Stories from Beijing · China

Chinese President Xi Jinping has quoted ancient poetry, including a line from Song Dynasty poet Li Qingzhao, during a speech celebrating the 40th anniversary of reform and opening up. Emperor Xingzhi asked Han Lanying to compose a poem for Yan. Han Lanying's life, from her youthful innocence to her palace entry, is described as a testament to her intelligence, confidence, and bravery. The broadcast also touches on the importance of building a community of life between humans and nature, advocating for biodiversity and green development. These quotes often reflect themes of maternal love, homesickness, and the challenges facing the international community. The program "Feng Ya Ji" explores these poetic references, highlighting their significance in Xi's speeches.

The Capital Museum has opened a special exhibition titled 'Ancient Civilizations of Maya and the Andes'. A stone tablet found in a Beijing museum contains inscriptions of names and positions, dating back to 1026 AD during the Northern Song Dynasty. The exhibit is located at the Shike Art Management in Beijing. The stone tablet's origins are being investigated. Music archaeologist Feng Guangsheng discussed the instruments, highlighting that the 'Zeng Hou Yi Bian Zhong' is filled with humanity. The Andean region was a granary, with areas occupied by the Wari and Inca empires. An ancient musical artifact, the 'Zeng Hou Yi Bian Zhong', has been unearthed in China. This area is located on the western side of South America, featuring a long, narrow coastal strip. It was later moved to the Imperial Academy in Beijing during the Yuan Dynasty.

China Construction Bank was fined over 43.5 million yuan for violating regulations, including failing to fulfill customer identity verification obligations. As of 12:57 PM today, the total box office for the 2026 film year has surpassed 13 billion yuan.

Industrial workers in China are embracing artificial intelligence and digitalization, viewing these technologies as tools to enhance precision, quality, and efficiency rather than replacements for human labor. An electrical maintenance team member discussed solving a technical issue where a forged part was 0.02 millimeters out of tolerance, which could impact mass production. A petroleum worker reflected on his early career, questioning his ability to endure the hardships of the job and fulfill the responsibility of contributing to the nation's oil industry. Chinese tractor production has advanced from 20-30 horsepower to a maximum of 450 horsepower, meeting diverse terrain needs. The spirit of labor is described as loving one's job, being dedicated, and willing to contribute, with an emphasis on passing down technical skills and good practices.

An earring featuring a turquoise mosaic in the shape of a deer has been identified. The artifact utilizes turquoise, a semi-precious stone widely used in Andean civilizations, inlaid with metals such as silver.

Four Chinese government departments have issued guidelines to accelerate the high-quality development of technology insurance. Analysts suggest this surge in demand could lead to supply shortages.

Modern technology is being used to replicate details of an ancient vessel held in the National Museum collection. The creation of the replica aims to preserve this cultural heritage for future generations. The replica process is challenging, particularly in tuning, to ensure it is both visually and sonically similar to the original. One song, 'Boxing Martial Arts,' was noted for its simple, three-beat rhythm. The music was traditionally performed by ensemble bands. This song featured a limited number of rhythms, with each section containing only three beats. The performance style typically involved a group ensemble. One song, 'Boxing Skills,' featured three rhythms per section and was considered to have fewer rhythms. The broadcast discussed historical Chinese legal cases, including the 'Divine Artifact Map' case and the 'Wu Sangui Rebellion'.

The non-manufacturing business activity index also declined, returning to a level below 52. This represents a 0.1% decrease from the 50.4 recorded in March. The report noted that a domestic semiconductor supplier is facing issues supplying products due to being based in the United States. This shift in focus from tariffs to semiconductor supply chains is expected to be a priority for Chinese authorities. China's manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) fell to 50.3 in April, representing a 0.7% decrease from March levels. The April manufacturing PMI was 50.3, down 0.1% from March's 50.4. High-tech manufacturing production in China is currently leading the sector, according to a report on the mainland economy. Data from the first quarter indicates that high-tech production is currently leading the manufacturing sector.

Pottery from the late Majiayao culture features realistic depictions of metalworking scenes. The artifacts show craftsmen using mud bricks to construct smelting furnaces with multiple openings to increase efficiency.

The China National Museum is displaying a bronze figure of a child known as Tongmian Xiaoniang. It is described as having a dry, bitter, and astringent taste, with a neutral thermal property, and is associated with the liver, lungs, and kidneys. The program also touched upon the digestive and metabolic functions of the spleen and the formation of phlegm. These works incorporate traditional court-style paper cutting. In 2019, works with court-style paper cutting characteristics participated in a competition at the Beijing Garden Expo and won a special prize. The broadcast highlighted the tangible and experiential aspects of cultural heritage that can be passed down through generations. A national treasure-level bronze figure, known as the 'Zhen Jiu Tong Ren', has 666 acupoint locations, with 559 unique names after accounting for symmetrical points.