Nigeria Times

By Yu Sinan, Li Yi, Zhang Wei

In the early hours of May 29, China successfully launched its first asteroid sample-return mission, Tianwen-2, from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China’s Sichuan province, an endeavor designed to shed light on the formation and evolution of asteroids and the early solar system.

The Tianwen-2 mission aims to achieve multiple goals over a decade-long expedition: collecting samples from the near-Earth asteroid 2016HO3 and exploring the main-belt comet 311P, which is more distant than Mars.

The mission includes 13 flight stages and will reach a distance of approximately 150 million to 500 million kilometers from Earth, marking a major step forward in China’s deep space exploration endeavors.

Known as a quasi-satellite of Earth, the asteroid 2016HO3 orbits the Sun and appears to circle around Earth as well, remaining a constant companion to our planet. Its relatively stable orbit requires lower energy requirements for spacecraft to reach it, while enabling a viable scenario for subsequent exploration of the main-belt comet 311P.

Scientific research suggests that the asteroid 2016HO3 may preserve primitive materials from the early solar system. Investigating this asteroid could yield valuable insights into the composition, formation, and evolutionary history of the solar system’s early materials.

The second target, 311P, a celestial anomaly discovered in the mainasteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, occasionally spews out materials and resembles a comet with tails. While it exhibits compositional traits with traditional comets, it maintains the orbital characteristics of an asteroid. Exploring this unique object will deepen human understanding of the composition, structure, and evolutionary mechanisms of small celestial bodies.

Tianwen-1 marked China’s first Mars exploration mission, successfully achieving orbiting, landing, and roving operations in a single mission. Tianwen-2, however, has a different set of objectives and faces new technical challenges.

First, the Tianwen-2 mission will conduct sampling under weak gravity conditions. Observational data suggest that the asteroid 2016HO3, with an average diameter of about 41 meters, exists in near-zero gravity and rotates rapidly. Given these complex conditions, it is extremely challenging for the probe to achieve stable attachment with the asteroid and sampling within a limited time.

Second, the mission involves vast distances. Asteroid 2016HO3 is located about 18 million to 46 million kilometers from Earth, while the main-belt comet 311P lies approximately 150 million to 500 million kilometers away. The immense distance from Earth imposes stringent requirements on the probe’s communication system, trajectory design, power management, and the capability to maintain highly reliable long-term operational performance.

Furthermore, there is uncertainty regarding the exploration target. Current observations of the asteroid 2016HO3 provide limited information on its rotational behavior and surface characteristics, which significantly complicate the design of both the spacecraft and its sampling methods.

Tianwen-2 is equipped with 11 scientific instruments, including cameras, a visible and infrared imaging spectrometer, a thermal emission spectrometer, and a detection radar, all designed to facilitate scientific data collection during the mission.

In previous missions sending payloads into the Earth’s orbit, a rocket is required to achieve a separation velocity equal to the first cosmic velocity, or approximately 7.9 kilometers per second.

However, this mission requires a separation speed exceeding 11.2 kilometers per second, known as the second cosmic velocity, to escape the Earth’s gravitational influence, necessitating high speed and energy.

After evaluating the rocket’s payload capacity, performance capability, and reliability, Long March-3B was chosen as the dedicated vehicle for the Tianwen-2 mission.

As the primary launch vehicle for China’s high-orbit launches, the Long March-3B has completed 108 missions, including key lunar missions such as Chang’e-3 and Chang’e-4.

Experts noted that asteroids are characterized by their small size, low mass, and weak gravity, making them challenging to capture and requiring exceptional precision in the rocket’s trajectory. During this launch, the rocket reached a speed of 11.2 kilometers per second, with a permitted speed deviation of no more than one meter per second, which could otherwise lead to a positional error of up to one million kilometers.

“Achieving such trajectory precision is akin to shooting a basketball from Shanghai to hit a hoop in Beijing, while ensuring the ball’s angle and speed upon entering the hoop are correct,” said Wei Yuanming, an expert with China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.

To tackle this challenge, the rocket design team spent two years completing multiple design iterations so as to achieve seamless “handoff” between the rocket and the probe, Wei added.

By Zhou Renjie, People’s Daily

During this year’s May Day holiday, outdoor sports and travel captured wide public interest and participation across China.

At Shijiu Lake in Nanjing, east China’s Jiangsu province, a young visitor transitioned from a fishing lure session tostargazing through a telescope.Nestled in the Aba Tibetan and Qiang autonomous prefecture, southwest China’s Sichuan province, the Siguniang Mountain scenic area launched over 10 outdoor adventure routes, including hiking, mountain trekking, and rockclimbing, catering to outdoor enthusiasts of all ages.

In China, over 400 million people engage in outdoor activities. The development of outdoor sports delivers wide-ranging societalbenefits. It fulfills the growing public demand for physical wellness, advances the Chinese national fitness campaign, stimulates associated industries, and presents vast potential for future development.

A growing number of outdoor sports events and leisure experiences are taking root in scenic destinations across the country.

In Shangri-la, southwest China’s Yunnan province, a network of hiking and cycling trails serves as venues for prominent events such as the Tour of Yunnan International Road Cycling Race and the Yunnan Plateau Lakes and Mountains Series.

In Nanxun, Huzhou, east China’s Zhejiang province, visitors enjoy activities ranging from nocturnal fishing and hot-air ballooning to orienteering through ancient towns.

In Chongli, Zhangjiakou, Hebei province in north China, night skiing enables thrill-seekers to race down snow-covered slopes under a star-filled sky, evoking the sensation of flight just above the earth..

These diverse outdoor experiences act as a powerful engine for transforming picturesque natural environments into sources of sustainable economic development.

China is steadily promoting the development of outdoor sports destinations to ensure the timely achievement of its goal to build around 100 high-quality outdoor sports destinations by 2030. With itsvast territory and spectacular landscapes, the country is well-positioned to leverage its world-class natural resources in this endeavor.

Outdoor tourism development also dovetails with China’s comprehensive rural vitalization strategy. In Xishui county, Huanggang, Hubei province, a rural triathlon combining swimming, road cycling, and cross-country running was held. The event catalyzed economic activity, with online and offline sales of agricultural products exceeding 5.8 million yuan ($807,737), a year-on-year surge of 230 percent.

In the scenic Canglu Valley in Yunnan province’sDali Bai autonomous prefecture,surrounded by lush mountains, a tourism development model centered on outdoor leisure and lifestyles attracted more than 70,000 visitors in 2024, generatingaround 3 million yuan in consumption.

Traditionally, rural areas dense with forests, rivers, and mountains weredeemed economically unsuitable for agricultural or industrial development. Today, many of these regions are leveraging their natural endowments to develop premium outdoor destinations, thereby creating new opportunities for local growth.

High-quality outdoor destinations not only stimulate local cultural and tourism development, but also help expand related industries.

The Chinese outdoor apparel industry, for instance, is experiencing rapid growth. In Zhejiang, a “three-hour supply circle” for manufacturing outdoor jackets has emerged: composite fabrics from Jiaojiang in Taizhou, waterproof zippers from Linhai, fleece liners from Keqiao in Shaoxing, and final assembly in Sanmen. This close-knit supply chain exemplifies how the integration of sports and commerce is accelerating industrial synergy, with supply and demand mutually reinforcing.

In the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, novice surfers ride the waves under professional guidance. Along the Yellow River, rally races deliver pulse-pounding excitement. In Hubei province, adigital outdoor sports map is enhancing smart infrastructure and services. What were once niche or fringe activities are now becoming part of everyday life.

By turning “small sports” into “big industries,” and combining proactive government support with dynamic market mechanisms, China is turning innovative concepts into tangible benefits.

By Wang Pei, People’s Daily

On a factory floor in Qingdao Xihai’an (West Coast) New Area, east China’s Shandong province, workers at Qingdao YG-1 Tools Co., Ltd. carefully monitor grinding wheels as they move through a production line – machining, packaging, and preparing them for shipment.

“These grinding wheels are produced on the same production line for both export and domestic sale. For a company, walking with two legs allows you to go farther, ” said Jin Chengxun, head of the grinding wheel production department of the company.

Yet catering to both markets simultaneously poses significant challenges, particularly given the divergent technical standards between domestic and international buyers. The question arises: how can a single production line fulfill two distinct sets of rules?

In 2020, the Shandong Administration for Market Regulation introduced a policy encouraging companies to adopt unified production lines – employing the same processes and quality control protocols – to manufacture products that comply with both domestic and international standards. This policy formed a cornerstone of Qingdao’s broader efforts to integrate domestic and foreign trade. Seizing this opportunity, YG-1 Tools took steps to align with this dual-standard model.

“Recent shifts in global trade and consumer demand have prompted a reevaluation of market strategies. Overseas demand has slowed, while domestic industries – especially automotive and electrical manufacturing – are growing fast and creating strong demand for grinding and cutting wheels,” Jin said. “Shifting focus to the domestic market came at the right time.”

With exports to over 80 countries and regions and certification under the ISO 9001 quality management system, YG-1 Tools was well positioned for global business. However, transitioning to the domestic market proved unexpectedly difficult. The company encountered elevated defect rates – ranging from 15 to 20 percent – prompting customer complaints, product returns, and monthly domestic sales that struggled to exceed 400,000 yuan ($55,706). Rather thanexpanding, the company’s reputation within China was adversely affected.

The core issue lies in incompatible technical standards. “Take this grinding wheel, for example. The hardness scale runs from F to Z. A hardness level categorized as K by an overseas client might be evaluated as L or even M under Chinese standards,” explained Jin.

Faced with this challenge, the company considered whether adapting to the domestic market would require a complete overhaul of its production line — a move that would involve substantial financial investment. In January 2023, after becoming aware of the company’s challenges, the local market regulation authority in Qingdao Xihai’an (West Coast) New Area invited certification experts to work directly with the factory and explore alternative solutions.

“Industrial products are typically standardized, making it difficult to produce goods that satisfy multiple standards on a single line.But by making targeted adjustments to raw materials and processing methods, it’s possible to meet both without rebuilding the production system,” said Liu Hui, a senior staff member of the market regulation bureau of Qingdao Xihai’an (West Coast) New Area.

Following this guidance, the company’s technical team upgraded the grinding wheel formula to ensure compatibility with both domestic and international hardness criteria. Adjustments were made to raw material ratios, the mixing process, and kiln parameters, including temperature and firing time. Through repeated testing and fine-tuning, the company succeeded in aligning its products with dual standards.

“In addition to technical adjustments, we created a hardness conversion chart for quality inspectors, revised our factory inspection standards, overhauled the quality management system, and enhanced oversight of both in-process and final inspections,” Jin noted.

After obtaining an official certification to produce industrial products for both domestic and overseas markets, the company significantly reduced its defect rate to below one percent. It is now anapproved supplier for several major Chinese automobile manufacturers. Monthly sales have surged to over 1.2 million yuan, with domestic and international markets each contributing approximately 50 percent – and the domestic share continuing to grow.

Qingdao now hosts 100 enterprises certified for dual-standard manufacturing. Among them is Qingdao Shunchang Food Co., Ltd., which acquired a domestic food production license to expand its presence in the Chinese market. “We process vegetables for export to Japan, South Korea, and the European Union. Our product quality exceeds both export and domestic standards, and our production lines can switch seamlessly between the two,” said Zhang Qin’e, the company’s general manager.

By Li Xinping, People’s Daily

In Zhengzhou, central China’s Henan province, a shield tunneling machine with a diameter of 15.7 meters rolled off the production line, bound for export to Australia. This milestone marks the largest-diameter shield tunneling machine China has ever exported, underscoring the country’s growing strength in the field of tunnel boring technology.

Meanwhile, in Shanghai’sChongming district, a Chinese domestically developed “Linghang” shield tunneling machine burrowed its way underground and reached the middle of the Yangtze River, remotely controlled by engineers.

Shield tunneling machines, formally known as tunnel boring machines (TBMs), are hailed as the “king of construction machinery” due to their immense scale and complexity. Once limited to horizontal excavation, today’s Chinese-developed TBMs can operate in multiple orientations – including vertical, inclined, and curved trajectories – earning the nickname “transformers” for their adaptability and precision.

In September last year, a TBM named “Yongning” became the world’s first large-diameter machine capable of climbing steep gradients. It successfully excavated an inclined shaft at the Luoning Pumped Storage Power Station in Henan province. The shaft, nearly 873 meters long with a slope of 38.742 degrees, had posed a significant technical challenge. “Yongning” conquered the slope with ease, marking a major leap in tunneling capabilities and improving overall construction efficiency.

The “Yongning”TBM was developed by China Railway Engineering Equipment Group Co., Ltd. (CREG), which has established multiple R&D teams to support application-specific innovation. The teams have enhanced TBMs to dig in various cross-sectional shapes – including circular, square, horseshoe, and elliptical – allowing for broader use across sectors such as water conservancy, hydropower, mining, urban infrastructure, and underground parking structures.

In October 2024, China unveiled the “Jianghai” TBM with a record-breaking diameter exceeding 16.6 meters, the largest ever developed domestically.

What drives the trend toward increasingly larger TBMs?

According to Chen Jian, a TBM expert at China Railway 14th Bureau Group Co., Ltd., the answer lies in greater cost-efficiency. Ultra-large TBMs enable the construction of single super-sized tunnels thatcan replace two traditional parallel tunnels, conserving underground space. Moreover, tunnels over 15 meters in diametercan also accommodate multi-layered infrastructure, such as roadways, rail transit, and utility corridors, within a single excavation.

However, with greater size comes increased technical complexity.

“Once the diameter exceeds 15 meters, the risks associated with unstable geological conditions increase exponentially, demanding higher levels of structural integrity, precision control, and material fatigue resistance,” said He Fei, deputy head of the CREG technology center.

Back in October 2017, China’s first domestically developed 15-meter-class slurry balance TBM, “China Railway 306,” successfully rolled off the line, breaking the longstanding foreign monopoly in this field.

Since then, China has successively rolled out the 15.8-meter “Chunfeng,” the 16.07-meter “Jinghua,” and now the 16.6-meter-plus “Jianghai,” surpassing its own benchmarks and establishing a fully integrated domestic industrial chain for ultra-large TBM production.

Today, Chinese-manufactured TBMs account for nearly 70 percent of the global market. As innovation continues, Chinese engineers are striving to make them both smarter and more environmentally sustainable.

Inside the cabin of the “Linghang” TBM, a dashboard displays real-time data on the machine’s operating status. Human intervention is minimal, as the machine runs autonomously, guided by an advanced visual recognition and intelligent control system.

“In the past, TBM excavation was akin to working blind – geological uncertainties posed serious safety risks,” said Liao Zhaojin, chief designer of the “Linghang” TBM.

Equipped with a cutting-edge geological forecasting system, “Linghang” can accurately detect geological conditions 10 to 40 meters in front of the cutterhead. Its intelligent sensing system continuously analyzes real-time conditions, enhancing both safety and accuracy. The TBM’s AI-driven control system enables it to make autonomous decisions with millimeter-level precision.

Environmental sustainability is also a major priority. On July 23, 2024, “the China Railway 1237,” the world’s first green TBM, was successfully launched.

“What defines a green TBM is its ability to optimize energy use,” explained Cao Shulei, chief designer of the machine.”We’ve equipped the machine with an intelligent system that automatically manages the various subsystems during tunneling to optimize both efficiency and energy consumption, achieving energy savings and reduced emissions.” The machine has since been exported to Italy, where it is being used for high-speed rail tunnel construction in Sicily – a sign of international recognition for China’s green TBM technology.

By Zhang Cheng, People’s Daily

On the sun-drenched plateaus of Ejin Horo banner, Ordos, north China’s Inner Mongolia autonomous region, the glare bouncing off more than a million silver-blue photovoltaic panels is dazzling. The panels stretch across 42,000 mu (2,800 hectares) of terrain once ravaged by coal mining. Today, the view is unexpectedly softened by the emergence of fresh vegetation and rows of fruit trees.

Mines occupy 87 percent of Ejin Horo banner’s total area. With proven coal reserves of 56 billion tons and more than 3 billion tons already extracted, the region currently produces around 210 million tons of coal annually.

While coal continues to underpin the local economy, the environmental consequences of mining are stark: over 700,000 mu of subsidence zones have formed, with an additional 30,000 mu being added each year. These lands cannot be allowed to deteriorate indefinitely. A transition toward sustainable development is no longer optional; it is essential.

The imperative of transformation prompts a critical question: should the region pursue a wholly new direction, or should it build upon its existing industrial foundations? Ejin Horo banner chose the latter. By leveraging its well-established coal chemical industry, abundant wind and solar resources, and extensive tracts of subsidence-affected land, the region is advancing a proactive agenda for sustainable development.

Rather than abandoning its industrial base, the region is upgrading it through technological innovation to extend and deepen the industrial chain.

At the Ordos coal-to-liquid (CTL) branch of China Energy Investment Corporation, the world’s first million-ton direct CTL facility converts coal into refined products like naphtha, diesel, and gasoline. Besides, Inner Mongolia Huineng Coal Chemical Co., Ltd. processes 5.5 million tons of coal into liquefied natural gas each year. The former “dig-and-sell” model is being supplanted by a complex value chain of coal-based chemical industry.

At the heart of China’s energy transformation lies the objective of building a clean, low-carbon, safe, and efficient energy system.

In Ordos Mengsu Economic Development Zone, solar panels and large wind turbines power a zero-carbon industrial park. Within the park, production lines energized by green electricity employ robotic arms to assemble battery cells. From photovoltaic modules to energy storage batteries, from hydrogen fuel cells to new energy heavy trucks, an integrated industrial ecosystem encompassing wind, solar, thermal, hydrogen and storage is steadily taking shape.

This interconnection between green energy and green production fosters the development of emerging sectors, contributing to a more advanced and efficient economic structure.

Ultimately, the overarching aim of this green transition is not solelyindustrial upgrading, but also to deliver shared prosperity.

In recent years, Ejin Horo banner has carried out relevant initiatives to promote ecological restoration with preliminary ecological balance achieved.

To date, 47 green mines have been established. Of the 17 open-pit coal mines undergoing reclamation, 96.85 percent have been restored, and 94.51 percent of the land has been returned to productive use. Some former subsidence zones have been repurposed into solar farms, where crops like medick and mulberry grow beneath solar panels. The surrounding areas now support apple trees, sea buckthorns, and apricot orchards, simultaneously rehabilitating the environment and generating economic returns.

Relocated villagers are increasingly able to return to their hometowns and work in the photovoltaic industry. Through coordinated efforts in ecological restoration, mining redevelopment, and solar sector growth, these previously abandoned mines are being transformed into valuable assets, unlocking comprehensive benefits.

As the local economy transitions from black to green, the industrial footprint is shifting from subterranean extraction to surface-based innovation. Former subsidence zones are being reimagined as productive and scenic landscapes. A comprehensive blueprint for high-quality green development is steadily unfolding across this once coal-dependent region.

By He Juan, People’s Daily

At the second Wuyi Forum, a platform for international academic exchanges, Robert Chard, a sinologist and emeritus professor from the University of Oxford, said that he hopes the West can come to see that China is very cool, very interesting, and very much worth learning from.

“Cool” is a term rooted in youth culture, typically associated with what is fashionable, innovative and avant-garde. For decades, the term has been dominated by Western cultural expressions. Yet this perception is gradually shifting, as global attention increasingly turns eastward.

Consider the case of a foreign social media influencer who, after experiencing a Chinese new energy vehicle, remarked that it resembled a nanny van from the future.

“When China waters, we bloom,” said an executive of a multinational corporation, referring to the country’s fair, open, and vast market. Today, for many foreign investors, China represents a land of certainty and opportunity.

In the video game “Black Myth: Wukong,”the protagonist – long translated as the “Monkey King” for international audiences – is now introduced simply as “Wukong.” This linguistic choice, subtle yet deliberate, exemplifies a growing cultural confidence.

What makes China “cool” is not only its embrace of modernity, but also the depth of its ancient civilization. It is this blend of heritage and progress that is helping to expand and redefine the global understanding of cultural dynamism.

The introduction of visa-free policies has led to a significant increase in foreign travel to China. Online engagement echoes this trend: videos tagged “learning Chinese” have racked up billions of views on platforms such as TikTok. The desire to understand and experience China is rising markedly. But overcoming long-standing prejudices and outdated stereotypes continues to obstruct more nuanced perceptions, and dismantling these will require sustained effort.

In cross-cultural communication, the notion of”cultural discount” persists. Take theChinese animated blockbuster”Ne Zha 2″ for example. Its central theme -defiance of fate and self-realization – possesses universal resonance, while the film’s culturally specific cultural symbols, such as iconic mythological weapons like the Wind and Fire Wheels and the Jingu Bang,may prove elusive to international audiences unfamiliar with the mythology. This highlights the inherent complexity of bridging cultural divides.

Nonetheless, even entrenched prejudices are not insurmountable.

In January, an American father posted a photo of himself and his daughter on Chinese social media app Xiaohongshu, also known as RedNote abroad, accompanied by a simple greeting. The post received over 10,000 comments and sparked a genuine friendship with a family in Shanghai. The two families ultimately met in person in March and spent meaningful time together. Their experience – an authentic cross-cultural exchange rooted in sincerity – offered a small yet profound illustration of what global understanding might look like when empathy transcends distance.

Such moments are becoming more visible. American YouTuber iShowSpeed livestreamed his journey in China this year, drawing millions of viewers. Unedited and spontaneous, his broadcasts offered an unvarnished view of contemporary Chinese life, allowing global audiences to witness China’s rapid development and everyday charm in real time.

Public perception is the sunlight that dispels prejudice, and human connection bridges even the most entrenched divides. And it is authentic experience that makes for the most compelling stories and vibrant narratives.

Today, China is confidently embracing the world with openness. As more of its warm, powerful, and relatable stories resonate across borders, they will foster empathy, deepen connections, and write new chapters in cultural exchanges and mutual understanding.

By Wang Lewen, Fang Min, Bi Jingjin, People’s Daily

In the heart of central China, Henan province has made significant strides toward high-quality development, anchored firmly in the real economy. From major industrial hubs to advanced infrastructure projects, the province’s development momentum is palpable across the central plains.

At a construction site in Luoyang, the second phase of Chinese battery giant CATL’s facility is rapidly taking shape, with tower cranes punctuating the skyline. Meanwhile, in the Zhengzhou Airport Economy Zone, the hum of machinery fills the air as construction activities intensify to establish the Central China Medical Science District.

Henan has prioritized the real economy as the cornerstone of its economic strategy. By leveraging project development as a principal mechanism, the province has actively expanded effective investment and invigoratedthe drivers for stabilizing economic growth.

In 2024, Henan launched 16,800 major projects across various stages of development, encompassing contract signing, groundbreaking ceremonies, and production commencements. Among them, 9,718 projects pertain to advanced manufacturing. Key indicators, including fixed-asset and industrial investment,outpaced the Chinese national average, underscoring the province’s economic momentum.

In Mengzhuang township, Huixian, construction is underway on a smart logistics hub for Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com. Two large warehouses have been completed, the main building has reached structural completion, and other auxiliary facilities are advancing at a steady pace.

With a total investment of over 600 million yuan ($83.32 million), the project encompassessix centers, two bases, and one headquarters. Construction commenced in 2024, with some facilities already operational, generating thousands of jobs.

“We are striking a balance between quick wins and long-term vision,” said Tian Dongfang, director of the township’s economic development office. “Our goal is to build a comprehensive logistics hub for northern Henan, with massive growth potential.”

This equilibrium between short-term accomplishments and forward-lookingplanning underpins Henan’s confidence in its development trajectory. The province maintains a strategicapproach in the formulation and preparation of major projects.

“Henan always keeps a strong pipeline of major projects across key sectors. We maintain a reserve of at least 100 high-quality projects, revising the list every six months based on evolving needs,”explained an official with the Development and Reform Commission of Henan Province.

The province has released its list of key construction projects for 2025, identifying 1,037 provincial-level projects with a combined investment of around 3.1 trillion yuan. It aims to complete investments totaling approximately 1 trillion yuan within the year.

Henan is also capitalizing on its intrinsic advantages to reinforce its development strengths.With a well-establishedindustrial base, the province successfully attracted Chinese automaker SAIC Motor to build a new energy battery plant in Zhengzhou. Concurrently, the province is expediting the development of a 10-billion-yuan food industrial park in Luohe’sYancheng district, harnessing its abundant agricultural resources.

Innovation, infrastructure enhancement, and industrial transformation remain central to Henan’s priorities. The province targets the production of 2 million vehicles in 2025, including 1.4 million new energy vehicles. Meanwhile, it is accelerating construction of major projects such as an ethylene production facility and a fluorosilicon materials complex in Luohe, alongside critical infrastructure projects including the Yellow River Crossing Projectand Phase I project at Zhoukou Central Port.

While expanding itsoverall economic scale, Henan equally emphasizes the qualitative aspects of growth. By upgrading project structures, the province is elevating the standard of industrial development.

At Zhengzhou Hengda Intelligent Control Technology Co., Ltd., a manufacturer specializing in smart control systems for coal mining operations, research personnel now outnumber production workers by a ratio of five to one, resulting in a 67 percent increase in per capita productivity.

The company faced constraints such as limitedgrowth capacity and low automation levels. To facilitate its development, the Zhengzhou Economic and Technological Development Zone designated the construction of a new facility for Hengda Intelligent Control as a key advanced manufacturing project, providing strong policy support and logistical facilitation.

“With more automated and digitalized equipment, we’ve been able to deploy our workforce toward research, development and services,” said Lian Donghui, general manager assistant of the company.

“When planning and executing projects, our primary focus remains industrial development,” said Chen Bo, director of the Henan provincial government’s office for key project construction.

According to Chen, a single major project can serve as a catalyst for new growth, while a cluster of such projects can establish a new economic growth pole. The province actively encourages upstream and downstream businesses to co-locate in proximity to core projects, thereby accelerating cluster-based industrial development.

In Luoyang’sYibin district, a white freight truck loaded with new energy batteries departed the Phase I facility of CATL’s Luoyang base. This flagship project has attracted nine affiliated enterprises along the industrial chain, which have signed agreements to establish operations in the vicinity. As a result, a large-scale new energy battery industrial cluster, with an expected output value of over 100 billion yuan, is rapidly emerging in the city.

High-quality, large-scale projects are providing a firm foundation for Henan’s efforts to stabilize growth, improve its economic structure, and foster new growth drivers. In 2024, the value added of industrial enterprises above the designated size in the province rose 8.1 percent year on year. Fixed-asset investment grew 7 percent, while the value added of strategic emerging industries and high-tech manufacturing increased by 9.2 percent and 12 percent, respectively.

By Yu Jingxian, Fan Haotian, Xu Jing, People’s Daily

May marks the peak breeding season for fish species in key areas of the Yangtze River Basin, including the main river, tributaries, and major connected lakes.

As China’s longest river, the Yangtze River plays an indispensable role in the country’s ecological well-being. In 2021, a decade-long fishing ban was fully implemented across key conservation areas of the river to restore its ecosystem. Now in its fifth year, the effort is showing tangible results.

According to the latest data, the average fishery resource volume at monitoring sites along the river’s main stem rose by 9.5 percent year on year in 2024. From 2021 to 2024, 344 native fish species were monitored in the basin, an increase of 36 species compared to the 2017 to 2020 period which preceded the fishing ban.

Supported by conservation efforts across the entire basin, the Yangtze River is gradually recovering its ecological vitality and fostering renewed harmony between human activities and natural systems.

Early in the morning in Jiangtun bay of Yangye township, Ezhou, central China’s Hubei province, several Yangtze finless porpoises frolicked in the river, occasionally poking their heads above the water.

“The water quality has improved a lot in recent years. These ‘smiling angels,’ once rarely seen, now appear regularly,” said local resident Li Congguo, proudly showing a video clip of the porpoises captured on his phone.

The Yangtze finless porpoise – widely regarded as a flagship species – serves as a critical barometer of the river’s ecological health. Jiangtun bay, with its gentle currents and abundant aquatic resources, is one of the important natural habitats of the porpoise in the river’s middle and lower reaches.

“We plan to install panoramic cameras to enable real-time public observation of the porpoises. In the future, we’ll also explore eco-tourism and educational initiatives to further promote awareness and protection of the species,” said Yan Jian, head of Yangye township.

Conservation efforts are intensifying for other iconic species, including the Chinese sturgeon and Yangtze sturgeon.

For the first time, over one million Chinese sturgeons were released into the river last year, and an estimated 110,000 juveniles successfully migrated to the sea via the Yangtze estuary. In areas like Poyang Lake and Dongting Lake, emergency rescue operations for Yangtze finless porpoises were conducted during dry seasons, combining in-situ and ex-situ protection strategies.

The fishing impacts the livelihoods of more than 200,000 fishermen who lived along the river. How have their lives evolved in the aftermath?

At a “fish-to-farming” base in Huyang township, Dangtu county, Ma’anshan, east China’s Anhui province, Ma Wuyi, in his fifties, was weeding a crab pond. Six years ago, he was a seasoned fisherman. In 2019, as part of a government initiative to relocate fishermen away from the Yangtze River and its tributaries, Ma relinquished his nets and moved into a resettlement community with his family.

The county also launched supportive policies to facilitate career transitions, particularly toward aquaculture.Ma participated in free training courses on fish and crab farming,organized by the county and township governments. To address the challenges of vocational adaptation, Dangtu county established a technical support team at the aquaculture base, assigning experts to each former fisherman to provide free guidance on pond disinfection, feeding, disease control, and more.

This farming season, Mastocked his ponds with about 850 kilograms of crab fry and over 300 kilograms of shrimp fry. “The crabs are growing well. It’s only May, and the biggest already weighs about 75 grams. I’m optimistic about this year’s harvest,” he said.

Since the full implementation of the ten-year fishing ban, local governments have worked to ensure the proper resettlement and support of former fishermen. Continuous follow-up studies and poverty prevention monitoring have been carried out.

By the end of the first quarter of this year, all 145,000 former fishermen nationwide with both the ability and willingness to work had found new employment. All 220,000 eligible former fishermen had been enrolled in basic pension insurance, and 12,000 fishermen facing financial difficulties had been included in the Chinese national subsistence allowance system.

Rehabilitating the ecological health of the Yangtze River requires attention to both aquatic and terrestrial sources degradation. In recent years, provinces along the river and relevant departments have undertaken coordinated efforts to restructure local economies. Thousands of chemical plants have been shut down, relocated, upgraded, or repurposed to enable green development.

At the Baiyang Industrial Park in Yichang Hi-tech Industry Development Zone, central China’s Hubei province, construction is underway on a fluorosilicone materials facility. “This relocation is not just about a geographic shift – it represents a comprehensive upgrade toward high-end, smart, and green production,” said Huang Zhiliang, deputy chief engineer of Hubei YiHua Group. The company has invested 112 million yuan ($15.6 million) in building a smart chemical plant, which is expected to conserve the equivalent of 110,000 metric tons of standard coal annually.

Experts emphasize that the fishing ban has fundamentally curtailed overfishing. However, the Yangtze River’s full ecological recovery remains a long-term endeavor. Challenges such as blocked migration routes, water pollution, and habitat destruction continue to pose significant threats to biodiversity.