Nigeria Times

By Song Haoxin, People’s Daily

Drone soccer, an emerging sport that combines aviation technology with soccer-style competition, is rapidly gaining popularity in China. The trend was on full display at the recent Ablefly National Drone Soccer Championship Finals held in Chengdu, southwest China’s Sichuan province, which was joined by 1,116 Chinese and foreign teams.

Inside the netted arena, players maneuvered spherical drones with handheld controllers, sending them darting through the air in swift offensive and defensive plays, while spectators watched in excitement as the buzzing drones traced dynamic arcs across the field.

Drone soccer is an emerging competitive sport that integrates drone flight control with the format of soccer. Players use remote controls, adjusting altitude and rotation with their left hand and directing forward, backward, left and right movement with their right, as if playing “soccer in the air.”

Matches follow a five-versus-five format. A valid goal is scored when a spherical drone fully passes through the opponent’s circular goal. Teams compete through group stages, cross knockouts, ranking matches, semifinals and the finals to determine the winner. On the field, the spherical drones fly at high speed, creating intense visual impact and high spectator appeal.

“This sport is powered by technologies such as multi-rotor propulsion systems, AI-based visual positioning, and anti-interference communication algorithms,” said event director Yang Xuefan. “The positioning error in multi-drone coordination is kept within 2 centimeters, turning cutting-edge technology into an accessible mass sport.”

“It’s incredibly exciting — like playing chess on a 3D board. You need both quick reflexes and tactical thinking,” said a contestant from the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China. 

From precise control and teamwork to real-time decision-making, players sharpen concentration, judgment, and coordination in high-speed competition. Many participants noted that the sport not only enhances their understanding of flight technology but also offers an immersive experience at the intersection of tech and athletics.

In the stands, waves of applause and astonishment echoed throughout the venue. “I thought it was just flying drones, but the competition is intense and highly technological,” said a spectator from Chongqing municipality. 

For many, it was their first close-up encounter with drone soccer — and a glimpse into what “future sports” might look like. An interactive zone set up during the event also attracted families, allowing children to experience the appeal of low-altitude technologies firsthand.

Beyond the excitement on the field, the event also highlighted the development of low-altitude economy in Chengdu. Alongside the competition, exhibitions on Chengdu’s smart sports development and on the low-altitude industry in Shuangliu district, Chengdu were held, showcasing the achievements of more than 30 local enterprises.

Drone soccer is gaining significant traction in Chengdu. The city is promoting it as a key school sport, training teachers and integrating it into science education curricula.

“Drone soccer is not just a trendy sport, it is a vital link connecting young people, aviation technology, and low-altitude economy,” said an official from the Chengdu sports bureau. “In the future, relevant technologies, standards, and talent pool can be extended to fields such as logistics, inspection, and emergency response.”

By Wang Xinyue, Liu Wenxin, People’s Daily

Chinese motorcycle brand ZXMOTO secured a historic breakthrough at the World Superbike Championship (WSBK), winning both races in the Supersport (SSP) class in Portugal round on March 28 and 29, local time. 

This marked the first time a Chinese-made motorcycle has claimed victory in a top-tier international competition, ending decades of dominance by European, American and Japanese brands in the category.

“I’ve waited 20 years for this moment,” said Zhang Xue, founder of Chongqing-based ZXMOTO, following the win.

The winning machine, the 820RR-RS, was developed from the production 820RR model launched just days earlier on March 21. In the opening race, the rider powered to victory with a commanding lead of nearly four seconds, underscoring the bike’s competitive edge.

While the win surprised many, for Zhang, it represented the culmination of a two-decade journey. His story began far from the racetrack. Twenty years ago, Zhang worked as an apprentice in a small repair shop in rural Xiangxi, Hunan province in central China, drenched in engine oil and surrounded by spare parts. At the time, Chinese-made motorcycles were often overlooked, but he held onto an audacious ambition: to build a world-class, high-performance motorcycle for China.

A defining moment came when Zhang was 19. He rode an aging secondhand motorcycle — older than himself — over 100 kilometers through cold rain and winding mountain roads, chasing a media crew for a chance to be seen by a professional racing team. His determination paid off, opening the door to a career in motorsports.

“That was the most important bike in my life. It’s where my dream started,” he recalled. Through years of dedication, he rose from a repair apprentice to a prizewinner in national motorcycle maintenance competitions. Yet Zhang wanted more than just fixing bikes; he was determined to build championship-winning machines.

“Why are all the bikes on the track foreign brands? Can’t we build our own high-performance motorcycles?” he recalled asking himself.

In 2013, Zhang moved to Chongqing municipality in southwest China with just 20,000 yuan (about $2,700), drawn by its strong industrial base as China’s “motorcycle capital.”

“The reason Zhang’s team can rapidly roll out high-performance vehicles at relatively controllable costs is essentially that the industrial chain has developed the supporting capacity for high-performance products,” said Zhang Lipeng, deputy director of the Tianjin Internal Combustion Engine Research Institute.

Chongqing is home to 51 major motorcycle manufacturers and more than 410 parts suppliers. Over 80 percent of components can be sourced locally, from engines and frames to electronic control systems.

From research and development and mass production to iterative upgrades, high-performance motorcycles can rely on solid industrial support right here.

“Here, you can find almost every motorcycle component you need,” Zhang said.

Starting with modifications, he gradually built a team, established a brand, and moved into independent research and development — investing his time, energy and even all his personal savings into the venture.

Under WSBK rules, race bikes must be based on production models with only limited modifications. As Zhang Lipeng noted, this means competitive success largely reflects the commercial version’s inherent performance capabilities.

Lightweight design proved decisive. Zhang said his team reduced the bike’s weight by about 10 percent compared with competitors. The production 820RR weighs 193 kilograms, while the race version was trimmed to just 175 kilograms.

This engineering advantage translated into commercial success. In 2025, ZXMOTO’s sales exceeded 25,000 units, with total output value reaching 745 million yuan and R&D investment approaching 70 million yuan. Its products are now exported to markets including Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates and Russia.

Looking ahead, Zhang identified Europe and North America as key targets for further expansion.

According to Zhang Lipeng, high-performance motorcycles require the integration of multiple systems, including powertrains, frame rigidity, suspension geometry, aerodynamics and electronic controls. With thousands of precision components involved, manufacturing demands are extremely high.

“Before 2015, key technologies such as electronic fuel injection relied heavily on foreign suppliers,” Zhang Lipeng said, adding that in recent years, domestic companies have made steady breakthroughs.

The success of ZXMOTO would not have been possible without Zhang’s own dedication and expertise. At the same time, it shows that after more than 40 years of development, China’s domestic motorcycle industry has continuously matured its research and development and supply chain systems. Technologies that were once constrained by foreign dominance, such as electronic control and tuning systems, are now reaching mid-to-high levels internationally.

“I hope Chinese motorcycle manufacturers will work together to secure a true place for domestic brands on the global map,” he said.

By He Yin, People’s Daily

At the recent 2026 Zhongguancun (ZGC) Forum Annual Conference, Kevin Kelly, founding executive editor of the international tech magazine Wired, stated that China stands at the forefront of technological breakthroughs, including AI, and is poised to emerge as a truly “cool” benchmark that inspires the world. 

This view captures something many see happening in China: fueled by a bold, pioneering spirit, China’s tech innovation is stepping up globally. It’s bringing fresh energy to the world’s innovation scene.

What makes China cool is its pioneering spirit to take the lead on the world stage.

There was a time when some outside China saw its innovation as mostly copying others. Not anymore. Look at the facts: China’s leading in electric vehicles, wowing the world with its large AI models, expanding our moon knowledge with the Chang’e-6 far-side samples, and breaking new ground with super-strong carbon fiber materials. More and more “Created in China” achievements are filling gaps in global tech. 

The constant stream of innovative outcomes stems from long-term commitment and accumulated strength.

Sustained increases in research and development investment, expansion of the talent pool, and persistent efforts to overcome core key technologies have enabled successive “from zero to one” breakthroughs.

As a British media outlet observed, the power to define “original innovation” is quietly shifting east, and Western enterprises now find themselves needing to keep pace with China in innovation, production and standard-setting.

What makes China “cool” is also how widely and deeply its technologies integrate into daily life.

For instance, “swarm intelligence” dazzled at the 2026 ZGC Forum Annual Conference: robots running food stalls, robotic arms plucking strings and sewing needles, and augmented reality translation glasses enabling real-time interpretation across more than 100 languages and dialects. Attendees marveled that these technologies have been highly mature and have entered a stage of large-scale application.

China possesses the world’s largest, most comprehensive and complete manufacturing system. Coupled with the massive, diverse application scenarios nurtured by its ultra-large market, any proven technology can rapidly iterate, adapt to real-world settings and scale up production. Turning lab breakthroughs into everyday tools and blending cutting-edge science with practical uses — that’s a signature trait of Chinese innovation.

What makes China “cool” is also its commitment to openness and inclusive global sharing.

Scientific and technological progress is a global and epochal endeavor, and opening up and cooperation represent the only right path forward. 

While certain countries are building “small yards, high fences” in an attempt to monopolize competitive advantages through technological blockades, China has remained committed to opening up and cooperation, blazing a new trail of bridging divides via open source and achieving win-win results through shared development.

Chinese photovoltaic products have reached Pakistan, meeting local residents’ basic household electricity needs, supporting agricultural production and empowering small businesses. 

Applications of China’s BeiDou Satellite Navigation System have been deployed in Sri Lanka, enabling accurate weather monitoring and greatly boosting the efficiency of fishermen’s operations.

China has also opened 10 major national scientific research facilities to the world, turning its self-developed infrastructure into public goods for the benefit of all.

China’s practice demonstrates that the true value of scientific and technological innovation is not to let a handful of countries monopolize advantages, but to enable more people to share the benefits of technological progress and advancing common global development through inclusive technologies.

Looking ahead to the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), China’s innovation blueprint is growing clearer. The country will accelerate high-level self-reliance and strength in science and technology, foster new quality productive forces, intensify original innovation and core technological breakthroughs, expand the “AI+” initiative, and build a higher-level framework for international scientific cooperation. 

A China that continues to advance original innovation, speed up industrial transformation, and expand opening up will bring even more “cool” technologies and broader opportunities to the world.

To jointly foster an open, fair, equitable and non-discriminatory environment for scientific and technological progress, and to translate the dynamism of cutting-edge innovation into common well-being for all humanity — this is China’s firm commitment, and a shared path leading all countries toward common prosperity.

By People’s Daily reporters

On March 27, the United Nations Secretary-General’s Advisory Board on Zero Waste released the first list of cities selected for the “20 Cities Towards Zero Waste” initiative. Three Chinese cities — Hangzhou in Zhejiang province, Sanya in Hainan province, and Suzhou in Jiangsu province — were included. These cities exemplify innovative approaches to waste reduction and resource efficiency.
Hangzhou: Digitizing Waste Management
In Hangzhou’s Binjiang district, residents like 67-year-old Wang use smart recycling stations that open automatically via QR code scans. Supported by a “carbon credit” incentive system, these facilities reward proper waste sorting with redeemable points for daily essentials or community services. This model has driven consistent participation in recycling programs.
Behind this community-level innovation lies Hangzhou’s citywide digital governance platform, which tracks household waste from disposal to final processing, enabling real-time monitoring and closed-loop management.
According to Yang Min, deputy director of the Hangzhou municipal bureau of coordinated administrative law enforcement, the system uses big data to optimize collection routes, facility allocation, and transportation schedules. Results underscore the success: In 2025, Hangzhou’s total recycling volume reached 2.46 million tons, up 5.13 percent year on year, with household recyclables increasing by 18.26 percent.
Sanya: Robotics and Plastic Reduction in Tourism
On the sandy shores of Yalong Bay in Sanya, beach-cleaning robots comb the coastline, extracting buried debris with vibrating screens while preserving sand. “Each robot cleans over 3,000 square meters per hour,” notes Zhao Guocheng, assistant researcher at the Hainan Research Institute of Shanghai Jiao Tong University.
As a premier tourist destination, Sanya has also enforced strict plastic bans in scenic areas.
Since November 2020, Wuzhizhou Island has replaced disposable plastics with reusable or biodegradable alternatives. According to Jiang Xiangyu, head of the greening office of the management center of Wuzhizhou Island, coastal areas are cleaned daily before visitors arrive. On the island, waste is systematically sorted: recyclables are packaged and sold, kitchen waste is repurposed, and garden waste is composted locally, significantly reducing the amount that must be transported off the island for incineration.
To date, Sanya has established 218 regular inspection points for plastic reduction, cutting annual use of plastic disposables by around 8,000 tons and recycling nearly 30,000 tons of plastic waste.
Suzhou: Industrial Waste as a Resource
Early in the morning at the Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP) , forklifts shuttled between workshops and warehouses. Several containers of waste emulsified liquid were loaded onto a truck, each labeled with a QR code and destination tag.
“These will soon be sent for reuse,” said Guo Jun, a worker responsible for waste transport.
Suzhou boasts a complete industrial system. The output value of industrial enterprises above the designated size, or those with annual revenue of over 20 million yuan ($2.9 million) from principal businesses, reached nearly 5 trillion yuan in 2025. However, what comes along is huge volume of complex industrial waste. Effectively managing and reusing this waste has become a central challenge for urban governance.
At a circular economy industrial park of the SIP, a network of crisscrossing pipelines forms the backbone of a waste-to-resource ecosystem. Every day, industrial sludge, kitchen waste, and municipal wastewater from local enterprises and urban operations are collected here, then diverted into specialized treatment systems tailored to each type of waste.
In a sludge treatment workshop, pretreated sludge is sent into drying equipment powered by steam from a nearby thermal power plant. The dried sludge is then co-fired for electricity generation, and the resulting steam is fed back into the system.
Adjacent to the sludge treatment area, kitchen waste is processed through anaerobic fermentation to produce biogas, which is purified and fed into the city’s gas network. Residual waste enters the sludge system for further treatment, while processed water is recycled as reclaimed water for industrial cooling and daily cleaning.
At this circular economy industrial park, waste from different sources is reorganized, redistributed, and reused, forming a stable circular economy network. According to statistics, Suzhou’s comprehensive utilization rate of bulk industrial solid waste has reached 98.1 percent, setting a leading benchmark for industrial waste management in China.

By He Yin, People’s Daily

In March, China hosted two major international forums, the China Development Forum 2026 in Beijing and the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2026 in Hainan province. 

From Beijing to Hainan, both gatherings sent a clear message: despite global turbulence, China remains steadfast in pursuing high-standard opening up and innovation-driven development, serving as an anchor of stability for worldwide growth. 

Attendees at both forums recognized China’s clear developmental direction through its outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030), identifying substantial opportunities for deeper engagement with the Chinese market. Participants particularly noted China’s exceptional capacity for reliable long-term planning and consistent goal achievement.

Corporate responses demonstrated concrete confidence: PepsiCo noted that China’s outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan clearly places expanding domestic demand and boosting consumption high on its agenda, a priority that aligns closely with the group’s business focus. Mercedes-Benz, for its part, announced plans to launch dozens of new products in China over the next two years.

A long-term perspective and unwavering strategic commitment underpin the certainty of China’s development. 

The outline of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan unfolds clear strategic goals and policy priorities, including the comprehensive implementation of an “AI Plus” initiative, the smart, digital and connected upgrade of manufacturing, greater integration of investment in infrastructure and human capital, as well as coordinated progress in carbon reduction, pollution control, green expansion and growth.

Turning its blueprint into tangible reality step by step, China’s development follows a sustained, long-term and forward-looking trajectory.

China’s “stability” is not about isolating itself from the world, but about advancing through openness, coordination, and mutually beneficial cooperation. Its “progress” is not about unilateral gains, but about empowering others and moving forward together.

Zafar Uddin Mahmood, press adviser of the Boao Forum for Asia Secretariat, noted that China has evolved from the “world’s factory” into a global innovation hub, leading in areas such as renewable energy, green development, and AI, while benefiting countries worldwide. 

Numerous cooperation cases support this observation. Riding the wave of China’s manufacturing transformation, Michelin’s plant in Shenyang, northeast China’s Liaoning province, has integrated AI and machine vision into production and was selected as one of the World Economic Forum’s latest “Lighthouse Factories.” 

Meanwhile, benefiting from China’s expanding renewable energy system, over 90 percent of Apple’s production in China is now powered by clean energy, directly supporting its global carbon neutrality goals. 

From innovation-driven growth to green transformation, China continues to create new opportunities for cooperation and expand win-win outcomes.

Given the sluggish global growth, as well as rising unilateralism and protectionism, China remains committed to openness, inclusiveness, and the vision of a shared future, and continues to promote the building of an open world economy. 

The island-wide independent customs operation of the Hainan Free Trade Port stands exemplifies China’s efforts to advance institutional opening up. In 2025, China’s trade with other members of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership reached 13.85 trillion yuan ($2 trillion), up 5.3 percent year on year, adding resilience and vitality to Asia-Pacific industrial and supply chains. 

According to the Asian Economic Outlook and Integration Progress Annual Report 2026 released at the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2026, China’s role as a “stabilizing anchor” in the region continues to grow, playing a key part in connecting diverse markets and global value chains, while providing fresh momentum for global economic growth.

As a Chinese proverb goes, “A single tree does not make a forest; a single string cannot make music.” China, steadfastly advancing along the path of Chinese modernization, will continue to act as a stabilizing anchor in a turbulent world, adding momentum to regional prosperity and injecting confidence into global development.

By Han Xin, People’s Daily

At the start of the year, a resident surnamed Wang in Hefei, east China’s Anhui province, planned to replace her home appliances during a renovation. 

After comparing options both in stores and online, she chose a triple-drum washing machine. “The new model is stylish and much more energy-efficient,” she said, adding that she saved nearly 1,000 yuan ($144.68) thanks to government subsidies and trade-in discounts.

Wang’s choice reflects a broader trend. Spurred by government trade-in subsidies, growing numbers of Chinese households are upgrading to more environmentally friendly appliances. In 2025 alone, more than 129 million home appliances were purchased through the program, with over 90 percent meeting top-tier energy or water conservation standards.

Government incentives have fueled a green revolution in China’s home appliance market. Since the trade-in program launched in 2024, consumers purchasing products rated Level 1 for energy or water efficiency have received an additional 5 percent subsidy. The policy, continuing into 2026, prioritizes high-efficiency goods and drives sustainable consumer upgrades.

As green consumption becomes mainstream, this demand is translating into new driver for industry innovation. The story of one particular washing machine offers a clear example.

At a Haier Smart Home experience center, a triple-drum washing machine stands out. Its sleek white body houses three drums — one large and two small — allowing separate washing different garment types. Since its launch in June 2025, the product has sold over 400,000 units in just nine months, making it a bestseller in the home appliance market.

“It’s not just popular; it’s a model of green innovation,” said Xu Sheng, general manager of advanced R&D at Haier Smart Home. He summed up its advantages in two phrases: “less material usage, higher efficiency.”

On one hand, the machine combines three seperate units into one, with highly integrated components such as circuit boards and chips. Through structural innovation, total material use has been reduced by more than half.

On the other hand, it achieves top-tier energy efficiency. Level 1 standards require electricity consumption of no more than 0.11 kWh and water usage below 6 liters per kilogram of laundry. This model reduces those figures to 0.06 kWh and 5 liters, while achieving a wash performance ratio of 1.22 — delivering cleaner clothes with less water and energy.

According to Xu, the strong market performance of such products reflects how subsidies are encouraging consumers to choose higher-efficiency appliances.

Behind these gains in energy efficiency lies robust technological innovation. Haier invests more than 100 billion yuan annually in R&D, with about 1/3 dedicated to green product development.

“As we enter the AI era, intelligent technologies are opening up new possibilities for improving green performance,” Xu said. 

He added that Haier plans to launch a new AI washing machine in late March 2026. Powered by large-model algorithms, it can identify fabric types, automatically select optimal washing modes, and even adjust detergent use based on local water quality, further reducing energy and resource consumption.

The trade-in program’s impact extends beyond individual companies to the entire industry. It lowers the threshold for purchasing high-efficiency products, expanding the market for green and smart appliances and enriching the overall supply. In 2025, more than 1,000 companies launched tens of thousands of new green and intelligent products, accelerating industry-wide transformation.

The program also drives low-carbon transformation across industrial and supply chains. Haier’s global procurement committee collaborates with over 1,000 major suppliers worldwide. Producing a single triple-drum washing machine involves more than 400 of them.

“As a leading company, we work with key suppliers to build joint laboratories, integrating green concepts into material development from the start while sharing both technology and benefits,” said Wang Zhaogui, the committee’s general manager.

Take appliance controller — the “brain” of a home appliance — as an example. “Our jointly developed next-generation controller reduces standby power consumption to just 0.5 watts, which is almost negligible,” said Dong Haiyong, general manager of Diehl Controls China. Driven by the higher green standards set by leading companies, suppliers are accelerating innovation. Over the past three years, collaborative efforts have enabled large-scale application of cutting-edge technologies, with the company’s sales growing by more than 15 percent annually.

According to Xu Dongsheng, vice chairman of the China Household Electrical Appliances Association, as policy effects continue to unfold, green consumption is driving change upstream. The entire industrial chain — from material R&D, and manufacturing to application testing — is being revitalized, strengthening overall competitiveness.

“From this perspective, the trade-in program is not just about swapping old products for new ones — it is reshaping the entire industrial ecosystem,” Xu Dongsheng said.

By Wang Yunshan, People’s Daily

The World Data Organization (WDO) was officially established in Beijing on March 30, marking a new step toward strengthening global cooperation in data development and governance.

According to its preparatory committee, the organization is a professional, non-governmental, and non-profit international body voluntarily established by relevant entities and individuals in the global data sector. It is committed to “bridging the data divide, unlocking the value of data, and boosting the digital economy.” 

The launch of the WDO comes at a time when the world is rapidly entering an intelligent, data-driven era. The development and utilization of data resources are reshaping production, lifestyles, and governance, injecting fresh momentum into global technological innovation, economic growth, and social progress.

Tan Tieniu, chairman of WDO, highlighted the context for the organization’s creation. He noted the sluggish pace of global economic recovery and the diminishing returns of traditional drivers like trade and investment. Meanwhile, the rise of the digital economy and the rapid development of artificial intelligence highlight the central role of data.

“How to fully unlock the potential of data and accelerate the growth of the digital economy is a shared challenge for humanity,” he said, adding that a widely recognized international platform is needed to help address these issues.

Hu Jianbo, head of the National Data Administration’s National Data Development Research Institute, said the organization will bring together enterprises, research institutions, industry groups, technical communities, and social organizations from around the world. Its goal is to build a global platform for cooperation on data development and governance.

The WDO plans to achieve its mission through several key activities: promote member services and industry self-regulation, conduct policy research and compliance services, facilitate connectivity of key infrastructure, deepen industry studies and public-interest initiatives, and provide platforms for exchange and collaboration. Through these efforts, it aims to enhance data resource utilization, promote global digital economy, and ensure that the benefits of digital and intelligent development are shared by more countries and regions.

“Huge productivity potential lies in data. China is the first country to recognize data as a factor of production, and the current development of the smart economy is bearing witness to the crucial value of data,” said Zhang Xianghong, member of the National Data Expert Advisory Committee and professor at Beijing Jiaotong University. “Globally, a large number of people still lack internet access, and many low-income countries remain uncovered by 5G networks.”

He believes that by sharing development concepts and practical experience, the WDO can help advance joint technology development, promote the sharing of achievements, improve data infrastructure connectivity, and strengthen digital talent training, allowing more countries to benefit from the digital dividend.

“The greater the flow of data, the more value it can unlock. Yet data is characterized by high mobility and high sensitivity, and its flow still faces challenges such as fragmented standards and rules, which constrain the release of data value,” said Fang Yi, member of the National Technical Committee 609 on Data of Standardization Administration of China and chairman of MR Tech, a leading Chinese enterprise in data and intelligent technology. 

He noted that standardized and institutionalized cooperation is particularly crucial amid the ongoing scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation, helping to overcome bottlenecks in data circulation and support the high-quality development of the digital economy.

So far, the WDO has brought together more than 200 members from over 40 countries.

Tan said the organization will work to address differences in national data policies, promote industry consensus, and develop standard recommendations and best practices. It will also provide reference frameworks for governments and research institutions, helping multinational companies reduce compliance costs. 

At the same time, the WDO will also deepen the development and utilization of data in practical sectors including healthcare, education and energy, facilitate project implementation and industrial innovation, and strengthen talent training, especially helping countries of the Global South and developing countries enhance their data capabilities.

By Wang Zhou, People’s Daily

A new AI-driven canteen in Beijing’s Dongcheng district is transforming mealtime routines for residents and office workers. Operated by municipal enterprise Shoukai Group, the 260-square-meter “Jingshan AI Canteen” features 80 seats and serves three daily meals, demonstrating how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing everyday dining.

“Once the ingredients are ready, machines handle the rest,” said chef Cheng Wei, a 20-year culinary veteran. 

Standing before a waist-high AI-powered cooking unit, he selected a stir-fried pork dish and pressed a “one-click cooking” button. The system autonomously heated the wok, added oil, and sequentially introduced scallions, ginger, garlic, sliced pork, and chili peppers while precisely dispensing seasonings. A real-time display monitored oil temperature, heat intensity, and stirring speed with chef-like precision.

Within three minutes, 50 servings of steaming stir-fried pork were ready. The “auto-clean” function then sanitized the equipment in 10 seconds using high-pressure jets and rotating scrubbing.

With just two AI cooking machines and two chefs, the canteen efficiently serves over 200 patrons during lunch rushes — work that traditionally requires at least ten staff. 

“AI reduces labor needs while standardizing flavors and cooking precision,” noted Cheng, who reported unprecedented kitchen efficiency.

Designed to serve nearby residents, office workers, and the broader community, the canteen leverages AI to improve both cost-efficiency and service quality. 

According to Meng Haigang, the project’s manager at Shoukai Group, the system can adjust menu offerings in real time based on customer flow, helping reduce food waste at the source. Meanwhile, its data-driven memory function analyzes diners’ preferences, allowing menus to be dynamically optimized to better meet diverse tastes.

At 11:40 a.m., the peak lunch hour, the queue for food stretched nearly 15 meters but moved surprisingly quickly.

“Facial recognition, self-service meal pickup, and automatic payment — it all takes less than a minute,” said Wang Dan, who works nearby. After verifying her identity through a face scan, she selected her dishes — stir-fried pork with eggs and sauteed broccoli. Prices were calculated instantly based on each item, and payment was automatically deducted from her stored-value account — no cashier or QR code required.

Her meal cost under 30 yuan ($4.34). “It’s affordable, light and healthy, and the open kitchen makes it reassuring to eat here,” she said. After dining, the system also provided a nutritional breakdown of her meal, including calorie count and intake of protein and vitamins, along with dietary suggestions.

Like Wang, many local residents have been drawn to the canteen since its opening. “Our neighborhood has a relatively large elderly population, and the AI canteen serves as a valuable supplement to existing senior meal services,” said Dong Dong, deputy director of the Jingshan subdistrict office. “The smart system makes dining more convenient, and the reasonable prices and quality meals bring real warmth to the community.”