Nigeria Times

By Zhang Tengyang, People’s Daily

After a snowfall, the vast man-made forests in Saihanba were blanketed in pristine white. Beneath the snow-covered canopy, the footsteps of forest rangers—together with satellites overhead, watchtowers perched on mountain peaks, high-definition cameras, and ground-based Internet of Things monitoring equipment—interweaved into an integrated sky–air–ground monitoring and protection network, safeguarding this hard-won expanse of green.

Located at the northernmost edge of Hebei province in north China and along the southern fringe of the Hunshandak Sandland on the Inner Mongolian Plateau, Saihanba was, more than half a century ago, a remote, desolate, and bitterly cold land. Across three generations, workers at the Saihanba Forest Farm persevered in afforestation under extremely harsh natural conditions, ultimately building the world’s largest man-made forest.

Recently, the Saihanba mechanized forest farm successfully passed the CFCC (China Forest Certification Council) / PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) forest management certification. The certification is valid from December 2025 to December 2030 and covers an area of 93,337.62 hectares—equivalent to the forest farm’s entire managed area of 1.4 million mu. This achievement further broadens the pathways for transforming ecological value and opens the door for Saihanba’s forest products to reach global markets.

What is the value of this “green certification?”

According to Guo Zhifeng, deputy director of the Saihanba mechanized forest farm, obtaining this certification means that the forest farm’s management philosophy, management system, and technical standards have gained international recognition. It will help increase market acceptance, products’ added value and international competitiveness. “Put simply,” Guo explained, “this certification is a ‘green pass’ to the international market.”

Yet earning this certification was no easy task.

Entrusted with the assessment, Zhonglin Tianhe Forest Certification Center (ZTFC), a Chinese  forest certification body, conducted the CFCC/PEFC forest management certification. The CFCC and PEFC achieved mutual recognition in 2014. Tan Tuanyuan, an executive with ZTFC, explained that the certification standards mainly cover social, economic, and environmental performance.

“The certification involves 10 principles, 46 standard clauses, and 143 indicators,” Guo noted. Statistics show that among more than 4,200 state-owned forest farms nationwide, only a small number of them have successfully passed CFCC/PEFC forest management certification.

In the first half of 2025, an expert team from ZTFC entered the vast forests of Saihanba to conduct a comprehensive “physical examination” of the forest farm’s management practices.

Visiting all six sub-farms of the Saihanba mechanized forest farm, their inspections covered the entire lifecycle of forest management—from seedling cultivation and afforestation to tending, harvesting, and protection. Even routine management meeting records and warehouse inventory checks were carefully reviewed.

After the first round of inspections, the forest farm received a lengthy list of required rectifications. “Quite a few issues were raised,” Guo recalled. In response, the forest farm mobilized concentrated efforts to make improvements, bringing everything—from management approaches and scientific seedling cultivation to every detail of resource protection—into line with the required satandards.

Following two rounds of rigorous review, the forest farm finally obtained the CFCC/PEFC certification certificate at the end of 2025.

“This certification affirms our long-term commitment to science-based forestry and sustainable management,” said Chang Weiqiang, head of the forest management department of the forest farm. It requires that the entire forest management process be orderly, sustainable, and eco-friendly, he added.

Going forward, Saihanba’s forest products will be able to enter markets in Europe, the United States, and elsewhere more smoothly, while also providing support for downstream enterprises along the industrial chain as they expand overseas.

In recent years, the forest farm has taken targeted measures to improve forest quality. In response to issues such as structural monotony and ecological degradation in large-scale plantations, the  forest farm has pioneered the implementation of techniques including high-density initial planting and multiple rounds of tending and utilization. It has actively promoted the development of mixed-species forests, steadily enhancing the diversity, stability, and sustainability of forest ecosystems.

Over the past five years, the forest farm has completed forest tending over a cumulative area of 542,000 mu. The proportion of mixed forests has risen from 21.4 percent to 26.9 percent. Saihanba has been recognized as a national pilot for sustainable forest management and as a demonstration unit under the UN Forest Instrument. By 2040, the area of mixed forests will increase by another 244,000 mu, accounting for more than 40 percent of the total forest area.

In exploring mechanisms for maximizing the economic value of ecological products, the Saihanba mechanized forest farm has kept breaking new ground. After becoming the first state-owned forest farm in North China to develop a national-level certified forestry carbon sink project in 2016, it went on in 2022 to develop 330,000 mu of forest carbon sequestration products in Hebei province. The verified carbon sink amounted to 2.25 million tons, generating revenue of 10.68 million yuan ($1.53 million). Through scientific tending, the forest farm now achieves an annual carbon sequestration of 860,300 tons—equivalent to offsetting the annual emissions of approximately 860,000 family cars.

By Zhang Tengyang, People’s Daily

After a snowfall, the vast man-made forests in Saihanba were blanketed in pristine white. Beneath the snow-covered canopy, the footsteps of forest rangers—together with satellites overhead, watchtowers perched on mountain peaks, high-definition cameras, and ground-based Internet of Things monitoring equipment—interweaved into an integrated sky–air–ground monitoring and protection network, safeguarding this hard-won expanse of green.

Located at the northernmost edge of Hebei province in north China and along the southern fringe of the Hunshandak Sandland on the Inner Mongolian Plateau, Saihanba was, more than half a century ago, a remote, desolate, and bitterly cold land. Across three generations, workers at the Saihanba Forest Farm persevered in afforestation under extremely harsh natural conditions, ultimately building the world’s largest man-made forest.

Recently, the Saihanba mechanized forest farm successfully passed the CFCC (China Forest Certification Council) / PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) forest management certification. The certification is valid from December 2025 to December 2030 and covers an area of 93,337.62 hectares—equivalent to the forest farm’s entire managed area of 1.4 million mu. This achievement further broadens the pathways for transforming ecological value and opens the door for Saihanba’s forest products to reach global markets.

What is the value of this “green certification?”

According to Guo Zhifeng, deputy director of the Saihanba mechanized forest farm, obtaining this certification means that the forest farm’s management philosophy, management system, and technical standards have gained international recognition. It will help increase market acceptance, products’ added value and international competitiveness. “Put simply,” Guo explained, “this certification is a ‘green pass’ to the international market.”

Yet earning this certification was no easy task.

Entrusted with the assessment, Zhonglin Tianhe Forest Certification Center (ZTFC), a Chinese  forest certification body, conducted the CFCC/PEFC forest management certification. The CFCC and PEFC achieved mutual recognition in 2014. Tan Tuanyuan, an executive with ZTFC, explained that the certification standards mainly cover social, economic, and environmental performance.

“The certification involves 10 principles, 46 standard clauses, and 143 indicators,” Guo noted. Statistics show that among more than 4,200 state-owned forest farms nationwide, only a small number of them have successfully passed CFCC/PEFC forest management certification.

In the first half of 2025, an expert team from ZTFC entered the vast forests of Saihanba to conduct a comprehensive “physical examination” of the forest farm’s management practices.

Visiting all six sub-farms of the Saihanba mechanized forest farm, their inspections covered the entire lifecycle of forest management—from seedling cultivation and afforestation to tending, harvesting, and protection. Even routine management meeting records and warehouse inventory checks were carefully reviewed.

After the first round of inspections, the forest farm received a lengthy list of required rectifications. “Quite a few issues were raised,” Guo recalled. In response, the forest farm mobilized concentrated efforts to make improvements, bringing everything—from management approaches and scientific seedling cultivation to every detail of resource protection—into line with the required satandards.

Following two rounds of rigorous review, the forest farm finally obtained the CFCC/PEFC certification certificate at the end of 2025.

“This certification affirms our long-term commitment to science-based forestry and sustainable management,” said Chang Weiqiang, head of the forest management department of the forest farm. It requires that the entire forest management process be orderly, sustainable, and eco-friendly, he added.

Going forward, Saihanba’s forest products will be able to enter markets in Europe, the United States, and elsewhere more smoothly, while also providing support for downstream enterprises along the industrial chain as they expand overseas.

In recent years, the forest farm has taken targeted measures to improve forest quality. In response to issues such as structural monotony and ecological degradation in large-scale plantations, the  forest farm has pioneered the implementation of techniques including high-density initial planting and multiple rounds of tending and utilization. It has actively promoted the development of mixed-species forests, steadily enhancing the diversity, stability, and sustainability of forest ecosystems.

Over the past five years, the forest farm has completed forest tending over a cumulative area of 542,000 mu. The proportion of mixed forests has risen from 21.4 percent to 26.9 percent. Saihanba has been recognized as a national pilot for sustainable forest management and as a demonstration unit under the UN Forest Instrument. By 2040, the area of mixed forests will increase by another 244,000 mu, accounting for more than 40 percent of the total forest area.

In exploring mechanisms for maximizing the economic value of ecological products, the Saihanba mechanized forest farm has kept breaking new ground. After becoming the first state-owned forest farm in North China to develop a national-level certified forestry carbon sink project in 2016, it went on in 2022 to develop 330,000 mu of forest carbon sequestration products in Hebei province. The verified carbon sink amounted to 2.25 million tons, generating revenue of 10.68 million yuan ($1.53 million). Through scientific tending, the forest farm now achieves an annual carbon sequestration of 860,300 tons—equivalent to offsetting the annual emissions of approximately 860,000 family cars.

By Wang Donghui, People’s Daily

In the early hours of the morning, a shipment of pomelos imported from Thailand arrived at Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport in southwest China’s Chongqing municipality. 

Through a dedicated “green channel” for fresh produce, airport customs authorities provided 24/7 clearance services, ensuring swift inspection and release. The fruit was delivered to the Shuangfu International Agricultural Product Trade Market in Chongqing for distribution later the same day.

The Shuangfu International Agricultural Product Trade Market, as a key project to enrich non-staple food supply and improve local people’s livelihood in Chongqing, has grown into a major regional hub for agricultural product circulation. 

Official data show that in the first 10 months of 2025, fruit from ASEAN countries accounted for about 80 percent of the market’s total imported fruit volume, with transaction value reaching 2.5 billion yuan ($357.46 million), up more than 25 percent year on year.

Chongqing Shanghao Agricultural Products Co., Ltd., one of the market’s leading wholesalers of imported fruit, has established its own processing facilities and supporting logistics operations in Thailand, enabling direct sourcing at origin and standardized processing. 

“Durian, mangosteen, young coconuts and other fruit imported from ASEAN countries are very popular in the Chinese market,” said Zou Teng, the company’s general manager. “Take Thai durian as an example: in the first 10 months of 2025, our processing volume reached 2,000 containers, a year-on-year increase of 20 percent, fully meeting domestic consumer demand.”

The accelerated and improved access of high-quality ASEAN agricultural and food products to Chinese households owes much to the institutional safeguards provided by the China-ASEAN cooperation mechanism on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS). 

By advancing coordinated efforts in food safety, animal and plant quarantine, and capacity building, the mechanism has fostered a more convenient and secure trade environment, facilitating increased imports of ASEAN agricultural and food products.

As ASEAN flavors make their way into China, “Chinese taste” is also reaching overseas markets. At the production facility of Chongqing Dejia Meat Technology Development Co., Ltd. (Dejia), boxes of canned pork move steadily along conveyor belts. After passing X-ray inspection, they are automatically packaged and stored, ready for export to Singapore.

To support enterprises in opening up new markets, Chongqing customs has held multiple rounds of consultations with its Singaporean counterpart. In March 2025, Chongqing’s regulatory system for animal-derived products passed Singapore’s regional market access certification for the first time. Dejia was subsequently approved to export five categories of canned animal products to Singapore, including pork, poultry, beef, mutton and eggs.

“ASEAN has always been one of our key target markets,” said Wang Danyu, general manager of Dejia. “Next, we plan to participate in food exhibitions across ASEAN countries to secure more international orders.”

“The China-ASEAN SPS cooperation mechanism is not only a vital platform for promoting trade in agricultural and food products, but also an important bridge linking markets and improving people’s livelihoods,” said an official with China’s General Administration of Customs at the recent 9th China-ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on SPS Cooperation. 

ASEAN has remained China’s largest trading partner in agricultural and food products for eight consecutive years. In the first 10 months of 2025, trade in agricultural and food products between China and ASEAN reached $51.3 billion, up 8.9 percent year on year.

By Wang Zhe, People’s Daily

For years, office workers at Jinan’s Shuntai Plaza in Shandong province, eastern China, endured the daily frustration of searching for parking during rush hour. Today, drivers can secure a spot in  minutes, thanks to an AI-powered smart parking system transforming the area’s commute.

On a recent visit, Jinan resident Wei Shouyan drove into the underground parking facility at Shuntai Plaza, a digital display at the entrance instantly identified her license plate and directed her to section A5.

“Parking in Section A5 is the ultimate time-saver,” Wei explained as digital guidance led her directly to the designated spot.. As the vehicle approached, a rolling shutter rose automatically, allowing the car to enter.

After turning off the engine, engaging the handbrake and folding the side mirrors, Wei stepped outside the garage. She then tapped on an electronic screen, confirmed safety checks such as “no one inside the garage” and “doors locked,” and clicked to confirm parking. The shutter slowly descended. From entry to completion, the entire process took less than three minutes.

“It only takes 15 minutes to drive from home to the office,” Wei said. “But I used to spend another half hour just looking for a parking space.”

Since opening in 2005, Shuntai Plaza has attracted nearly 700 companies, with a regular working population of more than 40,000. As the business cluster expanded, parking scarcity intensified significantly.

The turning point came in 2021. By making better use of underground space, Jinan High-Tech Industrial Development Zone launched a smart parking project, constructing a three-level underground automated parking facility beneath the building.

To maximize capacity, the project introduced mechanical parking equipment that reduces the footprint of each parking space to about 60 percent of that in a conventional garage. The three underground levels were also designed to fit local conditions, with a total height equivalent to that of a standard two-story office building — meeting Jinan’s strict requirements for spring water protection.

The smart parking facility features 20 parking sections, including eight designed for larger vehicles. Equipped with digital systems such as automatic navigation and video monitoring, the facility identifies vehicle information upon entry and recommends the most suitable parking section based on real-time traffic flow and vehicle size.

With parking becoming more convenient, safety is a common concern. Beyond the on-screen safety reminders, the garage is fitted with laser monitoring systems. If an oversized vehicle, such as an SUV, mistakenly enters a section designed for sedans, the system triggers an alert and halts the parking process.

“The garage is also equipped with wheel-centering devices,” said Wang Wei, manager of the parking facility. “After the shutter closes, the system adjusts the vehicle to the center of the space, preventing scratches or collisions caused by misalignment.”

Based on changes in traffic flow following the facility’s completion, Jinan traffic police department has introduced three one-way streets in the surrounding area and installed 17 additional traffic signs. These measures have significantly eased congestion and parking pressure nearby.

“The smart parking project at Shuntai Plaza not only meets parking needs, but also injects fresh momentum into urban renewal,” said an official with Jinan High-Tech Industrial Development Zone.

By Wang Xinyue, People’s Daily

“Five, four, three, two, one—Happy New Year!” 

As 2026 arrived, the night sky over southwest China’s Chongqing municipality lit up in a blaze of “fireworks.”

Thousands of points of light rose from the river and gradually “drew” the outline of a gigantic hand in the sky. The hand slowly lifted a magic wand and gave it a gentle wave. In an instant, lights flickered on one by one, and gasps rippled through the crowd. 

The opener of the “Dynamic Chongqing” drone light show delivered a distinctly high-tech New Year’s gift to the city.

As the drones continuously shifted formation, they assembled a series of images drawn from traditional Chinese symbolism, including the Die Lian Hua motif (butterflies and flowers), a soaring eagle, and an auspicious gourd.

Large screens at the site displayed cultural symbols such as stilted houses, camellias and red plum blossoms, interwoven with modern technological icons including AI and aerospace satellites. Set against a fusion of traditional Chinese melodies and electronic music, the cyber-style spectacle showcased the city’s temperament rooted in heritage yet refreshed through innovation. 

In 2025 alone, the “Dynamic Chongqing” drone light show staged 63 regular performances along Nanbin Road in Nan’an district of the city, drawing a total of 6 million on-site spectators.

Surrounded by the Yangtze River and its tributary Jialing River, and defined by rolling hills, bridges and tunnels, Chongqing is often dubbed an “8D city.” This highly vertical urban environment creates an unparalleled aerial theater.. 

On this New Year’s Eve, 8,000 drones took to the sky, working in concert with water curtains, lasers and beam lights from three performance vessels on rivers. For the first time, a fully integrated “land–water–air” display was achieved, offering residents and visitors a 50-minute immersive experience.

How did traditional Chinese patterns find new life on a modern stage? 

“By combining water curtains with laser projection and synchronizing drones with the city’s lighting system, we were able to seamlessly embed traditional aesthetics into the light show,” explained Zhang Yangxue, head of the drone team. 

The performance featured new-generation lantern drones and soft-screen drones, carefully programmed to form classic Chinese cultural motifs and illuminate the New Year’s night sky with a distinctly Chinese flair.

As darkness deepened, a “peony” slowly rose into the air. At the moment it bloomed in full splendor, a radiant butterfly fluttered into view, dancing among the petals in a dazzling interplay of light. This scene formed the segment titled “Die Lian Hua.” 

“We didn’t want this motif to remain a static symbol,” Zhang said. Through meticulous programming, the team transformed drones into a giant butterfly with shimmering, wave-like light patterns flowing from its wings, bringing the blessing of prosperity and good fortune to life in a visually striking way.

Color choices were equally deliberate. The traditional symbol of the “auspicious gourd” was rendered in soft pink tones, outlined with cloud-like patterns. “Each drone can display up to 256 colors, and we opted for brighter palettes that resonate more with younger audiences,” Zhang noted. With technology as a catalyst, traditional Chinese aesthetics are finding renewed vitality, allowing young people to engage with cultural heritage in a relaxed and accessible way.

According to Deng Jing, director of the institute of urban and regional economic studies at the Chongqing Academy of Social Sciences, the recent convergence of traditional aesthetics and technology has moved beyond visual presentation toward more systematic innovation. 

Looking ahead, the field is evolving toward data-driven creation and algorithm-enabled revitalization. Technologies such as 3D scanning and light-capture can create high-precision digital archives of cultural relics and intangible heritage, supporting preservation and public accessibility. Simultaneously, AI can analyze cultural data, reinterpret stylistic elements and generate new expressions that align with both traditional aesthetics and contemporary tastes. 

Such integration not only injects sustained technological momentum into traditional culture, but also allows technology itself to gain richer applications and a warmer human dimension, achieving mutual enrichment and shared progress.