As consumption in China continues to evolve with new formats and policy support, the China International Consumer Products Expo is becoming an important window for multinational companies to track shifts in the Chinese consumer market and explore new business opportunities, analysts and executives said. The six-day expo, which kicked off on Monday, is a major international event being held in Hainan province since the free trade port launched its island-wide special customs operations in December, offering companies a closer look at the policy environment and new investment prospects. Speaking at…
The Times of China
Bauhinia variegata, commonly known as orchid trees, are now in full bloom across Xiamen, Fujian province, covering the coastal city in a romantic pink hue. With leaves shaped like cattle hooves and petals resembling butterfly wings, the trees typically flower from March to April. Xiamen’s warm and sunny climate creates ideal conditions, making the city’s streets, parks, and Xiamen Botanical Garden a vibrant showcase of the blossoms. Strolling among the blooming trees, visitors are treated to picturesque views at every turn, making this the perfect season to admire the orchid…
China has issued new rules regulating providers of AI systems that simulate human personality traits, thinking patterns and communication styles in continuous emotional interactions with users, placing strict safeguards on content for minors. The interim measures, jointly released by the Cyberspace Administration of China along with four other government departments, aim to balance technological innovation with safety and public interest. Under the new regulations, such services cannot generate content for minors that could encourage unsafe behavior, trigger extreme emotional responses or promote harmful habits that may affect their physical or…
Kazakh flag carrier adds Shanghai route as bilateral trade and travel soar. China’s push for high-standard opening-up and easier cross-border travel is creating fresh opportunities for international airlines seeking a larger share of the world’s second-largest travel market. For Kazakhstan’s flag carrier Air Astana, those policies are translating into a rapid expansion in China, highlighted by the launch of a direct Almaty-Shanghai route in late March, after nearly two decades of modest growth in the market. In an interview with China Daily, Air Astana Group CEO Ibrahim Canliel said the…
“We saw you on TV!” That message was texted to Li Yunyun’s phone over and over again on the evening of Feb 16 — Chinese New Year’s Eve. The 34-year-old tai chi teacher had just appeared on China Central Television Spring Festival Gala, the most-watched television program in China. Li’s spotlight moment lasted just a few seconds, ending with her signature Xie Fei Shi (oblique flying posture), performed with a folding fan in her hand. But those seconds meant everything. “Even if I had only one shot, I wanted to…
A Chinese motorcycle manufacturer, ZXMOTO, made history at the World Superbike Championship Portuguese round, which concluded on March 29. The relatively new team secured victories in both races of the World Supersport category, marking the first time a Chinese motorcycle manufacturer has won at this premier global competition. The achievement also broke the long-standing dominance of established brands such as Ducati and Yamaha in the class. Behind the breakthrough is Zhang Xue, whose journey from a workshop to the global racing stage has drawn widespread attention. Driven by his love…
The 2026 Xiong’an Marathon kicked off at 7:30 am on Sunday at the Xiong’an Urban Computing Center, one of the area’s landmarks. A total of 12,000 runners from across the country gathered in the new area to witness nine years of remarkable progress in Xiong’an New Area, North China’s Hebei province. The area was established in 2017. The race route connected key landmarks, including the computing center, Baiyangdian ecological zone and headquarters of relocated central State-owned enterprises from Beijing. Participants could see the area’s livable amenities, sci-tech construction and green…
CAS Space, a leading commercial rocket maker in China, launched the 12th rocket in its Kinetica 1 series on Tuesday. The rocket lifted off at 12:03 pm from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China’s Gobi Desert and then placed eight remote-sensing satellites into their preset orbital positions. The mission was China’s 24th space launch this year. By now, CAS Space has used Kinetica 1 rockets to help clients deploy 92 satellites with a combined weight of more than 12 metric tons. The Kinetica 1 model — with a…
China to grow 4.4% in 2026, IMF forecasts
The International Monetary Fund on Tuesday projected China’s economy to expand by 4.4 percent in 2026, a forecast that underscores the country’s resilience amid global headwinds from the Middle East conflict. The forecast was unveiled during the 2026 Spring Meetings of the IMF and the World Bank Group, or WBG, held in Washington from April 13 to 19. The latest World Economic Outlook was released as the heads of the IMF, the WBG, and the International Energy Agency met on Monday to coordinate their response to the conflict, one day…