Stories from Beijing · China

The Chinese fashion industry is concerned about rising material, energy, and transportation costs due to potential regional instability. The source noted that these pressures are spreading to neighboring countries. Analysts suggest international brands may attempt to mitigate inflation by placing orders with South Asian upstream producers several months in advance at fixed prices. The source noted that failure to secure these costs could lead to inflation for the sector. This strategy aims to manage the impact of potential price surges in the supply chain. Some brands are reportedly placing orders with South Asian manufacturers months in advance at fixed prices to mitigate these risks. Currently, retail prices for Western brands have not yet been adjusted.

Wang, a household worker, spent 108,000 yuan on ten glove-making machines advertised via short video. Local officials have been held accountable due to illegalities and dereliction of duty involving the Changgang Ecological Yuan project. China is launching a campaign from April to June 2026 to address irregularities in the electric vehicle battery recycling market. Authorities identified issues including lack of traceability, unlicensed operations, and illegal dismantling causing environmental pollution. In 2025, China recycled over 400,000 tons of used EV batteries, representing a 32.9% increase compared to the previous year. The source noted that while the EV battery recycling system has made positive progress, market irregularities persist. China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology is launching a special rectification campaign against illegal internet practices.

China's residents' ecological and environmental health literacy level reached 22.6% in 2025, an increase of 3.8 percentage points from 2022. China has achieved 20% of its planned environmental health work for the 14th Five-Year Plan, with 523 projects completed. China's resident environmental health literacy level reached 22.6 percent in 2025, according to data from the Ministry of Ecology and Environment. China's production of excavators has exceeded 9,000 units for a specific model, contributing to a total production increase of approximately 30 percent year-on-year. China's major excavator manufacturers sold 73,336 units during the first quarter of the year. China's Ministry of Ecology and Environment reported on April 27 that the environmental health literacy level of Chinese residents was 22.6% in 2025.

Professor Zhang Xiuqin, a renowned expert in Gua Sha, and Professor Han Tianlu from the School of Humanities at Hebei University will discuss Gua Sha from a cultural and etymological perspective, moving beyond purely medical viewpoints. They described Gua Sha as a 'people-friendly' method that is easy to master, unlike precise acupuncture. Wenge is described as bitter, salty, and cold, and it enters the kidney, liver, and stomach meridians. They said that traditional Chinese medicine said following natural seasonal changes for health. The professors also detailed how to use Gua Sha on the abdomen, specifically around the Qihai and Guanyuan acupoints, to improve energy flow. They explained that Gua Sha can promote circulation and reduce fever, and is for conditions like coughs and sore throats.

Hebei Province's Department of Transportation Deputy Director, Dang Yongqiang, stated that during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, efforts will focus on connecting Hebei's green transport areas with Beijing.

China's electric vehicle market continues to be dominated by affordable models, driving growth.

CNR Economic Voice discussed workplace skills and emotional intelligence, said the importance of scale for effective results without causing harm. China's Business Radio reported that the national cumulative inspection of foreigners reached 21.333 million person-times in the first quarter, a year-on-year increase of 22.3%. Foreigners are increasingly choosing immersive, in-depth travel experiences in smaller cities rather than just visiting major cities like Beijing and Shanghai. The broadcast also mentioned learning workplace etiquette and wisdom from historical contexts.

A large bird, identified as an Oriental White Stork, was found unable to fly on the roadside.

A trending topic on Zhihu explores the dual nature of randomness, examining why it can evoke feelings of excitement in some contexts and frustration in others.

In the first quarter of 2026, China's insurance industry achieved a premium income of 2.31 trillion yuan, a 6.2% increase year-on-year. Payouts during the same period reached 0.89 trillion yuan, up 7.5% compared to the previous year. China's economic growth has slowed since September of last year, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics. China's insurance industry committee has proposed a projected interest rate of 1.93% for ordinary personal insurance products in the first quarter of 2026. The current predicted interest rate for ordinary personal life insurance products in China is 1.93%, a decrease of 0.04 percentage points. China's ordinary life insurance rate has seen its first increase since the Insurance Association of China announced its projected interest rate research in 2025. This growth indicates a potential shift in consumer behavior or market conditions.