against the risk of crop disease and pest outbreaks in high-humidity environments.
The transportation and urban operations sectors are vulnerable to extreme weather. In response to urban waterlogging, mountain torrents, landslides, and mudslides that extreme precipitation may trigger, as well as risks such as railway suspensions, highway closures, port shutdowns, and flight delays, efforts should focus on enhancing urban resilience and improving infrastructure disaster-prevention capacity. For example, strengthen the flood control and drainage capacity of urban drainage systems, underground spaces, and subway systems, and improve extreme weather emergency plans at ports, airports, and high-speed rail to enhance continuous operation capability.
The environment and public health sectors also deserve attention. Warm winters and high-temperature, high-humidity environments are conducive to the overwintering and reproduction of mosquitoes and pathogens, which may increase the risk of mosquito-borne infectious diseases such as dengue fever. In addition, strong El Niño events usually also raise the forest fire danger level in northern forest areas. Therefore, strengthening monitoring and early warning for diseases such as dengue fever, and strengthening fire danger monitoring and patrols in forest areas, all need to be deployed in advance.
Given that El Niño is still developing rapidly and its impacts have a lag effect, the National Climate Center will strengthen monitoring and forecasting, paying close attention to its future development and evolution trends and its impact on China's climate. Tan Zhemin reminded the public to make solid preparations based on rolling-updated real-time monitoring and dynamic forecasting.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 李 纵 吴 君 白光迪
In July of this year, the "15th Five-Year Plan Carbon Peak Action Plan" was issued, proposing to accelerate the green and low-carbon transformation of heating and cooling systems.
In recent years, more and more cities have been exploring district cooling: in Shenzhen, Guangdong, chilled water produced by centralized cooling stations is delivered through municipal pipelines to cool building clusters; in Wuhan, Hubei, and Nanjing, Jiangsu, river water drawn from the Yangtze is transformed into "natural air conditioning" through heat pump units.
Multiple cooling stations are interconnected through pipeline networks, enabling cross-station cooling supplementation and mutual support.
Above ground, office towers stand in rows with no external air-conditioning units visible; below ground, chilled water travels through pipelines delivering coolness.
Unlike traditional air-conditioning systems, the district cooling system in Qianhai, Shenzhen, uses centralized cooling stations to produce chilled water, which is uniformly distributed to various buildings through municipal pipelines.
At the inception of the Qianhai Cooperation Zone, district cooling was written into the area's municipal special planning. In this high-density built-up area, cooling stations are mostly constructed beneath commercial buildings or urban green spaces, and buildings no longer build their own machine rooms or cooling towers.
Qianhai Cooling Station No. 5 is "hidden" beneath a bus terminal. Walking into the underground station room, large refrigeration units are neatly arranged, with several pipes extending along the ceiling. Chilled water at 2.5 degrees Celsius travels through the pipeline network to surrounding buildings with low loss, and returns at 12.5 degrees Celsius after heat exchange.
"The cooling capacity of one main unit is equivalent to 3,250 household air conditioners," said Zhu Chunguang (朱春光), director of the Comprehensive Energy Research Office of the Green Development Innovation Center of Qianhai Energy Technology Development Co., Ltd. The system adopts "electric cooling + ice thermal storage" technology, producing ice to store cold during nighttime off-peak electricity periods, and melting ice to release cold during high-temperature daytime hours.
The cooling towers that hundreds of buildings would have each built for themselves are centralized, avoiding continuous heat discharge to the outside. Daytime cooling loads are shifted to nighttime, "shaving peaks and filling valleys" for the power grid.
On August 10, heat waves rolled outdoors in Shenzhen. Real-time data on the large screen of the Qianhai Cooling Station No. 5 central control room showed that the temperature in the Qianhai district cooling area was approximately 0.9 degrees Celsius lower than in the city center. Qianhai has planned a total of 10 cooling stations across the Guiwan, Qianwan, and Mawan areas, with 6 currently in operation. Office buildings, commercial complexes, hospitals, schools, government institutions, and museums in the area have all been connected to district cooling. Since the first cooling station began operation in 2017, the system has operated continuously, safely, and stably.
"The system also introduces AI (artificial intelligence) algorithms to predict the next day's cooling demand based on meteorological information, historical data, and energy usage patterns. It stores energy on demand during the 8-hour nighttime off-peak electricity period and dispatches supply precisely during the day. Multiple cooling stations are interconnected through pipeline networks, enabling cross-station cooling supplementation and mutual support," Zhu Chunguang explained.
"Without the vibration and noise of main units and cooling towers, complaints from light sleepers have noticeably decreased," said Cai Haisong (蔡海松), chief engineer of the Shenzhen Conrad Hotel. He calculated: after connecting to district cooling, equipment investment was reduced by more than 3 million yuan, approximately 420,000 yuan per year is saved in basic transformer electricity charges, and monthly cooling source fees and operation and maintenance costs have also dropped significantly.
According to estimates by Qianhai Energy Company, once all 10 cooling stations are fully operational, they can save 130 million kWh of electricity annually, reduce carbon dioxide and other emissions by 2.4 million tons, and free up nearly 100,000 square meters of building space.
Li Xuesong (李雪松), a professor-level senior engineer and president of the HVAC Branch of the Shenzhen Survey and Design Industry Association, said that district cooling has strong economies of scale and can promote improvements in the air-conditioning cooling sector in terms of economic, social, and ecological benefits.
The "cooling source" comes from the Yangtze River, turning river water into "natural air conditioning."
At 9 a.m., at the Hankou Riverside International Business District in Jiang'an District, Wuhan, Wu Jing (吴敬), the person in charge of a fitness venue, pushed open the door, and cool air gently blew from the air vents on the gym wall.
"The indoor temperature can be maintained at a constant level year-round, and humidity can also be stabilized in the comfortable range of 40% to 70%," Wu Jing said.
The "cooling source" of this fitness venue comes from the Yangtze River. The secret to turning the rolling river water into "natural air conditioning" lies about 1 kilometer to its northeast, 10 meters underground — the River Water Source Energy Station of the Hankou Riverside International Business District, co-invested and constructed by Wuhan Urban Construction Group. Since the project's trial operation, this river water source energy station has provided district energy services to approximately 260,000 square meters of buildings in the business district.
Walking into the river water source energy station, heat pump units composed of compressors, evaporators, and condensers are in operation.
"There are two independent circulation systems here that do not interfere with each other yet operate in coordination, jointly providing district energy for the Hankou Riverside International Business District," said Xiao Haixi (肖海喜), executive deputy general manager of the River Water Source Energy Station project company.
On the chilled water production side, in the water intake pump house about 1.5 kilometers southeast of the energy station, two pipes extend to approximately 10 meters below the water surface in the center of the Yangtze River, continuously drawing river water. After pressurization and filtration, this river water at 23 to 29 degrees Celsius is sent to the energy station, and after completing energy exchange, it is returned to the river along the original route.
On the user side, low-temperature chilled water produced by the heat pump units flows through distribution pipelines into heat exchange stations in each energy-consuming plot, absorbing heat from the buildings and cooling them.
"The basic principle is similar to a household air conditioner, except that a household air conditioner exchanges heat with air, while the river water source heat pump exchanges heat with water," Xiao Haixi analogized. The river water here is merely an "energy carrier" and does not directly flow into the building pipeline network.
In addition, the two circulation loops only exchange energy throughout the process, consuming no river water and changing no water quality. "The user side of the river water source district energy system has no external units and does not discharge hot air into the surrounding environment," said Han Zhongjie (韩忠杰), assistant general manager of the River Water Source Energy Station project company. After the project reaches full production, it is expected to save 7,374 tons of standard coal annually, reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 18,000 tons, sulfur dioxide emissions by approximately 253 tons, and nitrogen oxide emissions by approximately 59 tons, with ecological benefits equivalent to planting 1.055 million new trees.
As the Hankou Riverside International Business District River Water Source Energy Station operates stably in trial mode, some newly built residential buildings and office towers have begun to connect to the district energy pipeline network. "Nowadays, people's concept of green development is getting stronger, and this system achieves a win-win of ecological and economic benefits," Han Zhongjie said.
Three mutually independent water circulation systems relay to complete the heat "transport."
In mid-August, summer heat steamed in Nanjing.
Walking into the home of Li Chunqi (李春启), a resident of the Huayutianjing residential community in Nanjing Jiangbei New Area, coolness rushed in, but neither the operating sound of traditional external air-conditioning units nor direct cold air blowing could be perceived. "Not only are temperature and humidity relatively stable, but it's also very quiet," Li Chunqi said.
Where does the "coolness" come from? It is attributed to the rolling Yangtze River water that passes through Nanjing. Not far from the community, a river water source heat pump district energy system is operating continuously.
In summer, the Yangtze River water serves as the system's cooling source, and heat generated in buildings is transferred to the river water through the heat pump system; in winter, the process is reversed — the heat pump units extract heat energy from the river water and deliver it into buildings for indoor heating.
How is the energy supply process achieved? Ma Lin (马林), general manager of Nanjing Jiangbei New Area Comprehensive Energy Service Co., Ltd., explained: "Three mutually independent water circulation systems relay to complete the heat 'transport' — first, the water intake station extracts a portion of the Yangtze River water and sends it to the energy station. After heat exchange through the heat pump main units, the river water returns through pipes to the river channel and back to the Yangtze; second, the energy station produces chilled water or hot water and sends it through the distribution pipeline network to each user's heat exchange station; third, at the user's heat exchange station, the building's internal circulating water completes heat exchange once more and flows to indoor terminal equipment. The Yangtze River water and the residents' circulating water 'each go their own way.'"
At Li Chunqi's home, capillary pipe networks hidden in the ceiling and walls take the "final leg of the relay." Chilled water circulates in the pipe network, uniformly regulating indoor temperature through radiation, while the accompanying fresh air system continuously supplies fresh air and also handles dehumidification in summer.
Why use river water to cool buildings? The answer lies in a "green ledger."
In high-temperature weather, local outdoor air temperatures can approach 40 degrees Celsius, while the Yangtze River water's maximum summer temperature is about 30 degrees Celsius. Taking the Jiangbei New Area river water source heat pump project as an example, the project incorporates ice thermal storage and water thermal storage technologies, using nighttime off-peak electricity periods to store energy in advance, shifting approximately 25% of summer peak electricity loads to nighttime.
Currently, the local river water source project provides actual energy supply to approximately 320,000 square meters, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by about 600 tons annually. Based on estimates from existing commercial office and residential users, it can benefit approximately 20,000 people.
District energy supply not only saves energy but also saves building space and operation and maintenance costs. After adopting river water source district energy supply, users no longer need to build large air-conditioning machine rooms, only small heat exchange stations, which saves construction area, reduces power distribution capacity, eliminates all cooling tower water consumption, and reduces maintenance costs by approximately 80%.
The Zoigê Wetland (若尔盖湿地) is an important water conservation area in the upper reaches of the Yellow River, with most of it located in the Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture (阿坝藏族羌族自治州) of Sichuan Province.
In recent years, the local area has implemented an integrated protection and restoration project for mountains, waters, forests, farmlands, grasslands, lakes, and deserts, carrying out governance and restoration work such as bank protection and bank stabilization along the main stream of the Yellow River, ecological restoration of mines, restoration of river channels and embankments, ecological treatment of grassland desertification, and wetland restoration for water retention. As of now, the local area has completed a total ecological restoration area of 232,500 hectares.
Return to TopReport from Tianjin, August 18 (Reporter Li Jiading (李家鼎)). The reporter learned from a press conference held by the Information Office of the Tianjin Municipal Government (天津市政府新闻办) that during the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, Tianjin will focus on creating a batch of all-age-friendly green spaces at the side of the masses. In the next five years, focusing on utilizing small and micro spaces such as urban corner plots and land vacated through demolition of illegal structures, 250 pocket parks will be newly added around communities, schools, and hospitals. A relevant person in charge of the Tianjin Municipal Urban Management Commission (天津市城市管理委) introduced that Tianjin will simultaneously implement elderly-friendly and child-friendly adaptation and barrier-free renovation of parks, with the compliance rate of renovated and updated park barrier-free facilities reaching 90%.
Deepen the open sharing and quality improvement of green spaces. Vigorously promote the open sharing of green spaces, with the area of open shared green spaces not less than 2 million square meters, create more than 20 quality demonstration sites, making lawns and under-forest spaces good places for citizens' leisure. Tianjin will also implement "four categories, three levels" (四类三级) refined maintenance standards, strive to achieve a 100% protection rate for urban ancient and famous trees and reserve resources, and continuously improve the quality and efficiency of landscaping maintenance and management.
Promote the green and low-carbon transformation of landscaping. Explore the development of landscaping toward the resilient direction of water saving, energy saving, biodiversity, and disaster prevention and risk avoidance, promote the construction of low-carbon parks and smart parks, promote water-saving irrigation and resource utilization technologies for garden waste, so that landscaping not only beautifies the city's appearance but also helps the "dual carbon" (双碳) goals take root, truly transforming ecological benefits into the masses' sense of happiness.
Return to Top本报兰州8月18日电 （记者曾亦辰）记者从甘肃省生态环境厅获悉：《甘肃省美丽河湖保护与建设实施方案》日前正式印发，配套推出4方面17项具体工作举措，构建起指标目标、重点任务、考核评价“三张清单”。
Lanzhou, August 18 (Reporter Zeng Yichen) — The reporter learned from the Gansu Provincial Department of Ecology and Environment that the "Gansu Province Implementation Plan for the Protection and Construction of Beautiful Rivers and Lakes" was recently officially issued, with 17 specific work measures in 4 aspects rolled out in support, establishing "three lists" of indicator targets, key tasks, and assessment and evaluation.
持续改善河湖水环境质量方面，方案提出，甘肃将抓实入河排污口全流域排查溯源与整治工作，到2027年全面建成排污口监测监管体系；完善污水收集管网建设，推进污水处理能力建设；开展工业园区水污染整治及整改成效“回头看”，升级工业污染治理水平；持续推进农业面源污染综合治理，规范处理、合理利用畜禽粪污。
In terms of continuously improving the water environment quality of rivers and lakes, the plan proposes that Gansu will firmly carry out the full-basin investigation, source tracing, and remediation of sewage outlets entering rivers, and comprehensively complete the construction of a monitoring and supervision system for sewage outlets by 2027; improve the construction of sewage collection pipeline networks and advance the building of sewage treatment capacity; carry out "look-back" reviews of water pollution remediation and rectification results in industrial parks to upgrade the level of industrial pollution control; and continue to advance comprehensive treatment of agricultural non-point source pollution, with standardized treatment and rational utilization of livestock and poultry manure.
强化河湖水生态保护修复方面，方案提出，甘肃将推动开展水生生物调查工作，加强河湖底质和周边环境保护，科学合理调节生物群落结构，提升河湖生态系统多样性、稳定性和持续性；推进甘南黄河上游水源涵养区、祁连山、子午岭、渭河源等重点生态功能区的保护与修复，加强渭河、洮河等黄河重要支流河源区生态保护修复；严格落实河湖岸线利用管理规划要求，切实做好自然岸线保护和恢复工作，推进河湖“清四乱”常态化规范化。
In terms of strengthening the ecological protection and restoration of rivers and lakes, the plan proposes that Gansu will promote the carrying out of aquatic organism surveys, strengthen the protection of river and lake bottom sediments and surrounding environments, scientifically and rationally regulate the structure of biological communities, and enhance the diversity, stability, and sustainability of river and lake ecosystems; advance the protection and restoration of key ecological function areas such as the Gannan Yellow River upstream water conservation area, the Qilian Mountains, Ziwu Ridge, and the Wei River source, and strengthen ecological protection and restoration of the headwater areas of important Yellow River tributaries such as the Wei River and the Tao River; strictly implement the requirements of river and lake shoreline utilization management plans, earnestly do a good job of protecting and restoring natural shorelines, and promote the normalization and standardization of the "clearing of four disorders" (清四乱) in rivers and lakes.
Return to TopBeijing, August 18 (Reporters Qu Zhehan, Liu Wenxin) — Recently, under the influence of the residual circulation of severe Typhoon "White Dolphin," Henan experienced widespread, persistent heavy rainfall, triggering disaster situations and dangers. On the basis of the earlier advance allocation of 40 million yuan in central government natural disaster relief funds, on August 18, the Ministry of Finance (财政部) and the Ministry of Emergency Management (应急管理部) again made an advance allocation of 60 million yuan in central government natural disaster relief funds to support Henan in carrying out flood prevention, emergency response, and disaster relief work, with emphasis on properly relocating and settling affected people, emergency response operations such as hazard removal and danger elimination, transitional period livelihood assistance, and repair of collapsed and damaged civilian housing, so as to effectively reduce disaster losses and safeguard the basic livelihoods of affected people.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 莽九晨 尚凯元 车 斌
As global digitalization accelerates, the "digital divide" faced by older populations is becoming increasingly prominent. The International Telecommunication Union of the United Nations has repeatedly called for promoting the inclusive development of information and communication technology, formulating inclusive digital policies, and making digital technology an important support for improving the quality of life of older persons.
In recent years, some countries have combined their own aging characteristics with local conditions to strengthen age-friendly digital services: South Korea has established artificial intelligence digital learning centers to promote the intelligent upgrading of elderly care scenarios; France, guided by policy and legislation, has stimulated innovation vitality in age-friendly products; Australia has built an integrated digital service platform to empower home-based aging adaptation renovations. Through the digital transformation of public services, countries are reducing digital technology barriers and promoting better integration of the silver-haired population into the digital era and shared development dividends.
South Korea —
Opening Digital Classrooms Promoting Smart Facilities
At the Artificial Intelligence Digital Learning Center in Gangseo District, Seoul, South Korea, 75-year-old learner Lee Eun-jeong is practicing mobile phone AI (artificial intelligence) function operations with her instructor. From initial unfamiliarity and hesitation when facing electronic interfaces to now skillfully using AI tools to edit travel videos and navigating independently with navigation software, digital classrooms have enriched her later years. "AI software is like my right-hand man," Lee Eun-jeong said. She often sends the travel videos she makes to her daughter, and her family's encouragement is her motivation for continued learning.
South Korea is one of the fastest-aging countries in the world. In 2025, the population aged 65 and above exceeded 10.84 million, accounting for 21.21% of the total population, officially entering a super-aged society. South Korea's Ministry of Education's first "Adult Digital Literacy Survey" showed that about 80% of people aged 60 and above have difficulty using electronic devices in daily life, and insufficient digital skills have become an important factor constraining the improvement of older persons' quality of life.
Since 2020, South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT has launched the construction of artificial intelligence digital learning centers, providing free digital skills training for older persons. The curriculum covers smartphones, self-service terminal operations, and daily AI tool applications, integrating teaching consultation, capability assessment, smart device experience, and other functions into a one-stop digital learning service.
South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT recently stated that it will further expand the coverage of AI digital education and promote "AI technology in daily life": the number of national artificial intelligence digital learning centers will increase from the current 37 to 69, all located in public places such as libraries, post offices, and community service centers, to bridge the "last mile" of digital learning for older groups; for vulnerable groups with limited mobility, "visit education" will be carried out in conjunction with elderly care institutions, bringing digital classrooms to the doorsteps of older persons.
Seoul launched the "Digital Literacy Enhancement Plan" in 2022, offering free customized courses in more than 100 communities, with plans to complete training for 500,000 older persons by 2026. Park Jong-soo, Director of the Seoul Smart City Policy Bureau, stated that digital transformation should not exclude older persons, and Seoul is making every effort to build an inclusive digital society.
In addition to improving the digital literacy of older groups, South Korea is also simultaneously advancing the intelligent renovation of elderly care scenarios. Since 2021, South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT has implemented the "Smart Elderly Care Home" project, installing smart video conferencing systems and telemedicine equipment in elderly care institutions to provide integrated services for education, leisure, and health management for older persons. According to the plan, South Korea will add 1,020 "Smart Elderly Care Homes" in 2026, bringing the national total to 6,397.
Lee Do-gyu, Director of the Information and Communication Policy Office of South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT, stated that South Korea is committed to building an inclusive digital technology nation. AI technology should not be a tool only for a small number of professional groups, but should become a technological welfare shared by all people, including older persons, and truly become an inclusive tool for improving the quality of life of older persons.
France —
Strengthening Policy and Legislation Developing Innovative Products
According to data from the French National Institute of Statistics, by early 2026, the proportion of the population aged 65 and above had reached 22.2%. Industry insiders stated that digital application capabilities are gradually becoming an important foundation for older persons to maintain independent living. Proficiency in using smart devices enables them to independently complete daily needs such as medical appointment booking, transportation inquiries, contact with relatives and friends, and administrative affairs processing. In addition to conducting digital skills training for older persons, France focuses on promoting age-friendly renovation of various technology products throughout the entire process from the policy and legal level.
As early as 2013, France launched a silver economy strategy, creating Europe's only "Silver Valley" innovation zone in the Paris region, bringing together about 300 institutions and 4,500 professionals, establishing an "open laboratory" mechanism that invites older persons to directly participate in the design and testing of age-friendly products, ensuring that functions fit the usage habits of older groups.
In June 2025, the European Accessibility Act was officially implemented in France, putting forward clear specifications for the accessible design of digital products and services, and promoting enterprises to integrate age-friendly and accessibility concepts throughout the entire product lifecycle. In the consumer electronics field, mobile phones and tablets are continuously improving age-friendly functions such as large-font display, voice assistance, and simple operation modes; in the internet services field, e-commerce and banking applications are continuously optimizing page layouts, simplifying operation processes, and supporting accessibility functions such as screen reading; in the public services field, self-service ticket machines and payment terminals are successively upgrading interfaces and voice guidance to facilitate use by older groups.
Driven by both policy and market, a batch of age-friendly electronic products designed around home-based elderly care have emerged. Remote alarm bracelets, automatic fall detection devices, smart pill boxes, home sensors, and video companion terminals and other products are gradually entering homes and elderly care institutions.
The tablet computer LiNote is one of the representative products. It retains only functions such as communication, calendar, and reminders. Older persons do not need to operate the screen; approaching the device automatically answers video calls and receives text, photo, and video messages sent by family members. Family members can also remotely set medication reminders and schedule arrangements. "Our ultimate goal is to make older persons no longer feel lonely and help them age in place for a longer time," said product developer Verdisen.
A companion robot developed by a French local enterprise has functions including day-and-night monitoring, fall detection, mobility assistance, voice interaction, and medication reminders, and has been deployed and tested in multiple French elderly care institutions. Founder Vincent Dupourqué stated: "By 2050, the number of older persons will double, and the demand for caregivers will be four times the current level. We hope robots can help alleviate this problem."
Australia —
Building Digital Platforms Empowering Home-Based Elderly Care
After 81-year-old Australian senior Barry suddenly suffered a stroke, his ability to care for himself in daily life declined significantly. His family submitted an application through the elderly care service platform My Aged Care. After assessment and inclusion in the government subsidy program, age-friendly renovation service providers came to install accessible ramps, and a physical therapist customized a home rehabilitation plan for him. Now Barry can walk independently at home, and the age-friendly renovation has genuinely improved his quality of home-based elderly care.
According to forecasts by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the proportion of the population aged 65 and above will rise from 17% in 2022 to between 25% and 27% by 2071; nearly 90% of the population aged 65 and above have long-term health problems, and about 40% of home-based older persons need assistance with daily activities. Facing continuously growing elderly care demand, the Australian government integrates elderly care resources through digitalization, promotes the "aging in place" model, and relies on digital platforms to coordinate the supply of home-based aging adaptation renovations, nursing services, health management, and other resources.
In 2013, the Australian government officially launched the My Aged Care elderly care service platform. After years of iterative upgrades, it has become a digital elderly care hub integrating information inquiry, eligibility assessment, and service matching. Older persons can submit applications through the website or a dedicated hotline. Professional institutions develop personalized plans based on needs such as rehabilitation and home-based aging adaptation renovations, precisely matching age-friendly renovation service providers and nursing resources. According to the official annual report, the platform receives nearly 7 million visits annually, has served more than 1.5 million older persons cumulatively, and home care services cover 293,000 people.
In November 2024, the Australian Parliament passed the Aged Care Act 2024, launching a new home-based elderly care support plan. The government announced an investment of 2.2 billion Australian dollars (1 Australian dollar is approximately 4.79 yuan) to advance elderly care reform, of which 1.4 billion Australian dollars will be used to upgrade digital infrastructure and optimize core modules such as service portals and assessment systems. Sam Rae, Australian Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians, stated that against the backdrop of aging, the boundaries between health, housing, and elderly care services are gradually merging, and digitalization is a key support for improving the effectiveness of age-friendly services.
Digital transformation is profoundly reshaping Australia's elderly care landscape. Data shows that about 600,000 Australians aged 65 to 74 have used telemedicine services. Various age-friendly digital innovations are accelerating implementation: Melbourne's Bawang Health Center, in cooperation with Deakin University, has designed virtual reality experience programs for older persons with mild dementia, alleviating loneliness through virtual tourism and online social interaction; the fall prediction device developed by AI enterprise HomeGuardian.AI can identify fall risk indicators in advance and assist caregivers with early intervention.
Annette Healy, General Manager of digital service provider AlayaCare Australia, stated that government-enterprise collaboration is building a more efficient and transparent elderly care service system, enabling age-friendly renovations and elderly care services to precisely reach home-based older persons.
(Our reporters Seoul, Paris, Canberra, August 18)
By: 尚凯元
The special program "Automotive Industry: The Rise of China," broadcast this year by France's BFM Business channel, has triggered broad and profound discussion in European industry circles. Guests on the program generally agreed that Chinese electric vehicles have, by virtue of whole-industry-chain advantages and efficient iteration capability, gained a firm foothold in the European market, and the trend of the global automotive industry's center of gravity shifting eastward is becoming increasingly clear.
From "latecomer" to "surpasser," a cognitive reversal concerning Chinese automobiles is quietly taking place in Europe.
Exactly how "fast" are Chinese automobiles "running" in the European market? The data provides the most direct answer. Statistics from the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association show that in the first half of this year, the overall share of Chinese automakers in the European market climbed to 9.5%, and in June alone it reached 10.9% — far earlier than the time point of "breaking 10% in 2030" that the industry had previously generally estimated. In May this year, new-car registrations of Chinese brands in major Western European markets surpassed those of Japanese automakers for the first time, leaping to first place among Asian brands. The rapid refresh of sales figures has become the primary driving force for reversing Europe's entrenched impression.
However, what truly touches a nerve in European industry circles is not just the climbing numbers, but the whole-chain iteration capability demonstrated by China's automobile industry. In the program, Jacques Léger, an automotive industry expert who had long served at the Valeo Group, recalled what he saw at the 2024 Beijing Auto Show and said bluntly: when a large number of brand-new models were unveiled at once before his eyes, the scale and intensity of China's new-energy vehicle transformation brought him shock — "This is a great mountain, a huge tsunami."
What Léger marveled at was the qualitative change of the entire industrial ecosystem behind it. He noted that Chinese automakers are redefining the logic of automobile R&D, having formed an industrial ecosystem in which vehicle manufacturers, battery suppliers, software companies, consumer electronics makers, and parts companies are deeply interwoven. According to his estimate, Chinese automakers' model development speed is about twice that of their European counterparts, while their comprehensive R&D costs are only one-third of their European counterparts'. This not only means a cost advantage, but also represents a more agile response to consumer demand.
Recognition of the whole-chain system capability of China's automobile industry is becoming a general consensus in European industry circles. Xavier Fontanet, former president of the Essilor Group, said in the program that the leap of China's automobile industry is the result jointly nurtured by long-term technological investment, the accumulation of industrial capability, and full market competition. After visiting the Shanghai Auto Show last year, Sigrid de Vries, director general of the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association, used "China speed" to describe the pace of evolution of China's automobile ecosystem. In her view, the future of Chinese automakers has long been not a question of "whether to go global," but a strategic choice of "when and how to go global."
It is not only a change of perception in industry circles, but also a change in consumer choice. A survey by the market research firm Escalante across the five countries of France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom shows that the proportion of respondents willing to consider buying Chinese-brand cars rose from 31% in 2024 to 47% in 2025, surpassing American brands for the first time. More and more young European consumers associate Chinese cars with innovative design, intelligent features, and leading electric technology. When the author took ride-hailing in France and communicated with multiple Chinese-brand car owners, almost all of them gave positive evaluations of the vehicles' features, energy consumption, and user experience, and the product image of high cost-performance is increasingly solid in the local market.
In recent years, Chinese industrial products represented by electric vehicles are gradually reshaping Europe's traditional impression of "Made in China." But at the same time, attitudes toward Chinese electric vehicles in Europe's public opinion arena remain complex and diverse: there is admiration for technological progress, and there is vigilance about the pressure of competition on local industry; there are calls to protect the local market, and there are pragmatic considerations of learning from China's experience and deepening industrial cooperation. More and more Chinese automakers are planning to build production bases in Europe, promoting the localization of production capacity and the deep integration of industrial chains.
For Europe, the real question should not be how to block the arrival of Chinese automobiles, but whether it can use this competition to rekindle its own innovative vitality, complete the upgrade of its industrial system in the new round of technological transformation, find a balance among green transformation, industrial security, and open cooperation, and accurately position itself in the new landscape of the global automobile industry.
Under the wave of green transformation of the global automobile industry, open cooperation and embracing change are far more in line with Europe's long-term interests than building walls for self-protection. Facing squarely the challenges and lessons brought by "China speed" may be precisely the starting point for Europe to reshape the competitiveness of its own automobile industry.
Return to TopJapan to test-launch long-range missiles in Australia to "strengthen counterattack capability"
Xinhua News Agency, Tokyo, August 18 (reporters Li Ziyue, Chen Ze'an) According to Kyodo News on the 18th, Japanese Defense Minister Koizumi Shinjiro held talks that day with Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles in Canberra, the Australian capital. The two sides reached agreement on the Japan Self-Defense Forces conducting test launches of long-range missiles on Australian territory for the so-called "strengthening of counterattack capability (enemy base attack capability)."
According to the report, the two sides consulted on a series of defense cooperation matters during the talks. Australia will allow the Japan Self-Defense Forces to use test ranges on Australian territory to conduct test launches of long-range missiles and other weapons for "strengthening counterattack capability." The two sides also agreed to further expand cooperation in the field of defense equipment, including promoting Australia's introduction of Japan's upgraded Mogami-class frigates.
According to the report, the two sides also expressed welcome for the successful field testing of a joint research and development project between Japanese companies and the Australian Department of Defence utilizing cutting-edge laser technology, and agreed to maintain close cooperation. In addition, the two sides exchanged views on the regional situation and cooperation with so-called "like-minded countries."
In recent years, Japan and Australia have continuously strengthened defense cooperation. In addition to promoting Japan's export of frigates to Australia, the two sides have this time further expanded the scope of cooperation to the field of long-range missile test launches. Related developments are considered likely to intensify regional military tension and confrontation, arousing widespread concern from the outside world.
Russian Foreign Minister: Japan attempts to use Russia criticism to cover up its own military moves
Xinhua News Agency, Moscow, August 17 Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov, when commenting on the 17th on Japan's statements regarding Russian President Putin's boarding of Iturup Island (called "Etorofu Island" by Japan), told Russian media that he suggested Japan's leadership concentrate on handling domestic affairs rather than "attacking" Russia.
Lavrov said that if Japan attempts to divert international attention from its "openly aggressive" military course by attacking Russia, then "I suggest they mind their own business — they have many domestic problems that need solving."
Lavrov said Japan is attempting to unite with its close ally the United States to "rewrite" international law according to their own wishes. Japan is attempting to evade historical responsibility for the crimes it has committed, and is now breaking through constitutional constraints to seek expansion of Self-Defense Forces overseas activities — these various moves are "very worrying."
Putin boarded the Southern Kuril Islands (called the "Northern Four Islands" by Japan), which are disputed between Russia and Japan, for the first time on the 13th, and made rare comments on Russia-Japan relations. Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae subsequently held a press conference lodging a strong protest.
The Russian Foreign Ministry had previously summoned Japanese Ambassador to Russia Muto Akira over Japan's statements regarding Putin's island visit. The Japanese Embassy in Russia responded that Muto was recently "unable to accept the summons due to physical discomfort." After Lavrov made the above comments to Russian media on the 17th, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zakharova revealed that Muto said he had "suddenly felt much better" and would go to the Russian Foreign Ministry on the 18th.
South Korean President: Strive to retake wartime operational command from the US within term
Xinhua News Agency, Seoul, August 18 (reporter Ji Xinlong) South Korean President Lee Jae-myung said on the 18th that the retaking of wartime operational command from the United States should be substantively advanced within the current government's term in accordance with the government's original plan.
Against the backdrop of the regular ROK-US joint military exercise "Ulchi Freedom Shield" commencing on the 17th, Lee Jae-myung said at an Ulchi State Council meeting he chaired at the presidential residence, the Blue House, on the 18th that South Korea already possesses sufficient conditions for achieving self-reliant defense, with its weapons systems and combat power ranking among the world's top tier. He emphasized that to further strengthen national defense capabilities, a comprehensive upgrade of operational execution capability is imperative, "and for this purpose, in accordance with the government's original plan, the retaking of wartime operational command must be advanced without the slightest error within the term."
Lee Jae-myung also said that a solid ROK-US alliance and the strengthening of self-reliant defense capabilities are mutually necessary and sufficient conditions, and instructed relevant departments to accelerate the nuclear submarine construction project that symbolizes the future of the ROK-US alliance.
According to South Korean media reports, in the early 1950s, the South Korean military placed its command under the so-called "United Nations Command" led by the United States, and in 1978 transferred it to the ROK-US Combined Forces Command, whose commander is a US general. In 1994, South Korea regained peacetime military command, but did not regain wartime operational command.
Colombian President: 1/3 of national territory affected by earthquake
Xinhua News Agency, Bogotá, August 17 (reporter Li Zijian) Colombian President De La Espriella said in a national address on the evening of the 17th that the strong earthquake that struck the country's west on the 10th has affected 450 municipalities in 15 departments, equivalent to 1/3 of the national territory being affected. De La Espriella said the earthquake has caused 289 deaths, 4,187 injuries, and 143 missing persons.
He said the Valle del Cauca and Risaralda departments in the country's west have suffered the most severe casualties. Valle del Cauca department reported 163 deaths, 2,672 injuries, and 80 missing; Risaralda department reported 104 deaths, 565 injuries, and 61 missing. Since the earthquake, 138 foreign personnel have participated in rescue operations.
According to information released by the Colombian Geological Service, a magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia on the 10th local time, with the epicenter approximately 20 kilometers from San José del Palmar in Chocó department, at a focal depth of 96 kilometers.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 时元皓
The 26th International AIDS Conference, themed "Reflect, Rebuild, Rise," recently concluded in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil — the first time the conference has been held in South America. The conference period coincided with World Hepatitis Day on July 28, and related commemorative activities were held concurrently. Reports released by the World Health Organization, UNAIDS and other agencies at the conference show that in recent years, global efforts against infectious diseases such as AIDS and viral hepatitis have made positive progress, but due to factors such as shrinking prevention and treatment funding and reduced community services, the prevention and control achievements accumulated over many years face the risk of reversal.
The assessment released by the World Health Organization shows that global infectious disease prevention and control has achieved phased results. In the AIDS field, 1.2 million people were newly infected with HIV in 2025, and more than 570,000 people died from AIDS-related illnesses — both indicators at their lowest levels in more than 30 years. Since 2010, new HIV infections have fallen by 42 percent and AIDS-related deaths by 57 percent. However, about 9 million infected people still lack access to life-saving treatment services, and new infections are still rising in several regions.
In the viral hepatitis field, since 2015, global annual new hepatitis B infections have decreased by 32 percent, and hepatitis C-related deaths have fallen by 12 percent. Nevertheless, viral hepatitis remains one of the world's deadliest infectious diseases; it is estimated that 1.34 million people died from viral hepatitis in 2024, and the mortality rate continues to show a sustained upward trend.
The special report released by UNAIDS reveals the main difficulties facing current prevention and control efforts: prevention and treatment funding has declined sharply. The report points out that AIDS prevention and control efforts in some African countries with high debt ratios and low incomes have long relied on overseas funding assistance, with some countries' dependence on assistance exceeding 90 percent. International AIDS prevention and treatment funding has fallen to its lowest level in nearly 20 years, from 8.8 billion US dollars in 2024 to 7.3 billion US dollars in 2025.
The report warns that the cliff-like contraction of funding has directly led to the reduction of community services such as prevention and testing, putting obvious pressure on the prevention and control systems built up over many years in local areas. A person in charge of a Brazilian public welfare organization attending the conference said that the funding shortage has already manifested in regions with high HIV infection rates, not only impacting the implementation of various prevention and treatment policies but also bringing risks to local sustainable development.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that this report both demonstrates the achievements of countries investing in health undertakings and empowering communities and science, and shows that funding interruptions, humanitarian emergencies and persistent inequalities can rapidly offset the progress already achieved. The progress achieved in the global fight against AIDS remains fragile. Humanity already possesses the tools and scientific evidence to save lives and block new infections; the current challenge is to maintain political determination, sustained funding investment and multilateral solidarity and cooperation, ensuring that prevention, testing, treatment and care services cover every person in need, and ultimately defeat AIDS.
The World Health Organization emphasized that achieving the goals of eliminating HIV and viral hepatitis infections by 2030 still faces severe challenges, and it is necessary to focus on advancing measures such as integrating primary health care systems, prevention and control of mother-to-child transmission, digital health solutions, and community leadership. The WHO will provide practical tools for countries to optimize prevention and control programs, focusing on benefiting the people and communities most in need.
(Our newspaper, Rio de Janeiro, August 18)
Return to TopIn recent years, China has solidly advanced comprehensive rural revitalization. All localities, based on their own resource endowments and local conditions, have developed distinctive industries, carried forward local culture, improved the ecological environment, and promoted empowerment through science and technology. The face of the countryside has been continuously renewed, and developmental vitality has been steadily released. From a single yellow flower, a single paradise flycatcher, to a fish-shaped lantern, a thangka; from smart farms to pomegranate orchards and ten-thousand-mu lotus ponds — scene after vivid rural tableau records the incremental changes of thriving industries, improving ecology, cultural inheritance, and betterment of life.
Friends from different foreign countries have walked into China's villages, using their camera lenses to capture pastoral scenery, cultural charm, and the pulse of development, and also experiencing, through one vivid scene after another, the changes and vitality of China's countryside.
(The text of this page was compiled and edited by our reporters Zhang Bolan, Yang Wenming, Shao Yuzi, Tian Xianjin, Zhang Danhua, Wang Yunna, Zhou Huan, and Zeng Yichen.)
By: 邱超奕
In the scorching summer heat, down jackets in Pinghu, Zhejiang, have seen an "explosion of orders." Not long ago, the nation's largest single-category down jacket professional market — Pinghu China Garment City — held an ordering fair that attracted more than 10,000 domestic and foreign merchants, with order value exceeding 600 million yuan. Some business owners exclaimed directly that this was the busiest they had been in nearly 20 years.
Currently, some industries struggle to cope with insufficient demand, and some localities are mired in the growing pains of transitioning growth drivers. Examining this anomalous down jacket boom in Pinghu, Zhejiang, may offer insights for traditional industries seeking innovation and excellence, and for small and medium-sized cities seeking to reshape their advantages.
Buying down jackets out of season is a new consumption trend, and even more so a new industrial opportunity.
At present, we must pay attention to the prominent contradiction of insufficient aggregate demand, but we must not overlook the growth potential of segmented demand. Opening social media apps, one can see numerous posts about off-season consumption. Mountaineering, cross-hemisphere travel, ice and snow sports — all provide new scenarios for "wearing winter clothes in summer."
If one remains stuck in traditional thinking, a down jacket is merely cold-weather gear. But if one dares to break convention, it can be transformed into a fashion symbol of diverse aesthetics and individual expression. This year, Pinghu's down jackets have emphasized lightweight, functional, and fashionable designs, and have stepped outside the usual "black, white, and gray" palette to introduce trendy colors like cream apricot and caramel brown. The 耳目一新 (ěr mù yī xīn - "ears and eyes refreshed," a refreshing change) designs have made the products more popular.
This tells us that by keenly capturing consumption changes, new business opportunities can be found even in old industries where competition is already saturated.
From a foreign-trade garment OEM to the nation's largest down jacket production and supply base, Pinghu has also taken detours.
In the 1980s, Pinghu took on large volumes of foreign trade orders. "Of every hundred garments in the world, Pinghu makes one." The scale was achieved, but the subtext was "making everything." More than a decade ago, the local government established Pinghu Garment City, but the result was a jumble of products with similar styles that consumers rejected.
Times change, and opportunities change. Old roads do not stay smooth forever, and opportunities do not automatically become advantages. "Rather than spreading a wide net, better to sharpen a single needle." Through trial, error, and comparison, the locality recalibrated its industrial direction, proactively cut other categories to walk the "narrow path," and ultimately cultivated a world-renowned capital of down.
Today, the quantity and variety of Chinese consumer goods have been enormously enriched. For an enterprise or a locality seeking to carve out an ecological niche in the market's "tropical rainforest," the old "big and comprehensive" strategy no longer works; one must master a unique skill to compete for sunlight and rain.
This tells us: better to perfect one thing than to do many. China's industrial division of labor has shifted toward a high degree of specialization and refinement. Rather than crowding into the "red ocean" market with 千军万马 (qiān jūn wàn mǎ - "a thousand troops and ten thousand horses," vast multitudes), better to concentrate on walking the "narrow path" and 另辟蹊径 (lìng pì xī jìng - "blazing a separate path," to forge a new approach) down a new road.
Surprisingly, Pinghu does not actually produce down. This shows that the small city's industrial advantage is not 得天独厚 (dé tiān dú hòu - "uniquely favored by heaven," blessed with exceptional natural advantages), but rather comes from 无中生有 (wú zhōng shēng yǒu - "creating something from nothing," to conjure existence from nonexistence). Looking at Jiaxing, where Pinghu is located: Haining does not produce leather, yet has built a leather city 家喻户晓 (jiā yù hù xiǎo - "known in every household," universally known); Tongxiang does not produce wool, yet is the nation's largest woolen sweater distribution center. From Jiaxing to Yiwu, "creating something from nothing" is the code by which many Zhejiang cities have written commercial legends.
Broadening the view further: along the Tarim River in Xinjiang, through soil and water improvement, dormant saline-alkali land has been transformed into a "blue granary" for aquaculture. In Zhongwei, Ningxia, rows of photovoltaic panels stand in the Tengger Desert, using the synergy of computing and electricity to make the great desert yield gold. "Creating something from nothing" has allowed large tracts of land that previously lacked development value to "grow" new industries and reconstruct new advantages.
Looking back at the Pinghu down jacket, there is great wisdom in "creating something from nothing." The "nothing" is a precise insight into one's own shortcomings and disadvantages; to escape difficulty, one must first dare to face it and find the breakthrough point. The "something" is not wishful thinking from thin air, but a creative transformation grounded in one's own reality, turning potential opportunities into reality through proactive action.
As the century-scale transformation accelerates and the technological revolution and industrial transformation speed up, how can crises be transformed and potential activated?
In Pinghu's industrial practice, there is the innovative thinking of 点石成金 (diǎn shí chéng jīn - "touching stone to turn it to gold," to work wonders with ordinary materials), the reform spirit of daring to venture and act, and an attitude of refusing to accept fate and refusing to admit defeat.
Nurture new opportunities amid crisis, open new prospects amid change. A down jacket "created from nothing" is a living book of revelations.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 王云杉 邵玉姿
A piece of iron ore, if it only travels the conventional path through sintering, a blast furnace, and a converter, and is rolled into ordinary rebar, will most likely end up hidden in the concrete of buildings, selling for only three or four thousand yuan per ton.
But if it chooses another path and undergoes more rigorous tempering—being repeatedly rolled by cold rolling mills until it becomes thinner than paper, then going through a series of more complex surface treatments and magnetic performance optimization—it can transform into premium electrical steel for the motors of new-energy vehicles and robots, with prices reaching tens of thousands of yuan per ton.
The "15th Five-Year Plan" outline is clear: promote structural adjustment of industries such as steel, petrochemicals, and shipbuilding, and strengthen and optimize premium steel bases, first-class petrochemical bases, and high-end ship and marine engineering equipment bases.
What exactly is premium steel? How can premium steel bases be strengthened and optimized? Recently, a reporter visited Qian'an (迁安), the core hub of Hebei Province's advanced steel manufacturing cluster, for an interview.
From "competing on output" to "competing on variety, technology, and added value," taking the path of premium development
Entering the new energy operations area of Shougang Zhixin Electromagnetic Materials (Qian'an) Co., Ltd. in the Qian'an Economic Development Zone, the rolling production line is running at full capacity, producing coils of thin, silver-glossed electrical steel in just over ten minutes.
Su Hong (苏虹), deputy director of the Qian'an Data Technology and Industrial Information Bureau, said that premium steel generally refers to steel materials used in equipment manufacturing, major projects, machinery, automobiles, and high-end consumer goods that are high-quality, high-performance, high-technology, and meet special requirements. "Electrical steel, for example, is a typical premium steel. It usually requires relatively demanding production process technology and equipment to produce, and therefore carries high added value."
"A few years ago, what we mainly produced was a common metal product—galvanized wire, which is steel wire coated with a layer of metallic zinc to make it more corrosion-resistant. After being sold to downstream customers, it still needed to go through multiple processes before it could be used in industrial applications. Even when market conditions were relatively good, we could only earn about a hundred yuan per ton." Bai Junling (白俊岭), head of the comprehensive management office of Qian'an Dingtai Hardware Manufacturing Co., Ltd., said that based on judgment of market trends, the company later resolutely decided to extend downstream along the industry chain, push for the iterative upgrading of products toward premium grades, and further process galvanized wire into premium stationery nail wire boards, achieving additional value. After the product upgrade, profits doubled compared with before.
Enterprise after enterprise focusing on developing premium steel reflects the development and changes in China's steel industry—
In terms of total volume, China's steel industry has now bid farewell to scale expansion and entered a new stage of demand-reduction development. In the first half of the year, national crude steel output was 500 million tons, down 3.0 percent year on year; apparent crude steel consumption, converted, was 437 million tons, down 3.1 percent year on year, continuing the downward trend that has persisted since China's steel consumption peaked in 2020.
In terms of structure, as China's industrial structure continues to optimize, the steel demand structure has also undergone notable changes. During the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, the share of steel used in construction fell from 58 percent to 49 percent; the share used in manufacturing rose to 51 percent, becoming the key support for steel demand. This resonates with the nation's industrial upgrading.
Jiang Wei (姜维), Party secretary of the China Iron and Steel Association, said that the steel industry is in a critical transition period of volume reduction and structural optimization. What matters is not total output levels, but the share of advantageous varieties. Enterprises should thoroughly implement the "improve quality, create brands" project, establish a quality-first development philosophy, persist in improving quality and building brands, avoid homogeneous competition, take the path of premium development, and shift from "competing on output" to "competing on variety, technology, and added value."
In Qian'an, more and more steel products are being labeled as premium. Yanshan Steel's high-strength steel and wear-resistant steel make mining truck bodies and construction machinery more wear-resistant; Hangniu Special Steel's high-end metal wire ropes serve the engineering machinery and port hoisting sectors; Yanbo Color Coated Sheet's high-end color-coated sheets continue to beautify the appearance of modern buildings and home appliances...
At present, Qian'an is bidding farewell to the traditional development model centered on crude steel capacity, adhering to the development direction of high-end and premium products, and has built four major product segments: electrical steel, high-end coils, premium wire rod, and specialty sections. In 2025, the operating revenue of Qian'an's steel industry cluster exceeded 190 billion yuan, with premium steel accounting for 46 percent.
From "rigid" to "flexible," from "manufacturing" to "services," extending the industry chain and improving quality
What does a premium steel base look like?
Outside the workshop of Dingtai Hardware, trucks loaded with hot-rolled wire rod just transported from Qian'an Jiujiang Wire Rod Co., Ltd., six or seven kilometers away, file in one after another; inside the workshop, these 6.5-millimeter-diameter wire rods go through multiple processes including wire drawing, galvanizing, and re-drawing, being drawn down to fractions of a millimeter, and are finally glued into neat rows of stationery nail wire boards, then shipped to the next processing stage.
This busy and precise "in and out" is the daily routine of Qian'an's steel industry—with 6 full-process steel enterprises as the leading players and 159 supporting enterprises clustered into a chain, from crude steel to premium steel, from simple wire drawing to precision deep processing, a complete steel industry chain operates here day and night: crude steel is no longer the end point, but the starting point for the steel industry to improve quality and extend the chain.
From "rigid" to "flexible," steel can also be produced on a customized basis.
In the production planning office of Tangshan Yanyang Cold Rolling Co., Ltd., production planners are staring at screens, checking raw materials and order status, and scheduling the hundreds of orders to be produced that day. Looking closely, the reporter saw that the screen was full of small, scattered orders—some for just one coil of steel, about twenty tons; some for two or four coils, no more than forty or fifty tons; and even a single order covering more than ten different specifications at once.
"Customized production is easier said than done. Frequently switching specifications means equipment parameters must be constantly adjusted, production rhythms must be rematched, and the difficulty of organization increases exponentially. Most peers are unwilling and unable to do it." Liu Xiaofeng (刘晓峰), plant manager of Yanyang Cold Rolling, said, "From 'selling whatever we have' to 'producing whatever is demanded,' customized production has become our advantage in differentiated competition. In the current market of falling steel prices, we can sell each ton of steel for several dozen yuan more."
From "manufacturing" to "services," the resilience of the industry chain is stronger.
At the freight yard of Tiandao Warehousing and Logistics Port, a train pulls into the platform, and the car dumper starts up—coke pours down from the hopper and is sent through the belt corridor into the raw material warehouse. Not far away, a gantry crane hoists bundles of finished steel onto another train bound for Shandong and other places.
"Every day, twenty to thirty thousand tons of bulk raw materials come 'in' through here, and five to six thousand tons of finished steel go 'out' from here." Luo Wenjie (罗文杰), deputy general manager of Tiandao Warehousing and Logistics Port (Qian'an) Co., Ltd., said that relying on the clustering advantages of the Qian'an Steel Shared Economy Industrial Park platform, Tiandao Warehousing and Logistics Port has built 17 dedicated railway lines, open and shared to steel enterprises in the region, providing one-stop logistics services for raw material storage and transport and steel outbound shipping. In 2025, Tiandao Warehousing and Logistics Port completed a throughput of over 15 million tons, with external business volume approaching half of the total, and profits exceeding 100 million yuan, effectively reducing transport costs for regional steel enterprises and clearing production-sales bottlenecks.
Adhering to the direction of high-end, intelligent, and green development, focusing efforts on developing high-value-added premium steel
Inside the plant area of Shougang Co., Ltd. Qian'an Steel Company, an electric furnace production line with near-"zero" carbon emissions is under accelerated construction.
It is understood that electric furnace steelmaking uses scrap steel as raw material, and the process eliminates the coking, sintering, blast furnace ironmaking, and other stages that are relatively high in pollution, energy consumption, and carbon emissions, reducing carbon emissions by more than 60 percent compared with before. Shougang Qian'an Steel will replace one existing 210-ton converter with one 160-ton electric furnace on a reduced-capacity basis, thereby using a cleaner furnace to make better steel.
Using the "subtraction" of capacity in exchange for the "addition" of green development is a vivid footnote to the transformation and upgrading of Qian'an's steel industry. During the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, Qian'an implemented 366 steel industry technical transformation projects, and the share of premium steel rose from 35 percent to 46 percent.
Looking toward the "15th Five-Year Plan," how will Qian'an's premium steel base continue to iterate and upgrade?
"At present, more than half of the steel products produced by Qian'an's steel industry are still ordinary steel such as wire rod and strip steel, and there is enormous potential for structural optimization, transformation, and upgrading." Su Hong said, "During the '15th Five-Year Plan' period, Qian'an will adhere to the direction of high-end, intelligent, and green development, focus on developing high-value-added premium steel, and continue to strengthen and optimize the premium steel base."
On the one hand, riding the "digital" wave, promoting the transformation and upgrading of production toward intelligent manufacturing.
Walking into the steel pipe production line of Qian'an Zhengda General Steel Pipe Co., Ltd., high-speed industrial cameras are capturing images of welded pipes one by one—image data of various defective pipes, including cracks, pinholes, and open seams, is being rapidly entered into the system. "We are currently in the data collection stage, and it is expected to be officially put into use within the year." Wen Guoqiang (文国强), general manager of Zhengda Steel Pipe, said.
"In the past, weld quality inspection was entirely manual—experienced workers relied on visual observation and experience. For a 6-meter-long pipe, it took at least one to two minutes. Not only was it slow, but it could only be spot-checked, making it impossible to cover every pipe." Wen Guoqiang explained that once this intelligent inspection system is put into use, the inspection rate can reach 130 meters per minute, and a steel pipe can complete quality inspection in less than 10 seconds, improving efficiency by more than 10 times. It can also operate around the clock, not only greatly shortening the production cycle but also effectively reducing rework rates and steel waste, improving product quality at the source.
On the other hand, breaking through toward "innovation," continuously expanding new product varieties and new tracks.
At the exhibition stand of Zhong'an Iron & Steel (Qian'an) Steel Plate Manufacturing Co., Ltd., pieces of silver-gray galvanized aluminum-magnesium steel sheets gleam with metallic luster. Yang Li (杨力), deputy general manager of Zhong'an Iron & Steel, explained that compared with ordinary galvanized products, aluminum and magnesium are added to the zinc layer, greatly improving corrosion resistance—10 to 20 times that of ordinary hot-dip galvanized steel sheets. "It is precisely with this technological advantage that we have established a firm foothold in the field of steel for photovoltaic support structures."
At present, the contradiction of strong supply and weak demand in the steel industry is prominent. Yang Li believes that looking toward the "15th Five-Year Plan," enterprises should not blindly expand production, but should deepen technology, refine products, and explore more market opportunities on the demand side.
"Take our flagship product—galvanized aluminum-magnesium steel sheets—as an example. Beyond photovoltaic support steel, there is even more room. For instance, the housings of 5G base station cabinets have strict requirements for plate surface corrosion resistance; and in fields such as urban ventilation ducts, galvanized aluminum-magnesium products have a longer service life. As China's manufacturing industry places greater emphasis on quality upgrading and urban renewal advances in an orderly manner, I believe more market opportunities will emerge. In this regard, we will continue to optimize our processes, continuously expand into new fields, and open up broader markets with better products." Yang Li said.
By: 孙明霞
Weifang, known in ancient times as Weizhou and Weixian, and also called the Kite Capital, belongs to Qingzhou, one of the nine ancient provinces of China. Weifang is situated in the hinterland of the Shandong Peninsula, connecting the sea and Mount Tai, and inheriting the cultures of Qi and Lu. From the ancient Dongyi culture to the Qi culture of the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, and then to the prosperity of "Suzhou in the south, Weixian in the north" during the Ming and Qing dynasties, today's Weifang has become the World Kite Capital, the Chinese Painting Capital, the East Asian Cultural Capital, and the World Capital of Handicrafts and Folk Arts.
Observing the cultural lineage of a city, one can understand the past and present. Weifang boasts a cultural history of 8,000 years, an administrative history of approximately 2,200 years, and a city-building history of over 1,400 years. The entire region preserves 2,563 cultural relics spanning the developmental chain from prehistoric times to the Ming and Qing dynasties, fully recreating the evolutionary process of early human settlements, tribal states, and city-state civilizations on the Shandong Peninsula. The unique geographical environment of "mountains and seas embracing each other" laid a得天独厚 foundation for agricultural civilization in Weifang. Eight thousand years ago, the ancient Dongyi people engaged in primitive agricultural production here; more than 4,000 years ago, Emperor Shun "worked diligently in the fields" along the Wei River; approximately 1,500 years ago, the agricultural sage Jia Sixie authored the Qimin Yaoshu (Essential Techniques for the Welfare of the People), a work hailed as the "Encyclopedia of Ancient Chinese Agriculture."
"Agriculture is the foundation of the world; no task is greater." Since the reform and opening-up, this place ignited the spark of agricultural industrialization, earning the acclaim that "for national agriculture, look to Shandong; for Shandong agriculture, look to Weifang." Since 2018, Weifang has shouldered the era missions of "building a pioneering zone for rural revitalization with Qilu characteristics" and "a national demonstration zone for agricultural modernization," unfolding a magnificent picture on the Changwei Plain of a traditional agricultural region transforming into a modern agricultural powerhouse.
Agriculture is a shining calling card of Weifang. As the birthplace of national agricultural industrialization, Weifang uses 1‰ of the nation's freshwater and 1.7‰ of its land to contribute 6.4‰ of the nation's grain, 16.8‰ of its vegetables, and 10.9‰ of its meat, eggs, and milk, making it a veritable rice bag, vegetable basket, meat counter, orchard, and seed bank for the country. Weixian radish, Changle watermelon, Qingzhou flowers, Anqiu ginger, and Linqu foie gras are specialty agricultural products popular both at home and abroad, serving as Weifang's successful "internet-famous agricultural products" that have broken into the spotlight.
Weifang possesses not only the depth of its agricultural economy but also a rich heritage of modern and contemporary industrial sites. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, it was renowned for "two hundred red furnaces, three thousand coppersmiths, nine thousand embroideresses, and one hundred thousand looms." In 1904, the Jiaoji Railway was fully opened to traffic, making Weifang one of the earliest cities in China to open its port autonomously. Along the railway are five major industrial heritage districts: Fangzi Coal Mine, Fangzi Town, the British American Tobacco factory area at Nianlibao Railway Station, the Nandaying warehouse district, and the old Weichai factory area. This diverse heritage pattern, spanning ancient and modern times and encompassing both agriculture and industry, constitutes Weifang's profound cultural heritage and unique cultural identity.
The cultural gene of "valuing commerce and emphasizing industry" is deeply integrated into every vein of this city. Weifang's industrial framework has grown precisely from the roots of its historical culture. The ten-billion-yuan kite industry chain has transformed traditional craftsmanship into a modern industrial cluster supporting more than 600 enterprises; the precision manufacturing of the power equipment cluster is spiritually connected to the first generation of machine tools of New China in the old Weichai factory area; the modern agricultural explorations of Zhucheng and Shouguang are in the same lineage as Jia Sixie's thousand-year echo of "Qi Min" (benefiting the people) thought.
When the cultural lineage thrives, the city thrives. Weifang has proven through millennia of perseverance that a city can both look up to the stars of history and embrace the烟火 of everyday life. Standing at a new historical starting point, the thousand-year-old Weizhou is using its cultural lineage as a brush, empowering the "vast blue waves" of the economy with the "spring water" of culture, continuing to write the contemporary chapter of this treasure city.
(The author is a specially appointed researcher at the Research Center for Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era in Shandong Province; compiled and edited by this newspaper reporter Wang Zhe.)
By: 叶 鸣
A few years ago, when the author went traveling to Shenzhen, Guangdong, I made a special effort to visit Wenheyou (文和友). Recently, seeing news that Shenzhen's Wenheyou has exited the stage in a dejected manner, I feel quite much 唏嘘 (xī xū - "sighing with emotion," to feel a sense of lament or melancholy). This internet-famous catering brand was once a "king of queues"; why has it quietly taken its final bow in multiple cities?
Like many people, the author's first encounter with Wenheyou was next to Hisense Plaza on Xiangjiang Middle Road in Changsha, Hunan, where a 20,000-square-meter outlet replicated the marketplace appearance of old Changsha communities from the 1980s and 1990s. Mottled walls and retro signboards, paired with specialty snacks such as Changsha stinky tofu, seemed to condense the "smoke and fire" (烟火气 - yān huǒ qì, "the atmosphere of daily life and street food") of a city, allowing for a one-stop experience of local delicacies, marketplace culture, and urban transformation. This also became a landmark for tourists to check in, with long queues often forming at the entrance.
However, upon arriving at the Shenzhen Wenheyou, I intended to have an encounter with local delicacies and marketplace culture, only to find that although the decoration utilized local elements such as qilou (骑楼 - "arcade buildings"), the dishes could be described as possessing both Hunan flavors and Cantonese characteristics, or alternatively, that the specialties of both regions had become somewhat inauthentic. Although it was difficult to secure a seat upon opening, its flowering period was brief, and it soon became as deserted as a place where "the door is closed to many" (门可罗雀 - mén kě luó què, "the door can welcome sparrows," describing a place that is deserted or lacks customers).
Wenheyou is a typical sample of an internet-famous catering brand: from its origins as small street vendors in Changsha, to 10-square-meter small shops, and then, after the Changsha Hisense store became a massive hit, expanding into cities such as Guangzhou and Shenzhen to embark on a path of national expansion, until finally closing stores in many locations. Only the Changsha Wenheyou remains in operation; having experienced the ups and downs of traffic, it seems to have returned to the starting point.
Traffic was once the code for internet-famous catering, but nowadays it is not as effective. Queuing can indeed successfully arouse consumer curiosity; the length of the queue often represents brand popularity and also brings brand dissemination, attracting consumers to spontaneously spread information on social media platforms. Therefore, in order to become internet-famous, some catering brands spend large sums of money on shop decoration, hiring people to queue, inviting bloggers to visit stores, and marketing stories... It can be said they 唯流量马首是瞻 (wéi liú liàng mǎ shǒu shì zhān - "only look to traffic as the leader," to follow a single trend blindly), while the most fundamental taste and quality of catering are ignored; some even cut corners to compress costs, treating consumers as a "one-off" transaction. As consumers become increasingly mature, more and more people have understood the routines of traffic and have become "unmoved" by it.
The catering capital games revolving around traffic are also no longer working. Some catering brands rise rapidly by virtue of traffic, attracting venture capital, seizing territory, expanding blindly, and opening stores frantically, specifically choosing the most expensive rental locations at subway exits, office building ground-floor shops, and large shopping malls in big cities with the highest traffic. As a result, costs remain high and the payback period is lengthened, leaving them with no choice but to continue spreading their footprint and collecting franchise fees to "replenish blood"; once customer flow decreases or capital tightens, they quickly suffer a total collapse. Reviewing the collective "explosions" of many chain internet-famous brands, most have followed this exact script.
How can traffic be turned into "retained volume"? Repurchase is the key. The continuous and healthy operation of a catering establishment is supported by repurchases. In the early stages, consumers may come out of curiosity, but if the products and services are not well-executed, it is difficult to have returning customers. Traffic is also a double-edged sword; while attracting a batch of novelty-seeking consumers, it also raises the time threshold for repurchase consumers and lowers the consumption experience. Who would be willing to queue for several hours frequently for a meal, a drink, or a piece of cake? The queuing effect brought by traffic instead pushes the repurchase customer base out the door, creating obstacles for "retained volume."
Traffic has never been the foundation of a catering brand; the most core elements of catering remain taste, quality, and service. Some "small and beautiful" community catering shops have no expensive decoration and no flashy marketing, but their ingredients are fresh and safe, their pricing is fair and reasonable, and their quality is honest to both adults and children, meeting the daily dining needs of local residents. Of course, in addition to daily consumption scenarios, catering also possesses functions such as leisure, socializing, and entertainment. The integrated development of catering with culture and entertainment also requires innovating new scenarios upon doing a good job with taste, quality, and service, so as to 锦上添花 (jǐn shàng tiān huā - "add flowers to brocade," to make something already good even better); to reverse the fundamental and the incidental will ultimately result in a 昙花一现 (tán huā yī xiàn - "a昙花 flower appearing for a moment," a flash in the pan).
The phenomenon of the great rise and fall of internet-famous catering brands inspires us that both the catering industry and consumers should view traffic more rationally; what ultimately protects the "smoke and fire" of a city is not traffic, but sincerity toward delicious food.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 贺林平
Walking into Guangzhou Baiyun Mountain Chen Liji Pharmaceutical Factory Co., Ltd. (广州白云山陈李济药厂有限公司), two "pictures," viewed side by side, evoke reflection.
One is a hand-drawn pen-and-ink illustration, the work of Tan Yuanshen (谭源深), an old worker who entered the factory in 1957, enlarged and displayed on the wall of the Chen Liji Traditional Chinese Medicine Museum. In the picture, dozens of workers sit shoulder to shoulder on both sides of long tables, using special tools to hand-roll pills one by one. The lively lines sketch out the busy production scene inside the workshop of those years.
Turning around and passing through a cultural garden densely planted with Chinese medicinal herbs, one steps into the pill-making workshop in the company's production building, and what comes into view is another "real-life picture." Machines operate in orderly rotation, the production line moves slowly, and only two or three workers in blue dust-proof suits walk among them, assisting and monitoring the equipment. Rolling pills, dipping in wax, filling pills... the entire set of procedures proceeds in an orderly manner, and black pills the size of peanut kernels automatically sift and tumble out from the production line exit.
"Wax-shell pills are an intangible cultural heritage technique originated by Chen Liji and passed down to this day. In that old workshop of more than 400 square meters in the painting, 107 workers were busy without pause, producing only 30,000 wax pills per day; today, the fully automated workshop of more than 100 square meters averages 350,000 pills per day, with peak capacity reaching 500,000, and only 10 workers are needed," says Wang Xiaobin (汪晓斌), brand culture director of Chen Liji.
With the "pictures" before one's eyes and the data laid out, a time-honored Chinese brand that is "younger" today comes face to face. With one hand, Chen Liji upholds the standards of traditional Chinese medicine craftsmanship to hold the quality "base plate" of its proprietary Chinese medicine main business; with the other hand, it uses lightweight products, intelligent processes, and life-scenario-oriented experiences to "change the outfit" of traditional Chinese medicine, continuously "winning fans" among the new generation, blazing a path of "inheriting the essence, upholding integrity and innovating" for the renewal of a time-honored brand.
Anchoring the original aspiration, strictly transmitting the ancient precepts
Chen Liji was founded in 1600. Its legend of 426 years of continuous operation and recognition by the Guinness World Record as the "world's longest-lived pharmaceutical factory" began with a tale of connection forged by sincerity.
Inside the Chen Liji Traditional Chinese Medicine Museum, sunlight passes through stained glass and spills across the corridor walls. Under the dappled light and shadow, two portraits of ancient figures standing side by side wear resolute expressions and bright, piercing eyes. "These two are the founders of Chen Liji, Li Shengzuo (李昇佐) and Chen Tiquan (陈体全)." Wang Xiaobin, with reverence on his face, unfolds the story at a measured pace.
At the end of the 28th year of the Wanli reign of the Ming dynasty (1600), Chen Tiquan, a merchant of Nanhai County, Guangdong (today's Nanhai District, Foshan City, Guangdong), having collected payment for goods and returning to Guangzhou by water route, in his haste carelessly left a large sum of silver on the boat. It was picked up by Li Shengzuo, a native of Xiqiao, Nanhai (today's Xiqiao Town, Nanhai District), who was on the same boat. The latter, finding money and not pocketing it (拾金不昧), waited bitterly at the dock where the boat moored, and finally waited for the frantic, searching Chen Tiquan, then returned the lost silver in full.
Chen, moved by Li's deep friendship and honest character, learned during their conversation that Li was skilled in medicine, and so sincerely gave half of the recovered silver to invest in Li's Chinese herbal medicine shop in Guangzhou (today's No. 194 Beijing Road, Guangzhou, the old Chen Liji site), and established a sixteen-character agreement of permanent cooperation: "Capital each contributes, benefits equally shared, with one heart to aid the world, long-lasting prosperity," meaning "helping each other across the river, working together with one heart to benefit the world." Thus Chen Liji was founded.
The geographical environment and natural climate conditions differing from those of the north and the Central Plains allowed Lingnan medicine to both inherit the fine foundation of Central Plains medicine and incorporate distinctive local characteristics. As a typical representative, Chen Liji as early as the early Qing dynasty creatively developed the wax-shell dosage form for traditional Chinese medicine, using well-sealed wax shells to lock in medicinal properties and prevent deterioration.
On the second floor of the Chen Liji Traditional Chinese Medicine Museum, rows of racks for drying medicinal herbs hold various types of authentic regional herbs for visitors to examine closely; life-size wax figures, some wielding shovels to stir-fry ginger, some with nimble hands dipping in wax, present in panoramic form the steaming, stir-frying, moxibustion, and calcination processes of traditional Chinese medicine processing.
"For hundreds of years, the raw materials and processes for making formulas have been optimized and upgraded many times, but the core thing has never changed: strictly adhering to the processing techniques and pharmaceutical procedures represented by ancient orthodox formulas." Jie Min (揭敏), the intangible cultural heritage inheritor of the "Chen Liji Traditional Chinese Medicine Culture" project, explains in detail one by one, then reveals the philosophy behind it: "From the privately run pharmacy of the old era, to public-private joint management after the founding of New China, the ancient pharmaceutical precept 'with fire both strong and gentle, the hand that regulates the primordial; medicines distinguishing sovereign and minister, the heart that aids the world' has been consistently upheld, and today every person at Chen Liji can recite it from memory."
The upgraded Dendrobium Night-Light Granules strictly adhere to the compatibility principle of sovereign, minister, assistant, and guide; they would rather use the costly antelope horn as an ingredient than substitute goat horn... Strolling through Chen Liji's workshops and exhibition halls, such details of adhering to ancient quality standards are everywhere. "Promoting the deep binding of time-honored Chinese brands with classic famous formulas allows consumers not to lose trust in traditional Chinese medicine because of the passage of time," says Wu Baijian (伍柏坚), chief engineer of Chen Liji.
Technology empowers, old medicines newly made
According to the requirements of modern evidence-based medicine, the research and development of new drugs must be tested in clinical practice - whether the efficacy is good, whether it is safe, the trial data has the final say. Chen Liji's exclusively created proprietary Chinese medicine Kunxian Capsules not only took the lead in applying macroporous adsorption resin separation and purification technology, overcoming the difficulty of separation and purification of compound Chinese medicine formulas, providing demonstrative results for modern Chinese medicine separation and purification, but also carried out a series of high-standard, large-scale clinical re-evaluation studies.
Chen Liji's innovative development has always resonated at the same frequency (同频共振) with scientific and technological progress: in the 1980s, it pioneered the gastrointestinal double-layer-dissolution pill "Spleen-Tonifying Intestine-Benefiting Pills"; in the 1990s, Chen Liji's Throat Ailment Quick Capsules obtained production approval; in 2006, the new product Kunxian Capsules, as a national "Ninth Five-Year Plan" key research project, achieved industrialization. In 2021, the Chen Liji Traditional Chinese Medicine Immunological Preparation R&D Center passed the enterprise-level Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Immunological Preparations project approval; the Yupingfeng Bag Tea launched in 2025, an improved new drug based on a classic Chinese medicine formula...
Today, Chen Liji is a national high-tech enterprise, and the proportion of scientific research expenditure to revenue has increased fivefold in the past 10 years. As of July 2026, Chen Liji holds 65 valid authorized intellectual property rights, including 36 invention patents, 10 utility model patents, and 19 design patents, with 10 invention patents under application, continuously polishing the "Technology Guangyao" name card.
Since April this year, Chen Liji has joined hands with multiple research institutions to deeply participate in Macau's key research project "Research on the Immunomodulatory Mechanism and Transformation of Traditional Chinese Medicine." The project is led by Professor Chen Xin (陈新), Dean of the Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences at the University of Macau and Director of the State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, with the core focus on key scientific questions in the field of traditional Chinese medicine immunomodulation, constructing a full-chain research layout of "basic mechanism research - multi-omics analysis - non-clinical evaluation and transformation," breaking through industry pain points with scientific research innovation, and jointly promoting the modernization and internationalization of traditional Chinese medicine.
Fashion breaks the circle, the longer it lasts the fresher it becomes
"Guangdong's three treasures: dried tangerine peel, old ginger, and rice straw." Dried tangerine peel is the signature product of 400-year-old Chen Liji. To this day, the sun-drying and storage of Chen Liji dried tangerine peel still adhere to ancient methods, and a new "master-apprentice" model rigorously passes down the entire set of traditional techniques; but in products, quality control, sales, and experience, a series of "wide-open brain" (脑洞大开) operations are refreshing to the eyes and ears (耳目一新).
Indeed, in Guangzhou's Zhujiang New Town, with its rows of tall buildings and bustling traffic (车水马龙), the Chen Liji Dried Tangerine Peel Health Tea House opened in the CBD (Central Business District) adds a relaxed and comfortable "musical note" to the surrounding busy work rhythm.
"Tangerine peel rises with medicines that rise, falls with medicines that fall; it does not cling stubbornly to any single medicinal property, but guides according to circumstances (因势利导) and acts in accordance with the trend (顺势而为)." Before one even enters the door, the voice reaches the ears - tea artist Zhuo Haiying (卓海莹) sits upright at a long tea table, brewing tangerine peel tea for visiting guests with practiced movements while explaining the unique "rising and falling" way of tangerine peel.
"Unlike other tea houses, we don't simply sell products," says Zhuo Haiying. Every guest who enters the shop goes through a process similar to "look, listen, ask, and feel the pulse" (望闻问切). Look at the products, compare the years, taste the flavor, savor the culture - "after the whole process, many guests have a deeper understanding of tangerine peel, and then we give differentiated recommendations based on personalized needs for taste, aroma, and use."
"As people accept and identify with the concept of great health, tangerine peel is no longer just a medicinal material in the medicine cabinet; it has begun to enter the three meals and four seasons, entering people's daily lives," Wang Xiaobin explains. Chen Liji, combining the "medicine and food share the same origin" (药食同源) characteristic of traditional Chinese medicine, has innovatively launched the "tangerine peel +" model - tangerine peel ice cream, tangerine peel tea drinks, tangerine peel pastries, tangerine peel snacks, and other fashionable new products continuously "break the circle"; additionally, incorporating national-style minimalist aesthetics and portable individual packaging, suitable for commuting, office work, travel, and other diverse scenarios, fitting as closely as possible the fragmented health-preservation needs of young people.
And the tangerine peel health tea house, with its Chinese-style decoration accented by calligraphy, paintings, and bonsai, beyond the products, creates a unique cultural experience space, transmitting and extending the lifestyle of traditional Chinese medicine health preservation. "Guests come here to drink tea, discuss business, and meet friends, often sitting for an entire afternoon. After all, health preservation should by nature be pleasant and convenient, not distressing and troublesome," Wang Xiaobin reflects.
At present, Chen Liji's great health industry has formed four major categories - aged tangerine peel, tangerine peel tea drinks, tangerine peel pastes, and tangerine peel health foods - and has opened more than 200 tangerine peel health tea houses nationwide. Liu Guowei (刘国伟), Party Committee Secretary and Chairman of Chen Liji, states that to accomplish the Guangyao Group (广药集团) goal of "creating another Guangyao" and the enterprise's tasks for the "Fifteenth Five-Year Plan" period, Chen Liji is using tangerine peel as the entry point to accelerate its layout in the great health field, focusing on enterprise customization and the young market, and comprehensively advancing the transformation and upgrading of its development model: leaping from the traditional single-line operation model to a three-in-one full industry chain development pattern of "core proprietary Chinese medicine main business + great health industry extension + traditional Chinese medicine cultural tourism integration," with the prospect of achieving a breakthrough of 3 billion yuan in sales scale during the "Fifteenth Five-Year Plan" period.
On the product side, it weakens the heavy "medicine flavor" and promotes fashionable fast-moving consumer goods; on the space side, it creates intangible cultural heritage handicraft workshops, health-preservation workshops, and Chinese medicine cultural markets; on the communication side, it self-develops national-style IP (intellectual property) and co-creates cultural creative products, "seeding" home dietary therapy on new media platforms such as Douyin, Xiaohongshu, and Bilibili... At Chen Liji, systematic operations centered on traditional Chinese medicine have successively moved from creativity to reality, helping the "time-honored brand" leap to "new national trend."
Ancient orthodox formulas, the longer they last the fresher they become (历久弥新). A legendary story of Lingnan traditional Chinese medicine culture continues to be written.
(Wei Linhan (韦林含) participated in the reporting and writing)
Return to TopBy: 齐志明 张函嫣
Since the start of the dog days, many places across the country have continued to experience high temperatures. In Qianxi City (黔西市), Guizhou, the China Supply and Marketing·Xingyuemao (中国供销·星悦茂) underground commercial street has become a place for many residents to escape the heat and relax due to its cool environment. "I originally worried the underground might feel somewhat oppressive, but it turns out to be spacious and bright with many brands — really quite good," said local resident Zhang Jianguo (张建国).
From escaping the heat to leisure consumption, underground commercial spaces are undergoing new changes.
The so-called underground commerce refers to an important carrier that, through three-dimensional commercial application, provides consumers with convenient, comfortable, and leisure scenarios in cities where land resources are scarce and people are densely concentrated. It mainly includes forms such as underground commerce specially built as urban landmarks and underground commerce converted from civil air defense projects.
The "15th Five-Year Plan" outline explicitly proposes "efficient use of urban underground space." All localities are advancing the rational development and utilization of underground space 因地制宜 (yīn dì zhì yí - "adapt measures to local conditions," to suit measures to local conditions), further improving the precision and utilization efficiency of land factor allocation. Earlier this year, the Ministry of Natural Resources (自然资源部) published "Typical Cases of Underground Space Development and Utilization," covering 22 typical cases in 17 provinces, among which the Xiaogan Xingyuemao underground commercial street in Hubei was selected.
Relying on the hub advantages of the supply and marketing cooperative system (供销合作社系统) in connecting urban and rural areas with two-way circulation, Beijing Xinhezuo Commercial Development Co., Ltd. (北京新合作商业发展有限公司), under the China Supply and Marketing Group (中国供销集团), has integrated commercial resources according to local endowments and actively built "dual-use for peacetime and emergency" (平急两用) Xingyuemao underground commercial streets, shaping a "vertical city" ecology and blazing a distinctive "civil air defense commerce" path. At present, there are 23 Xingyuemao underground commercial streets nationwide, effectively filling the shortcomings of county-level commerce and enriching consumption scenarios for county residents.
"The practice of Xingyuemao shows that 'cooling off' leisure is only the customer entry point; for underground commercial streets to truly retain consumers, continuous upgrading in scenarios, business formats, content, and services is indispensable," said Tan Tiehua (谭铁华), head of Beijing Xinhezuo Commercial Development Co., Ltd.
— New scenarios, stimulating consumption enthusiasm.
In Qianxi Xingyuemao, regional cultural elements such as the Ancient Tea Horse Road and the Hundred-Mile Azalea are integrated into the spatial design, with scenes like the "Trendy Horse Station" and "Blossoming Qian Journey" scattered throughout, drawing people to stop and take photos.
The "Expanding Consumption 15th Five-Year Plan" proposes "supporting consumption carriers such as key business districts and commercial streets in upgrading toward immersive and interactive diversified consumption scenarios." More and more commercial spaces are breaking away from the "store" logic and seeking growth from "scenarios."
In Yining (伊宁市) Xingyuemao, Xinjiang, elements of Sayram Lake are integrated into the spatial design, with streamlined light strips spreading like lake water, and ethnic handicrafts adjacent to trendy cultural products; in Panzhihua Xingyuemao, Sichuan, the historical memory of the Third Front Construction (三线建设) is transformed into spatial expression, with old photo walls and industrial element installations allowing consumers to feel the city's cultural heritage while shopping. When commercial space is no longer merely for completing commodity transactions but integrates urban culture, lifestyle, and leisure experience, the value of underground space also changes accordingly.
— Renewed business formats, from "having a place to buy" to "buying at your doorstep."
In Zunyi Xingyuemao, Guizhou, within the 1.7-kilometer-long underground commercial corridor, more than 130 of the 289 merchants are brands entering Zunyi for the first time. In Yining Xingyuemao, 57 of the 240 local brands are first-time entrants, with emerging formats such as specialty coffee, trend buyers, and experiential entertainment entering this small northwestern city.
The changes in brands and business formats alter not only "what to buy" but also "where to buy." In the past, county-level consumers often had to travel to larger cities to purchase trendy goods; now, new brands and new formats are entering local commercial spaces, and the consumption radius is shrinking.
— Updated content, transforming "taking a stroll" into "willing to stay a while longer."
As night falls, at the sunken plaza of Zunyi Xingyuemao, the "Spark LIVE Show·Hearing Zunyi" concert begins as scheduled, and that evening the business revenue of surrounding merchants increased by nearly 30 percent year-on-year. At Gucheng County (谷城县) Xingyuemao in Hubei, the Hubei Yue opera "micro-theater" has been moved into the underground mall, and concerts, stand-up comedy, themed markets, and more add more choices for consumers to linger in commercial spaces.
In Qianxi Xingyuemao, the block has set up a free student homework tutoring area, with volunteer teachers providing after-school tutoring. Many merchants and surrounding residents bring their children here to do homework and read, resolving parents' 后顾之忧 (hòu gù zhī yōu - "worries behind one's back," lingering concerns about the future). Some Xingyuemao blocks have also set up warm service stations for sanitation workers, ride-hailing drivers, and food delivery riders, equipped with water dispensers, microwave ovens, first-aid kits, and other facilities. These public welfare services may seem unrelated to commerce, yet they strengthen consumers' emotional identification with and willingness to stay in commercial spaces.
"At present, the national underground commerce as a whole is in a critical stage of transformation from traditional 'corridor-type commerce' to 'scenario-based, experiential, community-oriented consumption spaces,' displaying the characteristics of 'opportunities and challenges coexisting, with intensifying differentiation,'" said Tan Tiehua. "In line with the trend of consumption upgrading, Xingyuemao will continue to coordinate the advancement of civil air defense projects with urban commerce and municipal pipeline network renovation, achieving organic integration of spatial conditions, urban culture, commercial forms, and consumption content, and promoting underground space from 'accommodating commerce' to 'creating scenarios.' At the same time, commercial operating revenue will be used to feed back into civil air defense project maintenance, allowing emergency facilities to be transformed into public spaces that serve residents' daily lives and drive county-level consumption in peacetime."
Return to TopBy: 卜 谷
Lying against the ceaseless surge of the Yudu River, in the display case of the Yudu Central Red Army Long March Departure Memorial Hall, an old German-made "Flying Man" brand hand-cranked sewing machine sits quietly on display. Its iron is dark and dull, its body mottled with age, as if it still retains a certain warmth—not the temperature of metal, but of conviction forged and reforged through the years.
More than 90 years ago, Ge Jiediao, a Red Army soldier from Yudu, Jiangxi, carried precisely such a sewing machine on a shoulder pole, climbing over snow-capped mountains, wading through grasslands where water and sky merged, step by step bringing it into the snowy depths of the Long March.
Ge Jiediao was born into poverty. He learned embroidery at age 7 and tailoring at age 9. By the time he was not yet 16, he was already a "young master craftsman" who went from village to village. Needle and thread were the craft by which he earned his living. When the revolutionary tide swept through, these hands that should have mended clothes set down the needle and thread, took up the spear and the broadsword, and joined the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army.
In the fierce battle to attack Changting, this young tailor charged at the front. Through a hail of bullets, he was hit by five shots and fell—becoming known as one of the "Five Warriors of Tingzhou." Five wounds, five deep pits gouged by shotgun pellets. His right arm collapsed, his left arm was damaged, and a hole ran through from his lower right jaw to his left shoulder. His body was rewritten by war into a second-class grade-B disability, leaving him with a left arm that could never again be raised high. His fate, because of this, quietly turned.
While recovering from his wounds, the organization solicited the wishes of the wounded and disabled. Most people hoped to be demobilized and sent home, but Ge Jiediao fell silent. He found his Party introducer Yang Zhicheng, his voice carrying both hesitation and stubbornness: "If I am demobilized and sent home, I fear the landlord's returning-home corps will wipe out my entire family; if I stay in the ranks, even if I only do odd jobs, it is also protection for my whole family."
Yang Zhicheng laughed upon hearing this. The Red Army had captured Tingzhou, seizing large quantities of cloth and 12 sewing machines. The Red Army uniform factory was about to be established and was recruiting tailors everywhere—it was precisely skilled craftsmen like him that were needed.
Ge Jiediao laughed too upon hearing this. If he could not hold a gun and fight, he could still hold a needle and thread and turn a sewing machine. Charging with a rifle was going to the battlefield; turning a sewing machine was also going to the battlefield. He packed his belongings from his sickbed and went straight to the sewing machine.
The machines rumbled day and night; more than 20 tailors worked around the clock. Ten days later, 4,000 sets of military uniforms stood in neat formation—this was the first relatively unified standard military uniform in Red Army history, marking the end of the era of "a hundred families' clothes." Even more special was that, to commemorate the 5th anniversary of Lenin's death, the red collar tabs were edged in black. This detail later became a unique mark in the history of Red Army uniforms.
Ge Jiediao was appointed squad leader of the sewing squad. As an old tailor who had been on the battlefield, his care for the machines bordered on strictness. He often said to his fellow workers: "The needle bar shaft, the bobbin, the crankshaft—wherever oil is needed, not an inch can be spared." In his eyes, these machines were not tools but comrades-in-arms of another form.
During marches, he would always wrap the sewing machine tightly in oilcloth, as if wrapping up some fighting strength that could not be lost.
On the Long March, he was assigned to the recuperation company, traveling alongside comrades such as Deng Yingchao, Cai Chang, He Zizhen, and Liu Ying. During breaks in the march, he would never stop his hands, mending and patching for the soldiers, and often teaching his female comrades-in-arms embroidery. On his carrying pole, one end held the sewing machine weighing forty or fifty jin, the other held scraps of cloth, spools of thread, and dry rations.
All the way bumpy, all the way rugged, all the way through gunpowder smoke. Five or six machines from the sewing squad also participated in the Long March—some were broken from falls, some rusted solid, some lost. In the end, only the one sewing machine on Ge Jiediao's shoulder remained, and it too had several brushes with danger.
The most perilous scene occurred after the Xiang River Campaign. The Central Column was on a forced march. Seeing that even the printing presses had been abandoned, someone tried to persuade Ge Jiediao: "You can't even look after yourself—what do you want this hunk of iron for?"
Ge Jiediao shook his head like a rattle-drum, his tone forceful, his attitude resolute: "This machine is useful. It can mend uniforms at any time, mend ration bags, embroider red flags—the red five-pointed stars, the red collar tabs—which one of them was not sewn by it? It is not a dead thing; it is my comrade-in-arms. It cannot be thrown away."
On another occasion during a rapid march, he discovered that his oil can had been lost. His comrades grabbed hold of him: "The enemy is chasing close behind—don't go back to throw your life away!" But he insisted on turning back, searching inch by inch through the grass. Only when he finally found the oil can did he let out a long breath. Some people laughed at him for being "single-minded to the point of stubbornness," but he stressed: what was inside it was the thing that could keep the machine "alive."
When crossing the snow mountains, the wind and snow cut like knives, and the carrying pole could not be shouldered. He disassembled some of the attachments and hugged the machine head tightly to his chest. Man and machine, in the blizzard, almost became one.
On the Songpan grasslands, all around was mud and marsh, every step a trap. The sewing machine could not get wet, and there was nowhere to set down the carrying pole. Ge Jiediao even ate and slept standing up. And so, in the difficult trek through the swamp, he held out for three days and three nights. On the fourth day, he finally found a slightly higher, drier tuft of grass, set down his pole, and collapsed sitting on the ground. After a brief rest, he pulled out a handful of highland barley and chewed it slowly. After dozing for a while, he gritted his teeth, stood up, and continued forward.
Three days later, carrying that sewing machine, he walked out of the grassland. In October 1935, having traversed ten thousand rivers and a thousand mountains, Ge Jiediao and his constant companion "comrade-in-arms" finally arrived intact at Wuqi Town in northern Shaanxi.
Ge Jiediao and that sewing machine were then absorbed into the Yan'an Red Army uniform factory.
In 1996, Ge Jiediao completed his fighting life. His son Ge Jiangyang, following his last wishes, donated the precious objects his father had left behind to the Yudu Central Red Army Long March Departure Memorial Hall. And so, that hand-cranked sewing machine was placed in the display case.
As the sun sets in the west, the Yudu River shimmers with rippling light. Inside the memorial hall, that "Flying Man" brand hand-cranked sewing machine is weathered by the vicissitudes of time. It no longer needs oilcloth wrapping, nor does it fear rain, snow, wind, or frost. Ge Jiediao once carried it across ten thousand rivers and a thousand mountains, and now, it carries that heavy slice of history, continuously walking into people's hearts. Though the needle has stopped turning, that thread named faith remains as tough as ever to this day...
By: 陈鲁民
A friend's son, with a graduate degree, has changed jobs several times since graduation, never staying at any one job for more than three months. He looks down on grassroots positions, finding their skill requirements too low — yet he himself cannot do them well. He is always thinking that the moment he starts work he should be in management, as a general manager or director. Whenever my friend mentions him, his face is full of worry and he sighs heavily: this child has lofty aspirations but meager abilities, high aims but low skills, and cannot stick with anything — what is to be done if he goes on like this!
Lofty aspirations but meager abilities is a common failing in all ages, at home and abroad; people of every age group have it, but it is especially prevalent among the young. Zhi (志) means aspiration, ambition, and interest. Cai (才) means ability, talent, and competence. Throughout history, people have esteemed "having aspirations," but those with aspirations are also of two kinds. The first is lofty aspirations but meager abilities. For example, Zhao Kuo, who fought only on paper; Ma Su, whose words exceeded his deeds; Fu Jian, who made a show of strength... Though they had aspirations, their abilities did not keep pace. The second is lofty aspirations and great abilities. For example, Zhuge Liang, who "often compared himself to Guan Zhong and Yue Yi," with extraordinary aspirations and, at the same time, towering talent; among the stories passed down by word of mouth are "borrowing arrows with straw boats" and "capturing Meng Huo seven times," which suffice to show his courage and strategy. This can be called a model of lofty aspirations matched by great abilities.
To be fair, forming aspirations is easy, but having ability is not. I have seen online some primary and secondary school students writing compositions about their ideals, and their aspirations are all very grand — some want to be generals or ministers, some want to be great scientists, some want to be successful entrepreneurs, and some want to be film or television stars — all kinds. But I think that, in the end, those who truly get what they wish for and realize their ideals are probably few. There are many reasons, and one important one is that ability finds it hard to support life's great aspirations — either because when they formed their aspirations they did not fully consider their own capabilities, or because after forming their aspirations they failed to accumulate ability to realize them, and in the end their childhood visions could only turn into a fine dream.
Looking instead at the great achievers of past and present, there is not one who did not harbor lofty aspirations and, at the same time, keep their feet on the ground. The Ming dynasty thinker Wang Yangming, on the one hand, aspired to become a sage — cultivating himself, regulating his family, governing the state, and bringing peace to the world; on the other hand, he was accomplished in both civil and military affairs, putting down rebellions, eliminating bandit scourges, and founding a school of thought, establishing the philosophy of the mind, transmitting the Way and educating people, and in the end becoming a sage of his generation. Wu Mengchao, a contemporary hepatobiliary surgery expert, aspired to achieve a breakthrough in China's hepatobiliary surgery enterprise; with painstaking dedication and unremitting diligence, he worked deeply in hepatobiliary surgery for more than seventy years, pioneered China's hepatobiliary medicine system, performed more than 16,000 operations as lead surgeon, and filled multiple domestic gaps in medicine. This shows that true great aspirations are never empty fantasies divorced from reality, but are firm journeys realized through hard work and solid effort, with learning and ability as their foundation.
The trouble with great aspirations is meager abilities; meager abilities drag great aspirations into the mire. The reason some people have grand ideals yet waste their whole lives is that their fatal shortcoming lies in having aspirations that embrace mountains and seas but lacking the ability to cross mountains and seas, having ambitions to order heaven and earth but lacking the capacity to govern the state and bring peace to the world. A person's growth and maturation consist precisely of, on the one hand, holding fast to aspirations and keeping their sights high, and on the other hand, improving themselves and increasing their abilities. Aspirations can be established in a single morning, but abilities must be cultivated over many years. The worst thing is to spend all day talking emptily about great aspirations and being impatient for success. One should calmly deepen one's learning, temper one's abilities, and accumulate experience, letting ability catch up with aspiration.
I recall once teaching a hotel management class at a university; in the class there was a student of excellent character and scholarship who aspired to make a career in the hotel industry. After graduation, he started as a hotel room attendant, familiarizing himself with the business bit by bit and accumulating ability, gradually becoming room manager and then supervisor, and was then transferred to front office manager and administrative supervisor. Because of his outstanding capability, considerable talent, and his theoretical foundation in hotel management, he was promoted to administrative director in his early thirties, and became hotel general manager just past forty, developing better than any of his classmates. In my view, this can count as a nearby example of "lofty aspirations and great abilities" — having both aspiration and ambition, and talent and capability, and knowing to go to the front line to temper and accumulate experience. I am optimistic about his future.
"If aspirations are not established, nothing in the world can be accomplished." Cherishing great aspirations is the driving force of an upward life. And practical ability is the confidence behind career success. Only by taking aspiration as the helm, with far-seeing vision, and building on ability as the foundation, with feet firmly on the ground, can one live up to the aspirations in one's heart, persevere to lasting success, and let soaring ambitions take root, blossom, and bear fruit, finally accomplishing what one has set out to do.
Return to TopBy: 胡晓江
Standing on the balcony of the 30th floor looking at the river on the ground, memories of wharves and ferries flash through my mind. The emergence of bridges and the disappearance of ferries, within the advance and retreat of one and the other, contain the philosophy of development. Perhaps the old ferries could never understand in their entire lives that what defeated them was not larger ferries, but reinforced concrete bridges.
The Jinsha Road Bridge, the Old Iron Bridge, the Tianma Bridge, the Pedestrian Bridge, the Fengguang Bridge, the Sixth Bridge... one bridge after another continuously appears, like rainbows one after another. And this small town always uses the most simple and unadorned names to name them.
Every bridge has a story, and every bridge has the unique etchings of time. The Jinsha Road Bridge is old and solid, unremarkable in appearance, yet it is the small town's true first highway bridge. It was first built in 1937, underwent several rounds of destruction and reconstruction, and was expanded into its current form in 1999.
The Old Iron Bridge is a railway bridge for a narrow-gauge railway and has long been abandoned. The residents of the small town are reluctant to part with the little trains that rumbled past, puffing out white steam, and they have preserved the waiting room of the small railway station at the foot of West Lake Mountain. The waiting room features red brick walls, white lime joints, coarse cement floors, and long wooden benches; in that era, it could be considered a "high-class" building.
Being immersed within it, the memories of time rush toward one, as if seeing a group of simply dressed travelers excitedly crowding before a narrow ticket window. The Old Iron Bridge, located not far from the small railway station, was also preserved together with it. Today, the Old Iron Bridge is covered in moss and overgrown with weeds, full of a sense of vicissitudes and a sense of time. Although it is no longer in use and can only be viewed from a distance, this industrial relic and transportation site allows one to feel a sense of solace just by taking a single glance.
In 2000, the Tianma Bridge opened to traffic. Connecting bridge and tunnel, it traverses Tianma Mountain, performing an expansion and upgrade of a national highway. In 2001, with the construction of the Pedestrian Bridge and the Fengguang Bridge, the two banks of the river in the small town were pulled even closer together. The Fengguang Bridge is a double-arch suspension bridge, with two giant arches like rainbows falling to the ground, extremely magnificent. At night, the colored contour lights on the Fengguang Bridge are all turned on, dazzling and eye-catching, adding a modern atmosphere.
The opening of the Sixth Bridge was a matter of 2015. The Sixth Bridge is upstream of the Tianma Bridge. Originally, there was a ferry shuttling back and forth there; this side was the town, and that side was the countryside, and vegetable farmers carrying vegetable shoulder poles would always crowd the ferry until it was full. The old boatman who propelled the boat had dark skin, as tough as iron, and had been using bamboo poles and rowing wooden oars for decades. After a single bridge spanned the gap, the old boatman retired, his eyes full of lingering attachment and his heart full of gratification. A thick, rusted iron anchor has frozen the old ferry in time forever, with one end resting on the riverbank and the other moored on the water surface.
Only then did the people in the small town discover that, as it turns out, the small town has already become so large that it actually has the sixth largest bridge of the Liuyang River. When talking about the Sixth Bridge, there is even more of a sense of pride.
During the ink-wash painting-like mornings and rose-colored twilights, people like to walk onto the riverbank, strolling leisurely under the shade of trees and along winding paths, feeling cozy and casual, with numbers growing from small groups to 浩浩荡荡 (hào hào dàng dàng - "vast and surging," grand in scale or numerous) crowds. The wetland park built relying on the river happens to string together several bridges from different eras, extending for more than 10 kilometers from the Old Iron Bridge to the Sixth Bridge. The old ferry moored under the Sixth Bridge, unintentionally, has once again become a unique landscape embellishing the wetland park, echoing with the Old Iron Bridge downstream.
The small town is growing day by day; it seems that building new bridges is also a matter of time. The high-speed rail passing through the small town has already commenced construction; according to the plan, it will cross the Liuyang River upstream of the Sixth Bridge. The small town, which had been 耿耿于怀 (gěng gěng yú huái - "to harbor a grudge," to be preoccupied with or unable to let go of something) because the narrow-gauge railway exited the stage of history, is about to joyfully welcome the era of high-speed rail. In the future small town, how many magnificent "rainbows" will there be across that river surface?
Return to TopChinese painting Nanxi Green Waters Reflecting Green Mountains (《楠溪绿水映青山》), by Zhai Mingshuai (翟明帅).
Return to TopBy: 陆 健
Did Su Dongpo ever write a poem for Jieshou?
Time knows.
Literary historians may not necessarily know.
If Su Dongpo wrote about Jieshou,
he would surely write of the Sha River and the Ying River, of the old streets,
he would surely write of painted pottery
and the piping-hot, freshly served Gela noodles.
Jieshou is next to Fuyang; it is
a district of Fuyang. It is a petal
of the flower that is Fuyang.
Su Dongpo wrote so many poems about Fuyang. Just as he was
about to polish his poem on Jieshou,
he received a transfer order and went elsewhere.
The poem he would have written on Jieshou
would surely have been better than the ones on Fuyang,
because everyone knows
that Su Dongpo's poems
only improved the more he wrote.
By: 赵伯仁
On July 4, 2026, the 130th anniversary of Mr. Mao Dun's birth, the special exhibition "The Silkworm's Silk Never Ends, Midnight to Dawn — Commemorating the 130th Anniversary of Mr. Mao Dun's Birth" opened at the National Museum of Modern Chinese Literature.
The exhibition theme draws on classic literary imagery from Mao Dun. "The silkworm spins silk until death" symbolizes his lifelong dedication and unceasing writing; "midnight is nearly over, dawn is in sight" symbolizes his mission of seeking light in darkness and awakening the people through literature. These sixteen characters distill two of the most important works and two spiritual postures of Mr. Mao Dun's life.
In organizing a commemorative exhibition for a literary giant who spanned several eras, our curatorial team has been pondering one question: how do you use space to write a biography of a person?
Entering Exhibition Hall No. 1 on the second floor of the National Museum of Modern Chinese Literature, heading north from the entrance, one sees the screen wall of the Beijing Mao Dun Residence where Mao Dun lived in his later years; heading west, one sees his hometown in Wuzhen, Zhejiang, which nurtured his growth. The starting point and ending point of his life face each other from afar, linking together the life of this literary giant. Along the stone path one walks into the childhood memories of Mr. Mao Dun; at the end of the stone path is a sculling boat from his hometown — behind the boat is a mirror design, which not only reflects the full view of the boat but also mirrors the Jiangnan landscape on the opposite wall. Cushions are placed in the boat, and beside it is placed the Zhaoming Anthology, reflecting the rich cultural atmosphere of Mao Dun's upbringing.
The intent of this design is clear: to let visitors, from the very first moment they step into the exhibition hall, see simultaneously a person's point of departure and point of return. The waters of Wuzhen and the courtyard house of Beijing, one at each end, form the physical boundaries of Mao Dun's 85-year life. And in between, the desk at the Commercial Press, the seclusion at Jingyun Lane, the white poplars of Yan'an, the writing desk at Houyuan'en Temple — these are all chapters unfolding between the two endpoints.
The exhibition route uses six colors to divide the sections, each corresponding to the emotional undertone of a different stage of Mao Dun's life: starting from the cocoon color of the Wuzhen water town, moving into the quiet sage-green of the Commercial Press period, entering the red agitation around the time of the Great Revolution, the cold sapphire-blue of the Midnight era, the blazing bright yellow of the War of Resistance period, and finally settling into the clear translucence of moonlight white in his later years. We hope that visitors can perceive the rise and fall, the turns and transitions of a person's life through the flow of colors.
The curatorial process is also a process of continuous questioning. Before each exhibit is placed, we ask ourselves: why must this item be exhibited? Can it make a person who knows little about Mr. Mao Dun stop and take a second look?
The answers are often hidden in the tiny crevices. It is those crevices that let people see a living, breathing person, not just a literary statue.
Take the origin of his pen name, for example. In 1927, Mao Dun sent the manuscript of Disillusionment to Ye Shengtao, signed "Mao Dun" (矛盾, meaning "contradiction"). Ye Shengtao felt it did not look like a person's name and might easily attract the attention of the authorities, so he suggested adding the grass radical on top. That small change produced a landmark name in the history of modern Chinese literature. Later, Mao Dun also explained this pen name. He said that he saw the contradictions between revolution and counter-revolution, the contradictions within the revolutionary camp, including the contradictions of petty-bourgeois intellectuals in an era of great upheaval — "I myself also had great contradictions in my life and in my thoughts." His choice of the two characters "矛盾" was, he said, "a literati habit of satirizing others and also mocking oneself." This self-analysis is printed on the display panel, and reading it gives one a rare sense of clarity — a person who maintains constant self-scrutiny says more about his fundamental character than any literary achievement.
Another example is the Citroën car model suspended from the ceiling of the exhibition hall. In the manuscript, Wu Sunfu's car was originally written as "Ford," and Qu Qiubai suggested changing it to "Citroën." Behind this lies a conversation between two literary giants on a late night in 1931. We turned this "behind the scenes" moment into a visible display. When visitors look at the model, they also see the "Ford that was changed," and they discover: the classic moments of literature sometimes come from casual conversation between two people. Literary history is not written on paper; it lives in the interactions between people.
There is also the detail in Mao Dun's diary of getting up in the middle of the night to check the coal stove. "Woke again around five, went to the kitchen to see if the coal stove had gone out... fearing in my heart that something might go wrong again... fortunately it was still fine, so I put the porridge pot on, then came back and lay down for another hour... got up at half past six. Did cleaning work for half an hour, boiled milk." This passage is printed on a display panel. Beside it are handwritten annotations of classical poetry and prose that Mr. Mao Dun prepared for his granddaughter — in his eighties, with failing eyesight, still writing stroke by stroke. A literary giant, and an ordinary old man who worried about the coal stove at night and corrected his granddaughter's homework in the morning — they are the same person. This juxtaposition makes people more convinced: true responsibility includes the ordinary, the concrete, the trivial small matters.
The dynamic knowledge graph of Midnight in the exhibition hall is the most technologically sophisticated exhibit in this exhibition. Click on Wu Sunfu, and the Yuhua Silk Factory, the Citroën car, and the bond trading counterparts associated with him all light up and stand out; click on Zhao Botao, and his capital network becomes clearly visible. The narrative timeline at the bottom corresponds to the four stages of the novel's plot, and the character network appears and disappears with the changes of chapters and stages. Why put a technological installation in a literary exhibition? The curatorial team's thinking is this: when Mao Dun wrote Midnight, he was himself doing social network analysis through literature — weaving the class relations, capital relations, and interpersonal relations of 1930s Shanghai into a single novel. Today, by changing the medium, visitors can feel the tension of that era at their fingertips, using technology to find new readers for an old story.
On March 14, 1981, Mao Dun, on his sickbed, wrote a letter to the secretariat of the Chinese Writers' Association. He donated all of his 250,000 yuan in royalties — a huge sum at the time — to establish a special fund to reward outstanding full-length novels. On the wall of the exhibition hall is a list of the winning works of the Mao Dun Literature Prize, spanning more than forty years from 1982 to the present. From Shen Dehong, a youth of Wuzhen, to the literary giant who wrote so many classics, to the Mao Dun Literature Prize that has benefited generations of writers — this is a literary relay spanning a century.
The exhibition also recreates classic scenes including the Wuzhen water town, a 1930s Shanghai exchange, and the poplar groves of the Northwest, and features a small literary theater.
The exhibition hall is not large, and it cannot present and interpret every aspect of a literary giant's life in an exhaustive manner. What the exhibition does is simply this: let more people see the footprints left along the path of literature.
By: 邹凤岭
“With or without dishes, soy sauce stewed eggs.” When I was a child, whenever guests came to the house, my mother would bring a bowl of soy sauce stewed eggs to the table, and I would feel tempted at the sight. In that era of material scarcity, soy sauce stewed eggs became a dish reserved only for entertaining guests.
Every household in the village made soy sauce. Work began in the dog days of summer, and the finished product came out in autumn.
In the early morning, sunlight spilled over the fields and paths, and tender seedlings were hung with glistening dewdrops. In the farmland, soybeans grew plump and sturdy, with clusters of bean pods hanging from the stalks. In the wind, one could hear the sound of beans rattling inside their pods. My hometown abounds in high-quality soybeans. The raw material for soy sauce is precisely these soybeans.
Making soy sauce, sunning soy sauce—from the beginning of the dog days to late autumn. The Qing Dynasty Hanjiang Three Hundred Chants records: “The old sauce succeeds through the three dog-day periods; after repeated exposure it earns the name ‘autumn.’” My family lived in the western countryside of Yancheng, not far from Hanjiang, and the custom of making soy sauce was the same. To make soy sauce, beans were soaked during the first dog-day period, and the sauce came out as autumn arrived, called “first-autumn old sauce”; beans soaked during the middle dog-day period yielded sauce at mid-autumn, called “second-autumn old sauce”; beans soaked during the last dog-day period yielded sauce in late autumn, called “third-autumn old sauce.” The sauces made from beans soaked in the first, middle, and last dog-day periods were collectively called “dog-day autumn sauce.”
Making soy sauce was my mother’s specialty. One would see her boil the soybeans, mix them evenly with barley flour, and then cover them with freshly cut wild rice leaves. After fermentation, she would put them into a vat, add cooked saltwater, fasten a pest-proof mesh cover, and place it on the platform in front of the house, exposed to sun by day and dew by night. On clear days, the soy sauce vat was never covered. I did not understand and asked my mother: “It’s late at night—why don’t you cover the soy sauce vat?” Mother said: “Let the sun shine on it by day, and let the dew soak into it on moonlit nights—the flavor of the soy sauce will be fresher.”
When autumn came but the dog days were not yet over, people seized the time to sun the newly made soy sauce. Sunning soy sauce was a scenic sight in the village. Household after household—the soy sauce sunning on high platforms gave off an aroma that filled the whole village. Every few days I would stick my finger into the oil vat, dip it, and put it into my mouth. At first it was bitter and astringent, then gradually turned sweet; as time went on, the umami of the soy sauce grew stronger and stronger. Mother said: “Things like soy sauce and pickled vegetables are bitter and astringent at first; after being sunned and dew-soaked, the bitterness naturally turns to sweetness.”
The freshness of dog-day autumn sauce is etched into my taste buds. “White rice, barley-groat rice, and even better, soy sauce stewed eggs.” From time to time, Mother would also make soy sauce braised tender chicken. To make this dish, Mother would first soak the young chicken meat in soy sauce for a while, mix in ginger, minced garlic, and spices, then put it into a pot to braise and steam for several hours—when it came out of the pot, it was a first-rate dish. That year, when the New Fourth Army was in Yancheng, a young soldier was wounded in the fight against the Japanese and recuperated at the Huangjia'an temple. Auntie Zou from the old mound at the east end of the village made soy sauce braised tender chicken and, using the pretext of going to the temple to worship Buddha as cover, sent it to the young soldier to nourish his body while he recovered—it became a much-told tale of military-civilian unity in the resistance against Japan.
Now that it is again the season for dog-day autumn sauce, I recalled the past with my childhood friend and made a dish of soy sauce stewed eggs. After tasting it, we both exclaimed in unison: the freshness of dog-day autumn sauce—our sense of taste has returned to childhood.
Return to TopThis edition's email: dadi@peopledaily.cn
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