Innehållsförteckning för Vol.68/No.33 från Beijing Review

“Vibrant China” isn’t just a slogan—it’s reality. Across the nation, hidden gems and bold innovations reveal a country in dynamic transformation. Vast natural resources have turned Qinghai in the northwest into a clean energy powerhouse, fueling local growth while pioneering China’s green transition. Meanwhile, Zheng’an County, Guizhou Province in the southwest, the world’s top guitar producer, harmonizes culture and industry, showcasing China’s creative economic spirit. Zhejiang Province in the east leads in ecological progress, proving that “green is gold”—a model for sustainable development. China’s tech boom is equally striking. From AI to electric vehicles and robotics, innovation drives progress. In 2024, the tech market reached 6.8 trillion yuan ($947 billion) in contracts, up 11.2 percent year on year, while a surge of tech talent fuels competitiveness. The economy keeps evolving:…

For Xu Song, the guitar is not just a musical instrument—it’s the magic wand that has transformed his life. What began as a casual hobby during his college years unexpectedly evolved into a full-fledged career more than a decade later. Born in 1985, Xu now works at the Guitar Cultural Industry Development Center in Zheng’an County, Zunyi City, Guizhou Province. He landed the job in 2022, after hitting a low point in his life—a failed business venture. During those difficult days, the guitar was his only solace. He practiced almost daily, honing his skills to near perfection. It was this dedication that set him apart during the hiring process and secured him a role intertwined with music. In recent years, Zheng’an has gained fame for its distinctive guitar industry. Just…

Recently, China has begun to outpace the U.S. in key areas of hard power. Economically, China has surpassed the U.S. in purchasing power parity (a popular macroeconomic analysis metric used to compare economic productivity and standards of living between countries—Ed.), making it the world’s largest manufacturer and trader, notably impacting global supply chains. The country has invested heavily in distinctive infrastructure projects like highspeed rail and major energy initiatives, and has made remarkable progress, being a pioneer in various hi-tech industries. It ranks top for patents and utility models, and is a major player in global science and technology hubs. The country excels in fields like 5G, electric vehicles and power batteries, and has made major advances in AI. China also leads in wind and solar energy technology. However, until…

As the midday sun beats down on Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, a fascinating scene unfolds outside the glass-and-steel office towers that house China’s tech elite. Delivery riders pulling up on their electric scooters find themselves surrounded not by the usual office workers, but by groups of eager children mostly aged 10 to 14, each sporting a QR code necklace like a badge of honor. In a well-practiced dance of efficiency, drivers quickly select their runners, scan a code, transfer a yuan or two (around $0.1-0.2), and hand off their precious cargo—hot lunches destined for harried office workers dozens of floors above. This unexpected solution to urban delivery challenges emerged organically from Shenzhen’s unique landscape. Its dense cluster of skyscrapers creates a perfect storm of logistical headaches: interminable elevator waits during lunch…

FILM ON NANJING MASSACRE LEADS SUMMER BOX OFFICE Dead to Rights, a film about the Nanjing Massacre committed by invading Japanese aggressors in 1937-38, directed by Shen Ao, has maintained its dominance at China’s summer box office, grossing over 1.8 billion yuan ($251 million) within just 13 days of its July 25 release. Drawing on verified photographic evidence of Japanese wartime atrocities during the Nanjing Massacre, Dead to Rights tells the story of a group of Chinese civilians who seek refuge in a photography studio during the brutal occupation of Nanjing by Japanese aggressors. Shen, born in September 1986, graduated from the Beijing Film Academy’s Department of Directing. His creative career began in 2005, when he wrote and directed his first short film, The Opposite Shore, which won second prize…

Anhui Province leapt to first place in total automobile production, new-energy vehicle (NEV) production and automobile exports in China in the first quarter of 2025. Now, one in eight vehicles the country makes and one in four it exports are made in Anhui. When mentioning Anhui, people have traditionally thought of the majestic Huangshan Mountain and lyrical Huangmei Opera. However, today, NEVs, as the province’s leading industry, showcase its impressive progress in driving innovation, ushering in an era of transformation and intelligence in the manufacturing industry. Overwhelming momentum Maextro S800 is a luxury sedan jointly developed by Jianghuai Automobile Group and tech giant Huawei. Within just one month of its launch on May 30, it had received over 6,500 orders, setting a new record in China’s luxury car market and…

When China launched the Made in China 2025 (MIC 2025) program 10 years ago, it stirred global interest, some with admiration, some skeptical and others critical. Yet now, as the initiative approaches its original milestone year, one thing is clear: MIC 2025 has profoundly reshaped China’s industrial landscape and generated ripple effects that extend far beyond its borders. From low-end manufacturing to advanced industries, MIC 2025 has elevated China’s position in global value chains while supporting broader global goals, such as clean energy, supply chain resilience and technological inclusivity. Upgrading China, empowering the world For decades, China was known as the “world’s factory,” an industrial hub for low-cost, large-scale assembly. MIC 2025 marked a strategic pivot. The goal was not just more production, but smarter production, advancing capabilities in 10…

To tackle the dual challenges of an aging population and a declining birth rate, China has unveiled a major initiative: a nationwide childcare subsidy program. Issued by the central authorities on July 28, this landmark policy—effective retroactively from January 1—is the country’s latest move toward building an institutionalized, nationwide framework of fertility support. Under the scheme, families with children under the age of 3 will receive an annual subsidy of 3,600 yuan ($500) per child. China’s birth rate and total number of newborns declined for seven consecutive years before experiencing a modest rebound in 2024. Meanwhile, the number of people aged 60 and above had reached 310 million by the end of last year. China’s demographic policies have been evolving in recent decades from strictly limiting births to curb excessive…

Free Preschool Education Starting from the autumn semester this year, China will waive the care and education fees for children in public kindergartens in the year prior to entering primary school, according to a guideline made public by the State Council, the highest state administrative organ, on August 5. The move aims to lower education costs and improve the country’s public education services, according to the document issued by the General Office of the State Council. The care and education fees of children enrolled in private kindergartens will be reduced by the same amount as those at public kindergartens. Meanwhile, fiscal departments will provide subsidies to kindergartens to address their loss of income due to the policy. The guideline also encourages local authorities to further consolidate supportive policies in line…

Kudzu root, when steamed, has a pleasantly sweet flavor and possesses remarkable medicinal properties. Its medicinal value has been recorded in the Bencao Gangmu (Compendium of Materia Medica), a monumental encyclopedia of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) compiled by Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) physician Li Shizhen over 27 years—and finally published in 1593. The work documents 1,892 healing substances, including the root of kudzu (Pueraria lobata), a versatile vine native to Asia. Li classified the root as both food and medicine, noting its power to cool the body (reduce fevers or heatstroke symptoms), manage thirst and excessive urination (similar to modern diabetes care), and serve as a nutritious starch (be ground into flour for cakes, noodles or porridge). This “dual identity” exemplifies the ancient Chinese philosophy of “medicinal food homology,” where nourishment…

Thirty-nine Sinologists from 31 countries shared their views with Chinese writers on the exchange of literature at the Seventh International Sinologists Conference on Translating Chinese Literature in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, on July 21. The event was co-hosted by the China Writers Association and the Nanjing Municipal Government, and aimed to boost international literature exchange and further expand the reach of Chinese culture. Edited excerpts of the views of some of the participants follow: Luminita Balan (Romania) Translation is not just a linguistic conversion; it is a cultural bridge that connects different worlds. I have translated ancient Chinese classical works as well as many contemporary literary works, such as [Nobel Prize winner] Mo Yan’s The Garlic Ballads. Translating these works is not just about swapping words; it is also about interpreting…

Before the so-called deadline of August 1, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order imposing “reciprocal” tariffs on nearly all trading partners, with rates ranging from 10 percent to 41 percent. That order took effect on August 7. In April, the Trump administration launched a new global tariff offensive, introducing a 10-percent “minimum baseline tariff” and higher rates for some trading partners. Days later, Trump granted these countries a 90-day suspension of “reciprocal tariffs” for negotiations, which was later extended to August 1, while the 10-percent levy remained. The imposition of tariffs drew fierce resistance, with U.S. allies such as the EU, Japan and Canada vowing no compromise. Now, the tide is turning, with formerly defiant allies quietly accepting “unequal treaties.” In a deal touted by the White House…

Born in Wuyi County, Zhejiang Province, in December 1983, Yang Xiayun’s journey with Wuju Opera, a traditional opera genre native to the region and known for its six different vocal styles, began at the age of 14, when she joined the Zhejiang Wuju Opera Troupe. Over the years, she has witnessed the remarkable transformation of this 600-year-old theater form, known for its blend of martial arts, acrobatics and traditional storytelling. Yang’s breakthrough role as the White Bone Demon in Three Strikes on the White Bone Demon has made her nothing short of an online phenomenon. The production, adapted from the 16th-century Chinese novel Journey to the West, reimagines the classic tale with cutting-edge theatrics—such as her rapid “triple face and costume transformations”—captivating audiences in over 20 countries since its debut…

At a refrigerated warehouse in the Jinghe International Rail-Road Intermodal Logistics Park in Bortala Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture in north Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, pallets of golden lemons were stacked high, reaching toward the ceiling. Freshly arriving from Anyue, a county in the southwestern province of Sichuan, known as China’s “lemon capital,” they were under-going a final sorting before their journey to Almaty, Kazakhstan. What made this shipment remarkable wasn’t just the produce; it was the speed of the journey west: Within 24 hours of leaving this logistics hub, the lemons would reach the supermarkets of Central Asia. “The secret lies in our seamless transfer system,” Fang Wenbin, operations manager at Jinghe Xihai Public-Rail Logistics Operation Management Co. Ltd., told newspaper China Youth Daily while walking past workers loading crates onto…