A driverless robotaxi glides through the streets of Guangzhou, Guangdong province, slowing to pick up a passenger before merging back into traffic. Roughly 70 kilometers away in Dongguan, robotic arms work in harmony on an assembly line, while in Shenzhen, an engineer uploads a circuit design to an online platform, and within hours the first prototype is already entering production. Though these technologies appear to belong to different industries, they share one thing in common: many are being developed by private enterprises from Guangdong, China’s largest provincial economy and one…
The Times of China
A shaky chestcam video, a mist-shrouded iron ladder and one trembling question — “Is this the way to heaven?” — have propelled the 168-meter “sky ladder”, part of a via ferrata, or protected climbing route, in Zhangjiajie, Hunan province, into the global spotlight. Posted on social media platform RedNote in March, the first-person clip captures a climber inching up metal rungs that vanish into clouds. The ladder sways with the movement of people above and below. “I’m almost there,” she whispers, sounding both frightened and unbowed. The video was an…
Yifan Zhang was born on February 10, 2000 in Changchun, Jilin, China. She is an actress, known for I Swear (2025), Better Days (2019) and Dun huang ying xiong (2024).
A comprehensive overhaul of existing laws and regulations is underway to ensure the accurate and effective implementation of the Ecological and Environmental Code, an official from China’s top court said. On Friday, coinciding with World Environment Day, Yang Linping, vice-president of the Supreme People’s Court, said at a news conference that she and her colleagues are aligning, revising and abolishing current judicial interpretations and guidelines in the ecological and environmental sector with the new code, which will take effect on Aug 15. “We’re also drafting new judicial interpretations of the…
International journalists, content creators and experts embarked on an immersive journey to experience a dynamic and innovative China. Titled “Meet in Zhongyuan, Discover China through Henan — 2026 China Storyteller Partnerships Henan Tour”, the five-day event brings together over 20 participants as they start their visit to Zhengzhou and Luoyang. The group will explore advanced manufacturing clusters, inland transportation hubs, UNESCO World Heritage Sites and time-honored ancient cities, and create content for global audiences. Geoff Thompson, editor-in-chief of Luxembourg-based media G-Media Sarl, noted that his previous trip to Henan was…
The world’s highest-altitude tower-type solar thermal power plant, located in Amdo county in the Xizang autonomous region, has completed the installation of its mirrors – 15,927 of them – marking a major milestone toward grid-connected power generation later this year, Xizang Daily reported. The 100-megawatt solar thermal power station, built by Xizang Development Investment Group, is the first power plant of its kind in Xizang. The project is part of the region’s key energy development plan for the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25) and belongs to a broader 750MW solar…
Starbucks China is venturing beyond food and beverages to launch its first apparel line across the country, as companies in the tea and coffee sector increasingly embrace lifestyle and cultural merchandise to drive growth. Over 400 Starbucks stores nationwide have been selling the “Bearista Town” collection since May 26, featuring utility vests for 399 yuan ($59), embroidered T-shirts for 279 yuan and hooded jackets costing up to 459 yuan. Previously, Starbucks’ retail merchandise largely centered on drink-ware, with limited T-shirt offerings. The new collection, unveiled through Starbucks’ mini-program, also includes…
At the age of 18 and with little acting experience, Lin was cast as the female protagonist in the 2016 film The Mermaid directed by Stephen Chow. The Mermaid was the highest-grossing film in China and launched Lin to fame. The same year, Lin featured in the fantasy epic film L.O.R.D: Legend of Ravaging Dynasties, directed and written by Guo Jingming. Lin starred in another Stephen Chow film, Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons 2 (2017) where she played the White Bone Spirit. She was also cast in the…
The idea of ecological civilization was first introduced during the 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 2007, marking a new direction in the country’s social and economic development. In 2012, it became even more central when it was included in the “five-in-one” framework, placing environmental protection alongside economic, political, cultural, and social development. The importance of the concept has continued to grow. In 2017, ecological civilization was described as a long-term goal for China’s future, and, in 2018, it was written into its Constitution. Today, it…
Humanoid robots enter mass market
As leading Chinese humanoid robot makers unveil increasingly affordable models, advances in manufacturing, supply chain localization and growing production volumes are pushing the sector into a new phase of commercial adoption. Unitree Robotics recently launched its dual-arm humanoid robot R1 with a starting price of 26,900 yuan ($3,968), making it the company’s most affordable humanoid robot to date. Earlier, Noetix Robotics introduced its Bumi robot for 9,998 yuan, becoming one of the first consumer-oriented humanoid robots priced below the 10,000-yuan threshold. Around the same time, Booster Robotics also launched its…