Stories from Beijing · China

Researchers in Beijing are working to preserve and study the stone carvings at Yunju Temple. Wei Pengju is leading efforts to preserve and disseminate the thousand-year-old culture of Yunju Temple. Wei Pengju said using digitalization to protect the carvings' calligraphy and cultural continuity. Wei Pengju stated that digital information tools are essential for the preservation and utilization of stone carvings at Yunju Temple. Wei Pengju suggests involving more academic forces to balance the protection and utilization of stone carvings.

Experts forecast that consumer-grade 6G services are likely to enter the market around 2030. Experts suggest mass-market penetration may take several years beyond the initial 2030 consumer entry, with costs expected to drop via scale effects. Initial construction costs for 6G networks are expected to be high.

Ten Chinese government departments, including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, have jointly issued a document regarding artificial intelligence technology ethics. The State Council released opinions on April 21 to promote the expansion of the service industry system.

Over 20% of wealth produced in China has been lost due to a real estate crisis. Retail sales grew by only 3% in 2022, with growth slowing to 0.9% in December. House prices fell by approximately 4% over the last year. The economic instability follows a period of weak growth in 2025. The hospitality and catering industry has criticized government subsidies for failing to offset rising costs. Housing supply for sale in China fell between 10% and 15% year-on-year between early 2025 and early 2026. Demand continues to outpace supply in the market.

Beijing port recorded over 7 million inbound and outbound travelers as of 8:00 AM today. Beijing port passenger traffic exceeded 7 million entries and exits this year as of 8:00 AM on April 26. Traffic reached 7 million people, a 13.3% year-on-year increase, with foreign travelers exceeding 2.28 million (up 34%). Beijing Capital International Airport reported that inbound and outbound passenger volume at Beijing ports exceeded 7 million people as of 8:00 on April 26. Beijing port inbound and outbound passenger volume is projected to exceed 334,000 people during the upcoming May Day holiday. Beijing Border Station expects 89,000 travelers at the Daxing International Airport port, averaging 18,000 people per day. Beijing border inspection authorities expect the number of people entering and exiting Beijing ports to surpass 334,000.

China is reportedly developing tactical mini nuclear weapons and dangerous missiles, according to warnings from the United States. This development is described as a nuclear threat to India's neighborhood. Four Chinese government departments have issued a joint directive to accelerate the high-quality development of technology insurance.

Chinese platform Douyin has removed over 538,000 videos for violating artificial intelligence regulations. The crackdown targets AI-driven misconduct including face-swapping and the unauthorized use of celebrity images. The campaign also addresses the creation and distribution of content that infringes on intellectual property rights. The company announced the specific figure via its official account. China recently launched a special governance initiative targeting short video content.

China Sports Lottery has accumulated over 1 trillion yuan in public welfare funds as of March 21. Cumulative funds reached 1 trillion yuan as of March 21, with annual collections at 3 billion yuan. China Construction Bank has been fined over 43.5 million yuan for illegal activities, including failure to fulfill customer identity verification obligations. This milestone highlights the lottery's contribution to public welfare initiatives across China. The funds are generated from ticket sales. As of 4:23 PM on May 2, 2026, the box office for films released during the May Day holiday in China has surpassed 1 million yuan.

Economist Jeffrey Sachs stated that China's rise in technical manufacturing and heavy industry is rewriting the global balance of power. Sachs noted that China currently leads the United States in many technological sectors. He asserted that US hegemony is approaching its end, a trend he believes has been manifesting for decades. These comments were made during an interview on the Da Eurasia Podcast. The discussion occurred following remarks by former Mexican Ambassador to China Li Ziwen regarding Chinese investment in Mexico.

The Asia-Pacific Regional Cooperation Organization Secretariat has achieved progress on annual theme proposals. Working groups reached a phased annual result during consultations on a series of outcome documents. Ye De-ker Polevensky, Chairman of the Asia-Pacific Foreign Affairs Committee, expressed interest in deepening economic and trade ties with China. Former Mexican Ambassador to China Li Ziwen stated that Mexico aims to promote market diversification and encourage Chinese investment in Mexican production to create high-quality jobs. Representatives highly evaluated the significance of Asia-Pacific regional cooperation and expressed intent to deepen economic and trade relations with China.