Nigeria Times

By Wang Donghui, People’s Daily

The implementation of independent customs operations across Hainan Island has significantly accelerated the development of China’s Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP). A suite of preferential tax policies supports this momentum, designed to foster investment and industrial growth. However, these incentives raise a pertinent question: could the Hainan FTP become a tax haven?

While the zero-tariff policy offers substantial benefits and appeal, all preferential measures come with clear eligibility criteria. These advantages are not universally accessible; specific conditions must be met.

Take zero-tariff imported vehicles as an example. Rumors previously circulated online suggesting cars could be bought at half price in Hainan, prompting jokes about booking flights to buy cars. In reality, this duty-free policy applies only to transportation and tourism enterprises operating within the FTP. 

Qualifying companies must meet compliance requirements. Furthermore, these vehicles must be used for operational purposes: each journey must start or end within the FTP, and their cumulative time on the Chinese mainland cannot exceed 120 days annually.

Hainan residents enjoy access to a wide range of duty-free goods, but policies enforce an annual individual quota of 100,000 yuan ($14,583). Any purchase exceeding this annual quota or quantity limits is subject to import duties as required. Customs authorities have also emphasized that “quota sharing” and “proxy purchasing for profit” are illegal and will result in legal liability.

These eligibility thresholds prevent policy abuse and provide a clear answer to concerns: the Hainan FTP is neither designed to be nor will it become a tax haven.

What exactly is a tax haven? It generally refers to jurisdictions with extremely low or zero tax rates, lax regulation, and limited transparency, which primarily attract external capital seeking to shift profits and evade taxes. Hainan FTP, in terms of its development positioning, institutional design, and regulatory framework, does not fit this definition.

The core purpose of Hainan’s preferential tax policies is to serve the development of the real economy, attract high-end domestic and international production factors, and build a high-level platform for institutional opening up.

Widely noted policies, such as a reduced corporate income tax rate of 15 percent and a capped individual income tax rate of 15 percent, also come with well-defined conditions.

The 15 percent corporate income tax rate applies only to encouraged industries and requires that the enterprise’s actual management body be located within Hainan FTP, so it effectively prevents “shell companies” from exploiting policy loopholes. If a company is merely registered in the FTP but any of its production, operations, personnel, accounting, or assets are not based there, it will not be eligible for the preferential treatment.

Similarly, individual income tax incentives are targeted only at high-end and urgently needed talent genuinely required by the FTP. Eligible individuals must fall within specified talent categories, meet recognized standards, and be jointly certified by relevant authorities. In general, taxpayers must reside in the FTP for at least 183 days within a tax year, and their taxable income must be sourced from within the FTP.

In essence, both enterprises and individuals must demonstrate substantive operations and genuine qualifications to benefit. Such precisely targeted incentives unlock policy dividends while  safeguarding the fundamental principle of tax fairness.

Sound institutional design must be paired with rigorous enforcement. Hainan FTP has also established a “smart” regulatory system: leveraging big data and artificial intelligence, it can automatically flag abnormal cross-border capital flows and transactions involving high-risk regions; with blockchain technology, key transactions are fully traceable; and financial account information is exchanged with over 100 countries and regions.

The FTP has built a robust anti-money laundering system integrating institutional oversight, technology, and international cooperation, leaving minimal room for illegal activities. It also continuously strengthens international collaboration to enhance tax transparency and combat regulatory arbitrage.

Since its establishment, Hainan FTP has focused on four pillar industries, namely tourism, modern services, high-tech industries, and tropical high-efficiency agriculture, attracting enterprises and talent dedicated to rooting in the FTP and developing the real economy. The effectiveness of its policies is steadily translating into momentum for high-quality development.

On the 100th day since the launch of island-wide independent customs operations, a series of figures were released, highlighting the FTP’s strong performance. Offshore duty-free sales reached 15.62 billion yuan, up 27.64 percent year on year; 85,000 new market entities were registered, up 39.87 percent; total imports and exports exceeded 80 billion yuan, up 32.9 percent; and 223,000 visa-free inbound foreign visitors were recorded, an increase of 54 percent year-on-year.

An open and well-regulated Hainan FTP is not a place for opportunistic arbitrage, but a dynamic land where those committed to hard work can pursue their aspirations.

By Wu Qiqiang, Cheng Yuanzhou, People’s Daily

A persistent bird call at a middle school in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, recently sparked a widely discussed life lesson, transforming a student’s frustration into an opportunity for learning about nature and coexistence.

The situation began when students at Shenzhen Bao’an Middle School preparing for exams were disturbed by the loud, frequent calls of an Asian koel, a native bird perched outside their classroom window. One student, Le Zongyan, anonymously left a handwritten letter on principal Yuan Weixing’s desk. The letter candidly explained the disruption to their studies and suggested removing the bird’s nest.

Yuan, whose open-door policy encourages students to share their thoughts directly or leave notes, was impressed by the letter’s sincerity and rational tone. Recognizing the students’ understandable desire for a quiet study environment, he chose not to give a simple answer. Instead, he penned a thoughtful public response shared via his social media channel.

In his letter, Yuan acknowledged the pressures students face. He gently explained that the birds sing at dusk instinctively — for mating, marking territory, and communication — and cannot adjust their natural rhythms for human schedules. He encouraged students to reframe the sound: perhaps as natural “white noise” or even a “twilight serenade” offered by the birds.

“The world does not exist for any one individual alone,” Yuan wrote. “Learning to coexist with all living things is a required lesson in growing up. The ultimate goal of education is not to make the world adapt to us, but to help us learn how to live with the world.”

The principal’s warm and insightful reply quickly gained widespread online praise, hailed by many as “exemplary education.” Le Zongyan later responded, stating that the principal’s words had become “a valuable lesson in life education,” emphasizing the importance of harmony with others and nature.

Recognizing this as a broader educational opportunity, Yuan noted, “Simply driving the bird away wouldn’t be appropriate, but doing nothing wasn’t an option either.” The school subsequently invited ecological experts to conduct science sessions on campus and organized student representatives to collaboratively discuss practical solutions, turning an isolated complaint into an ongoing journey of learning about respect and coexistence.

Experts clarified that the bird, colloquially termed the “noisy cuckoo” by students but scientifically known as the Asian koel, becomes especially vocal during its March and April breeding season. Male birds call persistently to attract mates. While their calls can reach 60 to 80 decibels at close proximity, the birds’ activity is sporadic, and their locations shift.

To reduce disruption, the school provided earplugs to students in dormitories near wooded areas. At the same time, artificial nests were installed to guide the birds toward a designated “life garden” recreational zone, away from classrooms and dorm buildings.

In fact, such life education has long been part of the school’s routine practice. When ducks in the campus pond began eating lotus plants, students formed a “campus duck management committee” to address the issue. During typhoons, the principal writes letters encouraging students to respect nature and appreciate resilience. A student-run “campus cat club” also cares for stray cats on school grounds.

According to Liu Yang, a professor at the School of Ecology of Sun Yat-sen University, true civilization is not about conquering nature, but about balancing development with ecological protection. This lesson at the Bao’an middle school planted seeds of ecological awareness in students’ minds, making harmony between humans and nature a living reality on campus, Liu said.

The story also reflects Shenzhen’s broader efforts to promote ecological conservation. 

To protect more than 100,000 migratory birds wintering in the city each year, Shenzhen Bay Park has chosen not to install high-intensity lighting, preserving natural darkness. Futian Mangrove Ecological Park has introduced specially designed “bird-friendly streetlights” to provide safe nesting spaces. Some high-rise buildings have added dotted patterns to glass facades to prevent bird collisions.

Survey data show that Shenzhen is home to over 450 species of wild birds, accounting for about 1/3 of China’s total. From 2021 to 2025, monthly counts of migratory birds on the Shenzhen side have remained at around 40,000, reflecting the city’s ongoing commitment to ecological protection.

By Chang Biluo, Wang Zhe, Li Xinping, People’s Daily

Noise pollution from sources like construction, traffic, and daily neighborhood activities is a pervasive challenge of modern life, directly impacting public well-being. In recent years, cities across China are increasingly harnessing advanced technologies to innovate noise management and improve the effectiveness of pollution control measures.

In Licheng district, Jinan, east China’s Shandong province, a massive “white cushion” structure at the “Honglou 1905” urban renewal project has recently drawn attention.

“This device is an air-supported dome used to enclose foundation pit construction,” explained project manager Wang Luren. “It stands about 50 meters high, spans over 100 meters in width, and covers an area roughly equivalent to two and a half football fields.”

The main purpose of this structure is to reduce noise and dust, Wang stated. Located in a bustling commercial area surrounded by residential communities and schools, the project faces strict environmental requirements.

Measurements confirm its effectiveness: noise levels inside the dome reach about 80 decibels, while outside they drop to around 65 decibels — well within regulatory limits. Nearby residents report barely hearing the machinery.

This technologically advanced structure features a fully enclosed design that effectively contains noise. Integrated spraying systems and large mist cannons prevent dust escape. Furthermore, the dome’s membrane, constructed from specialized new materials, blocks ultraviolet radiation and offers high thermal reflectivity and heat dissipation, ensuring a comfortable internal working environment.

This construction model is now being promoted in municipal engineering and historical district renovations, offering a new “quiet mode” solution for urban development.

High-speed rail, a cornerstone of China’s transportation network, presents unique noise challenges, especially near residential areas. A novel approach emerged with the December 2025 opening of the Guangzhou-Zhanjiang high-speed railway: a fully enclosed sound barrier on a major bridge section, likened to giving trains “noise-canceling headphones.”

“Inspired by noise-canceling headphones, we adopted active noise control and built a fully enclosed sound barrier,” said Huang Chun, project manager from China Railway Electrification Engineering Group.

Unlike conventional roadside barriers, this design forms a sealed “soundproof tunnel” over the railway bridge, significantly reducing both noise frequency and decibel levels.

The location necessitated this innovation: the bridge is located in Nanhai district, Foshan, Guangdong province, just about 10 meters from the nearest residential buildings and around 40 meters from a middle school. Without noise mitigation, passing trains would disrupt daily life.

Stretching 2.5 kilometers in length, the barrier measures 11.8 meters wide and nearly 9 meters high. It uses innovative metal sound-absorbing panels composed of high-strength aluminum alloy, acoustic materials, and cavity structures.

“Sound is essentially energy,” Huang explained. “We guide noise through the perforations into sound-absorbing materials, where friction and internal resistance convert it into heat, thereby reducing noise.”

Tests show that high-frequency noise from passing trains is repeatedly reflected and attenuated within the enclosure, achieving a stable noise reduction of around 20 decibels.

Everyday noise from moving vehicles, home renovations, electric vehicle charging and other sources has become a persistent challenge for community governance. 

To tackle noise pollution, Liangjiang New Area of southwest China’s Chongqing municipality is leveraging technology for smarter governance. Some residential compounds have adopted noise-reducing pavement, which uses finer asphalt aggregates to cut down traffic noise more effectively than traditional road surfaces. 

Other neighborhoods have installed soundproof enclosures for new energy vehicle ultra-fast chargers, while newly deployed charging equipment adopts advanced liquid-cooling technology to minimize noise.

Since 2023, China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment has promoted the development of “quiet communities” nationwide. As of early 2026, more than 3,200 such communities have been established.

By Wang Yinxin, Li Junqiang, People’s Daily

At 3 p.m. in New York, an engineer named Mike at a U.S. startup received a new assignment. He turned to an AI assistant powered by a Chinese large model. After entering a few key requirements, a well-structured project plan appeared on his screen within seconds. With the help of this “smart assistant,” a task that once took half a day was completed in under 30 minutes.

Across global markets, a growing number of users are turning to Chinese large AI models to boost productivity. Each interaction consumes digital units known as “tokens” — the basic building blocks AI systems use to process language. In general, one Chinese character corresponds to one token, while an English word ranges from one to two tokens, including punctuation.

Since large models process limited text per session, most AI services charge based on token usage: higher consumption means higher costs.

In March this year, China’s daily token usage exceeded 140 trillion, a thousand-fold increase over two years. Industry data shows Chinese large AI models now rank among the global leaders in total token consumption.

Yan Yijun, vice president of Shanghai-based AI foundation model company MiniMax, explained: “Users apply clear criteria: first, the model must be intelligent, user-friendly and responsive, and capable of solving complex problems; second, pricing must be reasonable and commercially sustainable.”

Token consumption reflects real-world usage — indicating how deeply, frequently and extensively large AI models integrate into applications. “Chinese large AI models enjoy high-frequency use by global users. This is a form of recognition from users around the world,” Yan added.

For developers, balancing higher performance with lower cost is no easy task. Improvements in model capability are often come with exponential growth in parameters, which increases token consumption. The more tokens used, the higher the operating costs for companies and usage costs for users.

Yan cited the “MiniMax M2.5” model as a solution: “We use algorithmic innovation to create efficient reasoning paths, reducing token consumption at the source while increasing each token’s value.” 

Priced at $1 per hour, the model outputs 100 tokens per second. Estimates suggest Chinese models offer comparable performance at one-tenth the cost of U.S. alternatives. 

“The decline in costs reflects not only technological progress by Chinese AI companies, but also China’s strengths in power supply and industrial chains,” said Li Zhiqing, a professor at the School of Economics at Fudan University.

China’s vast range of application scenarios serve as AI testing grounds. By December 2025, generative AI users in China had reached 602 million, up 141.7 percent from a year earlier. 

This rapidly expanding user base is accelerating AI’s transition from novelty to everyday tool, extending its use beyond internet applications into areas such as office collaboration and industrial design. 

At the same time, growing adoption provides continuous feedback, enhancing models’ ability to handle complex tasks and opening new avenues for development.

“Ultimately, AI development depends on electricity,” Li noted. “An AI server consumes five to eight times more power than a traditional server. Training a large model requires hundreds of millions of kilowatt-hours of electricity, while daily operations can exceed 500,000 kilowatt-hours. Power costs are therefore a key factor shaping the global distribution of computing capacity.”

Here, China excels. With the world’s largest power supply system, supported by ultra-high-voltage transmission networks and large-scale integration of renewable energy, China has established a stable and cost-effective foundation for computing power.

Today, abundant and affordable green energy, from wind farms in western deserts to solar installations on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, is being fed into the grid and efficiently transmitted to eastern computing hubs through independently developed multi-level intelligent dispatch systems.

“In addition, China’s well-developed AI supply chain further reduces industry costs,” Li said. Strong coordination across sectors — including AI chips, servers, computing infrastructure, cross-border networks, edge computing, and international settlement — has created a comprehensive full-chain advantage.

Li offered a comparison: traditionally, one kilowatt-hour of electricity generates one to two times its value in output. But in the case of tokens, the value can increase dozens or even hundreds of times. “China is now transforming its strengths in energy and manufacturing into digital value for the global market,” he said.

By Wang Yunshan, People’s Daily

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is now integrated into a vast array of practical applications, from searching information and writing code to refining content, financial risk management, intelligent customer service, and debugging. Behind each of these applications lies the extensive use of a fundamental unit: the Token.

A token represents the smallest unit of information processed by large AI models. “At their core, AI large models are complex mathematical systems. They cannot directly understand text, sound or images in the human way,” said Tang Huabin, deputy director of the Network and IT Technology Research Institute at the China Mobile Research Institute. 

“They first convert raw data into a processable form, and Tokens are the basic units of that ‘language,'” Tang added.

In March 2026, China’s average daily token usage exceeded 140 trillion, representing a more than thousand-fold increase in just two years.

“The most direct driver of this explosive growth is the improvement in model capabilities,” said Wu Di, head of intelligent algorithms at Volcano Engine, a cloud service platform under ByteDance. “Each advancement in model performance unlocks new applications, leading directly to surges in Token consumption.” For example, generating a one-minute video using Doubao’s (ByteDance’s AI tool) Seedance 2.0 video generation model consumes over one million Tokens.

During March 2026, China ranked among the world’s most active users of large AI models, with weekly token usage leading globally for three consecutive weeks.

New application formats and business models are also fueling rapid growth. “Simple tasks may only require a few thousand tokens, but more complex tasks involving dozens of tool interactions can consume tens of thousands or more,” Wu said. The emergence of AI agents and other new forms of application is pushing token usage into a fast-growth phase.

Li Jiayi, founder of software and information technology services company Love Q&A Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd., used around 6 billion tokens over the past year.

At a 16-square-meter studio in the AI Genesis Community in Beijing’s Haidian district, Li’s team is currently testing a newly developed AI-powered toy. 

“To make the toy interactive requires supporting software. Previously, developing such a system would take at least six months and require a team effort,” Li said. Leveraging AI models and coding assistance tools — at a cost of hundreds of millions of Tokens — the development cycle has been reduced to just two months.

Li, without formal computer science training, began using AI-assisted programming tools in early 2025, overcoming traditional technical barriers. “Within a year, we developed two apps and one AI toy. Recently, we also showcased our self-developed AI hardware at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES),” he said. AI has significantly reduced development costs while enabling small and micro-sized businesses to explore innovation more effectively.

Overall, token usage is most concentrated in sectors with higher information density, faster product iteration cycles and closer integration between models and production systems. According to Wu, the internet industry leads in token usage in Doubao, followed by consumer electronics, finance, new retail and business services.

Looking ahead, application scenarios such as software development, in-depth research and personal assistants are expected to drive further growth in token consumption. 

“In software development in particular, AI is evolving from writing code to understanding entire projects. It can now identify errors, optimize performance and even complete development tasks autonomously through agents,” Tang said. “With longer code contexts and more interaction rounds, enterprises are more willing to pay for efficiency gains. This will become a major source of demand growth.”

“Since late January this year, some model companies have achieved revenue in just 20 days that exceeds their total earnings for all of 2025,” said Liu Liehong, head of China’s National Data Administration. “This reflects the rapid emergence of a new business logic built on Token-based pricing.”

Tokens are measurable, linked to computing power consumption and applicable across multiple modalities, making them an effective unit for connecting technological supply with commercial demand. “You can think of it this way: the intelligence output of large models is like electricity, while computing centers are like power plants. Electricity is measured in kilowatt-hours, and AI usage is measured in tokens,” said Huang Shan, strategy director of Lenovo Infrastructure Solutions Group.

Looking ahead, as society becomes increasingly intelligent, AI is expected to function as a basic resource—like water or electricity—available on demand, with users paying only for what they consume, Huang added.

By Dou Hao, People’s Daily

Hangzhou, in China’s eastern Zhejiang province, is rapidly developing a thriving open-source AI community. This ecosystem connects developers, startups, and industry resources, accelerating the transformation of ideas into real-world applications.

At the center of this ecosystem is the ModelScope community, one of China’s largest open-source platforms for AI large models. Jointly initiated by the China Computer Federation’s Opensource Development Committee and Chinese multinational conglomerate Alibaba, the platform hosts more than 170,000 open-source models and serves over 25 million developers worldwide. 

Covering areas such as conversational AI, text-to-image generation and video synthesis, it provides one-stop services including model downloading, fine-tuning and training.

Online collaboration is now being reinforced by offline interaction. In November last year, a ModelScope Developer Center opened in Xihu district, Hangzhou. Spanning more than 10,000 square meters, the center offers a physical space where developers exchange ideas, collaborate on projects and even find partners to launch startups.

For 25-year-old entrepreneur Zhou Jie, the center functions as both a workplace and a springboard. After lunch, he headed to a shared desk where he and his partner Liu Xuannan run their startup. 

On his screen, a humanoid robot moved agilely through a “cyber ruins” game environment, responding to voice commands to jump over obstacles.

The game, developed by Zhou and Liu during a global hackathon in January, progressed from concept to a playable version in under 48 hours.

The process was smoother than they expected, Zhou said. Open-source models eliminated costly licensing fees, computing power was covered by ModelScope’s free quota, and cloud-based tools were readily available. Together, these factors significantly reduced development costs.

Zhou, who previously worked in game development for an internet company, decided to start his own business after recognizing AI’s rapid advancement. He has since developed several AI tools and plans to upload them to the ModelScope platform to benefit more users.

The community’s open and collaborative approach has attracted a growing number of participants. Model downloads have exceeded 100 million, while the ModelScope Developer Center in Hangzhou has already signed contracts with over 50 companies and brought in more than 100 resident developers.

Technical exchange events are commonplace within the center. At a recent seminar on multimodal models, the venue was filled to capacity. Zhou noted that face-to-face interaction has helped transform loose online connections into deeper, more effective collaboration.

The center integrates multiple functions, including AI application experience zones, seminar rooms, demo halls and startup incubation spaces, aiming to provide a full-cycle support system — from idea generation to product deployment.

Beyond workspace and networking, practical support is also a key attraction. When Zhou first launched his business, he was unfamiliar with administrative procedures. “From submitting documents to getting a business license, it took less than a day,” he said. “Staff guided me through everything, freeing me to focus on the product.”

The benefits extend further. With the center’s matchmaking services, Zhou’s game technology—combining voice interaction and scene generation—is now being integrated into a local cultural tourism project, turning innovation into commercial orders.

Such connections are becoming routine. According to Rao Siyi, deputy general manager of matchmaking company Hangzhou Scene, the company has cataloged 292 industry demands and 362 technical capabilities. “Previously, technologies often remained theoretical while s struggled to find solutions. Now, we provide both online matching tools and offline meeting spaces to connect them directly,” Rao said.

Policy support adds further appeal. Qualified talent at the center can receive subsidies for housing and other incentives, while resident companies are eligible for rent-free office space of up to 200 square meters.

By linking a vibrant online open-source ecosystem with offline collaboration and real industrial demand, Hangzhou is building a comprehensive support system covering the full lifecycle of innovation. So far, the ModelScope “innovation space” has incubated more than 10,000 AI applications, with over 1.6 billion calls made through its model context protocol services.

By Fang Min, People’s Daily

In Zhengzhou, capital of central China’s Henan province, a growing number of young entrepreneurs are turning their ideas into viable businesses, thanks to a supportive ecosystem that removes many of the common barriers to starting up.

Du Zhenyang, 30, exemplifies this trend. Leading a team focused on AI-powered drone technologies within the Zhengzhou High-tech Industrial Development Zone, he is striving for automation breakthroughs. His company’s heavy-lift drones now serve over 500 clients.

Du’s passion for drones ignited during his studies at Zhengzhou University. The entrepreneurial spark persisted after graduation. Despite spending two years working in Beijing, he ultimately chose to return home to launch his venture.

Like many young founders, Du faced concerns: securing workspace, funding, assembling a team, and accessing markets all seemed formidable. Talent shortages, financing difficulties, and limited market access often discourage aspiring entrepreneurs at the outset.

Bracing for setbacks, Du was pleasantly surprised by a smoother-than-expected journey. The initial challenge of finding office and research space was swiftly resolved. With coordination from Zhengzhou University and the local government, his team was granted two years of free access to university lab. The Zhengzhou High-tech Industrial Development Zone also provided well-equipped office space at favorable rates through government-backed incubators.

Securing designated airspace for test flights was another hurdle. Du submitted an application, and the Zone worked with local schools to set aside unused areas on campus for testing. For extreme high-altitude trials, the Zone coordinated with Zhengzhou Shangjie Airport to secure access to new flight zones. “I anticipated navigating everything alone, but the government streamlined the process,” Du remarked.

With facilities secured, research progressed until a shortage of specialized talent emerged as the next bottleneck. Drone development spans multiple disciplines; while Du specialized in flight control software, his team lacked structural design expertise. 

During routine visits, local officials identified similar challenges among startup teams. In response, relevant officials worked with Zhengzhou University and the city’s human resources authorities to provide targeted support. Six experts from different fields were brought in to offer hands-on guidance, helping the team overcome technical hurdles. Meanwhile, recruitment platforms helped attract more skilled professionals.

“Talents are willing to join us thanks to Zhengzhou’s subsidies and housing support,” said Du. Young people with college degrees or above can apply directly for talent apartments. Internship subsidies and social insurance contributions have also significantly reduced the company’s labor costs, he added.

The company launched its first self-developed drone in 2022, followed by a heavy-lift model in 2023. But as the products entered the market, new challenges emerged.

Once again, local authorities stepped in — connecting Du’s company with established firms, linking it to industry resources, and helping build a sales network.

“Government support was crucial in turning our research into real products,” Du said. Today, his drones are widely used in photovoltaic panel cleaning, mountainous logistics, and industrial inspection, becoming a leading example in the region’s drone sector.

Du’s experience reflects Zhengzhou’s broader efforts in recent years to support young innovators and entrepreneurs. By addressing weak links and improving services, the city is fostering a mutually reinforcing relationship between talent and urban development.

Zhengzhou has built 292 startup incubators, established 374 designated vocational training institutions that have provided tailored training to nearly 1.19 million participants, and set up five entrepreneurship service stations. 

The city has also secured over 201,000 units of talent housing and deployed 96 entrepreneurship mentors to provide ongoing guidance. Financial support has been strengthened through dedicated platforms, with 667 million yuan ($97.06 million) in technology loans and 3.09 billion yuan in startup-guarantee loans issued to date.

According to local officials, since 2022, Zhengzhou has attracted 992,000 young talents and incubated 15,000 enterprises. “Going forward, we will continue to ensure policy implementation, improve targeted support services, and optimize the business environment to attract even more talent,” an official said.

By Liu Hongchao, People’s Daily

In the waters north to the Manhua terminal in Suoyu Bay, Dalian, northeast China’s Liaoning province, gentle waves lapped against the quay.

Not far offshore, researcher Yuan Guoliang from the Liaoning Underwater Robot Engineering Research Center was fine-tuning a piece of equipment. With a light tap, an orange underwater robot slipped quietly into the sea. On a nearby screen, underwater piles and seawall details came into sharp view, while real-time data on water quality and sediment flowed back to shore.

This scene contrasts starkly with past practices. “Years ago, we had to wear heavy diving suits and work in cold water. At best, we could operate for four or five hours a day, and it took a whole team to assist,” said Ma Yongxiang, head of a local seafood company.

Harvesting abalone and sea cucumbers once relied on perilous manual dives amid strong currents, high pressure, and poor visibility. “Few youth want such grueling work today,” Ma noted.

“Necessity drives innovation,” said Fu Xianping, dean of the Information Science and Technology College at Dalian Maritime University and director of the Liaoning Underwater Robot Engineering Research Center.

After years of development, the center has created the Haiying (Sea Eagle) series of underwater harvesting robots. Equipped with customized grippers, the robot can accurately identify and pick up sea cucumbers and abalone, and store them automatically. Operators control the system from a shore-based station, watching live video feeds of the seabed. Once the task is complete, the robot returns to the surface on its own — no divers required.

At a Dalian aquaculture farm, a Sea Eagle robot collected samples with unprecedented efficiency. “We now cover more than 40 sites daily versus just 3-4 manually,” Ma observed from shore. Such progress overcame daunting challenges: murky waters, unpredictable currents, and unreliable data transmission long hindered underwater robotics.

Working underwater is never easy. Coastal waters are often murky, with strong currents and very low visibility. Data transmission is also difficult, making real-time control a challenge. These factors have long constrained the development of intelligent underwater systems.

To tackle these challenges, the research center brought together more than 80 experts from different fields. After two years of work, the team developed an optical imaging model for turbid water and introduced a new imaging method based on light polarization, significantly improving underwater visibility.

For communication, the team designed a high-speed data transmission system using visible light arrays, enabling multiple robots to operate in coordination. They also built an integrated system linking underwater, surface, and low-altitude equipment, improving overall sensing and coordination in complex marine environments.

Today, the Haiying and Hai’ou (Sea Gull) robot series developed by Fu’s team are widely used in Dalian’s marine industry. Their sensors monitor parameters such as temperature and salinity at different depths, while onboard cameras track the growth of marine life and help assess health conditions. Equipped with robotic arms and harvesting tools, they can carry out precise and efficient operations.

Bridging cutting-edge technology and practical applications, a public innovation platform for smart ocean information technology was launched in 2025. Led by Dalian Maritime University and Zoneco Group, and supported by the Liaoning Underwater Robot Engineering Research Center, the public innovation platform for smart ocean information technology aims to speed up the application of new technologies.

Its innovations are already being widely applied. The Hai’ou I robot has been deployed at the construction site of northeast China’s first submarine cable with a 630-square-millimeter cross-section, carrying out real-time underwater supervision to ensure safety. The Hai’ou II robot assists in offshore drilling platform installation and pipeline inspections, supporting oil and gas development at sea. 

Besides, an underwater robot for Arctic research independently developed by the platform has joined scientific expeditions to the Arctic, supporting the collection of underwater environmental data. Another robot, designed to inspect underwater dam structures, has been delivered to a research institute under China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation, where it plays an important role in water conservancy projects.