Stories from Beijing · China

China's Przewalski's horse population has risen above 900 individuals. This follows forty years of the 'Wild Horse Return Program' aimed at restoring the world's only surviving wild horse species.

The 2026 Beijing Spring Birdwatching Competition concluded after one week of competition. The competition involved 42 teams and 168 participants over one week. The Beijing Municipal Bureau of Commerce and the Municipal Bureau of Greenery released a recommended list of 55 birdwatching locations across the city. Locations include urban parks, forest parks, Songzhuang Town, Yao Budong Village, and Shunyi Zhang Town. Xue Yang, Director of the Greenery Resource Protection Center, presented the recommendations during the event. The Beijing Municipal Bureau of Ecology and Environment released the 2026 Beijing Birdwatching Guide during the 44th annual spring birdwatching event at the Chaobai Forest Park. The guide recommends 55 specific locations for birdwatching, including urban parks, forest parks, and areas in Songzhuang Town and Shunyi District.

The Tiantan Awards have released their first shortlist of nominated films. A total of 1,826 feature films were submitted from 139 countries and regions. International films accounted for 1,607 of the entries, representing 88% of the total submissions. The jury includes prominent film industry figures such as Zhang Xiaofei and Zhang Yi.

Chinese Foreign Minister stated that US-China relations enjoy bright prospects. The official noted that Chinese products are expanding into the Chinese market with help from Ghana.

Ouyang Minggao suggests integrating electric vehicles with energy networks to create economic value. Vehicles could use onboard batteries to assist in grid regulation rather than just consuming power. This model involves slow charging for profit and rapid charging for long-distance travel. The integration of solar, storage, charging, and swapping is expected to provide foundational support for new energy vehicles.

The third high-level meeting of the Digital Empowerment Forum concluded in Beijing. Over 600 representatives from 140 countries and international organizations attended the event both online and in person. Discussions focused on digital empowerment for the Global South and modernizing developing nations. Participants also addressed climate resilience and sustainable development financing. The forum aimed to build consensus on technological integration for developing economies. Attendees included organizations and specialized agencies from more than 140 countries and regions. China's Ministry of National Defense spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang announced the 2026 Beijing Xiangshan Forum will be held from May 7 to May 9. Journalists from 38 African nations are meeting to discuss media independence.

Scientist Yan Ning claims that peer reviewers stole information from at least two of her CNS papers to publish them prematurely. Yan Ning specifically alleges that at least two CNS (Cell, Nature, Science) papers were stolen by peer reviewers. The allegations have become a trending topic on Zhihu, with the researcher stating via Weibo that at least two CNS papers were stolen by reviewers. Researcher Yan Ning claims at least two papers submitted to the journal CNS were stolen and published by reviewers. The scientist specifies that at least two CNS-level papers were targeted by reviewers who stole information for early publication.

The China South men's team is scheduled to play against Canada in the second group stage match of the Tomm's Cup. The team is playing the second group stage match following a 5-0 win against Australia to determine knockout stage positioning. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the State Administration for Market Regulation jointly released the 2026 version of group tour contract demonstration texts. These templates establish clearer regulations for itineraries, service standards, and consumer rights protection. The new contracts will be implemented nationwide to prevent forced consumption and opaque itineraries. The initiative aims to protect tourist rights at the source.

The National Energy Administration will present its quarterly routine news briefing regarding China's energy situation and development achievements for the first quarter.

The Chinese Foreign Minister stated that China-US relations enjoy bright prospects.