Summary: Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, President of the State, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, attended the National Conference on Health and Wellness in Beijing and delivered an important speech, emphasizing that the 15th Five-Year Plan period is critical for achieving the goal of building a Healthy China by 2035 and that the path of health and wellness development with Chinese characteristics must be unswervingly followed. He highlighted historic accomplishments since the 18th National Congress, including the world's largest medical service, traditional medicine, disease prevention and control, and medical security systems, and outlined a Healthy China that is balanced, inclusive, high-quality, and efficient. Xi stressed implementing a health-priority development strategy, integrating health protection into all policies, and emphasized prevention as the most economical and effective health strategy, including strengthening disease prevention and control and food safety supervision. He called for comprehensively improving medical services, deepening reform of the pharmaceutical and health care system, building a strong cadre and talent team, and promoting a global community of health for all, including cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative. Li Qiang delivered a concluding speech, urging unswerving implementation of Xi's directives and focusing on pain points such as major disease prevention, tiered diagnosis and treatment, and health services for "the elderly and the young."
Summary: President Xi Jinping held talks with President Duma Boko of Botswana at the Great Hall of the People, announcing the elevation of bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. Xi underscored the historical friendship, noting Botswana's early support for China's UN seat, and stressed shared aspirations in modernization, proposing enhanced cooperation in governance, trade, digital economy, agriculture, and the "Smart Education" project. He also put forward a four-point proposal on China-Africa mining cooperation, emphasizing that Africa's resources belong to Africa, balancing righteousness and interests, high-quality development, and a fair, open environment free from geopolitical struggle. Boko praised China's development achievements, reaffirmed Botswana's firm adherence to the one-China principle and opposition to "Taiwan independence," and expressed willingness to align development strategies and strengthen cooperation in Belt and Road, industry, agriculture, mining, and digital transformation. The two leaders witnessed the signing of cooperation documents and issued a joint statement on the new partnership, with Wang Yi attending the activities.
Summary: President Xi Jinping met with Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé in Beijing on October 13, and the two leaders announced the elevation of bilateral relations to a China-Togo community with a shared future in the new era. Xi highlighted the traditional friendship and called for deeper exchanges in governance, support on core interests, and greater use of China's zero-tariff measures and green channel for Togolese exports. He also proposed four principles for resolving African hot-spot issues, emphasizing African leadership, fairness, cessation of hostilities, and addressing both symptoms and root causes. Faure praised China's development achievements and governance philosophy, expressed willingness to deepen cooperation in trade, infrastructure, and technology, and endorsed Xi's principles. Wang Yi attended the meeting.
Summary: The National Conference on Health and Wellness was held in Beijing from October 12 to 13, where General Secretary Xi Jinping attended and delivered an important speech, summarizing achievements since the new era and setting requirements for decisive progress in building a Healthy China during the "15th Five-Year Plan" period. The article highlights China's historic accomplishments in health, including a 2025 average life expectancy of 79.25 years, low infant and maternal mortality rates, and the world's largest medical service, traditional medicine, disease prevention, and medical security systems. It also cites global contributions, such as sending medical teams to 59 countries and building TCM Luban Workshops, while emphasizing adherence to the path of health and wellness development with Chinese characteristics. The piece underscores the need to implement Xi Jinping's speech and the guidelines for health work to ensure the Healthy China goal is met by 2035.
Summary: Chinese President Xi Jinping hosted President Duma Gideon Boko of Botswana for a state visit from October 12 to 17, 2026, during which the two leaders agreed to elevate bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. Botswana reaffirmed its firm commitment to the one-China principle, recognizing Taiwan as an inalienable part of China and supporting China's national reunification efforts. The two sides pledged to deepen cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, expand trade and investment in areas such as mining, agriculture, and digital economy, and advance the Global Development, Security, Civilization, and Governance Initiatives. They also agreed to strengthen coordination on multilateral platforms, oppose unilateralism and protectionism, and support an equal and orderly multipolar world. President Boko expressed gratitude for the warm reception, and the two leaders witnessed the signing of multiple bilateral cooperation documents.
Summary: At a State Council Information Office press conference on October 13, five meteorological professionals shared their work under the theme "Monitoring and Forecasting Protect Our Well-Being; Meteorological Services Benefit the People." Niu Zeyi of the Shanghai Typhoon Institute described using AI and physical models to improve typhoon forecasts, which he said buy coastal residents extra evacuation time before landfall. Zhang Fanghua of the National Meteorological Center detailed how her team trained AI on past extreme precipitation events, enabling three-day advance forecasts of heavy rainfall and the issuance of the first red rainstorm warning in 11 years for the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region in July 2023. Zhao Hujiong of Daishan County and Zhao Guorong of Haibei Prefecture highlighted services for fishermen and high-altitude ski event safety, respectively, while Cai Yiyou of Xiangcheng District discussed providing meteorological certificates to help honey pomelo farmers process insurance claims after hail damage.
Summary: A photo report shows residents and tourists relaxing at a teahouse in Beilin District, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province. The teahouse is a public cultural space created by the district's urban renewal project, integrating leisure tea drinking and traditional performing arts. It helps promote the integrated development of culture, commerce, and tourism. The photo is by Zhang Cheng (China Images).
Summary: The article reports on China's seed industry revitalization efforts, highlighting breakthroughs in rice cultivation at extreme altitudes, including highland rice at 3,650 meters, cold-region rice, salt-alkali-tolerant rice, and space-bred rice. It focuses on the trial planting of highland rice in Gongkang Village, Jiacha County, Tibet, where breeding expert Fan Chunkun overcame repeated failures to develop stable lines tolerant of low temperatures and salt-alkali conditions. The successful lines raised the upper limit of rice cultivation to 3,650 meters, filling a gap in Tibet's high-altitude rice areas and doubling returns compared with highland barley. Local farmers, including villager Sangdan, learned new cultivation skills, and villages have signed up for next year's trial planting. The achievement rewrites the historical limit that Tibetan rice could only be grown below 1,500 meters, adding highland rice as a potential staple grain.
Summary: Zhao Leji, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, met separately in Beijing with Botswana's President Mokgweetsi Masisi and Togo's President of the Council of Ministers Faure Gnassingbé. With Masisi, Zhao emphasized implementing the consensus of the two heads of state, promoting equal mutual trust, mutual benefit, and people-to-people connectivity, and strengthening legislative cooperation. Masisi reaffirmed Botswana's adherence to the one-China principle and expressed interest in learning from China's experience. With Faure, Zhao highlighted over 50 years of China-Togo friendship and cooperation as a model for Global South countries, and expressed willingness to deepen political trust and parliamentary exchanges. Faure noted the shared concepts underpinning bilateral ties and hoped to strengthen practical cooperation and multilateral coordination. Losang Jamcan attended the meetings.
Summary: Ding Xuexiang, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council, met in Beijing with representatives of the Advisory Board of the School of Economics and Management of Tsinghua University. He focused his exchanges on the development and governance of artificial intelligence, stating that this technology must be developed, applied, and governed well to benefit humanity. He welcomed support for building the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization to promote shared prosperity and safeguard shared security. Cook, chairman of the Advisory Board, and others commended China's achievements in artificial intelligence and expressed willingness to expand cooperation in China.
Summary: The article highlights canals as shared human heritage and vital arteries connecting China with the world, citing four examples. It features American geographer Jim Stembridge, who praised the Lingqu Canal in Guangxi as a "living canal" embodying Eastern philosophy and successfully recommended it for the World Heritage Irrigation Structures list. Pan Jian, chief engineer of Guangxi Pinglu Canal Construction Co., Ltd., described the new Pinglu Canal's globally pioneering stacked water-saving system and noted the team is leading the formulation of relevant standards. The piece also covers the Suez Canal's role in shortening China-Europe voyages and the China–Egypt Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone as a model of Belt and Road cooperation. Finally, Liu Guojin, East Asia business manager of the Port of Antwerp-Bruges authority, explained how the Albert Canal benefits Europe–China trade through two-way cargo flow.
Summary: Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, met in Beijing with Khaldoon, Special Envoy of the President of the United Arab Emirates for China Affairs. Wang Yi asked Khaldoon to convey President Xi Jinping's cordial greetings to President Mohammed, and said that under the strategic guidance of the two presidents, bilateral relations have become a model for Global South countries to jointly pursue development and revitalization. He stated that the Chinese side will uphold initiatives and propositions dedicated to peace and stability and continue to contribute to lasting peace in the Middle East. Khaldoon conveyed President Mohammed's sincere greetings to President Xi Jinping and expressed willingness to strengthen communication and coordination with the Chinese side to promote regional peace and stability.
Summary: He Lifeng, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council, met with a delegation led by Stephen A. Orlins, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Committee on United States-China Relations, at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse on the 12th. He stated that President Xi Jinping recently paid a state visit to the United States, and the two heads of state agreed to build a "constructive strategic stability relationship between China and the United States based on respect, fairness, and reciprocity." He emphasized that both sides should jointly implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, injecting more certainty and stability into China-U.S. economic and trade cooperation and the world economy. He expressed hope that the National Committee on United States-China Relations will continue to play a positive role in promoting China-U.S. economic cooperation. The U.S. side stated that the stable development of U.S.-China relations is very important and expressed willingness to continue to serve as a bridge, promoting the two sides to strengthen economic exchanges and cooperation.
Summary: The 2026 International Legislators Friendship and Exchange Forum, hosted by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, was held in Tianjin on October 13 under the theme "Sharing High-Quality Development, Building a Sustainable Future Together." Peng Qinghua, Vice Chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, attended and delivered a keynote speech. He said the forum, held on the fifth anniversary of President Xi Jinping's proposal of the Global Development Initiative, responds to the call of people in all countries for peace and development. He added that China's 15th Five-Year Plan is a cooperation list oriented toward the world, and that the National People's Congress is willing to deepen exchanges with parliaments of various countries to help accelerate the implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. More than 300 people attended, including 66 foreign legislators from 52 countries, regions, and international organizations across five continents.
Summary: Batel, Vice Chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, led a delegation to Suriname from October 11 to 12, meeting with President Santokhi and National Assembly Speaker Adhin. Batel noted that China-Suriname relations have developed steadily since the establishment of diplomatic ties, citing the exchange of congratulatory messages between President Xi Jinping and President Santokhi in May on the 50th anniversary as charting the course for bilateral relations. He expressed China's willingness to implement the consensus of the two heads of state, enhance strategic mutual trust, and promote new progress in the China-Suriname strategic cooperative partnership, with the CPPCC National Committee ready to play an active role. The Surinamese side affirmed that bilateral relations have deepened over 50 years, with solid friendship and increasingly close strategic cooperation. Suriname reiterated its adherence to the one-China principle and its commitment to maintaining close high-level exchanges and expanding cooperation across various fields.
Summary: Botswana President Duma Boko visited Tiananmen Square on the afternoon of October 13 and laid a wreath at the Monument to the People's Heroes.
Summary: Liu Haixing, Minister of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, met separately in Beijing with Segundo Vice President of the Peruvian Senate Chacón and French President's Diplomatic Advisor Bonne on October 13. They exchanged views on jointly implementing the consensus of the leaders of both sides, strengthening inter-party exchanges and cooperation, and promoting the development of bilateral relations.
Summary: On the afternoon of October 13, Faure, Chairman of the Togolese Council of Ministers, visited Tiananmen Square and laid a wreath at the Monument to the People's Heroes.
Summary: The 2026 World Canals Conference opened on October 13 in Guilin, Guangxi, under the theme "Innovation and Persistence: Key Choices," drawing representatives from canal cities, research institutions, universities, and industry organizations from more than 20 countries. Discussions will cover canal heritage protection, ecological restoration, shipping development, and cultural-tourism integration, alongside on-site inspections of canal and waterway management. The conference is organized along two threads: the Lingqu Canal, hailed as the "Pearl of Ancient World Water Conservancy Architecture," and the Pinglu Canal, showcasing modern water transport development. Sharon Layton, President of the Inland Waterways International, said the conference coincides with the completion and opening of navigation on the Pinglu Canal, which holds extraordinary significance and reference value in engineering, economic impact, and sustainable development. The conference, hosted by Inland Waterways International, is being held in China for the third time, following previous editions in Yangzhou in 2012 and 2019.
Summary: On October 13, the first batch of air-freighted exhibits for the ninth China International Import Expo arrived at Shanghai Pudong International Airport from Lyon, France, and cleared customs smoothly after review by Shanghai Customs. This batch of exhibits consists of Michelin tires made with 75 percent renewable and recycled materials, which will make their Asian debut at this year's CIIE. The photo shows customs officers inspecting this batch of exhibits on that day.
Summary: Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning expressed support for increased people-to-people exchanges between China and the United States, following the widely shared story of 95-year-old American David Baumann, who lived in Huangyuan County, Qinghai Province for 17 years, donated medical equipment, supported education, and facilitated English teacher training in the U.S. Mao noted that people-to-people friendship between the two countries is a joint undertaking of their peoples, and that such exchanges converge into the long river of China-U.S. friendship. She added that China supports such exchanges and cultural engagement to contribute to building a "constructive strategic and stable China-U.S. relationship based on respect, fairness, and reciprocity."
Summary: The article reports on the flourishing of study tours in grassland villages of Zoigê County, Sichuan, tied to the Red Army's Long March legacy. Xu Shaoyong, deputy director of the Zoigê County History and Local Records Center, recounted the Red Army's 1935 crossing, while veteran Party member Luo Xiu highlighted improved village conditions and civilized qualities. The Baxi Conference On-site Teaching Base, completed in September 2025, has hosted 73 training sessions and 25 study tour activities with over 17,000 participants. Banyou Village Party branch secretary Pa Huajia noted rapid tourist growth, adding farmhouse inns and specialty restaurants, with homestay operator Deng Haotian providing jobs and purchasing local products. The article concludes that the village is writing a new chapter of struggle on the new journey, remembering the Red Army's faith.
Summary: The article reports on how Yihai Village in Mianning County, Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan, is leveraging its "Yihai Alliance" heritage from the Long March to develop red tourism and specialty industries. Shama Yigu, grandson of a witness to the 1935 blood oath between Liu Bocheng and Xiao Yedan, recounted the history to visitors at the scenic area. Ma Dingyi, head of the Sichuan Yihai Alliance Culture and Education Co., Ltd., said the scenic area received 130,000 visitors last year, and more than 30 villagers have found employment there. Mao Jinquan, deputy secretary of the Party general branch of Yihai Village, detailed the village's planting of over 10,000 mu of Sichuan pepper and specialty fruits, with sales exceeding 100,000 yuan this year, and a collective economy earning over 300,000 yuan annually. The county is also strengthening its three major specialty industries of rice, Rosa roxburghii, and Mianning ham.
Summary: The article describes the Dongning Science Popularization and Education Center of the Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park in Heilongjiang Province, which uses interactive displays to teach visitors about the Northeast China tiger and leopard. Shi Ye, the exhibition hall's person in charge, said the facility opened on "Global Tiger Day" this year to showcase conservation achievements and spread ecological civilization concepts, having received 24,000 visitors, many of them Russian tourists. Wang Zhigang, director of the Dongning City Forestry and Grassland Bureau, reported that since 2021 the area has monitored 310 tiger sightings identifying 9 individuals and 1,313 leopard sightings identifying 18, including the famous "Wandashan No. 1," China's first successfully rescued and released wild tiger. Wang emphasized that "not disturbing them is the best protection," with patrol officers reviewing monitoring data to avoid tiger activity areas and using infrared cameras that only activate when animals pass. Zhu Shibing, a researcher at the Heilongjiang Academy of Sciences, noted that tigers and leopards are "umbrella species" whose protection shelters the entire forest ecosystem and enhances biodiversity.
Summary: The online-themed publicity activity "Red Star Shines Over China · A New Long March Sets Out Again," co-hosted by the Central Cyberspace Administration of China, the Central Institute of Party History and Literature, the Xinhua News Agency, and the Cyberspace Affairs Commission of the Jiangxi Provincial Party Committee, was held in Yudu County, Jiangxi Province. Zhuang Rongwen, Deputy Head of the Publicity Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and Director of the Central Cyberspace Administration of China and the Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission; Qu Qingshan, President of the Central Institute of Party History and Literature; and Yin Hong, Secretary of the Jiangxi Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Jiangxi Provincial People's Congress, attended and delivered speeches. The event opened with the poem "Seven-Character Regulated Verse · The Long March," and featured descendants of Red Army martyrs, red-story lecturers, and literary and artistic workers telling stories of the Red Army's endurance during the Long March. National Moral Models, scientific researchers, champions' representatives from the Nagoya Asian Games, young students, and cadres and masses shared stories of carrying forward the great Long March spirit in the new era.
Summary: In the deep autumn season, villagers at the ecological agriculture park of Haizi Community, Linquan Town, Qianxi City, Guizhou Province, are busy picking, transporting, and sorting kiwifruit. Qianxi City has scientifically planned its industrial layout, advancing efficient modern mountain-specific agriculture such as kiwifruit, cherry tomatoes, and edible fungi to boost agricultural efficiency and farmer incomes. The photo, taken on October 12, shows villagers loading picked kiwifruit onto a truck.
Summary: The article reports that October 13 marks the 77th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Young Pioneers, with the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League and the National Young Pioneers Work Committee launching the themed activity "Hold High the Team Flag, Follow the Party; Young Pioneers Relay the New Long March." Across the country, Young Pioneer organizations are carrying out activities to carry forward the great spirit of the Long March, deepen patriotic education and education in revolutionary traditions, and guide Young Pioneers to become good young people of the new era. In Beijing, a themed activity commemorating the 90th anniversary of the victory of the Long March of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army was held, with representatives of Young Pioneers, middle school League members, and university student Party members delivering speeches. In various provinces, activities included laying flower baskets before martyrs, telling Long March stories, inviting award winners and model representatives to share experiences, and organizing drum and bugle corps displays and theatrical performances. The article does not mention the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: The National Conference on Health and Wellness was held in Beijing from October 12 to 13, where General Secretary Xi Jinping attended and delivered an important speech, summarizing achievements since the new era and setting requirements for decisive progress in building a Healthy China during the "15th Five-Year Plan" period. The article highlights China's historic accomplishments in health, including a 2025 average life expectancy of 79.25 years, low infant and maternal mortality rates, and the world's largest medical service, traditional medicine, disease prevention, and medical security systems. It also cites global contributions, such as sending medical teams to 59 countries and building TCM Luban Workshops, while emphasizing adherence to the path of health and wellness development with Chinese characteristics. The piece underscores the need to implement Xi Jinping's speech and the guidelines for health work to ensure the Healthy China goal is met by 2035.
Summary: This People's Commentary argues that China's current investment slowdown reflects a structural shift from traditional to new investment models, not a shrinking of effective investment space, citing growth in integrated circuit, lithium-ion battery, and electronic circuit manufacturing. It highlights new infrastructure and AI investment as key engines, with the "six networks" construction expected to exceed 7 trillion yuan this year, and stresses the funding foundation from high savings, low interest rates, and proactive fiscal policy. The piece calls for integrating investment in physical assets with investment in people—such as education, healthcare, and skills training—to form a synergistic effect. It concludes that adhering to quality-first investment will support new quality productive forces and a modern industrial system, ultimately benefiting employment, income, and living standards. The author is identified as the president of Shanghai University of Finance and Economics.
Summary: The article discusses how local distinctive cultures can reach broader audiences, using Yanji's bilingual street signs as an example of adapting tradition to contemporary life. It emphasizes that cultural vitality requires both deep accumulation and the ability to communicate with different groups, citing examples like Suzhou's digital pattern library and Changsha's Huagu opera fusion. The piece stresses the importance of standardizing expressions and explaining traditions plainly to outsiders, as seen in Hanzhong Hanggui Opera's use of subtitles on livestreams. It also highlights Jingdezhen's "foreign Jingdezhen drifters" collaborating with local craftsmen as a model of open co-creation. The article concludes by citing General Secretary Xi Jinping's point that diverse local traditional cultures constitute the splendid Chinese civilization and boost economic and social development.
Summary: The article comments on a Foshan landlord who, after learning a tenant's rent delay was due to temporary financial strain, bought a snack from the shop, transferred 20,000 yuan, and planned to reduce rent, drawing netizen praise. It argues that rules and humanistic care can be combined, citing the tenant's years of on-time payments as the basis for trust. The piece highlights credit-based institutional innovations, such as Hangzhou's deposit exemptions and hotel "credit stay," and notes tax authorities' "no punishment for first violations" list as examples of flexible governance. It stresses that trust must be earned through a will to fulfill obligations and that the social credit system should distinguish unintentional mistakes from malicious violations. The commentary concludes that rules and trust complement each other as a governance advantage of Chinese modernization.
Summary: The article reports on the growing popularity of red tourism related to the Long March, with visitors and study tour groups arriving in large numbers at the Memorial Park for the Victory of the Central Red Army's Long March in Wuqi County, Shaanxi, and at the Military Museum of the Chinese People's Revolution. It notes that since the beginning of this year, the popularity of such tourism has risen as people draw strength from revisiting the years of hardship and struggle. The piece concludes with a poem by Cheng Sen reflecting on the historic sites and the enduring spirit of the Long March.
Summary: The article argues against a "Guangdong-Guangxi game theory" narrative following the Pinglu Canal's opening, asserting that regional development is one of competition and cooperation, not zero-sum competition. It contends that the canal benefits both regions by reducing logistics costs for Guangxi and southwestern goods while leaving Guangdong's port fundamentals unaffected, and it offers Guangdong new export routes and supply chain resilience. The piece cites Guangdong's Zhaoqing port symposium and the Ningbo-Zhoushan Port's growth alongside Shanghai's Yangshan Port as evidence that coordinated development yields shared wins. It invokes General Secretary Xi Jinping's call for "a holistic approach to national development and coordination," framing the canal as a move for high-level opening up and regional coordination. The article concludes that China's ability to achieve cross-regional coordination contrasts with infighting among states in some countries, highlighting the strengths of its institutional system.
Summary: The article reflects on the cultural and social significance of meals in Chinese life, emphasizing how eating together embodies family reunion, emotional exchange, and traditional values. It notes the evolution from simply eating one's fill to pursuing balanced nutrition and seasonal freshness, linking this to rising living standards. The dining table is portrayed as a carrier of Chinese culture, including regional cuisines and concepts like harmony and moderation. The piece also frames food security and livelihood measures as central to governance, highlighting the Communist Party's people-centered approach and Chinese modernization. It concludes that the enduring warmth of meals symbolizes the ongoing happiness and stability of the Chinese people's lives.
Summary: The People's Daily opinion page invites readers to contribute to its long-term open columns, including "Everyone's Discussion," "Warm News, Hot Commentary," "China's Path, China's Dream," and "Letters." Submissions should not be sent to multiple outlets simultaneously. The page's email is rmrbpl@peopledaily.cn, and contributors should indicate the column name in their submission.
Summary: The NPC Standing Committee's law enforcement inspection team inspected the implementation of the Law on the Construction of Barrier-Free Environments across six provinces, including Beijing, Inner Mongolia, Shanghai, Hunan, Chongqing, and Gansu, from June to July this year. The team affirmed progress in barrier-free facility construction, such as elevator installations in old communities and improved information accessibility, while noting problems of non-standardization, lack of systemization, and imbalance. It highlighted examples like the Capital Library's smart reading devices for visually impaired users and the Tianxin District People's Court's barrier-free litigation services. The team suggested strengthening source-level standardization, mandatory standards, and information accessibility rules to shift from "having" to "being good" in barrier-free environments. It emphasized embedding such construction into urban development and public services to enhance people's sense of gain, happiness, and security.
Summary: Li Quanmin, a 62-year-old rural public-interest film projectionist in Dongtou Village, Heshan District, Hebi City, Henan Province, has screened films for villagers for 40 years since 1986, totaling over 12,000 screenings benefiting more than 300,000 people. He recalled that in the 1980s open-air movies drew crowds of three to five hundred per village, but after television spread around 2000, audiences dwindled and he subsidized projection with an agricultural supplies shop. In 2007, the national "Rural Film Projection Project" brought him back to full-time work, covering 29 administrative villages with government-issued digital equipment and richer film libraries. He adapted his film list to include opera films favored by elderly audiences, produced with local propaganda department support, and noted improved mountain roads have shortened his travel time. Having joined the Party last October, he vowed to continue serving villagers as long as his health allows.
Summary: Beijing has issued the "Action Plan for High-Quality Development of Protection of Ancient and Famous Trees in the Capital (2026-2030)" through the Capital Greening Committee. The plan outlines four key actions and sets targets for 2030, including building a standardized database, creating ecological and cultural landmarks, and implementing preventive protection for over 3,000 ancient trees. A third citywide survey has been launched, expanding to include nature reserves, with a new annual physical examination mechanism for thousand-year-old trees. In the capital's core functional area, protection efforts will be coordinated with the preservation of the Central Axis cultural heritage and historical districts.
Summary: On October 12, Tianbao Community on Jiannan Street in Fengcheng City, Jiangxi Province, held a themed event where volunteers and elderly residents made dumplings together, watched performances, and chatted about everyday life. A golden and silver wedding anniversary ceremony was also held on site, promoting traditional virtues while conveying the civilized concept of supporting each other in difficult times and mutual respect and affection. The photo shows elderly couples at the event holding up "double happiness" signs for a group photo. Photo by Zhou Liang (Images of China).
Summary: The "Xin Hongzhuan" vessel, the world's first intelligent research and training dual-purpose ship, has deployed over 15,000 sensors to enable autonomous navigation, remote control, and collaborative operations with unmanned equipment, according to Yin Yong, head of the shore-based digital intelligence operation and control center at Dalian Maritime University. The vessel serves as a mobile pilot-scale testing platform for domestically produced intelligent equipment, integrating "sea, land, air, and underwater" systems with itself as the intelligent brain. The research team overcame technical difficulties such as autonomous navigation in narrow waterways and ship-shore data transmission, which took over a year to resolve through repeated algorithm overhauls and shore-based testing. Yin Yong stated the team will leverage the vessel as a technology validation platform and talent cultivation base to deepen work in intelligent shipping. The reporter's notes emphasize the need to break down barriers between scientific research, teaching, and industry, establishing a closed loop of "research and development—validation—talent" to stay competitive in the reshaping global shipping industry.
Summary: The article reports that as of the first half of this year, there were 39.354 million urban and rural recipients of subsistence allowances nationwide, with average standards for urban and rural subsistence allowances increasing by 22.8 percent and 25 percent respectively during the 14th Five-Year Plan period. It highlights the implementation of the Social Assistance Law, which took effect July 1, and the shift toward service-oriented social assistance combining material aid with care services. The piece cites examples of proactive identification through "big data + 'iron soles'" monitoring, such as in Yunhe County, where system early warnings helped 135 households receive assistance. It also details improvements to the two subsidies for disabled persons, with standards rising by 34.58 percent and 25.09 percent during the same period. Experts quoted include Zhu Jianhua of Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Yang Lixiong of Renmin University of China, who emphasize the need for precise, multidimensional support and improved long-term care for persons with severe disabilities.
Summary: The article reports on the surging vitality of China's cultural tourism consumption market, highlighting new scenarios and business forms from immersive experiences to county-level tourism. It cites examples such as a live-action scripted game at the Memorial Hall of the National Southwestern Associated University's Mengzi Branch in Yunnan, and a grassland music carnival in Chaling County, Hunan, which boosted local income. Meituan data shows visits to entertainment venues in third-tier and below cities increased by 258% compared to before the National Day holiday, with "county-chasing tourism" becoming a new trend. The nighttime economy remains robust, with events like a basketball tournament in Luxi County, Jiangxi, driving spending, and upgraded nighttime consumption clusters in Suqian, Jiangsu. The article concludes that policy efforts, including 62.5 billion yuan in ultra-long-term special treasury bonds and over 310 million yuan in consumption vouchers, are supporting consumption vitality and unleashing potential.
Summary: The Chinese Academy of Social Sciences held its Second Youth Academic Conference in Beijing on October 13, with Gao Xiang, President and Secretary of the Party Leadership Group, attending and delivering an academic report. The conference, themed "Inheritance · Innovation · Standards," included a main forum and eight sub-forums on topics such as Xi Jinping's thought on Party building, AI-assisted scientific research, and the Two Integrations. It released key achievements by young scholars since the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, and Party Leadership Group members presented awards for the "Outstanding Research Report Award" and "Outstanding Organization Award" for the 2026 Social Science Youth Return-to-Hometown Field Research. The event was hosted by the Academy and organized by its Party Committee of Directly Affiliated Organs, Scientific Research Bureau, and Personnel and Education Bureau.
Summary: A symposium on improving dietary nutrition and health of plateau residents was jointly held in Lhasa by the Institute of Food and Nutrition Development of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and the Tibet Academy of Agricultural and Animal Husbandry Sciences. The meeting concluded that the special work has established a coordination mechanism, formed a scientific approach, compiled research reports and guideline plans, developed key technologies, and generated replicable and scalable experience. Participants emphasized that improving plateau dietary nutrition is a foundational, systematic, and long-term task requiring adherence to the concept of "food provides nutrition, nutrition improves health, health leads consumption, consumption guides production, and production guarantees supply." Responsible comrades from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the National Health Commission, and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology attended and delivered speeches. Officials from Sichuan, Yunnan, Gansu, Qinghai, Xinjiang, and Tibet exchanged views, with experts and farmer-herder representatives participating in discussions.
Summary: A photo report shows workers in Xishui County, Hubei Province, loading and transporting crop straw in a high-standard farmland area on October 13. The locality has explored new models for straw resource utilization through unified collection, baling, and processing. The straw is converted into livestock and poultry feed and cultivation substrates for edible fungi. This promotes the turning of waste into something valuable from straw. The photo was taken by Wang Jiang.
Summary: The Export-Import Bank of China issued nearly one trillion yuan in new foreign trade loans in the first three quarters, a year-on-year increase of 9 percent, with nearly 40 percent directed toward stabilizing the main entities of foreign trade and stabilizing the industrial chains of foreign trade. The bank formulated and implemented a work plan for stabilizing the fundamentals of foreign trade, coordinating support for trade in goods and services, traditional trade and new business forms, and helping to develop digital trade and green trade. Focusing on enterprises expanding into international markets, it provides all-round support in cross-border settlement, trade financing, and supply chain finance. It has strengthened financing support for major landmark projects and "small but beautiful" livelihood projects in countries jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative, and raised the proportion of the renminbi used in bilateral trade and investment financing. It has also enriched financial service models for small and micro enterprises, including exploring online service pathways for cross-border e-commerce.
Summary: The article highlights Zhangwu County's transformation from severe desertification to green development through decades of desertification control, with forest coverage rising from 2.9 percent to over 30 percent. It profiles forest ranger Li Dongkui and his daughter, village party secretary Li Mingming, who promotes sandy-land agriculture that has boosted village collective income beyond 1 million yuan for four consecutive years. Deputy county head Zhao Dongming and party secretary Zhao Yongshuo describe how the county integrates sweet potato cultivation and other specialty crops into ecological governance, achieving grain output over 2.4 billion jin. The county also leverages its silica sand reserves to build a full-chain green industrial system with an annual output value exceeding 3.3 billion yuan, as noted by bureau director Qiao Liang. Finally, the article recounts how sand culture and tourism, including the Delige'er Grassland Scenic Area, have created new income streams for villagers like Liu Jun.
Summary: Tianjin has issued a work plan to accelerate scenario innovation and application, centering on "providing scenarios, cultivating industries, and promoting development" to bridge technology with industry and R&D with the market. By the end of 2026, the city aims to launch a municipal-level scenario innovation service platform, establish a supply-demand matching mechanism, and dynamically publish "three lists" of scenario opportunities, capabilities, and typical cases. The plan expands scenario supply across five areas: frontier technological innovation, industrial upgrading, urban-rural governance, smart livelihood services, and Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei regional coordination. Tianjin will strengthen safeguards in organization, policy, and finance, adopt a duty-free due diligence management model, and foster an environment encouraging innovation and tolerating failure. It also promotes opening all possible scenario resources to accelerate the landing and transformation of innovation achievements.
Summary: Shandong and Chongqing are deepening east-west collaboration by adapting Shouguang's facility agriculture technology to local conditions in Kaizhou and Fengdu, with technicians like Dong Jianlin and An Guangchi training local growers and shifting from one-way technology transfer to two-way exchange. In Kaizhou, grower Tan Shifu's pepper yield rose from about 1,000 jin to 6,000 jin per mu after adopting new methods, while Fengdu's high-altitude climate now supplies strawberry seedlings to Shandong. The collaboration model has evolved from filling Chongqing's gaps to linking technology, talent, capital, and markets through parks, enterprises, and joint platforms like the Lu-Yu Vegetable Smart Greenhouse and Zaofeng Collaborative Agricultural High-Tech Industrial Park. By the end of 2025, Shandong had invested over 5 billion yuan in cumulative financial assistance to Chongqing and implemented nearly 3,000 collaborative projects. The article emphasizes that technology is being recombined across resource endowments, with experts leaving behind trained local technicians and institutional systems rather than orchards dependent on outside specialists.
Summary: The article highlights Shandong-Chongqing agricultural technology collaboration, where Shouguang's greenhouse technology was re-adapted to Kaizhou's local climate, soil, and planting habits, with farmers evolving from "following and learning" to "taking the initiative." Fengdu leveraged its high-altitude, cool climate to cultivate strawberry seedlings sold back to Shandong's main production areas, deepening collaboration from teaching technology to building teams, industrial parks, and R&D platforms. Mutual learning is framed not as copying experience but as placing technology in local contexts to "take root and flourish locally," shifting from "helping with whatever is lacking" to finding convergence between both sides' needs and strengths through normalized docking mechanisms. The piece concludes that technology is not merely "introducing eastern technology to the west" but involves recombination, mutual learning, and joint advancement.
Summary: The State Taxation Administration reported that in the first nine months of this year, tax authorities stopped publicizing 12,028 discredited entities, with 1,219 achieving credit restoration after paying off 1.355 billion yuan in taxes, late fees, and fines, marking a 30.93 percent year-on-year increase in restorations. The 2021 "Measures for the Administration of Publicizing Information on Entities Discredited for Major Tax Violations" allow entities to apply for early cessation of publicity after full payment and six months of publicized discredited information, enabling re-assessment of tax payment credit ratings and resumption of normal business activities. An official from the Inspection Bureau highlighted proactive "online restoration," with 511 entities completing restoration via the "Credit China" website since 2026, alongside "three documents delivered together" and "reasoning-based" law enforcement to streamline the process. Fan Yong, Dean of the School of Finance and Taxation at the Central University of Finance and Economics, said this approach lets discredited entities feel punishment's "pain" while seeing restoration's hope, enhancing tax law compliance awareness. The official added that tax authorities will continue optimizing the restoration process and policy guidance to help more enterprises rebuild credit and operate in compliance.
Summary: The Ministry of Natural Resources, together with the National Development and Reform Commission, recently issued the "Catalog of Mineral Resources" with State Council approval, serving as a foundation for mineral resources planning, mining rights management, and related policies. The catalog, formed by optimizing the original "Detailed Classification of Mineral Resources" to implement the new Mineral Resources Law, maintains the original classification framework while making modifications for current economic needs. It is divided into 4 categories—energy minerals, metallic minerals, non-metallic minerals, and water and gas minerals—covering 174 mineral types and 119 sub-mineral types. The Ministry of Natural Resources will continue aligning the catalog with management tasks and is researching standard documents for approving new mineral types, to be released later.
Summary: Bohu County in Xinjiang is harvesting and processing its chili crop, with growers like Sun Houqi using Beidou-guided machinery and drones to manage over 50 mu of chilies, while enterprises such as Xinjiang Yuanguan Food Co., Ltd. produce branded products like "Amushu Chili Shreds" and purchase fresh chilies for processing. The county also grows pigment chilies, which are exported to Central Asian countries, with grower Mamat Sadak reporting a yield of 600 to 700 kilograms per mu. Local chilies benefit from Bosten Lake irrigation, Tianshan snowmelt, and selenium-rich soil, and received geographical indication certification in 2013. The industry provides employment for villagers like Tayir Keyum, who works at a processing plant during the season. Xu Tao, Party Secretary of the Bohu County Bureau of Commerce and Industry Informatization, said the county aims to extend the industrial chain, strengthen branding, and expand e-commerce to promote standardized, large-scale development.
Summary: China YTO Large Tractor Company in Luoyang City, Henan Province, is operating at full capacity on its final assembly line, with workers hastening to assemble "Dongfanghong" tractors. The enterprise is going all out to fulfill domestic and international orders, making a full push to hit its annual production and sales targets. The photo was taken by Zhang Guanghui (Image China).
Summary: The housing provident fund business window of central state organs has officially opened at the provident fund service outlet in Xiong'an New Area, following coordination between the Xiong'an New Area Housing Management Center of Hebei Province and the Housing Fund Management Center of Central State Organs. This move breaks service barriers between Beijing and Xiong'an and promotes the quality upgrade of Beijing-Xiong'an same-city provident fund services. Units relocated to the New Area and contributing employees can now handle central state organ housing provident fund businesses locally through a one-stop service process. Data sharing between the two places aims to achieve "handling nearby, handling conveniently" and implement the philosophy of "let data run more, let the masses run less." The Xiong'an New Area Housing Management Center will deepen normalized cooperation with the central state organs center to expand cross-region handled businesses and support the high-quality construction of Xiong'an New Area.
Summary: The article reports on how China Construction Bank's Hubei branches are supporting technology enterprises through tailored financial products, including a 25 million yuan "Property Purchase Loan" for Hubei Kefeng Intelligent Transmission Co., Ltd. and a 40 million yuan working capital loan for Hubei Yinke New Materials Co., Ltd., a major photovoltaic silver powder producer. The bank's Hubei Provincial Branch, in partnership with the Hubei Provincial Department of Science and Technology, built the "Smart Brain" data platform and launched evaluation tools like "Technology Flow," "STAR," and "Investment Flow" to enhance credit for science and innovation enterprises. As of the end of August 2026, the branch's science and technology loan balance reached 229.256 billion yuan. Jiang Wenbo, Party Committee Secretary and President of the Hubei Provincial Branch, stated the bank will continue deepening innovation in technology finance products and increase support for hard technology innovation and enterprise growth.
Summary: The article argues that developing the culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era requires thoroughly studying and implementing Xi Jinping Thought on Culture, drawing on General Secretary Xi Jinping's works. It clarifies the culture's theoretical origins, practical foundations, forward direction, and practical principles, emphasizing adherence to Marxism, the fine traditional Chinese culture, and the "Two Integrations." The piece stresses upholding the Party's leadership, a people-centered approach, and openness and inclusiveness, including promoting exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations. It highlights the goal of building a strong cultural nation by 2035 and enhancing China's cultural soft power and international influence. The author is identified as a researcher at the National Research Center for the Inheritance of Red Genes.
Summary: The article argues that reading's value lies in acquiring knowledge and cultivating morality, and it cites General Secretary Xi Jinping's guidance that digital reading should be combined with traditional reading, holding fast to one's inner core. It explains that the inner core of reading, rooted in Chinese traditions like "investigating things to extend knowledge" and "cultivating sincerity and rectifying one's mind," was formed through China's unique historical and cultural accumulation. The piece notes that while digital reading improves convenience and timeliness, it also fosters fragmented habits that reduce deep reading time, leaving many readers feeling lost amid massive information. It contends that traditional reading methods, such as deep reading of paper books, provide key support for improving digital reading literacy by training sustained concentration and critical thinking. Finally, it highlights that age-old reading techniques, like Su Shi's and Zhu Xi's approaches, remain effective in digital scenarios, helping readers maintain subjectivity and avoid aimless information drifting.
Summary: The article discusses implementing President Xi Jinping's call to deepen cooperation with UNESCO and promote cultural heritage protection in the Global South, following the issuance of the "15th Five-Year Plan for the Protection and Inheritance of Cultural Heritage." It proposes aligning rules and standards through multilateral frameworks like the UNESCO World Heritage Convention, establishing platforms such as the Asian Alliance for the Protection of Cultural Heritage, and creating joint nomination mechanisms to reduce costs for Global South countries. The piece also advocates strengthening scientific and technological innovation, including disseminating the "Digital Dunhuang" project experience and applying artificial intelligence and blockchain technologies. It highlights deepening exemplary cooperation projects, such as the China-Egypt joint archaeological team's work at the Temple of Montu in Luxor and promoting the joint nomination of the China-Mongolia-Russia Tea Road. Finally, it calls for improving talent cultivation mechanisms through joint courses and academic exchanges to build capacity in Global South countries.
Summary: Zhang Wusong, political commissar of a Rocket Force brigade, has combined political work with warfighting expertise over more than 20 years, leading troops through over 20 major missions including live-fire launches and combat readiness duty. He emphasizes the importance of theoretical study for officers and soldiers, using experiential and case-based methods to make theory accessible, and has sought advice from over 60 missile experts while earning first-class military training ratings for seven consecutive years. Zhang has also resolved grassroots concerns, such as improving remote camp facilities and establishing a one-stop service station for soldiers, addressing dozens of long-standing problems over nearly a decade. He stresses that political cadres must be "experts in both fields," studying theory and understanding warfighting to earn respect and ensure the nation's strategic weapons remain in loyal hands.
Summary: The 16th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition will be held in Zhuhai from December 7 to 13, 2026, marking the 30th anniversary of the event with a record scale and expanded international participation. The airshow will feature a "one exhibition, three areas" layout, adding a new maritime equipment display area at Gaolan Port and an unmanned equipment area in Lianzhou, with over 1,100 enterprises from nearly 50 countries and regions participating. National pavilions from Russia, the United States, France, Germany, and other countries will expand their exhibition scale, with Airbus, Boeing, and Rolls-Royce among the global top-100 aviation enterprises attending. Multiple types of Air Force main battle equipment will make their first appearance, and China State Shipbuilding Corporation will display over 150 exhibits, including new 500-ton-class unmanned vessels. The airshow will also introduce a talent recruitment booth and immersive programs such as cargo hold experiences and photo check-ins with star equipment.
Summary: Registration for the 2027 civil service exam for central organs and affiliated institutions opens October 14, with 35,700 positions planned, according to the National Civil Service Administration. Online registration runs from 8:00 on October 14 to 18:00 on October 24, with the written exam held nationwide on November 29. The administration warned that no official prep books or training classes will be published or endorsed, urging candidates to be highly vigilant against deceptive commercial offerings.
Summary: The article recounts the Red Army's passage through Longsheng County, Guangxi, in December 1934, during the Long March, and its efforts to win over the local Yao masses who had fled in misunderstanding. The Red Army helped villagers with farm work, provided free medical care, and held talks with Yao leaders beneath the "Dragon Tongue Rock," leaving behind the slogan "The Red Army absolutely protects the Yao people." The local villagers later named the stone the "Red Army Rock" to preserve this memory. Today, the locality develops cultural tourism based on its diverse ethnic cultures, driving employment and income growth.
Summary: The "Great Wall-2026" Counter-Terrorism International Forum of the Armed Police Force opened in Beijing on October 13, drawing over 320 representatives from 62 countries and international organizations for a three-day event. The forum, themed "Advancing Practical Counter-Terrorism Cooperation, Jointly Safeguarding Our Beautiful Homeland," features high-level, professional, and thematic sessions. At the opening ceremony, Lieutenant General Zhao Dongfang, Chief of Staff of the Armed Police Force, delivered a keynote speech centered on the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind and the four major global initiatives, proposing four suggestions for deepening practical counter-terrorism cooperation that received broad endorsement. The forum covers four topics, including trends in terrorist activities under unmanned intelligent conditions, counter-terrorism for important targets, border infiltration, and maritime terrorist activities. Participants will also observe training demonstrations, visit unmanned equipment, and attend the "Great Wall Horn" concert.
Summary: The Intermediate People's Court of Quanzhou City and the People's Court of Nan'an City publicly pronounced first-instance judgments on October 13 in the series of cases involving the Wei family criminal group, sentencing three defendants to death, three to life imprisonment, and 55 others to fixed-term imprisonment with supplementary punishments. The court established that since 2019, the Wei Huairen and Henry criminal groups, exploiting the Wei family's influence in the Kokang region of Myanmar and relying on armed forces, committed crimes including telecommunications and network fraud, operating gambling establishments, extortion, organizing prostitution, trafficking in drugs, and organizing illegal border crossings, involving funds of more than 12.2 billion yuan. The groups also colluded with fraud gangs to kill persons involved in fraud, resulting in the deaths of 2 Chinese citizens, and Chen Dawei, using armed forces under his control, killed 2 additional Chinese citizens. The court held that the defendants' conduct constituted seven charges including intentional homicide and fraud, and rendered the judgments according to law. Deputies to people's congresses, members of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, family members of the parties involved, and members of the public observed the pronouncement.
Summary: The article highlights how Wuxing District in Huzhou City, Zhejiang Province, supports enterprises like Zhejiang Muxing Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd. through proactive investment attraction and full-life-cycle services. Xia Mingming, then head of investment attraction at Huzhou Wuxing State-Owned Assets Investment and Operation Group Co., Ltd., made over ten trips to the company's headquarters in Suzhou, addressing details like employee housing and commuting. He Zijie, general manager of the Hardware Technology Center at Muxing Intelligent, credited the Wuxing High-Tech Zone's logistics equipment cluster and efficient cross-departmental coordination, including same-day responses to needs and securing 9,528 square meters of production space. The district rolled out measures like factory rental concessions, trade facilitation, and talent subsidies, helping the firm grow to over 350 employees and sales to more than 20 countries and regions. A Wuxing District Investment Promotion Center official said they will "unswerving and determined in purpose" pursue project attraction and continue optimizing the business service environment.
Summary: The article explores how education should adapt to the AI era, focusing on the shift from answering questions to posing high-quality ones. Fudan University professor Xiao Yanghua describes a course where students designed questions to stump AI models, transforming them into "people who define problems and evaluate answers." Expert Cao Peijie emphasizes a dual approach: teachers should become designers of tasks and scenarios, while students should become active questioners rather than passive recipients. The discussion also addresses whether AI makes students "dumber" or stronger, with Cao warning against "cognitive debt" and Xiao calling AI an "amplifier of ability." Finally, the article argues that competitive advantage lies not in merely using AI but in solving complex problems, with cross-disciplinary talent combining professional competence and AI application skills being most in demand.
Summary: The article argues that in the age of AI, "being able to ask" has become a more valuable capability than "being able to answer," marking an important shift in education from seeking answers to raising questions. It states that asking questions is the starting point of thinking, as great discoveries often begin with a good question, and warns that relying on AI may lead to unknowingly giving up the right to think. Good questions arise from curiosity, solid knowledge, and independent thinking, requiring one to read, observe, and try first, then distill confusion into clear questions. The piece concludes that being able to ask questions is an inherent part of mastering the fundamentals of education, as what you ask determines what you will see.
Summary: The article reports on how Chinese university libraries are innovating to engage young students accustomed to short videos, with Soochow University, Hohai University, and Nanjing University as examples. Soochow University's "Walking Reading" program sends students to off-campus sites like Suzhou classical gardens, while its director Tang Wenyue says the library must open its collections in ways young people like. Hohai University integrates its water conservancy heritage into exhibitions and courses, with Party branch secretary Wang Zhifeng noting this guides students to understand national needs behind their majors. Nanjing University organizes students to co-create a "script murder" game based on "Investiture of the Gods" and to repair a fragmentary volume of "Dream of the Red Chamber," with director Huang Xianjin emphasizing that young people are creators of new content. The piece concludes that attraction and co-creation form a cycle ensuring cultural heritage is passed down and the tradition of learning continues uninterrupted.
Summary: Sihe Primary School in Hefei City, Anhui Province, organized students to visit the rice cultivation research base of the Anhui Academy of Agricultural Sciences on October 13, carrying out a themed practical activity of "Rice Field Classroom, Painting the Autumn Harvest." Using the rice fields as a natural painting studio, the children depicted golden waves of rice and colorful autumn scenery with their brushes, immersively experiencing the atmosphere of the harvest. The photo shows teachers and students "painting autumn" in the rice fields. Photo by Zhao Ming (Image China).
Summary: The first Northeast Regional City Football League ("Northeast Super League") concluded on October 5 in Dalian, with the Changchun team defeating the Dalian team 1:0 to win the championship. The league, held from May to October across Liaoning, Jilin, Heilongjiang, and Inner Mongolia, featured 8 participating cities and 34 matches, integrating cultural, sports, tourism, and commercial markets. Each home venue showcased regional artistic performances, and the spectator culture included giant TIFOs reading "Northeast, Ready" and "Tonight, the Northeast Wins." The event drew over one million on-site attendees, with Liaoning alone creating nearly 900 "second viewing venues," directly driving consumption of over 1.9 billion yuan and related industry chain consumption of nearly 13 billion yuan. The final night featured patriotic songs and city exhibition booths, with fans and tourists describing the atmosphere as "like a grand Northeast gathering."
Summary: Zhejiang's education department and six other agencies issued guiding opinions to accelerate high-quality preschool special education and build an inclusive system integrating rehabilitation and education. A Basic Education Division official said inclusive kindergartens should admit school-age special-needs children, including those with autism and language disorders, under the "nearest and most convenient" principle. Support is to be given to localities with conditions to establish dedicated special education kindergartens.
Summary: CATL is driving "system-level going global" in energy storage, supporting the accelerated global energy transition amid rising electricity demand and renewable energy integration challenges. The article highlights CATL's leading global market share in energy storage battery shipments and its role in Ningde City's industrial cluster development. CATL's "system-level delivery" approach is exemplified by South Africa's Hydra solar-plus-storage project, where it provided a complete power station solution rather than just components. The company's technological strength, backed by substantial R&D investment and a new empirical testing platform, underpins its ability to deliver grid-ready energy storage systems. CATL's strategy positions it as a key player in global energy infrastructure, offering a Chinese enterprise solution for worldwide energy transformation.
Summary: Guangzhou has expanded its community designer team to more than 1,700 full-time members, covering all 177 towns and subdistricts, alongside over 6,000 planning and resource volunteers and 216 "guardians of the famous city," according to the Guangzhou Municipal Bureau of Planning and Natural Resources. The designers conduct community visits to collect public demands and implement "micro-renovation, light intervention" projects, such as refurbishing an old alley corner in Haizhu District with new railings, seating, and flower beds using only about 90,000 yuan in community funds. Under a "one district, one policy" mechanism, districts tailor approaches—Yuexiu restored a Republican-era residence into the multifunctional Wende Garden, while Liwan, Huangpu, and Huadu focus on water towns, old factory areas, and rural ancestral halls respectively. In projects like the Keziling gatehouse of Baiyun Mountain and Yunhe Community near Guangzhou Zoo, designers balanced demands from residents, property management, and merchants to create public spaces that benefit all parties. An official said the projects are "making urban renewal warmer and grassroots governance more substantive."
Summary: The State Administration for Market Regulation and the China Consumers Association jointly issued a consumption advisory to help consumers select health foods scientifically, warning against false advertising and marketing gimmicks targeting the elderly. The advisory emphasizes that health foods are not medicine and cannot treat disease, urging consumers to verify product authenticity via the "blue hat" logo and approval number. It cautions against "free traps," "meeting sales" brainwashing, and "private domain" scams involving WeChat groups and livestreams. Consumers are advised to follow "one check, two choose, three complain" for verification, purchasing from legitimate channels, and filing complaints through the Smart 315 platform or reporting to market regulation departments and public security organs.
Summary: The article reports on Xicheng District, Beijing's "micro-renewal of hutong spaces" initiative, which converted a neglected "corner plot" in Daxinkai Hutong into a multi-story parking building. A resident, Li Li, said he previously struggled to find parking but now feels at ease, while a Xicheng District Urban Management Committee official stressed that even palm-sized corner plots must be put to good use. The new building widened parking spaces, added slow-charging spots for new energy vehicles, and installed sound-insulating equipment to reduce noise. Most spaces are designated as benefit-oriented for residents at below-market rates, with policies like extended franchise periods to keep operating enterprises sustainable. As of now, Xicheng District has added 2,052 parking spaces this year.
Summary: On October 13, Fuxi Community of Xin'anjiang Subdistrict, Jiande City, Zhejiang Province, held an activity to welcome the Double Ninth Festival under the theme "Golden Autumn Talks of the Double Ninth Festival, Care Warms the Elderly," providing the elderly with pastries, tea, longevity noodles, and more. In recent years, Xin'anjiang Subdistrict has focused on serving "the elderly and the young," giving the elderly a greater sense of fulfillment and happiness in their lives. The event was photographed by Ning Wenwu (China Images).
Summary: The Department of Human Resources and Social Security of Gansu Province issued the "Gansu Province Measures for the Administration of Work-Related Injury Rehabilitation," improving the institutional system of work-related injury insurance covering prevention, compensation, and rehabilitation. The measures establish a dual pathway of early intervention and systematic rehabilitation, with rehabilitation intervention carried out during clinical treatment and systematic rehabilitation after condition stabilization. A tiered rehabilitation pattern of "provincial-level treatment of severe cases, municipal-level treatment of routine cases, and grassroots-level consolidation" is built, encouraging the extension of work-related injury rehabilitation services to the grassroots level. Rehabilitation costs for insured workers meeting prescribed requirements are paid by the work-related injury insurance fund, with benefits for confirmed occupational injuries in new forms of employment implemented per relevant provisions.
Summary: Anhui's tax authorities have created a dedicated zone for "one-stop social insurance payment services" across all 118 city- and county-level units in the province, integrating resources from tax, human resources and social security, and medical insurance departments. Comprehensive service windows have been established at government service centers, implementing a model of "unified front-desk acceptance, parallel back-office review and approval, and unified window issuance" to achieve "one-stop handling" for insurance registration, declaration and payment, and certificate printing. Through the reform of "integrating multiple forms into one," real-time information sharing has streamlined business processing materials by more than 40 percent and reduced processing time by over 70 percent. The average processing time for normal social insurance payment business across the province is now only 3 minutes.
Summary: Li Yuan, a 39-year-old former plush toy worker from Liucun Village, Dahe Township, Rongcheng County, described how the establishment of Xiong'an New Area led her to a broader world and a brand-new life, including running a courier station with her husband before their village was demolished for redevelopment in 2023. After relocating to the Rongdong Area, she took a job in the cafeteria of the Xiong'an New Area Administrative Committee and discovered yoga through free public-interest classes at the community's Party-masses service center. Encouraged by a staff member of the Xiong'an New Area Party-masses Work Department to turn her passion into a career, she trained with partner Guo Xingwei, born in the 1990s, and obtained a "Senior Yoga Instructor" certificate in late 2024. The two opened a yoga studio in the Rongdong Area in November 2025, attracting mostly relocated residents who practice after work. In 2025, Li Yuan's family moved into Chunhui Garden in the Dahe Area, where she now volunteers as a yoga teacher, saying the new area means "a richer, better life" for her and her partner.
Summary: Changsha, Hunan, has completed and put into operation 611 express-delivery care stations, providing nearby, convenient, and routine rest support for new employment groups such as couriers and food-delivery riders, as well as for outdoor workers at large. Each station is uniformly equipped with basic convenience facilities such as water dispensers, rest seats, and charging sockets, and routinely provides warm services such as shelter from heat and cold, water supply, and mobile phone charging. These stations address real pain points faced by outdoor workers, including difficulty in getting water, resting, charging, and using the toilet, building citywide convenience care stations where "one can warm up in cold weather, cool off in hot weather, drink water when thirsty, and rest when tired." The 611 stations include 11 provincial-level demonstration stations and 600 municipal-level standard stations, weaving a dense citywide care service network.
Summary: The article highlights the protection of the Stone Forest in Yunnan's Shilin Yi Autonomous County, a World Heritage site inscribed in 2007 as part of "South China Karst." It details how professional teams and local villagers jointly patrol the 350-square-kilometer protected area, supported by a four-tier ecological network and smart monitoring technologies like satellite remote sensing and digital fences. Scenic area staff like Wang Liping and tour guide Suo Lifen, both from nearby Xiaoqing Village, exemplify local employment, with over 90 percent of workers in key roles being residents. The nearby Wukeshu Village, relocated in 2010, has transformed through ecological orchards and cultural tourism, earning over 8 million yuan annually. Officials such as Pu Shuhua and Zhao Xiaomei emphasize a virtuous cycle of protection and development, with tourism visits reaching 9.3476 million in the first seven months of this year.
Summary: The China Meteorological Administration has issued the "Measures for the Administration of Meteorological Data," effective November 1, establishing a full-chain institutional framework centered on incentivizing supply, promoting circulation, and standardizing governance. The Measures aim to strengthen the protection of meteorological data rights and interests, accelerate orderly circulation and value release, and drive cross-industry aggregation of meteorological resources. The meteorological sector has cumulatively shared over 100 types of data products across 12 categories, pooling data from nearly 200,000 industry stations and serving nearly 1.3 million users across 153 countries and regions and 21 domestic industries.
Summary: The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs has established the Beihai Weizhou Island Bryde's Whale Important Habitat, the first of its kind in China, filling a gap in protection efforts for large whale habitat in the country's offshore waters. The habitat covers 335.43 square kilometers and includes an annual fishing moratorium of up to 8.5 months, combining a special moratorium from December to April with the South China Sea summer moratorium from May 1 to August 16. The Bryde's whale is a globally migratory marine species and a nationally protected wild animal of the first class, with over 70 individuals identified in the Weizhou Island sea area since monitoring began in 2018.
Summary: Yanling County's Forest Public Security Bureau, relying on the Niutou'ao Ecological Policing Joint Service Station, has coordinated with township, forestry, and forest ranger forces to conduct patrol inspections, clue screening, and legal publicity along migratory bird routes, strictly preventing illegal hunting. During the critical migration window, the county has mobilized government functional forces, social forces, and cross-provincial joint defense forces for special operations against illegal activities destroying wild animal and plant resources. Local volunteer forces, including the Yanling Bird Protection Camp, routinely carry out patrol duty, post publicity banners, and conduct door-to-door publicity. These efforts aim to protect the "Millennium Bird Route" in the Luoxiao Mountains and foster a social atmosphere of universal bird love and ecological protection.
Summary: The article reports on China Southern Power Grid Shenzhen Power Supply Bureau's efforts to advance green and low-carbon transformation across power supply, grid construction, and energy-use services. It highlights the 110 kV Chunhui Substation as the country's first zero-carbon smart science-popularization substation, featuring technologies like natural ester insulating oil transformers and mixed-gas insulated switchgear to cut emissions. On the supply side, the bureau is accelerating clean energy projects, including the Tibet-Guangdong HVDC project and offshore wind power, while on the load side it has served the commissioning of the country's first "virtual power plant town" and built the "Bougainvillea" power-guarantee brand tested at the 15th National Games closing ceremony in 2025. The bureau also provides diversified services, such as the "electricity-carbon-calculation" AI model for data centers and vehicle-grid interaction ultra-fast charging stations, with Shenzhen's green electricity and green certificate trading volume reaching 50.31 billion kWh as of May 2026. Internationally, it has engaged in exchanges with 42 countries and regions, including technical cooperation with Peru's Luz del Sur, and won a silver award at the APEC Energy Smart Community Initiative, while planning to expand cooperation in the Asia-Pacific and Belt and Road Initiative countries.
Summary: A People's Daily reporter visited Sidi Bou Said, Tunisia's newly inscribed tenth World Heritage site, to examine local practices in heritage protection amid environmental and tourism pressures. UNESCO recognized the town's value in its blue-and-white Andalusian architecture integrated with natural landforms and a continuous cultural lineage tied to the Sufi figure Sidi Bou Said. Tunisia's approach emphasizes preserving original materials and structures, with a management body and phased plans from 2025 to 2030 addressing surveys, monitoring, and landslide risks. Officials and experts stressed shifting from individual restoration to holistic protection, involving residents and local government, and fostering positive interaction between heritage and community development. The article highlights that heritage protection should make residents both protectors and beneficiaries, enabling cultural traditions to be inherited while allowing tourists deeper cultural experiences.
Summary: The article discusses the eighth Giverny World Forum in France, where a high-level dialogue on China-Europe economic, trade, and green cooperation highlighted European ambivalence toward China's technological rise. French public opinion and researchers like John Seaman express wariness, while European business figures advocate for partnership-based cooperation, citing China's innovation as a benchmark. The forum emphasized "interdependence," with one guest arguing that "sufficiently diversified dependence can itself constitute independence," and warned against reducing "de-risking" to isolation. It notes that EU electricity prices remain over double those in the U.S. and nearly 50 percent higher than in China, underscoring structural challenges in Europe's energy transition. The piece concludes that Europe should view China's progress as a shared opportunity and build trust through stable, mutually beneficial actions.
Summary: China's Permanent Representative to the WTO, Li Yongjie, presented China's proposal "Further Thoughts and Suggestions from China on WTO Reform" at a special WTO meeting on fundamental reform issues, drawing broad attention and positive responses. Li stressed that WTO reform must uphold fundamental principles such as the most-favored-nation treatment principle, which cannot be "used when convenient and discarded when not," nor should conditions be attached through additional exceptions or unilateral measures. She argued that reform must not be like "acting without considering changing circumstances," nor presuppose outcomes or aim to restore past trade patterns. Participating members, including the African Group, the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group, Pakistan, India, and Indonesia, endorsed China's analysis and reform objectives. They agreed that reform should be development-oriented, uphold the most-favored-nation treatment principle, and promote the multilateral trading system's "advancing with the times" to benefit all members.
Summary: Shanghai has become one of the first three cities to receive the World Intellectual Property Organization's inaugural "Innovative Cities" award, announced at a ceremony at its Geneva headquarters on the 12th. Multiple jurors on the award's international panel praised Shanghai's strong commitment and initiatives in promoting innovation, describing it as a model of an "innovative city." The award, launched for the first time in 2026 and open to cities in WIPO's 194 member states, recognizes bold commitments to promote innovation and creativity over the coming year. The other two winning cities are Charleroi, Belgium, and Liverpool, United Kingdom.
Summary: Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Baghaei said on October 12 that Iran is reviewing the latest U.S. opinions regarding Iran's position and will convey its views to the mediator once the review is complete, stressing that conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz remain unchanged. He made the remarks at a regular press conference, elaborating on the U.S. response conveyed through the mediator concerning Iran's recent proposal to cease hostilities and reopen the Strait. On September 22, during the UN General Assembly debate in New York, Iran held talks with the U.S. side through Qatar as mediator, conveying its conditions for reopening the Strait. Baghaei said Iran and the United States are still exchanging information via the mediator, enumerating conditions including the U.S. Navy lifting its blockade, ending wars on all fronts, and unfreezing Iranian assets, adding that Iran will make no concessions on issues concerning its own rights.
Summary: Indonesia's forest and land fire hotspots have risen markedly, with 1,085 high-confidence hotspots detected nationwide, concentrated in Central Kalimantan, South Sumatra, and South Kalimantan provinces. The haze has caused severe pollution, health impacts, flight disruptions, and school closures, with South Sumatra's provincial government offering free medical services to affected residents. Abnormal climate conditions, including a strong El Niño, and peatland ecological degradation are cited as key causes of the fires' severity. The Indonesian government has deployed aircraft and ground personnel for firefighting and prevention across six key provinces, while Malaysia and Singapore have been affected by transboundary haze, prompting school suspensions and air quality alerts. Regional coordination is strengthening, with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar discussing firefighting assistance with Indonesian President Prabowo, and the Philippines confirming the haze issue is on the ASEAN foreign ministers' preparatory meeting agenda.
Summary: Saudi Aramco President and CEO Amin Nasser said at the 25th World Petroleum Congress that global crude oil inventories are approaching "extremely dangerous" low levels and may take two years to return to normal. He noted that commercial onshore oil inventories have fallen below 6 billion barrels, which is the "last usable buffer," but most cannot be used by the market. Nasser added that even if the Strait of Hormuz were fully reopened, it would take at least two years of "overloaded overtime production" to replenish the depleted inventories. He also said international diesel prices have reached about $200 per barrel, pressuring the global energy market and underscoring the need for international cooperation on energy infrastructure and transport route safety.
Summary: The 33rd FISU World University Games Winter, Changchun 2027, will be held from January 15 to 25, 2027, in Changchun City and Jilin City, Jilin Province, under the theme "Chasing Dreams on Ice and Snow, Youth Forever in Changchun," featuring 12 sports and 97 events. The Games aim to build a broad stage for young people worldwide to engage in exchanging and learning from one another and to pursue their dreams together. This event is another major international comprehensive winter sports gathering hosted by China following the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics and the 2025 Harbin Asian Winter Games, and it is the second such event hosted by Changchun after the 6th Asian Winter Games in 2007. The "Spring City of the North" is opening its arms wide to join the world in this youthful ice-and-snow rendezvous.
Summary: The "World Dialogue on China Studies · Special Session for Arab Countries" was held in Cairo, Egypt, where participants agreed that Chinese and Arab civilizations illuminate each other and that academic circles should deepen humanities cooperation to support modernization and a higher-level China-Arab community with a shared future. Mohamed Kamal, Chairman of the Egyptian Senate's Foreign Relations Committee, praised President Xi Jinping's state visit to Egypt as a milestone, highlighted Egypt's pride in being the first Arab and African country to establish diplomatic relations with New China in 1956, and called for China studies to add new substance to Egypt-China relations. Ashraf Al-Azazi, Secretary-General of Egypt's Supreme Council of Culture, emphasized that knowledge exchange builds trust between countries, citing a cooperation protocol signed with a China-Arab research center in May. Ezzat Saad, Director of the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs, argued Egypt is qualified to become a China studies center in the Middle East, proposing an annual Egypt-China civilization forum. Other speakers, including Mahmoud Sakr of Cairo University, Hassanin Fahmi Hussein of Ain Shams University, archaeologist Zahi Hawass, Ahmed Kandil of the Al-Ahram Center, and Hassan Daja of Jordan's Al-Hussein Bin Talal University, stressed expanding research beyond language and history to fields like governance, technology, and international relations, while deepening archaeological and cultural cooperation.
Summary: The 48th WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai showcased diverse skills, demonstrating that craftsmanship transcends age, gender, and academic credentials, with tradition and modernity coexisting. Chinese competitor He Xiaoman won the Albert Vidal Award as the top scorer in rail vehicle technology, while Li Jinze, an undergraduate from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, triumphed in smart security technology. The article argues that in the AI era, human creativity, aesthetic sense, and hand feel remain irreplaceable, as machines handle repetitive labor but cannot replicate experience and judgment. It concludes that future skilled talent must embrace technology while respecting craftsmanship, understanding both code and artisan spirit.
Summary: The All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce released the "2026 China's Top 500 Private Enterprises" list, showing a growing number of energy-sector private firms, with new energy enterprises like BYD, CATL, and LONGi rising strongly amid structural changes. Private enterprises have broken into nuclear power, with 20 firms holding stakes in 12 projects, and the National Energy Administration has lowered thresholds for private participation in the energy sector. Officials and experts, including Lin Boqiang and Wan Jinsong, highlighted private firms' innovation vitality and their role in advancing the green energy transition. Traditional firms like Hengli Group ride cycles through full-chain integration, while photovoltaic and battery makers invest heavily in R&D to build technological moats. The article notes Chinese photovoltaic modules and power batteries hold over 80 percent and 60 percent of global market share, respectively, reflecting shifting global energy competition.
Summary: The Haitai Yangtze River Tunnel, the world's longest highway underwater shield tunnel at approximately 39 kilometers, has reached the lowest point of the riverbed in its left-line construction, following the right line's earlier success. Project manager Zhao Xiaopeng of CCCC Tunnel Engineering Bureau explained that deep burial beneath the riverbed avoids interference with 10,000-ton-class cargo ship navigation and adverse weather, while also minimizing ecological impact on aquatic life. Chief engineer Xu Yin of CCCC Tianhe highlighted the domestically developed "Cangyuan" shield tunneling machine, equipped with the world's first active protection main drive system, as key to overcoming ultra-high water pressure and soft soil challenges. Once opened to traffic in 2028, the tunnel will cut river-crossing travel time from Nantong to Suzhou and Shanghai from 1 hour to about 10 minutes. Jiangsu plans to build a cumulative total of 28 river-crossing corridors by 2030, supporting regional industrial connectivity and coordinated river-sea development.
Summary: The article discusses how National Day holiday consumption, marked by record cross-regional passenger flows and policy dividends, offers new ideas for resolving the contradiction of strong supply and weak demand. It highlights growth in new consumption tracks, culture-tourism integration, sports events, and intelligent and green consumption, while noting structural shortcomings such as weak supply adaptability, homogenization, and inadequate facilities in some areas. The piece argues for improving supply quality and optimizing structure, as well as expanding consumption space by enriching scenarios, cultivating county-level markets, and optimizing policy support. It emphasizes that further efforts in employment, income growth, and social security are needed to sustain consumption momentum. The author, a researcher at the Macroeconomic Research Institute of the National Development and Reform Commission, concludes that China is fully capable of resolving the supply-demand contradiction.
Summary: The article reports that time-honored Chinese brands are winning over young consumers through digital technology, scene re-creation, and overseas expansion, with examples such as Wuliangcai's AI eyewear, Sanyuan Foods' themed stores, and Suzhou Daoxiangcun's low-sugar pastries. It cites officials and researchers, including Zhu Di of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Zhang Linshan of the National Development and Reform Commission, and Hong Tao of Beijing Technology and Business University, who stress that rejuvenation must uphold craftsmanship and quality rather than rely on marketing hype. Policy support from the Ministry of Commerce, including the 2026 "Time-Honored Brand Carnival" and pilot work for brand agglomeration, is highlighted, alongside local initiatives in Shanghai and Beijing. The article also notes overseas efforts, such as White Rabbit candies sold in a Vancouver Costco and Phoenix Bicycles' production bases in Bulgaria and Indonesia under the Belt and Road Initiative. It concludes that young consumers' embrace of these brands reflects recognition of century-old quality and contemporary cultural expression, with no mention of the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: The Ditan Book Fair in Beijing attracted 836,000 visitors over 11 days, drawing young people to "stock up" on books and cultural products. Its appeal stems from Ditan's cultural and literary attributes, amplified by social media-driven IP co-creation, alongside a vast array of high-quality books and creative merchandise. The 2026 collector's edition of "Me and Ditan" sold nearly 4,000 copies in three days, aided by an innovative PVC card design, while pun-laden canvas bags and stacked discounts further fueled purchases. Organizers also expanded services, adding parent-child reading areas and better facilities in response to public feedback. The phenomenon highlights the broad prospects of cultural consumption, blending urban space heritage with innovative product supply to meet young people's desires for literary romance and individual expression.
Summary: The article reflects on the scarcity of family letters from the Red Army's Long March, attributing this to Kuomintang persecution and wartime conditions, while highlighting surviving letters that reveal soldiers' longing, revolutionary conviction, and sacrifice. It recounts Zuo Quan's 1937 letter to his uncle, expressing his commitment to the nation over family and his role in commanding key battles, before his martyrdom in 1942. It also features Gao Jiecheng's 1937 letter from Yan'an, detailing his hardships and promise to repay debts, and Liu Zhongxin's 1938 letter describing a dream of his mother and concern for fellow soldiers. The piece includes Li Zhen's 1986 letter retracing the Long March and mourning fallen comrades, and Pei Junqing's letters to his family, which were later donated to the Family Letter Museum in 2025. The narrative concludes that these letters embody the enduring Long March spirit, connecting personal emotion with national duty.
Summary: The author, a university teacher of ten cohorts, reflects on "digital feedback," where younger "little teachers"—students and her son—teach older generations to use digital tools, a phenomenon echoing Margaret Mead's "post-figurative culture." However, the author argues that while feedback teaches tool use, it cannot impart thinking and judgment, which remain the core duty of "the teacher" in transmitting the "Way"—morality, reason, and life direction. In an era of mixed information, the more widespread technological tools become, the more human screening ability and value judgment must come into play, with "old teachers" filling this gap. The author concludes that digital feedback helps elders grasp the era's oars, while teachers lighting the lighthouse of values for the younger generation constitutes the best two-way running toward each other between generations.
Summary: This is a lyrical, four-part prose poem commemorating the Long March and the Red Army's revolutionary spirit, using the recurring motif of "red" to evoke sacrifice, faith, and triumph. It traces key episodes—the Xiang River breakout, the Zunyi Conference, the four crossings of the Chishui River, and the Luding Bridge assault—each paired with a classical idiom of resolve. The text celebrates the hardships of the march, from millet meals and pumpkin soup to snowy mountains and grasslands, as forging loyalty and iron will. Ninety years on, it calls on the present generation to carry forward that red spirit toward national rejuvenation. The piece is purely celebratory and domestic in focus, with no reference to the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: The article is a photo report featuring the oil painting *Autumn Water* by Chen Beixin, which is in the collection of the National Art Museum of China. No further details or statements are provided.
Summary: The article describes a visit to Yuqing, Guizhou, where the narrator introduces a friend to Yuqing deboned duck, a local specialty originating in Aoxi Town. The skill of deboning shelducks, passed down through generations, has become a culinary calling card, supported by a dedicated industrial park and breeding cooperatives. The narrator shares details of a "courtyard basketball tournament" in Longxi Town where local shelducks are prizes, and the friend watches a chef debone a duck through a transparent kitchen wall. The meal is savored, with the friend praising the dish's layered spiciness and warmth, and the narrator arranges to send a portion to the friend's address, noting the product is sold online and stir-fried fresh upon order.
Summary: The article describes the tradition of brewing yellow rice wine on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month in Yunyang, Hubei, detailing the process of making wine starter cakes and fermenting glutinous rice in ancestral vats. The author recalls how their elderly parents, now in their seventies, resumed brewing the wine after decades and send it to their children far away each year. Despite the father having given up drinking, the parents made extra wine last year and shipped it after the Laba Festival, asking the author to share it with friends. The author reflects on friends who have helped them and hopes these friends can experience their hometown through the wine. The wine evokes childhood memories and the sights of the Han River, symbolizing parental love and gratitude.
Summary: The author describes returning to their hometown of Shanglu in Dongyang, Zhejiang, during the National Day holiday, where they savor local foods and visit the Twenty-Four Rooms, a preserved late Qing Dynasty residence tied to their maternal family. The mother recounts the grandmother's bravery in stopping a fire and the author recalls childhood memories and their grandfather's explanations of the inscriptions "Huiquan" and "Dungen" from the Book of Changes. The article reflects on the village's 400-year history, the Lu clan's cultural traditions, and the author's efforts to preserve ancient memories through writing, including the novel *An Epic of My Grandmother*. The author notes the old residence was saved from demolition and restored, and concludes by reflecting on the family's values and the enduring moral fiber of Dongyang's people.
■ The period of the 15th Five-Year Plan is a critical period for achieving the goal of building a Healthy China by 2035. We must unswervingly follow the path of health and wellness development with Chinese characteristics, implement the health and wellness work policy of the new era, leverage strengths, consolidate foundations, shore up weaknesses, and strengthen weak links, promote high-quality development of health and wellness undertakings, continuously improve the people's health level, and ensure that the building of a Healthy China achieves decisive progress.
■ People's health is an important marker of national prosperity and national strength. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the Party Central Committee has placed the protection of people's health in a strategic position of priority development, established the health and wellness work policy of the new era, made major decisions and arrangements for building a Healthy China, and promoted the establishment of the world's largest medical service system, traditional medicine system, disease prevention and control system, and medical security system. Health and wellness undertakings have achieved historic accomplishments and all-round progress.
■ The Healthy China we aim to build is a Healthy China that is balanced, inclusive, high-quality, and efficient. It should possess strong health management capabilities, disease prevention and control capabilities, medical service capabilities, medical insurance support capabilities, pharmaceutical innovation capabilities, and talent cultivation capabilities, be able to effectively meet the people's growing health needs, and see major health indicators continuously and steadily improve.
■ Health and wellness undertakings play an overall and foundational role, and we must firmly implement the strategy of health-priority development. We must integrate the protection of people's health into all policies and reflect it in all aspects of work, with planning formulation, policy design, project demonstration, and project construction all giving priority consideration to the impact on people's health.
(People's Daily, Beijing, October 13) The National Conference on Health and Wellness was held in Beijing from the 12th to the 13th. Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, President of the State, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, attended the conference and delivered an important speech. He emphasized that the period of the 15th Five-Year Plan is a critical period for achieving the goal of building a Healthy China by 2035. We must unswervingly follow the path of health and wellness development with Chinese characteristics, implement the health and wellness work policy of the new era, leverage strengths, consolidate foundations, shore up weaknesses, and strengthen weak links, promote high-quality development of health and wellness undertakings, continuously improve the people's health level, and ensure that the building of a Healthy China achieves decisive progress.
Li Qiang delivered a concluding speech. Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, and Li Xi attended the conference.
Xi Jinping pointed out that people's health is an important marker of national prosperity and national strength. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the Party Central Committee has placed the protection of people's health in a strategic position of priority development, established the health and wellness work policy of the new era, made major decisions and arrangements for building a Healthy China, and promoted the establishment of the world's largest medical service system, traditional medicine system, disease prevention and control system, and medical security system. Health and wellness undertakings have achieved historic accomplishments and all-round progress.
Xi Jinping emphasized that the Healthy China we aim to build is a Healthy China that is balanced, inclusive, high-quality, and efficient. It should possess strong health management capabilities, disease prevention and control capabilities, medical service capabilities, medical insurance support capabilities, pharmaceutical innovation capabilities, and talent cultivation capabilities, be able to effectively meet the people's growing health needs, and see major health indicators continuously and steadily improve.
Xi Jinping pointed out that health and wellness undertakings play an overall and foundational role, and we must firmly implement the strategy of health-priority development. We must integrate the protection of people's health into all policies and reflect it in all aspects of work, with planning formulation, policy design, project demonstration, and project construction all giving priority consideration to the impact on people's health.
Xi Jinping emphasized that prevention is the most economical and effective health strategy. We must do meticulous and solid work on all foundational and source-level tasks in health and wellness, and consolidate the foundation of health for the entire population. We should guide the whole society to establish a correct view of health and engage in effective health self-shaping and self-management. We should guide young people to develop good study and living habits and achieve well-rounded development in morality, intelligence, physical fitness, aesthetics, and labor. We should create a sound ecological environment and production and living environment, and encourage and support nationwide fitness and healthy leisure. We should strengthen food safety supervision and safeguard "safety on the tip of the tongue." We should improve the disease prevention and control system and firmly hold the bottom line of preventing large-scale epidemics.
Xi Jinping pointed out that comprehensively improving the level of medical services is a key task in building a Healthy China. We must deeply implement the project to strengthen the foundation of medical and health care, optimize the functional positioning and structural layout of medical and health institutions, promote tiered diagnosis and treatment, and enable the people to see a doctor nearby and receive good treatment. We should strengthen comprehensive prevention and control of chronic diseases and improve the full-chain service of prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and management. We should improve the mechanism for the inheritance, innovation, and development of traditional Chinese medicine and strengthen the coordinated integration of traditional Chinese and Western medicine. We should strengthen basic research and original innovation in the health and wellness field, promote the transformation of scientific and technological achievements, and make the health industry bigger and stronger. We should optimize the medical experience and continuously improve the convenience and satisfaction of the people in seeing doctors and receiving treatment.
Xi Jinping emphasized that reform is a powerful driving force for the development of health and wellness undertakings. We must adhere to making the coordinated development and governance of medical care, medical insurance, and pharmaceuticals the main direction of the reform of the pharmaceutical and health care system. We should fully implement the reform plan for medical and health institutions, deepen the reform of public hospitals oriented toward public welfare, and strengthen the operational support for medical institutions at the county, district, and grassroots levels. We should build a multi-tiered medical security system, optimize policies on centralized procurement of drugs and consumables, medical insurance payment, and fund utilization, and achieve safe fund operation, sound hospital operation, and reasonable burden on the people. We should improve the mechanism for drug supply security and use management, improve the national essential drug system, and strengthen drug quality and safety supervision.
Xi Jinping pointed out that protecting people's health requires building a strong cadre and talent team for the health and wellness system. We must select and strengthen the leadership teams of competent departments at all levels and medical and health institutions, especially the "top leaders," and strive to build a medical personnel team that is sufficient in number, reasonable in structure, and excellent in quality. We should strengthen the building of medical ethics and professional conduct and foster a sound professional atmosphere. We should promote the formation of a social atmosphere that respects doctors and values health care.
Xi Jinping emphasized that health for all is the common vision of all humanity. We must actively promote the building of a global community of health for all, jointly respond to major challenges in the health and wellness field, and continuously enhance the health and well-being of people of all countries. We should deepen cooperation in the health and wellness field under the Belt and Road Initiative and strengthen and innovate health assistance work abroad. We should tell the story of Healthy China well and further consolidate international consensus.
In his concluding speech, Li Qiang pointed out that General Secretary Xi Jinping's important speech profoundly answered a series of fundamental, directional, and overall questions concerning health and wellness work, and is highly ideological, strategic, and instructive. It has pointed out the direction and provided important guidance for health and wellness work on the new journey of the new era, and we must earnestly study and understand it and implement it unswervingly and thoroughly (不折不扣, bu zhe bu kou - "not fold, not subtract") in practice. We should enhance ideological consciousness and action consciousness, and unswervingly follow the path of health and wellness development with Chinese characteristics; firmly establish a health-priority orientation and promote the coordinated development of people's health and the economy and society; uphold the public welfare nature of basic medical and health undertakings and consolidate the foundation of health for the entire population; adhere to giving equal weight to guaranteeing basic needs and improving quality, and better meet the people's diverse health needs; deepen reform, innovation, opening up, and cooperation, and continuously enhance the driving force and vitality of the development of health and wellness undertakings. We should focus on the pain points and bottlenecks of health and wellness undertakings, prominently address the matters of urgent concern and difficulty to the people, make solid efforts in the prevention and control of major diseases, promote the building of a tiered diagnosis and treatment system, optimize the people's medical experience, build a multi-tiered medical security system, strengthen the unique advantages of traditional Chinese medicine, do a good job in health services for "the elderly and the young," promote the empowerment of scientific and technological development of medical and pharmaceutical undertakings, and lay a solid foundation for the building of a Healthy China.
Members of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, members of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, Vice Chairmen of the Central Military Commission, relevant leading comrades of the NPC Standing Committee, State Councilors, the Procurator-General of the Supreme People's Procuratorate, and relevant leading comrades of the CPPCC National Committee attended the conference.
Principal responsible comrades and representatives of experts and scholars from all provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the central government, cities with independent planning status, the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, relevant departments of the Central Committee and state organs, relevant people's organizations, some central enterprises, and relevant departments of the Central Military Commission attended the conference.
Return to Top(People's Daily, Beijing, October 13) (Reporter Yang Qiaochu) On the afternoon of October 13, President Xi Jinping held talks with President Duma Boko of Botswana, who was in China for a state visit, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. The two heads of state announced the elevation of bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.
Xi Jinping pointed out that in the 1970s, Botswana voted in support of restoring the lawful seat of the People's Republic of China in the United Nations even before the two countries established diplomatic relations. Today, the two sides are joining hands and moving forward together on the path of pursuing the dream of modernization, writing a new chapter in China-Botswana friendship. The China-Botswana friendship should be as brilliant and enduring as diamonds. The two sides should bear in mind the "road traveled" of mutual support and mutual reliance, and walk well the "broad avenue" of China-Botswana relations in the new era, contributing to world development and progress.
Xi Jinping stressed that only those who share the same aspirations can walk the same path. This year marks the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China and the 60th anniversary of Botswana's independence. The ruling parties of the two countries should strengthen cooperation, deepen exchanges on governance experience, and enhance the convergence of ideas. China supports Botswana in following a development path suited to its own national conditions. The two sides should further improve the framework for economic and trade cooperation and make good use of the new opportunities brought by China's full implementation of zero-tariff treatment for African countries having diplomatic relations with China. China is willing to strengthen cooperation with Botswana in such fields as the digital economy, agriculture, and animal husbandry, and to implement the "Smart Education" project to help Botswana's economic and social development.
Xi Jinping put forward a four-point proposal on promoting China-Botswana and China-Africa mining cooperation. First, uphold the cooperation premise that Africa's resources belong to Africa. China is willing to share its own experience and help African countries formulate mining development plans suited to their national conditions. Second, uphold the cooperation philosophy of balancing righteousness and interests (义利相兼, yi li xiang qian - "righteousness, profit, mutually, combine") and being mutually beneficial (互利互惠, hu li hu hui - "mutual, benefit, mutual, benefit"). China will continue to encourage Chinese enterprises to improve their operational capabilities, transfer green technologies suited to Africa's realities, and advance South-South cooperation in mining development. Third, uphold the cooperation direction of high-quality development. China will continue to promote the transformation of China-Africa mining cooperation toward industrial value addition, explore affordable and sustainable innovative financing models, and help Africa's modernization process through high-level cooperation. Fourth, uphold a fair and open cooperation environment. Africa's resources should not become a tool of geopolitical struggle. China is pleased to see all parties sincerely help Africa's development and is willing to work with the African side to create more favorable conditions for enterprises to invest and operate.
Boko said that under the strong leadership of President Xi Jinping, China has achieved development accomplishments attracting worldwide attention (举世瞩目, ju shi zhu mu - "entire, world, gaze, look"). China has lifted all impoverished people out of poverty and blazed a successful development path with Chinese characteristics, which is worthy of in-depth study and emulation by Botswana. Botswana attaches great importance to its relations with China, will firmly uphold the one-China principle, oppose the separatist schemes of "Taiwan independence," and oppose any force interfering in China's internal affairs. Botswana thanks China for its long-standing support and assistance to Botswana's national development, is willing to strengthen the alignment of development strategies with China, welcomes more Chinese enterprises to invest and do business in Botswana, and will strengthen cooperation in such fields as the Belt and Road Initiative, industry, agriculture, mining, innovation, and digital transformation to achieve more solid and substantial (实实在在, shi shi zai zai - "real, real, exist, exist") results in bilateral relations. President Xi Jinping's proposal of four major global initiatives at a time when the world faces major challenges demonstrates the sense of responsibility of a major country and is conducive to upholding the international order centered on the United Nations. Botswana is willing to maintain close coordination and cooperation with China, uphold multilateralism, strengthen the solidarity of developing countries, promote Africa-China solidarity and cooperation, and make the global governance system more inclusive and more representative.
After the talks, the two heads of state jointly witnessed the signing of multiple cooperation documents in such fields as implementing the Global Security Initiative, jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative, green minerals, health, and human resources.
During the visit, the two sides issued the Joint Statement of the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Botswana on the Establishment of a Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership.
Before the talks, Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan held a welcoming ceremony for Boko and his wife Kaone in the North Hall of the Great Hall of the People.
When Boko 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 Botswana, and a 21-gun salute was fired at Tiananmen Square. Accompanied by Xi Jinping, Boko reviewed the guard of honor of the People's Liberation Army of China and watched the march-past.
That evening, Xi Jinping and Peng Liyuan held a welcome banquet for Boko and his wife in the Golden Hall of the Great Hall of the People.
Wang Yi attended the above activities.
Return to Top(People's Daily, Beijing, October 13) (Reporter Yang Qiaochu) On the afternoon of October 13, President Xi Jinping met at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing with Faure Gnassingbé, President of the Togolese Republic, who is in China for an official visit. The leaders of the two countries announced the elevation of bilateral relations to a China-Togo community with a shared future in the new era.
Xi Jinping noted that the traditional friendship between China and Togo was personally forged by the older generation of leaders of both countries, with deep roots that have grown stronger over time. Over the years, the two sides have been working together with one heart and mind (和衷共济, he zhong gong ji - "together, heart, together, help"), continuously tightening the bonds of cooperation, enhancing mutual understanding and affinity between the two peoples, and writing a vivid chapter in building an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era. China-Togo friendly cooperation is well-matched in philosophy and has broad prospects. The two sides should further strengthen exchanges at all levels between the two parties and two countries, deepen exchanges of experience in governance, and firmly support each other on issues involving each other's core interests and major concerns. The zero-tariff measure is a special arrangement by China aimed at supporting Africa's independent development and empowering China-Africa cooperation through institutional opening-up. China welcomes Togo to make good use of measures such as the zero-tariff treatment and the "green channel" for products exported to China, to further leverage its role as a regional hub for trade and logistics, and to bring more distinctive products from the country and the region into the Chinese market. China appreciates Togo's efforts to promote the expanded cross-border use of the renminbi, and is willing to strengthen cooperation with the Togolese side in areas such as new energy and digital intelligence, to help advance Togo's industrialization process. China and Togo hold similar positions on international and regional affairs, and should strengthen multilateral coordination, work together to promote and improve global governance, and promote regional peace and security.
Xi Jinping put forward four principles for all parties' constructive participation in resolving hot-spot issues in Africa: First, uphold African leadership — the African people are the true masters of Africa and should play a core role in regional affairs. Second, uphold fairness and justice — all participating parties should abide by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the countries concerned. Third, promote the cessation of hostilities and the restoration of peace — war and unilateral sanctions cannot truly resolve contradictions between countries; it is necessary to uphold mutual respect, extensive consultation, seeking common ground while reserving differences (求同存异, qiu tong cun yi - "seek, same, preserve, difference"), and mutual understanding and concession (互谅互让, hu liang hu rang - "each other, understand, each other, yield"). Fourth, practice addressing both symptoms and root causes (标本兼治, biao ben jian zhi - "mark, root, both, treat") — focusing both on immediate security and on long-term development.
Faure stated that during this visit to China, he witnessed with his own eyes the remarkable development achievements of Chinese modernization under the wise leadership of President Xi Jinping, and the promoting and carrying forward of China's fine traditional culture (发扬光大, fa yang guang da - "develop, expand, bright, large"), gaining a better understanding of China's governing philosophy and the code to its success. The traditional friendship between Togo and China has grown stronger over time. Next year marks the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. The Togolese side is willing to enhance mutual trust, strengthen dialogue and communication, and deepen enduring and mutually beneficial cooperation with the Chinese side, to jointly build a China-Togo community with a shared future for the new era and better benefit the two peoples. The Togolese side is willing to earnestly learn from and draw on China's experience in governance, welcomes Chinese enterprises to invest and do business in Togo, and is willing to carry out cooperation with the Chinese side in areas such as trade, infrastructure construction, and science and technology. The Togolese side fully endorses the important principles put forward by President Xi Jinping for all parties' constructive participation in resolving hot-spot issues in Africa, highly appreciates China's important role in safeguarding world peace and stability and jointly addressing global challenges, and is willing to strengthen multilateral cooperation with the Chinese side to jointly uphold multilateralism and safeguard the interests of developing countries.
Wang Yi attended the meeting.
Return to TopBy: 本报评论员
People's health is an important marker of national prosperity and national strength.
From October 12 to 13, the National Conference on Health and Wellness was held in Beijing. General Secretary Xi Jinping attended the conference and delivered an important speech. This is an important meeting convened in the opening year of the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, and it will surely powerfully mobilize and inspire the entire Party and society, especially the vast number of health and wellness workers, to forge ahead with enterprise and make solid progress toward the goal of building a Healthy China by 2035.
Proceeding from the strategic height of the development of the Party and the state's cause, General Secretary Xi Jinping profoundly summarized the achievements and experience of the development of China's health and wellness undertaking since the new era, profoundly answered a series of fundamental, directional, and overarching questions concerning health and wellness work, put forward clear requirements for ensuring decisive progress in the building of a Healthy China during the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, and pointed the way and provided important guidance for doing health and wellness work well on the new journey of the new era.
Since the 18th National Congress of the Party, China's health and wellness undertaking has achieved historic accomplishments and all-round progress. This is something that is obvious to all (有目共睹, you mu gong du - "have, eye, common, witness"), and we all have personal experience of it as well.
Look at the top-level design.
From the Fifth Plenary Session of the 18th Central Committee of the Party first proposing "advancing the building of a Healthy China," to the 19th National Congress of the Party elevating "implementing the Healthy China strategy" to a national strategy, and the 20th National Congress of the Party incorporating the completion of building a Healthy China into the overall goal of China's development by 2035; from the issuance of the "Healthy China 2030" Planning Outline, to the promulgation of the Basic Medical Care and Health Promotion Law...
Strengthening the Party's overall leadership over health and wellness work, continuously improving policies and measures, and perfecting the work framework have enabled us to firmly grasp the initiative in the development of the health and wellness undertaking.
From achieving a major and decisive victory in the prevention and control of the COVID-19 pandemic, protecting the people's life safety and physical health to the greatest extent possible, to the widespread implementation of health poverty alleviation, making important contributions to winning the battle against poverty...
Adhering to putting the people first and life first, and earnestly respecting the value and dignity of human life, the building of a Healthy China vividly embodies our Party's people-centered value orientation.
Look at support capacity.
A series of hard-core health indicators confirm the leapfrog improvement in the health level of the entire population.
In 2025, China's average life expectancy at birth rose to 79.25 years, with major health indicators steadily ranking among the forefront of upper-middle-income countries and countries with a population of over 100 million;
The infant mortality rate fell to 3.8 per thousand, and the maternal mortality rate fell to 13.4 per 100,000, leading to China being listed by the World Health Organization as one of the high-performance countries in maternal and child health.
Today's China has built the world's largest medical service system, traditional medicine system, disease prevention and control system, and medical security system. The building of a Healthy China has taken solid steps, delivering a livelihood answer sheet that can stand up to the test of history and the people.
Highlighting the public welfare nature of basic medical and health services and correctly handling the relationship between the government and the market; taking the grassroots as the focus and promoting the downward shift of the center of gravity of medical and health work and the downward flow of resources; adhering to prevention first and equal emphasis on traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine, deepening social co-governance, medical-epidemic coordination, and medical-epidemic integration, and building a solid line of defense for public health; continuously reforming the pharmaceutical and health system and promoting institutional innovation, management innovation, and technological innovation...
The inclusiveness and support capacity of China's medical and health services have been greatly improved, continuously stimulating the powerful momentum for the development of the health and wellness undertaking.
Look at global influence.
Health for all is the common vision of all humanity and an inherent requirement for building a community with a shared future for mankind.
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Chinese medical expert teams rushed to provide assistance at the first moment and jointly fought the Ebola epidemic; in Bamako, the capital of Mali, the world's first Luban Workshop for traditional Chinese medicine technology is helping to cultivate local TCM talent...
Since the 18th National Congress of the Party, China has dispatched foreign aid medical teams to 59 countries (regions), established paired hospital cooperation relationships with 49 hospitals in 43 countries (regions), and jointly built 29 clinical key specialty centers.
Actively participating in global health governance and promoting the common progress of human health and wellness undertakings demonstrates the responsibility of a major country that "cherishes the future of humanity and cares for the well-being of the people."
The achievements and progress of China's health and wellness undertaking in the new era fully prove that the guidelines for health and wellness work in the new era conform to China's national conditions and are completely correct. We must more deeply comprehend the decisive significance of the Two Establishments (两个确立), more resolutely and forcefully implement the major decisions and arrangements of the Party Central Committee, and unswervingly follow the path of health and wellness development with Chinese characteristics.
"The Healthy China we want to build is one that is balanced, inclusive, high-quality, and efficient." The "15th Five-Year Plan" period is a critical period for achieving the goal of building a Healthy China. We must thoroughly study and implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important speech, implement the guidelines for health and wellness work in the new era, firmly implement the strategy of prioritizing health development, promote high-quality development of the health and wellness undertaking, and ensure decisive progress in the building of a Healthy China.
Completing the building of a Healthy China on schedule is our Party's solemn commitment to the people and the common responsibility of the entire Party and society. Let us unite more closely around the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, fully implement Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, forge ahead along the path of health and wellness development with Chinese characteristics, and jointly turn the grand vision into a beautiful reality.
Return to TopAt the invitation of Xi Jinping, President of the People's Republic of China, Duma Gideon Boko, President of the Republic of Botswana, paid a state visit to the People's Republic of China from October 12 to 17, 2026.
The two heads of state conducted extensive and constructive exchanges on China-Botswana and China-Africa relations under the new circumstances, as well as on international and regional issues of common concern. The two sides reaffirmed that the traditional friendship between China and Botswana is becoming stronger over time (历久弥坚, li jiu mi jian - "last long, become even stronger"). Over the 51 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the two countries have developed bilateral ties on the basis of sovereign equality, mutual respect, mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, and non-interference in each other's internal affairs, continuously deepening political mutual trust, expanding practical cooperation, and strengthening coordination on international and regional affairs, making positive contributions to promoting solidarity and cooperation among the Global South.
The two sides noted that the world is undergoing accelerated transformation unseen in a century, with tense geopolitical situations, increasing economic uncertainties, deepening scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation, and increasingly complex global challenges. The Botswana side highly appreciates the concepts and initiatives proposed by President Xi Jinping, including building a community with a shared future for mankind and high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, which are conducive to injecting valuable stability into the turbulent international situation. In this context, the two countries reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining international peace and security, advancing sustainable development, upholding multilateralism, and respecting international law and the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.
The two sides recognized that there are growing convergences between their respective development priorities and international interests, and expressed readiness to further enhance political mutual trust, expand economic and development cooperation, strengthen strategic coordination, and deepen people-to-people and cultural exchanges, so as to promote the in-depth development of bilateral relations.
To this end, the two heads of state decided to elevate bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, opening a new chapter in the long-standing and enduring relationship between the two countries.
I. Establishing the China-Botswana Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership
(1) The two sides reaffirmed the strategic guiding role of head-of-state diplomacy in providing all-round guidance and political impetus for bilateral relations, and will translate the consensus of the two heads of state into close political exchanges, institutionalized cooperation, and tangible outcomes.
(2) The two sides agreed to further strengthen exchanges and cooperation between their governments, legislative bodies, political parties, local governments, enterprises, and academic institutions. The two sides will give full play to the role of bilateral mechanisms such as political consultations between foreign ministries and the Joint Commission on Economic and Trade Cooperation, to ensure the effective implementation of mutually agreed priorities.
(3) The two sides support each other's efforts to safeguard national sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, national dignity, security, development, and prosperity, and reaffirmed their firm mutual support on issues involving each other's core interests and major concerns. The Botswana side reaffirmed its firm commitment to the one-China principle, recognizing that there is only one China in the world, that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory, and that the Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China. The Botswana side firmly opposes any form of "Taiwan independence" and firmly supports all efforts by China to achieve national reunification, upholding the authority of UN General Assembly Resolution 2758. The Botswana side holds that issues related to Xinjiang, Tibet, and Hong Kong are China's internal affairs.
(4) The two sides congratulated each other on the great achievements made in their respective development. The Chinese side congratulated Botswana on the 60th anniversary of its independence and appreciated Botswana's efforts in implementing the 12th National Development Plan and the Economic Transformation Plan, and accelerating inclusive economic growth and sustainable transformation. The Botswana side congratulated the Communist Party of China on the 105th anniversary of its founding, and welcomed China's development achievements and the successful start of the 15th Five-Year Plan.
(5) The two sides agreed to strengthen exchanges and mutual learning in areas of common interest, including governance, public administration, institution building, sustainable development, economic transformation, modernization, and poverty reduction, and to respect each other's choice of development paths suited to their respective national conditions.
(6) The two sides believe that inter-party exchanges are of great significance in enhancing mutual understanding and advancing people-centered governance models. The two sides expressed readiness to further deepen exchanges and mutual learning in areas such as leadership development, policy formulation, organizational building, cadre training, and institutional development. They welcomed cadres of the Umbrella for Democratic Change of Botswana to participate in various bilateral and multilateral training programs in China.
II. Jointly Advancing the Global Development Initiative
(7) The Botswana side appreciates the Global Development Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping, believing that the Initiative is conducive to strengthening international development cooperation and accelerating the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The two sides expressed readiness to promote synergy between the Global Development Initiative and Botswana's national priority development agenda, seek practical cooperation opportunities, and achieve inclusive growth, sustainable development, and shared prosperity.
(8) The two sides welcomed the signing by the Botswana government of the Cooperation Plan on Jointly Promoting the Belt and Road Initiative and the Memorandum of Understanding on the List of Key Cooperation Matters for Jointly Advancing the Belt and Road Initiative, and expressed readiness to further deepen practical cooperation under the Belt and Road framework, prioritizing cooperation in areas such as trade and investment, mining development, science and technology, digital economy, green development, healthcare, agriculture, forestry and water conservancy, talent cultivation, and people-to-people and cultural exchanges. The two sides agreed to leverage Botswana's geostrategic position in Southern Africa to promote regional economic integration.
(9) The Botswana side welcomed President Xi Jinping's announcement of the implementation of zero-tariff treatment for all products from the 53 African countries that have diplomatic relations with China, which demonstrates China's determination to expand market access and strengthen China-Africa economic and trade ties. The two sides expressed readiness to expand the scale of bilateral trade and provide greater convenience for Botswana products to enter the Chinese market through the "Green Channel 2.0" for African agricultural products and other trade facilitation mechanisms. The two sides expressed readiness to expand market opportunities for Botswana beef, citrus, and other agricultural products to enter China, and will jointly address technical issues such as sanitary and phytosanitary measures and market access. The two sides expressed readiness, in accordance with the procedures of the Southern African Customs Union and its member states, to promote the early signing of the Early Harvest Arrangement of the Common Development Economic Partnership Agreement and its effective implementation in the region.
(10) The two sides expressed readiness to strengthen investment cooperation and encourage their respective enterprises to seek cooperation opportunities in areas such as mining, energy, infrastructure, agriculture, manufacturing, logistics, and digital technology. The two sides appreciated Botswana's accession to the Framework Initiative on International Economic and Trade Cooperation for Digital Economy and Green Development. They expressed readiness to actively advance cooperation in emerging technology fields such as digital transformation, smart cities, e-commerce, and artificial intelligence. The two sides agreed to strengthen exchanges between enterprises through business delegations, forums, and other channels, and to translate investment opportunities into viable projects, production capacity, and tangible economic benefits.
(11) The two sides expressed satisfaction with the outcomes of bilateral mining cooperation and expressed readiness to strengthen cooperation in sustainable mineral development and energy transition through the implementation of projects such as the Khoemacau Copper Mine. The two sides welcomed Botswana's accession to the Green Minerals International Economic and Trade Cooperation Initiative and expressed readiness to jointly implement the Memorandum of Understanding on Green Minerals Cooperation. The two sides expressed readiness to continue strengthening cooperation in the diamond sector through channels such as the Kimberley Process, and encouraged the expansion of Botswana diamond products' access to the Chinese market.
(12) The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening China-Africa solidarity and cooperation, and promoting common development, peace, and prosperity. The two sides recognized the important role of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in promoting collective dialogue, policy coordination, and practical cooperation between China and Africa, congratulated the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Africa, and expressed readiness to jointly promote the implementation of the outcomes of the Forum. The Botswana side expressed readiness to constructively participate in the follow-up actions and initiatives of the Forum, and wished the 18th Senior Officials Meeting and the 10th Ministerial Conference of the Forum success.
III. Jointly Advancing the Global Security Initiative
(13) The Botswana side appreciates the Global Security Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping, believing that the Initiative is conducive to advancing the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security, and expressed readiness to strengthen cooperation with the Chinese side within the framework of the Initiative. The two sides reaffirmed their joint commitment to promoting international and regional peace, security, and stability, upholding the principles of respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries and non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries, and peacefully resolving security challenges through dialogue and consultation.
(14) The two sides are committed to strengthening exchanges and cooperation, supporting peace and security in Africa, and promoting international and regional peace, security, and stability within their respective capacities. The two sides support African solutions to African problems, believing that African countries and institutions should play a leading role in preventing and resolving conflicts in Africa, and support the efforts of the African Union and African sub-regional organizations in preventing and resolving conflicts, promoting dialogue, and maintaining peace and security.
(15) The two sides expressed concern over the ongoing conflicts and instability in the Middle East, which affect international peace and security, humanitarian conditions, and sustainable development, and have potential implications for Africa. The two sides called on all parties concerned to exercise maximum restraint, strive to cease hostilities, promote de-escalation of the situation, and conduct dialogue and negotiations in accordance with international law and the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.
(16) The two sides expressed readiness to deepen law enforcement and security cooperation, and strengthen coordination on protecting the safety and legitimate rights and interests of each other's citizens, institutions, enterprises, and projects in their respective territories. The two sides will, in accordance with their respective domestic laws and international obligations, jointly combat cyber and telecommunications fraud, drug trafficking, smuggling, human trafficking, and other organized transnational criminal activities.
IV. Jointly Advancing the Global Civilization Initiative
(17) The Botswana side appreciates the Global Civilization Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping. The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing mutual understanding, friendship, and enduring relations between the two peoples, and expressed readiness to jointly advocate the vision of equality, mutual learning, dialogue, and inclusiveness among civilizations, and to respect the diversity of world civilizations.
(18) The two sides congratulated the fruitful outcomes of the 2026 China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges, appreciated the successful cultural events held in Botswana, and expressed readiness to continue expanding people-to-people and cultural exchanges, strengthening cooperation in areas such as culture, tourism, sports, youth, women's empowerment, media, and think tanks, so as to enhance mutual understanding and bring the two peoples closer together.
(19) The two sides agreed to deepen cooperation in areas such as education, scientific research, innovation, and human resources development, and encouraged universities and higher education institutions of the two countries to establish partnerships within the framework of the China-Africa Universities 100 Cooperation Plan, and to carry out cooperation in areas such as environment and sustainable development, language, culture, and mutual learning among civilizations. The two sides support the continued role of Confucius Institutes in educational and cultural exchanges and in expanding language education cooperation. The Chinese side will continue to provide Chinese government scholarships, vocational training, and capacity-building opportunities to outstanding Botswana students and professionals.
(20) The two sides expressed satisfaction with the contribution of healthcare cooperation to the well-being of the two peoples, congratulated the 45th anniversary of China's dispatch of medical teams to Botswana, and expressed readiness to expand cooperation in specialized medical care, minimally invasive medicine, medical technology, and industry capacity building through continued dispatch of high-level Chinese medical teams to Botswana, conducting "Bright Journey" free medical consultations, providing medical supplies assistance, and advancing paired hospital cooperation, so as to help Botswana strengthen its healthcare system and local capacity building, and improve access to quality, affordable medical services.
V. Jointly Advancing the Global Governance Initiative
(21) The Botswana side appreciates the Global Governance Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping. The two sides agreed to strengthen dialogue and coordination on international governance issues of common concern, will advocate the global governance philosophy of extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits, support the reform of the global decision-making system, and increase the voice, representation, and participation of Global South countries. The two sides reaffirmed their firm commitment to upholding the international system with the United Nations at its core, the international order based on international law, and the basic norms of international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.
(22) The two sides expressed readiness to practice true multilateralism, safeguard international fairness and justice, promote the democratization of international relations, peacefully resolve disputes, support the multilateral trading system with the WTO at its core, jointly oppose unilateralism, protectionism, hegemonism, and power politics, and support an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization.
(23) The two sides reaffirmed the importance of digital sovereignty, holding that each country has the right to independently choose its development path for digital technologies such as artificial intelligence in accordance with its own national conditions and development needs. The two sides further stressed that no country should be coerced into taking sides on technology choices, while strengthening international dialogue and cooperation on responsible artificial intelligence, digital transformation, and emerging technologies, to ensure that technological progress promotes sustainable development, inclusive growth, and human well-being.
(24) The two sides congratulated China on the successful hosting of the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference and the High-Level Meeting on AI Global Governance, and agreed to strengthen dialogue and cooperation on global AI governance and emerging technologies, and build a fair and equitable global AI governance system. Botswana will actively consider joining the World Association of Artificial Intelligence Cooperation and the International Organization for Mediation, in light of its national interests, domestic laws, and procedures.
(25) The two sides congratulated Botswana on the successful hosting of the first Africa Biodiversity Summit, and agreed to strengthen cooperation in the fields of climate change, biodiversity, environmental protection, and sustainable development. The two sides will uphold the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, strengthen cooperation within relevant multilateral frameworks, and promote the implementation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Paris Agreement.
(26) The two sides reaffirmed that protecting and promoting human rights is a common cause for all humanity, advocated conducting dialogue, exchanges, and cooperation on human rights issues on the basis of equality, mutual respect, objectivity, fairness, and non-selectivity, firmly opposed the politicization, instrumentalization, and double standards on human rights issues, and reaffirmed that handling human rights issues must take into account each country's national conditions, domestic laws, development needs, and historical background.
(27) The two sides believe that President Boko's state visit to the People's Republic of China is an important milestone in the history of China-Botswana relations. The two sides will carry forward the traditional friendship and translate the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries into a strategic, mutually beneficial, and results-oriented cooperation framework to achieve common development.
(28) President Boko expressed heartfelt gratitude to President Xi Jinping and the Chinese government and people for the warm reception and gracious hospitality extended during the visit.
Following the talks, the two heads of state jointly witnessed the signing of bilateral cooperation documents in various fields.
(Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, October 13)
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 李红梅
On October 13, the State Council Information Office held a press conference with Chinese and foreign journalists under the theme "Strivers on the New Journey," inviting five representatives from the meteorological field to exchange views with reporters on the topic "Monitoring and Forecasting Protect Our Well-Being; Meteorological Services Benefit the People."
Typhoon forecasting is a situation where a single small change affects everything (牵一发而动全身, qian yi fa er dong quan shen - "pull one hair, move whole body"), bearing directly on disaster prevention deployment. Niu Zeyi, assistant researcher at the Shanghai Typhoon Institute of the China Meteorological Administration, is a "typhoon chaser." To better conduct research, the "Typhoon Chase Laboratory" where Niu Zeyi works is sometimes on the front line of violent winds and torrential rain.
To improve typhoon forecasting performance, Niu Zeyi and his team use artificial intelligence to grasp the broad direction while letting physical models depict the internal structure of typhoons. Last year, the typhoon forecasting model he and his team developed performed excellently and was integrated into the meteorological intelligent early-warning scheme "Mazu." In March this year, Niu Zeyi received the first Typhoon Committee Young Scientist Award.
"What makes me proud is that before each typhoon makes landfall, our forecasts can buy coastal residents a few extra hours of evacuation time," Niu Zeyi said.
Short-duration heavy rainfall is extremely destructive, and forecasting it is a scientific challenge. To crack this "hard nut," Zhang Fanghua, chief forecaster at the National Meteorological Center (Central Meteorological Observatory), led her team to dissect extreme precipitation events from the past several decades one by one, letting artificial intelligence learn from these data and "teaching" forecasters' experience to AI. Today, it is possible to forecast three days in advance whether extreme heavy rainfall with hourly precipitation exceeding 50 millimeters, 80 millimeters, or even 100 millimeters will occur, providing more reliable support for flood control dispatch and public disaster avoidance.
In July 2023, North China was hit by exceptionally heavy rainstorms. Zhang Fanghua and her colleagues forecast in advance that precipitation in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region would exceed 600 millimeters, and decisively issued the Central Meteorological Observatory's first red rainstorm warning in 11 years.
This experience made Zhang Fanghua appreciate more deeply that "what forecasters draw on weather charts is not just the boundary of the rain area, but also the lifeline that safeguards the safety of the people."
Weather conditions bear directly on the livelihoods and safety of fishermen. How can fishermen's time at sea be increased and their incomes raised while safety is guaranteed? Zhao Hujiong, director of the Meteorological Bureau of Daishan County, Zhoushan City, Zhejiang Province, has been rooted in island meteorological posts for 39 years.
Zhao Hujiong and his colleagues conduct refined meteorological risk assessments by sea area, draw up a "single map" of risk zoning, provide meteorological risk early-warning services for recreational fishing, and produce emergency evacuation route maps for vessels at sea, ensuring that vessels can evacuate safely within 20 minutes of receiving a warning. At the same time, they use sea-area-specific wind forecasting technology to win fishermen more days suitable for navigation.
"Being able to both 'hold an umbrella' and 'pilot the way' for fishermen makes all these years guarding the islands worthwhile," Zhao Hujiong said.
Over the past decade, the annual average temperature in the Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Qinghai Province has risen by 0.3 degrees Celsius, and the frequency of heavy rain has been significantly higher than the historical average. Zhao Guorong, director of the Haibei Prefecture Meteorological Observatory, and 11 colleagues hold their posts on the Jinyintan Grassland at an average altitude of over 3,000 meters, going all out to provide accurate forecasting and early warning.
In March last year, before the start of the Gangshika National Ski Mountaineering Invitational, a cold air mass was about to arrive, but the base camp at an altitude of 4,350 meters had no weather station.
The Party-member emergency observation team of the Haibei Prefecture Meteorological Observatory, braving low temperatures and strong winds, arranged for a horse team to carry equipment, trekked through muddy mountain roads, and set up an automatic weather station on the snow line where snow was more than one meter deep. They sent risk alerts to the event organizing committee 72 hours in advance, and the committee adjusted the race schedule accordingly, with all 120 athletes completing the competition safely.
Cai Yiyou, deputy director of the Xiangcheng District Meteorological Bureau in Zhangzhou City, Fujian Province, has worked at grassroots meteorological stations in Nanjing County, Pinghe County, and other locations for 11 years.
Pinghe County is known as "China's Honey Pomelo Hometown." Over the years, Cai Yiyou's team has visited orchards in more than 10 townships, providing full-chain services in conjunction with agriculture and rural affairs departments from the time honey pomelos first sprout, through flowering, to fruit setting.
One day, a hailstorm knocked off honey pomelo flower buds, and young fruits were left covered in scars. Cai Yiyou and his team proactively communicated and coordinated with insurance companies, went to the scene to investigate crop damage, and provided meteorological certificates to help farmers process claims. Since then, Cai Yiyou and his team have promoted the inclusion of multiple meteorological disasters, including heavy rain and hail, in rapid insurance claims settlement.
"Making farmers' lives sweeter is our most solid happiness," Cai Yiyou said.
Return to TopRecently, residents and tourists were relaxing and enjoying tea at a teahouse in Beilin District, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province. This teahouse is a public cultural space created by the Beilin District urban renewal project, integrating leisure tea drinking and traditional performing arts (融休闲茶饮、传统曲艺等于一体, rong xiu xian cha yin, chuan tong qu yi deng yu yi ti - "merge, leisure, tea, drink, traditional, song and dance, etc., equal, one body"), helping to promote the integrated development of culture, commerce, and tourism.
Photo by Zhang Cheng (China Images)
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 鲜 敢
Highland rice has raised the upper limit of rice cultivation to an altitude of 3,650 meters; cold-region rice, facing a frost-free period of only about 130 days, nonetheless combines the traits of early maturity, high yield, and good quality; salt-alkali-tolerant rice, after eight generations of selective breeding, yields more than 500 kilograms per mu; space-bred rice has achieved large-scale cultivation... In recent years, China has deeply implemented the seed industry revitalization action. From the plains to the plateau, from black soil to saline-alkali land, the adaptability of China's rice varieties has continued to break through, expanding new space for ensuring food security.
Starting today, the "Autumn Harvest in Progress" column of this section launches the "Distinctive Rice Varieties" series of reports, visiting different regions to see characteristic rice varieties and feeling the power of innovation on the front line of breeding.
— Editor
In the autumn Yarlung Zangbo River valley, the wind already carries a "blade's edge"; it is the harvest season for the plateau rice region.
Turning past ridge after ridge of mountain, Gongkang Village, Lengda Township, Jiacha County, Shannan City, Tibet Autonomous Region, comes into view: yellowing rice paddies, ears of grain bending the stalks, standing out conspicuously among the contiguous tracts of already-harvested highland barley fields. "In the past I thought rice was something carried back from beyond the mountains; now it can grow right out of our own fields!" said villager Sangdan, brushing the dust from his sleeve.
Gongkang Village, at an altitude of 3,170 meters, has an average annual temperature of only 8.8 degrees Celsius, with low annual accumulated temperature and nighttime temperatures that often fall to single digits. In the past, only highland barley and winter wheat were grown in the village's large fields. "Grow rice? Never heard of it," said villager Galsang Dawa, who is nearly 60 years old.
Trial planting of highland rice began in 2019 — Fan Chunkun, a breeding expert and researcher at the Tibet Academy of Agricultural and Animal Husbandry Sciences, scattered more than 750 germplasm samples into the trial field, first testing upland rice, which failed completely; then he switched to introducing more than 1,000 rice germplasm samples, but most grew into "wormwood," and some could not even sprout seedlings.
On the afternoon of September 3, 2020, Fan Chunkun and his wife were taking a walk along the field ridge when they unexpectedly caught sight of a single plant in the trial field whose ear had bent over. "I didn't even have time to take off my shoes before jumping into the mud. I gave it a gentle squeeze, and a burst of white milky liquid gushed out — it had filled its grain! I counted carefully — 173 grains!" Fan Chunkun said with a smile. It was from this "accident" that the breeding team, through southward propagation for generation acceleration and systematic selection, cultivated two stable lines, "2021LS—68" and "2021LS—2" — tolerant of low temperature, highly efficient in light use, and resistant to salt and alkali. Even when nighttime temperatures fell to as low as 7 to 10 degrees Celsius, they could still set grain during the booting stage, with the seed-setting rate consistently remaining above 95%.
"I made a fool of myself the first year I planted." Sangdan opened an old notebook: the experts said to flood the field to the depth of two finger joints, but he poured water right up past his calves, drowning all the seedlings. "Teacher Fan didn't say a word; he just squatted in the field teaching us 'beat the mud to prevent seepage, warm the water in the sun, store water at night and expose it to the sun by day.'" Now he can still fluently recite the formula "yellow seedlings need nitrogen, loss of green needs iron." The local farmers and herders who participated in the trial planting have all learned rice cultivation skills such as raising seedlings, irrigation, and harvesting.
In 2025, rice materials of the same line completed multi-ecological-site identification in Lhasa City, Jiacha County of Shannan City, and Bayi District and Zayü County of Nyingchi City, raising the upper limit of rice cultivation to an altitude of 3,650 meters and filling the gap in Tibet's high-altitude rice cultivation areas. Yixi Bianba, an agronomist at the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Bureau of Jiacha County, has calculated the accounts: converting the same plot to rice cultivation doubles the returns compared with growing highland barley. "Increasing agricultural efficiency and raising farmers' incomes is not just talk; when farmers and herders participate and witness it, the demonstration effect is even better," he said.
Making a habit of strolling over to the edge of the trial field whenever he has time has become Fan Chunkun's routine: "I love watching the mountain wind stir up waves of rice, and I love even more watching the villagers spread their newly harvested rice on the drying ground." Recalling the experience of repeatedly failing in many attempts (屡试屡败, lu shi lu bai - "repeatedly, try; repeatedly, fail") in cultivating highland rice varieties over the years, yet continuing to try despite repeated failures (屡败屡试, lu bai lu shi - "repeatedly, fail; repeatedly, try") and finally succeeding, Fan Chunkun said frankly: "The hardest thing is not the low temperature, but that 'no one believed rice could grow on the plateau.'"
Bada Village, adjacent to Gongkang Village, was among the first villages to participate in the trial planting and is also the first village in Tibet to record a measured per-mu yield of highland rice exceeding 1,000 jin. The villagers have written "growing rice at an altitude of 3,175 meters" into the village history.
"Everyone is gaining more and more confidence in the new lines we have bred, and quite a few villages have already signed up for next year's trial planting," Fan Chunkun said.
The wind passes over the Yarlung Zangbo, and rice waves echo against the sound of the river's current. A single rice seed has not only rewritten the per-mu yield figures, but has also changed the history that "Tibetan rice could only be grown below an altitude of 1,500 meters in Zayü and Mêdog," adding the possibility of incorporating highland rice into the region's staple grains.
Return to Top(People's Daily, Beijing, October 13) Zhao Leji, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, met separately in Beijing on the afternoon of October 13 with Botswana's President Mokgweetsi Masisi and Togo's President of the Council of Ministers Faure Gnassingbé.
When meeting with Masisi, Zhao Leji stated that Botswana is an important partner of China in southern Africa. Today, President Xi Jinping will hold talks with His Excellency the President, jointly charting the bright prospects of China-Botswana relations. China is willing to work with Botswana to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, adhere to treating each other with equality and trust (平等互信, pingdeng huxin - "equal, mutual trust"), achieving mutual benefits and win-win results (互利共赢, huli gongying - "mutual benefit, win-win"), promote fostering people-to-people connectivity (民心相通, minxin xiangtong - "people's hearts, connect together"), and elevate China-Botswana relations to a higher level. China's NPC is willing to strengthen cooperation with Botswana's Parliament, conduct experience exchanges on democratic and rule-of-law development, and provide legal safeguards for practical cooperation between the two countries.
Masisi stated that Botswana attaches great importance to developing friendly relations with China, firmly adheres to the one-China principle, thanks China for supporting Botswana's economic and social development, and is willing to learn from China's successful experience. He expressed hope that the legislative bodies of the two countries will strengthen exchanges and deepen cooperation in capacity building, personnel training, and other areas.
Losang Jamcan attended the meetings.
When meeting with Faure, Zhao Leji stated that over more than 50 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Togo, the two countries have always been sincere and friendly, treating each other with equality and trust, and cooperating for win-win outcomes, becoming a model of unity and cooperation among Global South countries. Today, President Xi Jinping will hold a meeting with His Excellency the President, jointly charting the blueprint for the development of bilateral relations. China is willing to work with Togo, guided by the important consensus of the two leaders, to deepen political mutual trust, expand mutually beneficial cooperation, and strengthen people-to-people and cultural exchanges. China's NPC is willing to strengthen exchanging and learning from each other (交流互鉴, jiaoliu hujian - "exchange, mutually learn from") with both houses of Togo's Parliament, and to enhance coordination and cooperation within multilateral mechanisms such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union.
Faure stated that the traditional friendship between Togo and China is profound, and the relations between the two countries are built on the foundation of mutual trust, mutual respect, and shared concepts; China's concerns are also Togo's concerns. He expressed hope to strengthen practical cooperation between the two countries, deepen dialogue and exchanges between legislative bodies, strengthen multilateral coordination, and promote the continuous development of Togo-China relations and Africa-China relations.
Return to Top(Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, October 13) Ding Xuexiang, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council, met in Beijing on the 13th with representatives of the members of the Advisory Board of the School of Economics and Management of Tsinghua University.
Ding Xuexiang focused his exchanges with the board members on the development and governance of artificial intelligence. He pointed out that artificial intelligence is a key force leading a new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation, and that this technology that shapes the future must be developed well, applied well, and governed well, so as to better benefit all of humanity. He welcomed everyone's support for and participation in the building of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization, so as to promote shared prosperity and safeguard shared security. Since its establishment 26 years ago, the Advisory Board has become an important platform for dialogue, exchange, and cooperation between China and other countries, and he expressed the hope that all board members would make more contributions to China's educational endeavors and economic development.
Cook, chairman of the Advisory Board, and others commended China's development achievements in fields such as artificial intelligence, and expressed their willingness to continue working hard and deeply in this field (深耕, shen geng - "deep, plow") in China, expand cooperation, and better play the role of a bridge and bond.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 祝佳祺 焦 翔 牛瑞飞 陈尚文
Canals are the common wealth and spiritual home of humanity. Traversing history, flowing day and night, they serve both as the main skeleton of water networks and major arteries of water transport, driving economic and social development, and as important conduits connecting China with the outside world, painting a vivid picture of mutual learning among civilizations through commercial exchange, communication, and cooperation. From East to West, countless people have traveled along canals, witnessing the fusion of wisdom, the prosperity of trade, and the dialogue of civilizations.
The Lingqu Canal——
"A living canal that still serves the local people"
Located in Xing'an County, Guilin, Guangxi, the Lingqu Canal is one of the oldest man-made canals in the world, bearing the reputation of being "a pearl of ancient world water conservancy architecture." The waters of the Lingqu have flowed uninterrupted for over 2,000 years, irrigating fertile fields, nourishing the region, and attracting the world's attention. American geographer Jim Stembridge is one such admirer.
"Whether judged by the era of its excavation, the originality of its technology, or its living heritage, the Lingqu is unique in the world." In the early 1970s, Stembridge first encountered literature on the Lingqu while consulting materials in a library, and from then on he planned to visit the site in person. In 2013, he came to Xing'an for the first time. Overlooking the exquisite structures of the Lingqu's balancing weirs and hillside embankments from a mountaintop, and feeling the symbiosis between residents and the canal along Water Street, he was deeply moved. "The Lingqu is the most intuitive manifestation of the Eastern philosophy of 'following the ways of nature': the plow-shaped splitter diverts the Xiang River waters in a 3:7 ratio, following nature and guiding things according to the natural trend (因势利导, yin shi li dao - "follow, situation, lead, guide")." In Stembridge's view, it was precisely this man-made canal that connected the Yangtze and Pearl River systems, making it a representative example of ancient Chinese engineering wisdom. The Lingqu pioneered the "bend-instead-of-lock" technique; its flash locks raised water levels and released boats stage by stage, enabling vessels to cross the watershed. "Using sluice gates to store water for navigation—this incredible invention originated in China."
After returning to the United States, Stembridge launched a website called "Lingqu Channel" in 2014, introducing to the world the wisdom and value embodied in the Lingqu through content on its history, on-site imagery, and restoration updates. Subsequently, he also wrote to the UNESCO World Heritage Centre recommending the Lingqu, hoping to have it inscribed on the World Heritage List. In August 2018, the Lingqu and three other projects were included in the World Heritage Irrigation Structures list.
In recent years, government departments at both the Guilin municipal and Xing'an county levels have systematically optimized the spatial layout and comprehensively advanced ecological governance and restoration of the Lingqu and its banks. Revitalizing the city through water, the thousand-year-old canal has taken on a completely new appearance (焕然一新, huan ran yi xin - "transform, glow, one, new"). Today, along Xing'an's Water Street, dwellings are built beside the water, elderly residents chat beneath the eaves, and the laughter of visitors drifts from afar. In the Lingqu Park at dusk, citizens and tourists stroll at a leisurely pace while children play and frolic. In Stembridge's view, this is precisely the Lingqu's most moving quality: "It is not a cordoned-off cultural relic, but a living canal that still serves the local people."
The Pinglu Canal——
"We are taking the lead in formulating relevant standards, hoping to provide a reference for those who come after"
About 500 kilometers from the Lingqu, the Pinglu Canal of the new era is being built to embrace the sea. As the first canal in the People's Republic of China to connect a river directly to the sea, its elevation difference between start and end points is 65 meters. To allow 5,000-ton-class giant vessels to smoothly "climb up and down floors" while also saving water—only 1.8% of the minimum flow of the lower Xijiang River can be drawn annually—water-saving locks were a challenge that had to be overcome.
Pan Jian, chief engineer of Guangxi Pinglu Canal Construction Co., Ltd., watched cargo vessels passing in orderly fashion and said: "The maximum working head at the Madao Junction is 29.6 meters. Under a traditional flat-layout plan, we would have had to excavate three 10-meter-deep water-saving basins on each side of the lock, covering an area of over 100,000 square meters. But the mountain slopes are steep and the rock strata are fractured, making large-scale excavation highly prone to collapse. The construction team boldly changed the water-saving basins from a 'flat layout' to a 'stacked layout.' This globally pioneering stacked water-saving system has brought the lock's water-saving rate to over 60%, saving more than 1 billion cubic meters of water annually."
On the simulation platform of the Pinglu Canal Project Construction Headquarters sits a smooth "labyrinth-style buffer sleeve." This is a hydraulic opening-and-closing solution pioneered during the canal's construction and also the first 3D-printed component in China's domestic water transport industry. "It's like driving a car—rapid opening and closing places extremely high demands on the brake pads," Pan Jian said. The "labyrinth-style buffer sleeve" acts like a gentle brake pad under extreme opening-and-closing conditions. The water conveyance corridors at the Madao and Qishi junctions of the Pinglu Canal are equipped with giant 70-ton working valves. Through the rapid opening-and-closing system, the valves achieve "opening in 1 minute and closing in 30 seconds," greatly improving water conveyance efficiency. The single-cycle filling and emptying time of the lock has been compressed to within 16 minutes, setting a new record for inland waterway lock operating speed worldwide.
Pan Jian said: "Previously, there were neither industry standards nor national standards for water-saving locks. Now, we are taking the lead in formulating relevant standards, hoping to provide a reference for those who come after."
The construction of the Pinglu Canal has attracted envoys from multiple ASEAN countries to visit the site together, and businesspeople from Southeast Asia have also come in succession to conduct research. In the long term, the Pinglu Canal is expected to open sightseeing routes to Sanniang Bay and on to Southeast Asia... Relying on the super IP (intellectual property) of this "project of the century," the Pinglu Canal is "setting its sights on a broader international market."
The Suez Canal——
"Like a bridge, connecting East and West"
Egypt's Suez Canal connects the Mediterranean and Red Seas, linking the three continents of Europe, Asia, and Africa. In 1869, the opening of this, the world's longest lock-free canal, changed the global shipping landscape; in 2015, the New Suez Canal was officially put into operation, multiplying navigational capacity and providing greater convenience for world trade.
"To this day I cannot forget the scene 26 years ago when I first passed through the Suez Canal by ship—from afar, one giant vessel after another seemed to be advancing in formation across the desert, and at the time I could only marvel at the wonder of human creation!" The speaker, Ren Juncheng, has worked in maritime shipping for nearly 30 years and has served as a ship captain since 2011. "I have served on Asia–Europe routes, shuttling through the Suez Canal year-round, witnessing the upgrading of shipping efficiency, the rise of the coastal economy, the smooth development of trade, and the blending of different cultures. I have come to appreciate deeply the important value of a modern canal in stabilizing global supply chains, driving regional development, and prospering international trade."
For Ren Juncheng, the greatest benefit the Suez Canal brings to global shipping is convenience. "Taking the route from China to Europe as an example, transiting the Suez Canal shortens the voyage by about 3,400 nautical miles compared with rounding the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa, saving about 8 days of sailing time for large container ships."
"The Suez Canal is like a bridge, connecting East and West." In Ren Juncheng's view, beyond facilitating logistics and trade, the Suez Canal also carries an important function of cultural exchange. "After years of sailing, more and more Egyptian specialty items have accumulated in my home, such as papyrus paintings, pyramid models, and sphinx bookmarks. Along the banks of the Suez Canal, dominated by the Gobi desert, cooling balm from the East is one of the Chinese specialty products most loved by local people." He also mentioned that Egyptians particularly enjoy Chinese egg fried rice, especially the version with shrimp, carrots, and green peas, which has become a delicious dish the captain uses to "host" canal pilots.
Over the past decade, with the continuous upgrading of the Suez Canal, the improvement of its waterway system, and the advancement of the Canal Economic Zone development, the appearance of the areas along its banks has been completely new: highways keep extending, and new towns, residential communities, and port-adjacent industrial parks are rising abruptly from the ground (拔地而起, ba di er qi - "pull, ground, and, rise"). Particularly representative is the China–Egypt Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone, located northwest of the Gulf of Suez, which has attracted more than 200 enterprises, drawn in over $4.7 billion in investment, and generated over $7.3 billion in sales, becoming a model of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation between China and Egypt.
The Albert Canal——
"The port and the canal benefit each other, and so does Europe–China trade"
Belgium's Albert Canal, completed in 1939, runs 129 kilometers in total length, connecting the Port of Antwerp with the industrial hub of Liège. In the past, coal, steel, and other industrial raw materials were the main "passengers" here; today, more and more vessels carrying goods from around the world ply its waters. This transport waterway, which once served traditional industry, is gradually becoming a major logistics artery connecting the seaport with the European hinterland.
The Port of Antwerp, situated at the western end of the Albert Canal, is an important international trade and logistics hub in Europe and one of the core port areas of the Port of Antwerp-Bruges. Ocean-going cargo ships bring goods from all over the world here. Liu Guojin, East Asia business manager of the Port of Antwerp-Bruges authority, explained that Europe's vast consumer markets and industrial bases are mostly distributed inland, so after goods arrive at the port they still need to be further distributed. "The Albert Canal is precisely the important gateway to the European hinterland." Here, giant quay cranes lift containers from ocean vessels—some are loaded onto trains or trucks, while others are transferred onto inland barges; these barges then leave the busy port area and head east into the broad canal waterway.
Just how busy is this "gateway"? Liu Guojin did the math: the Albert Canal handles an annual freight volume of about 40 million tons, equivalent to reducing the need for road transport by about 2 million trucks per year. To cope with the heavy freight traffic and improve navigational capacity, bridges over the canal have in recent years been successively raised to a clearance of 9.1 meters, allowing barges loaded with four tiers of containers to pass underneath. In addition, the Albert Canal links up inland terminals, enterprises, and warehouses along its banks, forming clusters of industry and logistics. The port opens a window to the world for the canal's banks, while the canal extends the port's reach into the European hinterland.
"The port and the canal benefit each other, and so does Europe–China trade." Liu Guojin has particularly noticed that more and more cargo ships from China are appearing on this busy waterway. He noted that in recent years, a considerable amount of Chinese goods has been warehoused and distributed here, transported via the Albert Canal to markets in other European countries; goods produced in the European hinterland also converge on the Port of Antwerp along logistics networks that include the Albert Canal, before being loaded onto ocean-going vessels bound for China and elsewhere. "This two-way flow not only enables the exchange of goods between Europe and China, but also brings business to local port, shipping, warehousing, and logistics enterprises," Liu Guojin said.
Return to Top(Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, October 13) (Reporter Sun Nan) Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, met in Beijing on the 13th with Khaldoon, Special Envoy of the President of the United Arab Emirates for China Affairs.
Wang Yi asked Khaldoon to convey President Xi Jinping's cordial greetings to President Mohammed, and said that under the strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping and President Mohammed, bilateral relations have transcended the bilateral scope and become a model for Global South countries to jointly pursue development and revitalization.
The Chinese side will uphold a series of initiatives and propositions put forward by President Xi Jinping dedicated to peace and stability, and continue to make China's contribution to achieving lasting peace in the Middle East region.
Khaldoon asked Wang Yi to convey President Mohammed's sincere greetings to President Xi Jinping, and expressed willingness to strengthen communication and coordination with the Chinese side to jointly promote regional peace and stability.
Return to Top(Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, October 13) (Reporter Sun Nan) When He Lifeng, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council, met with a delegation led by Stephen A. Orlins, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Committee on United States-China Relations, at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse on the 12th, he stated that President Xi Jinping recently paid a state visit to the United States, and the two heads of state agreed to build a "constructive strategic stability relationship between China and the United States based on respect, fairness, and reciprocity." The two sides should jointly implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, injecting more certainty and stability into China-U.S. economic and trade cooperation and the world economy. He expressed the hope that the National Committee on United States-China Relations will continue to play a positive role in promoting China-U.S. economic cooperation.
The U.S. side stated that the stable development of U.S.-China relations is very important, and expressed willingness to continue to serve as a bridge, promoting the two sides to strengthen economic exchanges and cooperation.
Return to Top(Xinhua News Agency, Tianjin, October 13) (Reporters Shao Yibo, Ma Bowen) On October 13, the 2026 International Legislators Friendship and Exchange Forum, hosted by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, was held in Tianjin. The forum's theme was "Sharing High-Quality Development, Building a Sustainable Future Together." Peng Qinghua, Vice Chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a keynote speech.
Peng Qinghua noted that holding this forum on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of President Xi Jinping's proposal of the Global Development Initiative precisely responds to the call of people in all countries for peace and development, and is of great significance. This year marks the opening year of China's 15th Five-Year Plan, and the 15th Five-Year Plan is not only a development blueprint for China itself, but also a cooperation list oriented toward the world. Legislative bodies bear important responsibilities and missions in promoting economic and social development. China's National People's Congress is willing to deepen dialogue and exchanges with parliaments of various countries at all levels and in all fields, to pool broad consensus for revitalizing global development, and to jointly help accelerate the implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
A total of more than 300 people attended the forum, including 66 foreign legislators from 52 countries, regions, and international organizations across five continents.
Return to Top(Xinhua News Agency, Paramaribo, October 12) (Reporter Zhou Yongsui) From October 11 to 12, Batel, Vice Chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, led a delegation on a visit to Suriname, meeting with Surinamese President Santokhi and National Assembly Speaker Adhin.
Batel stated that since the establishment of diplomatic relations, China-Suriname relations have developed steadily, with fruitful achievements (成果丰硕, cheng guo feng shuo - "result, abundant, fruitful") in cooperation. In May this year, President Xi Jinping and President Santokhi exchanged congratulatory messages on the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, charting the course for the development of China-Suriname relations. China is willing to work with Suriname to implement the important consensus of the two heads of state, enhance strategic mutual trust, carry forward traditional friendship, and promote new progress in the China-Suriname strategic cooperative partnership. The CPPCC National Committee of China is willing to play an active role in this regard.
The Surinamese side stated that over the 50 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, Suriname-China relations have continued to deepen, with solid and profound friendship between the two countries and increasingly close strategic cooperation. The Surinamese side will continue to adhere to the one-China principle, maintain close high-level exchanges with China, strengthen exchanges on governance, and expand cooperation in various fields, for the benefit of the peoples of both countries.
Return to Top(Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, October 13) On the afternoon of October 13, President Duma Boko of Botswana went to Tiananmen Square and laid a wreath at the Monument to the People's Heroes.
Return to Top(Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, October 13) On October 13, Liu Haixing, Minister of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, met separately in Beijing with Segundo Vice President of the Peruvian Senate Chacón and French President's Diplomatic Advisor Bonne, exchanging views on jointly implementing the consensus of the leaders of both sides, strengthening inter-party exchanges and cooperation, and promoting the development of bilateral relations.
Return to Top(Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, October 13) On the afternoon of October 13, Faure, Chairman of the Togolese Council of Ministers, went to Tiananmen Square and laid a wreath at the Monument to the People's Heroes.
Return to Top(People's Daily, Guilin, October 13) (Reporter Zhu Jiaqi) The 2026 World Canals Conference opened on the morning of October 13 in Guilin, Guangxi. With the theme "Innovation and Persistence: Key Choices," representatives from canal cities, research institutions, universities, and industry organizations from more than 20 countries around the world will exchange views on topics including canal heritage protection, ecological restoration, shipping development, and cultural-tourism integration, and will conduct on-site inspections of canal and waterway management.
This conference is organized along two main threads: one focuses on the Lingqu Canal, hailed as the "Pearl of Ancient World Water Conservancy Architecture," highlighting heritage protection, restoration, and revitalization; the other focuses on the Pinglu Canal, showcasing practices in high-quality development of modern water transport. Sharon Layton, President of the Inland Waterways International, stated that this World Canals Conference coincides with the completion and opening of navigation on the Pinglu Canal, jointly witnessing the opening of a brand-new canal corridor, which holds extraordinary significance. The Pinglu Canal has reference value in terms of engineering construction, economic impact, and sustainable development. Waterways and navigation channels have historically shaped and driven the development of trade, commerce, culture, and communities; they carry history and create multi-layered opportunities for connection, and the great value of the World Canals Conference lies in bringing these connections to the global stage.
The World Canals Conference is hosted by Inland Waterways International, with previous editions held in Yangzhou, China, in 2012 and 2019. This is the third time the conference has been held in China.
Return to TopOn October 13, the first batch of air-freighted exhibits for the ninth China International Import Expo arrived at Shanghai Pudong International Airport from Lyon, France, and cleared customs smoothly after review by Shanghai Customs. This batch of exhibits consists of Michelin tires made with 75 percent renewable and recycled materials, which will make their Asian debut at this year's CIIE.
The photo shows customs officers inspecting this batch of exhibits on that day.
Photo by Shen Chunchen (China Images)
Return to Top(People's Daily, Beijing, October 13) (Reporter Chu Jun) Following the moving story of Chinese desertification fighter Yin Yuzhen and her American friend Sikes engaging in "cross-border desert control," which resonated strongly with people in both China and the United States, the story of exchanges between American David Baumann and Huangyuan County, Qinghai Province, has recently also drawn widespread attention. Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning said on the 13th that China supports increased exchanges between the peoples of the two countries.
"People-to-people friendship between China and the United States is a cause jointly undertaken by the peoples of both countries." Mao Ning noted that the American, David Baumann, is now 95 years old. He lived in Huangyuan County, Qinghai Province, for 17 years, regards Huangyuan as his hometown, raised funds to donate medical equipment to the local area, contributed money to support education, and acted as an intermediary to facilitate cooperation (牵线搭桥, qian xian da qiao - "pull the thread, build the bridge") for English teachers to go to the United States for training. Baumann said modestly that all he did was simply "do his duty for his own family," which moved many people.
Mao Ning said that the key to state-to-state relations lies in the affinity between the peoples. It is precisely the trickling streams of exchanges and friendship between the peoples of the two countries that converge into the long river of China-U.S. friendship. China supports increased exchanges between the peoples of the two countries, the conduct of people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and contributions to building a "constructive strategic and stable China-U.S. relationship based on respect, fairness, and reciprocity."
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 王明峰
In the autumn, the sky over the Zoigê Grassland is high and the clouds are pale. At the "Dawn of Victory" monument in Banyou Village, Baxi Town, Zoigê County, Ngawa Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan, many visitors pause to pay tribute.
"In August 1935, the Red Army's Right Column Army, after seven days and seven nights of arduous marching, emerged from the vast grassland and arrived at Banyou..." said Xu Shaoyong, deputy director of the Zoigê County History and Local Records Center.
In those years, the Red Army maintained strict discipline, taking not a single needle or thread from the masses, which left a deep impression on the villagers. "Today, the grassland villages have taken on a new look, roads are more accessible, the environment is cleaner, red culture has been integrated into the lives of the masses, and the villagers' civilized qualities have markedly improved," said Luo Xiu, a veteran Party member of Banyou Village.
The red spirit is passed on from generation to generation (薪火相传, xin huo xiang chuan - "firewood, torch, pass, transfer"). In September 2025, the Baxi Conference On-site Teaching Base in Zoigê County was completed and put into use. Relying on 28 revolutionary site relics within the county, the base has developed 5 red education routes, 3 green ecological practice routes, and 22 special courses. To date, the base has hosted 73 training sessions, 44 research and inspection groups, and 25 study tour activities, with a cumulative participation of over 17,000 person-times.
As the study tour boom continues to heat up, Banyou Village has seized the opportunity to develop red tourism to promote the comprehensive revitalization of the countryside. Here, enterprises uniformly operate village collective resources such as the red post station and the assembly hall, giving rise to business forms such as homestay experiences, pastoral handicrafts, and folk custom interactions. Pa Huajia, secretary of the Banyou Village Party branch, said: "In the past two years, the number of tourists has grown rapidly, and the village has added 5 farmhouse inns and homestays and 6 specialty restaurants."
Deng Haotian, who operates a homestay, has developed Tibetan-style starry-sky lodging and launched projects such as handicraft making and pasture experiences, providing more than 20 job opportunities for local herders each year and stably purchasing local specialties such as yak meat and yogurt. Herder Ben Wangjia said: "Previously, herding income was unstable. Now I receive a monthly salary, and raising cattle and sheep doesn't get in the way. My family's agricultural and livestock products also have no worries about sales."
Remembering history, we continue to strive forward. The Red Army's crossing of the grassland testified to the power of faith. Today's Banyou Village is writing a new chapter of struggle on the new journey.
(Long Jiangyan contributed to the reporting)
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 王永战
On the high mountain, the Yihai Lake ripples with billowing green waves (碧波荡漾, bi bo dang yang - "green waves, surging"). Through more than 90 years of wind and rain, the story of the "Yihai Alliance" forged during the Long March is still told here.
"In May 1935, Liu Bocheng, commander of the vanguard detachment of the Central Red Army, and Xiao Yedan, leader of the Yi people, swore a blood oath of alliance..." At the Yihai Alliance scenic area in Yihai Village, Mianning County, Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan, Shama Yigu, grandson of Shama Ge'er, a witness to the alliance ceremony of that time, recounted that history to a crowd of visitors.
The "Yihai Alliance" of bygone days left behind a tale of ethnic unity. Today, the Yihai Alliance monument stands quietly, and visitors tour the memorial hall with earnest attention. Red culture is infusing this land with new vitality.
"We have built a red culture corridor and exhibition center, launched a 'Red Trail' hiking route, and cooperated with travel agencies to carry out red-study tours, allowing visitors to experience the red spirit in an immersive style (沉浸式, chen jin shi - "sink, soak, style")." Ma Dingyi, head of the Sichuan Yihai Alliance Culture and Education Co., Ltd., said the scenic area received 130,000 visitors last year.
As the number of visitors grows, more than 30 villagers in Yihai Village have found employment at the Yihai Alliance scenic area. Villager Ji Gen said that he and his wife work in cleaning services at the scenic area and now have a stable wage income. "Our house has also been rented out to the scenic area, bringing in more than 10,000 yuan in rent each year."
Red tourism has brought in visitors and also driven the development of specialty industries.
"The village has planted more than 10,000 mu of Sichuan pepper, and has also developed the cultivation of specialty fruits such as plums and cherries," said Mao Jinquan, deputy secretary of the Party general branch of Yihai Village. During the peak tourism season, villagers sell agricultural products directly to visitors, while in the off-season they sell through livestreaming. Since the start of this year, Yihai Village has sold more than 100,000 yuan worth of specialty agricultural products.
With red tourism thriving, the collective economy of Yihai Village has also gradually grown. "We have built rural tourism homestays and also developed tourism service projects at the Yihai toll station on the Ya'an–Xichang Expressway," Mao Jinquan said. The village's collective economy now earns an annual income of more than 300,000 yuan.
Today, relying on the favorable climatic conditions of the Anning River Valley, Mianning County is strengthening its three major specialty industries of rice, Rosa roxburghii, and Mianning ham, while the cultivation of olives, cherries, beef cattle, and other specialty crops and livestock is also accelerating.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 蒋雪鸿 尹 婕
"3, 2, 1... run!" In the exhibition hall of the Dongning Science Popularization and Education Center of the Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park in Dongning City, Heilongjiang Province, 6-year-old Tongtong leaped up suddenly (一跃而起, yi yue er qi - "one, leap, then, rise") and charged forward together with the image of a Northeast China leopard on the screen. Tongtong bumped into the soft padding on the other side, turned around, and jumped up excitedly: "I outran the leopard!" "We deliberately slowed down the leopard's speed," Shi Ye, the person in charge of the exhibition hall, told reporters. Slowed down, the child can catch up and is willing to play.
In this exhibition hall, which mainly displays the Northeast China tiger and the Northeast China leopard, clever design touches are not limited to this one spot. In a corner of the exhibition hall, by pressing buttons in sequence and putting an ear close to speakers on the wall, visitors can hear five kinds of calls of the Northeast China tiger. Accompanied by the narration, the tiger's roar is quite shocking.
"Seeing" the tigers and "seeing" the leopards are both interactive displays; the entire exhibition hall vividly recreates many of the habits of the Northeast China tiger and the Northeast China leopard. "It's not just about 'seeing' tigers and leopards — we also display many species in the forest, which together form the complete ecological chain of the tigers' and leopards' home," Shi Ye said.
"The exhibition hall officially opened and began operations on July 29 this year, 'Global Tiger Day,' with the aim of showcasing tiger and leopard conservation achievements, carrying out ecological science education and research study, and spreading the concept of ecological civilization," Shi Ye introduced. As of now, the exhibition hall has received 24,000 visitors, many of whom are Russian tourists.
In Dongning, located on the China-Russia border, wild animals such as the Northeast China tiger and the Northeast China leopard travel back and forth across the border through ecological corridors. Since 2021, the Dongning area of the Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park has cumulatively monitored tigers 310 times, identifying 9 individual tigers; and has monitored leopards 1,313 times, identifying 18 individual leopards, including 5 cubs. The most famous is a tiger nicknamed "Wandashan No. 1."
In April 2021, a 3-year-old male wild Northeast China tiger strayed into a village in Mishan City, Jixi, Heilongjiang Province, and after on-site rescue and careful care, was successfully released back into the wild. This tiger, named "Wandashan No. 1" because it was found at the foot of the Wandashan Mountains, is China's first case of a successfully rescued and released wild Northeast China tiger. Its range once spanned across Heilongjiang and Jilin Provinces and even into Russia.
"In December 2022, 'Wandashan No. 1' first appeared in the surveillance footage of the Dongning area of the Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park. Since then, it has been active steadily in Dongning, having 'settled down' for nearly 4 years. This is footage captured by an infrared camera this September," Wang Zhigang, director of the Forestry and Grassland Bureau of Dongning City, introduced while pointing at the screen. In the surveillance video, "Wandashan No. 1" has a robust build, a vigorous stride, and strolls leisurely through the forest. "Monitoring has found that the activity ranges of two female tigers highly overlap with its territory, which means 'Wandashan No. 1' may have already 'found a mate.'" Wang Zhigang shared this anecdote with a smile.
How to "protect" such a big creature well? Wang Zhigang's answer was quite meaningful: "Not disturbing them is the best protection."
Reducing human disturbance first falls on the patrol and inspection stage."Before entering the forest, patrol officers must first review monitoring data to understand the tigers' and leopards' recent activity areas, and detour around them whenever possible. In addition, the sky-ground infrared cameras deployed in the forest remain silent under normal conditions and only start filming when triggered by passing animals, so patrol officers no longer need to frequently enter the mountains to replace camera batteries," Li Gang, deputy director of the Chaoyanggou Forest Farm in Dongning City, introduced. The Dongning area routinely carries out mountain patrols and trap removal, and has set up 30 supplementary feeding points in areas where wild animals frequently appear. In addition, the area has 164 management and protection personnel and has selected and hired 2,464 village-level ecological management and protection personnel, continuously improving the capacity for wildlife monitoring and protection.
Not disturbing also means protecting the mountains and waters well. "Dongning continuously restores degraded forests, recovers native vegetation, and protects ecological corridors such as streams, valleys, and ridges, leaving safe space for tigers and leopards to spread across borders, settle, and reproduce," Wang Zhigang said. "Reducing disturbance and restoring the homeland, in the final analysis, is about maintaining the authenticity and integrity of the natural ecosystem."
"Not every forest can support tigers," Wang Zhigang said. In ecology, there is the "one-tenth" law, which simply put means that in the energy conversion of the food chain, 20,000 kilograms of green plants can be converted into 2,000 kilograms of herbivores, which in turn can support one 200-kilogram Northeast China tiger. The frequent appearance of tigers and leopards in Dongning is the best proof of the area's solid ecological foundation.
Keeping tigers and leopards benefits more than just tigers and leopards. "The Northeast China tiger and leopard are typical 'umbrella species,'" said Zhu Shibing, a researcher at the Institute of Natural Resources and Ecology of the Heilongjiang Academy of Sciences. To protect the Northeast China tiger and leopard, one must simultaneously protect their prey populations and the entire forest ecosystem in which they live. This is like holding up a protective umbrella — all species and ecosystems under the umbrella receive shelter. At the same time, as apex predators, tigers and leopards regulate ungulate populations and suppress mesopredators, maintaining and enhancing regional biodiversity. The richer the biodiversity, the more stable the system, and the more solid the ecological security barrier.
In the vast sea of forests, the tiger's roar can be heard. In the Dongning area of the Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park, tigers and leopards are both seen and protected. "Seeing" is for understanding ecological civilization; "protecting" is for the harmonious coexistence of all things.
(Ouyang Yijia, a reporter from People's Daily Online, contributed to this report)
Return to Top(People's Daily, Ganzhou, October 13) (Reporter Zhou Huan) On the 13th, the online-themed publicity activity "Red Star Shines Over China · A New Long March Sets Out Again," co-hosted by the Central Cyberspace Administration of China, the Central Institute of Party History and Literature, the Xinhua News Agency, and the Cyberspace Affairs Commission of the Jiangxi Provincial Party Committee, was held in Yudu County, Jiangxi Province.
Zhuang Rongwen, Deputy Head of the Publicity Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and Director of the Central Cyberspace Administration of China and the Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission; Qu Qingshan, President of the Central Institute of Party History and Literature; and Yin Hong, Secretary of the Jiangxi Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Jiangxi Provincial People's Congress, attended the event and delivered speeches.
The event opened with the poem "Seven-Character Regulated Verse · The Long March." Descendants of Red Army martyrs, red-story lecturers, and literary and artistic workers, through visual presentations, narrative storytelling, immersive performances, and interactive expressions, told the moving stories of the Red Army's fearless endurance of the hardships of the Long March, demonstrating the power of faith that revolutionary ideals stand above all else.
National Moral Models, scientific researchers, champions' representatives from the Nagoya Asian Games, young students, and representatives of cadres and the masses from related fields, drawing on their own experiences, shared vivid stories of carrying forward the great Long March spirit and treading the Long March road of the new era.
Return to TopIn the deep autumn season, at the ecological agriculture park of Haizi Community, Linquan Town, Qianxi City, Guizhou Province, located in the Wumeng Mountain area, villagers are seizing the fine weather to busy themselves with picking, transporting, and sorting kiwifruit, presenting a lively scene of harvest across the park. In recent years, Qianxi City has scientifically planned its industrial layout, continuously advancing the development of efficient modern mountain-specific agriculture such as kiwifruit, cherry tomatoes, and edible fungi, promoting agricultural efficiency gains and increased farmer incomes. The photo, taken on October 12, shows villagers loading picked kiwifruit onto a truck.
Photo by Shi Kaixin (Image China)
Return to Top(People's Daily, Beijing, October 13) (Reporter Yang Hao) October 13 marks the 77th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Young Pioneers. The Central Committee of the Communist Youth League and the National Young Pioneers Work Committee have deployed and launched the themed activity "Hold High the Team Flag, Follow the Party; Young Pioneers Relay the New Long March." Across the country, Young Pioneer organizations are carrying out rich and varied (丰富多彩, feng fu duo cai - "abundant, many, diverse, colors") activities to carry forward the great spirit of the Long March, deepen patriotic education and education in revolutionary traditions, and educate and guide the broad ranks of Young Pioneers to strive, on the new journey, to become good young people of the new era who love the Party and the motherland, are diligent and eager to learn, and develop in an all-round way.
Gain a deep appreciation of the great spirit of the Long March. In Beijing, a themed activity integrating the Party, the League, and the Young Pioneers to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the victory of the Long March of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army was held for primary, secondary, and university students in the capital, with representatives of Young Pioneers, middle school League members, and university student Party members delivering speeches to gain a deep appreciation of the great spirit of the Long March. In Guangdong, more than 300 Young Pioneers sang the team song and reaffirmed their oath under the team flag, attending a Long March-themed team class together. In Guangxi, localities organized Young Pioneers to lay flower baskets before martyrs, pay respects at martyrs' memorial facilities, and recall the deeds of the martyrs. In Shaanxi, Young Pioneers carried forward the spirit of the Long March through activities such as collecting red fire seeds, sealing "time capsules," retracing the inscriptions on the tombstones of unnamed martyrs, and drawing a long scroll of "Footprints of Retracing the Long March."
Draw strength for forging ahead. In Jilin, Young Pioneer counselors and Young Pioneers jointly told Long March stories such as the capture of the Luding Bridge, the crossing of snow mountains, and the "Half a Quilt" story, with veterans and Young Pioneers discussing the course of the Long March together. In Hunan, Chongqing, Guizhou, Qinghai, Ningxia, and other places, winners of the 2026 New Era Youth Pioneer Award and model representatives of supporting the military and giving preferential treatment to military families were invited to come among the Young Pioneers to tell of how contemporary youth practice the spirit of the Long March in ordinary posts and walk the Long March of the new era well.
Resolve to run the historical relay race well on the new journey. Shanghai, drawing on the characteristics of each school, used methods such as science and technology innovation interaction and theatrical performance to enable Young Pioneers to establish lofty ideals through immersive experiences. In Zhejiang, Young Pioneers visited the archival exhibition "Common Prosperity, Zhejiang Leading the Way" and jointly attended the themed team class "Inheriting the Spirit of Reclaiming Wasteland, Zhejiang Youth Relay the New Long March." Liaoning, Shanxi, and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps organized display activities of Young Pioneer drum and bugle corps, in which the Young Pioneers demonstrated a vigorous and uplifting spirit. Inner Mongolia, Heilongjiang, Shandong, Yunnan, Tibet, Xinjiang, and other places, through rehearsing and performing plays and stage dramas, releasing Long March-themed songs, and organizing Young Pioneers to watch Long March-themed films, allowed red history to permeate children's hearts.
Return to TopBy: 本报评论员
People's health is an important marker of national prosperity and national strength.
From October 12 to 13, the National Conference on Health and Wellness was held in Beijing. General Secretary Xi Jinping attended the conference and delivered an important speech. This is an important meeting convened in the opening year of the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, and it will surely powerfully mobilize and inspire the entire Party and society, especially the vast number of health and wellness workers, to forge ahead with enterprise and make solid progress toward the goal of building a Healthy China by 2035.
Proceeding from the strategic height of the development of the Party and the state's cause, General Secretary Xi Jinping profoundly summarized the achievements and experience of the development of China's health and wellness undertaking since the new era, profoundly answered a series of fundamental, directional, and overarching questions concerning health and wellness work, put forward clear requirements for ensuring decisive progress in the building of a Healthy China during the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, and pointed the way and provided important guidance for doing health and wellness work well on the new journey of the new era.
Since the 18th National Congress of the Party, China's health and wellness undertaking has achieved historic accomplishments and all-round progress. This is something that is obvious to all (有目共睹, you mu gong du - "have, eye, common, witness"), and we all have personal experience of it as well.
Look at the top-level design.
From the Fifth Plenary Session of the 18th Central Committee of the Party first proposing "advancing the building of a Healthy China," to the 19th National Congress of the Party elevating "implementing the Healthy China strategy" to a national strategy, and the 20th National Congress of the Party incorporating the completion of building a Healthy China into the overall goal of China's development by 2035; from the issuance of the "Healthy China 2030" Planning Outline, to the promulgation of the Basic Medical Care and Health Promotion Law...
Strengthening the Party's overall leadership over health and wellness work, continuously improving policies and measures, and perfecting the work framework have enabled us to firmly grasp the initiative in the development of the health and wellness undertaking.
From achieving a major and decisive victory in the prevention and control of the COVID-19 pandemic, protecting the people's life safety and physical health to the greatest extent possible, to the widespread implementation of health poverty alleviation, making important contributions to winning the battle against poverty...
Adhering to putting the people first and life first, and earnestly respecting the value and dignity of human life, the building of a Healthy China vividly embodies our Party's people-centered value orientation.
Look at support capacity.
A series of hard-core health indicators confirm the leapfrog improvement in the health level of the entire population.
In 2025, China's average life expectancy at birth rose to 79.25 years, with major health indicators steadily ranking among the forefront of upper-middle-income countries and countries with a population of over 100 million;
The infant mortality rate fell to 3.8 per thousand, and the maternal mortality rate fell to 13.4 per 100,000, leading to China being listed by the World Health Organization as one of the high-performance countries in maternal and child health.
Today's China has built the world's largest medical service system, traditional medicine system, disease prevention and control system, and medical security system. The building of a Healthy China has taken solid steps, delivering a livelihood answer sheet that can stand up to the test of history and the people.
Highlighting the public welfare nature of basic medical and health services and correctly handling the relationship between the government and the market; taking the grassroots as the focus and promoting the downward shift of the center of gravity of medical and health work and the downward flow of resources; adhering to prevention first and equal emphasis on traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine, deepening social co-governance, medical-epidemic coordination, and medical-epidemic integration, and building a solid line of defense for public health; continuously reforming the pharmaceutical and health system and promoting institutional innovation, management innovation, and technological innovation...
The inclusiveness and support capacity of China's medical and health services have been greatly improved, continuously stimulating the powerful momentum for the development of the health and wellness undertaking.
Look at global influence.
Health for all is the common vision of all humanity and an inherent requirement for building a community with a shared future for mankind.
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Chinese medical expert teams rushed to provide assistance at the first moment and jointly fought the Ebola epidemic; in Bamako, the capital of Mali, the world's first Luban Workshop for traditional Chinese medicine technology is helping to cultivate local TCM talent...
Since the 18th National Congress of the Party, China has dispatched foreign aid medical teams to 59 countries (regions), established paired hospital cooperation relationships with 49 hospitals in 43 countries (regions), and jointly built 29 clinical key specialty centers.
Actively participating in global health governance and promoting the common progress of human health and wellness undertakings demonstrates the responsibility of a major country that "cherishes the future of humanity and cares for the well-being of the people."
The achievements and progress of China's health and wellness undertaking in the new era fully prove that the guidelines for health and wellness work in the new era conform to China's national conditions and are completely correct. We must more deeply comprehend the decisive significance of the Two Establishments (两个确立), more resolutely and forcefully implement the major decisions and arrangements of the Party Central Committee, and unswervingly follow the path of health and wellness development with Chinese characteristics.
"The Healthy China we want to build is one that is balanced, inclusive, high-quality, and efficient." The "15th Five-Year Plan" period is a critical period for achieving the goal of building a Healthy China. We must thoroughly study and implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important speech, implement the guidelines for health and wellness work in the new era, firmly implement the strategy of prioritizing health development, promote high-quality development of the health and wellness undertaking, and ensure decisive progress in the building of a Healthy China.
Completing the building of a Healthy China on schedule is our Party's solemn commitment to the people and the common responsibility of the entire Party and society. Let us unite more closely around the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, fully implement Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, forge ahead along the path of health and wellness development with Chinese characteristics, and jointly turn the grand vision into a beautiful reality.
Return to TopBy: 刘元春
Direct resources toward key areas that shore up weak links and strengthen momentum, so that investment better serves the development of new quality productive forces and the building of a modern industrial system, and so that the results of investment are ultimately reflected in expanded employment, increased income, and improved living standards.
Zhejiang has started construction on a 1,000-kilovolt ultra-high-voltage alternating current loop network project; Nanjing, Jiangsu, has put into operation the country's first Pre6G trial network; Yangjiang, Guangdong, has "submerged" a computing power center beneath the sea, relying on offshore wind power to achieve direct supply of green electricity... Since the beginning of this year, localities across the country have been actively advancing the construction of the "six networks," consolidating the foundation for development by expanding effective investment.
Investment is demand in the present and supply in the future. How should we view the current investment situation and predict future investment trends? This requires using systematic thinking to grasp the stage-specific characteristics and structural changes of investment operations, to grasp the dialectical relationship between opposing forces (辩证关系, biàn zhì guān xì - "dialectical, relation") between short-term fluctuations and long-term trends, and to grasp the supporting conditions of the space for effective investment and the foundation of funding supply. Only in this way can we avoid being disturbed by short-term fluctuations in data, see structural optimization through changes in aggregate volume, and see the transformation of growth drivers through the decline in growth rates, thereby reaching objective and rational judgments.
The current decline in investment is a manifestation of the transition from the traditional investment model to a new investment model, a product of structural adjustment and orderly policy alignment, rather than a narrowing of the space for potential effective investment. From a medium- and long-term perspective, the space for effective investment in China remains enormous, and new growth points are taking shape at an accelerated pace. Looking at sub-sectors, from January to August this year, investment in the integrated circuit manufacturing industry grew by 12.0 percent, investment in the lithium-ion battery manufacturing industry grew by 20.6 percent, and investment in the electronic circuit manufacturing industry grew by 58.8 percent.
These data show that investment has not contracted across the board, but is undergoing a shift in focus from traditional to emerging fields and a profound transformation from scale expansion to efficiency improvement. In this process, new infrastructure and AI (artificial intelligence) investment are particularly critical. Computing power, data, models, applications, and other links pull each other forward, both creating current demand and improving long-term supply efficiency, serving as an important engine for promoting a new round of effective investment.
The construction of the "six networks" is precisely the concrete carrier of the investment space for new infrastructure plus AI, and this year its investment scale together with related key areas is expected to exceed 7 trillion yuan. The construction of the "six networks" focuses on precisely shoring up weak links: enabling aging pipeline networks to keep pace with urban development, enabling traditional power grids to adapt to the large-scale grid integration of new energy, and enabling computing power to support the development of the digital economy. The "six networks" deeply integrate digitalization, intelligence, and green development, with a multiplier effect far higher than that of traditional infrastructure, and will build a strategic foundation for developing new quality productive forces while shoring up weak links.
New infrastructure plus AI investment has not only space, but also a foundation. This foundation is the funding space brought by high savings, low interest rates, and a proactive fiscal policy. China's savings rate remains at a high level, providing a stable and ample source of funds for long-term investment; interest rates are at a relatively low level, conducive to reducing the cost of funds; and the proactive fiscal policy continues to intensify, forming combined support. It can be said that there is no shortage of total funds; the key lies in opening up the channel for converting savings into effective investment and channeling funds to the "cutting edge" of new infrastructure, AI, advanced manufacturing, green transformation, and other areas. At the same time, related fields need to be better opened to private capital, so that social capital is willing to invest, able to invest, and daring to invest.
The close integration of investment in physical assets and investment in people will also open up new space for investment growth. Education, healthcare, elderly care, skills training, and other fields are both what the people aspire to in their livelihoods and what development depends on. In recent years, the proportion of fiscal education expenditure in China's gross domestic product has remained above 4 percent continuously, and the scale of the silver economy has continued to expand. The improvement of human capital can directly act on total factor productivity and can release vitality from both the supply and demand sides simultaneously. The support of physical assets provides a carrier for human development, while the improvement of people's quality allows the efficiency of physical assets to be fully released; only when the two work in coordination can an investment effect of "1+1>2" be formed.
When we talk about investment today, we must adhere to quality first and efficiency priority, direct resources toward key areas that shore up weak links and strengthen momentum, enable investment to better serve the development of new quality productive forces and the building of a modern industrial system, and ultimately reflect the results of investment in expanded employment, increased income, and improved living standards. The current adjustment in the investment field is precisely a necessary stage in the leap from "whether it exists" to "whether it is good" and from "whether it is large" to "whether it is strong." With the trillion-yuan-level investment momentum of the "six networks" construction, the broad space for new infrastructure plus AI investment, and the synergistic effect of the close integration of investment in physical assets and investment in people, the enormous potential of China's investment will be fully released, benefiting current growth while supporting long-term development.
(The author is the president of Shanghai University of Finance and Economics)
Return to TopBy: 孟繁哲
On the exterior wall of a commercial building across from Yanbian University in Yanji, Jilin, more than 70 bilingual signs in Chinese and Korean are arranged in staggered rows. At night, the lights illuminate the shop names, covering the wall like a stream of "bullet comments," drawing tourists to stop and take photos. Standardized bilingual expressions make it easy to identify shops and find one's way, while the varied appearances of the signs are full of local flavor. In this way, a single wall becomes a window through which people come to know a city.
The writing on the streets, the patterns on clothing, the local accents heard around one — the culture nurtured by a particular land is often hidden in ordinary life. How does it cross regions and draw closer to more people? The street scene of Yanji inspires us: the vitality of local distinctive culture comes from deep accumulation, and also from the ability to adapt to contemporary life and to communicate with different groups of people.
Only when tradition has a place to exercise its skills (有用武之地, you yong wu zhi di - "have, use, martial, place, land") today can inheritance have lasting momentum. A designer born after 1995 in Suzhou, Jiangsu, selected cloud patterns, flower-and-bird patterns, and others from the digital pattern library of the Suzhou Silk Museum, designing trendy products such as Song-style brocade handbags and silk throw pillows, allowing ancient patterns to radiate the brilliance of the times. The New Liu Hai Cuts Firewood staged in Changsha, Hunan, blends Huagu opera singing styles with contemporary musical theater forms, attracting young audiences to embrace local art.
A handy item in daily use, a fine play watched with rapt attention — these establish concrete connections between traditional culture and people today. When people are willing to use and appreciate them, inheritors are more motivated to refine their skills and continue creating.
This adaptation requires understanding tradition and also observing life. Printing a few patterns onto products does not amount to cultural innovation; adding sound, light, and effects does not necessarily make a play more moving. Only by finding the points where traditional craftsmanship and aesthetics meet contemporary needs, and preserving the irreplaceable charm within them, can new expressions have a foundation. Only by providing people today with new aesthetic experiences and life choices can tradition gain the practical support for continued development.
To better spread local distinctive culture, one must both give play to one's own characteristics and fit the cognition of the majority. In the 1990s, the signs on Yanji's streets also went through a period of "wild growth," with nonstandard writing and inaccurate translations, leaving out-of-town visitors often "unable to find their bearings." Standardizing bilingual layout and correcting translation errors have given local characteristics clearer expression and also facilitated communication among people.
The lyrics that locals are very familiar with through constant hearing (耳熟能详, er chu neng xiang - "ear, familiar, can, know") and the customs they are used to through habit (习以为常, xi yi wei chang - "practice, as, regard, as, habitual") may not be understood by outsiders. Actors of Hanzhong Hanggui Opera in Hanzhong, Shaanxi, performing on livestreams, found that some fans from other places could not understand them, so they used projections to display the lyrics as subtitles. By carefully observing the public's questions and explaining clearly what people cannot read or understand, one can find more kindred spirits for a local culture.
Explaining things in plain terms is not about making culture shallow. Explaining the origins of a custom, clarifying the unique merits of a craft, and helping people understand the wisdom behind appearances often demonstrates greater skill than listing technical terms. For a local culture to reach a broader world, such patience and sincerity are indispensable.
In Taoxichuan, Jingdezhen, Jiangxi, "foreign Jingdezhen drifters" from different countries create on site, visiting each other's studios, exchanging materials and techniques, and collaborating with local kiln masters to fire works. Foreign creativity takes root through local craftsmanship, and local creation also draws inspiration from different aesthetic experiences.
Embracing new creators requires an open mind and practical support. When newcomers can find masters to learn from, have space to create, and gain opportunities to display their work, passion can be transformed into sustained action. As more and more people can make full use of their strengths (施展所长, shi zhan suo chang - "display, expand, one's, strength/specialty") here, the skills and wisdom accumulated by a local culture gain broader strength for inheritance.
General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "The diverse and colorful local traditional cultures together constitute the splendid Chinese civilization and also boost economic and social development." By cherishing local characteristics, being good at telling them to the outside world, and being willing to co-create with others, local culture can, while preserving its own charm, become spiritual nourishment for more people.
From a single street to a broader world, enabling people from different regions to deepen understanding through mutual appreciation and strengthen identity through continuous co-creation — the vitality and dynamism of Chinese culture thus grow ever more vigorous in these tangible, relatable moments of daily life.
Return to TopBy: 孔德淇
Keywords: Credit
Event: Not long ago, in Foshan, Guangdong, a shop tenant, due to a short-term increase in expenses and tight cash flow, failed to pay rent for over half a month past the due date. After the landlord visited to learn the actual situation, he took the initiative to buy a grilled sausage from the shop, transferred 20,000 yuan to help tide over the difficulty, reassured the tenant to use the money first and not to worry about the rent, and also planned to reduce part of the rent for the tenant later. This display of human warmth drew praise from netizens.
Commentary
The tenant had operated the shop steadily on ordinary days and paid rent on time for several years, using day-after-day fulfillment of obligations to solidify personal credit. Precisely because of this, the landlord did not label the tenant as "untrustworthy" because of one incidental late payment, but instead showed understanding of the difficulty and extended a helping hand. This invites reflection: the rigidity of rules and humanistic care can fully be combined and applied together.
In a society of strangers, the importance of rules is self-evident or obvious (不言而喻, bu yan er yu - "not speak, yet understand") — they replace private trust with clear institutions, giving interpersonal interactions stable expectations. However, everything has two sides. Some views in the field of organizational sociology hold that if governance relies excessively on the rigidity of rules, it can easily lead to rigid enforcement and estrangement among people. Rules serve as the "anchor of stability," delineating boundaries and holding the bottom line; emotion serves as the "lubricant," dissolving estrangement and reconciling conflicts — both are indispensable.
Extending from individual cases to the level of social operation, a quantifiable and traceable credit system is needed as support. Hangzhou, Zhejiang, promotes credit-based deposit exemption, using personal credit to replace deposit guarantees; many hotels have launched "credit stay," with automatic settlement of room charges upon checkout; some housing rental platforms offer trustworthy tenants conveniences such as deposit reductions and monthly rent payments... In recent years, there have been many institutional explorations based on credit, with the original intention of giving trustworthy people tangible convenience and turning invisible trust into a social asset that can be perceived, used, and accumulated.
When the trustworthy benefit and the untrustworthy are restricted, when honoring agreements becomes a conscious choice of the whole people and integrity becomes a universal consensus, the operation of rules and institutions will encounter less friction, society will function more efficiently, and interactions between people will become more composed.
On the other hand, rules can also leave room for trust. In recent years, tax authorities have introduced a "no punishment for first violations" list, which exempts from punishment certain violations that are first-time, minor, and promptly corrected. Within the legal framework, ascertaining the actual situation and accommodating human feelings — this governance logic of combining firmness with flexibility (刚柔并济, gang rou bing ji - "hard, soft, together, combine") is not relaxing standards or negligent indulgence, but rather understanding and tolerance of individuals' complex circumstances.
Of course, tolerant and prudent treatment based on trust by no means implies connivance toward dereliction of duty. The granting of trust is never an unconditional one-way transfer — only actors who possess the will to fulfill obligations, proactively face problems, and actively communicate deserve to be given a "buffer zone"; otherwise, they must be subject to rigid constraints. To precisely distinguish between an unintentional mistake (无心之失, wu xin zhi shi - "no, heart, possess, error") and malicious violation, it is necessary to improve and make good use of the social credit system. Letting the trustworthy gain convenience and letting the untrustworthy pay a price — this is also an important test for achieving refined governance at present.
"Law is the standard of the world" and "integrity is the bond of the world." Law and trust both carry extraordinary weight in the origins of Chinese culture. Rules shore up social order, trust draws people's hearts closer, and the two complementing each other is precisely a governance advantage of Chinese modernization.
Return to TopIn Wuqi County, Shaanxi, at the Memorial Park for the Victory of the Central Red Army's Long March, visitors and study tour groups from all over are arriving in large numbers (纷至沓来, fen zhi ta lai - "disorderly, arrive, press, come"); at the Military Museum of the Chinese People's Revolution, at the "Great Expedition — Thematic Exhibition Commemorating the 90th Anniversary of the Victory of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army's Long March," the battle scenes allow viewers to experience the events firsthand (身临其境, shen lin qi jing - "body, arrive, its, scene")... Since the beginning of this year, the popularity of red tourism related to the Long March has risen, and people draw strength to move forward as they revisit the stirring years of hardship and struggle.
This is precisely:
The beacon fires of war across mountains and rivers have receded into the distance,
Now, ascending to the heights, a myriad of emotions surge within.
Let us, from these historic sites, voice our lofty aspirations,
The vast and mighty wind blows onward, ever forward.
Written by Cheng Sen
Return to TopBy: 常言道
After the Pinglu Canal opened to navigation, some people have been stirring up sentiment with a "Guangdong-Guangxi game theory" narrative: "Guangdong suffers the most" and "People in Guangdong are unhappy." Is that really the case? In the comment section, a Guangdong netizen's remark, "Happy for our fellow folks across the screen," shows that those who drink from the same river are one family in Lingnan, and the "game theory" talk has no market.
When plans for high-speed railways, airports, and the like are unveiled, similar remarks often accompany them. Why are some people so keen on this kind of "game theory"? Because confrontation generates traffic. The default assumption that the cake is fixed in size—if you get one more bite, I get one less—is an outdated way of thinking that should have been discarded long ago.
High-quality development charts a new path distinct from zero-sum games: it is not about grabbing a share of the cake, but about jointly making the cake bigger and better.
Let us first look at Guangxi. What does the Pinglu Canal carry? Judging from recent shipping operations, the cargo consists mostly of building materials, minerals, and other manufacturing raw materials, as well as agricultural and sideline products such as fruit. Goods from the southwestern region that go to sea via the canal shorten the inland waterway voyage by about 560 kilometers compared with traditional seaward routes, reducing overall logistics costs by 18 to 30 percent. Low- and medium-value products that are sensitive to cost can reach the world market more cheaply.
Now look at Guangdong. The fundamentals of most of its ports—ocean-going trunk routes, high-value-added foreign trade, and deep-water large-vessel operations—remain solid and are unaffected by the new waterway.
In the long run, the opening of the Pinglu Canal has fostered a complementary optimization of the regional shipping landscape rather than a simple case of a process of one side declining as the other increases (此消彼长, ci xiao bi chang - "this, diminish; that, grow"). The easing of congestion at nodes such as the Changzhou ship lock on the Xijiang River can shorten the waiting time for Guangdong's local cargo to pass through the lock. At the same time, "Made in Guangdong" products have gained a new route for export to ASEAN, enhancing the resilience of the supply chain against risk factors such as dry-season low water and typhoons, and achieving an upgrade from "a single eastward outlet" to dual options.
So Guangdong, which on the surface should be the most "anxious," is not panicking at all—instead, it is treating the new passage as a new springboard. On the second day after the canal opened to navigation, Zhaoqing, serving as the gateway hub of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area facing the southwestern region, convened a symposium on the high-quality development of Zhaoqing Port to study how to leverage the momentum of "the Xijiang River reaching the sea" to promote the port's transformation and upgrading. What some people see as competition, strategic decision-makers see as opportunity.
More cases prove that regional development is a relationship of competition and cooperation, not pure competition. Some once believed that Zhejiang should worry about Shanghai's Yangshan Port construction "snatching away" its ocean-going business. Today, through differentiated development, the Ningbo-Zhoushan Port has grown ever stronger, maintaining the world's No. 1 cargo throughput for years running. Whether it is the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the integration of the Yangtze River Delta, or the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Chengdu-Chongqing economic zone, when the whole chessboard is played well, everyone is a winner.
Multiple seaward passages help better translate resource and location advantages into advantages for high-level opening up and high-quality development. As a backbone project of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor in the western region, the Pinglu Canal's "single move" drives "the whole board to come alive." The west reaching toward the sea activates new drivers for domestic and international dual circulation and opens up new space for development; the Beibu Gulf Port's capacity to serve the southwest and connect with ASEAN has been enhanced, and more open "nerve endings" are expected to become highlands.
General Secretary Xi Jinping has stressed the need to "firmly establish a holistic approach to national development and coordination (全国一盘棋, quan guo yi pan qi - "whole, country; one, chess game")" and to "add luster to one's own region while adding splendor to the whole." To advance high-quality development, it is especially necessary to broaden one's perspective. The Pinglu Canal should not be viewed solely through the lens of a single province; it has turned striving for maritime strength and development (向海图强, xiang hai tu qiang - "towards, sea; plan, become strong") from a dream of one place into a shared opportunity. This is China's proactive move to further expand opening up, and it bears on the quality of coordinated regional development.
Broadening the horizon, in some countries, states and cities within them even contend endlessly over resources and find it hard to strike a balance. China, by contrast, is able to achieve cross-regional coordination and linkage, sharing opportunities and pursuing development together. This stark contrast highlights the strengths of its institutional system.
Turning competition into competition-and-cooperation, turning cake-splitting into cake-making, and coordinating the partial with the whole—this is the experience reflected by the Pinglu Canal and also the inspiration that Chinese modernization offers to the world.
(Excerpted from the "People's Commentary" WeChat public account)
Return to TopBy: 石天琼
It is harvest season once again. Rice waves roll, melons and fruits waft their fragrance, and in the curling wisps of cooking smoke rises the good life of the Chinese people.
"Have you eaten?" This ordinary greeting conceals the most simple concern between people. When away from home, family members worry about "eating well"; when friends meet, they often say "let's eat together"; at festivals and New Year, no matter how far apart people are, they always find a way to gather around one dining table.
Amid the myriad affairs of the world, eating is of foremost importance. The weight of a meal has never lain only in the bowl. It concerns the daily life of a family, it concerns how people get along with one another, and it further sediments the shared life memories of generation after generation.
In the past, what people hoped for was that three meals would be secured and that they could eat their fill; today, more and more people pay attention to balanced nutrition, seasonal freshness, and variety of flavors. The changes in meals are a rise in living standards and also the most genuine manifestation of a happy life. The Chinese people's emphasis on eating well is not merely to satisfy the needs of the mouth and stomach, but also embodies the simple pursuit of living one's days well. A table of hot food, with both meat and vegetables, full of flavor and interest, is precisely the appearance of an ordinary life that is solid and comfortable.
The significance of a meal becomes even more genuine when the family gathers. When eating as a child, one often heard elders say: "Wait until everyone is here before eating." Whether one came home early or late, the family would always wait until all were seated around the table before beginning the meal. The dining table may not be large, but it holds the concern of the whole family; the dishes may be ordinary, but they gain an unforgettable flavor because of the reunion. Within a meal is concealed the Chinese people's cherishing of reunion and their attachment to family affection. No matter how far one has traveled, there is always a table of familiar dishes in one's memory that reminds one of the warmth of home. In the hearts of the Chinese people, the concept of family becomes especially concrete at the dining table.
"The market is far from the house, so the meal has no variety; the family is poor, so the wine is only old dregs." In the view of the Chinese people, eating is an important means of social interaction and emotional exchange. When a guest arrives, an extra pair of chopsticks and bowl are added; when friends meet, a few more dishes are prepared. Seated around the dining table, people convey their feelings through greetings, courtesy, and mutual care, and also deepen understanding and cultivate affection through casual conversation. The seemingly ordinary table manners embody the norms of interaction that respect seniority, distinguish host from guest, and honor mutual respect, and they also add warmth and human feeling to how people get along.
What the dining table carries is not only food, but also traditional culture. Sichuan, Shandong, Guangdong, and Huaiyang cuisines, Fujian, Zhejiang, Hunan, and local Shanghai styles — the culinary flavors of China's various regions each has its own unique merits (各有千秋, ge you qian qiu - "each, have, thousand, autumn"), yet behind the different flavors all lie the wisdom of following nature and of the golden mean and harmony. "Not eating what is out of season" is an observation of the rhythms of nature; the harmonious blending of various flavors (五味调和, wu wei tiao he - "five, flavors, harmonize, blend") is a pursuit of the way of balance; "moderation in eating and drinking" is a self-awareness of knowing when to stop. These cultural concepts formed through long-term life practice have, through the sedimentation of time, become cultural memories fused into the bloodline of the nation. Meal by meal, its significance lies not only in the sweetness of individual life, but also in allowing Chinese culture to continue enduring endlessly without interruption amid the daily smoke and fire of ordinary life.
"The life of the common people is a family matter, and even more a matter of the state." Solving the problem of eating has always been the foremost important matter in governance. From meeting basic food and clothing needs, to enriching the "vegetable basket" and "fruit plate," to implementing the national food security strategy and ensuring the stable supply of grain and important agricultural products, one after another livelihood measure is, in the final analysis, aimed at ensuring that the meals of millions of households are secure, flavorful, and of quality, and that the days of the common people are more solid and more comfortable. This is the genuine manifestation of the Communist Party's pursuit of well-being for the people, and also a vivid portrayal of the people-centered nature of Chinese modernization.
Meal by meal, the true colors of life are most visible, and the changes of the times are reflected. Eating well embodies the simple life philosophy of the Chinese people and also carries their longing and expectation for a better life. The cooking smoke never ceases, the fragrance of rice is ever present, and the happiness of millions of households continues to rise, meal by meal.
Return to TopDear readers, the columns on this page, including "Everyone's Discussion," "Warm News, Hot Commentary," "China's Path, China's Dream," and "Letters," are long-term open for submissions. We welcome your contributions, but please do not engage in submitting the same piece to multiple outlets (一稿多投, yi gao duo tou - "one, draft, many, submit").
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Return to TopBy: 本报记者 魏哲哲
Hui'ai Tower, located at No. 23 Lianhuachi Nanli, Fengtai District, Beijing, is one of the first batch of national units certified at the three-star level for barrier-free environments.
Here, persons with disabilities can better experience a friendly barrier-free environment: on the first-floor shared space, a rotary wheelchair ramp is specially installed to ensure barrier-free passage for persons with disabilities; the building houses a barrier-free film screening hall, where blind people can also "watch" films; around the tower, barrier-free renovation of the surrounding environment has been carried out, seamlessly connecting with bus stops and subway stations...
Love without "barriers," tangible and accessible. In June this year, the law enforcement inspection team of the NPC Standing Committee came here to inspect the implementation of the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Construction of Barrier-Free Environments.
Strengthening the construction of barrier-free environments is an important manifestation of the improvement of social civility. What results have been achieved in the more than three years since the implementation of the Law on the Construction of Barrier-Free Environments? What problems exist? From June to July this year, the law enforcement inspection team of the NPC Standing Committee traveled to six provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities), namely Beijing, Inner Mongolia, Shanghai, Hunan, Chongqing, and Gansu, to carry out law enforcement inspections.
The law enforcement inspection team held that all localities and departments have conscientiously implemented the relevant provisions of the Law on the Construction of Barrier-Free Environments, actively responded to the concerns of the people, and solidly advanced the construction of barrier-free environments, providing strong legal safeguards for further improving the quality of life of the people and promoting high-quality development of the economy and society. At the same time, the law enforcement inspection team also found that there are currently problems in the construction of barrier-free facilities, such as non-standardization, lack of systemization, and imbalance.
The construction of barrier-free facilities has accelerated across the board, improving the quality of life and safeguarding the dignity of life
"Suspended elderly" and persons with disabilities having difficulty going downstairs are common problems in old residential communities, troubling residents' lives and also constituting difficulties in advancing the construction of barrier-free facilities. Installing elevators involves complex interests—how can this difficult problem be solved? Members of the law enforcement inspection team paid close attention to this.
The transformation of Jinkeyuan Community in Yuhua District, Changsha, Hunan, is a good observation sample. The community was founded in 1963, with residents aged 60 and above accounting for 30 percent of households, and 37 persons with disabilities. Previously, the roads here were potholed, there were no elevators, and activity venues were lacking... It was inconvenient for residents to enjoy elderly care and leisure.
The change began with a "city physical examination." Taking the construction of complete communities as the starting point, combined with the renovation of old residential communities, Jinkeyuan Community followed a closed-loop path of "objective physical examination—public opinion survey—identification of shortcomings—project generation." Whatever residents need is what gets renovated. In accordance with the "physical examination report," needs were transformed one by one into specific renovation projects.
The old community has taken on a new look. What delighted residents most was the installation of 23 elevators; the elderly who were once "trapped" upstairs can now easily go downstairs to enjoy the sunshine and visit neighbors.
"How does it feel to live in the community?" Encountering elderly people active in the community, members of the law enforcement inspection team stepped forward to ask. Some elderly people reported that with elevators, they can more conveniently leave their homes, and their sense of happiness has grown stronger.
In Beijing, persistently tackling the installation of elevators in old buildings is also an important focus for advancing the construction and renovation of barrier-free facilities. "A four-level linkage mechanism of 'municipal coordination, district organization, subdistrict implementation, and community coordination' has been established, and an innovative 'three-just' working method of 'start upon one household's application, confirm upon reaching the proportion, and commence upon reaching consensus through consultation' has been adopted, effectively lowering the threshold for initiation." A relevant person in charge of the Beijing Municipal Commission of Housing and Urban-Rural Development introduced that since 2023, Beijing has completed the installation of more than 2,500 elevators in old buildings, effectively solving the problem of difficulty for the elderly and persons with disabilities in going up and down stairs.
The law enforcement inspection team learned that, in implementing the requirements of the Law on the Construction of Barrier-Free Environments, all localities have combined relevant work such as urban renewal to do a good job in the construction and renovation of barrier-free facilities. Today, the problem of "whether or not" new projects have barrier-free facilities has been basically solved, barrier-free renovation has been solidly advanced, and the level of barrier-free access in transportation has been markedly improved.
Affirming achievements while also directly facing problems. The law enforcement inspection team pointed out that the problem of non-standard construction of barrier-free facilities also objectively exists. For example, a large number of existing barrier-free facilities are "present but difficult to use": wheelchair ramps have excessively steep slopes, handrails are unreasonably installed, and while tactile paving is laid in pursuit of "laying wherever possible," there are problems such as insufficient color contrast, inappropriate materials, and non-standard or even erroneous laying.
In this regard, the law enforcement inspection team suggested placing greater emphasis on source-level standardization and source-level participation, and promoting the effective utilization of social resources. All links of engineering construction should be strictly controlled, mandatory standards should be strictly implemented, and the quality bottom line should be guaranteed; the responsibilities of engineering construction units and construction units should be consolidated, technical training for construction personnel should be strengthened, and problems arising from non-standard construction should be reduced.
Information accessibility is expanded in scope and improved in quality, continuously eliminating the digital divide and information barriers
The Rehabilitation Literature Reading Room of the Capital Library (Huaweiqiao Branch) is an exclusive reading space provided for special readers.
Mr. Wang, a Beijing resident who has had a visual disability for many years, comes to the Capital Library to "read" whenever he has free time. Through a smart reading device, paper books are converted into voice reading, allowing Mr. Wang to roam freely in the world of words. Beside him, a guide dog quietly accompanies Mr. Wang.
"The reading room welcomes guide dogs, and there are also smart devices, allowing visually impaired people to also experience the spiritual joy brought by 'reading.'" Mr. Wang said that with the development of society, the barrier-free supply of reading and audiovisual products has become richer, making it more convenient for persons with disabilities to better understand and integrate into society.
"Technology breaks down reading barriers, helping readers with disabilities independently conduct document retrieval, study, and research, making reading more inclusive and more accessible." Staff of the Capital Library introduced to the law enforcement inspection team that, based on reading, the reading room has also extended activities such as music and calligraphy, continuously enriching the spiritual and cultural lives of persons with disabilities and the elderly.
Whether drug instructions are clear and easy to read bears on the medication safety of the general public. For some time, problems of drug instructions being unfriendly to the elderly, such as extremely small characters (字小如蚁, zi xiao ru yi - "character, small, like, ant"), have been widely criticized. How to promote rectification? The law enforcement inspection team paid close attention to this.
"Procuratorial organs in Hunan lawfully carried out public interest litigation in the field of barrier-free information exchange, promoting the drug regulatory department of Hunan Province to organize 27 pharmaceutical enterprises and 156 product varieties to participate in the national elderly-friendly and barrier-free renovation of drug instructions, of which 13 pharmaceutical enterprises and 52 product varieties have already been launched on the market; and promoting the market supervision and administration department of Changsha City to supervise more than 600 chain pharmacies to complete the elderly-friendly renovation of barrier-free construction for medication services." A relevant person in charge of the People's Procuratorate of Hunan Province introduced.
In recent years, the "museum craze" has continued to heat up. Are places such as museums friendly to groups such as persons with disabilities and the elderly?
In Chongqing, at the Three Gorges Museum, the barrier-free details are abundant: there are tactile paving and barrier-free ramps visible throughout the museum, allowing those with mobility difficulties to tour the entire museum smoothly in wheelchairs; there are 1:1 replica cultural relics available for touching, allowing visually impaired people to "touch" history with their fingertips; and there is professional sign language interpretation available by scanning a QR code, allowing hearing-impaired people to "listen" to professional explanations through sign language... Here, special groups can deeply participate in museum education activities and equally access cultural knowledge.
Since the implementation of the Law on the Construction of Barrier-Free Environments, all localities have seized key breakthroughs in fields closely related to the lives of persons with disabilities and the elderly, vigorously promoting the expansion of information accessibility to multiple scenarios. However, compared with social needs and expectations, there is still room for improvement.
The law enforcement inspection team pointed out that the "elderly mode" of some websites and applications still contains advertising content and inducing buttons, and the "digital divide" in rural areas is particularly pronounced. The law enforcement inspection team suggested accelerating the establishment and improvement of mandatory standards in the field of information accessibility, strengthening the binding force of standards, and achieving an improvement in the construction of barrier-free environments from "having" to "being good."
Social services continue to be optimized, safeguarding the equal and convenient participation of persons with disabilities and the elderly in social life
Entering the Tianxin District People's Court of Changsha City, Hunan, one finds complete facilities including switchback barrier-free ramps, barrier-free parking spaces, and tactile paving. The courtroom is equipped with wheelchair spectator seats, ensuring smooth access for special groups and their equal participation in litigation activities.
"Systems for speech-text conversion and sign language interpretation are equipped to break down communication barriers for hearing-impaired people." A relevant person in charge of the Tianxin District People's Court introduced that the court has specially established a youth volunteer service team to provide full-process accompaniment for special groups, covering the entire process of case filing, mediation, and court hearings, effectively safeguarding the litigation rights of special groups.
Due to a property dispute, Shang Lei, a visually impaired person, filed a lawsuit. To better safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of persons with disabilities, the Tianxin District People's Court invited mediators from the Disabled Persons' Federation to jointly participate in the mediation of the case. During the mediation process, the court, with the aid of the barrier-free courtroom live broadcast system, synchronized the relevant text to Shang Lei's mobile phone when recording the mediation transcript, using the text-to-speech function to help him obtain relevant information in real time, eliminating communication barriers and safeguarding his legitimate rights and interests.
With the power of law, the court not only facilitated the proper resolution of the property dispute but also promoted the installation of barrier-free facilities in other communities with visually impaired residents, eliminating travel barriers and safeguarding the equal, full, and convenient participation of persons with disabilities in social life.
The Law on the Construction of Barrier-Free Environments makes special chapter arrangements for barrier-free social services. At every place it visited, the law enforcement inspection team made detailed inquiries and carefully inspected the relevant situation.
At the consultation desk, a low-level service counter is specially set up to accommodate wheelchair users conducting business in a seated position, with rounded corner protection on the edges; at the windows, dedicated personnel provide "one-stop" assistance and agency services, and persons with disabilities can receive a special care number, achieving priority queuing and full-process agency services... At the Beijing Municipal Government Service Center, the law enforcement inspection team saw such heartwarming scenes.
At Longnan Airport in Gansu, the "Long Xiaomei" barrier-free special service left a deep impression on the law enforcement inspection team. Airport staff introduced that, relying on the airport's party member volunteer service team, the airport has established a "one-on-one full-process companionship" service mechanism for special passengers, promoted a barrier-free travel telephone reservation service, and provided full-process dedicated guidance and assistance from the terminal entrance, check-in, and security screening to the boarding gate.
Today, all localities are conscientiously implementing the relevant provisions of the Law on the Construction of Barrier-Free Environments, refining legal obligations into service norms, and striving to improve the universality and precision of services.
The law enforcement inspection team learned that more than 220 cities have opened the 95128 taxi reservation service hotline, all lines of urban rail transit have opened "love reservation" services, and major ride-hailing platforms have launched "one-tap car hailing" services in more than 320 cities. Railway, civil aviation, and highway passenger transport units have generally established reservation service mechanisms for key passengers, opened green channels, and provided guidance services, and a complete travel support system of "hard measures plus soft services" has basically taken shape.
The law enforcement inspection team pointed out that the construction of barrier-free environments should be organically embedded in urban construction, public services, social governance, and other work, comprehensively considering policy requirements such as barrier-free, elderly-friendly, and child-friendly adaptations, and, in light of actual conditions, effectively transforming legal provisions into tangible and accessible construction results.
At present, the people's needs and expectations for the construction of barrier-free environments are higher. It is necessary to deeply understand and grasp the great significance of law-based advancement of the construction of barrier-free environments from the height of enhancing the people's well-being, improving social civility, and promoting the comprehensive development of human beings. The law enforcement inspection team stated that it is necessary to vigorously do a good job in the construction of barrier-free environments as an important livelihood project and popular support project, make good use of rule-of-law thinking and rule-of-law methods, actively respond to the people's general concerns about barrier-free environments, strive to advance the construction of barrier-free environments in step with economic and social development, and continuously enhance the people's sense of gain, happiness, and security.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 赵帅杰
The sun slanted over the hillside, casting a rosy glow, and just as the villagers were finishing their work and heading home, Li Quanmin, a rural public-interest film projectionist, put on his helmet, started his three-wheeled motorcycle, and loaded up the projector that had accompanied him for many years to "start work."
Li Quanmin lives in Dongtou Village, Hebi Town, Heshan District, Hebi City, Henan Province. Since 1986, he has insisted on screening films for the villagers, and has continued to do so for 40 years to this day.
Over the years, the projection equipment has been upgraded, the areas under his responsibility have been adjusted, the audiences watching have changed, and his colleagues around him have come and gone in wave after wave, but his film projection work has never been interrupted. Now, at 62 years old, he has screened more than 12,000 films in total, benefiting more than 300,000 people.
"No matter how late it is, as long as there is a screening scheduled, I cannot be absent."
Climbing the slope all the way, the motor roaring, half an hour later Li Quanmin arrived at the evening's screening location — Huweigou Village, Jiashan Township, Heshan District. On the square in front of the village party-masses service center, villagers greeted him warmly: "Quanmin, you're here to screen films again!"
Standing beneath the screen, Old Li paced forward while silently counting, "One, two, three..." After measuring the distance, he skillfully laid out the cable, took out the projector, and adjusted the picture angle in just a few minutes. "If the equipment is placed too far away, the picture size tends to enlarge and the brightness is not high; if placed too close, the picture becomes smaller and is hard on the eyes. Look, mine is just right!" This old hand before us was clearly satisfied with his own skill.
Forty years ago, however, it was a different scene. In 1986, Li Quanmin, who had a high school education, was recommended by village cadres to become a film projectionist, and he, who loved watching movies, agreed without hesitation. "At that time, film projectors were used — the equipment was bulky and prone to breakdowns, and when a problem occurred, one would often be acting in a frantic or disorganized manner (手忙脚乱, shou mang jiao luan - "hand, busy; foot, confused")." Li Quanmin recalled that fortunately an experienced master taught him hands-on, and he devoted himself to studying whenever he had time. Later, repairing broken film, handling skipped frames, and troubleshooting sound failures — none of these could stump him.
In the 1980s, television was still a rarity in rural areas, and open-air movies were one of the few forms of entertainment for the masses. "Almost every village had a film projectionist," Li Quanmin said. "Whenever a film was shown, the whole village would gather together — at least three to five hundred people, filling the venue to the brim."
Li Quanmin said: "At that time, the power supply conditions in mountain villages were poor, and stable electricity often only became available after 10 p.m. But no matter how late it was, as long as there was a screening scheduled, I could not be absent, and everyone was willing to wait."
In Li Quanmin's memory, the 1990s were the golden age of rural film projection. In his busiest year, he screened nearly 400 films. With rugged mountain roads to traverse and more than 100 jin of equipment to carry, Li Quanmin left his footprints in many villages in Heshan District.
"Being able to screen films for the elderly and being needed by them — I feel very fulfilled."
"Around the year 2000, as television became widespread in rural areas, open-air movies were impacted, with fewer than 100 screenings a year in total, and it became struggling to make a living (难以为生, nan yi wei sheng - "difficult, can, for, live") to rely on projection alone." Li Quanmin said that in 1999, he opened a small agricultural supplies shop in the village, using the shop's income to subsidize his projection expenses.
As the industry cooled, his former colleagues left one after another, and across the surrounding villages, for a time, only he remained persevering. "It's not that I never thought of giving up, but because of my love for it, I could never bear to let go," Li Quanmin said.
In 2007, the "Rural Film Projection Project" was incorporated into the national public cultural service system. "Public-interest film projection needed personnel, and the town and village cadres thought of me first and invited me to 'come out of retirement.'" Li Quanmin's tone carried pride. He took on the projection tasks for 29 administrative villages alone, with at least one screening per village per month, and his annual screenings immediately jumped to more than 300.
Before long, it was a case of "upgrading to much better equipment (鸟枪换炮, niao qiang huan pao - "bird gun, exchange, cannon")" — the film projector that had accompanied him for more than 10 years was properly stored away, replaced by digitally equipped projectors uniformly issued by the government. "The new machines have clear pictures, full sound, simple operation, and a low failure rate," he said. Subsidies also rose in tandem, and the film library became richer — no more need to bother renting film reels, and every film came with subtitles for everyone's convenience.
However, as entertainment options grew increasingly diverse, audiences were no longer the vast, overwhelming crowds of people (人山人海, ren shan ren hai - "person, mountain, person, sea") of the past, and Li Quanmin took this in stride. Hebi Town and Jiashan Township are relatively remote, with the nearest commercial cinema more than 20 kilometers away, and many elderly people have difficulty traveling and can hardly make it to a cinema. "Being able to screen films for the elderly and being needed by them — I feel very fulfilled," Li Quanmin said.
Having been rooted at the grassroots level for years, Li Quanmin found that some major theatrical releases often "fail to adapt to local conditions or environment (水土不服, shui tu bu fu - "water, soil, not, adapt")" in rural areas. "Not only are there few viewers, but sometimes people leave halfway through the screening." He analyzed that this was mainly because rural audiences are mostly elderly, and the themes of blockbuster films rarely match their preferences. To this end, he reported to higher-level departments, hoping that more opera films favored by the elderly would be distributed.
Under the coordinated promotion of the local propaganda department, the Hebi Niu School Opera Art Research Institute produced films such as Hometown Sentiments of the Taihang Mountains and The New Seven-Pin Sesame Official. Now, Old Li's film list is dominated by opera, supplemented by comedies, agricultural science and technology education films, and red-themed films, bringing it closer to audience needs.
"Having become a Party member, I must serve everyone even better."
Li Quanmin has a saying he often repeats: "In this life, the thing I love doing most is screening films." In his WeChat, he has the contact information of the Party branch secretaries of the 24 villages he is currently responsible for, and before every screening, he releases the film schedule in advance.
"In recent years, transportation in the mountains has changed dramatically. The originally bumpy and muddy mountain roads have all been paved into smooth asphalt and cement roads," Li Quanmin introduced. Thanks to the village-to-village and household-to-household road projects, the time spent traveling back and forth has become shorter and shorter, and he can get home earlier after the screenings end.
The mountain climate is changeable. Sometimes, just after he finishes adjusting the equipment, a torrential rain arrives. Li Quanmin always first covers the machine with an oilcloth and packs away the screen before finding shelter himself. In his heart, the projection equipment is more precious than his own person. This enthusiasm also moves the villagers in the mountains.
Once, at past 11 p.m., Li Quanmin was halfway home after finishing a screening when his vehicle suddenly stalled and could not move forward. After several repair attempts, it remained "dead." He tried asking nearby villagers for help, and the other party came without a second word.
"Quanmin, when are you coming to our village again?" Villagers often asked eagerly. Not long ago, someone gave Li Quanmin the title of "Mountain Literary and Artistic Messenger," which made him grin from ear to ear.
Night fell, and the stars twinkled. After the two films finished screening, Li Quanmin packed up his equipment and drove off once again on the road home. On the way, he told reporters that last October, he joined the Party. "Having become a Party member, I must serve everyone even better." After a brief pause, he said in a firm tone, "As long as my health allows, I will keep going and continue this work of rural public-interest film projection for a long time to come."
Return to Top(People's Daily, Beijing, October 13) (Reporter Pan Junqiang) Recently, the Capital Greening Committee issued the "Action Plan for High-Quality Development of Protection of Ancient and Famous Trees in the Capital (2026-2030)."
According to the plan, Beijing has officially launched the action to optimize and upgrade the protection and management system for ancient and famous trees in the capital, the action to precisely improve and upgrade the quality of protection of ancient and famous trees, the action to empower the protection of ancient and famous trees with scientific and technological innovation, and the action to inherit and revitalize the culture of ancient and famous trees, clarifying the goals, tasks, and implementation paths for the protection of ancient and famous trees across the city over the next five years. By 2030, Beijing aims to build 1 standardized database of ancient and famous tree resources, create 10 ecological and cultural landmarks of ancient trees in the old city, construct 100 ancient tree habitat gardens and ancient tree villages, implement preventive protection and rescue rejuvenation for more than 3,000 ancient and famous trees, collect and preserve germplasm resources of 100 rare and endangered ancient and famous trees, and promote the scientific, digital, and systematic protection of ancient trees.
According to the plan's deployment, Beijing has launched the third citywide survey of ancient and famous tree resources, with the survey scope newly adding investigations of ancient and famous trees within nature reserves, to ascertain the quantity, location distribution, growth status, and protection and management conditions of ancient and famous tree resources. The plan particularly focuses on the protection of thousand-year-old ancient trees and will establish an annual physical examination mechanism for thousand-year-old ancient trees. In the core area of the capital's functions, the protection of ancient and famous trees will be coordinated with the protection of the Central Axis cultural heritage, historical and cultural districts, cultural relics and ancient buildings, and traditional courtyards.
Return to TopOn October 12, Tianbao Community on Jiannan Street in Fengcheng City, Jiangxi Province, held a themed event in which volunteers and elderly residents made dumplings together, watched performances, and chatted about everyday life. A golden and silver wedding anniversary ceremony was also held on site, promoting traditional virtues while conveying the civilized concept of supporting each other in difficult times (相濡以沫, xiang ru yi mo - "mutual, moisten, with, together") and mutual respect and affection. The photo shows elderly couples at the event holding up "double happiness" signs for a group photo.
Photo by Zhou Liang (Images of China)
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 胡婧怡
Standing inside the laboratory of the Intelligent Ship Shore-Based Digital Intelligence Operation and Control Center at Dalian Maritime University, one can see on the large screen the navigation status of the "Xin Hongzhuan" vessel far out at sea: real-time data transmission, automatic route planning, precise heading maintenance, intelligent target avoidance... This is the scene of the "Xin Hongzhuan" vessel conducting its maritime demonstration experiment.
Yin Yong, head of the "Xin Hongzhuan" vessel's shore-based digital intelligence operation and control center and professor at Dalian Maritime University, introduced that the "Xin Hongzhuan" vessel is 69.8 meters long with a displacement of 1,488 tons, and is the world's first intelligent research and training dual-purpose vessel integrating autonomous navigation, remote control, scientific research validation, and teaching and practical training in one.
The "Xin Hongzhuan" vessel has deployed more than 15,000 intelligent sensors across the entire ship, integrating equipment such as LiDAR, vision systems, and underwater sonar. These serve as the vessel's "clairvoyant eyes" and "far-reaching ears," enabling full-dimensional environmental perception of both the surface and underwater domains. "This enables both remote shore-based control driving and task distribution and swarm management of various unmanned equipment in the air, on the surface, and underwater," Yin Yong said.
As a mobile pilot-scale testing platform, the reserved deck space of the "Xin Hongzhuan" vessel can carry equipment such as unmanned aerial vehicles, unmanned surface vessels, and underwater robots, building an integrated collaborative operation system of "sea, land, air, and underwater" with the "Xin Hongzhuan" vessel as its intelligent brain, which can provide validation support for domestically produced intelligent equipment.
How does this collaborative operation system function? Yin Yong said that, for example, the UAV swarm can serve as aerial relay nodes, leveraging beyond-line-of-sight communication capabilities of more than 10 kilometers to ensure smooth remote command transmission between the mother ship and the shore-based control center; the surface unmanned vessel formation can, during coordinated patrol around the mother ship, monitor in real time the vessel activity and hydrological environment of the surrounding sea area; and underwater operation robots can be used for tasks such as underwater structural inspection of the hull and seabed geological scanning.
During the research and development process of the "Xin Hongzhuan" vessel, the research team needed to solve many technical difficulties.
Autonomous navigation in narrow waterways was one of them. To solve problems such as delays in sensor data fusion and lagging collision avoidance strategies, the algorithms were repeatedly overturned and rebuilt, and it took more than a year before the ultimately optimized algorithm was finalized. To achieve remote control, it was necessary to ensure ship-shore data interconnection and real-time transmission of data and commands. The team leased a berth at the Xiaoping Island yacht marina in Dalian and, relying on unmanned vessels and repeated shore-based testing, ultimately resolved the difficulty.
"We will fully leverage the role of the 'Xin Hongzhuan' vessel as a technology validation platform and talent cultivation base, continue to deepen our work in the field of intelligent shipping, and forge ahead through challenges (破浪前行, po lang qian xing - "break, waves, move forward") in the great tide of intelligent shipping," Yin Yong said.
Reporter's Notes
Let the Innovation Chain, Industrial Chain, and Talent Chain Mesh Closely Together
For intelligent shipping, the bottleneck lies not in overcoming individual technologies or algorithms, but in system reliability under complex scenarios. This requires breaking down the barriers between scientific research, teaching, and industry, and solving problems such as "research floating in the air, education disconnected from reality, and transformation obstructed."
The "Xin Hongzhuan" vessel is not only an intelligent ship, but also a testing ground for scientific research, a pilot-scale testing platform for domestically produced equipment, and a practical training platform for talent cultivation. It places the validation of domestically produced intelligent equipment and students' mastery of practical intelligent navigation skills within real sea conditions, allowing the innovation chain, industrial chain, and talent chain to mesh closely together.
Only by establishing a complete closed loop of "research and development—validation—talent" can we firmly grasp the helm of the next leg of the journey at a time when the competitive landscape of the global shipping industry is being reshaped.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 吴储岐
Statistics released by the Ministry of Civil Affairs show that, as of the first half of this year, there were 39.354 million urban and rural recipients of subsistence allowances (dibao) nationwide, and 4.937 million people receiving special assistance (tekun); 12.027 million people received living allowances for disabled persons in difficulty, and 16.871 million people received nursing care subsidies for persons with severe disabilities.
During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, cumulative national expenditure on basic living assistance exceeded 1.38 trillion yuan, and the average standards for urban and rural subsistence allowances increased by 22.8 percent and 25 percent respectively.
Behind these figures are specific individuals and real households being supported by an increasingly improved social assistance system. From July 1 this year, the Social Assistance Law of the People's Republic of China officially came into effect. Timely detection of difficulties, precise response to needs, and securing basic living standards — the successively introduced policies are closer to the concrete lives of the people, and China's basic livelihood security network is being woven ever more densely.
Actively developing service-oriented social assistance
Bottom-line security is more robust
In Changle Town, Hepu County, Beihai City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Zhang Shanying (pseudonym) has moved into a eldercare institution, where someone attends to her daily routines, delivers meals at mealtimes, and she can receive timely care when she feels unwell.
Not long ago, Zhang Shanying's husband passed away suddenly, and she, unable to care for herself, lost her support. Because relevant certificates had been lost, even applying for assistance became a problem. When staff of the Civil Affairs Office of Changle Town learned of the situation, they intervened proactively, contacted the public security department to reissue the household register and ID card, coordinated with relevant departments to reissue the disability certificate and social security card, and then helped verify the family situation and process the assistance application. After review, Zhang Shanying was identified as a person receiving special assistance. Considering that she is unable to care for herself and has no one to look after her, the local authorities coordinated to send her to an eldercare institution for centralized care.
The difficult matters of the people are the major matters of social assistance work. For special groups in difficulty such as those who are incapacitated, disabled, or without anyone to care for them, the difficulty is often not only a lack of money — who will cook, who will provide care, what to do when one cannot care for oneself — these are all immediate problems.
Recently, the Ministry of Civil Affairs and the Ministry of Finance issued the Guiding Opinions on Actively Developing Service-Oriented Social Assistance, promoting the transformation of social assistance from a single material assistance model to a comprehensive "material + services" assistance model, providing care, living, and companionship services according to the actual needs of assistance recipients.
"The problems faced by people in difficulty are very concrete — sometimes what is lacking is living expenses, sometimes what is lacking is a person who can care for and accompany them at their side," said Zhu Jianhua, professor at Shanghai Jiao Tong University. "Actively developing service-oriented social assistance requires not only ensuring the basic living security of people in difficulty, but also giving them spiritual support and hope in life. From securing basic food and clothing to further responding to actual needs such as daily care, living services, psychological comfort, companionship and care, and social integration, this reflects that China's social assistance pays more attention to the specific circumstances of people in difficulty, providing more multidimensional comprehensive assistance by linking resources and integrating forces."
"Big data + 'iron soles'" for timely intervention
Assistance identification is more proactive
Dong Xinghua, civil affairs assistant of Yuanhe Subdistrict, Yunhe County, Lishui City, Zhejiang Province, opened the Zhejiang Province Major Assistance Information System, and an early warning about a large medical expenditure popped up.
It turned out that 67-year-old Uncle Que had previously applied for assistance and, due to his weak capacity to resist risks, had been included in the dynamic monitoring of the Major Assistance Information System. In March this year, Uncle Que suffered a sudden cerebral infarction leading to total paralysis. The medical expenses paid in the early period nearly exhausted his savings, and there are still monthly rehabilitation nursing fees and other costs to come — his income is not sufficient to cover his expenditures.
Seeing the early warning, Dong Xinghua immediately called to verify, and after asking the hospital and Uncle Que's son to clarify the situation, used the system's "palm-held agency" function to help Uncle Que's family apply for the joint processing of "one-stop" assistance. "You take care of your father with peace of mind; we'll handle the rest of the running around," Dong Xinghua said to Uncle Que's son. That afternoon, the subsistence allowance application was submitted through the system. Fifteen days later, Uncle Que's family was approved for subsistence allowance treatment, receiving 1,210 yuan per month, and subsequent medical expenses were also covered accordingly under local policy.
Since the beginning of this year, Yunhe County has proactively identified and included 135 similar households in assistance through system early warnings.
A family can fall into difficulty sometimes after just one serious illness or one accident. In the past, some people did not understand the policies, did not know whom to turn to, or were too preoccupied with urgent matters to submit an application, and might temporarily remain outside the scope of assistance. Now, as information sharing among departments and grassroots visits and inspections are more closely linked, the role of dynamic monitoring of low-income populations has further emerged. The Social Assistance Law includes families on the margins of minimum living security and families with difficulty in rigid expenditures within the scope of social assistance recipients, and makes institutional arrangements for strengthening dynamic monitoring of low-income populations and proactively identifying people in difficulty.
"The value of 'policies finding people' lies in moving the threshold of detection and assistance forward," Zhu Jianhua said. "Data can help identify risks that a family may face, but to truly know what this family lacks and where its difficulties lie, grassroots workers still need to step through the door. 'Big data finds clues, 'iron soles' verify the situation' — only by combining the two can proactive prevention and early intervention be achieved, making assistance both fast and accurate. This is also a concrete manifestation of social assistance performing its risk-prevention function."
A relevant person in charge of the Department of Social Assistance of the Ministry of Civil Affairs stated that a hierarchical and categorized social assistance system is currently being further improved. Through the combination of departmental data sharing and household visits, monitoring and early warning are being realized to promptly detect families that have fallen into difficulty due to large medical expenditures, sudden drops in income, and other causes, and then matching corresponding assistance policies according to the degree and type of difficulty. This ensures that eligible people in difficulty are "fully covered as guaranteed," while also striving to achieve early detection of difficulties and early intervention of assistance.
The subsidy system is continuously improved
Protection for disabled persons is more heartwarming
In Lijiatanghou Village, Longshan Subdistrict, Wendeng District, Weihai City, Shandong Province, for Wang Ankang (pseudonym), who has been bedridden and paralyzed for more than 20 years after a car accident, nursing pads, medicines, and nutritional products are fixed monthly expenses. In 2016, Wang Ankang began receiving the living allowance for disabled persons in difficulty and the nursing care subsidy for persons with severe disabilities; at that time both subsidies were 80 yuan per month. Now, according to local standards, the two subsidies have been raised to 213 yuan and 192 yuan per month respectively.
"The subsidies arrive on time every month, and I feel at ease," Wang Ankang said. These two sums of money can basically cover the expenses of nursing consumables and commonly used medicines, which is very important for his family.
During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, the standards for the two subsidies for disabled persons increased by 34.58 percent and 25.09 percent respectively. In recent years, the system of the two subsidies for disabled persons has been continuously improved. Qualification determination applications have achieved "cross-provincial handling" and "full online processing," and relevant departments have continuously strengthened data sharing and proactive services, making it more convenient for eligible disabled persons to enjoy the policies.
"With the continuous improvement of the two subsidies for disabled persons and the level of social assistance, the basic living of disabled persons has been effectively guaranteed. At the same time, long-term care is becoming a real problem faced by many families of disabled persons, and it is particularly prominent for families of persons with severe disabilities," said Yang Lixiong, professor at Renmin University of China. He believes that the care and support service system for persons with severe disabilities should be continuously improved, and that in carrying out service-oriented social assistance, persons with severe disabilities in difficulty should be listed as key service targets, with precise policy implementation to reduce the care burden on families of disabled persons.
A relevant person in charge of the Department of Social Affairs of the Ministry of Civil Affairs stated that the living allowance for disabled persons in difficulty is mainly used to subsidize the additional living expenses of disabled persons arising from their disabilities, and the nursing care subsidy for persons with severe disabilities is mainly used to subsidize the additional long-term care expenses of disabled persons arising from their disabilities. In the next step, the dynamic adjustment mechanism for subsidy standards will continue to be improved, data sharing and comparison and proactive services will be strengthened, so that eligible disabled persons can enjoy the policies more promptly and conveniently.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 齐志明 王明峰 叶传增
As autumn deepens, the cultural tourism consumption market surges with vitality. From red tourism scenic areas to county-level small towns, from immersive cultural tourism to intelligent green consumption, new consumption scenarios, new business forms, and new models are emerging in concentrated fashion.
From "checking in" to "immersion," cultural tourism consumption is deepening and innovating.
Becoming a participant in the story, walking through old streets and alleys, engaging in cross-time dialogue with the teachers and students of the National Southwestern Associated University... At the Memorial Hall of the National Southwestern Associated University's Mengzi Branch in Mengzi City, Yunnan Province, the live-action scripted game project is highly popular among tourists. "Through the immersive plot experience, I have gained a deeper understanding of the struggles of our predecessors," said tourist Wang Ziran.
In Chaotian District, Guangyuan City, Sichuan Province, the Mingyue Gorge scenic area has launched a checkpoint challenge experience, where tourists don Hanfu and hold "official travel documents" to "travel through" a thousand years on the ancient plank road.
From "passing through" to "staying," county-level small towns are releasing new momentum.
At the Huahugu scenic area in Yantang Town, Chaling County, Zhuzhou City, Hunan Province, a grassland music carnival has attracted many tourists. In the pet home, children interact with small animals; on the grassland, tourists fly kites, practice archery, and ride horses. As night falls, pop songs and stand-up comedy take the stage in turn, with cheers blending with the lively atmosphere. The scenic area's comprehensive cultural tourism income from agricultural sideline product sales, homestays, and farmhouse restaurants has increased significantly, effectively stimulating the vitality of rural agricultural, cultural, and tourism consumption.
More tourist flows are surging toward small towns, and "county-chasing tourism" has become a new trend in tourism consumption. Meituan data shows that visits to entertainment venues in third-tier and below cities increased by 258% compared to before the National Day holiday, with a growth rate approximately 1.9 times that of first- and second-tier cities; among popular destinations for high-star hotel bookings, Lijiang, Dali, Yan'an, Huangshan, and Yili performed prominently.
From "night tours" to "night shopping," the nighttime economy remains robust.
In Nankeng Town, Luxi County, Jiangxi Province, the 34th "Nanxi Cup" basketball tournament has attracted a large number of citizens and tourists. The event drove more than 50,000 villagers and tourists to watch and spend, boosting local snack shop profits by over 200,000 yuan, with mobile vendors around the basketball court achieving average daily sales of more than 5,000 yuan, activating the rural "night economy." Luxi County has also held a hot air balloon music carnival at the Xianfeng Sanbaoyuan scenic area, where nighttime music parties, bonfire gatherings, and other events are very lively.
In Gucheng Subdistrict, Sucheng District, Suqian City, Jiangsu Province, the upgraded Gubei·1996 block nighttime consumption cluster is resplendent and colorful with flowing light (流光溢彩, liu guang yi cai - "flowing, light; overflowing, color"), with specialty snacks, trendy dining, stage performances, leisure entertainment, and other business forms gathered together, and people coming and going in large numbers (人来人往, ren lai ren wang - "person, come; person, go"). Nighttime consumption performance is outstanding, becoming a new engine for regional consumption upgrading.
From "traffic" to "retention," policies and services work in tandem.
The vitality of the consumption market cannot be separated from precise policy efforts and continuous service optimization. This year's fourth batch of 62.5 billion yuan in ultra-long-term special treasury bonds supporting trade-in programs for consumer goods was allocated before the National Day holiday, and combined with local supporting subsidies, it provides assistance for stimulating consumption vitality. During the National Day Cultural and Tourism Consumption Month, localities across the country intensively held more than 20,000 cultural tourism events and issued over 310 million yuan in consumption vouchers and other consumption subsidies, providing consumers with richer choices.
As policy effects continue to be released and high-quality supply continues to expand, consumption potential is continuously unleashed, reflecting the people's aspiration for a better life.
Return to Top(People's Daily, Beijing, October 13) (Reporter Li Zhuo'er) On October 13, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences held its Second Youth Academic Conference in Beijing. Gao Xiang, President and Secretary of the Party Leadership Group of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, attended the conference and delivered an academic report.
The conference, themed "Inheritance · Innovation · Standards," featured a main forum and eight sub-forums on studying and implementing Xi Jinping's thought on Party building, AI-assisted scientific research, research on global civilizations, advancing theoretical innovation through the Two Integrations (两个结合), high-quality development, comprehensive law-based governance, regional and country studies, and the integration of science and education. The conference released important achievements by young scholars of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences since the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. Members of the Academy's Party Leadership Group presented awards to representatives of winners of the "Outstanding Research Report Award" and "Outstanding Organization Award" for the 2026 Social Science Youth Return-to-Hometown Field Research.
The conference was hosted by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and organized by its Party Committee of Directly Affiliated Organs, the Scientific Research Bureau, and the Personnel and Education Bureau.
Return to Top(People's Daily, Lhasa, October 13) (Reporter Xu Yuyao) On the 13th, the Institute of Food and Nutrition Development of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and the Tibet Academy of Agricultural and Animal Husbandry Sciences jointly held a symposium in Lhasa on improving the dietary nutrition and health of residents in plateau regions. The symposium focused on improving the dietary nutrition and health of plateau residents, conducting in-depth discussions and exchanges on the effectiveness of special work, the promotion of experience, shortcomings and challenges faced, and ideas for next steps.
The meeting held that the special work on improving the dietary nutrition and health of Tibetan residents has established a coordination mechanism, formed a scientific approach to advancement, compiled a series of research reports and guideline plans, developed and promoted a series of common key technologies, carried out whole-village pilot demonstrations and science popularization and publicity guidance, and formed replicable and scalable experience (可复制可推广, ke fu zhi ke fu tui - "can copy, can promote").
Participants held that improving plateau dietary nutrition and health is a foundational, systematic, and long-term undertaking. It is necessary to follow the concept of "food provides nutrition, nutrition improves health, health leads consumption, consumption guides production, and production guarantees supply," improve the organizational and promotion system with coordination between upper and lower levels, strengthen policy supply, scientific research, and science popularization, and comprehensively improve the nutrition and health level of people of all ethnic groups in plateau regions.
Responsible comrades from relevant departments and bureaus of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the National Health Commission, and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology attended the meeting and delivered speeches. Responsible comrades from relevant departments of Sichuan, Yunnan, Gansu, Qinghai, Xinjiang, and Tibet provinces and regions exchanged views on their work, and experts from relevant research institutes, universities, and hospitals, as well as representatives of farmers and herders, participated in the discussions.
Return to TopOn October 13, in the high-standard farmland of the Chenmiao River area, Wanggang Township, Xishui County, Huanggang City, Hubei Province, workers were loading and transporting crop straw from the fields.
The locality has continued to explore new models for the resource utilization of straw. Through unified collection, baling, and processing, the straw is converted into resources such as livestock and poultry feed and cultivation substrates for edible fungi, promoting the turning of waste into something valuable (变废为宝, bian fei wei bao - "change, waste, become, treasure") from straw.
Photo by Wang Jiang (China Images)
Return to Top(People's Daily, Beijing, October 13) (Reporter Wang Guan) The reporter learned on the 13th: In the first three quarters, the Export-Import Bank of China issued nearly one trillion yuan in new loans in the foreign trade sector, a year-on-year increase of 9 percent, of which nearly 40 percent was directed toward stabilizing the main entities of foreign trade and stabilizing the industrial chains of foreign trade.
The Export-Import Bank formulated and implemented a work plan for stabilizing the fundamentals of foreign trade, coordinating support for trade in goods and trade in services, traditional trade and new business forms and new models, and helping to develop digital trade and green trade. Focusing on the new circumstances and new demands of enterprises expanding into international markets (走出去, zou chu qu - "walk, go out, towards"), it provides all-round support in cross-border settlement, trade financing, supply chain finance, and other areas, helping enterprises steadily open up international markets. It has strengthened financing support for major landmark projects and "small but beautiful" livelihood projects in countries jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative, raised the proportion of the renminbi used in bilateral trade, investment and financing, and other areas, and helped deepen trade and investment cooperation. It has enriched financial service models for small and micro enterprises, actively explored online service pathways for small and micro enterprises in cross-border e-commerce, and stepped up support for small and micro foreign trade enterprises to expand markets and strengthen confidence.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 郝迎灿
In the early morning, a thin mist lightly veils the treetops.
At the Aer Township forest protection point of Zhanggutai Forest Farm, Zhangwu County, Fuxin City, Liaoning Province, 62-year-old forest ranger Li Dongkui steps out the door, the sandy ground soft and fine underfoot. Through thirty-nine years of the passing of time through seasons (寒来暑往, han lai shu wang - "cold comes, heat goes"), he has patrolled day after day among more than 8,500 mu of Mongolian pine forest.
"Watermelons and peanuts grown in sandy soil are high in sweetness and good in appearance." Five kilometers from the forest protection point, in Aer Township Village, Aer Township, Li Dongkui's daughter — 37-year-old village party secretary Li Mingming — walks into a greenhouse to check the growth of fruits and vegetables. After graduating from a forestry college and returning to her hometown, she is determined to protect the greenery and revitalize the sandy land. "Through soil improvement and controlled water and fertilizer management, the barren wasteland where fierce sandstorms or harsh desert conditions (飞沙走石, fei sha zou shi - "flying sand, running stones") once prevailed is now bearing abundant fruit, and village collective economic income has exceeded 1 million yuan for four consecutive years."
From a single tree to an entire forest sea, through more than 70 years of relay desertification control, Zhangwu County, where desertified land once accounted for as much as 96 percent, has seen remarkable changes: forested land area has grown substantially, forest coverage has risen from 2.9 percent to over 30 percent, and the number of days with blowing sand throughout the year has dropped from more than 200 to about 5. The desert and sand sea have gradually become green fields and cultivated land.
On the basis of holding the ecological bottom line, Zhangwu County has moved beyond the mindset of "single-track desertification control," deepened the approach of "desertification control plus industry development," shifted from "passive desertification control" to "active use of the sand," and blazed a path of simultaneous green development and prosperity.
At the sweet potato planting base in Mingshui Village, Shuangmiao Town, thousands of mu of emerald-green vines are layered or piled up in many tiers (层层叠叠, ceng ceng die die - "layer, layer, stack, stack"), presenting a scene full of vigorous life and vitality (生机盎然, sheng ji ang ran - "life, spirit, overflowing") and abundant harvest.
"This was once barren, bare sandy land. With ample sunlight and a large temperature difference between day and night, the sweet potatoes grown here have red skin, sweet flesh, and a soft, dense texture, earning them the name 'golden nuggets of the sandy land.'" Zhao Dongming, deputy county head of Zhangwu County, said that the locality has incorporated sweet potato cultivation into the overall layout of ecological governance, with farming households developing together in clusters, planting in contiguous plots, and adopting unified management and unified sales. As of now, Zhangwu County's sweet potato planting area has remained stable at around 100,000 mu, with an annual output exceeding 250,000 tons.
"We have innovatively promoted farming models such as 'wheat plus soybean' crop rotation and implemented demonstration projects for per-unit yield improvement. Last year, grain output reached more than 2.4 billion jin." Zhao Yongshuo, party secretary of Zhangwu County, said that relying on natural endowments such as the good permeability of sandy soil and the large temperature difference between day and night, Zhangwu County has strengthened and expanded advantageous categories including sandy-land sweet potatoes, high-sugar peanuts, specialty fruits and vegetables, and high-quality miscellaneous grains, turning the barren sand mounds of the past one by one into fertile soil for specialty cultivation.
Zhangwu County has proven natural silica sand reserves of 850 million tons, with prospective reserves of more than 3 billion tons. Building on the advantage of silica sand resources, Zhangwu County has combined governance with utilization to turn sand into something highly valuable (点砂成金, dian sha cheng jin - "dot, sand, become, gold"), constructing a full-chain green industrial system covering silica sand mining, fine processing, and recycling and regeneration of waste sand, and fostering an industrial cluster with an annual output value exceeding 3.3 billion yuan.
"A handful of fine sand, after deep processing, gains more than tenfold in added value." Qiao Liang, director of the Industry and Information Technology Bureau of Zhangwu County, said that in the past, local silica sand was simply screened and sold at low prices to other regions, making it difficult to unlock the value of resource advantages. Today, by deepening the track of fine processing, the locality has built a large-scale silica sand deep-processing base capable of producing in batches such products as high-end foundry sand, permeable building-material sand, 3D printing sand, and petroleum fracturing sand, which are widely used in high-end manufacturing, building materials, industrial casting, and other fields.
At the Delige'er Grassland Scenic Area in Dade Town, sand dunes are scattered across the landscape, and a sculpture in the shape of a shovel stands among them, with many tourists stopping to take photos. "The transformation of desert sand dunes into grassland and forest sea is truly awe-inspiring. I brought my child here specially — to enjoy the natural scenery and also to experience the spirit of desertification control," said a tourist surnamed Liu from Shenyang City, Liaoning Province.
Turning ecological "pain points" into ecological scenic spots, "the 'sand nest' where not a blade of grass once grew has become a scenic area, and our whole family now makes a living from 'tourism,' with annual work income exceeding 100,000 yuan," said Liu Jun, a villager from Huanghua Village, Dade Town. "Sand culture and tourism" has opened a new path for enriching the people and increasing income. Zhangwu County has linked together ecological landscapes including forest seas, grasslands, sandy lands, and lakes, cultivating a rich array of business formats such as ecotourism, study tours, and wellness and leisure tourism, receiving more than 1.1 million tourist visits in 2025.
Return to Top(People's Daily, Tianjin, October 13) (Reporter Li Jiading) The "Tianjin Municipal Work Plan for Accelerating Scenario Innovation and Application" was recently issued, with "providing scenarios, cultivating industries, and promoting development" as its main thread, systematically laying out a scenario innovation and application system, opening up the transformation channels between technology and industry, and between R&D and the market, providing important support for cultivating and developing new quality productive forces and promoting high-quality development.
The plan specifies that by the end of 2026, the municipal-level scenario innovation service platform will be officially launched, the scenario supply-demand matching mechanism will be comprehensively established, the "three lists" of scenario opportunities, scenario capabilities, and typical scenarios will achieve dynamic publication, market-oriented operating institutions, expert advisory committees, and financial service institutions will participate deeply in scenario construction, and a batch of major scenario projects will begin implementation. The plan focuses on five major areas to expand scenario supply: frontier technological innovation, industrial transformation and upgrading, efficient urban and rural governance, smart livelihood services, and Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei regional coordination.
Tianjin will strengthen multi-dimensional safeguards in organization, policy, finance, and other aspects, explore a duty-free due diligence management model, foster a development environment that encourages innovation and tolerates failure, promote opening up all possible resources (应开放尽开放, ying kai fang jin kai fang - "should, open, should, open") for all types of scenario resources, and accelerate the landing and transformation of innovation achievements.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 王欣悦
In the Lu-Yu (Shouguang) Modern Vegetable Industrial Park in Kaizhou District, Chongqing, grower Tan Shifu parted the pepper leaves to inspect their growth closely. The peppers before him were different from what he used to grow. The vines climbed upward along hanging ropes, growing more than two meters tall, and one batch of seedlings could be harvested over a longer period. "I never imagined peppers could be grown this way," Tan Shifu said.
In the past, he grew peppers relying on years of accumulated experience. When to water, when to fertilize — most of it was done by feel. When whiteflies, aphids, thrips, and other pests came, sometimes he only noticed after spots had already appeared on the leaves. Now, pruning, fruit retention, water control, fertilizer control, and pest and disease management — he is learning each one anew. The people teaching him come from Shouguang, Shandong, more than 1,400 kilometers away.
The technology crossed mountains and seas, changing not only greenhouses and orchards. Some learned the techniques, some stayed to continue teaching them; one industrial park after another was built, linking seedling cultivation, production, processing, and sales into one integrated chain. Between the assisting and the assisted, there is now more two-way flow.
Adapting to local conditions, letting technology truly take root
Kaizhou's vegetable industry foundation is not weak, but its shortcomings are also obvious: in the past, many farmers used small greenhouses with limited space, insufficient winter insulation, and little room for mechanized equipment. After Shouguang's facility agriculture technology entered Kaizhou, the greenhouses changed first: taller and wider structures, gradually complete equipment for integrated water-fertilizer systems and precision drip irrigation, and planting methods that changed along with them.
Moving a Shouguang greenhouse to Kaizhou does not mean the "Shouguang model" has taken root. Different climate, different soil, different planting habits — the technology has to be re-adapted.
Kaizhou's mountainous plots are scattered, so greenhouses must be sized according to the terrain; only 6 to 10 mu can ensure insulation and accommodate machinery. Added to that, summer heat and humidity require readjusting shade nets, insect-proof nets, and ventilation openings, and the integrated water-fertilizer system cannot use one formula for everything.
Dong Jianlin, technical director of the Lu-Yu Vegetable Smart Greenhouse, is often in the greenhouses. Which branch to prune, how to recognize disease spots, when to prevent pests — he teaches while working. Tan Shifu followed and learned bit by bit. Previously, screw peppers yielded only about 1,000 jin per mu. After mastering the new cultivation and management methods, the per-mu yield reached 6,000 jin, with income exceeding 10,000 yuan per mu.
Change is not happening only in Kaizhou. Fengdu County, Chongqing, sits in the heart of the Three Gorges Reservoir area, with considerable plantings of deciduous fruit trees such as peach and plum. But Chongqing is hot, humid, and rainy, markedly different from Shandong's climate, and some varieties and techniques mature in the north do not adapt well here.
In 2019, An Guangchi, a second-level researcher at the Zaozhuang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, came to Fengdu. At first, his most frequent task was going into the orchards. An Guangchi visited all 30 townships (subdistricts) of Fengdu's fruit-growing areas. The longer he stayed, the more he understood one thing: east-west collaboration is not about copying Shandong's experience wholesale into Chongqing, but about placing technology within local climate, altitude, and industrial conditions so that it takes root and flourishes locally.
How to prune peach trees? He changed the northern pruning methods: strengthening summer pruning and using secondary branches to stabilize yields. When leaf curl disease appeared, he did not rush to cut off the diseased branches in one stroke, but first nurtured new shoots and gradually renewed the tree. For plum trees, he tried dwarfing and dense planting, which both facilitated management and made operations easier for older laborers.
Technical exchange is gradually achieving two-way empowerment. Relying on Fengdu's high altitude and cool climate, the locality explored tiered-altitude strawberry seedling cultivation, and the strawberry seedlings produced are in turn sold to major Shandong production areas such as Jinan, Zaozhuang, and Linyi. Shandong's varieties and technologies are seeking new room to grow in Chongqing, while Chongqing's ecological resources serve Shandong's agricultural production.
Between mountains and seas, technology is no longer merely "eastern technology introduced westward," but is being recombined and mutually enhanced across different resource endowments.
Educating people through technology, leaving skills behind locally
Technology taking root ultimately depends on people.
When he first arrived in Kaizhou, Dong Jianlin found that many of the laborers engaged in agricultural production in the villages were older and lacked professional planting experience. No matter how capable a Shandong technician was, he could not manage the vast stretches of greenhouses alone. What to do? Teach the local people.
Kaizhou allocated special funds to carry out "Lu-Yu vegetable worker" training, organizing industrial workers to learn facility vegetable cultivation. From identifying pests and diseases to pruning and branching, from water and fertilizer management to harvest standards, farmers who once worked by experience gradually shifted to production by standard. Tan Shifu also moved from "learning by following" to making his own judgments.
In Fengdu, when An Guangchi went to the countryside, he often went together with local agricultural technicians and township cadres. When a problem arose in an orchard, everyone looked at it together; how to prune a tree, he first demonstrated, then let local technicians do it themselves. He also proposed a new training method: selecting young growers into the industrial park to work and learn techniques at the same time. Learning to grow trees was not enough; they also had to learn how to organize farmers, how to promote technology, and how to provide services. Back in the village, one person could become a small technical team.
Nearly seven years have passed, and An Guangchi's role has also changed. At first, he was a Shandong expert who came to Fengdu to solve fruit tree problems; later, he participated in forming technical teams and training local backbone personnel; still later, he began devoting more energy to building industrial platforms.
Behind this is a change in the model of Lu-Yu talent collaboration. Fourteen Shandong cities have established pairing relationships with 14 Chongqing districts and counties; provinces and municipalities have joint meetings, cities and counties have connections, and cadres and talent are continuously exchanged. In recent years, scientific and technological collaboration has further extended into fields such as technology demonstration, joint research, and R&D platform construction. The personal experience of experts is beginning to be preserved through projects, teams, and institutions.
"How many years can one person work?" An Guangchi often ponders this question. His answer is to leave behind fewer "orchards that cannot do without experts" and to train more "agricultural technicians who do not wait for experts to come."
Building good platforms, letting collaboration take lasting root
Once people have learned the technology, another question must be solved: what to do after it is grown?
In the Kaizhou Lu-Yu (Shouguang) Vegetable Modern Industrial Park, seedling cultivation, technology, plant protection, branding, and sales are all placed within one operating system. The locality introduced Shouguang's "six unifications, one division" model — unified base construction, planting schedules, seeds and seedlings, plant protection services, brand building, and market sales — with growers then operating independently by household. Farmers are responsible for growing the vegetables well, while professional platforms help solve what to grow, how to grow it, and where to sell it. Industrial collaboration has thus extended from "teaching one technique" to solving problems across the entire industrial chain. The two localities jointly established Chongqing Lu-Yu Collaborative Vegetable Industry Development Co., Ltd. Technicians can rotate, growers can change, but seedling cultivation, plant protection, and sales cannot be interrupted.
Fengdu is doing the same thing. In the Zaofeng Collaborative Agricultural High-Tech Industrial Park, fruit tree varieties from different places are centrally trial-planted. Which varieties suit low altitudes, which can withstand high-altitude climates — these are first tested in the park, then promoted to farmers. Seedling cultivation, variety resources, technical training, and processing functions are gradually gathering together. In the past, An Guangchi went to the countryside solving problems orchard by orchard. With the industrial park, farmers can come to see varieties and learn techniques, local technicians can train here, and new varieties have a place to run trials first.
In 1994, Shandong began paired assistance to Zhongxian County in the Three Gorges Reservoir area, and the Lu-Yu bond was formed. By the end of 2025, Shandong had invested more than 5 billion yuan in cumulative financial assistance to Chongqing and implemented nearly 3,000 collaborative projects of various kinds.
Behind the numbers, what is more worth observing is the change in the collaboration model. In the past, it was more a matter of whatever Chongqing lacked, Shandong helped supply; now, there is increasing emphasis on the convergence point between what both sides need and what both sides are good at. Technology, talent, capital, and markets no longer each go their own way, but are linked together through parks, enterprises, projects, and normalized docking mechanisms. Shandong's facility agriculture technology has come to Kaizhou, and Chongqing's land and markets give the technology new room for application; Shandong fruit tree experts have come to Fengdu, and Fengdu's high-altitude climate has become a new resource serving Shandong's seedling industry. Helping others also develops oneself; importing technology also means creating technology together.
In the evening, in the greenhouses of Kaizhou, rows of pepper vines stretch upward. Tan Shifu made a round through the greenhouse, looking at the leaves, then at the peppers hanging on the branches. More than 20 years ago, he grew vegetables fighting alone. Now, behind him there are technicians, an industrial park, and a system connecting everything from seedlings to the market. The collaboration between Shandong and Chongqing spanning a thousand miles is also like these upward-growing vines — roots planted in their own soil, yet branches and leaves already reaching toward each other.
Return to TopBy: 襄 谈
Agricultural technology from Shouguang, Shandong, arrived in Kaizhou, Chongqing, and transformed the local greenhouses. Building greenhouses does not mean the "Shouguang model" has taken root. The climate is different, the soil is different, and the planting habits are different, so the technology must be re-adapted. Farmers in Kaizhou, who relied on experience, worked alongside technicians from Shandong to explore new standards together, evolving from "following and learning" to "taking the initiative."
Fengdu, Chongqing, leveraging its high altitude and cool climate conditions, has cultivated strawberry seedlings that are in turn sold back to the main production areas in Shandong. Shandong's varieties and technology are seeking new room for growth in Chongqing, while Chongqing's ecological resources serve Shandong's agricultural production. From teaching technology to building teams, and then to establishing industrial parks and R&D platforms, Shandong-Chongqing scientific and technological collaboration has deepened step by step.
Mutual learning of technology is not a simple copying of experience, but rather placing technology into the local context so that it can take root and flourish locally (落地生根, luo di sheng gen - "fall, ground, grow, root"); it is no longer "helping with whatever is lacking," but has evolved into finding the point of convergence between what both sides need and what both sides excel at, closely linking them together through normalized docking mechanisms.
While importing technology, they also create technology together. Between the mountains and the sea, technology is not merely "introducing eastern technology to the west," but rather recombining, learning from each other, and advancing together.
Return to Top(People's Daily, Beijing, October 13) (Reporter Wang Guan) The reporter learned from the State Taxation Administration on the 12th that in the first nine months of this year, tax authorities stopped publicizing a total of 12,028 discredited entities. Among them, apart from those whose publicity was automatically stopped upon expiration of the period as prescribed, 1,219 discredited entities applied for early cessation of publicity after paying off a total of 1.355 billion yuan in taxes, late fees, and fines, thereby achieving credit restoration. The total volume of restorations increased by 30.93 percent year on year.
It is understood that in 2021, the State Taxation Administration revised and issued the "Measures for the Administration of Publicizing Information on Entities Discredited for Major Tax Violations." The Measures clarify that if a discredited entity pays off (or refunds) taxes, late fees, and fines in full in accordance with the "Tax Handling Decision" and the "Tax Administrative Penalty Decision," and the discredited entity's discredited information has been publicized for a full six months, it may apply to the tax authority that made the decision confirming the entity as discredited for early cessation of publicizing the discredited information. After credit restoration, the enterprise may be re-assessed for its tax payment credit rating, and its financing, bidding, and other business activities will no longer be restricted, allowing it to resume normal operations.
A relevant official from the Inspection Bureau of the State Taxation Administration introduced that, in order to enable the restraint and punishment of tax payment credit violations and the credit restoration system to fully exert their governance effectiveness, and to safeguard the right of discredited entities to apply for credit restoration in accordance with the law, tax authorities have actively practiced and explored effective and practical (行之有效, xing zhi you xiao - "act, go; have, effect") working methods, promoting credit restoration to be more convenient and efficient through institutional innovation. First, they proactively carry out "online restoration." Since 2026, 511 discredited entities have completed online credit restoration through the "Credit China" website, accounting for 42 percent of the total credit restorations this year. Second, they thoroughly promote the "three documents delivered together." While serving parties included on the list of entities discredited for major tax violations with the "Tax Matters Notification," tax authorities simultaneously serve the "Credit Restoration Notification" and the "Tax Payment Credit Compliance Construction Reminder," providing discredited entities with in-depth interpretation of policies, clarifying case demonstrations, and guiding discredited entities to proactively and actively carry out credit restoration. Third, they carry out "reasoning-based" law enforcement. Tax authorities promptly optimize the work process for early cessation of publicity, adjusting from "the counterparty proactively applies" to "proactive notification," ensuring that the consequences of harm are stated at one time, the application process is understood at one time, and the materials involved are notified at one time.
Fan Yong, Dean of the School of Finance and Taxation at the Central University of Finance and Economics, believes that tax authorities carrying out credit restoration while implementing punishment for credit violations not only allows discredited entities to feel the "pain" of being punished, but also lets them see the hope of credit restoration, which is more conducive to enhancing taxpayers' awareness of compliance with tax laws.
The aforementioned official from the Inspection Bureau of the State Taxation Administration stated that in the next step, while strengthening the management of entities discredited for major tax violations, tax authorities will continue to optimize the credit restoration process, strengthen publicity and guidance on credit restoration policies, and strive to achieve "reminder upon expiration, restoration upon meeting standards," helping more enterprises rebuild their credit and operate in compliance.
Return to Top(People's Daily, Beijing, October 13) (Reporter Chang Qin) With the approval of the State Council, the Ministry of Natural Resources, together with the National Development and Reform Commission, recently issued the "Catalog of Mineral Resources."
The Catalog of Mineral Resources is an important foundation of the mineral resources management system and serves as the basis for formulating mineral resources plans, implementing mining rights management, regulating mineral resources exploration and mining activities, levying mineral resources taxes and fees, and formulating industrial policies. Scientifically classifying mineral resources and establishing the Catalog of Mineral Resources is of great significance for giving mineral resources a "household registration."
In order to implement the new Mineral Resources Law and its implementing regulations, the Ministry of Natural Resources, together with the National Development and Reform Commission and other departments, optimized and adjusted the original "Detailed Classification of Mineral Resources" to form the "Catalog of Mineral Resources." In order to maintain the continuity of mineral resources management work, this optimization and adjustment continues to follow the original classification framework, and, in light of the new needs of current economic and social development, makes appropriate modifications and additions to some mineral types and sub-mineral types. The "Catalog of Mineral Resources" is divided into 4 categories — energy minerals, metallic minerals, non-metallic minerals, and water and gas minerals — and includes 174 mineral types and 119 sub-mineral types.
In the next step, the Ministry of Natural Resources will continue to promote the alignment of the "Catalog of Mineral Resources" with various management tasks. At the same time, in order to standardize the approval and reporting of new mineral types, the Ministry of Natural Resources is currently researching and formulating relevant standard documents, which will be publicly released at a later date.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 李亚楠
In Bohu County, Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, patches of fiery red spread across the fields, rural roads, and factory workshops. Local chili growers are seizing the current fine weather to step up the drying of chilies. After fresh chilies are dried, sorted, and bagged, they are sent to factories for processing, becoming products such as chili shreds, chili sauce, and hotpot base.
Sun Houqi, a villager in Tawenjueken Township, Bohu County, has been growing fresh-eating chilies for more than 20 years. "This year I planted more than 50 mu of chilies, and I expect to produce more than 20 tons of dried chilies. At the beginning of the year I signed a purchase order with an enterprise, so I am not worried about sales," Sun Houqi said. He uses Beidou-navigation-guided automatic transplanting machines to plant the chilies and drones for plant protection, making field management more precise, efficient, and labor-saving.
As chilies enter the harvest period, chili processing enterprises in Bohu County have also ushered in a busy purchasing season. Xinjiang Yuanguan Food Co., Ltd. has developed the "Amushu Chili Shreds" brand by combining traditional fermentation techniques with modern technology, making it a calling card for local industrial development.
"The chili shreds use a hand-cutting process combined with modern sterilization technology, preserving the traditional flavor while meeting food safety standards. This year we purchased 108 tons of fresh-eating chilies and are currently drying chili skins for the production of chili sauce and chili shreds at the end of the year, with an output value reaching 5 million to 6 million yuan," said Yu Zhiqiang, head of Yuanguan Food.
In addition to edible chilies, Bohu County also grows pigment chilies. Thanks to their plump shape, bright and pure color, and high red pigment content, Bohu County's pigment chilies are premium raw material for producing red pigment. They are not only supplied to domestic condiment enterprises but also exported to Central Asian countries.
In Kudailike Village, Bosten Lake Township, Bohu County, workers are busy picking and drying pigment chilies. Grower Mamat Sadak planted 900 mu of pigment chilies this year. "The per-mu yield is 600 to 700 kilograms, a relatively considerable output. At the end of the year, an enterprise from Shandong will come to purchase, so my income is guaranteed," Mamat Sadak said.
According to statistics, Bohu County grows more than 70,000 mu of chilies, of which 63,000 mu are pigment chilies.
Bosten Lake is China's largest inland freshwater lake, providing abundant irrigation water for the surrounding land. In addition, Tianshan snowmelt water and selenium-rich soil give the chilies grown in Bohu County thin skin and thick flesh (皮薄肉厚, pi bo rou hou - "skin, thin; flesh, thick") and a bright color. Tests show that the vitamin C and calcium content of local chilies is 4.5 times higher than that of ordinary chilies, and the red pigment content exceeds that of similar products, giving them high nutritional and economic value. In 2013, Bohu chilies received certification as a product of geographical indication for agricultural products, and the brand's influence has continued to expand.
The humble chili has driven local people to find employment nearby. The stages of harvesting, sorting, drying, packaging, and processing have provided many jobs. At Bazhou Zhihui Agricultural Products Processing Plant, machines roar as Tayir Keyum, a villager from Kekemodun Village, Tawenjueken Township, says while working: "Every chili processing season, I come to work at the plant, and it doesn't delay my farm work at home. I earn a good income each month. The fiery red chilies hold a thriving good life."
Bohu County has 18 enterprises that produce and process chilies as raw material. "By extending the industrial chain and raising the added value of industry, we have achieved the transformation from simply selling raw materials to selling products and selling brands. In the future, we will continue to strengthen brand building, expand e-commerce channels, and promote the standardized, large-scale, and brand-oriented development of the chili industry," said Xu Tao, Party Secretary of the Bohu County Bureau of Commerce and Industry Informatization.
Return to TopThe final assembly line at China YTO Large Tractor Company, located in Luoyang City, Henan Province, is operating at full capacity (满负荷运转, man fu he zhun zhuan - "full, load, operate"), as workers hasten to assemble "Dongfanghong" tractors. At present, the enterprise is going all out to fulfill domestic and international orders, making a full push to hit its annual production and sales targets.
Photo by Zhang Guanghui (Image China)
Return to Top(People's Daily, Xiong'an, October 13) (Reporter Shao Yuzi) Relying on the close coordination and joint collaboration between the Xiong'an New Area Housing Management Center of Hebei Province and the Housing Fund Management Center of Central State Organs, the housing provident fund business window of central state organs has officially entered the provident fund service outlet in Xiong'an New Area, effectively breaking through the service barriers between Beijing and Xiong'an for provident funds, and promoting the quality upgrade of Beijing-Xiong'an same-city provident fund services.
The housing provident fund management departments of the two places have deepened government service collaboration, pushing the direct-payment provident fund service port of central state organs down to the local level in Xiong'an. From now on, units relocated to the New Area and employees making contributions can handle various central state organ housing provident fund businesses at local outlets through a one-stop service process (一站式, yi zhan shi - "one, station, style"). Through data sharing between the two places, the goals of "handling nearby, handling conveniently" are realized, and the service philosophy of "let data run more, let the masses run less" is implemented. The Xiong'an New Area Housing Management Center will continue to deepen normalized cooperation with the central state organs center, continuously expand the scope of cross-region handled businesses, and support the high-quality construction of Xiong'an New Area.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 吴 君
In the production workshop of Hubei Kefeng Intelligent Transmission Co., Ltd., automated processing equipment operates in orderly fashion, and technical personnel carefully record the processing parameters of components. "We can produce components for more than 30 joints across a robot's entire body, and our products are sold to more than 20 countries," the company's person in charge introduced.
At the time of its founding, Kefeng Intelligent faced a shortage of funds. "The enterprise lacked funds, and if we did not invest early, we might miss the industry's development window, and new products could not be mass-produced and brought to market," the company's person in charge recalled.
After conducting in-depth research into the enterprise's talent reserves, technical strength, and market prospects, China Construction Bank's Huanggang Qi'an Sub-branch in Hubei customized a credit plan for Kefeng Intelligent and successfully disbursed 25 million yuan in "Property Purchase Loans" for small and micro enterprises.
Closely aligning with the full-lifecycle financing needs of technology-based enterprises, the Hubei Provincial Branch of China Construction Bank has launched multiple categories of exclusive inclusive finance products, lowering the financing threshold for small and medium-sized technology enterprises and precisely channeling financial vitality into the key links of technological innovation.
"For small and micro enterprises in the start-up phase and for technology talent, we have also launched exclusive inclusive financial products," the person in charge of the Inclusive Finance Business Department of the Hubei Provincial Branch of China Construction Bank introduced.
"The service efficiency is truly high; this funding arrived in full and on time, providing a guarantee for the stable operation of our production." Not long ago, a 40 million yuan working capital loan was smoothly credited to the bank account of Hubei Yinke New Materials Co., Ltd., located in Jingzhou, Hubei, resolving an urgent matter requiring immediate attention (燃眉之急, ran mei zhi ji - "burn, eyebrows, particle, urgency") for the company's founder, Wang Mingyuan.
Yinke New Materials is one of the world's major producers of photovoltaic silver powder. Benefiting from the vigorous development of the photovoltaic industry and the domestic substitution of core technologies, the enterprise's orders have grown explosively, and the accompanying pressure on raw material procurement and capital turnover has become increasingly prominent.
"After learning of Yinke New Materials' financing needs, the branch responded rapidly, formed a dedicated service team to go deep into the enterprise and make precise connections, and completed the full business process from credit approval to successful loan disbursement in just three working days, ensuring the enterprise's funding needs for raw material procurement and capacity expansion," the person in charge of the Jingzhou Branch of China Construction Bank said.
Focusing on Hubei's key advantageous industries, high-quality science and technology resources, and innovation entities, the Hubei Provincial Branch of China Construction Bank, together with the Hubei Provincial Department of Science and Technology, jointly built the "Smart Brain" data platform for science and technology enterprises in Hubei, established a provincial database of science and technology enterprises, provided scientific and technological innovation information support for government departments and financial institutions to accurately identify potential enterprises, and provided data empowerment for the research and development of innovative products and services.
"In response to the characteristics of technology-based enterprises — light assets, heavy intellectual capital, long cycles, and slow returns — we have explored a scientific and technological innovation capability evaluation system and launched multiple scientific and technological innovation evaluation tools such as 'Technology Flow,' 'STAR,' and 'Investment Flow' to precisely enhance credit for science and innovation enterprises," the person in charge of the Corporate Banking Department of the Hubei Provincial Branch of China Construction Bank stated.
Data show that as of the end of August 2026, the balance of science and technology loans at the Hubei Provincial Branch of China Construction Bank reached 229.256 billion yuan, an increase of 37.114 billion yuan from the beginning of the year.
"In the next step, we will continue to build on Hubei's industrial foundation and science and technology resource advantages, strengthen the transformation of the commercial value and technical value of scientific and technological achievements of technology-based enterprises, continuously deepen innovation in technology finance products and services, and continue to increase financial support for hard technology innovation, the growth of small, medium, and micro technology enterprises, and the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries," said Jiang Wenbo, Party Committee Secretary and President of the Hubei Provincial Branch of China Construction Bank.
Return to TopBy: 齐卫平
Cultural prosperity and flourishing is an important hallmark of Chinese modernization, and the culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics is a powerful spiritual force inspiring the entire Party and the people of all ethnic groups across the country to forge ahead courageously. General Secretary Xi Jinping has made major arrangements for developing the culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era and put forward important requirements. In Volume II of Selected Works of Xi Jinping on Culture, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "We must anchor ourselves to the strategic goal of building a strong cultural nation by 2035, uphold Marxism as the fundamental guiding ideology, take root in the extensive and profound (博大精深, bo da jing shen - "wide, vast; profound, deep") Chinese civilization, follow the trend of information technology development, and continuously develop the culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era that possesses strong ideological guiding power, spiritual cohesion, value appeal, and international influence, continuously strengthen the people's spiritual strength, and consolidate the cultural foundation for building a strong nation and achieving national rejuvenation." The important works of General Secretary Xi Jinping included in Volumes I and II of Selected Works of Xi Jinping on Culture, with their rich content, profound thought, complete system, and rigorous scholarly reasoning, systematically answer the major questions of what kind of culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics to uphold and develop in the new era and how to uphold and develop it. We must thoroughly study and implement Xi Jinping Thought on Culture, study well and use well Volumes I and II of Selected Works of Xi Jinping on Culture, deeply grasp the theoretical origins, practical foundations, forward direction, and principled requirements for developing the culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics, maintain sobriety in thought and firmness in action, and contribute greater strength to writing a new chapter in cultural development in the new era and building a strong cultural nation.
Clarifying the theoretical origins and practical foundations of the culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era
In Volume II of Selected Works of Xi Jinping on Culture, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "The culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics originates from the fine traditional Chinese culture nurtured by the more than 5,000-year history of Chinese civilization, is forged from the revolutionary culture and advanced socialist culture created by the people under the Party's leadership in revolution, construction, and reform, and is rooted in the great practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics." The culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics adheres to the guidance of Marxism, inherits and develops the fine traditional Chinese culture, manifests the essential attributes of socialism, possesses distinct Chinese characteristics, and is the continuation and development of the historical practice of cultural development under the Party's leadership.
It has a solid theoretical foundation and practical foundation. On June 2, 2023, General Secretary Xi Jinping attended the Symposium on Cultural Inheritance and Development and delivered an important speech, emphasizing: "Continuously cultivate and create the culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era" and "jointly strive to create a new culture that belongs to our era." Developing the culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era is the latest achievement of our Party's leadership in cultural development over the past hundred years and more. Our Party is an advanced political party established under the guidance of the scientific theory of Marxism and has always represented the forward direction of China's advanced culture. In practice, our Party has attached importance to using culture to lead the direction of progress and unite the strength of struggle. In the course of leading the Chinese revolution, Comrade Mao Zedong put forward "building a new culture for the Chinese nation," using revolutionary culture to hold high the torch of the national spirit and inspiring the Chinese people to fight bloody battles with unyielding determination in the face of setbacks (百折不挠, bai zhe bu nao - "hundred, bend, not, yield"). Since the 18th National Congress of the Party, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, based on the overall situation of the development of the Party and the country's cause, has insisted on placing cultural development in a prominent position in governing the country and managing state affairs (治国理政, zhi guo li zheng - "govern, country, manage, administration"), forming Xi Jinping Thought on Culture, and providing scientific guidance and fundamental principles for developing the culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era. As the cultural chapter of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, Xi Jinping Thought on Culture upholds and develops the Marxist theory of culture, comprehensively advances theoretical innovation, institutional innovation, and practical innovation in cultural development with a high degree of cultural consciousness and cultural confidence, and guides the entire Party and the people of all ethnic groups across the country to continuously explore and blaze new trails on the path of developing the culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics, allowing Marxism to radiate even more brilliant light of truth.
It is deeply rooted in the fine traditional Chinese culture. In Volume I of Selected Works of Xi Jinping on Culture, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: "The fine traditional Chinese culture is our deepest cultural soft power and also the cultural fertile soil in which socialism with Chinese characteristics is rooted." Chinese culture is the only ancient culture in the world that has never been interrupted. The fine traditional Chinese culture created by the more than 5,000-year history of Chinese civilization records the spiritual activities, rational thinking, and cultural achievements of the Chinese nation in its long-term struggle, reflects the spiritual pursuits of the Chinese nation, and the most core content has become the most basic cultural gene of the Chinese nation. In Volume I of Selected Works of Xi Jinping on Culture, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Only by proceeding from history toward the future and forging ahead by continuing the cultural bloodline of the nation can we do today's work well." Chinese Communists have always been faithful inheritors and promoters of the fine traditional Chinese culture and have always attached great importance to drawing nourishment from it. The culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era inherits the fine traditional Chinese culture while, based on the new characteristics and new requirements of the new era, promoting its creative transformation and innovative development. The culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era both upholds the guiding position of Marxism and continues the root of Chinese culture, reflecting our Party's extremely strong sense of cultural mission.
It is based on the historical process of the development of human civilization. In Volume II of Selected Works of Xi Jinping on Culture, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Only in the long river of the entire development of mankind can we see through the essence of historical movements and the direction of the development of the times." From ancient times to the present, human civilization has always been a dynamic and changing whole. Any civilization, no matter in which country or nation's social soil it was born, is fluid and open. In the course of long-term evolution, Chinese civilization has gained rich nourishment from exchanges with other civilizations and has also made important contributions to the progress of human civilization. At present, the strategic overall situation of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the changes unseen in a century in the world form the temporal and spatial orientation for developing the culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era. Xi Jinping Thought on Culture is a major achievement of the Party's theoretical innovation and creation in the new era. It reveals the mission and tasks of developing the culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era from the historical logic of the development of human civilization, contains powerful ideological guiding power, spiritual cohesion, value appeal, and international influence, and consolidates and strengthens the Chinese nation's cultural confidence and civilizational confidence.
Clarifying the forward direction of the culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era
In Volume II of Selected Works of Xi Jinping on Culture, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Developing the culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics means taking Marxism as the guide, adhering to the Chinese cultural standpoint, based on the reality of contemporary China, combined with the conditions of the current era, developing a socialist culture that is oriented toward modernization, toward the world, and toward the future, that is national, scientific, and popular, and promoting the coordinated development of socialist spiritual civilization and material civilization." In his report to the 20th National Congress of the Party, General Secretary Xi Jinping further emphasized: "Developing a socialist culture that is oriented toward modernization, toward the world, and toward the future, that is national, scientific, and popular." General Secretary Xi Jinping's important exposition on "oriented toward modernization, toward the world, and toward the future" is both based on China's reality and focused on human development, profoundly revealing the characteristics of the times, international vision, and historical responsibility of cultural development in the new era, pointing out the forward direction for continuously developing the culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era, and having important strategic significance for building a strong socialist cultural nation, enhancing national cultural soft power, and realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
Oriented toward modernization. This is the primary task of the development of the culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics, emphasizing that cultural development must adapt to and serve the needs of comprehensively building a modern socialist country. Elaborating the cultural foundation of modernization is an important viewpoint of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture and has become the cultural foundation for the theoretical innovation of Chinese modernization. Since the 18th National Congress of the Party, the Party has united and led the people to successfully blaze the path of Chinese modernization, achieving a major transcendence of Western modernization theory and practice and breaking the myth of "modernization = Westernization." An important manifestation of this is placing cultural development in a more prominent position. In Volume II of Selected Works of Xi Jinping on Culture, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: "Civilization is a notable hallmark of a modern country," "without the flourishing development of socialist culture, there can be no socialist modernization," and "Chinese modernization is deeply rooted in the fine traditional Chinese culture, embodies the advanced essence of scientific socialism, draws on and absorbs all the outstanding achievements of human civilization, represents the direction of development of human civilizational progress, presents a new picture different from the Western modernization model, and is a completely new form of human civilization." These important expositions endow the culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics with new connotations as the cultural form of Chinese modernization, reflecting the logic of theoretical innovation in developing the culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era.
Oriented toward the world. This is an inevitable requirement for the development of the culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics, emphasizing the need to continuously enhance national cultural soft power and the influence of Chinese civilization with a global vision. In Volume I of Selected Works of Xi Jinping on Culture, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Enhancing national cultural soft power is not only related to our country's position in the world cultural landscape, but also related to our country's international status and international influence, and related to the realization of the Two Centenary Goals and the Chinese Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation." Cultural soft power is an important component of comprehensive national strength. Xi Jinping Thought on Culture closely links the development of national cultural soft power with continuing to promote cultural prosperity and building a strong cultural nation, emphasizing that to enhance national cultural soft power, we must "strive to spread the values of contemporary China," and clearly states that "the values of contemporary China are the values of socialism with Chinese characteristics, representing the forward direction of China's advanced culture." Cultural confidence does not mean self-seclusion. Being oriented toward the world means drawing on and absorbing all the outstanding achievements of human civilization with a broad mind, enriching and developing the culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics through comparison, contrast, criticism, and absorption, and avoiding falling into narrow nationalism. In Volume II of Selected Works of Xi Jinping on Culture, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Today, when the future and destiny of all countries are closely connected, the inclusive coexistence, exchange, and mutual learning of different civilizations play an irreplaceable role in advancing the modernization process of human society and enriching the garden of world civilizations." Xi Jinping Thought on Culture, focusing on the world landscape of ideological and cultural ferment, advocates a view of civilization featuring equality, mutual learning, dialogue, and inclusiveness, promotes exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations, provides theoretical guidance for building a culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era oriented toward the world, and contributes Chinese wisdom to solving global problems.
Oriented toward the future. This is the long-term orientation of the development of the culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics, emphasizing that cultural development must take a long-term view and lead the trend of the times. Opening up the future requires cultural leadership, and consensus on values determines the future and destiny of the world. Since the 18th National Congress of the Party, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has attached great importance to cultivating and promoting the core socialist values. In Volume I of Selected Works of Xi Jinping on Culture, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "What is the soul of cultural soft power? What is the focus of building cultural soft power? It is the core values, which are the deepest-level elements that determine the nature and direction of culture," emphasizing that "without common core values, a nation and a country would be without a stable place for the soul to settle (魂无定所, hun wu ding suo - "soul, no, fixed, place") and without a foundation for action." In Volume II of Selected Works of Xi Jinping on Culture, General Secretary Xi Jinping more profoundly pointed out that "the core socialist values are a powerful force for uniting people's hearts and gathering people's strength." At the same time, on the basis of consolidating consensus on the values of our own nation and country, General Secretary Xi Jinping has always been committed to building consensus among mankind and global consensus, and promoting the formation of the common values of all mankind. In Volume II of Selected Works of Xi Jinping on Culture, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "We should jointly advocate and promote the common values of all mankind. Peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy, and freedom are the common pursuits of people of all countries. We should understand with a broad mind the different civilizations' understanding of the connotation of values, not impose our own values and models on others, and not engage in ideological confrontation." This further consolidates the cultural foundation and value foundation for building a community with a shared future for mankind, and provides clear theoretical guidance for realizing the future vision of building a better world.
Clarifying the practical principles for the culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era
In Volume II of Selected Works of Xi Jinping on Culture, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "When culture thrives, the nation's fortunes thrive; when culture is strong, the nation is strong." Cultural development concerns the rise and fall of the nation's fortunes and the survival of the nation. We must thoroughly study and implement Xi Jinping Thought on Culture, implement well in practice the various principles and requirements for developing the culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era, and effectively promote cultural prosperity and development and accelerate the building of a strong cultural nation.
Uphold and strengthen the Party's leadership. The most essential feature of the path of developing the culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics is upholding the Party's leadership, and the Party's leadership is the most fundamental principle for upholding and developing the culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics. In Volume II of Selected Works of Xi Jinping on Culture, General Secretary Xi Jinping made the "seven efforts" important instructions on propaganda, ideology, and cultural work, with "making efforts to strengthen the Party's leadership over propaganda, ideology, and cultural work" ranked first. Our Party has always attached great importance to leadership over propaganda, ideology, and cultural work, and has led propaganda, ideology, and cultural undertakings to achieve new development and new progress in various periods of socialist revolution, construction, and reform. Entering the new era, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has upheld and strengthened the Party's overall leadership over propaganda, ideology, and cultural work, formed Xi Jinping Thought on Culture, achieved new major theoretical breakthroughs, led the entire Party and the people of all ethnic groups across the country to further strengthen cultural confidence, consolidate cultural subjectivity, and achieve major accomplishments in prospering and developing cultural undertakings and cultural industries, promoting the protection, inheritance, and development of cultural heritage, and advancing exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations, causing Chinese civilization to radiate new appeal, influence, and impact. Practice has powerfully proven that in taking the path of the culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics and developing the culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era, upholding and strengthening the Party's leadership is a fundamental principle that must be followed.
Uphold a people-centered approach. Adhering to putting the people first is the first of the "six musts" summarized, refined, and profoundly elaborated in the report to the 20th National Congress of the Party, and is an important manifestation of the stand, viewpoint, and method of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. General Secretary Xi Jinping has always insisted that cultural development focus on people and land on people, pointing out that "the people's needs for spiritual and cultural life exist at all times," and emphasizing that "the 'strength' of a strong cultural nation must ultimately be reflected in the people's ideological realm, spiritual state, and cultural cultivation." A people-centered approach is an important principle that must be upheld in developing the culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era. This requires us to accurately grasp the people's new needs in cultural development, take meeting the people's spiritual and cultural needs and enhancing the people's spiritual well-being as the starting point and foothold of cultural development, and realize cultural development for the people, by the people, with the fruits of development shared by the people. We must take root in the people's lives, focus on the masses' practice, draw creative nourishment from the people's vivid creations, produce more fine works that reflect the people's voices and possess both ideological depth and emotional warmth, and ensure that cultural development always breathes the same breath and shares the same destiny with the people. We must improve the capacity to supply cultural services and cultural products, promote the extension of high-quality cultural resources to the grassroots and coverage of the masses, effectively safeguard the people's basic cultural rights and interests, ensure that the fruits of cultural development benefit all the people more and more fairly, and enhance the people's sense of cultural gain and happiness. We must fully stimulate the people's cultural creativity, respect the people's spirit of initiative, build platforms for broad participation, and enable cultural development to have a deep mass foundation.
Uphold the Two Integrations. Summarizing and putting forward the Two Integrations, especially the "second integration," reflects our Party's high degree of theoretical consciousness, historical confidence, and cultural confidence. In Volume II of Selected Works of Xi Jinping on Culture, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "On the deep foundation of more than 5,000 years of Chinese civilization, to open up and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics, combining the basic principles of Marxism with China's specific realities and with the fine traditional Chinese culture is the only way. This is the regular understanding we have gained in exploring the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics" and "the Two Integrations are our greatest magic weapon for achieving success." Upholding the combination of the basic principles of Marxism with China's specific realities is the fundamental stance for the development of the culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era. Based on the reform and development practice of the new era and meeting the people's spiritual and cultural needs, we must let advanced culture take root in the soil of reality and respond to the issues of the times, ensuring that cultural development always advances in the correct direction. Upholding the combination with the fine traditional Chinese culture is the foundation of the development of the culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era. Relying on the profound heritage of Chinese civilization, we must activate the vitality of the fine traditional Chinese culture through creative transformation and innovative development. We must take the only way of the Two Integrations, connect the essence of Marxist thought with the essence of the fine traditional Chinese culture, and always maintain strategic focus in developing the culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era.
Uphold openness and inclusiveness. Openness and inclusiveness are the driving force for the development of civilization. Promoting exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations is an important part of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture. In Volume II of Selected Works of Xi Jinping on Culture, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "As long as we adhere to incorporating diverse elements and absorbing them all (兼容并蓄, jian rong bing xu - "accommodate, combine, and, absorb") and openness and inclusiveness, human civilization can continue to develop and prosper." Since the new era, General Secretary Xi Jinping, with broad historical vision and profound civilizational sentiment, has continued the Chinese cultural lineage, promoted the progress of all human civilization, put forward the Global Civilization Initiative, and worked together with the international community to promote people-to-people and cultural exchanges, cultural integration, and people's hearts being connected and understanding each other (民心相通, min xin xiang tong - "people, heart, mutually, connect") among all countries. In practice, upholding the principle of openness and inclusiveness requires grasping two important aspects. On the one hand, we must continuously enhance national cultural soft power, strengthen the appeal and influence of Chinese culture, enhance our country's international discourse power, improve the external communication capacity of Chinese culture, and influence "other-shaping" by strengthening the "self-shaping" of China's image. This requires us to combine refining and displaying the spiritual symbols and cultural essence of Chinese civilization with expanding the world influence of the culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era, based on the great practice of China in the new era, refine Chinese experience, explain China's propositions, clearly and thoroughly explain the advantages and characteristics of China's path, China's theory, China's system, and China's culture, and vividly present a credible, lovable, and respectable image of China. On the other hand, we must actively promote exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations, transcending civilizational conflict through civilizational mutual learning. We must strengthen the concept of using culture to dialogue with the world, enhance the awareness of using civilization to exchange with all countries, innovate communication concepts and methods, build a new pattern of international communication, enhance the affinity, appeal, and penetrating power of communication, enhance understanding and trust through cultural communication, promote mutual understanding and integration between Chinese culture and the cultures of countries around the world, and contribute Chinese wisdom and Chinese strength to the progress and development of human civilization through exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations.
(The author is a researcher at the National Research Center for the Inheritance of Red Genes)
Return to TopBy: 张文彦
The value of reading lies in acquiring knowledge, enlightening the intellect, enhancing wisdom, and cultivating morality, enabling people to gain intellectual inspiration, establish lofty ideals, and nurture a noble spirit. How should one read in the digital age? General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "In the digital age, the pace of society is fast, and it is not easy to calm down, be patient, and sit down to read a book." "Digital reading should be combined with traditional reading, holding fast to our inner core and cultivation." This provides methodological guidance for our effective reading.
In the excellent traditional Chinese culture, how should one understand the inner core of reading? On this question, General Secretary Xi Jinping gave a profound answer: "The Chinese nation has advocated reading since ancient times, emphasizing investigating things to extend knowledge (格物致知, ge wu zhi zhi - "investigate things, attain knowledge") and cultivating sincerity and rectifying one's mind (诚意正心, cheng yi zheng xin - "sincere intention, rectify heart"), inheriting the endless and continuous development (生生不息, sheng sheng bu xi - "birth, birth, not stop") spirit of the Chinese nation, and shaping the Chinese people's character of self-confidence and self-improvement." This inner core was formed by China's unique historical and cultural accumulation. China is an ancient civilization with numerous classics and a long-developed, advanced tradition of papermaking and printing. Over the long course of history, ancient ancestors formed the fine traditions of respecting characters and cherishing paper, and of farming and reading passed down through generations, as well as the spiritual accumulation of reading to enlighten wisdom, understand principles, and cure ignorance. The vast and profound (博大精深, bo da jing shen - "broad, great, exquisite, profound") reading culture of the Chinese nation has had a far-reaching influence on the East Asian region and even the entire world. From carrying on the lost teachings of past sages (为往圣继绝学, wei wang sheng ji jue xue - "for past sages, continue, lost learning"), to opening one's eyes to see the world, to reading for the rise of China, reading has become the foundation of personal conduct and the basis of serving the country for countless Chinese sages. Reading connects the past, present, and future, and connects China with the world. Losing the inner core of reading means losing the genetic code for understanding Chinese culture.
Reading is hard work and slow work. In traditional society, a person starting from learning to read and write, then learning grammar and analyzing texts, would mostly need long-term training to become a proficient reader. Entering the digital age, massive amounts of information and cultural products surge overwhelmingly (铺天盖地, pu tian gai di - "cover sky, cover earth") toward audiences, and while significantly improving the convenience and timeliness of reading, they also, to a certain extent, profoundly affect people's reading habits. With the help of information technology, many people are accustomed to passing time in "short" and "fragmented" forms—for example, on the commute, holding a phone in the subway car to chase hot topics making the most of every available opportunity (见缝插针, jian feng cha zhen - "see gap, insert needle"), and after returning home, lying on a soft sofa and staying up late binge-watching short dramas, while the time for deep reading of books grows less and less. Unconsciously, time slips away; much content is browsed, yet the mind is both tired and empty.
In a fast-paced modern society, calming down to finish reading a book is no easy task. In reality, faced with the massive amount of information in digital reading, many people feel at a loss where to start, aimlessly (漫无目的, man wu mu di - "aimless, no, target"), like being stuffed into a message in a bottle, drifting wherever the current takes them. An important reason for this situation is insufficient reading literacy and neglect of combining digital reading with traditional reading. Focusing only on the massive information of digital reading while ignoring the logical chains between the lines and the logical structure and transitions (起承转合, qi cheng zhuan he - "rise, bear, turn, close") between paragraphs may well be like a person in a vast ocean who cannot swim, passively "being flooded" and getting lost in it. In fact, although valuable digital reading and traditional reading differ in medium, their inner cores are connected and their goals are the same—both transmit knowledge, exchange ideas, and continue civilization; both enlighten wisdom, cultivate character, and strengthen cultural confidence. Faced with massive digital information, traditional reading provides key support for improving our digital reading literacy. Picking up a paper book for deep reading trains sustained concentration for sinking deep and going back and forth, the critical thinking ability to systematically sort out the threads of knowledge, and the empathetic ability to repeatedly ponder complex texts.
Many traditional reading methods passed down through the ages, such as Su Shi's advocacy of "only seeking what one desires"; Zhu Xi's emphasis that reading requires "the mind to be present, the eyes to be present, and the mouth to be present"... still play a role in digital reading. In digital reading scenarios, the reading literacy tempered through such word-by-word, sentence-by-sentence slow and deep reading helps readers no longer settle for wasting time idly (虚度时光, xu du shi guang - "empty, pass, time, light") in aimless information "drifting," no longer stop at shallow, fragmented content grabbing, but rather maintain subjectivity amid massive information, control the content without being controlled by it, and consciously promote the updating and optimization of knowledge structures and the purification and elevation of the realm of thought.
Return to TopBy: 刘铁娃
In May this year, President Xi Jinping met with UNESCO Director-General Anani, emphasizing: "China is willing to work with UNESCO to implement the four major global initiatives, so that people of all countries can share the fruits of educational, scientific, and cultural development, better respond to the common challenges facing human society, and work together to build a community with a shared future for mankind. The two sides should deepen cooperation in artificial intelligence, open science, digital education, and other fields, advocate respect for the diversity of world civilizations, promote mutual respect and living together in harmony (和谐共处, he xie gong chu - "harmonious, live together") among different civilizations, strengthen cooperation with Global South countries, and promote the protection of cultural heritage and exchanging and learning from each other (交流互鉴, jiao liu hu jian - "exchange, mutual, learn from each other") among civilizations." The "15th Five-Year Plan for the Protection and Inheritance of Cultural Heritage" was recently issued, stating: "Give full play to the important role of cultural heritage in practicing the Global Civilization Initiative, deepen practical cooperation with international organizations and multilateral mechanisms such as UNESCO" and "promote the protection of cultural heritage in the Global South." We must deeply study and implement the spirit of President Xi Jinping's important speech, implement the relevant arrangements of the "15th Five-Year Plan for the Protection and Inheritance of Cultural Heritage," and promote the implementing thoroughly and practically (走深走实, zou shen zou shi - "walk, deep, walk, solid") of cultural heritage protection in the Global South.
Promote the alignment of rules and standards. First, coordinate the improvement of laws and standards. Relying on multilateral frameworks such as the UNESCO Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, participate in the formulation of international rules. In response to problems such as the low proportion of Global South countries on the World Heritage List and their insufficient capacity to nominate world heritage sites, explore the establishment of a joint nomination mechanism to reduce the institutional costs and technical thresholds of single-country nominations. Second, establish multilateral cooperation platforms. The Asian Alliance for the Protection of Cultural Heritage is the first intergovernmental international organization in the field of cultural heritage initiated by China and 10 other countries, covering countries across Asia with influence radiating to other continents. Explore cooperation mechanisms covering a broader range of Southern countries, and build a normalized platform for policy dialogue and experience sharing on cultural heritage protection in the Global South. Third, strengthen compliance and risk prevention and control. Establish compliance review and risk assessment mechanisms for transnational cultural heritage projects, and build a full-chain management system of early warning, response, and recovery targeting risks such as war and conflict, natural disasters, theft, and smuggling, promoting the sharing of information on cultural heritage protection among Global South countries. Promote emergency intervention and restoration in conflict-affected regions and countries, making cultural heritage a force for bridging divides.
Strengthen the empowerment of scientific and technological innovation. Scientific and technological innovation is a key factor in improving the capacity for cultural heritage protection. Promote the deep application of digital and intelligent technologies. Disseminate the experience of the "Digital Dunhuang" project, and support Global South countries in carrying out digital collection, storage, and display of cultural heritage. Establish a digital archive storage and sharing mechanism based on blockchain, and promote the application of artificial intelligence technology in fields such as disease identification and restoration plan design. Build technology sharing and transfer mechanisms. Establish a technology sharing platform for cultural heritage protection in Global South countries, and promote the transfer and application of advanced and applicable technologies in Global South countries. Continue to promote the going global (走出去, zou chu qu - "walk, out, go") of China's advantageous products and services in cultural heritage protection, such as technical equipment, restoration materials, and monitoring systems, providing complete technical solutions to Global South countries.
Deepen cooperation on exemplary projects. Guided by landmark and demonstrative cooperation projects, form replicable and scalable cooperation models. Further deepen cooperation on cultural heritage protection in the Global South through joint world heritage nominations. Following the successful inclusion of the "Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor" jointly nominated by China, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan on the World Heritage List, promote the joint nomination of the China-Mongolia-Russia Tea Road. Expand cooperation with Global South countries in archaeological excavation and cultural relic protection and restoration. The China-Egypt joint archaeological team has carried out work at multiple sites including the Temple of Montu in Luxor, Egypt, achieving important results. Support Chinese archaeological forces in participating in projects in Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America, and promote the localized application of Chinese cultural heritage restoration standards.
Improve the talent cultivation mechanism. Centered on "interdisciplinary knowledge, a global governance perspective, and scientific research and innovation capability," promote knowledge sharing and capacity building in Global South countries through joint courses, workshops, practical training, youth forums, and academic exchanges. Focus on cultivating interdisciplinary talents who are well-versed in international rules and professional norms for world heritage, who can use world cultural heritage as a bridge to conduct dialogue and exchanging and learning from each other among civilizations, enhance mutual understanding and respect among different civilizations, and increase the appeal of different civilizations.
(The author is Dean of the Joint College of Beijing Foreign Studies University and SOAS University of London)
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 王云娜
Deep in the dense forest, officers and soldiers of a certain brigade of the Rocket Force are facing a comprehensive test of their capabilities.
The first to be examined inside the "command tent" was a senior colonel with a crew cut and bright, clear eyes. At times he leaned over a huge map, marking it with circles and lines; at other times he turned to rapidly tap at a computer keyboard. From formulating determinations to employing tactics, from pre-battle mobilization to impromptu decision-making, he performed excellently across more than ten assessed subjects and passed smoothly.
This senior colonel is Zhang Wusong (张武松), political commissar of the brigade.
Having engaged in political work for more than 20 years, he has always kept his duties and mission firmly in mind, working with real substance and shouldering responsibility, disciplining himself strictly (严于律己, yan yu lv ji - "strict, with, law, self"), setting a fine example for political cadres of the new era. Over the years, the troops under Zhang Wusong have successfully completed more than 20 major missions including live-fire launches and combat readiness duty. The officers and soldiers are high-spirited, their ability to wield the nation's strategic weapons continues to improve, and they write the answer sheet for building a strong military with youth and passion.
"The heavier the tasks, the more severe the tests, the more we must tighten the 'master switch' of thought"
"Why did you come to serve in the military?"
"To fulfill a childhood dream" "To defend the country and our homes"...
Under the blazing sun, after a round of high-intensity confrontation drills, a group of soldiers sat together in a circle, chatting animatedly.
At that moment, Zhang Wusong happened to pass by and joined the conversation. "No matter what your original intention was in joining the military, once you are in the troops, you must pay even more attention to study and arm your minds with theory."
"Political commissar, what help has studying theory brought you?" a new recruit asked.
"When you study theory well, your heart becomes clearer, and it is not easy to take a crooked path." Zhang Wusong said candidly.
In daily life, Zhang Wusong pays close attention to the practical problems and ideological activities of officers and soldiers, serving as their "theory translator." "Previously I felt that theoretical study was somewhat dull and I could not muster interest, but under the political commissar's influence, that gradually changed." First-class Master Sergeant Ma Tianlong said that Zhang Wusong adopts experiential, case-based, and scenario-based methods of theoretical study, converting theoretical knowledge into "soldier's language," so that grassroots officers and soldiers can understand it and are willing to listen. Now, under Zhang Wusong's guidance, Ma Tianlong has become a political instructor in the company.
On the training ground, at duty posts, and beneath the launch erectors, everywhere is a classroom. Zhang Wusong said: "The heavier the tasks, the more severe the tests, the more we must tighten the 'master switch' of thought. Only by firmly occupying the ideological battlefield can we always hold fast to the launch position." As political rectification continues to deepen, Zhang Wusong persists in embedding political work into combat readiness and warfighting. He talks about faith in connection with real combat cases, discusses responsibility in light of duty and mission, breaks big principles down into digestible pieces, and speaks to the hearts of officers and soldiers, inspiring them to press forward bravely on the journey to build a strong military.
"Driven by the political commissar, everyone has begun to settle down and study and research, gradually loading innovative theory into their minds, and their political literacy and Party spirit have improved imperceptibly as well." Battalion Political Instructor Yang Liu told reporters.
In recent years, the troops under Zhang Wusong have been tasked year-round with combat readiness duty and other missions, organizing live-force, live-fire launch drills several hundred times. The missile weapons have always remained in a state of high readiness (弓满弦张, gong man xian zhang - "bow, full, string, taut"). The officers and soldiers follow orders without question (听令景从, ting ling jing cong - "listen, order, scenery, follow") and act upon every order, ensuring that the nation's strategic weapons remain firmly in the hands of loyal and reliable people.
"Not only must we study theory, we must also understand warfighting, aiming to become 'experts in both fields,' so that what we say convinces people and what we do earns their respect"
Not long ago, Kang Yubang, a post-95s company commander of a certain company, became Zhang Wusong's "teacher."
In 2025, Zhang Wusong became political commissar of the brigade to which Kang Yubang belongs. Shortly after taking up his new post, he took the initiative to learn from officers and soldiers, seeking to understand the brigade's relevant operational situation.
When studying and discussing with Kang Yubang, Zhang Wusong displayed the drive of inquiring into the very bottom of a matter (打破砂锅问到底, da po sha guo wen dao di - "break, sand, pot, ask, to, bottom"): "What are the characteristics of the missiles equipped by the troops in operational employment?" "What are the key nodes in combat operations?"... He dug deep with questions over every parameter and every chart, studying for an entire morning at a stretch, refusing to stop until he understood, questioning Kang Yubang until he had too many things to handle at once (应接不暇, ying jie bu xia - "respond, receive, not, able").
"Leaders taking the lead in studying military affairs and planning for war inspires us to hone true skills for victory and real competence." Kang Yubang said.
This is not an isolated case. At every post he has held, Zhang Wusong has settled down to study operational plans and familiarize himself with operational procedures. He has sought advice from more than 60 "gold-medal launch operators," operations staff officers, and missile experts, mastering professional knowledge of multiple missile types, and has been rated a first-class individual in military training for seven consecutive years. At the end of 2025, when the assessment of principal officers organized by the higher-level organ concluded, Zhang Wusong stood out from among numerous commanders.
"Whether political work can fully play its role of service and guarantee is directly related to whether political cadres have solid warfighting skills. We political cadres must not only study theory, but also understand warfighting, aiming to become 'experts in both fields,' so that what we say convinces people and what we do earns their respect." Zhang Wusong said.
From regimental political commissar to brigade political commissar, Zhang Wusong has always taken the lead in studying plans, assessing situations, and practicing command, serving both as a guide for officers and soldiers in tempering their thinking and as a pacesetter in sharpening the sword to strengthen the military. On one occasion, a brigade leader performed poorly in a capability assessment organized by the higher level. Zhang Wusong immediately led the brigade Party committee members in deeply reflecting on the shortcomings in combat readiness and warfighting and formulated targeted solutions.
In order to adapt to the demands of future operations, Zhang Wusong and every member of the brigade Party committee Standing Committee each shoulder multiple heavy responsibilities, organizing battlefield reconnaissance and expansion, prioritizing the acceleration of battlefield construction, and promoting battlefield capacity expansion, providing reliable support for drawing the sword to defeat the enemy.
Over the past two years, Zhang Wusong and the members of the brigade Party committee leadership have achieved a 100 percent pass rate in military capability qualification certification, and all have been tempered through major missions, establishing across the brigade a clear orientation of moving toward combat and strengthening capability for war. "On the future battlefield, if we want to serve as the trump card and the ultimate card, we must first temper ourselves into the leading geese of readiness and capability building." he said.
"Handle good things well, do real things for real, and when every small matter is gathered together, that is a great matter for building a strong military"
In the towering mountains, officers and soldiers of a certain technical detachment are stationed.
A few years ago, the barracks facilities here were old and dilapidated, and the accommodation conditions for family members on temporary visits were mediocre. Now, the camp has complete supporting facilities of all kinds, the dormitories are clean and bright, and the overall appearance has been completely transformed.
"The political commissar always keeps us soldiers in the mountains in his heart." Soldier Wang Binglei said with emotion.
The change came from an on-site investigation.
That year, not long after Zhang Wusong took up his post in the brigade, he went deep into this remote camp to investigate. He walked through every part of the camp, inspected the soldiers' dormitories one by one, and after ascertaining the actual situation, immediately organized officers and soldiers to conduct special research and made great efforts to improve the camp conditions.
Zhang Wusong not only made demands, but also bent down to solve problems. He continuously provided guidance and support to the detachment, from long-term planning and organizational building to cadre development and logistics and equipment support — every single matter or detail (桩桩件件, zhuang zhuang jian jian - "stake, stake, item, item") was implemented in practice, pushing the detachment's various areas of construction to continually reach new levels.
"Although we are deep in the mountains, when we participate in the brigade's various competitions and contests, we can still bring back championship medals and rank among the advanced." Detachment Political Instructor Wu Zuguo said.
All along, Zhang Wusong has consistently established and practiced a correct view of political achievements, targeting the urgent difficulties and concerns of the grassroots, resolving the bottlenecks and difficulties that constrain grassroots construction and affect combat effectiveness, and handling one by one the matters that win the trust of officers and soldiers.
In March this year, Zhang Wusong heard many heartfelt words during his investigations: grassroots officers and soldiers were unfamiliar with the various operational departments of the organ and found it inconvenient to handle affairs. Zhang Wusong kept the problem in mind and immediately convened personnel for consultation and research. Subsequently, a service station for officers and soldiers was established in the cultural activity center beside the organ building, handling all kinds of matters through one-stop acceptance and processing, achieving "at most one trip" for handling affairs.
He dares to take on "hot potatoes" and is willing to sort out "tangled old accounts." In nearly 10 years of service, he has successively resolved dozens of long-standing difficult problems that had dragged on unresolved, winning genuine recognition from officers and soldiers.
"Handle good things well, do real things for real, and when every small matter is gathered together, that is a great matter for building a strong military." Zhang Wusong said.
Treating officers and soldiers with warmth, yet always strict with himself, Zhang Wusong lets clean and upright energy fill the mountain camp through his words and deeds. Now, Zhang Wusong leads officers and soldiers in rectifying thinking, rectifying the ranks, and aligning their steps, consciously converting the political enthusiasm generated by political rectification into practical action to faithfully fulfill their mission.
Return to Top(People's Daily, Beijing, October 13) (Reporters Qiu Chaoyi, Jin Zhengbo) Reporters learned from the press conference for the 16th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition (hereinafter referred to as the "China Airshow"), held in Beijing on the 13th, that the 16th China Airshow will be held in Zhuhai, Guangdong, from December 7 to 13, 2026. Coinciding with the 30th anniversary of the founding of the China Airshow, this edition's exhibition scale has reached a new high, the breadth of international cooperation continues to expand, and the dimensions of displays and performances are accelerating their extension. Over the past 30 years, the China Airshow has cumulatively attracted 5.6 million visitors to the exhibition. Starting October 19, public-day tickets will be sold through the officially designated online platform.
From the main exhibition area at the Zhuhai International Airshow Center, to the Gaolan Port maritime equipment display area and the Lianzhou unmanned equipment display area, this edition of the airshow has constructed an exhibition layout of "one exhibition, three areas," adding the new Gaolan Port maritime equipment display area, extending the display of active-duty equipment to the maritime domain, and forming a full-domain linked display system spanning air, space, maritime, and land. At present, more than 1,100 enterprises from nearly 50 countries and regions are participating enthusiastically (踊跃参展, yong yue can zhan - "lively, enthusiastic, participate, exhibit"), with more than 3,000 pieces of equipment on display, and exhibits making their "first exhibition" or "first public appearance" accounting for about 10 percent.
National pavilions from Russia, the United States, France, Germany, and other countries will expand their exhibition scale, and enterprises from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, and other countries will participate deeply. Airbus, Boeing, Rolls-Royce, and other global top-100 aviation enterprises are participating enthusiastically, covering core aviation products such as complete aircraft, aviation power, avionics, and onboard systems. More than 170 aircraft have been registered for display in the main exhibition area of this edition's airshow, with the scale of participating aircraft reaching a new historical high.
A batch of products representing the latest independent innovation achievements in China's aerospace, aviation, and national defense science and technology will be unveiled collectively. For example, the Aviation Industry Corporation of China is participating with more than 370 products, an increase of over 30 percent compared with the previous edition. Aero Engine Corporation of China will display nearly 90 types of products including aviation engines and gas turbines, of which nearly half will be publicly unveiled for the first time.
Multiple types of main battle equipment of the Air Force will make their first appearance at the China Airshow, and the proportion of new-quality combat forces participating in the exhibition will increase. This edition of the airshow will also establish a talent recruitment exhibition booth for the first time, and open immersive programs and activities such as cargo hold experiences and photo check-ins with star equipment, bringing audiences closer to Air Force equipment.
China State Shipbuilding Corporation plans to dispatch multiple types of maritime and land equipment, including new 500-ton-class unmanned vessels, to participate in the exhibition, displaying more than 150 exhibits in the core area of the main exhibition zone, and simultaneously setting up a static display area in the Gaolan Port exhibition zone.
Return to Top(People's Daily, Beijing, October 13) (Reporter Zhang Yang) The reporter learned from the National Civil Service Administration on the 13th that registration for the 2027 annual examination for recruiting civil servants by central organs and their directly affiliated institutions is about to begin, with a total planned recruitment of 35,700 people. Candidates can log onto the "2027 Annual Examination for Recruiting Civil Servants by Central Organs and Their Directly Affiliated Institutions Special Website" (http://bm.scs.gov.cn/kl2027) between 8:00 on October 14 and 18:00 on October 24 for online registration (the deadline for registration and authentication is 18:00 on October 23), and the public subject written examination will be held simultaneously on November 29 in all municipalities directly under the central government, provincial capital cities, capitals of autonomous regions, and some other cities across the country.
The National Civil Service Administration solemnly reminds that this recruitment examination will not publish or designate any examination preparation books, nor will it hold or entrust any organization or individual to hold examination preparation training classes. Regarding the various civil service examination training courses, websites, or publications available in society, all candidates are advised to be highly vigilant (提高警惕, ti gao jing ti - "raise, high, alert, vigilance") and treat them rationally, to avoid being deceived or swindled (上当受骗, shang dang shou pian - "fall for, trap, receive, cheat"), and to prevent damage to their rights and interests.
Return to TopIn Baimian Yao Village, Zhoujia Village, Sishui Township, Longsheng Various Nationalities Autonomous County, Guilin City, Guangxi, on a stone called the "Red Army Rock," the red lettering — "The Red Army absolutely protects the Yao people" — still shines brightly (熠熠生辉, yiyi sheng hui - "shining, shining, bright") despite having weathered wind and rain.
In December 1934, the Fourth Division of the Third Red Army Corps passed through Longsheng County on the Long March. The local Yao masses, having long been oppressed by soldiers and bandits, misunderstood the Red Army and fled into the deep mountains and caves.
After discovering the hidden masses, the Red Army took the initiative to converse with them cordially, dispelling the misunderstanding. During the 10 days they were stationed in Longsheng County, Red Army soldiers helped villagers with farm work and cleaning, and provided free medical treatment and medicine to the sick, warming the hearts of the Yao masses.
In the old society, the local Yao masses were subjected to servitude and discrimination, and the government even wrote the character "Yao" with the animal radical, as "dog Yao." Yet beneath the "Dragon Tongue Rock" in Baimian Yao Village, the commanders of the Third Red Army Corps sat and talked at length with the Yao masses, explaining that the Red Army was a force that sought happiness for the toiling masses and resolutely protected the interests of the minority peoples.After the Red Army left, the local masses discovered on the "Dragon Tongue Rock" the slogan the Red Army had left behind: "The Red Army absolutely protects the Yao people."
To commemorate this history, the local villagers named this great stone the "Bright Rock" and the "Red Army Rock," so that the red memory would be passed down forever. Today, people of all ethnic groups live and work in contentment in the beautiful countryside, and the locality, relying on its diverse ethnic cultures, vigorously develops the cultural tourism industry, driving employment and income growth for the people.
Return to Top(People's Daily, Beijing, October 13) (Reporter Li Longyi) On the morning of the 13th, the three-day "Great Wall-2026" Counter-Terrorism International Forum of the Armed Police Force opened in Beijing, with more than 320 representatives from 62 countries and international organizations participating.
The forum, themed "Advancing Practical Counter-Terrorism Cooperation, Jointly Safeguarding Our Beautiful Homeland," is divided into high-level forums, professional forums, and thematic forums. At the opening ceremony, Lieutenant General Zhao Dongfang, Chief of Staff of the Armed Police Force, delivered a keynote speech, focusing on the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind and the four major global initiatives, and put forward four suggestions for deepening practical counter-terrorism cooperation, which received broad endorsement from the participating representatives.
The forum has set up four topics: "Trends in Terrorist Activities and Counter-Terrorism Capability Building under Unmanned Intelligent Conditions," "Counter-Terrorism and Attack Prevention for Important Targets," "Counter-Terrorism against Border (Frontier) Infiltration," and "Prevention and Combating of Maritime Terrorist Activities." During the forum, participating representatives will also observe training subject demonstrations, visit unmanned equipment, and watch the "Great Wall Horn" wind and symphony concert, among other activities.
Return to Top(People's Daily, Beijing, October 13) (Reporter Wei Zhezhe) The Intermediate People's Court of Quanzhou City, Fujian Province, and the People's Court of Nan'an City publicly pronounced first-instance judgments on October 13 in the series of cases involving the Wei family criminal group. Three defendants, Wei Huairen, Chen Dawei, and Liao Jingfang, were sentenced to death; three defendants, Wei Qingtao, Kang Min, and Xiong Hengxing, were sentenced to life imprisonment; 55 defendants, including Su Hongxiang, Deng Zida, and Chen Longjiang, were respectively sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment ranging from 24 years to three years and three months, with corresponding supplementary punishments such as fines, confiscation of property, and deportation imposed.
Upon trial and investigation, it was established that since 2019, the Wei Huairen criminal group, with Wei Huairen and Wei Qingsong (handled in a separate case) and others as principal ringleaders, and trusted subordinates Chen Longjiang and armed force leaders Cha Guicheng and Yan Longdi (both handled in separate cases) and others as important members, and the Henry criminal group, with Wei Rong, Wei Qinghai (both handled in separate cases), and Wei Qingtao as principal ringleaders, and family member Su Hongxiang and trusted subordinate Deng Zida and others as important members, exploited the influence of the Wei family in the Kokang region of Myanmar, developed and relied upon the armed forces controlled by the Wei family, established multiple criminal compounds in Laukkai, Kokang, recruited and attracted multiple "financiers" to take up residence and provided armed protection, and either themselves or jointly with the "financiers" committed crimes such as telecommunications and network fraud, operating gambling establishments, extortion, organizing prostitution, trafficking in drugs, and organizing others to illegally cross the national (border) frontier, involving funds of more than 12.2 billion yuan related to gambling and fraud. The Wei family criminal group also, in collusion with telecommunications network fraud gangs in the compounds, killed persons involved in fraud who did not submit to management, resulting in the deaths of 2 Chinese citizens. In addition, Wei family member Chen Dawei, using the armed forces under his control, wantonly killed people, resulting in the deaths of 2 Chinese citizens.
The Intermediate People's Court of Quanzhou City and the People's Court of Nan'an City held that the defendants Wei Huairen, Wei Qingtao, and others organized, led, and participated in a criminal group to commit crimes, and their conduct respectively constituted seven charges including intentional homicide and fraud. The court, in accordance with the facts, nature, circumstances, and degree of harm to society of each defendant's crimes, rendered the above judgments according to law.
Deputies to people's congresses, members of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, family members of the parties involved, and members of the public from all walks of life observed the pronouncement of the judgments.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 窦 皓
At the Wuxing High-Tech Industrial Park in Huzhou City, Zhejiang Province, in front of the high-speed sorting line of Zhejiang Muxing Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Muxing Intelligent"), intelligent robots shuttle back and forth, 3D sorting equipment operates at full speed, processing more than 14,000 items per hour. This "sorting + box-changing" unmanned operation system has also made an appearance at the German International Logistics Exhibition, winning favor from overseas customers.
Let us go back to 2023. When Muxing Intelligent planned to select a site in the Yangtze River Delta for a new base, Xia Mingming, then head of investment attraction at Huzhou Wuxing State-Owned Assets Investment and Operation Group Co., Ltd., immediately led a team to the company's headquarters in Suzhou as soon as the news broke.
"Only by making several trips can we truly gain understanding the needs and thoughts of an enterprise (摸清企业所想, mo qing qi ye suo xiang - "touch, clear, enterprise, what is thought")." Over the following months, Xia Mingming traveled between Suzhou and Huzhou more than ten times, not only bringing the enterprise team to survey factory buildings, but also making on-site visits to talent apartments and surrounding commercial districts. Employee housing, daily commuting... these "minor matters" that seemed unrelated to investment attraction were also planned in advance.
He Zijie, general manager of the Hardware Technology Center at Muxing Intelligent, later admitted frankly that industrial supporting facilities were the first plus factor that attracted them: "Wuxing High-Tech Zone is the only high-tech park in Zhejiang Province positioned with logistics equipment as its distinctive feature. Upstream and downstream enterprises cluster nearby, making production collaboration efficient and worry-free."
Signing the contract was only the beginning; starting production was the real test.
What the enterprise took over was a shell factory building, and logistics robot production places extremely high demands on floor load-bearing capacity and circuit layout. The investment attraction team moved their desks to the construction site — a hard hat and a work notebook became their daily standard equipment. Circuit lines were re-laid, floors were reinforced, power equipment was expanded... each work procedure advanced in tight sequence. Where cross-departmental coordination became a bottleneck, the dedicated service team proactively visited to connect and smooth the process.
"Any need we raised received a clear response the same day or the next day," He Zijie recalled. The smooth progress without any obstacles (一路绿灯, yi lu lv deng - "one, road, green, light") efficiency of handling matters allowed both factory renovation and procedure processing to accelerate.
Once the workshop officially went into production, orders came arriving in massive quantities like a tide (如潮水般涌来, ru chao shui ban yong lai - "like, tide, water, manner, surge, come"). But the shortage of space again became a real problem constraining development.
Upon learning that the enterprise urgently needed to expand its factory space, Wuxing State-Owned Investment Group, together with the High-Tech Zone, visited nearly ten parks in a single day, coordinating through multiple channels to secure 9,528 square meters of production space, and the enterprise moved in for renovation the very next day. "A helping hand at a critical moment is how we seized the market opportunity," He Zijie said with emotion.
In response to the development characteristics of science-and-technology innovation enterprises, Wuxing District rolled out a package of precise enterprise-support measures, with policies such as factory rental concessions, cross-border trade facilitation services, and talent subsidies taking effect one after another. Where there was a shortfall in science-and-technology talent, the "Talent Reception Room" activity helped connect with research platforms. Through holding "Intimacy Express · Government-Enterprise Consultation Meetings," a routine communication channel was established, allowing problems to be reported at any time.
"If there is a difficulty, say it directly — someone will manage it, someone will handle it, and there will be a response," He Zijie said. In just 18 months, Muxing Intelligent moved from R&D trial production into a new stage of scaled-up production. Today, the enterprise has more than 350 employees, and its products are sold to more than 20 countries and regions.
A mature industrial cluster is not the end point of development, but a new starting point for quality improvement and leapfrogging. At present, 470 high-end logistics equipment manufacturing and related enterprises have settled in Wuxing District, with an industrial agglomeration rate of over 90 percent.
The vigorous development of the intelligent logistics equipment industry is a vivid microcosm of Wuxing District's vigorous efforts to attract investment and continuously optimize the business environment. In recent years, the locality has implemented closed-loop services for the full life cycle of projects and rolled out a package of heartwarming measures including ultra-streamlined approval. In 2025, the district newly filed 66 industrial projects of 100 million yuan and above, newly started 98 projects of 100 million yuan and above, and its gross regional product surpassed the 100 billion yuan mark. "We will unswerving and determined in purpose (坚定不移, jian ding bu yi - "firm, steady, not, move") pursue project attraction and project advancement, and, oriented toward optimizing services, reducing costs, and improving efficiency, continue to optimize the business service environment," said the relevant person in charge of the Wuxing District Investment Promotion Center.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 闫伊乔
Dialogue guests:
Cao Peijie, Director and Researcher of the Digital Education Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Educational Sciences
Xiao Yanghua, Professor, School of Computing and Intelligent Innovation, Fudan University
Cheng Fei, Head of AI Learning Business, Education Technology Company
Gao Derun, First-Year Master's Student in Computer Technology, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications
My university years were spent in an environment of AI (artificial intelligence) large models. In the past, when encountering concepts we didn't understand, people would flip through textbooks or ask teachers; later, they would open search engines and type in keywords to search; now, more people are accustomed to using AI tools for "one-click answers." Education in the AI era no longer stops at "whether one can calculate," but is gradually shifting toward "whether one can judge, whether one can ask questions." Against this backdrop, how should we pose higher-quality questions, and how should we better apply AI?
— Xiao Liu, a university student
In the AI era, those who can ask questions may go further than those who can only answer them. When AI can quickly provide complete answers, being able to pose high-quality questions and discern the authenticity of answers is becoming a key competency for learners. How can one open the door to knowledge through a clever question and gain more valuable answers? Our reporter engaged in dialogue with several guests to jointly explore "In the face of AI, how to become a person who can ask questions."
How can students become "people who define problems and evaluate answers"?
[Scenario]
Last semester's final exam, the "Data Mining Techniques" course at Fudan University broke with convention — students did not sit in the examination room answering questions, but instead all became question setters. Each person had to design 10 questions to "stump" 3 AI large models. The more questions AI answered incorrectly, and the stronger the large models that were stumped, the higher the score the student question setters received. The results showed that 50 students got AI to answer at least one question incorrectly, and 4 students even caused some large models to score zero.
[What the teacher says]
Xiao Yanghua: Traditional examinations have partially failed in the AI era. If teachers only set standard questions and grade standard answers, AI often answers faster and more accurately than students. So I had students reverse roles and set questions to test AI, and the results exceeded expectations.
Being able to ask questions is not asking casually, but a higher-order ability built on understanding. I require students to be able to solve problems themselves, derive solutions, and know the standard answers, and then design questions that can test the boundaries of AI's capabilities. A good question should have clear constraints, a complete chain of reasoning, and be able to hit AI's structural weaknesses. In class, I also encourage students to discuss: Why is AI wrong, and where is it wrong? How does one judge whether a result is trustworthy? In this way, students transform from "people who accept answers" into "people who define problems and evaluate answers."
[What the expert says]
Cao Peijie: Enabling students to ask questions and think well requires taking measures in two ways simultaneously (双管齐下, shuang guan qi xia - "two, tubes; together, go down"): on the one hand, guiding teachers to establish a new "view of the classroom." A good class is an "incubator of questions" rather than a "production line of answers." Teachers should shift from transmitters of knowledge to designers of tasks, builders of scenarios, and guides of cognition, allowing students to actively raise questions in real scenarios and concrete tasks, stimulating curiosity, imagination, and the desire to explore; on the other hand, guiding students to establish a new "view of learning." The true essence of learning is the ultimate pursuit of questioning the nature of things — "defining a problem" is more important than "solving a problem." Students should become active questioners who make good use of AI, rather than passive recipients who are "fed" answers by AI.
[What the R&D staff member says]
Cheng Fei: The design of AI learning products should leave room for children to ask questions. In product iteration and updates, we have a very important principle: we cannot only look at whether AI got the question right, but also whether students truly learned. So with every capability update, we focus on three outcomes: whether students understand, whether they can solve similar problems on their own when encountering them, and whether they can gradually reduce their dependence on AI during use and develop the ability to complete tasks independently. For AI learning products, helping students develop the ability to understand and solve problems is more important.
[What the student says]
Gao Derun: To be good at asking questions, one should first have a certain understanding of AI's capabilities and different modes — for example, what knowledge is built into AI large models, when to enable web search, and when to use the "deep research" mode to obtain in-depth reports on complex problems. Being able to clearly position one's own question is also very important. One should first do basic thinking on one's own and articulate the question clearly, rather than directly throwing a big, vague question at AI.
With AI, will students become "dumber" or stronger?
[Scenario]
Encounter a difficult problem and ask AI — within seconds you get a complete analysis; get stuck writing an essay, and let AI quickly generate a fluently written article... Some worry that long-term reliance on AI will cause students to lose the ability to think independently; others believe AI can take on repetitive labor and liberate human creativity. Being "served" too well by AI — will students become "dumber" or stronger?
[What the expert says]
Cao Peijie: The answer to this question is not simply becoming "dumber" or stronger, but depends on whether AI is used scientifically and reasonably. If one simply outsources thinking to AI, over time it will form a "cognitive debt" — the brain is like a computer that hasn't been turned on for a long time, and startup becomes sluggish; but if one treats AI as a "thinking partner," actively using it to challenge oneself and expand cognitive boundaries, it can instead become a lever for enhancing cognition. The key lies in whether we let AI think in place of us, or let AI help us think better.
[What the teacher says]
Xiao Yanghua: AI is an amplifier of ability. Students with a solid foundation and judgment can use AI to learn and create better; those with a weak foundation who only know how to copy and paste results will gradually lose their thinking ability. What education needs to do is not simply prohibit the use of AI, but help students hold on to basic cognitive abilities and learn to verify, question, and direct AI.
[What the student says]
Gao Derun: If one directly copies AI's answers without thinking about the derivation process, over time it will indeed weaken the ability to think independently. But if one treats AI as a tool, using it to complete repetitive and tedious work and saving one's energy for creative tasks, one can achieve an improvement in ability. AI itself is just a tool; what truly determines the level of our ability is whether we preserve space for independent judgment and deep thinking.
When everyone can use AI, where does the competitive advantage lie?
[Scenario]
When applying for jobs, more and more job seekers are noting "proficient in using AI large models" on their resumes. When everyone can use AI, can this skill still bring a competitive advantage?
[What the expert says]
Cao Peijie: At present, the demand for talent with AI skills is continuously increasing, but the definition of "being able to use AI" is also constantly changing. Writing "proficient in using AI large models" on a resume today is like writing "proficient in office software" ten years ago. Employers are no longer satisfied with superficial use; they place more value on whether job seekers can rely on AI to land projects, solve practical problems, and produce work results. Being able to use AI is only the "admission ticket"; being able to use AI to solve complex problems and make independent judgments is the real competitiveness.
[What the teacher says]
Xiao Yanghua: What the future workplace needs is not people who only know how to issue commands to AI, but people who can define problems, break down problems, and judge results. AI will replace a large amount of mechanical work, but it will also amplify the value of human organizational ability, judgment, and creativity. What is truly in demand is composite talent with "professional competence + the ability to apply AI." Knowing only AI but not the business, or knowing only the business but not AI, will both leave one relatively passive.
In the AI era, what kind of liberal arts students and science students are needed?
[Scenario]
AI's ability to write poetry, create paintings, and write copy is getting stronger and stronger, and code generation tools have also lowered the programming threshold again and again. Some say "liberal arts students are more in demand now" — because empathy, critical thinking, and value judgment are difficult to replace with algorithms; others say "science is still the cornerstone" — without the construction of a technical foundation, AI itself would be out of the question.
[What the expert says]
Cao Peijie: AI can already efficiently complete standardized tasks such as code writing and data calculation, but AI-generated content lacks "human flavor" and lacks a deep understanding of human emotions and social context. To train AI to better understand human nature and better conform to human value needs, the insight and analysis of a humanistic perspective are indispensable.
Today, AI is changing the underlying logic of many industries. Clinging to a single mode of thinking will face severe challenges. Being proficient in both liberal arts and sciences, with cross-disciplinary integration, is the truly scarce ability — possessing both the technical thinking and logical ability of a science student and the humanistic insight and emotional literacy of a liberal arts student.
[What the R&D staff member says]
Cheng Fei: In the AI era, the standard for evaluating talent is shifting from "what major do you belong to" to "what problems can you solve." AI can handle more and more standardized text, calculation, and information organization work, but abilities such as understanding people and society, asking good questions, building models, verifying facts, and making judgments are difficult to summarize under a single disciplinary label. Liberal arts training needs to add data and technological literacy, and science training also needs to strengthen understanding of and empathy with people and society. In the future, those with greater competitiveness may not be the most typical liberal arts students or science students, but people who have both professional depth and the ability to solve problems across disciplines.
Return to TopBy: 陈世涵
When answers can be generated "with one click," "being able to answer" is no longer scarce, and "being able to ask" has become a capability more worthy of cherishing. Shifting from "seeking answers" to "raising questions" is an important change in education in the age of AI.
Asking questions is the starting point of thinking. "Why does an apple fall downward?" "After water boils, why is the lid of the kettle pushed up?"... Great discoveries often begin with a good question. If we grow accustomed to letting AI do the work for us, we may, without realizing it (不知不觉, bu zhi bu jue - "not know, not feel"), give up the right to think.
Good questions arise from vigorous curiosity, are built upon solid knowledge reserves, and mature through independent thinking. To ask better questions, we need to first read, first observe, first try, pause at points of confusion, and distill vague feelings into clear questions.
In the age of AI, being able to ask questions is an inherent part of mastering the fundamentals of education. Learning begins with a good question; what you are able to ask determines what you will be able to see.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 王汉超
Whenever young students step onto a university campus, the library is their "classroom" for experiencing the continuity of cultural heritage, expanding their intellectual horizons, and delving into their professional fields. The library preserves the figures of generation after generation seeking truth and knowledge. Today, in order to help young people who are accustomed to scrolling through phones and watching short videos better experience the joy of reading, university libraries have sprung into action.
Soochow University Library
Breaking Through Library Boundaries, Making Full Use of Rich Resources
The Soochow University Library traces its origins to the library of Dongwu University Hall, accumulating over 120 years of academic heritage. It has now developed into a pattern of four campuses and four libraries, with a total construction area of over 80,000 square meters and a collection of more than 4.35 million volumes.
The massive special collections and the vigorous demand of readers have prompted the library to consider a question: how to enable students to master the ability to effectively search for and utilize resources from this treasure trove of knowledge, and to make full use of the library's value.
Soochow University has created a distinctive program called "Walking Reading," guiding students into off-campus settings such as Suzhou classical gardens and former residences of notable figures, exploring architecture and understanding culture with research topics in hand, extending the tentacles of knowledge-seeking through vivid experiences. Zhang Yue, a student from the School of Foreign Languages at Soochow University, said: "The library compiles materials related to the activities, helping us conduct in-depth reading on specific topics. The open-shelf stacks have become a treasure trove for our knowledge-seeking."
"When students develop curiosity and questions through on-site exploration and return to the library to find materials, new reading demands are formed." Kang Fangfang, deputy director of the Reader Services Department of the Soochow University Library, believes that breaking the boundaries between campus and library buildings can stimulate students' thirst for knowledge through practice.
The library has also deeply explored the red history of the university and the patriotic deeds of its predecessors, launching special exhibitions such as "A Century in the Prime of Life — Exhibition of Library Collections of Red Documents Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Founding of the Communist Party of China," which have become live classrooms for freshman orientation education and for study visits by people from on and off campus.
"The best education is to help students develop reading habits, so that after they leave campus, they can continue to learn." Tang Wenyue, director of the Soochow University Library, said: "With the rise of lightweight information channels such as short videos, the library needs to open up its collection resources in ways that young people like, and give full play to the advantages of the library as an educational venue."
Hohai University Library
Based on Professional Characteristics, Guiding Growth and Responsibility
At the Jiangning Campus Library of Hohai University, a group of freshmen are visiting the themed exhibition "A Century of Water Management." For universities, the library is not just a place for borrowing books, but also a front for education. Hohai University strives to transform its professional characteristics into educational resources, guiding young students to shoulder the mission of the times.
Hohai University originated from the Hohai Engineering College, founded in 1915 by Zhang Jian, a modern patriotic industrialist and educator. A library was established at the very beginning of the school's founding, collecting water conservancy books and materials from home and abroad, and this cultural heritage has been passed down to this day. Wang Zhifeng, Party branch secretary of the Hohai University Library, said: "Water conservancy is our collection feature. We integrate water conservancy classics, water management history, and major engineering project cases into exhibitions, lectures, and courses, guiding students to understand the national needs behind their majors."
The Hohai University Library has carried out the "Yugong Culture Reading Festival," integrating the "wisdom of water" into the construction of a scholarly campus. Teachers and students jointly visit themed book exhibitions, learning knowledge and drawing strength in immersive themed exhibitions.
The library also organizes professional librarians to compile lecture notes for the labor education course "Preservation and Restoration of Ancient Books." Zhong Qingzhang, the teacher responsible for this course, introduced: "We reprinted the ancient book 'Illustrated Guide to River Engineering Tools,' leaving blank spaces, and led students to consult materials, supplement and revise, and finally it became a thread-bound book exclusively for the students."
Major national water conservancy projects have attracted great attention from teachers and students, becoming a periodic theme for the library to popularize water conservancy knowledge. Cui Yingxue, a student majoring in communication engineering at Hohai University, said: "Listening to special lectures and participating in themed discussions made me realize that these projects are not far from me. In the future, I also want to make contributions with what I have learned."
Nanjing University Library
Innovating the "Ways to Play" with Ancient Books, Attracting Students to Co-create
Ancient books also have new "ways to play."
The Nanjing University Library has a total collection of 6.95 million volumes, with nearly 400,000 volumes of ancient books alone, including a large number of unique copies and fine editions. How can these collection resources be integrated into the learning and life of young students? The Nanjing University Library has launched new attempts.
When a student wanted to learn about the Chinese mythological system, the library did not just list bibliographies and provide guided reading, but also organized students to use "Investiture of the Gods" as the base text to study whether a "script murder" game could be deconstructed and reconstructed. Yang Siqi, a student majoring in Chinese language and literature at Nanjing University, said: "Through repeated close reading of the text, deliberating over plot developments, and pondering the overt and covert threads, everyone read the book thoroughly and meticulously, and creativity was stimulated as a result."
Yang Siqi said that students from different disciplinary backgrounds gathered together, with some skilled at grasping characters' psychology and others good at designing conflicts and increasing narrative tension. As the script continued to enrich, everyone also read the book thoroughly, and the co-created creative works consolidated the reading outcomes.
Once the thinking was opened up, there was great potential in the library's collection. How to read "Dream of the Red Chamber" in depth? The Nanjing University Library reproduced a fragmentary volume of the Cheng Jia edition, guiding students to explore the "world of the Red Chamber."
"Interest is the best teacher. To repair and complete the fragmentary volume, students need to cross-verify and collate among the many editions, gradually reaching the materials related to 'Dream of the Red Chamber' in the collection." Li Dan, the project leader, introduced that through the joint efforts of teachers and students, the library launched an exhibition of editions of "Dream of the Red Chamber" using its collections.
Huang Xianjin, director of the Nanjing University Library, believes that only by getting close to young people and making flexible use of collection resources can the library's rich value be activated. Young people are not just readers, but also creators of new content and new perspectives. Attraction and co-creation form a cycle, and in the library, the cultural heritage is passed down and the tradition of learning continues uninterrupted (弦歌不绝, xian ge bu jue - "string, song, not, cease").
Return to TopOn October 13, Sihe Primary School in Hefei City, Anhui Province, organized students to visit the rice cultivation research base of the Anhui Academy of Agricultural Sciences, carrying out a themed practical activity of "Rice Field Classroom, Painting the Autumn Harvest." Using the rice fields as a natural painting studio, the children depicted golden waves of rice and colorful autumn scenery with their brushes, immersively experiencing the atmosphere of the harvest. The photo shows teachers and students "painting autumn" in the rice fields.
Photo by Zhao Ming (Image China)
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 胡婧怡
On the evening of October 5, at the Suoyu Bay Football Stadium in Dalian, Liaoning, the final of the first Northeast Regional City Football League (hereinafter referred to as the "Northeast Super League") was held. After fierce competition, the Changchun team defeated the Dalian team 1:0 to win the first "Northeast Super League" championship.
Outside the stadium, the "Northeast Super League" linked together the various host venues, performances, scenic spots, and commercial districts. From its opening in May to its conclusion in October, with the joint participation of the four provinces and regions of Liaoning, Jilin, Heilongjiang, and Inner Mongolia, 8 participating cities, 34 matches, and a 136-day schedule, the cross-regional cultural, sports, tourism, and commercial market was closely connected through the competition, achieving integrated and win-win development.
At each home venue, during the pre-match and halftime periods, artistic performances showcasing regional characteristics and the spirit of the times were brought into the stadium. At the Shenyang, Liaoning home match against Harbin, Heilongjiang, more than 200 industrial workers from SAC and Hafei sang in unison "We Workers Have Strength"; at the Hohhot, Inner Mongolia home venue, a "Nadam" was staged, with khoomei throat singing, long tunes, Boke wrestling, and archery taking turns on stage; at the Yanbian, Jilin home venue, long drum dances and sangmo hat dances showcased Korean ethnic customs; in Jixi, Heilongjiang, memories of the graphite coal city and the customs of the China-Russia border were projected onto the big screen...
The spectator culture was equally a wide variety of highlights (亮点纷呈, liang dian fen cheng - "bright spot, diverse, present"). From fans cheering for their city's team to the collective effort of raising giant TIFOs (large banners or mosaics) reading "Northeast, Ready" and "Tonight, the Northeast Wins," the audience cheered together for their cities and applauded the Northeast.
The "trending" match-viewing experience led many tourists to travel to a city for a single football match. After purchasing tickets to the final, tourist Li Xianjie and his family changed their plans on the spur of the moment, driving more than 1,200 kilometers from Jixi to Dalian. "The atmosphere in the stadium with over 60,000 people was fantastic, far beyond just a football match; it was like a grand Northeast gathering." Li Xianjie said.
On the night of the final, songs such as "My Chinese Heart" and "Ode to the Motherland" were played, and fans and spectators from the 8 participating cities gathered in the stadium to jointly offer their blessings to the motherland. Outside the stadium, the 8 participating cities, together with the other 12 cities in Liaoning, created dedicated city exhibition booths, showcasing the Northeast's high-quality autumn and winter cultural and tourism resources through diverse forms such as promotional presentations and special artistic performances. The football carnival brought together specialty foods and intangible cultural heritage creative products from the three provinces and one region of the Northeast, with nearly 30 fine performances running continuously for 6 hours.
During the competition period, the four provinces and regions jointly created the "Super Tour of the Northeast" cultural IP and the "One Ticket to Venture into Guandong" activity, planning 7 premium travel routes. Liaoning launched ticket-stub benefits covering multiple scenarios such as accommodation, dining, and supermarkets, with over 20,000 participating merchants, and nearly 100 A-level tourist attractions, including Dalian Forest Zoo, Shenyang Imperial Palace, and Benxi Water Cave, implemented free admission policies.
A tourist from Hulunbuir, Inner Mongolia, chose to take the "Sea Tour of Dalian" fan special route, crossing the bay to arrive at Dalian's Suoyu Bay Football Stadium: "People from the grasslands have a deep attachment to the sea. Riding on the cruise ship, with seagulls flying alongside, it was so beautiful!"
Sun Lili, a snack shop owner in Shenyang, saw her store's sales steadily rise by 15% after becoming a contracted sponsor of the "Northeast Super League." "Once we hung up the 'Northeast Super League Sponsor' sign, fans started coming in with their ticket stubs to support us, and we became popular along with the 'Northeast Super League'." Sun Lili said.
According to statistics, the cumulative on-site attendance for the "Northeast Super League" exceeded one million. During the competition period, Liaoning alone created nearly 900 "second viewing venues," directly driving consumption of over 1.9 billion yuan and driving related industry chain consumption of nearly 13 billion yuan.
Return to Top(People's Daily, Hangzhou, October 13) (Reporter Jiang Nan) The Zhejiang Provincial Department of Education and six other departments recently jointly issued guiding opinions, requiring the acceleration of high-quality development of preschool special education and the construction of an inclusive preschool special education system that integrates rehabilitation and education.
A relevant official from the Basic Education Division of the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Education stated that, according to the guiding opinions, inclusive kindergartens across the province should admit school-age special-needs children, including those with autism spectrum disorder and language development disorders, in accordance with the principle of "nearest and most convenient"; support is to be given to localities with the conditions to establish dedicated special education kindergartens.
Return to TopThe outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan makes arrangements for "stepping up efforts to build new-type energy infrastructure" and clearly proposes "vigorously developing new-type energy storage." In the process of accelerating the green and low-carbon transformation of energy, the energy storage industry is ushering in new development opportunities.
The International Energy Agency estimates that global total energy investment will reach $3.4 trillion in 2026, of which $2.2 trillion will be directed to clean energy fields such as wind power, photovoltaics, energy storage, and hydrogen energy, which has become an important direction for the global layout of a new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation. On the one hand, global electricity demand continues to grow, with new scenarios such as artificial intelligence and data centers generating a large amount of additional load; on the other hand, the installed capacity of renewable energy sources such as wind power and photovoltaics has risen year after year, and their intermittency and volatility have also brought new challenges to the stable operation of the power grid. To make green electricity truly a reliable power source, energy storage facilities are needed to provide critical flexibility and regulation support to the power system.
In 2025, global energy storage battery shipments reached 550 GWh; in the first half of 2026, they reached 461.3 GWh, a year-on-year increase of 71%. The International Energy Agency predicts that energy storage installed capacity is still expected to achieve several-fold growth in the coming years. Driven by demand growth, China's new-type energy storage industry has become the focus of attention in the global energy sector. According to data from market research firm SNE Research, in 2025, CATL's energy storage battery shipment market share reached 30.4%, ranking first globally for five consecutive years. From October 14 to 16, the 2026 World Energy Storage Conference was held in Ningde City, Fujian Province. As the "Capital of China's New Energy Batteries," Ningde City adheres to "grasping the leading enterprise, forging the industrial chain, and building industrial clusters," with CATL as the leading enterprise, having cumulatively introduced nearly one hundred industrial chain projects and formed a full industrial chain layout; it has built national-level engineering research centers as well as platforms such as an intellectual property protection center and operation center, implemented the "Sandu'ao Talent Plan" and the "Talent Revitalizing the Chain" initiative, and gathered about half of the nation's doctoral talents in the lithium battery field. Over more than ten years, the improvement of the city's industrial ecosystem has supported enterprises in enhancing their global competitiveness, while the development of leading enterprises has in turn driven the growth of the city's industrial clusters. Ningde City and CATL have promoted each other and developed together.
Energy storage is an important support for solving the challenges of global energy transformation. CATL is personally engaging in practical work (躬身实践, gong shen shi jian - "bow, body, practice"), driving "system-level going global" in energy storage and boosting the accelerated transformation of global energy.
Profound changes in the global electricity supply-demand landscape are driving the continued release of system-level demand for energy storage
The "system-level going global" in energy storage led by CATL is rooted in the profound changes in the global electricity supply-demand landscape. The tightening of global electricity supply and demand is driving the continued release of system-level demand for energy storage.
From the demand side, global electricity consumption is undergoing structural growth: the rapid development of artificial intelligence has made data centers new major electricity consumers, the increased share of new energy and the frequent occurrence of extreme weather have led to a rapid rise in demand for flexible regulation resources in the power system, and electricity demand in emerging markets continues to climb. Electricity has become a rigid demand worldwide.
From the supply side, stable power supply faces multiple challenges: geopolitical turmoil has increased uncertainty in traditional energy prices and supply, and some countries are once again facing electricity shortages; 655 million people globally still lack access to electricity, and in areas already connected to the grid, aging grids and insufficient regulation capacity are equally common problems; the rapid expansion of wind power and photovoltaic installed capacity places higher demands on grid regulation capacity due to their intermittency and volatility.
In the past, energy storage facilities were mostly regarded as supporting facilities for new energy power generation, undertaking only tasks such as smoothing fluctuations and reducing curtailment of wind and solar power, without active support functions, and industrial competitiveness was concentrated in energy storage cabinets and battery cells. Today, with changes on both the supply and demand sides superimposed, energy storage facilities are required to participate as independent power stations in grid peak shaving, frequency regulation, reserve, and demand response, operating in coordination with the grid. Beyond the battery cells, links such as power conversion, thermal management, relay protection, and dispatch communication must work in coordination.
From supporting facilities for new energy power generation to an important regulation resource for the power system, energy storage facilities have become an important component of global energy infrastructure. The level of system-level delivery capability is becoming an important dimension for measuring the competitiveness of the energy storage industry.
Exporting energy storage products from "cabinets" to "stations," CATL achieves "system-level delivery"
Recently, South Africa's Hydra solar-plus-storage project was put into operation, becoming Africa's largest hybrid renewable energy project. The project is equipped with a 216 MW photovoltaic power station and an approximately 588 MWh energy storage system. CATL provided the overall solution for it, delivering 158 Tianheng energy storage systems, PCS (power conversion system) integrated equipment, and a station-wide energy management system.
The value of "system-level delivery" is particularly clear under strict contract performance conditions. According to the 20-year power purchase agreement with South Africa's national power company Eskom, the project is required to continuously provide 75 MW of dispatchable power from 5:00 to 21:30 every day; the energy storage relies only on charging from the accompanying photovoltaic system and does not draw power from the grid, and the power fed into the grid strictly adheres to the grid connection point limits. CATL used a 3S integrated solution to coordinate energy management and power control, converting equipment capabilities into station-wide advantages. The project is expected to deliver more than 400 million kWh of clean electricity annually, equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of approximately 200,000 local households.
Behind "system-level delivery" lies continuously iterated product capability: precise matching of software and hardware, converting performance advantages into station-wide efficiency and long-term value. CATL's Tianheng energy storage system is built on high-quality battery cells as its foundation, adopting an integrated design of battery management, thermal management, power conversion, and grid interaction, connecting the software systems on both the DC and AC sides to achieve deep coordination.
Unit delivery is measured in months, while power station delivery is measured in years, requiring the completion of full-chain coordination across design, supply, construction and commissioning, and grid connection acceptance, as well as adaptation to the grid conditions, climatic environments, and regulatory frameworks of various countries. What CATL provides to the world is no longer components, but a complete power station that can be connected to the grid and operated at any time. Relying on deep system integration capability and full life-cycle services, CATL drives "system-level going global" in energy storage.
Continuous innovation promotes high-quality development, building overseas competitive advantages with technological strength
The outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan makes arrangements for strengthening the principal position of enterprises in scientific and technological innovation. That CATL was able to be the first to blaze the trail of "system-level going global" stems from its long-term technological accumulation.
R&D investment is the cornerstone. In 2025, CATL's R&D investment reached 22.147 billion yuan, with cumulative investment of over 100 billion yuan in the past decade, achieving scientific understanding of battery mechanisms and independent control of technological routes. The company controls the single-cell failure rate at the ppb level (one part per billion) — a 1 GWh energy storage power station requires the integration of hundreds of thousands or even millions of battery cells, and only by maintaining consistency among the cells can the long-term reliable operation of the entire station be supported. The latest patent data shows that in the global ranking of battery enterprise patent applications over the past decade, CATL ranked first with 26,574 patents.
At the same time, for "system-level going global" in energy storage, whether technological advantages can be converted into engineering capability is an important prerequisite for achieving station-wide delivery.
In May this year, the Xiamen Empirical Energy Storage Science and Technology Research Institute, built by CATL with an investment of 3 billion yuan, was officially launched. This global-scale, most complete testing-capability full-scenario empirical platform for energy storage systems repeatedly verifies laboratory indicators under real climate and grid conditions, then feeds the results back into product design, achieving an extension of capability from understanding batteries to understanding grid connection and the AC side. CATL has self-developed energy storage PCS (power conversion system), EMS (energy management system), BMS (battery management system), and TMS (thermal management system), incorporating grid-forming control and system empirical testing into its technical system, achieving deep coordination between battery data and AC-side control capability. This "R&D — empirical testing — delivery" closed loop has made CATL an industry leader and further enhanced the company's overseas competitiveness.
From a single battery cell to a complete power station, from selling products to delivering systems, CATL participates in global energy infrastructure construction through "system-level going global," providing a referenceable Chinese enterprise solution for global energy transformation.
Data source: CATL
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 罗艾桦 姜晓丹
In the early evening, the area beside Yongcui Community on Jianshe Avenue, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, comes alive: elderly residents stroll along the gentle slope, children play in the open space, tea shops waft out the fragrance of brewed tea, and young people sit outside cafés chatting.
This is a renovated activity space under the trees, where shade and the bustle of daily life complement each other. Hu Feng, chief planner of the Guangzhou Urban Planning and Survey Design Institute Co., Ltd., and community workers check the drawings item by item against the design effects already realized before their eyes. "As a member of Guangzhou's community designer team, I have been running around communities all these years, with the sole aim of making designs more practical and closer to people's lives. Now our full-time team has grown to more than 1,700 people, and their busy figures can be seen in all 177 towns and subdistricts across the city," Hu Feng said.
In recent years, the Guangzhou Municipal Bureau of Planning and Natural Resources has continued to channel design resources into livelihood projects. In addition to full-time community designers, it has also brought in more than 50 high-level planning and design professionals, over 6,000 planning and resource volunteers, more than 2,000 university faculty and students, and 216 "guardians of the famous city," forming a community designer team covering both urban and rural areas. They go to the front line of communities to hear public opinion, improve spaces, and deliver practical services, exploring a new path of mega-city governance characterized by "design leadership, professional guidance, and whole-population participation."
Asking the people what they need, sorting out diverse demands item by item
Yang Shiyun and Luo Youbin of the Guangzhou Urban Planning and Design Co., Ltd. participate in community planning and construction as planning and resource volunteers. During their routine community visits and surveys, they noticed that at the corner of an old alley beside Jiangnandong Comprehensive Market on Jiangnanzhong Subdistrict, Haizhu District, rusty stair railings, a lack of places to rest, scattered flowerpots, and shabby, cluttered enclosures had become a source of annoyance for residents. They actively liaised with the subdistrict and community, and through methods such as collecting demands, conducting door-to-door visits, and organizing community co-construction activities, they sorted out clearly the diverse demands of elderly people hoping for safety, residents wanting places to rest, and neighbors seeking greenery.
The subdistrict had only about 90,000 yuan in community renovation funds. Working from the actual situation, the volunteers adopted the approach of "micro-renovation, light intervention": they refurbished the stair railings to safeguard elderly residents' safe passage, added leisure seating at the corner to create a convenient rest nook, built flower beds from painted hollow bricks to tidy up the greenery, artistically renovated the electrical boxes and enclosures, and set up a memory photo wall. The once cluttered and desolate corner has become a warm space where neighbors gather.
Zhong Meiting, deputy secretary of the Party Working Committee of Jiangnanzhong Subdistrict, remarked with emotion: "The plan costs little and works well, and it also prompted residents to participate voluntarily, activating the community's internal vitality." Many residents said that after the little garden at their doorstep was tended, the community environment became cleaner and tidier, and exchanges and visits among neighbors increased.
From the renewal of the old alley corner on Jiangnanzhong Subdistrict to the "one-meter garden" in Xingyuan Community in Haizhu District and the Yundian Yuejin Park in Baiyun District, similar people-benefiting micro-renovations are spreading rapidly and widely in many places (遍地开花, bian di kai hua - "every, place, open, flower") across Guangzhou. The broad ranks of design practitioners take root at the front line, listen to the voices of the people, and integrate refined design into the fabric of the city's streets and alleys, consolidating the talent foundation for Guangzhou's systematic advancement of urban renewal and grassroots governance.
Asking the people for their ideas, tailoring design plans to local conditions
When Guangzhou built its unified community designer system, each district tailored its own plan according to its distinctive characteristics. In Yuexiu District, the renovation story of Wende Garden is a vivid example of activating and utilizing spatial resources in the old urban area.
The old city of Yuexiu is crisscrossed with streets and alleys, with old buildings clustered in contiguous stretches. The locality set a specific plan: district urban designers for Yuexiu coordinate the overall picture, while on-the-ground community designers go deep into the streets and alleys. Song Gang, a district urban designer and designer at Guangzhou Shuliangshe Architectural Design Co., Ltd., insists on preserving the traditional character of the entire historic district; on-the-ground community designer Wang Lin leads a team that spends all year round going from street to street and alley to alley, learning the details of the alleys and listening to the suggestions of the neighborhood.
During a routine visit in 2024, Wang Lin's design team unexpectedly struck gold. Hidden on Wendong Road was a Republican-era old residence, a typical modern-style collective residential building.
"This building with traditional character can absolutely serve as the catalyst for revitalizing the entire district," Wang Lin said. He invited Song Gang to the site. First they gave the old house a "digital physical examination," then gradually dismantled unauthorized structures and restored the building's original spatial layout.
During the activation and renovation of Wende Garden, hurdles came one after another. The design team compared more than a dozen versions of exterior wall color schemes, scoured everywhere for old patterned tiles to restore them to their original state, and adjusted the height and curvature of the rest seating again and again; for the relocation of public utility lines and the special approval procedures for heritage buildings, the team shuttled back and forth to coordinate.
Song Gang offered his thinking from the perspective of the district's long-term development: "Restoring old buildings cannot focus only on a single structure. We must preserve the charm of antiquity while introducing appropriate novelty, and only when the old and the new coexist can the vitality of daily life be retained." He proposed fully preserving the old house's brick-and-wood main structure and adding a transparent glass atrium in the middle, giving the old building one more public space where residents can chat and read.
Wang Lin said with deep feeling: "We understand the daily needs of residents, and both overall coordination and implementation on the ground are indispensable." Today, Wende Garden integrates multiple functions—meetings and offices, coffee and tea, cultural exhibitions, reading and rest, and neighborly exchange—and has become a catalyst for the revitalization of the district. Surrounding residents have taken the initiative to tidy up the environment in front of their doors, and the whole old street is gradually coming back to life.
Each district has different endowments, and the paths they take also have their own characteristics, so a working mechanism of "one district, one policy" was established. Liwan District focuses on the water towns of Xiguan, with dedicated teams and personnel caring for arcade buildings and waterways; Huangpu District focuses on old factory areas, improving the living amenities of workers' compounds; Huadu District goes down to the countryside, carrying out design renovation and quality improvement of ancestral halls and other buildings... Under the same co-construction mechanism, diverse solutions have emerged, allowing design to fit the fabric of the land and effectively solve the big and small problems at the neighbors' doorsteps.
Asking the people about results, ensuring that renovation outcomes benefit multiple parties
When it comes to whether urban renovation works well, citizens have the strongest say. Designers dig deep into the unique characteristics of each area, proactively link up with subdistricts, parks, residents, and enterprises, and find the greatest common denominator in balancing the demands of all parties, so that renovation both improves the public environment and invigorates the vitality of the area.
When Chen Xiong, a national master of engineering survey and design and chief architect of the Guangdong Provincial Architectural Design and Research Institute, led the renovation project of the Keziling gatehouse of Baiyun Mountain, he found that the original gatehouse was close to the road, with chaotic mixing of people and vehicles, and passing citizens did not even have a place to rest. After repeated site surveys and discussions, the design team produced a plan: move the gatehouse building back as a whole, freeing up a large open area along the street.
"The mountain gate cannot merely guard the boundary of the scenic area; it must also leave sufficient public space for citizens, so that people can take a walk and rest here without buying a ticket to enter the park," Chen Xiong said. He liaised with the park management office, the subdistrict, and resident representatives, and after repeated consultations among all parties, the final plan won unanimous support.
After the renovation was completed, the gatehouse was moved back as a whole, opening up a spacious leisure area along the street, with wide and unobstructed walkways, rest platforms, and landscaped greenery all in place. Residents who often come to climb the mountain remarked: "The most heartwarming thing about the renovation is that even without entering the scenic area, you can have a leisure open space against the mountain."
Yunhe Community in Yuexiu District is close to Guangzhou Zoo and has a prominent locational advantage, yet for a long time it failed to convert its visitor flow into community vitality, and its public spaces and supporting facilities were clearly inadequate. Hu Zhanhong, a master of engineering survey and design in Guangzhou, led the overall coordination of the renovation, with all parties having their own demands: the community lacked parking space, merchants hoped to gather foot traffic, and residents longed for leisure green space. Hu Zhanhong organized several consecutive forums, sorted out the expectations of all parties item by item, and finalized the renovation approach.
"Design cannot only satisfy a single group of people. It must leverage the locational advantage to revitalize the entire plot, bring in visitor flow, fill the gaps in supporting facilities, and enable residents, property management, and merchants all to benefit," Hu Zhanhong said. He kept refining the plan: a new underground parking garage relieves parking pressure in the area, and an idle above-ground plot has been turned into a distinctive pocket park that receives visitor flow from the zoo, forming a street-front public space where people can stay and relax.
After the renovation was completed, the popularity of the area continued to rise. Residents gained more leisure options in daily life, property management enhanced the supporting value of the community, and street-front merchants also gained steady customer flow—all parties felt a tangible sense of gain. One resident remarked: "Before, to find a place to walk and rest, I had to take a detour. Now there is a shady little park right at my doorstep. On the way to buy groceries or take a stroll, I can sit down for a while, and even the surrounding area has become much livelier."
Guangzhou's community designers, grounded in the distinctive features of each area and balancing the demands of multiple parties, have achieved a win-win situation for livelihood benefits, spatial value, and neighborhood vitality. "Using design to shore up shortcomings and craftsmanship to benefit people's livelihoods—one heartwarming project after another that has been implemented and delivered results is making urban renewal warmer and grassroots governance more substantive," said an official of the Guangzhou Municipal Bureau of Planning and Natural Resources.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 齐志明 林丽鹂
The concept of health and wellness is widely accepted and embraced by the people (深入人心, shen ru ren xin - "deep, enter, people, heart"), and the health food market continues to heat up. However, some unscrupulous operators exploit consumers' — especially the elderly's — urgent demand for health, inducing purchases through false advertising, marketing gimmicks, and other means, seriously harming consumers' legitimate rights and interests. To help the broad consumer public select health foods scientifically and rationally, the State Administration for Market Regulation and the China Consumers Association recently jointly issued a consumption advisory.
Recognize the true nature of the product, and consume scientifically and rationally. Health foods are a special category of food, not medicine, and cannot replace medication in treating disease. Under the Food Safety Law of the People's Republic of China, food and health foods may not advertise disease prevention or treatment functions. When selecting health foods, consumers should carefully read the labels and instructions to understand the suitable populations, unsuitable populations, and functional ingredients. Do not treat health foods as medicine; if you feel unwell or need treatment for illness, please go to a regular medical institution for consultation, to avoid delaying the condition.
Beware of marketing gimmicks, and stay away from consumption fraud. Recognize the "free trap." Unscrupulous merchants attract consumers to participate through free health lectures, free physical examinations, free gifts, and other forms, then build rapport and gain trust through daily WeChat greetings, door-to-door companionship and chatting, before smoothly pushing high-priced products. In the face of such situations, please remain highly vigilant, do not blindly participate, and do not casually add strangers' WeChat accounts.
Stay away from the brainwashing of "meeting sales." Unscrupulous merchants often gather consumers in enclosed venues under the guise of health lectures, expert free clinics, patient sharing sessions, free tours, group meals, and the like, where "experts," "professors," or "veteran patients" take turns using their own experience to explain a situation (现身说法, xian shen shuo fa - "appear, body, speak, method"), exaggerating product efficacy and creating the illusion of "curing all diseases" and "limited-time discounts" to induce consumers to buy high-priced health foods. Do not readily believe "expert recommendations" or "patient testimonials," and communicate more with family members before making large purchases.
Guard against "private domain" scams. Some merchants spread false medical advertisements through closed channels such as WeChat groups, enterprise WeChat private chats, and private-domain livestream rooms, posing as medical personnel to endorse products, loudly touting that products have disease prevention and treatment effects. These advertisements are often disseminated through temporary mini-programs or time-limited links that expire and become invalid, making it difficult for consumers to gather evidence for rights protection. Do not readily believe "miracle drug" claims in private-domain channels, do not click on unknown temporary links, and do not conduct transactions through community channels.
Convenient verification of authenticity, and channels for rights protection. How can consumers distinguish genuine from fake health foods and safeguard their own rights and interests? Consumers can remember "one check, two choose, three complain."
One check. Before purchasing, identify the "blue hat" logo and approval number on the product packaging, log on to the State Administration for Market Regulation's special food information inquiry platform, enter the approval number, and verify the product's authenticity and registration information in a few seconds.
Two choose. Choose to purchase from supermarkets, pharmacies, and legitimate e-commerce platforms with complete licenses and certificates, remain vigilant against channels such as free health lectures, private-domain livestreams, temporary mini-program links, and door-to-door sales pitches, and do not readily believe endorsements from "experts" or "fellow patients."
Three complain. If you encounter false advertising, price fraud, or product quality problems, you may file complaints with consumer association organizations through the National Consumers Association Smart 315 platform, or report them to market regulation departments. If crimes are suspected, promptly report the case to public security organs.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 王 洲
In the evening, resident Li Li skillfully parked his car into the newly built multi-story parking building. He lives in Daxinkai Hutong, Xicheng District, Beijing. "In the past, after work, I would often drive around the hutong for half an hour without finding a parking space. Now, coming home and parking is no longer a worry, and I feel much more at ease."
Just last year, the site where this parking building now stands was cluttered with miscellaneous items and growing wildly and uncontrollably (杂草疯长, za cao feng zhang - "miscellaneous grass, crazily, grow"), which both marred the cityscape and wasted space.
"Even a 'corner plot' the size of a palm must be put to good use," said the relevant official of the Xicheng District Urban Management Committee. Without resorting to large-scale demolition and construction, and applying meticulous "embroidery-style" effort, Xicheng District, together with the sub-district offices and property rights units under its jurisdiction, launched a special action for "micro-renewal of hutong spaces," incorporating the plot where the parking building now stands into a pilot area for "relocation and renovation." A modern multi-story parking building rose abruptly from the ground (拔地而起, ba di er qi - "pull, ground, and, rise"). With the same land area, the capacity has increased by about 2 times, adding a large number of parking spaces and resolving the residents' extremely urgent matter (燃眉之急, ran mei zhi ji - "burn, eyebrow, of, urgency").
Being able to "park in" is not enough; it must also be "easy to park well." The newly built parking building has widened the dimensions of the parking spaces, facilitating vehicles entering and exiting calmly and unhurriedly (从容进出, cong rong jin chu - "leisurely, enter, exit"). At the same time, on the first floor, dedicated slow-charging spaces for new energy vehicles have been specially set aside to meet car owners' charging needs. The equipment in the parking building is fitted with professional sound-insulating "cladding" and buffer devices have been installed to reduce noise pollution.
With good facilities in place, they must also be well maintained and well operated. Xicheng District has designated most of the parking spaces as benefit-oriented spaces for residents, priced far below market rates, to give priority to meeting the rigid demand for long-term parking among surrounding residents. At the same time, to prevent operating enterprises from losing money, relevant departments have rolled out a "combination punch" of policies, including appropriately extending the franchise period and other measures, to help enterprises balance their accounts and ensure their reasonable revenue, forming a virtuous cycle in which "residents get tangible benefits, enterprises remain sustainable, and governance achieves results." As of now, Xicheng District has added 2,052 parking spaces this year.
Return to TopOn October 13, Fuxi Community of Xin'anjiang Subdistrict, Jiande City, Zhejiang Province, held an activity to welcome the Double Ninth Festival under the theme "Golden Autumn Talks of the Double Ninth Festival, Care Warms the Elderly," providing the elderly with pastries, tea, longevity noodles, and more. In recent years, Xin'anjiang Subdistrict has focused on serving "the elderly and the young," giving the elderly a greater sense of fulfillment and happiness in their lives.
Photo by Ning Wenwu (China Images)
Return to Top(People's Daily, Lanzhou, October 13) (Reporter Zeng Yichen) The Department of Human Resources and Social Security of Gansu Province recently issued the "Gansu Province Measures for the Administration of Work-Related Injury Rehabilitation," further improving the institutional system of work-related injury insurance covering prevention, compensation, and rehabilitation, and providing institutional guidance for the rehabilitation and treatment of workers injured on the job.
In terms of the rehabilitation implementation model, a dual pathway of early intervention and systematic rehabilitation is established. During the clinical treatment period of workers with work-related injuries, rehabilitation intervention is carried out concurrently to prevent functional impairment and reduce the risk of disability. Work-related injury medical (rehabilitation) agreement institutions promptly assess rehabilitation potential, formulate early intervention plans, and implement them after obtaining the consent of the injured worker or their close relatives. Medical institutions that do not meet rehabilitation conditions may jointly provide services with, or transfer patients to, rehabilitation institutions. Human resources and social security departments and agreement institutions simultaneously inform injured workers of their rehabilitation rights and interests. After the condition stabilizes, systematic rehabilitation is carried out, and the application and confirmation process is streamlined to a dual-channel application to the Municipal (Prefecture) Labor Capacity Appraisal Committee or the social insurance agency at the same level, with a channel for objection review and confirmation clearly defined.
In terms of rehabilitation services, Gansu has built a tiered rehabilitation pattern of "provincial-level treatment of severe cases, municipal-level treatment of routine cases, and grassroots-level consolidation," encouraging the active expansion of work-related injury rehabilitation services. It promotes the extension of work-related injury rehabilitation services to the grassroots level, making work-related injury rehabilitation services accessible nearby.
In terms of rehabilitation cost benefits, it is stipulated that workers with work-related injuries who participate in work-related injury insurance in accordance with the law and pay work-related injury insurance premiums as prescribed shall have the rehabilitation costs incurred for work-related injury rehabilitation that meet the prescribed requirements paid by the work-related injury insurance fund. For confirmed persons with occupational injuries in new forms of employment who undergo rehabilitation, the relevant benefits shall be implemented in accordance with the relevant provisions on occupational injury protection for persons in new forms of employment.
Return to Top(People's Daily, Hefei, October 13) (Reporter Li Junjie) The reporter recently learned from the Anhui Provincial Tax Service that Anhui's tax authorities have deepened coordination with departments such as human resources and social security, and medical insurance, creating a dedicated zone for "one-stop social insurance payment services." All 118 city- and county-level units in Anhui that undertake social insurance fee collection and payment functions have now established such zones.
Led by Anhui's tax authorities, resources from the tax, human resources and social security, and medical insurance departments have been integrated. In accordance with the standards of one-window acceptance for jointly handled business, integrated linkage between handling and payment, one-stop answers for policy consultations, and one-stop resolution of disputes and appeals, comprehensive service windows have been established at government service centers across the region, implementing the model of "unified front-desk acceptance, parallel back-office review and approval, and unified window issuance," achieving "one-stop handling" for the entire process of insurance registration, declaration and payment, and certificate printing. Relying on the reform of "integrating multiple forms into one," real-time information sharing between insurance registration and payment declaration has been realized, streamlining business processing materials by more than 40 percent and reducing business processing time by over 70 percent. The average processing time for normal social insurance payment business across the province is now only 3 minutes.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 邵玉姿
Inside a yoga studio on Shuangwen Street in the Rongdong Area of Xiong'an New Area, Hebei, several rows of Pilates reformer beds are arranged in two lines. Bending forward, stretching, twisting... on the reformer beds, several trainees are following instructor Li Yuan through their practice.
"After Xiong'an New Area was established, I saw a broader world and began a brand-new life," Li Yuan said.
Li Yuan, 39, is from Liucun Village, Dahe Township, Rongcheng County. She once worked in cutting and embroidery for plush toy production. After Xiong'an New Area was established, she and her husband opened a courier station in the village. Though the station was small, the volume of parcels was not — averaging 1,300 items a day, keeping the two of them busy from morning to night.
In 2023, when Liucun Village in Dahe Township was demolished for redevelopment, Li Yuan and her husband closed the courier station and rented a home in the Hongde Garden residential community in the Rongdong Area. The community is clean and attractive, the buildings are spacious and bright, there is a school right outside the door, and a park is just a few minutes' walk away. The living environment is completely different from before — "it's like living in a garden."
Li Yuan also found a new job — working in the cafeteria of the Xiong'an New Area Administrative Committee. She came into contact with more people and broadened her horizons. "Everyone is full of energy, and everyone is contributing to this city."
After work, she often attends free public-interest classes at the community's Party-masses service center. It was there that she encountered yoga for the first time. On the yoga mat, Li Yuan felt a sense of ease and relaxation and experienced a whole new way of life. "Our living environment keeps improving — shouldn't I also grow upward together with the new area?"
Where was the direction? Li Yuan decided to find a career suited to her new life.
"The new area keeps developing, more and more people come here to build their careers, and their demands on quality of life are also rising." At first, Li Yuan wanted to open a supermarket to make things more convenient for residents.
"There are quite a few supermarkets in the new area, and competition is fierce. People are now more health-conscious and exercise regularly. Since you love yoga, why not try turning your passion into a career?" The suggestion from a staff member of the Xiong'an New Area Party-masses Work Department who often dined at the cafeteria sparked a bolder idea in Li Yuan — seize the opportunity, work hard to become a yoga instructor, and run a yoga studio of her own.
No sooner said than done. Li Yuan signed up at a professional yoga training institution in the new area and began her instructor training.
At the training institution, Li Yuan met her current business partner, Guo Xingwei, born in the 1990s. At the end of 2024, Li Yuan and Guo Xingwei successfully obtained the "Senior Yoga Instructor" certificate issued by the China Yoga Alliance Training Institute, and the two decided to open a yoga studio. After deliberation, they ultimately chose the Rongdong Area — where construction started earliest and the population is relatively concentrated — as the studio's location. Li Yuan also had a deeper consideration: "I want to inspire more people to explore a new life."
In November 2025, the yoga studio officially opened, attracting many people to practice, with most members being relocated residents. "Many people have found new jobs in the new area. They work during the day and practice in the evening," Li Yuan said. "After each session, everyone chats together and shares bits of their daily lives. Hearing about everyone's changes, I can feel that everyone is constantly growing."
In 2025, Li Yuan's family moved into their new home in Chunhui Garden in the Dahe Area. After moving, she immediately signed up at the community and became a volunteer teacher for the public-interest classes, teaching residents yoga for free. "As long as I have time, I come to the community every week to teach a public-interest class," Li Yuan said.
After the day's classes ended, Li Yuan and Guo Xingwei crouched down, cleaning the equipment while chatting with the reporter.
"What does the establishment of Xiong'an New Area mean to you?" the reporter asked.
"A richer, better life," the two said in unison (不约而同, bu yue er tong - "not, agree, but, same").
Turning off the lights and locking the door, Li Yuan and Guo Xingwei each got on their electric bicycles and rode toward home. The streetlights stretched their shadows long, bearing witness to the beautiful vision of the people here growing together with this city.
Return to Top(People's Daily, Changsha, October 13) (Reporter Yang Xun) Relying on the citywide upgrade and renovation of express-delivery platform outlets and stations, Changsha, Hunan, has completed and put into operation 611 express-delivery care stations, providing nearby, convenient, and routine rest support for new employment groups such as couriers and food-delivery riders, as well as for outdoor workers at large.
Each station is uniformly equipped with basic convenience facilities such as water dispensers, rest seats, and charging sockets, and routinely provides warm services such as shelter from heat and cold, water supply, and mobile phone charging, effectively addressing the real pain points faced by outdoor workers, such as difficulty in getting water, resting, charging, and using the toilet, and building citywide convenience care stations where "one can warm up in cold weather, cool off in hot weather, drink water when thirsty, and rest when tired." The 611 express-delivery care stations completed this time include 11 provincial-level demonstration stations and 600 municipal-level standard stations, weaving a dense citywide care service network.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 李茂颖
As a drone swept over the Fairy Maiden Lake area of the Stone Forest in Yunnan, the well-arranged and orderly (错落有致, cuo luo you zhi - "scattered, orderly, has arrangement") karst peak forest stood tall and graceful, clear lake water reflecting the green shadows of the peaks, mountains and waters blending in harmony, the scenery quiet and serene, with the pristine karst landform preserved intact.
During the National Day holiday not long ago, the Stone Forest scenic area was bustling with activity. Wang Liping, a scenic area staff member, moved through the crowds, occasionally dispatching tour guides: "There are quite a few tourists, please get to your respective posts as soon as possible."
Wang Liping comes from Xiaoqing Village near the scenic area and is a native to the place (土生土长, tu sheng tu chang - "earth, born, earth, grow") Stone Forest local. After more than a hundred million years of geological carving, the Stone Forest's peaks stand tall with lush mountains with overlapping green peaks (千嶂叠翠, qian zhang die cui - "thousand, mountain range, stack, emerald"), enjoying reputations such as "the essence of the world's karst" and "a natural museum of sculpted landforms." The Stone Forest's "rocky peaks crown the world" — more than 350 square kilometers of fully developed karst landforms bring together strange rocks, waterfalls, lakes, caves, and other natural scenery of diverse types and rich landscape composition, forming a typical Stone Forest karst dissolution landform landscape. In June 2007, "South China Karst," including the Stone Forest, was inscribed on the World Heritage List.
Over the years, the Shilin Yi Autonomous County has adhered to scientific planning, unified management, strict protection, and sustainable use, implementing zoned management and control over the heritage site and buffer zones, and committing to living in harmony with nature (和谐共生, he xie gong sheng - "harmonious, live, together, grow").
Patrolling and guarding the mountains and forests — professional teams and local villagers go up together
At daybreak, Pu Shuhua, deputy secretary of the Party General Branch of Wukeshu Village, led villager patrol team members onto the mountain path at the junction between the scenic area and the village.
World heritage protection is not just the business of the scenic area administration bureau. Within the more than 350-square-kilometer protected area, there are 30 administrative villages and more than 60,000 residents. Who guards this world-rare karst landform? The answer is — professional teams and local villagers go up together.
"Vehicles cannot pass through the managed area, electric vehicles can only serve as short-distance transport, and most mountain roads can only be traversed on foot," Pu Shuhua said. The patrol team members conduct section-by-section inspections of the heritage site and buffer zones, and it usually takes a day or two to complete a full circuit of the boundary line. "The team members are mainly villagers from this village, plus some from neighboring villages — everyone patrols and guards this mountain forest together."
Gao Hongxia, a senior engineer at the Resource Management Division of the Stone Forest Scenic Area Administration Bureau, introduced that the bureau actively mobilizes the 30 village committees to participate in resource protection inspections, and has also established a dedicated field inspection and management team that conducts inspections at fixed times, in fixed areas, and at fixed points, mainly checking whether stone landscape resources and karst landforms have been damaged. When situations are discovered, investigation and handling procedures are initiated; for resource destruction cases involving forestry, natural resources, and the ecological environment, the bureau also jointly enforces the law with the county forestry and grassland bureau, the natural resources bureau, the ecological environment sub-bureau, and other departments.
Relying on multiple measures, Shilin County has built a four-tier ecological protection network of "county—bureau—township (sub-district)—village": on the one hand, it has fully staffed professional inspection and management teams; on the other hand, it has incorporated world heritage resource protection into the list of matters for which townships and village committees perform their duties in coordination. Through a three-dimensional management and protection pattern in which professional teams provide overall coordination and dispatch and mass forces achieve full coverage, every resource and every patch of mountain forest ecology is watched over and guarded by someone.
Scenic area and villages coexist — driving employment and industrial transformation together
"A tour group is going to visit for two hours; we need to plan the route and prepare the commentary." Upon receiving Wang Liping's arrangement, tour guide Suo Lifen quickly got ready for her post. Like Wang Liping, Suo Lifen also comes from Xiaoqing Village. Their career experiences are precisely a portrayal of the Stone Forest scenic area driving income growth for surrounding villages and the coexistence of the scenic area and villages.
Relying on the location advantage of being close to the heritage site, the local area actively mobilizes surplus labor from villages around the scenic area to find employment nearby, with more than 100 villagers taking up posts in scenic area cleaning, forest protection and greening, commentary services, and other positions. Zhao Xiaomei, director of the Stone Forest Scenic Area Administration Bureau, introduced that the scenic area gives priority to employing villagers from the heritage site and buffer zones; currently, local residents account for more than 90 percent of workers in positions such as tour guides, cleaning, and travel photography.
"Working at the doorstep of my home means I don't have to travel far, and I can still earn money to support my family. I feel especially proud to guard the mountains and waters of my hometown," Wang Liping said.
Advancing in tandem with employment promotion is the industrial transformation of surrounding villages. In 2010, to better protect the world heritage, Wukeshu Village, the closest to the scenic area, was relocated in its entirety, and once faced the challenge of industrial transformation. Pu Shuhua introduced that the village revitalized collective assets, built a thousand-mu ecological orchard, and introduced cultural tourism projects. "Some villagers rent out ethnic costumes, some are travel photographers, and some have started distinctive homestays — diverse business forms have broadened the village's road to prosperity," Pu Shuhua said. According to statistics, Wukeshu Village receives about 500,000 tourists annually, and the village collective's average annual net income exceeds 8 million yuan.
Today, the villages around the Stone Forest scenic area, relying on their location advantages, develop with differentiated positioning and complement each other for mutual benefit, forming a diversified rural tourism pattern. Surrounding villages broaden their income channels by selling Yi embroidery products, seasonal fresh fruit, and other specialty goods, allowing the development dividends of the world heritage site to benefit local people. The local area continues to deepen the "tourism+" integrated development model, actively cultivating diversified business forms such as geological study tours, mountain sports events, and mountain camping; supporting facilities such as sightseeing trails and new energy charging piles are continuously being improved, and a green, low-carbon sightseeing system is gradually taking shape.
Smart monitoring — a virtuous cycle of protection and development is accelerating
Behind the fine ecological picture lies day after day (日复一日, ri fu yi ri - "sun, repeat, one, day") meticulous management and protection. The Stone Forest heritage site routinely carries out ecological governance work such as vegetation maintenance, geological stabilization, and environmental remediation, continuously restoring damaged landscapes and polishing the pristine ecological foundation. At the same time, technological empowerment has installed "smart eyes" on world heritage protection. The local area continues to deepen the construction of "Digital Stone Forest," building an integrated, whole-domain smart supervision network. Relying on cutting-edge technologies such as satellite remote sensing, intelligent monitoring, and big data analysis, it conducts dynamic monitoring of the heritage site's ecological environment, geological landforms, and vegetation changes, enabling timely identification of hidden dangers, rapid handling of problems, and filling the shortcomings of traditional manual patrols.
In 2025, the local area fully completed the verification and calibration of the coordinates of 798 boundary markers in the protected area, precisely clarifying the resource protection boundaries of the entire region. In the future, with the full implementation and operation of the digital fence system, various types of resource destruction behavior can achieve real-time early warning, precise tracing, and rapid handling, promoting the comprehensive iteration of the manual patrol model toward digitalized, refined smart management and protection.
"To protect the heritage site well, we must keep it in mind at all times (时时刻刻, shi shi ke ke - "time, time, moment, moment"), and guard the hundred-million-year-old peak forest the way we tend crops," Pu Shuhua said.
"Whoever protects benefits; whoever contributes shares." Zhao Xiaomei said that the Stone Forest heritage site adheres to the principle of "strict protection, sustainable use," making the world heritage a memory integrated into the daily lives of ordinary people. Today, the virtuous cycle of "the better the protection — the more prosperous the tourism — the wealthier the villagers — the more conscious the protection" is accelerating. In the first seven months of this year, Shilin County received 9.3476 million tourist visits, a year-on-year increase of 7.63 percent; tourism spending reached 11.324 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 5.98 percent.
Return to Top(People's Daily, Beijing, October 13) (Reporter Li Hongmei) The China Meteorological Administration recently published the "Measures for the Administration of Meteorological Data," which will take effect on November 1 of this year.
Centering on the main line of "incentivizing supply, promoting circulation, and standardizing governance," the Measures establish an institutional framework covering the entire chain, including data supply, data circulation and utilization, data security safeguards, oversight and management, and legal liability. The Measures are of great significance for further promoting and regulating meteorological data management activities, strengthening the protection of meteorological data rights and interests, and accelerating the orderly circulation and value release of meteorological data. They will drive the aggregation of meteorological resources across all industries, enabling meteorological data to truly "get moving and get used," and forming a combined force in serving economic and social development.
In recent years, the meteorological sector has vigorously advanced the sharing and co-use of meteorological data and the release of their value, cumulatively sharing with the whole of society more than 100 types of meteorological data products across 12 categories, pooling data from nearly 200,000 industry stations, and serving nearly 1.3 million users across 153 countries and regions worldwide and 21 domestic industries.
Return to Top(People's Daily, Nanning, October 13) (Reporter Zhang Yunhe) The reporter learned from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region: The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs recently issued an announcement establishing the Beihai Weizhou Island Bryde's Whale Important Habitat, which is the first Bryde's whale important habitat established in China, filling a gap in protection efforts (填补空白, tian bu kong bai - "fill, supplement, empty, space") for the protection of large whale habitat in China's offshore waters.
The Beihai Weizhou Island Bryde's Whale Important Habitat established this time covers a sea area of 335.43 square kilometers, with an annual fishing moratorium period of up to 8.5 months, including a special fishing moratorium from December each year to April of the following year, superimposed on the South China Sea summer fishing moratorium from May 1 to August 16 each year.
The Bryde's whale is a globally migratory marine species and a nationally protected wild animal of the first class. From December each year to April of the following year, the waters of the Weizhou Island sea area in Beihai, China, are rich in bait and have excellent habitat conditions, and large numbers of Bryde's whales migrate to this sea area on schedule to feed, inhabit, grow, and develop. Since monitoring began in 2018, more than 70 individuals have been identified cumulatively in the Weizhou Island sea area, forming a wild population with stable structure and clear activity patterns.
Return to Top(People's Daily, Changsha, October 13) (Reporter Yang Xun) Recently, the Forest Public Security Bureau of Yanling County, Hunan, relying on the Niutou'ao Ecological Policing Joint Service Station, has coordinated with township, forestry, and forest ranger forces to routinely carry out patrol inspections, clue screening, and legal publicity along the migratory bird routes, strictly preventing the illegal hunting of migratory birds.
Currently, it is the critical window period for migratory bird migration. Based on the unique ecological location of the "Millennium Bird Route" in the Luoxiao Mountains, Yanling County has coordinated government functional forces, social forces, and cross-provincial joint defense forces to solidly carry out special operations to combat illegal activities that destroy wild animal and plant resources, protecting the migratory bird passage in an all-round and multi-dimensional manner. Local social volunteer forces are actively protecting the birds. Volunteers of the Yanling Bird Protection Camp routinely carry out patrol duty, posting publicity banners, and conducting door-to-door publicity, creating a good social atmosphere in which the whole people love birds, protect birds, and protect the ecology.
Return to TopIn recent years, China Southern Power Grid Shenzhen Power Supply Bureau has deeply practiced the concept of green development, promoted the green and low-carbon transformation around such links as power supply, power grid construction, and energy-use services, and empowered the city's high-quality development with green electricity.
Building a benchmark zero-carbon substation to promote the green transformation of power infrastructure
The 110 kV Chunhui Substation is the country's first zero-carbon smart science-popularization substation, and in 2026 it was awarded the "Beautiful" dimension benchmark project of the Shenzhen Urban Index (UIS). The substation adopts prefabricated steel-structure and "breathing-type" curtain walls, which can reduce construction disturbance and achieve natural temperature regulation; it uses natural ester insulating oil transformers, which can achieve natural degradation; it puts into service mixed-gas insulated switchgear equipment, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 60%, with single-item carbon reduction exceeding 25,000 tonnes; relying on the "wind-solar-storage" low-voltage microgrid, it generates more than 40,000 kWh of green electricity annually. Taking this as an opportunity, China Southern Power Grid Shenzhen Power Supply Bureau formulated the group's first "Substation Carbon Emission Accounting Standard" and "Substation Carbon Neutrality Guide," built a power culture science-popularization base, and became a window connecting energy and power with citizens.
Connecting the entire chain of power generation, transmission, and consumption to build a green and low-carbon power system
On the supply side, clean energy projects such as the Tibet-Guangdong HVDC project and the Guangdong Shanwei Honghai Bay offshore wind power project are being accelerated, the Guangming gas turbine power plant and the second phase of the Shenzhen Energy Group Eastern Power Plant have been connected to the grid one after another, promoting the landing of "two 10-million-kilowatt" clean power, and providing "one-stop" services for the grid connection of new energy. On the grid side, the 220 kV Shenzhen Energy Eastern Power Plant Phase II transmission line project uses new composite cross-arm materials to replace part of the steel; the first "ultra-quiet" smart ecological distribution substation in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area has been built at Jiabin Garden in Luohu District, Shenzhen, integrated with the community's greenway. On the load side, China Southern Power Grid Shenzhen Power Supply Bureau has served the commissioning of the country's first "virtual power plant town," with the Shenzhen virtual power plant management platform connecting to resources exceeding 5.1 million kW, forming a maximum adjustable capacity of 1.4 million kW, and realizing source-grid-load-storage interaction; it has built the "Bougainvillea" power-guarantee technology brand, relying on the "high-reliability municipal power + grid-forming energy storage + vehicle-grid interaction" technology, committed to providing replicable and promotable all-green power-guarantee models for large-scale sporting events and important conferences, and successfully passed the test at the closing ceremony of the 15th National Games in 2025.
Focusing on diverse energy-use needs to improve the quality and efficiency of green power services
Centering on the energy use of the government, enterprises, and residents, China Southern Power Grid Shenzhen Power Supply Bureau uses diversified services to bring the concept of green consumption into all walks of life (千行百业, qian hang bai ye - "thousand, industry, hundred, all, families") and into thousands of households. For high-energy-load scenarios such as data centers, China Southern Power Grid Shenzhen Power Supply Bureau relies on the "electricity-carbon-calculation" AI full-chain service model to provide one-stop low-carbon solutions such as intelligent energy-use diagnosis and precise carbon emission accounting; it has launched the "Enterprise Energy-Use Steward" service based on China Southern Power Grid's "Da Wa Te" large model, providing energy-use consultation, power monitoring, and energy-efficiency diagnosis services, piloting assistance for 13 enterprises in Yantian District, Shenzhen, in refined energy-use management, with cumulative electricity cost savings of 129,000 yuan. For green mobility, it has built two Greater Bay Area benchmark vehicle-grid interaction ultra-fast charging demonstration stations at Lianhuashan and Hongqiao Park, with 100% green electricity supply at the stations; the 14 ultra-fast charging stations deployed by China Southern Power Grid in Shenzhen support "green vehicles charging with green electricity," cumulatively driving more than 100,000 new-energy vehicle owners to consume more than 23 million kWh of green electricity, equivalent to reducing carbon dioxide emissions by about 12,200 tonnes; it has launched the "Residents' Green Certificate One-Click Purchase" product. As of May 2026, the Shenzhen Green Electricity and Green Certificate Service Center, established by the Shenzhen Municipal Development and Reform Commission authorizing China Southern Power Grid Shenzhen Power Supply Bureau, has cumulatively served local entities of all types with green electricity and green certificate trading volume reaching 50.31 billion kWh, ranking first among cities in China Southern Power Grid's operating area.
Deepening exchanges and cooperation to export green governance experience
China Southern Power Grid Shenzhen Power Supply Bureau actively "invites in," using the Lianhuashan ultra-fast charging station, the Chunhui Substation, and others as windows to receive visits from officials and scholars of multiple countries and the first delegation of Latin American journalists; in 2025, it organized a cumulative total of 69 international and Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan exchange activities, covering 42 countries and regions, and received nearly 600 person-times of research visits. At the same time, it boldly "goes out," carrying out technical cooperation with Peru's Luz del Sur company on reducing power grid line loss rates, promoting the first landing of China Southern Power Grid's power metering communication protocol standard in South America; the Shenzhen city-scale smart grid innovation case won the silver award in the smart grid track of the 7th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Energy Smart Community Initiative Best Practice Award; the practical achievements of Shenzhen's virtual power plant and green electricity and green certificate services have successively appeared at the 7th Global ICT Energy Efficiency Summit and the "China Corner" series of side events at the United Nations Climate Change Conference.
In the next step, China Southern Power Grid Shenzhen Power Supply Bureau will focus on the construction of the "six networks," actively promote the construction of a new-type power grid, give play to the role of the new-type power grid as a hub platform, strengthen exploration of multi-network integration, and support the efficient, green, and stable operation of the urban living organism; it will further expand cooperation space in the Asia-Pacific region and countries jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative, and practice the cooperation consensus of "jointly building a green Asia-Pacific and sharing ecological well-being."
Data source: China Southern Power Grid Shenzhen Power Supply Bureau
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 黄培昭
Not long ago, at the 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee held in Busan, South Korea, Sidi Bou Said was inscribed on the World Heritage List, becoming Tunisia's tenth World Heritage site. UNESCO stated that the value of the town of Sidi Bou Said lies not only in its widely known and famous (闻名遐迩, wen ming xia er - "smell, name, far, reach") blue-and-white color scheme, but also in the long-term integration of its architectural fabric, urban planning, and natural landforms, forming a distinctive cultural landscape. A People's Daily reporter recently visited Sidi Bou Said to learn about local practices in protecting cultural heritage, responding to natural environmental changes and tourism pressure, and promoting the coordinated development of heritage protection and communities.
Continuing the cultural lineage—
Architecture and nature coexist in harmony
Driving north from Tunis, the capital of Tunisia, along the Mediterranean coast for about 20 kilometers, urban buildings gradually thin out. Arriving at the foot of the hills, looking up, one can see layers upon layers of white houses with blue doors and windows, particularly eye-catching. This is the "Blue and White Town"—Sidi Bou Said, renowned for its Andalusian-style architecture of white walls and blue windows.
In the early morning, the town has not yet fully come alive. Stone-paved roads wind along the undulating hillside, traditional residences are built along the slopes, with courtyards, arches, wood carvings, and ceramic decorations scattered in an orderly manner. A café on a street corner has already opened for business; the owner has placed tables and chairs against the wall, preparing to welcome customers. Standing on the high ground of the headland, the scenery of the Mediterranean Sea and the Gulf of Tunis is completely within one's view (尽收眼底, jin shou yan di - "completely, receive, eye, bottom").
"Many tourists coming for the first time understand this place as a beautiful seaside town. If one only sees this, one has not truly understood the town's cultural value," Hamidi, a researcher at Tunisia's National Heritage Institute, told reporters. The town's history is closely related to Sidi Bou Said, a famous Sufi figure in North Africa during the 12th and 13th centuries. Later, around his mausoleum and religious spaces, the town gradually formed a settlement with functions of traditional culture, residence, and public activities. One of the core values recognized by UNESCO is precisely this cultural lineage that continues to this day.
Entering a traditional residence, the door is inlaid with rivets, the house is arranged around a courtyard, arcades connect different spaces, and the walls and floors are decorated with geometrically patterned ceramics. Samir, a Tunisian architectural historian, explained that traditional residences place the most important living spaces in the courtyard; the inward-looking layout can reduce the impact of intense sunlight and sea breeze on the indoor environment, forming a private family living space.
This architectural layout is closely related to the terrain of Sidi Bou Said. The town is situated on a hill and headland on the Mediterranean coast; buildings are arranged according to the elevation differences of the slopes, and roads, residences, and public spaces together form a settlement structure with rich layers. In its heritage value assessment, UNESCO emphasized that the architecture and urban planning here do not exist independently of the natural environment but are integrated with the mountain landforms.
The formation of Sidi Bou Said's architectural culture shows clear characteristics of Mediterranean cultural convergence. From the 15th to the 17th century, large numbers of people from the Iberian Peninsula, particularly from the Andalusian region, migrated to North Africa, and the architectural and craft traditions they brought gradually merged with local Tunisian culture. In the town's existing architectural decorations, one can discern traces of mutual influence among Arab-Islamic traditions, Andalusian craftsmanship, and Mediterranean architectural culture. In Hamidi's view, the town's cultural value has accumulated layer by layer; cultural traditions, residents' lives, architectural art, and the current artistic atmosphere together create the town's unique cultural characteristics.
Improving mechanisms—
From individual restoration to holistic protection
Walking through the town's streets and alleys, the reporter saw construction workers carrying out partial treatment on the walls, doors, windows, and balconies of some traditional buildings, without making large-scale changes to the buildings' original structures. "For historic buildings, the most important thing is not to repair them so they look like new houses, but to preserve as much as possible the original materials, structure, and spatial composition," Hamidi said.
This is also an important approach Tunisia takes in restoring and protecting cultural heritage. According to UNESCO materials, Tunisia passed dedicated legal documents as early as 1915 to protect the town of Sidi Bou Said, making it one of the country's earliest historic communities to receive dedicated protection. Today, Tunisia has established a National Heritage Institute specifically responsible for the protection and management of important heritage. Under relevant regulations, heritage protection involves not only historic buildings themselves but is also closely related to land use, urban planning, and construction activities. Omar, a local heritage manager, explained that protection work today is no longer solely the responsibility of the cultural sector; residents, local government, tourism authorities, and other relevant institutions must all participate.
In recent years, the Tunisian government has further improved the town's protection and management mechanisms. A Sidi Bou Said World Heritage management body has been established locally, undertaking specific management and coordination functions. Planning is being advanced in two phases—"pilot" and "consolidation": from 2025 to 2027, the main work involves heritage surveys, mapping, monitoring system development, and emergency interventions; from 2028 to 2030, the focus is on implementing and evaluating specific protection measures.
Omar told reporters that natural risks are also a real problem the locality must face. Sidi Bou Said is located on a hillside headland, and some areas are at risk of landslides. The World Heritage Committee has required Tunisia to accelerate the collection of historical landslide data, update maps of cracks and unstable points, and formulate natural disaster risk management and emergency response plans. Walking along the hillside, the reporter saw that prominent risk warnings and management facilities have been installed in some areas. In the future, the town will further improve rainfall and hillside monitoring.
"The buildings here are all built on the mountain, so protecting the buildings cannot be separated from the mountain. Ensuring the stability of the mountain and the safety of the roads is also part of heritage protection," Omar said. The value of Sidi Bou Said does not exist only in a single building, but in the overall environment constituted by the mountain, streets and alleys, residences, courtyards, public spaces, and cultural traditions together. This precisely reflects an important concept in contemporary cultural heritage protection: shifting from "repairing a single house" to "protecting a whole."
Living heritage transmission—
Heritage protection and community participation empower each other
In the afternoon, as tourists increase, the town gradually becomes livelier, but the pace of life of local residents has not been disturbed: some people are shopping for groceries, some are running shops, and craftsmen are making traditional handicrafts. "World heritage ultimately has to be safeguarded by people," said Habib, a professor of cultural heritage at the University of Tunis. If heritage protection becomes disconnected from the lives of local residents, it will be difficult to sustain over the long term.
As the town's visibility continues to rise, the increase in tourist numbers brings both economic benefits and pressure on transportation, the environment, building maintenance, and public spaces. "We cannot simply pursue tourist numbers," Habib believes. What matters more is improving the quality of cultural tourism, allowing tourists to stay longer and have deeper cultural experiences, while reducing the impact on residents' daily lives.
At a traditional craft workshop, the reporter saw a young craftsman, Malik, learning wood carving. "My father taught me this. I used to think this was an old craft that was not practical. Now more and more tourists are willing to learn about this craft or buy wood-carved products, which also brings us new opportunities and makes it a profession that can generate income," Malik said.
In Habib's view, cultural heritage protection should form a positive interaction with community development. Traditional buildings need craftsmen to maintain them, traditional skills need young people to inherit them, cultural heritage displays need guides, and cultural activities need planners and organizers. As long as reasonable mechanisms are established, heritage protection itself can create employment and income for the local community. "Heritage protection cannot exclude residents; rather, it should make them both protectors and beneficiaries," Habib said.
As local residents' identification with the value of the heritage continues to grow, more people are participating in heritage protection work. Ahmed, a local resident who has run a small shop for many years, told reporters: "Tourists see beautiful houses; we see our own home."
Sidi Bou Said is not a monument isolated from real life, but a historic town where people live, run businesses, work, and carry out their daily lives. While protecting the authenticity and integrity of its history, it integrates heritage protection into residents' lives, enables cultural traditions to be inherited and carried forward, and allows people from all over the world to truly experience the cultural value the town embodies.
(People's Daily, Sidi Bou Said, Tunisia)
Return to TopBy: 尚凯元
Not long ago, the eighth Giverny World Forum concluded in France. Among its sessions, a high-level dialogue centered on China-Europe economic, trade, and green cooperation became the most closely watched segment of the entire event. Founded in 2019, the Giverny World Forum has long focused on European economic development and reform. This year's theme, "Sustainability, Sovereignty, and Security," placed the green transition within the coordinates of industrial competition and geopolitics. This dialogue directly confronted a concern widespread across Europe today: amid a volatile and intertwined international situation, how should cooperation with China be conducted? This topic itself reflects the ambivalent mindset of some Europeans at present: on the one hand, they acknowledge China's technological rise; on the other hand, they cannot let go of their anxiety and misgivings.
This ambivalent mindset is also reflected in parts of French public opinion. France's Le Point magazine recently published a special feature titled "When It Comes to China, You Haven't Seen Anything Yet," focusing on the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. It acknowledges China's ambition to become a technological power, but is more marked by wariness. John Seaman, a researcher at the French Institute of International Relations, recently analyzed in a report that China's innovative capacity can no longer be denied, that France's perception of related risks is also becoming increasingly pronounced, and that sovereignty and competitiveness have become important considerations in its science and technology relations with China.
However, European business and industry circles hold a different view. At the forum, many figures from the industrial sector took Chinese innovation as their frame of reference; one guest, envisioning the future of transportation, cited the large-scale application of China's low-altitude logistics as a benchmark. When a TotalEnergies executive visited China previously, he expressed "great amazement" at China's speed of innovation and industrial efficiency, and argued that Europe should shift toward a logic of genuine partnership-based cooperation. In their view, those accustomed to acting in a condescending manner (居高临下, ju gao lin xia - "reside, high, look, down") tend to regard the other side's progress as their own loss; only by acknowledging that innovation can take root in different places can new space for complementarity be discovered.
"Interdependence" became a keyword that appeared repeatedly at the forum. The technological revolution has brought the world into an irreversible (不可逆, bu ke ni - "not, can, reverse") era of hyper-connectivity. One participating guest put forward the proposition that "sufficiently diversified dependence can itself constitute independence," a judgment worth pondering. Economic autonomy does not mean being isolated and closed off (孤立封闭, gu li feng bi - "solitary, isolated, closed, sealed"); rather, it is the capacity to have choices, to retain alternatives, and to avoid being subject to a single source. Although diversification cannot eliminate all risks, it can expand the room for maneuver. Reducing "de-risking" to isolation and severance loses not only markets, but also the opportunities for innovation and for jointly addressing challenges.
For Europe, protective measures and tightened regulation alone cannot buy lasting competitiveness. The International Energy Agency's Electricity 2026 report shows that in 2025, electricity prices for energy-intensive industries in the European Union were still more than double those in the United States and nearly 50 percent higher than in China. Excessive reliance on external energy supplies, lagging grid upgrades, and poor pass-through of carbon pricing costs — the structural problems in Europe's energy transition have created a rift between its green ambitions and its actual competitiveness. If the European side cannot squarely face its shortcomings in innovation commercialization, single-market integration, energy costs, and regulatory burdens, and instead fixes its gaze only on external competitors, it risks missing the window for self-renewal.
In the face of China's scientific and technological progress, Europe should not dwell on a static calculation of whether risks or opportunities are greater in number. Whether it can turn "risks" into opportunities tests both its own resolve for reform and how it views its cooperative partners. The true logic of partnership is to acknowledge that each side's progress can become a shared opportunity, and to build trust through stable, mutually beneficial actions. Only in this way can the desire for cooperation truly be translated into the reality of common development.
Return to Top(Xinhua News Agency, Geneva, October 12) The World Trade Organization held a special meeting on the "fundamental issues" of WTO reform on the 12th. Li Yongjie (李詠箑), China's Permanent Representative to the WTO, presented at the meeting the proposal "Further Thoughts and Suggestions from China on WTO Reform," systematically elaborating China's positions on what challenges the WTO faces, the objectives of reform, and the principles that should be upheld, which drew broad attention and positive responses from all parties present.
Li Yongjie pointed out that economic globalization and the rules-based multilateral trading system are important engines of global trade and economic growth. However, the uneven distribution of benefits arising from globalization continues to pose challenges, and the development of many developing members remains constrained. Due to the lack of corresponding domestic policy support, the adjustment pressures brought by globalization within some members have turned into discontent directed at trade itself. Therefore, the fundamental question that WTO reform needs to answer is how rules-based multilateral governance can better help members adapt to and participate in economic globalization and benefit from it.
Li Yongjie stressed that WTO reform must uphold fundamental principles such as the most-favored-nation treatment principle. As the cornerstone of the multilateral trading system, the most-favored-nation treatment principle is the guarantee that members receive equal treatment and that international trade is prevented from sliding toward power-oriented conduct. It cannot be "used when convenient and discarded when not," nor should conditions be attached to it through additional exceptions or unilateral measures be implemented on that basis. She believes that WTO reform must not be like acting without considering changing circumstances (刻舟求剑, ke zhou qiu jian - "carve boat, seek sword"), nor presuppose outcomes, nor aim to restore past trade patterns or competitive results.
Participating members positively evaluated China's proposal. The African Group, the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group, Pakistan, India, Indonesia, and others endorsed China's analysis of the challenges facing the WTO and the reform objectives it proposed, agreeing that reform should be development-oriented, uphold the most-favored-nation treatment principle, and promote the multilateral trading system's advancing with the times (与时俱进, yu shi ju jin - "with time, together, advance") so as to better benefit all members.
Return to Top(Xinhua News Agency, Geneva, October 13) (Reporter Wang Yanan) The World Intellectual Property Organization announced the winners of its inaugural "Innovative Cities" award at an awards ceremony held at its Geneva headquarters on the 12th, with China's Shanghai becoming one of the first three cities to receive this honor. Multiple jurors on the award's international panel praised Shanghai's strong commitment and initiatives in promoting innovation, describing Shanghai as a model of an "innovative city."
The "Innovative Cities" award was launched for the first time by the World Intellectual Property Organization in 2026 and is open to cities in its 194 member states. It aims to recognize the bold commitments that winning cities will make over the coming year to promote innovation and creativity. In addition to Shanghai, the other two winning cities are Charleroi, Belgium, and Liverpool, United Kingdom.
Return to Top(Xinhua News Agency, Tehran, October 12) (Reporter Sha Dati) Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Baghaei said on the 12th that Iran is reviewing the latest opinions the U.S. side has put forward regarding Iran's position, and will immediately convey its views to the mediator once the review is completed. He stressed that Iran's conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz remain unchanged.
Baghaei made the above remarks at a regular press conference that day, elaborating on the latest response conveyed by the U.S. side through the mediator. This U.S. response concerns the plan Iran recently proposed to cease hostilities and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
On September 22, during the general debate of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the United States, Iran held talks with the U.S. side through Qatar, which serves as the mediator, conveying to the U.S. side its conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
Baghaei said that Iran and the United States are still exchanging information through the mediator. He enumerated some of Iran's conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, including the U.S. Navy lifting its blockade, ending wars on all fronts, and unfreezing Iranian assets, saying that these conditions have not changed and that Iran will make no concessions whatsoever on issues concerning its own rights.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 曹师韵
The number of forest and land fire hotspots in Indonesia has again risen markedly in recent days. Data from Indonesia's Ministry of Forestry on October 13 showed that as of the night of the 12th, 1,085 high-confidence hotspots had been detected nationwide, of which Central Kalimantan Province, South Sumatra Province, and South Kalimantan Province had 227, 147, and 113, respectively.
The haze continues to affect public health and daily life. In early October, Palembang, the capital of South Sumatra Province, was shrouded in thick haze, with the air pollution index at one point exceeding 900, reaching a level of severe pollution. Data from the Palembang municipal government showed that local cases of acute respiratory infection reached 17,434 in September, an increase of about 16 percent over August and a single-month high so far this year. On October 8, 30 flights at Palembang Airport were affected by reduced visibility, and some schools switched to online instruction. The South Sumatra provincial government has announced that it will provide free medical services to residents who contract acute respiratory infections due to the haze.
Abnormal climate and ecological degradation are important causes of the severity of this round of forest fires and haze. A report from Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency showed that this year's El Niño has been extremely strong, compounded by anomalous climate conditions in the Indian Ocean, leading to reduced rainfall and intensified drought in some areas; it is expected that the onset of the rainy season in about 60 percent of the country's regions will be later than normal, and parts of Sumatra Island and Kalimantan Island still face a relatively high risk of forest fires. Ecological degradation of peatlands has also made fires more prone to recurrence. The Indonesian environmental organization "Pantau Gambut" (Peatland Watch) said that of the country's approximately 24 million hectares of peatland, about 16 million hectares are more prone to fire due to ecological degradation, and of the peatlands damaged by fire between 2015 and 2019, only about 3 percent have recovered as forest.
To respond to the forest fire and haze disasters, the Indonesian government has continued to step up prevention and control efforts. Indonesia's Ministry of Forestry said on October 9 that the government is carrying out ground and aerial firefighting operations in six key provinces, deploying 61 aircraft and helicopters for aerial firefighting, patrol, and weather modification operations; ground personnel have strengthened peatland patrols and cooling of fire sites to prevent the reignition of underground residual fires. Indonesia's National Disaster Management Authority said that from September 24 to 30, joint rescue teams extinguished about 3,800 hectares of forest and land fires cumulatively in the six key provinces. In the Kalimantan region, at least 272 wild animals affected by forest fires and habitat destruction have been rescued or relocated.
The impact of transboundary haze on neighboring countries is increasingly evident. Malaysia's education authorities announced on October 9 that, due to deteriorating air quality, schools in the four states of Johor, Malacca, Negeri Sembilan, and Selangor, as well as the two federal territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, suspended in-person instruction that day; that morning, the air pollution index in 37 areas was at an "unhealthy" level. Singapore's 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index in the central region at noon on October 9 reached 181, a new high for this year's haze season; Singapore's National Environment Agency said on October 12 that that evening the national Pollutant Standards Index remained between 118 and 155, at an "unhealthy" level.
At present, regional countries are further strengthening coordinated responses. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar said on October 8 that he had spoken by telephone with Indonesian President Prabowo to discuss the haze issue, and Indonesia has agreed to accept firefighting assistance offered by Malaysia. Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan said on October 12 that the existing ASEAN disaster response mechanism does not include haze within the scope of natural disasters, and Malaysia plans to raise the issue of transboundary haze and discuss the establishment of a more effective regional response mechanism. The Philippines, as rotating chair of ASEAN, confirmed on October 13 that the transboundary haze issue has been placed on the agenda of the ASEAN foreign ministers' preparatory meeting in November.
(People's Daily, Jakarta, October 13)
Return to Top(Xinhua News Agency, Riyadh, October 13) (Reporters Ma Xiaocheng, Wang Kewen) Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi Aramco) President and Chief Executive Officer Amin Nasser said on the 12th at the 25th World Petroleum Congress Energy Conference (World Petroleum Congress) that global crude oil inventories are approaching "extremely dangerous" low levels and may take two years to return to normal levels.
Affected by the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, the global energy supply chain continues to come under pressure, and the tightness of crude oil supply has intensified. Nasser said that current commercial onshore oil inventories have fallen below 6 billion barrels, which is already the "last usable buffer," but in reality the vast majority of these inventories cannot be used by the market.
Nasser believes that because global crude oil consumption demand continues to rise steadily, even if the Strait of Hormuz were to be completely reopened in the short term and market confidence fully restored, it would take at least two years of "overloaded overtime production" to fully replenish the completely used up (消耗殆尽, xiao hao dai jin - "consume, exhaust, reach, end") inventories.
Nasser said that current international diesel prices have reached about $200 per barrel, and the soaring prices are putting pressure on the global energy market, highlighting the importance of strengthening international cooperation and jointly working to ensure the safety of energy infrastructure and transportation routes.
Return to TopThe 33rd FISU World University Games Winter, Changchun 2027 (hereinafter referred to as the "Changchun Winter Universiade") will be held from January 15 to 25, 2027, in Changchun City and Jilin City, Jilin Province. With the theme "Chasing Dreams on Ice and Snow, Youth Forever in Changchun," the Games feature 12 sports and 97 events. With ice and snow as the bond and youth as the backdrop, they build a broad stage for young people around the world to engage in exchanging and learning from one another (交流互鉴, jiaoliu hujian - "exchange, mutually learn from each other") and to pursue their dreams together.
This Changchun Winter Universiade is another major international comprehensive winter sports event hosted by China following the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics and the 2025 Harbin Asian Winter Games; it is also the international comprehensive winter sports gathering hosted once again by Changchun City following the 6th Asian Winter Games in 2007. The "Spring City of the North" is opening its arms wide to join the world in this youthful ice-and-snow rendezvous that spans mountains and seas.
Data source: Publicity Department of the CPC Changchun Municipal Committee
Return to TopRecently, the "World Dialogue on China Studies · Special Session for Arab Countries" event was held in Cairo, Egypt. Participating guests believed that Chinese and Arab civilizations have a long history and illuminate each other, and that relations between China and Arab countries are flourishing, setting an example of solidarity and cooperation among developing countries. Chinese and Arab academic circles should deepen cooperation in the humanities field, conduct research and exchange on governance experience, provide theoretical guidance and academic support for their respective modernization processes, and contribute to building a higher-level China-Arab community with a shared future.
Looking forward to China studies adding new substance to Egypt-China relations
Mohamed Kamal, Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Egyptian Senate and Dean of the Arab Academy
President Xi Jinping's recent state visit to Egypt was a milestone in the history of Egypt-China relations. The Egyptian side highly appreciates the four major global initiatives proposed by China, as well as the initiatives and propositions promoting common security and peace and stability in the Middle East region, and is willing to work with the Chinese side to translate the outcomes of the visit into practical actions in various fields for the benefit of the two peoples. We look forward to strengthening coordination and consultation with the Chinese side, giving priority to peacefully resolving disputes through dialogue and diplomatic means, and jointly promoting the building of a higher-level Arab-China community with a shared future.
Egypt recognized early on the important role China plays in regional and international affairs, and is also very proud of being the first Arab and African country to establish diplomatic relations with New China in 1956. Both Egypt and China possess profound historical and civilizational heritage, making them natural partners for civilizational dialogue and enhancing mutual understanding. Over the 70 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the two countries have continuously carried out active cooperation in political, economic, cultural, academic and other fields. Bilateral relations are built not only on economic and trade mutual benefit and win-win outcomes, but also on civilizational exchange and mutual learning.
China studies are of great significance to today's world, and their research scope is not limited to China's history, civilization and language, but extends to China's development experience, social transformation practices, and China's growing role in international affairs. Currently, interest in China studies is growing across all sectors of Egyptian society. Strengthening exchanges between universities and think tanks of both sides and jointly cultivating a new generation of China studies scholars is an investment in the future of bilateral relations. We look forward to China studies continuing to serve as a bridge of knowledge and a path of dialogue, constantly adding new substance to Egypt-China relations and becoming a solid bond enhancing the friendship between the two peoples.
Knowledge exchange is an important way to build trust between countries
Ashraf Al-Azazi, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Culture of Egypt
Culture is an important bridge promoting the development of inter-state relations, and also an important vehicle for deepening civilizational dialogue and enhancing mutual understanding. Egypt was the first Arab and African country to establish diplomatic relations with New China, and the traditional friendly relations between the two sides have remained ever fresh over time, reflecting a high degree of mutual trust and respect. The interactions between Egypt, and indeed the entire Arab world, and China have long transcended mere economic or political partnership, and are continuously expanding into cultural, knowledge, and educational fields.
Cultural dialogue built on mutual respect is the true guarantee for achieving sustainable cooperation and building a more balanced and open future. On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, Egypt and China have jointly held a series of activities such as cultural weeks, art festivals, photo exhibitions, and heritage protection events, presenting the vibrant features of each other's cultures to the public of both countries in diverse forms. These activities have enabled the Chinese public to gain an in-depth understanding of Egyptian music, film, literature, and contemporary art, and have also allowed Arab publics to appreciate more directly and comprehensively the unique charm of China's traditional and contemporary culture.
The Supreme Council of Culture of Egypt firmly believes that knowledge exchange is an important way to build trust between countries. In May this year, we signed a cooperation protocol with the China-Arab Cultural and Tourism Cooperation Research Center, further supporting cultural institutions of both sides in strengthening exchanges. In the future, Egypt-China cooperation is expected to achieve substantial expansion beyond traditional fields, such as launching joint research platforms and promoting mutual visits in the fields of art and academia. We hope to use the "World Dialogue on China Studies · Special Session for Arab Countries" as a platform to pool wisdom from all sides, strengthen academic cooperation, and deepen mutual understanding among all sectors of Arab and Chinese societies.
Leveraging advantages to build a China studies center in the Middle East
Ezzat Saad, Director of the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs
The importance of China studies to Arab countries is increasingly prominent and is becoming an important bridge for Arab countries to understand China. Arab countries urgently need to establish specialized research centers to systematically explore China's political philosophy, decision-making mechanisms, development and security strategies. Relying on the Egypt-China comprehensive strategic partnership and leveraging the advantages of China studies development, Egypt is fully qualified to become a China studies center in the Middle East region.
Egypt's China studies are entering a stage of institutionalized accelerated development. Thanks to the deepening cooperation between the two countries in education, scientific research, and economic fields, Egypt's China studies have gradually formed a complete system covering primary and secondary schools, universities, and specialized research centers. Driven by Confucius Institutes and various academic exchanges and joint research projects, the framework of Egypt's China studies is becoming increasingly well-established.
Both Egypt and China possess splendid civilizations, and could explore launching an annual Egypt-China civilization forum to create a regular platform for academic exchange and cultural and artistic dialogue. By strengthening mutual learning and enhancing media promotion, we can present a true China to Arab countries while also introducing to China the views of Arab countries on international and regional issues, becoming a model of interaction between ancient civilizations built on knowledge exchange and strategic mutual trust.
From a longer-term perspective, the future development goal of Egypt's China studies should be to rely on high-quality joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative, continuously deepen civilizational exchange and mutual learning, and jointly produce important knowledge outcomes with the Chinese side on global issues. We should not stop at understanding China, but should elevate the Arab-China dialogue from the level of bilateral relations to a dialogue on development, governance, civilization, and the future of humanity.
Enhancing understanding of China's development path and practical experience
Mahmoud Sakr, Vice President for Graduate Studies and Research Affairs, Cairo University
Currently, Arab countries such as Egypt are showing growing interest in "looking east," hoping to enhance interaction with Asian civilizations, economies, and scientific and technological forces with a more open and inclusive attitude. Against the backdrop of rapidly changing world patterns and technological landscapes, deepening Arab-China relations not only provides important opportunities for Arab countries to understand China's development experience and conduct knowledge exchange with China, but also builds a broad platform for China to more deeply understand the development visions and practical needs of Arab countries.
Truly sustainable cooperation cannot remain only at the level of trade and investment; it also requires building bridges of knowledge sharing and people-to-people exchange. Cairo University has always firmly believed that science is one of the important languages of dialogue among different civilizations. Egypt and China have broad space for cooperation in education, scientific research, and innovation. Both sides can further expand joint research projects and professional cooperation platforms, strengthen exchanges among teachers, researchers, and students, and provide the younger generation with more opportunities to interact and learn with their Chinese counterparts.
In the future, we should jointly promote the development of China studies at Arab universities in a more in-depth and diversified direction. Research on China should not be limited to language and history, but should expand to frontier fields such as economic growth, public policy, technological innovation, artificial intelligence, and international relations, enhancing understanding of China's development path and practical experience from multiple dimensions. As one of the most important higher education institutions in Arab countries, Cairo University will actively participate in building bridges for academic exchange and contribute to promoting mutual understanding among different civilizations.
Making China studies a bond linking two civilizations
Hassanin Fahmi Hussein, Head of the Chinese Language Department, Ain Shams University, Egypt
China studies are an important cultural bond linking Arab countries and China. Learning Chinese is not only about mastering language knowledge, but also about approaching the historical traditions of the Chinese nation through the window of language, understanding the Chinese way of thinking, cultural values, and civilizational system.
I hope to present a more truthful and three-dimensional China to readers in Arab countries through my own research, writing, and translation work. Translators bear the responsibility of building bridges of understanding between different peoples, and translation has always occupied an important position in my academic career. In the process of translating Chinese literary works and cultural classics, I strive to accurately convey the spiritual essence of the original works. At the same time, through teaching, research, and other work, I help a new generation of scholars break down stereotypes and achieve research results in the field of China studies through scientific methods.
China has made important contributions to human progress and is increasingly moving toward the center of the world stage. China studies in Arab countries such as Egypt should move from merely studying China to deeply understanding China, and from translating texts to disseminating knowledge and culture. China vigorously advocates peaceful development and actively promotes civilizational exchange and dialogue. The mission of researchers in the field of China studies is to continuously enhance mutual understanding, making China studies a bond linking two civilizations. We should interpret China based on historical and cultural contexts, grasp the profound changes taking place in Chinese society, objectively introduce China to Arab countries, and should also help China understand Arab culture, promoting civilizational exchange and mutual learning.
Jointly writing a new chapter of exchange and mutual learning between two ancient civilizations
Zahi Hawass, renowned Egyptian archaeologist and former Minister of Antiquities
Ancient Egyptian civilization and Chinese civilization are both among the oldest and most important civilizations in the world. The Terracotta Army of the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor is on a grand scale with exquisite craftsmanship, astonishing people worldwide; the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun has yielded more than 1,000 precious artifacts, providing important physical evidence for understanding ancient Egyptian civilization. These great historical remains demonstrate the extraordinary creativity of the two civilizations and evoke mutual interest and respect between the two peoples.
Civilizational exchange is an important way to enhance understanding and promote friendship. The "On Top of the Pyramid: The Civilization of Ancient Egypt" exhibition held at the Shanghai Museum displayed more than 700 artifacts and attracted over 2 million visitors, fully demonstrating the enthusiasm of the Chinese public for ancient Egyptian civilization. Chinese archaeological teams have carried out work at multiple important sites in Egypt, making positive contributions to revealing the features of ancient Egyptian civilization.
A joint archaeological team from Peking University and the Shandong Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology excavated the Temple of Apries in the Tell el-Aziz area, discovering related remains and foundations, providing important materials for the study of ancient Egyptian temple architecture. An archaeological team from Shanghai International Studies University discovered wall foundation remains at the Temple of Montu, unearthing artifacts dating back approximately 3,300 years. Meanwhile, New Giza University in Egypt and Shanghai International Studies University have launched a cooperation project in which the Chinese side will provide advanced equipment for cultural relic research and conservation, assisting Egypt's cultural heritage protection efforts.
During my visit to Shanghai, I deeply felt the mutual appreciation and mutual learning between Chinese civilization and Egyptian civilization. The two sides should continue to deepen cooperation in archaeological research, cultural relic protection, talent cultivation, and other fields, jointly writing a new chapter of exchange and mutual learning between two ancient civilizations.
Understanding bilateral relations requires pooling strength from more disciplines
Ahmed Kandil, Deputy Director of the Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, Egypt
Conducting institutionalized academic and think tank dialogue is an important support for deepening relations between Arab countries and China. Every country has its own history, culture, and practical concerns, and every scholar has different research directions and observational perspectives. Only by conducting dialogue on the basis of mutual respect and candid exchange can we continuously enhance mutual understanding and build consensus on cooperation.
The practice of international relations shows that mutual understanding must be achieved on the basis of in-depth knowledge of each other, by finding common interests and space for cooperation. Currently, Arab countries face multiple challenges in security, economy, and energy, while African countries are committed to expanding production and responding to the development aspirations of young people. Against this backdrop, cooperation with China is of great significance, and China studies are precisely an effective way to bring the two sides closer. This year, we led a research team of 15 experts and scholars to publish the "2024-2025 Strategic Report on Egypt-China Relations." This experience has made us realize even more that understanding bilateral relations requires pooling strength from more disciplines, conducting institutionalized work, and maintaining continuous exchange and dialogue with friends in Chinese academic circles.
Egypt spans both Asia and Africa, has a profound traditional friendship with China, and is able to contribute to promoting Arab-China academic cooperation. The "World Dialogue on China Studies · Special Session for Arab Countries" event helps enhance mutual understanding between African and Arab countries and China. We can further implement practical cooperation measures, form teams of scholars around topics of common concern such as shipping, energy, and development, launch exchange programs, and publish joint research outcomes. Egyptian scholars can rely on their unique perspectives to study Arab-China and Africa-China relations and help advance their development.
Opening new prospects for Arab-China academic cooperation and civilizational dialogue
Hassan Daja, Head of the International Relations Department, Al-Hussein Bin Talal University, Jordan
The ancient Silk Road once connected the two civilizations of the Arabs and China through goods and trade. Today, we need to build a road of civilizational exchange and mutual learning, transmitting knowledge, exchanging ideas and experiences, enhancing mutual understanding and cognition, and opening new prospects for Arab-China academic cooperation and civilizational dialogue.
China is both an ancient civilization and a global power with tremendous development achievements. Arab-China friendship should be built on dialogue based on accurate understanding, mutual trust and respect, consensus building, and serving the two peoples. When discussing China studies in Arab countries, what we are exploring is not just classics, papers, language, and academic disciplines, but also the cultural bridge linking two civilizations. The people of Arab countries should not only comprehensively understand China, but also continuously deepen their understanding of China. This requires inheriting the experience and achievements of predecessors and continuously enriching their substance.
My understanding of China began with personal reading and academic interest, and then gradually developed into participation in cooperation among humanities research institutions. In recent years, we have been preparing to establish a China studies center at Al-Hussein Bin Talal University, promoting China studies from concept to practice, from individual scholarly efforts to organized collective undertakings, extending China studies to southern Jordan, and providing a platform for teachers and students to learn the language, understand Chinese society, and participate in research and academic exchange.
Building a China studies system must serve the common development priorities of both sides. We should build a research network connecting universities, think tanks, and scholars in Arab countries, jointly build and share databases, carry out joint training programs, and vigorously promote mutual translation efforts. China studies in Arab countries should further align with development priorities in fields such as energy, food security, digital transformation, and artificial intelligence.
Return to TopBy: 李心萍
One person builds a wall, without polishing, and hand-applied plaster is as smooth as a mirror; one person makes a cabinet, without using a single nail, with mortise-and-tenon joints perfectly fitted without any gaps (严丝合缝, yan si he feng - "tight, seam, fit, together"), the gaps less than 0.2 millimeters; one person assembles a machine, assembling parts into a drone that can fly, avoid obstacles, and carry cargo within 4 days, skilled in welding, assembly, and programming alike...
These are not magic, but skills.
Recently, the 48th WorldSkills Competition concluded in Shanghai. Moment by moment on the competition floor, we were able to witness the diversity and brilliance of skills.
Skills are not a matter of old or new. Carpentry, construction, floristry, and cooking have been passed down for millennia; robot system integration, smart security technology, and drone systems face the future. They appear side by side at the WorldSkills Competition. From this it is clear that in the world of skills, tradition and modernity have never been mutually exclusive; handwork and digital technology enhance each other.
Skills are not divided by gender. Once, people believed that certain jobs belonged only to men or only to women. At the WorldSkills Competition, stereotypes are being broken. Chinese young woman He Xiaoman is the only female competitor in the world in the rail vehicle technology project. Not only did she take the championship, she also won the Albert Vidal Award with the highest score of the entire competition, becoming the "champion of champions." Male competitor Min Sida, meanwhile, won a gold medal in the health and social care project with delicacy and professionalism. In the world of skills, passion and focus are the only passports.
Skills do not ask about academic credentials. For a long time, "skills are the business of vocational school students" has been a prejudice. But this time, Li Jinze, champion of the smart security technology project, comes from the School of Computer Science at Shanghai Jiao Tong University and is an undergraduate majoring in artificial intelligence. Today's skills require both theory and practice; higher education and vocational skills have never been opposites.
A single major competition also allows us to reflect: when everyone is saying that AI (artificial intelligence) can replace everything, what kind of skills do we need?
History has long given the answer. After the Industrial Revolution, machines replaced handwork, but carpenters, tailors, and cooks did not disappear; on the contrary, they gained new room for development because of mechanization. Machines took on repetitive labor, while human creativity, aesthetic sense, and hand feel became all the more precious.
Today, it is the same. AI can write code, but algorithms still need to be designed by people; robots can operate, but debugging and maintenance cannot do without people; data can be generated, but interpretation and judgment still require human wisdom.
Take the dental restoration technology project as an example. Its intraoral scanning, wax pattern fabrication, and complete denture fabrication all rely on digital equipment, testing the competitors' ability to apply digital software and equipment. However, the blending of denture tooth shades depends entirely on hand feel; competitors must precisely replicate the color of the sample based on experience.
This is precisely the answer given by this WorldSkills Competition: in the AI era, skills have not become outdated. Human hands are not merely tools; they also carry experience and creativity, which machines cannot replace.
Today, even for the world's most precise five-axis linkage machine tools, some parts of their manufacture still rely on parts "hand-finished" by workers. A tiny error leads to a massive mistake (失之毫厘，谬以千里, shi zhi hao li, miu yi qian li - "lose, tiny, millimeter; error, reach, thousand, mile"); it is precisely this hand-by-hand polishing that determines the precision of the entire machine tool.
Facing the future, what we need is a cohort of versatile talent who embrace technology while respecting craftsmanship, who understand both code and the artisan's spirit. In the past, proficiency in operation was required; now one must also understand equipment, data, and software, and know when to leave things to machines and when to make one's own decisions.
Skills change the world; skills illuminate the path ahead. When people and AI move toward each other in both directions and cooperate in tacit understanding, that is the new posture of high-quality skilled talent facing the future.
Return to TopBy: 中国能源报记者 吴 莉 王 林 卢奇秀
The All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce recently released the "2026 China's Top 500 Private Enterprises" list. Amid the shifting rankings, the pulse of industry is clearly visible: a growing number of energy-sector private enterprises have made the list, continuing to exert effort in safeguarding energy security, cultivating and strengthening new quality productive forces, and advancing the green transformation of the energy structure, while continuously demonstrating robust vitality and resilience.
Structural Change
New energy enterprises rise strongly, injecting vitality into the energy transition
Spreading out the list, the structural changes in the energy industry are immediately obvious (一目了然, yimu liand - "one, eye, clearly, see"): more than 80 petrochemical and chemical enterprises are on it, with traditional energy private enterprises centered on modern refining and chemical processing still occupying the main seats; at the same time, a large number of enterprises primarily engaged in new energy complete vehicles and energy storage batteries have performed strikingly well, showing a trend of industrial cluster-style rise.
Looking further at the business distribution, the outline of an industrial chain has already taken shape — Sungrow Power, NIO, and Gotion High-tech respectively cover the fields of photovoltaic storage equipment, new energy complete vehicles, and power and energy storage batteries. BYD, meanwhile, has deeply integrated multiple links in this chain, forming a linkage effect among complete vehicles, batteries, and energy storage characterized by R&D synergy, capacity sharing, and mutual market promotion, converting technological synergy into competitiveness in the global market.
This linkage ultimately lands on products. The second-generation blade battery and flash-charging technology, the "God's Eye" intelligent driving system, the Xuanji A3 intelligent driving chip, the fifth-generation dual-mode technology...
Taking "flash charging" as an example, the charging efficiency of "fully charged in 5 minutes, topped up in 9 minutes, and only 3 minutes more at minus 30 degrees Celsius" has turned "charging as fast as refueling" from an industry vision into a real experience.
What underpins all this is the enterprises' long-duration, high-intensity R&D investment. In the first half of this year, BYD's R&D investment reached 28.9 billion yuan, 2.3 times its net profit.
From a "game-breaker" catching up on technology to a "standard-setter" exporting industry standards, the growth of private enterprises is equally visible in the hard-won battle to build a self-reliant photovoltaic supply chain —
Polysilicon is the most upstream basic raw material of the photovoltaic industry, and its production capacity and cost are, to a certain extent, related to the promotion of clean energy and the "dual carbon" process in China. Twenty years ago, the core technology for polysilicon materials was monopolized by American, Japanese, and German enterprises, and the domestic industry faced the predicament of being "dependent on foreign sources" for raw materials, technology, and markets.
Through years of tackling key problems, GCL Group successfully broke through the overseas technology blockade, becoming the world's largest polysilicon producer in 2011, achieving self-sufficiency in core raw materials, and taking the lead in formulating the new national standard for "Fluidized Bed Method Granular Silicon," continuously setting new global records for the lowest carbon footprint of silicon-based products and mastering the industry's technological discourse power.
With effective removal of market access barriers, the capability boundaries of private enterprises are also continuously expanding — the nuclear power sector, long regarded as a "forbidden zone" difficult for private capital to enter, has now also "opened its doors wide." A reporter learned from the National Energy Administration: the nuclear power sector has cumulatively introduced 20 private enterprises as shareholders in 12 nuclear power projects, with total investment exceeding 55 billion yuan, and the shareholding ratio of private enterprises has risen from an initial 2 percent to a maximum of 20 percent.
Zhejiang San'ao Nuclear Power Station is the first nuclear power project in the country to introduce private enterprise shareholding. As a typical representative of "private capital entering nuclear power," in the first phase of the project in 2020, Zhejiang Geely Group held a 2 percent stake, and in the second phase, private capital held a 10 percent stake.
"In recent years, on the new energy track, private enterprises have performed very actively, responding sensitively to the market and keeping pace with the pace of industrial iteration." In the view of Lin Boqiang, dean of the China Institute for Studies in Energy Policy at Xiamen University, this can not only powerfully drive industrial development but will also inject vitality into the energy transition.
The Power of Breaking Through
Accurate direction, quick turns, stable policies, deep innovation — development resilience is stronger and confidence is more solid
The photovoltaic industry is undergoing deep adjustment, the elimination race in automobiles is accelerating, and competition in power batteries is reaching a fever pitch (白热化, bai re hua - "white, hot, flower")... Facing fierce market competition and rapid industrial iteration, making precise moves, making decisions quickly, and implementing them solidly often wins the initiative.
This year, in the 11-gigawatt centralized procurement of China Datang Corporation, the BC (back contact cell) tender section was expanded to 4 gigawatts, accounting for more than 36 percent. Multiple central state-owned enterprises, including China Huaneng Group, PowerChina, and China Railway 16th Bureau Group, have shifted their centralized procurement toward BC, and BC has gradually become one of the mainstream technology routes in the industry.
However, just a few years ago, BC was still a niche route in the industry, facing numerous difficulties such as immature processes, equipment, and yield rates. Choosing a technology route that was not yet mature meant that investment might go down the drain and the market might not buy in.
Foreseeing the long-term value of BC, LONGi Green Energy launched related R&D in 2017, quickly completing the entire process from technology assessment to capacity planning, and fully switched to the BC route in 2023. The flexibility of decision-making and the differentiated path quickly received market feedback — in the first half of this year, LONGi's BC module sales increased by 125 percent year-on-year, and BC products' shipment share has exceeded 65 percent.
"Differentiation is not simply about being different from the rest (与众不同, yu zhong bu tong - "with, crowd, not, different"), but about opening up new value space based on technological innovation," said Zhong Baoshen, chairman and general manager of LONGi Green Energy, in a firm tone.
"Once you see it clearly, just do it" is the innate advantage of private enterprises, but daring to take a differentiated path cannot be separated from the further opening of policy channels.
In April 2025, the National Energy Administration issued the "Notice on Several Measures to Promote the Development of the Private Economy in the Energy Sector," lowering the threshold for private enterprise participation in terms of approval, operation, and funding.
As soon as the policy was relaxed, investment followed immediately. Data from the National Energy Administration shows that in the first two months of this year, the completed investment amount of key projects of private enterprises in the energy sector increased by more than 10 percent year-on-year, covering multiple fields such as nuclear power, hydropower, and coal. Market vitality is equally reflected in various emerging businesses. Today, among the top 10 charging operation enterprises, private enterprises occupy 9 seats, and the market share of the three leading private enterprises has reached 47.9 percent; among the 99 approved green electricity direct-connection projects, private enterprises account for more than half, corresponding to a new energy installed capacity of over 14 million kilowatts; among the virtual power plants already built nationwide, private enterprises account for 45 percent.
The outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan proposes "developing and growing the private economy" and "guaranteeing, from a legal and institutional perspective, equal use of production factors, fair participation in market competition, and effective protection of legitimate rights and interests," further providing private enterprises with a "reassurance pill" for their development.
If the photovoltaic industry's breakthrough relies on the choice of technology route, then the "moat" of power batteries comes more from sustained innovation.
CATL's 2025 annual report shows that the company's annual R&D expenses reached 22.147 billion yuan, with cumulative investment of over 90 billion yuan in the past 10 years, and it holds more than 54,000 domestic and international patents, building a technology barrier that competitors will find difficult to catch up with in the short term.
Relying on sustained innovation, CATL's Kirin condensed-matter battery has set the world's highest record for energy density of mass-produced battery cells, and its Xiaoyao lithium iron phosphate battery has set a new global record for the charging rate of power batteries, continuously raising the industry's technology benchmark.
From the laboratory to the production line, from the patent wall to the global market, Chinese private enterprises' sustained deep cultivation in core technology fields is changing the balance of power in the global energy industry competition — Chinese photovoltaic modules account for more than 80 percent of the global market share, and power batteries account for more than 60 percent of the global market share.
Accurate direction, quick turns, stable policies, and deep innovation have made Chinese private enterprises' resilience stronger and their confidence more solid.
The Question of Prospects
Relying on full-chain layout and transformation to ride through cycles, seeking breakthrough paths in technological upgrading
Flipping through the lists of recent years, the divergence among energy private enterprises on different tracks is deepening: traditional refining and chemical enterprises hold their rankings through full-chain layout and transformation; photovoltaic enterprises continue to bear pressure amid cyclical fluctuations; new energy vehicle and energy storage battery enterprises are expected to continue moving upward, becoming an important variable in the trend of the list.
Of course, the rise and fall of rankings cannot simply be equated with the rise and fall of enterprise strength. The real challenges cannot be ignored (不容忽视, bu rong hu shi - "not, allow, ignore"): the refining and chemical industry faces transformation pressure; the photovoltaic industry has rapid technology iteration, still-short intellectual property protection, and rapid technology spillover; competition in the new energy vehicle industry is intensifying, with profitability and technology barriers becoming the new watershed.
How should enterprises ride through the cycle?
There is no standard answer, but the direction forward is clear — traditional energy private enterprises ride through cycles by relying on full-chain layout and transformation, while new energy private enterprises seek breakthrough paths in technological upgrading. The paths differ, but all are actively seeking change amid uncertainty.
Hengli Group, a traditional refining and chemical private enterprise, has remained steadily in the top three of the list for many consecutive years, relying on full-chain layout and forward-looking transformation. It is one of the earliest domestic enterprises to achieve full-chain integration of chemical fiber, textiles, petrochemicals, and polyester new materials. The synergy between upstream and downstream gives the enterprise a risk-resistance capability far higher than that of enterprises in a single link.
In 2022, when the petrochemical industry was at a low point, Hengli Group quickly targeted the recovering shipbuilding industry, and in just three years built a single shipyard ranking among the top in the world in terms of order book volume, expanding its industrial chain footprint from "a drop of oil" and "a piece of cloth" to "a ship," blazing a new path for the transformation of traditional industries and making its business scale comparable to leading internet enterprises.
Looking again at the photovoltaic industry, most enterprises have seen their rankings decline, which is the result of multiple factors superimposed, including cyclical fluctuations and the enterprises' own strategic choices.
To survive, some enterprises have suspended capacity expansion, channeled more resources into technology and new product R&D, while also making efforts in overseas high-end markets, extending downstream into businesses such as energy storage, and offsetting the cyclical downturn through internal adjustments.
Sungrow Power is one such example. This enterprise, which initially focused on photovoltaic inverters, has rapidly expanded its energy storage business in recent years, opening up new revenue space. Revenue from the energy storage segment has already exceeded that of inverters, and in the first half of this year, its income accounted for 50 percent of total revenue. Its ranking on the list has also risen year after year, from 304th place when it first entered in 2023 to 122nd place this year.
Industry insiders point out that the long-term way out for the photovoltaic industry lies in building a technological "moat," rather than relying solely on scale expansion and price wars. For industries mired in involution, these explorations can provide samples of differentiated development for the industry.
In recent years, the photovoltaic industry has begun to place greater emphasis on the systematic layout of high-value patents, building patent protection matrices for new technologies in advance. Market-oriented attempts such as patent pools and patent cross-licensing have also emerged at the industry level. At the same time, relevant departments have continuously improved intellectual property protection measures, smoothed rights-protection channels, and better safeguarded enterprises' innovation achievements.
"Private enterprises have strong innovation vitality and have always been a vital force in promoting high-quality development in the energy sector. At present, China's energy green and low-carbon transformation is accelerating, and new models and new business forms are emerging rapidly, providing a new blue ocean for the development of private enterprises," said Wan Jinsong, deputy director of the National Energy Administration.
From the global breakthroughs on tracks such as photovoltaic, batteries, and new energy vehicles, to the repeated journeys of riding through cycles and the repeated breakthroughs of advancing toward the new, energy private enterprises are advancing steadily and firmly amid the wave of transformation, continuously writing vivid footnotes for the vitality and resilience of China's economy.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 韩 鑫
At the mouth of the Yangtze River, the new "first tunnel under the Ten-Thousand-Li Yangtze" has achieved a new breakthrough—
75 meters underwater, with machines roaring. Not long ago, as the "Cangyuan" shield tunneling machine smoothly completed its 5,334-meter excavation operation, the construction of the left-line tunnel of the Haitai Yangtze River Tunnel reached the lowest point of the riverbed.
Four months after the right-line tunnel conquered this point, the left line successfully passed through this high-risk critical section, marking that this approximately 39-kilometer-long world's longest highway underwater shield tunnel is one step closer to full completion.
From the already completed and opened Nanjing Baguazhou Yangtze River Bridge and the Sutong Yangtze River Highway Bridge, to the under-construction Zhangjinggao Yangtze River Bridge and the Chongqi Highway-Rail Yangtze River Bridge... in the waters at the mouth of the Yangtze River, multiple bridges have already spanned the natural chasm above the river surface. Why then does the Haitai Yangtze River Tunnel choose to "shake hands" with the opposite bank beneath the riverbed?
"This is the result of comprehensive consideration of multiple factors," explained Zhao Xiaopeng, project manager of the A4 section of the Haitai Yangtze River Tunnel under CCCC Tunnel Engineering Bureau. In the waters at the mouth of the Yangtze River, 10,000-ton-class cargo ships pass frequently. The tunnel's use of deep burial beneath the riverbed to cross the river can achieve mutual non-interference between ship navigation on the water surface and tunnel construction and operation underground. Once entering the operational phase, the deeply buried tunnel is essentially not constrained by adverse weather conditions such as heavy fog and typhoons, and can provide more stable and reliable all-weather passage guarantees.
It is worth mentioning that the river section where the project is located is an important migration and habitat area for aquatic life in the Yangtze River. The tunnel uses deep-burial excavation, avoiding the disturbance to water bodies caused by operations such as cofferdam construction and pile driving in bridge construction, and its impact on the water ecology is extremely small or insignificant (微乎其微, wei hu qi wei - "tiny, almost not").
Overhead is the surging river water; ahead is the soft riverbed. With ultra-high water pressure combined with ultra-deep burial depth, how can this nearly 10,000-meter "ultra-long-distance run" beneath the riverbed be completed?
High-end equipment makes "crossing the river" possible.
"The domestically developed largest-diameter slurry balance shield tunneling machine 'Cangyuan,' independently developed by our country, is a 'diamond drill bit' custom-made to suit specific needs (量身定制, liang shen ding zhi - "measure body, custom make") for crossing the Yangtze River," introduced Xu Yin, chief engineer of the Design and Research Institute of CCCC Tianhe. The tunnel has a maximum burial depth of 75 meters and a maximum water pressure of 7.5 bar, equivalent to bearing the weight of approximately 51 cars per square meter. To this end, the "Cangyuan" is equipped with the world's first main drive system with active protection, capable of monitoring cutterhead forces in real time and promptly resolving impact loads caused by cutterhead disturbance, just as if a protective barrier has been added to the "heart" of the shield machine, thereby ensuring excavation efficiency.
Since excavation began in August 2025, the project team has successively solved challenges such as ultra-high water pressure and super-large-diameter shield construction in soft soil strata. After successfully conquering the lowest point of the riverbed, the "Cangyuan" has completed its key posture switch, transitioning from the "deep diving downward" mode to a new stage of "raising its head upward" operations. Now, this "steel dragon" is steadily advancing beneath the Yangtze Riverbed at an average speed of 20 meters per day toward the opposite bank of the Yangtze.
Networking, filling gaps, strengthening chains... the continuously extending corridor network is compressing spatial and temporal distances and reshaping regional patterns.
As a river-crossing corridor connecting Haimen, Nantong, Jiangsu with Taicang, Suzhou, after the Haitai Yangtze River Tunnel is completed and opened to traffic in 2028, it will effectively alleviate the traffic pressure on the Sutong Yangtze River Highway Bridge, and the river-crossing travel time from Nantong to Suzhou and Shanghai will be shortened from 1 hour to approximately 10 minutes.
Opening the outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan, more cross-regional and cross-basin major corridors are painting a new picture of development. During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, Jiangsu will accelerate the completion of the province-wide "six vertical, six horizontal" high-speed railway network. By 2030, a cumulative total of 28 river-crossing corridors will have been built, an increase of 7 compared to the end of 2025. These river-crossing corridors, one after another, are vigorously promoting industrial connectivity and resource integration among cities along the river, supporting the coordinated development of the river and the sea.
Return to TopBy: 刘志成
During this National Day holiday, cross-regional passenger flows across society reached a new high, and policy dividends such as trade-in programs and consumption vouchers continued to be released. Holiday consumption is not only an important window for observing consumption trends, but the vigorous vitality it displays also provides new ideas for resolving the contradiction of strong supply and weak demand.
The National Day consumption hotspots presented a wide variety of highlights and features (亮点纷呈, liang dian fen cheng - "bright, spot; abundant, diverse"), demonstrating the enormous potential of China's domestic demand. During the long holiday, new consumption tracks showed outstanding growth momentum, revealing the surging vitality of the holiday economy. The integration of culture and tourism released consumption momentum, with localities deepening the integrated development of culture, commerce, and tourism. New scenarios and new hotspots such as intangible cultural heritage experiences and "county-town trips" were emerging in an endless stream (层出不穷, ceng chu bu qiong - "layer, emerge; not, exhausted"), with consumption forms accelerating their transformation from sightseeing and check-in tourism to in-depth experiences. During the holiday, travel agency services and amusement park revenues rose in tandem, with tax data showing that sales revenue from tourism, sightseeing, and entertainment services increased by more than 20 percent year on year. Cultural and sports events created new growth highlights, with events such as the China Open tennis tournament and various cultural performances landing intensively, and "traveling with sports events" becoming a new consumption trend. The heat of sports events was converted into consumption increments, with the efficiency of converting visitor flows into surrounding consumption continuing to improve, and holiday sports service sales revenue increasing by nearly 30 percent year on year. Intelligent and green consumption led the new direction of upgrading, with resident consumption steadily advancing toward digitalization, intelligence, and low-carbon development. During the first six days of the holiday, sales of embodied-intelligence robots and smart glasses on key platforms increased by 1.3 times and 1 time year on year, respectively. Among self-drive car rental trips, bookings of new-energy vehicle models showed doubled growth year on year. Holiday consumption was full of vitality, vividly and vividly (生动活泼, sheng dong huo po - "vivid, lively; active, spirited") demonstrating the profound foundation and development resilience of China's super-large market.
While recognizing the achievements, we must not ignore existing problems. Holiday consumption, while growing steadily, has also exposed certain structural shortcomings. In some areas, the adaptability between supply and demand is not strong, with insufficient high-quality supply of cultural consumption and relatively monotonous experience formats; the level of technology-enabled services is not high, and homogenization problems are evident, making it difficult to meet the consumption needs of segmented groups. In some places, supporting facilities and service capacity struggle to adapt to demand growth. Some popular scenic spots have insufficient cable car and parking reception capacity; some county-level destinations, when receiving "reverse tourism," fall short in accommodation, public toilets, and emergency response; and inbound tourism still has shortcomings in payment, multilingual services, hotel check-in, and ticket reservation.
National Day consumption painted a vivid picture spanning from bustling metropolises to county-level small towns, from sightseeing and check-in tourism to in-depth experiences. The consumption upgrading trends, the direction of demand iteration, and the constraints on boosting consumption that it reflects provide new ideas for resolving the contradiction of strong supply and weak demand.
On the one hand, we should build on our strengths to further improve supply quality and optimize the supply structure. As the people's living standards continue to rise, the requirements of consumption on the supply system have shifted from "whether it exists" to "whether it is good." We should highlight the demand orientation, focus on solving the pain-point problems of supply-demand mismatch in areas such as culture, tourism, sports, and life services, and make precise efforts to address shortcomings such as weak supply adaptability and prominent homogenization. We should grasp the direction of upgrading, deepen the integrated development of culture, commerce, and tourism, deeply tap regional cultural characteristics and resource endowments, enrich the supply of cultural services such as high-quality sports events and fine performances, expand the supply of differentiated products such as intangible cultural heritage experiences and immersive cultural tourism, and promote the transformation of the supply system from "quantitative expansion" to "qualitative improvement." We should strengthen technology empowerment, follow the trend of intelligent and green consumption, lead supply upgrading with digitalization and intelligence, use technology to improve supply efficiency and service precision, expand the effective supply of intelligent technology products and green, low-carbon goods, and strengthen new supply models and new business forms. We should fill the service shortcomings, enhance the reception and carrying capacity of popular scenic spots, effectively fill the gaps in accommodation and public service guarantees at county-level destinations, improve supporting facilities for inbound tourism such as payment and multilingual services, and optimize the dynamic allocation mechanism for holiday resources.
On the other hand, we should build on potential to further expand consumption space and stimulate consumption vitality. At present, China's per capita gross domestic product has exceeded US$13,000, the middle-income group continues to grow, development-oriented and enjoyment-oriented consumption continues to rise, and the upgrading of resident consumption contains enormous potential for domestic demand growth. We should enrich consumption scenarios and business forms, promote the deep integration of culture, sports, tourism, and commerce, amplify the driving effects of the events economy, night-time economy, and experience economy, and cultivate more consumption growth points. We should deeply cultivate the county-level consumption market, accelerate the improvement of the county-level commercial service system, extend the consumption network to the grassroots level, receive the dividends of consumption moving downward, and activate grassroots consumption momentum. We should optimize the supply of consumption-promotion policies, promote the extension of consumption support policies from physical goods consumption to service consumption, and implement precise measures to meet the needs of consumption upgrading. Of course, promoting consumption is not an isolated economic task. To inject lasting momentum into expanding consumption, further efforts are needed in employment, income growth, and social security, striving to create more job opportunities, broaden income-increasing channels, and smooth the virtuous cycle of employment, income growth, and consumption.
The surging flows of people and the booming market during the National Day holiday once again confirm that China's domestic demand potential is enormous, and we are fully capable, fully qualified, and fully confident in resolving the contradiction of strong supply and weak demand. As long as we grasp the laws, implement precise measures, and achieve success through effective action (善作善成, shan zuo shan cheng - "good, do; good, accomplish"), we will surely accelerate the building of a sound situation in which supply and demand are well matched and mutually reinforcing.
(The author is a researcher at the Macroeconomic Research Institute of the National Development and Reform Commission)
Return to TopBy: 齐志明 孙嘉翊
Under the warm autumn sun, at the Canglang Pavilion Teahouse in Suzhou, Jiangsu, the faint fragrance of osmanthus drifts through the afternoon air. Zhou Rui, born after 1995, lifts the lidded bowl and takes a sip of clear tea, pinching a piece of Biluochun tea pastry between her fingers; the flaky crust falls softly onto the porcelain plate, her mouth filled with the elegant tea fragrance of Biluochun from Dongting Mountain. Leaving the garden, she turns into the Guanjian Street Suzhou Daoxiangcun national-trend experience store, picking up a box of "Eight Scenes of Suzhou" gift set printed with patterns of Tiger Hill Pagoda and Pingjiang Road, ready to bring it to friends from out of town. "Equal weight on food and etiquette—the time-honored brands truly understand young people," Zhou Rui says.
Scenes like this are playing out in many places across the country. Checking in at century-old shops, incorporating time-honored brand cultural products into daily life, traditional dairy products becoming office staples, century-old sauces and braised meats appearing at night-market stalls... Consumer goods once regarded as "old-fashioned" and "outdated" and meant for the older generation are quietly taking over young people's shopping carts and social media feeds. From "what parents think is good" to "what I like myself," from "recommended by elders" to "actively planting seeds of desire," a reverse fusion of intergenerational aesthetics is quietly taking place at the counters, in the stores, and in the livestream rooms of time-honored brands, turning century-old golden signboards into new life companions chosen by young people.
Technology Empowers the Old Foundation
Traditional Craft Unlocks New Digital Expression
At the via·1719 Wuliangcai New Vision store on East Nanjing Road in Shanghai, a century-old optometry workbench sits alongside AI (artificial intelligence) eyewear, with many young tourists queuing up to try them on. Chen Hong, a tourist from Suzhou, brought her child to stroll along Nanjing Road and stood at the display stand repeatedly trying on the devices, unable to hold back her admiration: "In my memory, Wuliangcai was just an old shop for traditional framed glasses. I never imagined they'd now put AI into eyewear—first-person view shooting, on-the-go Q&A, all included. Traditional optometry craftsmanship paired with smart hardware is truly refreshing and novel (耳目一新, er mu yi xin - "ear, eye, one, new")." This century-old eyewear brand has joined hands with smart hardware companies to deliver a full-chain service of "try-on—optometry—lens customization—after-sales adjustment," upgrading the old store from a single vision-correction outlet into a trendy space with a technological experience.
Technology is not a subversion of tradition but rather opens a new window of expression for century-old craftsmanship. Many time-honored brands, building on their signature skills, are grafting on new technologies such as AI, digital interaction, and big data, breaking the stereotype of being "old and conservative." According to the Taobao Tmall "2025 Report on Intangible Cultural Heritage and Traditional Craft Development," the transaction volume of intangible cultural heritage and traditional craft goods on the platform has reached the scale of a hundred billion yuan, with more than 35,000 heritage-related merchants, an average of over 160,000 heritage livestreams per day, and consumers born in the 1990s and 2000s contributing more than 40 percent of purchases; young consumers are no longer simply paying for nostalgia but place greater value on personalized expression and digital experience in products, which in turn pushes many time-honored brands to feed online insights back into offline product development.
Food time-honored brands are using digital technology to refine products and gain insight into consumer preferences. In Beijing, Sanyuan Foods has brought digital experiences into offline stores. The reopened "Beijing Milk Company" themed store near the Drum Tower has attracted many young people who make special trips to check in. Tourist Li Xiaowen stood in front of the self-service milk dispensing machine, personally pouring a cup of fresh milk, then ordering a popular cup of Erba sauce milk tea, with a robot doing latte art on the spot—the retro store full of novel fun. "When I was little, I watched my parents get milk with milk coupons; now it's our turn to experience it ourselves, and the photos come out great," Li Xiaowen said while filming a short video. The store not only sells dairy products but also displays 70 years of brand history materials, turning the everyday act of drinking milk into an immersive urban cultural experience.
Suzhou Daoxiangcun, relying on platform big data to capture young people's health demands, has partnered with Shouxian Valley to develop a low-sugar mountain-delicacy cake series, controlling sugar content below 5 percent and breaking the public's entrenched perception of traditional pastries as high-sugar, high-fat; leveraging e-commerce consumer insights, it has created the "Moon Full Over Nine Provinces" custom gift box, blending regional culture into pastries, and sales have climbed steadily since launch.
In the jewelry sector, Laofengxiang and Caibai Jewelry are using online showrooms and digital stores to simplify traditional patterns and develop lightweight, self-pleasing, small-gram gold jewelry that is no longer just precious heirloom items for elders but fits young people's everyday outfits.
Amid the digital wave, the core of time-honored brand transformation is not replacing generational craftsmanship with new technology but building a bridge of communication between tradition and young people. In the past, many time-honored brands' exquisite craftsmanship and profound culture were "hidden in the inner chamber," with young people lacking an entry point for perception; AI interaction, big-data R&D, and online livestream e-commerce transform obscure traditional knowledge into intuitive and interesting modern experiences. Many consumers are initially drawn in by novel digital play, gradually come to understand the craft core accumulated by time-honored brands during the experience, and ultimately complete the consumption shift from novelty check-in to quality recognition and repeat purchase.
Scene Re-creation Shapes New Life
Stepping Out of the Counter, Embedded in Everyday Life
Walking into Shanghai Bailian First Pharmacy's "Fen Zi Pharmacy," the public's inherent perception of a drugstore is rewritten. There is none of the stuffiness of a traditional pharmacy; instead, it operates a new "morning tea, evening tipsy" model. By day it is a health tea space, where ginseng Americano and ejiao rose milk tea attract many young people queuing to order; in the evening it switches to a light-social, lightly tipsy space, while also offering Chinese herbal sachet and herbal DIY craft salons. The second floor retains complete drug sales and health testing services, and the professional pharmaceutical foundation is not weakened. Many young people make special trips to check in, marveling that "a pharmacy is not just a place to buy medicine—it can also be a place to sit with friends and experience crafts," as the traditional pharmaceutical retail store transforms into a relaxed rest stop for urban youth.
A key step in the rejuvenation of time-honored brands is breaking out of the old model of "standing behind the counter selling goods." Consumption has expanded from simply "buying a product" into a comprehensive process of experience, socializing, and check-in, and stores, night-market bazaars, cultural tourism districts, and themed events have all become stages for time-honored brands to converse with young people.
On Niujie Street in Beijing, the two windows of the Yueshengzhai store present a striking contrast. At the traditional cooked-food window, elderly Beijing men queue with practiced familiarity, weighing out two jin of braised beef or roasted mutton, humming Peking opera as they slowly head home; at the adjacent trendy snack counter, young tourists come in an endless stream (络绎不绝, luo yi bu jue - "intertwine, not, cease"), with paper-bowl fried crispy pork and sesame mutton served piping hot, 25 yuan a serving, held in hand and eaten on the go. Ma Qiang, the seventh-generation inheritor, stood by the counter explaining that the company has restored the "shop in front, factory in back" model; behind the glass window, century-old marinade broth bubbles in a large pot, fully visible to consumers. When the Longfu Temple trend market opened, Yueshengzhai set up a stall, the aroma of freshly grilled mutton skewers wafting far and wide, and many young people came specially to buy and check in. Beyond trendy snacks, the company has also developed ready-to-eat beef series products that have become a post-workout meal option for gym-going young people; in partnership with Tongrentang, it has launched a wild mountain lamb hot pot that blends the concept of medicine and food homology into the home casual dining scene.
Sanyuan Foods continues to extend its consumption boundaries outward, not limited to the family refrigerator. In addition to the "Beijing Milk Company" themed store at the Drum Tower, Sanyuan Meiyuan has launched fermented rice osmanthus yogurt cake and iced milk drinks on the basis of traditional curd products, becoming a popular afternoon-tea choice for young people; not long ago, at the "Sanyuan Mid-Autumn Wonder Night" event at Happy Valley, immersive experiences including a national-trend market, lantern DIY, and moon viewing from the Ferris wheel were staged in succession, with thousands of young people browsing the market and trying new products—an ordinary box of dairy products becoming a social vehicle for urban festivals. At the same time, Sanyuan has deeply connected with tea-drink and coffee chain brands; the milk tea and latte that many young people drink regularly use Sanyuan dairy as an ingredient, quietly weaving into every corner of leisure consumption.
Responding to the consumption trends of personalization, diversification, and quality, time-honored brands such as Quanjude and Tianfuhau are innovating consumption scenarios to suit the diverse needs of different customer groups. Quanjude is exploring an all-new "+ dining" path, actively stepping out of the traditional catering model. Roast duck pancakes, roast duck skewers, and other snacks have entered urban markets and sports event venues; the Universal CityWalk store caters to young family traffic, while the airport store has streamlined its menu to suit travelers' need for efficiency. The "Good Duck" and "Beautiful Duck" plush cultural products turn the roast duck IP (intellectual property) into trendy collectibles, adding emotional value beyond dining. Tianfuhau has stepped out of the traditional scenario of braised meat as "New Year goods and family banquet fare"; at its Qianmen store in Beijing, focaccia braised-pork pizza has become a check-in hit for young shoppers, with century-old marinade-braised pork paired with an Italian-style crust, baked fresh to order, fitting the light social scene of the commercial district; the "Hot Simmer Series" adheres to the shop-in-front, factory-in-back model, with freshly cooked braised knuckles served steaming hot, adding a fresh-food sales scenario on top of the previous pre-packaged model.
Scene reconstruction is essentially about breaking the consumption times and consumption circles in which time-honored brands have long been fixed. In the past, braised meats, pastries, and traditional dining were mostly tied to festival occasions such as Spring Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival, stationery shops catered only to calligraphy and painting enthusiasts, and pharmacies were equated with places to see a doctor and get medicine—only specific groups at specific times saw consumption peaks. Today, time-honored brands are proactively stepping out of the counter and into night markets, commercial districts, and cultural tourism sites, adapting to fragmented modern life moments such as shopping, afternoon tea, post-workout meals, and short trips.
Zhu Di, a researcher at the Institute of Sociology of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, believes that goods are merely a carrier, and that the warmth of everyday life, a sense of participation, and the value of social sharing have been placed in a more important position. Contemporary young consumers are increasingly unsatisfied with simply "buying a product" and place greater weight on the emotional experience brought by the consumption process—this is precisely the underlying logic by which time-honored brands' offline experiential formats can continue to gather popularity.
Dual Efforts Inside and Out
Polishing the Golden Signboard of China Time-Honored Brands
On the shelves of a Costco supermarket in Vancouver, Canada, White Rabbit assorted milk candies are neatly displayed, with many local Chinese and foreign consumers stopping to browse and buy. Earlier, an overseas blogger posted on social media a White Rabbit candy wrapper whose design was finalized in 1959, and the post garnered more than 6 million views; netizens spontaneously created phone cases and T-shirts inspired by it, sparking a collective archaeological dig into Chinese retro packaging, and the little milk candy became a simple carrier of Eastern aesthetics. This overseas popularity is no accident—it is the fruit of the brand's years of deep cultivation of overseas channels.
The reverse growth of time-honored brands is the combined result of enterprise innovation, policy support, and market opening. Inwardly, they hold fast to the origin of craftsmanship and consolidate the domestic consumer market; outwardly, they embrace the broad international stage and tell the story of Chinese brands well.
Policy dividends are being released, continuously safeguarding the development of time-honored brands. The Ministry of Commerce is advancing the demonstration and creation of China time-honored brands and implementing a dynamic management mechanism of "entry and exit"; the 2026 "Time-Honored Brand Carnival," under the theme "National Trend Products, Renewed Brilliance," will carry out activities throughout the year across four major segments: creative markets, nationwide appreciation, famous product expositions, and craftsmanship going global; the "Notice on Carrying Out Pilot Work for the Agglomeration and Development of Time-Honored Brands" focuses on five directions—product, brand, culture, industry, and going global—promoting the shift of time-honored brands from single-point operations to coordinated development of street-district clusters.
In local practice, Shanghai has issued an action plan for the rejuvenation of state-owned enterprise time-honored brands, dividing brands into "leading tier" and "elevation tier" categories with differentiated policies; Laofengxiang has implemented professional manager system reform, and the long-dormant "Shanghai Brand" coffee has been brought back into public view with the introduction of professional social operations. Beijing has issued multiple support policies to activate the Qianmen-Dashilan time-honored brand cluster.
Suzhou Daoxiangcun continues to expand its overseas footprint, with pastries sold to more than 60 countries and regions and over 4,000 overseas sales outlets; it has co-launched mooncake gift boxes with European e-commerce platforms, bringing Suzhou-style pastry culture to overseas Chinese and foreign consumers. Sanyuan Foods, in addition to its diversified domestic scenario layout, is also continuously expanding its B-end overseas supply chain, exporting the production and R&D capabilities of domestic dairy products. Phoenix Bicycles has seized the opportunity of jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative, establishing production bases in Bulgaria and Indonesia, and the national old brand has regained vitality in overseas markets.
Amid the market heat, the industry also maintains sober, realistic reflection. In the view of Zhang Linshan, a researcher at the Macroeconomic Research Institute of the National Development and Reform Commission, some time-honored brands still have problems such as lagging internal mechanisms and superficial digital transformation, and a few brands show signs of lax historical tracing and excessive marketing hype. For time-honored brands to innovate, the foundation lies in returning to the original source to clear up errors (正本清源, zheng ben qing yuan - "correct, root, clear, source"): they must clarify their true development trajectory, hold fast to the core of craftsmanship and quality, and must not treat the national trend as a mere traffic gimmick.
"Rejuvenation does not mean negating tradition, and upholding integrity does not mean standing still. Quality and cultural core are the fundamental yardstick for time-honored brands to go far and steady," said Hong Tao, a professor at Beijing Technology and Business University. He believes that time-honored brands cannot "rest on their laurels as old brands": on the one hand, they must strengthen the protection of intellectual property such as trademarks and intangible cultural heritage craftsmanship to build a solid foundation for development; on the other hand, they must continue to advance the iteration of products, services, and marketing models, balancing deep cultivation of the domestic market with international layout, in order to achieve sustainable development.
That young people are willing to put "the choice of the older generation" into their shopping lists is essentially recognition of century-old quality and empathy with the contemporary expression of traditional culture. "Old" is the profound heritage that has been accumulated; "new" is the vibrant vitality facing present-day life. Only by holding fast to the root of craftsmanship and bravely embracing the changes of the times can China time-honored brands continue to radiate enduring brilliance amid the tide of expanding domestic demand and building independent brands.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 刘文欣
If one asks what the most popular cultural events in Beijing were recently, the Ditan Book Fair was on the list.
On September 27, the "Me and Ditan" Beijing Book Fair came to a close. During the 11 days of the event, 836,000 readers walked into Ditan, which can be called a cultural feast of the capital's autumn. In the bustling with crowds (熙熙攘攘, xi xi rang rang - "flock, bustle, bustle, bustle") book fair, there were students carrying schoolbags, office workers holding briefcases, parents holding children's hands, and seasoned readers pulling suitcases and pushing carts to "stock up." The scene of buying books and cultural creative products was so hot that netizens bluntly said, "No one can walk out of Ditan empty-handed."
Why can the Ditan Book Fair attract such a crowd?
First, one must start with Ditan's cultural attributes. Ditan is one of Beijing's landmark scenic spots, and its simple, elegant, and quiet architecture has an inherent appeal. Writer Shi Tiesheng's "Me and Ditan" further endows Ditan with a unique literary temperament through a writing style that is serene yet full of vitality. Strolling in Ditan, one can almost feel history and literature flowing past. Holding a book fair at Ditan fully echoes and brings into play the cultural attributes of this space.
Second, the driving force of social platforms has also expanded the influence of Ditan's cultural IP. In recent years, the trees adopted by "Tiesheng's friend Yu Hua" and "Yu Hua's friend Tiesheng," and the "sea" of Ditan, have spread rapidly through social media, attracting a large number of tourists to check in at Ditan and giving the public the opportunity to participate in co-creating Ditan's cultural IP. These "new landscapes" continue Ditan's warm and tranquil cultural story and help Ditan's cultural IP break out of its circle.
The cultural atmosphere has "set the stage," but good products are still needed to "perform the show."
As a cultural market, the core advantage of the Ditan Book Fair lies in its large quantity of high-quality cultural products and services. This book fair brought together more than 400 publishing houses, publishing institutions, and distinctive physical bookstores. From the themed publishing area to the fine works area of famous publishers, from foreign-language original books to niche specialty books, all kinds of books are having everything one could want (应有尽有, ying you jin you - "should, have, every, have"); the "Old Books, New Knowledge" exhibition area also carried out old book exchange activities, allowing visiting customers to fully enjoy the fun of hunting for and exchanging books.
Paper books with unique designs and exquisite binding were quite popular at the book fair. The 2026 collector's edition of "Me and Ditan" sold nearly 4,000 copies within three days of the fair's opening, which is not unrelated to its exquisite binding. The cover of the book also hides a PVC (polyvinyl chloride) card of "seeing the sea at Ditan." As the card is inserted and removed, the beautiful scenery of Ditan in spring and autumn switches at any time. This design makes the paper book more closely connected to Ditan's cultural IP and gives it unique aesthetic and collection value beyond reading.
There are also a large number of novel and creative cultural creative "eye-catchers" that make tourists love them so much they cannot let them go (爱不释手, ai bu shi shou - "love, not, release, hand"). Canvas bags printed with the words "literary burden," "thought burden," and "literary travel naan" are puns, using "meme-making" to find a concrete carrier for the expression of literary sentiment, which is clever and not without humor.
What also makes young people unable to resist "stocking up" is the real and tangible discounts. Various discounts and book benefit coupons stacked together make book prices more attractive. Humanized services also guaranteed the smooth development of the book fair activities. In response to problems previously reported by citizens, such as "the map is not clear enough and it is easy to get lost," "there are not enough rest seats and restrooms," and "it is hard to find children's books when bringing kids," the relevant parties "mainly listen to advice." The convenience service facilities of this book fair were comprehensively expanded, a parent-child reading area was newly added, and simple lighting was installed so that readers can select books on cloudy days and in the evening.
The phenomenon that "no one can walk out of Ditan empty-handed" demonstrates the broad prospects of cultural consumption. The Ditan Book Fair fully explores the cultural attributes of urban space, combines Ditan's cultural IP with the book fair's products, and, through innovative and high-quality product and service supply, satisfies young people's longing for romantic book fragrance and their need to express individual attitudes. It is hoped that there will be more cultural activities like the Ditan Book Fair to add endless book fragrance and vitality to urban life.
Return to TopBy: 张 丁
Family letters are the emotional bond between loved ones, and they often come into being because of separation. In history, the "Going West" (走西口), "Braving the Northeast" (闯关东), and "Venturing to the South Seas" (下南洋) movements left behind countless letters from ordinary people. The Long March of the 1930s was a magnificent and grand (波澜壮阔, bo lan zhuang kuo - "wave, vast; magnificent, grand") strategic shift in modern Chinese history, during which Red Army officers and soldiers traversed a journey of 25,000 li. What is deeply moving is that these Red Army officers and soldiers, far from home, should have frequently sent letters back, yet very few family letters written during the Long March have survived to this day.
This phenomenon has profound reasons rooted in the era. After the main forces of the Red Army withdrew, the base areas fell under Kuomintang rule, and white terror spread everywhere. Once a Red Army letter was delivered home, relatives would suffer persecution, so soldiers dared not write, and families dared not keep the letters. In addition, on the Long March route, troops marched day and night, battles were frequent, and many soldiers died on the road before they even had time to write a letter.
Although family letters from the Long March are rarely preserved, Red Army officers and soldiers who survived trials of life and death wrote quite a few family letters after the Long March ended. Some poured out their longing for their homeland and loved ones, some expressed their lofty aspirations to save the country and the people, and others looked back on the years of war and mourned fallen comrades. Each and every fervent family letter carries memories that should not be forgotten and also reflects the radiant spirit of the Long March.
"Please believe that this road is bright and great." On September 18, 1937, Zuo Quan, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Eighth Route Army, wrote a reply to his uncle Zuo Mingsan while en route to the anti-Japanese front line in Shanxi. At that time, more than a decade had passed since he left his hometown to join the revolution. During those years, he never paused for a moment in his revolutionary steps. He enrolled in the first class of the Whampoa Military Academy, joined the Communist Party of China, studied in the Soviet Union, and after returning to China in 1930, went to work in the Central Soviet Area. During the Long March, Zuo Quan served as Chief of Staff of the First Red Army Corps, shouldering the great responsibility of being the vanguard, and participated in commanding key battles and engagements including the Xiangjiang River Campaign, the Four Crossings of the Chishui River, the Forced Crossing of the Dadu River, the Seizure of the Luding Bridge, and the attacks on Lazikou and Zhiluo Town. In 1936, he served as Acting Commander of the First Red Army Corps, leading troops on the western expedition to welcome the Second and Fourth Front Armies as they advanced northward. The Long March road tempered his firm and indomitable (坚韧不拔, jian ren bu ba - "firm, resilient; not, pull, out") quality and his fearlessness in the face of sacrifice.
Zuo Quan learned from his uncle's letter that his eldest brother had died of illness, leaving his elderly mother and his brother's wife and children with no one to rely on, and he was deeply grieved. However, he had already firmly embraced the conviction of sacrificing family interests for the nation (舍家为国, she jia wei guo - "abandon, family; for, country"). Although he worried about his loved ones, he put the greater cause of the nation first: "Uncle! Although I cannot return home for the time being, I sacrifice all my happiness to strive for my cause. Please believe that this road is bright and great. I wish to repay with my successful career the kindness you and my mother have shown me, and repay my Brother Lin for his nurturing of me." He predicted that the war would last a very long time and that one must be prepared for a protracted and arduous struggle. In the Taihang Mountain base area, Zuo Quan assisted Zhu De, Peng Dehuai, and others in commanding the Eighth Route Army to smash the frenzied attacks of the Japanese invaders and achieve victories such as the Hundred Regiments Offensive. On May 25, 1942, he was hit by enemy artillery shells and died a martyr while commanding troops in a breakout, becoming the highest-ranking commander of the Eighth Route Army to die in the War of Resistance Against Japan.
"Snowy mountains and grasslands, the ten-thousand-li Long March — I will not refuse even death!" Red Army soldier Gao Jiecheng expressed the sincere original aspiration of a revolutionary in sonorous words. Gao Jiecheng was born in 1909. Inspired by progressive ideas, he actively threw himself into the anti-imperialist and patriotic movement. He participated in the Northern Expedition, later studied at Xiamen University, and worked at a bank in Shanghai. In 1930, he returned to his hometown of Zhangzhou, Fujian, and worked as a cashier at the money house of his paternal uncle Gao Kaiguo. Seeing that the Southern Fujian guerrilla forces were extremely short of ammunition and funds, he secretly took out more than 20,000 silver dollars to support the guerrillas. In 1932, he went to Ruijin, entered the Soviet State Bank, took charge of establishing the Red Army accounting system, and joined the Communist Party of China.
In 1934, Gao Jiecheng embarked on the Long March, following the Second Field Column of the Central Revolutionary Military Commission through snowy mountains and grasslands, and arrived in northern Shaanxi in 1935. On April 10, 1937, Gao Jiecheng, then in Yan'an, wrote to his paternal uncle, looking back on six years of hardship: "In these six years, rushing about east and west, chasing north and south, undergoing all kinds of hardships (历尽千辛万苦, li jin qian xin wan ku - "experience, exhausted; thousand, hardships; ten thousand, bitterness"), snowy mountains and grasslands, the ten-thousand-li Long March — I will not refuse even death! It is all for nothing other than to save the nation from peril! Where one's aspiration points, even waves and storms cannot stop it!" Despite all the extreme dangers, the ideal of saving the nation from peril made him charging forward bravely (勇往直前, yong wang zhi qian - "brave, go forward; towards, front"). He always kept in mind the debt he owed to the money house, and solemnly promised in his family letter: "The debt of more than 20,000 yuan I owe to Baichuan Money House is always on my mind. With principal and interest, it should now be over 30,000. When the country is saved and the nation survives, I will not be short a single cent in clearing the debt and paying the interest." He closely combined personal integrity with the greater cause of the nation, demonstrating the responsibility of a revolutionary. When the full-scale War of Resistance broke out, Gao Jiecheng rushed to the enemy's rear in North China, helped establish the Southern Hebei Bank, issued Southern Hebei currency, and carried out financial struggles behind enemy lines. In 1943, he was surrounded by Japanese troops and died a heroic death at the age of only 34. The tenacious character tempered by the Long March ran through his short but magnificent life.
The Long March left the survivors with endless homesickness. Red Army soldier Liu Zhongxin joined the Red Army from his hometown of Ji'an, Jiangxi, and after completing the Long March arrived in northern Shaanxi. In 1937, he wrote a letter home and also received a reply from his family. Later, his unit was reorganized into the 115th Division of the Eighth Route Army, and he rushed to the anti-Japanese front line in North China. After that, he sent dozens of family letters in succession, but never again received a reply from home. On July 17, 1938, overwhelming homesickness led him to write a five-page family letter to send back to his hometown.
The letter recorded a heartbreaking dream: "The night before last, while I was sleeping soundly, I suddenly dreamed of my mother. Mother had aged beyond recognition. I shouted out loudly, and suddenly let out a cry. A comrade sleeping beside me heard it, and he woke me up and asked me what I was shouting..." In the middle of the night, he dreamed of his aging mother, and upon waking there was only the cold night of the battlefield. He also worried about the fellow townsmen who had joined the army with him: "When I left home before, thirty or forty friends came out together with me. Now I don't know where they have gone to work. Here I haven't seen a single one of them, and I don't know whether any of those from our area have returned. If you write to me, please explain everything in full." Behind the brief words lies enormous sacrifice. In Liu Zhongxin's hometown of Donggu, Ji'an, more than 2,400 people joined the Red Army. After the main forces left on the Long March, fewer than 400 able-bodied young men remained locally, with more than 1,400 registered martyrs, and countless more unnamed soldiers buried far from home. One family letter carries the Red Army soldier's boundless longing for his loved ones and his deep remembrance of his comrades.
As the years passed and the smoke of gunpowder dissipated, looking back on the Long March road, those aged Red Army veterans still felt their hearts surging with emotion. The Family Letter Museum of Renmin University of China preserves a family letter written in 1986 by old Red Army veteran Li Zhen to his younger brother Li Zhenqi. At that time, Li Zhen had stepped down from his leadership post and was retracing the Long March route, pouring his myriad emotions into a five-page letter: "On the several big snowy mountains that our Second and Sixth Army Corps climbed, more than a thousand revolutionary martyrs sacrificed their lives. I am a survivor. Today I can come to the place where comrades from forty-eight years ago left this world reluctantly due to oxygen deprivation and the suffering of cold and hunger. How could one not be moved? These comrades died too early. They got nothing at all. As for family, wives, children — at that time, they probably had not even thought about such things. Their will, courage, and talent were all excellent. It is a pity they were too young and lost everything."
Li Zhen joined the Children's Corps at age 12, joined the Red Army before he was 14, and embarked on the Long March with the Sixth Red Army Corps. He moved with the army through battles, breaking through layer upon layer of blockades, forcing the Wujiang and Jinsha Rivers, crossing snowy mountains, traversing grasslands, and finally joining forces with other units. Half a century later, he revisited the old places. The mountains and rivers remained the same, but his comrades had long since lain down to eternal rest in the snowy mountains and grasslands. The family letter of a survivor, spanning time, is both a remembrance of the martyrs and an echo of the Long March spirit passed down from generation to generation.
There was also a Red Army soldier named Pei Junqing, who later changed his name to Pei Chao. In 1936, when the three main forces of the Red Army triumphantly joined forces at Huining, Gansu, Pei Junqing, an 18-year-old shepherd boy from the area, resolutely joined the Red Army. Three years later, his family received a family letter he sent from Feixian County, Shandong, telling them he was safe and sound, entrusting his eldest brother to care for their parents on his behalf, and hoping that after the war ended he could return home for a reunion. Between 1940 and 1941, the family received two more letters sent from Yancheng, Jiangsu. The letters rarely mentioned military affairs; they were entirely about family matters. The line "Although I am away from home, my heart remains at home" expressed the soldier's true state of mind. He worried about his elderly parents, asked his family to take care of them on his behalf, and urged his brothers to live in harmony. Based on clues such as a photograph sent with the letters, it is inferred that Pei Chao had already become a company commander in the New Fourth Army. But after that, no more letters were sent back, and his family judged that he had died for the country. These family letters were treasured and passed down through the family for generations. In 1995, Pei Chao's eldest brother, on his deathbed, handed the letters to his descendant Pei Jiucheng. In 2025, Pei Jiucheng donated the three precious family letters to the Family Letter Museum. "Although I am away from home, my heart remains at home" — writing longing into family letters, this is the true epitome of countless Red Army soldiers.
Bidding farewell to their small families and their native soil, they set out on a journey of ten thousand li, and many Red Army officers and soldiers never again saw their loved ones. The family letters that have survived are filled with attachment to family, responsibility to serve the country, adherence to integrity, and remembrance of fallen comrades. The smoke of gunpowder has long since receded, and the family letters have yellowed, but the stories within them have become becoming more new as time passes (历久弥新, li jiu mi xin - "experience, long time; even, new"). A single sheet of family letter connects the family and the nation. The great spirit of the Long March behind these letters will surely cross the long river of time and be remembered forever by future generations.
Return to TopBy: 姜圣瑜
I have been a university teacher for what is now ten cohorts of students. In recent years, a host of "little teachers" have appeared around me — Classmate Zhang teaches me computer software, Classmate Huai introduces me to various AI (artificial intelligence) tools, and there is also Classmate Ma, who teaches me how to make slideshows with a "sense of breathing"... The "little teacher" at home is my son, who has taught me how to use my phone to register for hospital appointments, book tickets, cast screens, and hail ride-hailing cars.
My "little teachers" are natives of the digital-intelligence era, having grown up immersed in the online environment, and they pick up new software and new devices quickly. Between them and me, knowledge at the level of using digital technology flows "in reverse," from the younger generation up to the older one. The "post-figurative culture" proposed by American anthropologist Margaret Mead more than half a century ago has now truly become part of everyday life. And this phenomenon of the younger generation teaching digital skills to the older generation can also be called "digital feedback."
However, feedback only teaches people to "use" tools; it cannot teach thinking and judgment. The more powerful the tool, the more the user needs to judge — what to believe, what to doubt, what to cite, what to discard. These abilities cannot be given by tools. And this is precisely where the responsibility of "the teacher" as "teacher" lies. Whether it is knowledge transmitted from the top down or digital feedback from the bottom up, the duty and mission of the teacher have never changed. In another scenario, I am still the teacher of my "little teachers." Classmate Huai teaches me AI, but whether the generated content can withstand verification and whether it can serve as evidence in journalism — such judgments cannot be given by tools. Classmate Zhang teaches me to use software, but which software can be used and whether the copyright is compliant — such screening cannot be answered by technology.
Who fills the gap at the level of judgment? The "old teachers." Students teach teachers to use technological tools, so that they do not fall behind when standing at the podium. Teachers teach students to discern direction, passing on experience and thought. Especially in the chaotic situation where good and bad are mixed together (泥沙俱下, ni sha ju xia - "mud, sand, all, descend") torrent of information, the more widespread technological tools become, the more human screening ability and value judgment must come into play.
Mr. Tao Xingzhi once said: "Teaching a thousand times, teach people to seek truth; learning a thousand times, learn to be a true person," which speaks to the most simple essence of education. Education is more importantly about the shaping of character, not just the transmission of knowledge. In the past, when craftsmen took on apprentices, what they passed on was never just skill and technique; qualities such as integrity and perseverance also had to be passed down from generation to generation. Today's teachers teaching students is not just about teaching the knowledge in books. "A teacher is one who transmits the Way, imparts knowledge, and resolves doubts," and transmitting the Way comes first. What is the "Way"? It can be understood as morality, the bottom line of being human and the faith rooted in the heart. It can be understood as reason, the perspective for viewing the world and the coordinates for conducting oneself. It can also be understood as the path, the direction of life, taking the great road rather than the wrong fork. The "Way" is a person's spiritual compass for walking through the world. When life reaches a fork in the road where both options are difficult, it can help us distinguish right from wrong; when faced with the temptations of fame and profit, it will help us hold fast to our original heart; when in the depths of adversity and hardship, it can support us in gritting our teeth and moving forward. The "Way" is hidden in the teacher's earnest and patient instruction (谆谆教导, zhun zhun jiao dao - "earnest, earnest, teach, guide") in the classroom, hidden in the caring nagging of parents... Digital feedback gives the younger generation a certain ability to "impart knowledge," but the foundation of "transmitting the Way" still rests in the hands of experienced elders.
If digital feedback is the younger generation helping the elders grasp the oars of the era, so that the boat of experience does not run aground in the waves of technology, then the teacher transmitting the Way is the elders lighting the lighthouse of values for the younger generation, so that young eyes do not go off course in the fog of information. This is the best two-way running toward each other between generations in this era — the elders participate in the times and support the younger generation, the younger generation keeps growing and gives feedback to the elders, and the world thereby keeps progressing. This, perhaps, is also the unique significance of the way of the teacher in the digital-intelligence era.
Return to TopBy: 陈爱民
I
A small spark that ignites a great prairie (星火燎原, xing huo liao yuan - "star, fire, burn, expanse"). One flower, two flowers, three flowers, setting out from the mountain wilds, flourishing in all directions, the azaleas blaze red and brilliant; the workers' and peasants' revolution smashes iron chains and breaks through the cage.
The Red Army — a name grown out of the soil, how warm and plain. The red five-pointed stars glitter brightly, the red collar tabs shine and gleam. Shining into a sea, the waves surge in the hearts of the toiling masses.
Parting, the better to return in triumph. Seeing off the Red Army ten times, the long march begins. The entrustments are reluctant treasurings; between heart and heart, there are ten thousand kinds of surging emotion.
II
The west wind is fierce, the red flags flutter and crack. Flutter — a tough, unyielding texture, flying with vigorous strength.
"Ten thousand rivers and a thousand mountains are treated as nothing" — "nothing," a kind of composure, a kind of bearing.
The breakout at the Xiang River — red filling the sky, red soaring to heaven. The forced crossing of the Wu River — red of valor, red of steadfastness. The Zunyi Conference — red of seeking truth from facts, red of making a decisive effort to turn the tide (力挽狂澜, li wan kuang lan - "strength, pull, wild, waves"). Crossing the Chishui River four times — red of being undaunted in the face of danger (临危不惧, lin wei bu ju - "approach, danger, not, fear"), red of winning by unexpected means (出奇制胜, chu qi zhi sheng - "out, strange, control, victory"). The capture of the Luding Bridge by flying assault — red of pressing forward without hesitation (一往无前, yi wang wu qian - "one, go, no, front"), red of a spirit that pierces the rainbow (气贯长虹, qi guan chang hong - "spirit, penetrate, long, rainbow"). The victorious joining of forces — red radiant and full of spirit (神采奕奕, shen cai yi yi - "spirit, color, abundant, abundant"), red of mustering troops on the battlefield.
The mountains rise lofty and far-stretching; there is a heroic feeling especially unrestrained: "To count the great figures of the age, we must look to the present"!
Step more precisely to the rhythm of the times, raise the full fury higher. Red makes the drums and gongs of the Shaanxi-Gansu base area especially majestic, especially splendid.
III
The Long March tempers the Red Army's physique. The foundation of breakthroughs and crossings is the spirit of red, the faith of red.
Broadswords, spears, and homemade guns forge unwavering and resolute (坚韧不拔, jian ren bu ba - "firm, tough, not, pull") resolve.
Millet meals and pumpkin soup nourish absolute loyalty and devotion (赤胆忠心, chi dan zhong xin - "red, gall, loyal, heart").
Snowy mountains, grasslands. Wild vegetables, leather belts, highland barley — stewed, boiled, chewed. Forward, forward, forward — that step after step, pulsing with will of iron, standing tall with the bearing of a monument.
Enduring hardships and toil (栉风沐雨, zhi feng mu yu - "comb, wind, bathe, rain"), sleeping wherever one lies, camping out, bright and open, merging with the forests, the Gobi, the village dwellings.
Shoulder poles and bamboo hats, straw sandals and straw rain capes — the gear, vigorous and thriving, conversing with the color of the grass, the color of the trees, the color of the mountains.
Listen! Look! So many blossoms scattering and blooming, so many harvests blazing like fire, so many cheers spreading from mouth to mouth!
IV
Another October, golden autumn resplendent, the season abundant; north and south of the great river, petals of happiness bloom everywhere.
Ninety years have passed; the scroll of history unfolds slowly. Looking back, looking forward, chanting the Long March, reciting the vivid red, a clear and resonant spirit wells up of itself. We stand tall and straight — pole by pole, row by row, stretch by stretch — flourishing in the fields, rising in the cities.
Red, incomparably fragrant, incomparably resounding. Red tests us, spurs us, steeps us, inspires us.
On the horizon, the sun bursts forth. We look forward with longing, faces bright, youth pressing upon us. We are a mighty host of whistling arrows, flying toward the starry sea of great rejuvenation!
Return to TopOil painting Autumn Water, by Chen Beixin, in the collection of the National Art Museum of China.
Return to TopBy: 赵仕华
A friend came from afar to Yuqing, Guizhou, and I took him to eat Yuqing deboned duck. We entered a restaurant where there was a photo on the wall, and in the photo was a stone bridge. My friend asked: "Is this a scenic spot in Yuqing?" I nodded: "It's Aoxi Town, a small town by the Wujiang River, and Yuqing's deboned duck got its start right there." My friend became interested.
Aoxi Town, nestled against the Wujiang River, is a hub of water and land transport. There was a local chef who, hearing that customers found it troublesome to spit out duck bones while eating, worked out the skill of deboning. With one local shelduck and a thin knife, following the seams of the bones, in a few minutes a complete skeleton is removed, while the meat remains intact and attached to the skin. The bones are used to make soup, and the meat is stir-fried for eating. This skill has been passed down and has become a culinary calling card of Yuqing. Today the county has set up a dedicated industrial park, some people specialize in raising local shelducks, and some villages have established breeding cooperatives.
My friend listened attentively. I opened my phone, found a photo of a basketball game, and told him: "This is the 'courtyard basketball tournament' in Longxi Town, and one of the prizes is the local shelduck. Not long ago they also held a deboned duck cooking competition — it was very lively." My friend laughed: "This prize is something you can see and touch, and you can eat it into your stomach — practical!"
My friend asked whether we could see the deboning skill in action. The kitchen had a transparent glass wall, and a chef was deboning a shelduck. The blade glided along the bones, and in just a few minutes a clean, complete skeleton lay spread on the cutting board, while the duck meat remained intact on the skin.
The chef turned around carrying the deboned meat, and the sound of the spatula striking the edge of the wok rang out, followed by the "sizzle" of hot oil hitting the pan. The fragrance of oil mixed with the pungent aroma of glutinous-rice-chili paste, Sichuan peppercorn, ginger, and garlic drifted over. My friend sniffed: "That smells wonderful." The spatula flipped quickly, and the aroma grew stronger. When the fragrance of garlic sprouts mixed with the aroma of red chili oil reached my nose, I knew it was almost ready.
The dry pot was brought to the table. The duck meat was bright red, the garlic sprouts emerald green, the celery crisp and tender — all steeped in the glossy red oil. The duck meat first gave a savory sauce flavor on the palate, then came the spiciness, with a numbing sensation lingering on the tip of the tongue, and afterward the duck's own flavor unfolded. My friend chewed slowly and said the spiciness was interesting — besides the usual heat, there was also a touch of warmth that went from the throat all the way down to the stomach. I nodded. The surface of the deboned duck was coated in red oil, direct and fiery, but underneath was solid meat — a substance that could stand up to savoring.
After finishing two bowls of rice in one go, my friend scooped the remaining duck meat from the pot into his bowl: "It's been a long time since I've eaten this satisfyingly — can't let it go to waste."
When settling the bill, I left my friend's contact information and asked the owner to send a portion to that address. My friend was a little surprised: "They sell it online too?" I replied: "Stir-fried fresh upon order, ready to eat after heating." My friend did not decline and said to the owner: "When I receive it, I'll have my friends try it too, and I'll give you some free advertising!"
Return to TopBy: 王成伟
Brewing yellow rice wine on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month is a tradition passed down through generations among the people of Yunyang, Hubei.
Lifting the lid of the large bamboo steaming barrel, the glutinous rice swells with round, plump bellies, puffing out hot steam. The children are jumping and dancing with joy (欢呼雀跃, huan hu que yue - "joyful, shout; bird, leap"). The women squint, gently blowing away the steam, scooping out a bowl of glutinous rice and mixing in white sugar. This is the sweet, snow-white memory of the people of Yunyang.
The key to brewing a good jar of wine lies in the wine starter cakes hanging from the roof beams. Every year during the hottest days of summer, people gather wild "starter-stomping grass," then boil a large pot of water with the grass, let it cool, and soak crushed wheat in it before scooping it out and draining it. Paulownia leaves are spread into a wooden mold to form a "house," and once the soaked crushed wheat enters the "house," it is carefully wrapped in paulownia leaves. After repeated stomping and pressing, the large starter cakes, pressed into brick-like shapes, are meticulously covered with thatch and straw rain capes and piled in a corner of the room to ferment naturally. A week later, the aroma of wine seeps out from the starter cakes. At that point, they are hung from the roof beams, quietly awaiting the arrival of a certain day.
When the Double Ninth Festival arrives, these dried starter cakes are broken into pieces, soaked in warm water, and finally blended with warm glutinous rice, all placed together into the large wine vats handed down from ancestors, nurturing a botanical legend called "Yunyang Yellow Wine."
In about a month, Yunyang Yellow Wine can be taken out of the vat. But farming households usually wait until the year's end, a hundred days later. During the Spring Festival, Yunyang Yellow Wine makes frequent appearances on the dining table, as well as at children's weddings, and upon the arrival of new family members...
Since my family moved into the city, we haven't brewed yellow wine at home for twenty or thirty years. In recent years, my parents have suddenly taken up the interest again and started brewing Yunyang Yellow Wine. On the ninth day of the ninth lunar month, the aroma of glutinous rice wafts through the house right on schedule. Only now, the children of those days have all grown up into adulthood (长大成人, zhang da cheng ren - "grow, big; become, person"), far away across a thousand miles, and only the two elderly parents are left to savor the aroma of glutinous rice filling the house. My father gave up drinking more than ten years ago, and my mother barely touches alcohol either. The greatest use for the yellow wine they brew is to send it to their children far away. Every year in the twelfth lunar month, Yunyang Yellow Wine arrives before me right on time. The water used for brewing is still the water of the Han River, and childhood memories and the sights of my hometown instantly appear before my eyes.
In previous years, around the eve of the Double Ninth Festival, my parents would always ask me how much wine I wanted them to make. Last year they didn't ask, and I didn't bring it up either. My parents are now in their seventies, and I simply couldn't bear to have them do that kind of physical labor again, so it was better to let it quietly slip away. But who would have thought that just after the Laba Festival, they called to say the wine had already been taken out of the vat and shipped. I was startled. Not only had they not forgotten, but this time they had specially made extra, asking me to give some to friends.
Over these years, I have truly had no shortage of friends who have helped me, and some of them, when I think of them, leave me with eyes filled with tears of emotion (热泪盈眶, re lei ying kuang - "hot, tears; fill, eye socket"). My parents occasionally hear me mention them on the phone. I know that they are using the hometown wine brewed with their own hands to send out that feeling, using a bowl of wine to express their hearts.
I look forward to these friends from all walks of life and all corners of the country (五湖四海, wu hu si hai - "five, lakes; four, seas") being able, through this bowl of wine, to arrive at my hometown by the banks of the Han River. Taking a sip of Yunyang Yellow Wine is like feeling the wind blowing along the Han River and hearing the sound of its waves.
Return to TopBy: 卢文丽
I returned to my hometown with my family during the National Day holiday. Upon arriving at Shanglu in Dongyang, Zhejiang, my first stop was the wonton shop beside the stage. When a bowl of authentic Shanglu small wontons was set on the table, a savory fragrance filled the air. Along with shredded-radish wheat horns and tofu cakes, my mother also bought Shanglu mutton wrapped in lotus leaves from the shop across the way. As the hot soup and food went down, my homesickness suddenly relaxed and melted away.
In the autumn, the village was tranquil and serene, with vines hanging with gourds. After tea and conversation at my eldest uncle's and youngest maternal aunt's homes, my mother suggested a walk to the Twenty-Four Rooms. The Twenty-Four Rooms is one of the old residences from the late Qing Dynasty still preserved in Shanglu. Pushing open the gate, the courtyard was quiet and secluded. In the open-air patio, the pebble-paved ground had neat, regular patterns, and green grass grew quietly in the crevices between the stones. The old residence has been restored, and the former tenants have moved out; stripped of its past clamor and disorder, it now appears quiet and tidy.
My mother was especially excited, pointing to a wing room as she introduced us to her maternal family's former home. The plum, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum motifs and the auspicious elephants and bats on the doors and windows were still there, and as a child I used to crane my neck to gaze up at them. Walking to the deep, steep staircase in the corridor, my mother said to her grandson with a smile, "Your mother was timid and didn't dare go upstairs to sleep; every night she made Grandma carry her up on her back." In those days, I would lie on my grandmother's thin back as she climbed the stairs with both hands gripping the steps.
My mother also mentioned a good deed my grandmother once did: one winter night, a charcoal brazier in the wing room across the way caught fire by accident. Fortunately, my grandmother, who often sat up late soling shoes, noticed it, woke my eldest maternal uncle, and together they fought the blaze, saving the Twenty-Four Rooms from a fire.
The door of the main hall was half-closed. The partition panels were carved with figures from opera. In a daze, I recalled my maternal grandfather leaning on his cane as he pointed out to me the certificate of merit from his upper primary school graduation hanging on the wall of the main hall.
Suddenly a fine rain began to fall from the sky. Gradually, the raindrops at the eaves joined into a single line, and seen from under the eaves, they formed rows of evenly and beautifully spaced intervals, like dashed lines drawn across a huge, formless sheet of paper. The rainwater fell along the eaves tiles and gathered into the patio where the four streams of water converge, making a clear, tinkling sound.
Shanglu has now weathered more than 400 years of wind and rain, and its ancient charm runs deep. The village is encircled by four ponds, and a brook called Jinxi runs through it. Members of the Lu clan make up nine-tenths of the village's population. The tradition of esteeming culture and valuing education, and of passing down learning through farming and study, has been endless and unceasing (生生不息, sheng sheng bu xi - "live, live, not stop") here. On a return trip one year, in the Liujing Hall of Shanglu I saw portraits of ancestors such as Lu Yan, Duke of Yue, and others. Beside Lu Yan's portrait was an inscription reading "Imperial Eulogy of the First Year of Xiande, Conferred Duke of Yue by the Song Dynasty": "Your countenance is ancient, your virtue is abundant; in tending to those below and serving those above, you act with benevolence and loyalty. Ah, this man, worthy to be compared with the style of Yi Yin and the Duke of Zhou." In just a few words, one can see his character and moral fiber.
The rain fell in fine threads, and the old residence stood silently by, as if breathing quietly together with me. Twenty-three years ago, on a summer day, my grandmother passed away, and for a long time I could not move past my grief. Later, inspired by Mr. Feng Jicai's philosophy of preserving ancient dwellings, I traveled through the ancient villages of Jiangsu and Zhejiang, recording the sights of the Lu residence in Dongyang and of Shanglu, hoping to use words and photographs to hold on to those ancient memories on the verge of disappearing. In writing my novel An Epic of My Grandmother, the Twenty-Four Rooms also served as an important setting for the story. As time passed, the Twenty-Four Rooms gradually aged and dimmed; the exquisite wood carvings of former days were damaged or stolen, and the old residence at one point faced demolition. Fortunately, thanks to appeals from many quarters, it was ultimately preserved, incorporated into the Shanglu ancient building complex, and restored to new vitality.
In the misty rain, the inscriptions on the stone walls on either side of the arched corridor of the hall appeared all the more clear and distinct. On the lintels of the left and right doorways were carved respectively the characters "Huiquan" and "Dungen," written in a deep, steady, and upright hand that remains clear even after the passage of time. When I was in high school, studying in the countryside, my maternal grandfather once explained these four characters to me. "Huiquan" (撝谦) comes from the Qian (Modesty) hexagram of the Book of Changes. Its meaning is that as long as one presses forward courageously while remaining humble and cautious, nothing will not go well. "Dungen" (敦艮) comes from the Gen (Mountain) hexagram of the Book of Changes. "Dun" means sincere and generous, and "gen" means stopping; together they mean being sincere and self-possessed, knowing when to stop and holding fast to stillness. As a child I was too ignorant to grasp the deeper meaning; only now do I understand that these four-character maxims contain all the wisdom of life. "Huiquan" means practicing the virtue of humility, and "Dungen" means preserving the original heart of upholding rectitude and knowing when to stop. In a traditional hall, such inscriptions above the doorways not only signify peace for the household but are also like an elder, silently admonishing at all times the clan members who pass through — to cultivate the virtue of modesty, to maintain sincerity and generosity, and to know when to advance and when to withdraw.
Both of my parents are native-born Shanglu people. My father was diligent in his studies from childhood and, at a time of turbulent circumstances, resolutely gave up the pen for the sword. My mother was naturally gifted and intelligent, and with her learning she made her way out of her hometown. Their lives were ordinary, yet in their daily conduct they practiced the family tradition, setting an example for my sister and me.
The land of Dongyang has a long and continuous cultural lineage, and old residences like the Twenty-Four Rooms of Shanglu can be said to be widely distributed like stars in the sky or chess pieces on a board (星罗棋布, xing luo qi bu - "star, scatter; chess, layout"). Amid the gray bricks and black tiles, local education and moral cultivation exert a subtle and silent influence that benefits others (润物无声, run wu wu sheng - "moisten, things, without, sound"), and generation after generation of the sons and daughters of Dongyang have carried the moral fiber of their native soil to all corners of the world. This return home has brought me rich rewards. I will carry the gifts of my native land in my heart and continue on my way.
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