Nigeria Times

By Cao Wenxuan, People’s Daily

From the breakwater of the Changjiang nuclear power plant in south China’s Hainan province, one can look out over rows of aquaculture cages swaying gently on the blue sea. A closer look reveals young shellfish, each no bigger than a palm, attached to the nets. 

Few people know these waters have become a breeding ground for Pinctada maxima, a species under second-class national protection, producing precious South Sea pearls.

The striking scene showcases harmonious coexistence between large-scale nuclear facilities and delicate marine creatures. It embodies a locally adaptive development model that strikes a fine balance between industrial progress and ecological conservation.

For nuclear power plants, handling industrial waste heat is an unavoidable challenge. Transferring excess heat to nearby industrial parks often leads to energy loss during transmission, while releasing overly warm water back into the sea can trigger eutrophication, threatening marine ecosystems and even affecting the safe operation of power units.

The shift to Pinctada maxima farming demonstrates a strategic understanding of natural systems. As filter feeders, these oysters require no manual feeding and actively mitigate seawater eutrophication, yielding both ecological and commercial value.

Earlier attempts to raise the species in the waters off Sansha in Hainan in pursuit of exceptionally clean seawater. But the lack of algae and natural nutrients there slowed oyster growth and affected quality. 

In contrast, waters around the Changjiang nuclear power plant maintain a steady year-round temperature of around 25 degrees Celsius. Clean water, gentle currents and abundant plankton create an optimal growing environment that fully meets the species’ strict survival needs.

Today, the thriving oysters have transformed industrial byproducts into economic assets. This synergy between nuclear power and pearl cultivation underscores a vital lesson: whether  resources becomes limitations or advantages hinges on vision and strategy. By transcending conventional thinking, regions can harness unique conditions to drive high-quality development.

Across Hainan, similar efforts to rethink traditional marine industries are already taking shape. “Living off the sea” no longer refers only to fishing, shipping or tourism. The value of marine resources is being continually redefined and expanded.

Qingshui Bay in Lingshui Li autonomous county, for example, sets a perfect example. This popular seaside tourism destination has become home to China’s first commercial underwater data center. 

By using naturally cold deep-sea water for cooling, the facility consumes significantly less energy than traditional land-based data centers, providing support for the development of digital economy for the Hainan Free Trade Port.

Elsewhere in Hainan province, the Nanshan Port in Sanya has transformed itself from the province’s smallest cargo port into one of the world’s busiest home ports for scientific research vessels. By opening its resources to research institutes, universities and expedition fleets nationwide, the port accommodated more than 2,100 scientific expeditions in 2025, seeing rapid business growth.

Over the past three years, Hainan’s marine economy has consistently ranked among the fastest-growing in China. Behind this momentum lies a simple but important principle: marine development cannot rely on one-size-fits-all models. Only by building on local resource endowments and pursuing innovation suited to local realities can regions continuously cultivate new growth drivers and spur new industries.

Beyond Hainan, this broader shift toward transformation and upgrading has become a shared path for many of China’s coastal regions as they foster new quality productive forces.

In Rongcheng, east China’s Shandong province, local industries have moved away from densely packed nearshore aquaculture toward a three-dimensional marine farming model featuring algae in upper waters, shellfish and abalone in mid-level zones, and artificial reefs and fish habitats near the seabed. The approach has boosted output while helping restore marine ecosystems.

In Yancheng, east China’s Jiangsu province, leftover cold energy generated during liquefied natural gas (LNG) gasification at coastal ports has been turned into a graded cold-energy supply system. It supports cold-chain storage, cold-water aquaculture and freeze-drying industries, allowing previously wasted energy to create new economic value.

Tech-driven innovation, ecological priorities and resource utilization tailored to local conditions are opening up new avenues for value creation and providing fresh pathways for developing new quality productive forces.

Ultimately, “living off the sea” is no longer about extracting resources from the ocean without restraint. It now focuses on building sustainable, harmonious coexistence between humans and marine ecosystems.

By understanding local coastlines, marine conditions and ecological foundations, and by planning carefully, innovating boldly and developing thoughtfully, China’s coastal regions are discovering that the ocean can offer an even more abundant future.

By Liu Zhonghua, People’s Daily

As the 48-team 2026 FIFA World Cup prepares to launch across the United States, Canada and Mexico, industry experts recognize this tournament as a watershed moment: the first global implementation of artificial intelligence at professional football’s highest level. Dubbed by media as the inaugural “AI World Cup,” the event marks technology’s transition from laboratory testing to full-scale pitch deployment.

During recent visits to FIFA’s Zurich headquarters, People’s Daily observed cutting-edge systems powering the tournament, with Chinese innovations playing pivotal operational roles.

Hisense display technology dominates FIFA’s lobby, foreshadowing its critical tournament role. As official Video Assistant Referee (VAR) display partner, Hisense’s RGB-Mini LED televisions will equip all video review centers. Their ultra-high color accuracy delivers unprecedented match detail clarity, enabling more precise refereeing decisions.

“Hisense establishes new innovation benchmarks that directly enhance the experience for players, officials, and teams,” stated FIFA commercial partnerships director Nick Brown. FIFA chief business officer Romy Gai added the technology represents “a quantum leap in football presentation.”

If advanced display technology serves as the “eyes” of the tournament, then AI architecture acts as the “brain” supporting the competition behind the scenes.

Beyond visual systems, artificial intelligence forms the tournament’s operational backbone. FIFA will debut its football AI platform — a generative knowledge trained on millions of historical match data points. This system supports national teams in tactical analysis, opponent simulation, and personalized strategy development.

Through partnerships with multiple tech firms, AI now actively participates in officiating, match interpretation, and tactical evolution — transcending its traditional analytical role.

As FIFA’s official technology partner, Lenovo embeds its hybrid AI architecture throughout tournament operations. The company’s infrastructure will support critical functions including event management, referee assistance, and fan engagement.

Alexander Metzlaff, ICT (Information and Communication Technology) project and service coordinator of FIFA, said that during the World Cup, FIFA will deploy 10,000 Lenovo computers and more than 200 engineers across all 16 stadiums to provide technical and logistical support.

Beyond hardware, Lenovo’s AI solutions also include AI-powered “digital twin” technology.

Inside a 3D-scanning booth resembling a large locker room, a full-body data scan can be completed in just one minute. And then a personalized 3D digital avatar will appear on screen, creating an experience that seems straight out of a science-fiction film.

Santiago Manso, Lenovo’s director of sports and entertainment, said that 28 such 3D scanning booths will be deployed during the World Cup to create digital avatars for all participants. The collected data will be integrated into FIFA’s database.

These virtual replicas will be capable of recreating match situations through 3D animation and are expected to provide centimeter-level and even millimeter-level precision in offside decisions and key officiating calls.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino noted that Chinese companies have consistently remained at the forefront as FIFA expands into new areas of innovation. He said the partnership between Lenovo and FIFA for the upcoming 2026 World Cup is expected to generate remarkable AI-driven breakthroughs that will enhance officiating technology, strengthen match analysis capabilities and create unprecedented fan interaction experiences.

In recent years, Chinese companies have steadily moved deeper into the technological core of major international sporting events such as the FIFA World Cup, the UEFA European Championship and the Olympic Games, earning growing recognition from event organizers, industry institutions and global audiences.

Guy-Laurent Epstein, UEFA events SA marketing director, said Chinese companies are no longer simply commercial sponsors purchasing advertising space. Instead, they are bringing some of the world’s most advanced technological innovations directly into UEFA’s competition systems.

“The cutting-edge expertise Chinese companies offer in fields such as green mobility and advanced display technology align perfectly with our vision of building modern and sustainable sporting events,” he said.

International media outlets including Reuters have also observed that Chinese companies are undergoing a major transformation in their role at top-tier international sporting events, evolving from peripheral merchandise suppliers into key providers of core technological infrastructure.

As Chinese companies deepen their participation in the world’s premier sporting competitions, more Chinese technologies and solutions are likely to appear on the global sports stage, becoming an increasingly important force in advancing the development and accessibility of sports internationally.

By Zeng Huafeng, People’s Daily

Seventeen-year-old Zhao Yicheng made sporting history on May 10, 2026, by setting a new men’s speed climbing world record of 4.54 seconds at the IFSC World Cup event in Wujiang, Suzhou, east China’s Jiangsu province.

The Chinese athlete’s explosive performance drew thunderous applause from spectators, with many expressing disbelief at his vertical velocity. “That didn’t look like climbing — it looked like flying up the wall,” one audience member remarked.

During the semifinal, Zhao faced American world-record holder Samuel Watson in a near-synchronized ascent. Displaying exceptional fluidity and composure, Zhao stopped the clock at 4.54 seconds to claim the new benchmark. “I wasn’t focused on winning,” Zhao recalled. “Just climbing.”

Shortly after his record-breaking run, Zhao maintained his momentum in the final, clocking 4.61 seconds to claim his first World Cup gold medal. Teammate Long Jianguo took silver while Watson earned bronze.

Watson, who previously held the record at 4.64 seconds, praised Zhao as “one of the most gifted speed climbers I’ve ever seen.” The American’s dominance had seemed unassailable until Zhao first broke the record with a 4.58-second run at April’s Asian Beach Games in Sanya, Hainan.

Twelve days later, he pushed the record down even further to 4.54 seconds. So how did a 17-year-old Chinese athlete rise so quickly to the top of the sport?

The Suzhou native’s rapid ascent stems from early dedication. Beginning at age five, Zhao won multiple youth national titles by age nine. “That competition gave him a huge confidence boost,” his mother Cheng Cheng noted. Faced with choosing between academic studies and professional athletics at 14, Zhao joined Shanghai’s climbing team to specialize in speed discipline.

“Climbing demands both physical and mental engagement,” Zhao emphasized. “Without deep, active thinking, reaching the top in any sport becomes impossible.” His philosophy appears validated as he now stands atop the climbing world.

He often visualizes races repeatedly in his mind and studies videos of other climbers late into the night, carefully analyzing every movement and technique.

“He truly loves climbing, and we’ve always supported him,” his mother said. “To reach this level, strong inner drive and the desire to push himself are incredibly important.”

She still vividly remembers an emotional moment after his victory. “After winning, he placed the gold medal on my neck and said, ‘You’re the champion.’ That made me incredibly happy,” she said.

Since speed climbing became a standalone Olympic event at the 2024 Paris Olympics, competition in the sport has intensified dramatically. At the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, speed climbing, lead climbing and bouldering will all be contested as separate medal events, prompting more athletes to specialize in their strongest discipline.

As for Zhao’s own ambitions, his goal is clear: Olympic gold. 

“As long as you carry the brightest light in your heart,” the young climber said, “it will always illuminate the road ahead.”

By Wang Pei, People’s Daily

Nestled along the Yellow Sea coastline, Rizhao, a vibrant coastal city in east China’s Shandong province, boasts a 226-kilometer shoreline dotted with a string of bays, glistening like a strand of natural pearls.

In 2024, Rizhao earned one of China’s national-level pilot cities for comprehensive beautiful bay development, marking a pivotal turning point in the ecological and economic renewal of this beloved blue coastal homeland.

At Sunshine Coast in Zhangbei Bay, tourists can be seen everywhere strolling, cycling and taking photos. Nearby, drones patrol the coastline from the air. Once environmental issues are detected along the shore, volunteers quickly move in to address them.

“This stretch used to be desolate tidal flats,” recalled a local fisherman surnamed Zhang. “Now a 28-kilometer greenway winds through here, turning it into a hugely popular tourist hotspot. The transformation is simply remarkable.”

When coastal greenway plans were first announced, Zhang expressed concerns: “Would the black pine forest be affected?”

His worries were justified. Since the 1950s, black pines have formed the first ecological barrier along the coast, their evergreen canopy defining the regional landscape. During restoration, Rizhao implemented a “four-no” principle: no felling of black pines, no disturbance to reefs, no alteration of beaches, and no deployment of heavy machinery — minimizing ecosystem disruption.

The coastal renewal extends beyond Zhangbei Bay. At Hailong Bay, shoreline restoration has reclaimed industrial port areas for nature. After renovating 1,882 meters of coastline and creating 460,000 square meters of new beaches, former coal yards now feature crystal-clear waters and golden sands.

In recent years, Rizhao has adhered to the principle of prioritizing ecology and pursuing green development. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), the city carried out 5,903 bay patrols covering more than 10,500 kilometer, and steadily advanced marine environmental improvement drives.

“We divided the entire coastline into 55 sections and implemented targeted management solutions tailored to each,” said Song Jun, director of Rizhao’s ecology and environment bureau. “We have strengthened tracing and remediation efforts for sewage outlets entering the sea and established a smart marine supervision platform that enables online inspection and handling of marine waste issues, significantly improving efficiency.”

Over the same period, Rizhao established 27 monitoring sites to conduct on-site monitoring and laboratory analysis of coastal seawater quality, plankton and other marine indicators. In Zhangbei Bay, the proportion of coastal waters rated as excellent has remained at 100 percent for consecutive years, with water quality consistently meeting excellent standards for five straight years.

Further north along the Sunshine Coast sits Qiaojiadunzi village. Jin Fei runs a homestay there, for whom replying messages to customers on the phone has become a daily routine.

“Our homestays are fully booked nonstop,” Jin said. “On weekends and holidays, cars line up endlessly as visitors pour into the village.” 

Twenty years ago, Qiaojiadunzi village launched some of Rizhao’s earliest family-run seaside guesthouses. Later, the village was incorporated into an upgrading plan for the Shanhaitian Tourism Resort area, which renovated homestays and newly developed commercial streets. In recent years, the completion of a Sunshine Greenway has brought even more visitors to the village.

“With blue seas and clear skies right outside our door, tourism has become our livelihood,” Jin said. “Visitors can enjoy the sea, explore tidal flats, cycle, visit night markets, watch performances and attend sporting events — there is always something fun to experience.”

Sea breezes swept across the shoreline as waves rolled into Lanshan Bay, where families strolled through a coastal recreation park themed around traditional seaside activities. A local resident surnamed Zhang was walking along the shore with his child.

“In recent years, the sea in Rizhao has become bluer and the water clearer,” he said. “We often bring our children here to enjoy the coastline and experience nature. It feels wonderful.”

Further along the coast in Zhangbei Bay, scattered tents dotted a camping park, and cheerful children’s voices rang out from a marine-themed complex. An eco-friendly study tour was in full swing here. 

Once an abandoned seedling nursery, the site was revitalized during coastal renovation. It now houses homestays, bookstores and cafes, emerging as a popular tourist spot. Regular science education activities are also held here for young visitors.

As the bays have grown more beautiful, cultural tourism has flourished as well. 

In 2025, tourist numbers and tourism-related spending during the high season rose by 31 percent and 39 percent year on year, respectively. Throughout the year, Rizhao recorded 43.91 billion yuan ($6.45 billion) in domestic tourism revenue and welcomed more than 68 million domestic tourist visits, up 11.8 percent and 10.3 percent year on year.

Over the years, Rizhao’s primary, secondary and tertiary industries have all embraced greener development.

Along Lanshan Bay, “green steel” has become a new driver of industrial upgrading. The steel industry has comprehensively implemented ultra-low-emission transformation projects, and both Shandong Iron and Steel Group Rizhao Co., Ltd. and Rizhao Steel Holding Group Co., Ltd. have been rated Class A enterprises for environmental performance.

Meanwhile, the city’s “blue granary” is expanding further into deep-sea aquaculture, with salmon fry breeding helping stimulate related marine industries.

“Building beautiful bays means generating benefits through green development and gathering momentum via ecological protection,” Song said. “We are turning marine ecological conservation and restoration into valuable opportunities for cultivating new quality productive forces and expanding new development space. We strive to forge a new path where ecology and economy complement one another, and protection and development advance hand in hand.”

By Wang Donghui, People’s Daily

Recent consumer spending data highlights a significant trend in China: the rapidly growing tourism, cultural, and sports sectors are emerging as crucial drivers of service consumption growth.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics, China’s retail sales of services rose 5.6 percent year on year in the first four months of this year, 0.1 percentage points faster than in the first quarter and significantly outpacing the growth of goods retail sales.

Leading this expansion were tourism consulting and rental services, transportation-related services, and cultural, sports and leisure services — all registering double-digit growth. These sectors not only grew faster than the overall service retail sales but also demonstrated increased momentum relative to the first quarter.

The growing popularity of tourism, cultural activities and sporting events has become a new highlight and a key growth engine for China’s service consumption. The trend underscores both the vitality and resilience of China’s consumer market while bolstering efforts to boost consumption, expand domestic demand and promote high-quality economic development.

Since the beginning of the year, cultural tourism and sports events have developed in a more normalized, high-quality and integrated manner. Expanding consumption scenarios and deeper integration of diverse business models have significantly boosted market vitality.

This robust growth is underpinned by effective policy implementation. It also signals an inevitable shift toward a more optimized economic structure and upgraded consumption patterns in China, aligning with the core principles of high-quality economic and social development.

Local governments nationwide have introduced targeted measures to stimulate cultural and tourism spending. Policies such as spring breaks for primary and secondary school students, tourism consumption vouchers, paired with the Qingming Festival and May Day holidays, have effectively energized the tourism market and boosted related spending on travel and accommodation.

Official holiday data underscores this momentum: domestic tourism spending surpassed 61.36 billion yuan ($9.02 billion) during the Qingming Festival, up 6.6 percent year on year. During the May Day holiday, total domestic tourism spending climbed to 185.49 billion yuan($27.29 billion), an increase of 2.9 percent.

Chinese residents are accelerating the shift from subsistence and basic consumption towards developmental and quality-oriented consumption. Spending priorities are evolving from goods-dominated consumption towards a more balanced mix of goods and services.

Public demand has moved beyond mere sightseeing towards immersive experiences, and from purchasing physical goods towards seeking premium services and unique experiences. Driven by experiential and emotional economy trends, cultural tourism, sports events and similar consumption activities are evolving into new forms featuring in-depth participation and emotional resonance.

Looking ahead for the full year, the tourism and cultural sectors are demonstrating even stronger momentum in driving domestic demand and supporting economic growth.

In 2025, domestic tourist trips surpassed 6.5 billion, an increase exceeding 16 percent year-on-year, while tourism spending reached a record 6.3 trillion yuan($926.47 billion), rising 9.5 percent from the previous year.

Crowded tourist attractions, bustling commercial streets and packed sports stadiums together paint a vivid picture of a vibrant consumer market. These scenes reflect the continued release of the advantages of China’s enormous domestic market, the ongoing upgrading of industrial and consumption structures, and the country’s steady economic recovery and growth.

From a long-term industrial perspective, the cultural and tourism sector is steadily evolving into an industry that supports livelihoods, enhances well-being and serves as a pillar of the Chinese economy.

This year marks the beginning of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), which for the first time includes the goal of building China into a leading global tourism destination. 

Drawing on dual opportunities of consumption and industrial upgrading, China will continue to advance high-quality growth in tourism, culture and related industries. This fosters robust economic momentum through dynamic population movement and the smooth flow of essential factors.

By Dou Hanyang, People’s Daily

China’s umbrella sector is undergoing a significant transformation, shifting from producing basic, affordable rain protection to creating premium, customized products that blend innovative materials, smart manufacturing, and culturally-inspired designs. This evolution signifies the industry’s steady climb up the global value chain.

This shift is particularly evident in Yiwu, east China’s Zhejiang province, home to one of the world’s largest wholesale markets for small commodities. Local umbrella manufacturers are moving away from competing solely on low prices and instead focusing on brand building, innovation, and expanding their global reach.

Zhang Jiying, owner of a shop in the China Yiwu International Trade City, thas witnessed this transformation firsthand since starting her business over two decades ago. Initially, her stall was barely one meter wide, selling generic, unbranded umbrellas with minimal profit margins.

“Back then, competition was purely about price,” Zhang recalled. “If you priced an umbrella at 10 yuan ($1.47), someone else would undercut you at 9 yuan. Ultimately, no one truly profited.”

As consumer demand evolved, buyers began prioritizing not just function, but also factors like fabric quality, materials, color, and design. Zhang recognized that relying exclusively on Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) wholesale production was no longer viable. “It was time for a change,” she stated. “We needed to establish our own brand.”

In 2003, Zhang founded Zhejiang Xingbao Umbrella Co., Ltd. (RST Umbrella) and began developing proprietary products. By 2010, she had registered the “Real Star” trademark globally in more than 100 countries and regions. “Today, design, quality, and service are paramount,” she emphasized.

Her showroom reflects this new approach. One newly launched umbrella designed for Middle Eastern markets features a built-in misting fan system that sprays a cooling water vapor at the touch of a button. An initial shipment of 3,000 units quickly led to repeat orders.

Another product, an ultra-light carbon-fiber folding umbrella, weighs less than a typical smartphone and featuring a UV-blocking black-coated canopy.

The company now exports around 5 million umbrellas annually, while some high-end customized umbrellas sell for as much as 2,000 yuan ($294) in European markets.

Zhang’s journey mirrors the broader upgrade occurring across Yiwu’s umbrella industry. Today, more than half of umbrella merchants in China Yiwu International Trade City launch new products monthly. Traditional wholesale booths are increasingly being upgraded into branded experience stores and creative cultural display spaces. The outdated model of competing through low-quality, low-margi price wars is fading, replaced by a healthier environment focused on innovation and differentiation.

In Shangyu district of Shaoxing, north to Yiwu, another major hub for umbrella manufacturing, technological upgrading is reshaping production lines.

Inside the workshop of Zhejiang Youyi Fino Umbrella Industry Co., Ltd., automated production equipment runs at high speed as umbrella frames are molded, canopies sewn and final assembly completed in a seamless process.

“These automated systems were independently developed by our company, and each machine costs nearly 10 million yuan ($1.47 million) on average,” said company chairman Lyu Miaofen.

The heavy investment has paid off. Since introducing automation equipment in 2021, the company’s efficiency increased by more than 60 percent in the very first year. Today, the company reinvests around 20 percent of its profits annually into technological upgrading.

In 2025, its sales exceeded 400 million yuan ($5.88 billion) , while its product portfolio expanded beyond umbrellas into outdoor camping equipment.

In Shangyu district, many companies are pursuing similar paths of intelligent manufacturing and industrial upgrading. In 2025, the district’s umbrella industry surpassed 15 billion yuan ($2.21 billion) in total industrial output, up nearly 8 percent year on year.

Chinese umbrella manufacturers are also refining their strategies for international expansion. “China is opening up to the world, and the world is eager to learn more about China,” Zhang said. “An umbrella is not just a daily necessity; it can also serve as a medium for cultural exchange.”

In recent years, she has incorporated more Chinese cultural elements into her designs, drawing inspiration from Jiangnan (the region located in the coastal area south of the Yangtze River) aesthetics, Dunhuang art and other traditional motifs. The products have been well received overseas.

In September 2023, an initiative was launched in Yiwu to encourage local small commodity brands to expand overseas. Through overseas wholesale markets, overseas warehouses, showrooms, online platforms and international exhibitions, it aims to build a global branding system for Yiwu products.

In 2025, “Yiwu Selection,” a collection-store model showcasing Yiwu brands overseas, began opening stores across five continents, with locations already established in 12 countries.

The results materialized swiftly. Following a trip to South Korea as part of the initiative in 2025, Zhang hosted South Korean buyers at her company shortly after returning. They placed an order worth 1 million yuan($0.15 million) for sun-and-rain umbrellas. Shangyu-based manufacturers also reported strong results after participating in the China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair). 

“This year, we focused on stabilizing our traditional European and American markets while expanding into emerging markets,” a business representative from the district said. “We targeted Africa and South America in particular, adjusting products according to regional demand.”

In South America, long coastlines and strong demand for vacation products have created new growth opportunities for umbrella companies. This year alone, Shangyu-based Zhejiang Hengyang Umbrella Co., Ltd. achieved sales of 30 million yuan($4.42 million).

Iger Enjoy in Shaoxing launched a cost-effective outdoor umbrella series tailored to local demand in African markets, securing on-site orders worth 2 million yuan($0.29 million) at the Canton Fair while also attracting several potential clients.

Looking ahead, Chinese umbrella makers will continue strengthening research and development, infuse more cultural elements in their products, and optimize their global market strategies, thus helping more Chinese-designed umbrellas reach consumers around the world.

By Song Haoxin, People’s Daily

What if museum visitors could truly interact with cultural relics rather than merely observe them through glass displays? At the Sanxingdui Museum in southwest China’s Sichuan province, a specially designed interactive hall is revolutionizing cultural engagement.

Within this 1,300-square-meter space, nearly every exhibit invites touch, operation, or participation. Visitors immerse themselves in installations inspired by the ancient Shu civilization, blending education with entertainment.

By trying on replicas of headwear on bronze statues discovered in Sanxingdui Ruins, for example, visitors can not only take photos of themselves but also learn about the symbolic meanings behind different headpieces. 

Guests can don replicas of bronze statue headwear from the Sanxingdui Ruins, learning their symbolic meanings while capturing photos. Augmented reality allows dancing alongside virtual Sanxingdui figures for social media sharing. A creation zone even enables “time travel” to experience ancient bronze-casting and construction techniques.

These innovations transform traditional museum visits, offering deeper cultural understanding through hands-on interaction. “This hall emerged from extensive brainstorming,” explained Zhu Yarong, deputy director of the management committee of the Sanxingdui Ruins site. 

“We’re transitioning from passive relic viewing to interactive engagement, bridging the gap between audiences and history.”

Previously, museum experiences were largely one-directional with limited engagement. Visitors viewed relics through display cases, usually stopping mainly to take photographs, with relatively limited forms of engagement. By liberating artifacts from display cases into interactive settings, Sanxingdui is pioneering a shift from didactic presentation to open cultural dialogue.

Traditional exhibition spaces remain popular, while digital innovations attract growing interest. A VR project employs digital twin technology to recreate 1:1 scale excavation sites — complete with protective shelters and cabins — placing visitors at the archaeological forefront.

Another project, Heaven and Earth Echoes — Sanxingdui Panoramic Sound and Vision Digital Art Theater, features an interactive panoramic LED dome with a diameter of 20 meters and a resolution approaching 16K. The massive dome creates a deeply immersive atmosphere. By waving digital torches in their hands, visitors can trigger sacred birds to circle above them across the dome, experiencing the ancient Shu civilization through an interplay of sound and imagery.

“The digital technology made me feel as if I were racing across the Mamu River. That sense of traveling through time was incredible,” said Hao Yong, a tourist from southwest China’s Chongqing municipality who came specifically to experience a virtual reality program.

From passive observation to active participation, Sanxingdui Museum continues introducing new interactive experiences that transform cultural relics into living carriers of dialogue and engagement, helping keep the sparks of Chinese civilization alive for new generations.

By He Yin, People’s Daily

China’s recently released foreign trade data for the first four months of 2026 shows robust growth, with total goods imports and exports rising 14.9 percent year-on-year. This continues the steady, positive momentum observed in the first quarter.

The stronger-than-expected performance has drawn broad international attention. Overseas media have frequently described China’s trade as exhibiting “strong momentum,” “sustained export dynamism,” and “renewed economic resilience.” These figures offer the world a clearer view of the solid foundations supporting China’s steady economic progress and long-term development confidence. 

As a vital window into China’s economic vitality, foreign trade vividly demonstrates how the country’s development continues to benefit the world. Despite external headwinds and rising uncertainties, China’s foreign trade has delivered an impressive performance marked by expanding size, improving structure and numerous highlights.

In the first four months of the year, China’s total goods trade reached 16.23 trillion yuan ($2.39 trillion), including 4.38 trillion yuan in April alone, highlighting both strong growth momentum and steady development.

During this period, the advantages of China’s supersized domestic market continued to emerge, driving imports to maintain double-digit growth. At the same time, accelerated upgrading in the manufacturing sector provided solid support for export growth. 

The vitality of foreign trade business entities continued to increase. Private enterprises further consolidated their role as the backbone in stabilizing foreign trade, and foreign-invested companies showed steadily improving willingness to participate in the Chinese market.

A foreign media outlet noted that China’s foreign trade has made a strong start this year and laid a solid economic and trade foundation at the beginning of the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030).

New growth drivers are continuing to gather strength, accelerating the shift in China’s foreign trade from expansion in size to improvement in quality.

In the first four months of the year, high-tech and high-value-added electromechanical products accounted for 63.5 percent of China’s total exports. Exports of electric vehicles, lithium batteries and wind turbine units all surged by more than 40 percent, while industrial robot exports rose by 30 percent. Chinese manufacturing is rapidly moving toward higher-end, greener and smarter development, steadily climbing up the global value chain.

At the same time, China’s imports of electromechanical products rose by 23.6 percent. Among them, imports of automatic data-processing equipment and components, as well as integrated circuits, increased by 55.9 percent and 43.5 percent respectively, indicating that global innovation resources are accelerating their concentration in China.

Supported by continuously improving market procurement trade pilot programs and cross-border e-commerce comprehensive pilot zones that now cover nearly the entire country, new forms of trade such as offshore trade and bonded maintenance services are flourishing and gaining momentum. 

New industries, technologies and business models are reshaping the landscape of China’s foreign trade growth while injecting strong momentum into the stable upgrading of global industrial and supply chains.

Amid a challenging global economic recovery, openness, cooperation, and mutual benefit remain crucial. China continues to pursue a diversified market strategy: deepening engagement with traditional markets while vigorously expanding into emerging ones, steadily broadening its circle of economic and trade partners. From January to April, trade with ASEAN and Latin America grew over 15%, while exchanges with the EU and South Korea remained stable and improving.

The benefits of China’s zero-tariff measures for 53 African countries with diplomatic ties are also becoming increasingly evident. Bilateral trade exceeded 800 billion yuan for the first time during the same period. Distinctive African products are enriching China’s consumer market, while high-quality Chinese products are supporting Africa’s development and modernization efforts.

As “exporting to China” and “shopping in China” become increasingly integrated, China continues to send a clear message to the world through its unwavering commitment to high-level opening up, a message of mutually beneficial cooperation and shared prosperity.

Building China into a strong trading nation, improving the quality and efficiency of foreign trade, and promoting balanced development of imports and exports are essential components of China’s high-quality development strategy, as well as an important manifestation of its responsibility in building an open world economy.

China has ranked first globally in total goods trade for nine consecutive years, while maintaining a stable share of the international market. 

It keeps refining foreign-related economic and trade institutional rules, expands pilot free trade zones step by step and presses ahead with institutional opening up. The country also earnestly delivers on free trade agreements and further strengthens regional economic and trade ties. 

Additionally, it takes part in global trade governance and facilitates the improvement of multilateral economic and trade regulations. Through all these tangible efforts, China has taken concrete actions to safeguard the multilateral trading system and contribute to the stable development of global trade.

The “quality” of China’s foreign trade reflects the “resilience” of the Chinese economy and underscores the steady start to the 15th Five-Year Plan period. A China committed to high-quality development will continue to serve as a reliable and dependable stabilizing force in a turbulent world, constantly creating opportunities, delivering hope and generating momentum for global development.