China Science

Orbiting some 400 kilometers above the Earth, China's Tiangong space station captures the planet's stunning beauty through its cameras.

China has become one of the most active and fastest-growing regions for open-source model development, said a recent report released by the world's largest open-source AI platform Hugging Face, which showed 41% of large language model downloads on the platform over the past year came from models developed in China.

China's commercial space sector: advancing from tech verification to commercial scale China's commercial space sector is accelerating its transition from technology verification to large-scale commercial operations, driven by both policy support and growing market demand. This shift supports the nation's strategy to establish a sustainable space economy. This year has already seen a series of major milestones: the triumphant maiden launch of the Lijian-2 Y1 carrier rocket, the successful suborbital flight test of the maiden Lihong-1 Y1 spacecraft, and continued progress in satellite internet construction, with multiple groups of low-Earth-orbit satellites sent into space. One major focus is reusable rocket technology. The Gravity-2 carrier rocket is scheduled to make its maiden flight in the second half of this year, alongside critical trials of reusable launch technology. Meanwhile, the Lanyan 220-ton liquid oxygen-methane full-flow staged combustion engine has passed a full-system long-duration test, accelerating efforts to build an efficient and reusable heavy-lift propulsion system. Besides, Chinese leading provider of satellite Internet solutions and satellite manufacturer GalaxySpace has sent the world's first satellite with a large-scale flexible solar wing into the orbit. Across rockets, satellites, manufacturing, and applications, Chinese aerospace firms are driving cost reduction and scalability through independent innovation. Among them, reusable rocket technology has become a major industry focus, driven by sustained large-scale launch demand and the still-high cost of expendable rockets. Experts estimated that once reusable technology is fully achieved, total launch costs could be reduced by 40 to 60 percent. Aerospace equipment is more and more becoming industrial products. Strong manufacturing capacity is the foundation for high-frequency commercial launches. Mass-producing rockets and satellites the way cars and smartphones are manufactured is becoming a shared goal across the industry. Take the Lijian-2 rocket as an example: its core stage and two boosters are designed to look almost identical. Lian Jie, deputy chief designer of Lijian-2, explained that this design is known as a "common booster core" configuration. Its major components can be standardized for mass production and modular assembly, greatly simplifying manufacturing workflows. Because key parts share standardized dimensions, if a problem is discovered before launch, the faulty component can be quickly replaced and reassembled onto the rocket. This makes it easier to build a high-frequency launch capability. A super factory for the large liquid-fuel Lijian-2 rocket is about to be fully completed and put into operation, providing strong support for large-scale production and scheduled, airline-style launch services. Commercial aerospace is redefining how space manufacturing is understood -- from pure-customized products to assembly-line production, and from scarce items to industrial products. GalaxySpace's smart satellite factory has already established a complete manufacturing chain for satellites weighing between 100 and 2,000 kilograms. Its annual production capacity for medium-sized satellites remains stable at 100 to 150 units, while satellite development cycles have been shortened by 80 percent compared with traditional production models. Launch sites are also improving efficiency. To meet the launch demand of the Long March 8 carrier rocket, the Launch Pad 1 at the Hainan commercial spacecraft launch site in south China's Hainan province, has achieved a rapid operational cycle: seven days for launch preparation and another seven days for post-launch recovery. Commercial aerospace industrial clusters are taking shape. Many regions across China are speeding up efforts to develop commercial aerospace and create a more complete industrial ecosystem. In Beijing, a satellite town planned is under construction, featuring dedicated zones for satellite research and development, satellite operations, and applications. Supporting facilities such as a satellite exhibition center, exchange hub, and incubation center will also be built. Not far from there, a "rocket street" is home to a cluster of commercial rocket enterprises, fostering a tightly integrated industrial ecosystem where upstream and downstream industries gather within close proximity. In Haiyang, east China's Shandong province, the Oriental Maritime Space Port is building a full-chain commercial aerospace system. There, an "aerospace avenue" closely connects rocket assembly and testing workshops, a satellite industrial park, a data application center, and the launch terminal. After a rocket is completed in the assembly plant, it takes only a little more than 10 minutes by road to reach its dedicated dock, where it can be smoothly transferred onto a launch vessel. In recent years, China has introduced a series of favorable policies to support the development of commercial aerospace. As satellite data becomes more deeply integrated with sectors such as the digital economy and smart cities, commercial application scenarios continue to expand. With a more open and orderly market environment taking shape, China's commercial aerospace industry is expected to inject stronger new momentum into the country's economic and social progress. (By Liu Shiyao, People's Daily)

China's domestically developed open-source large language models have recorded more than 10 billion cumulative downloads worldwide, and the country now holds the world's largest number of AI-related patents, accounting for around 60% of global patent filings in the field.

The first Hualong One nuclear power unit in China's Yangtze River Delta region began operation on Wednesday, following the successful completion of a 168-hour trial operation in east China's Zhejiang Province. The unit, part of the San'ao Nuclear Power Project, can generate over 9 billion kWh of electricity annually, enough to meet the annual power demand of more than 1 million residents. The project plans to construct six Hualong One nuclear power units in three phases, which is expected to generate over 54 billion kWh of electricity annually upon full operation, equivalent to saving more than 16.35 million tonnes of standard coal equivalent and cutting CO2 emissions by nearly 50 million tonnes each year.

China's call volume of tokens totaled about 21.1 quadrillion in 2025, with the average daily token calls nationwide surging from over 1 trillion at the beginning of 2025 to 100 trillion at the year-end, according to a survey report released by the National Data Administration on Wednesday at the 9th Digital China Summit in Fuzhou, east China's Fujian Province.

Featuring more than 50 types of agricultural robots in its booth for digital agriculture, the ongoing 27th China (Shouguang) International Vegetable Science and Technology Expo in Shouguang, east China's Shandong Province, allows visitors to peep into the future of unmanned farming.

China produced 52.26 zettabytes of data in 2025, an increase of 27.28% YoY, of which 26.92 zettabytes were generated by the country's system software and artificial intelligence (AI), overtaking the volume of traditionally dominant internet of things (IoT) data for the first time, said Liu Liehong, head of the National Data Administration, on Wednesday at the opening of the 9th Digital China Summit in Fuzhou, east China's Fujian Province. He also noted that the value added by the country's core digital economy industries accounted for more than 10.5% of GDP last year, and that digital infrastructure is being upgraded at an accelerating pace.

China on Wednesday announced its 2025 list of the top 10 archaeological discoveries, with findings spanning from the forests of the Changbai Mountains in the northeast to the foothills of the Helan Mountains in the northwest, offering fresh insights into key chapters of the 5,000-year-long Chinese civilization. The annual list, released by the National Cultural Heritage Administration, is widely regarded as one of the country's most authoritative recognitions in archaeology. It highlights breakthroughs that help resolve longstanding historical questions, ranging from prehistoric human activity and Neolithic urbanization to imperial-era statecraft and craftsmanship. PALEOLITHIC SITES IN NORTHEAST Among the most notable discoveries is a cluster of Paleolithic sites in the Changbai Mountains in northeast China's Jilin Province. Covering more than 100,000 square kilometers, the project identified over 1,000 new locations containing stone tool remains. Archaeologists said the findings, particularly the distinctive obsidian tool industry, document technological evolution and human adaptation from roughly 220,000 to 13,000 years ago. The discovery is expected to reshape academic understanding of prehistoric human activity in Northeast Asia, offering crucial evidence of cross-regional cultural exchanges in the region and the ancient root of the Chinese civilization. 5,000-YEAR-OLD CITY PLANNING Further west, the Nanzuo Site in northwest China's Gansu Province has been recognized as a peak example of the late Yangshao Culture. The site, spanning about 6 million square meters, features a large, rammed-earth compound at its core and a multi-layered settlement layout. Researchers say the site provides evidence that the traditional Chinese urban planning system, based on a central axis model, dates back around 5,000 years. The findings suggest the early emergence of city planning and regional political authority on the Loess Plateau. Artifacts such as painted pottery, turquoise, and early brick materials indicate advanced craftsmanship, social stratification and long-distance exchanges with other regions along the Yangtze and Yellow rivers. FIRST EMPEROR'S TOUR SITE In eastern China, excavations at the Langya Terrace site in east China's Shandong Province provide the first solid archaeological confirmation of historical records describing eastern inspection tours by Qin Shi Huang, China's first emperor. The coastal site, surrounded by sea on three sides, is believed to be the earliest and largest state-level construction project of the Qin Empire discovered in the country's eastern region. Scholars say the site illustrates how the Qin and later Han dynasties projected political authority and expanded maritime awareness, offering fresh insight into governance strategies during the formation of a unified empire. ROYAL KILN OF ETHNIC MINORITY DYNASTY In northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, the Suyukou Kiln Site near the Helan Mountains has been identified as an official kiln serving the royal family of the Western Xia (1038-1227), an ethnic minority-ruled regional regime. The site, the largest and best-preserved fine white porcelain kiln complex discovered in the region, produced ceramics that closely match those unearthed from Western Xia royal tombs and palaces. Archaeologists say the kiln operated from the early Western Xia period (about 1080) until shortly before the regime's fall in 1227, providing rare material evidence of state-controlled production under an ethnic minority regime. The discovery fills a key gap in the study of China's ceramic history and illustrates the transition of the Western Xia society from nomadic traditions to a more complex agrarian and handicraft-based culture.

Results of a recent assessment showed marked improvements in ecological protection across national nature reserves in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and the Yellow River Basin, China's Ministry of Ecology and Environment said Monday: - All 18 national nature reserves in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region were rated either "excellent" or "good" - 99.27% of the 137 national nature reserves across nine provincial-level regions in the Yellow River Basin were rated "excellent" or "good" - Efforts to curb soil erosion and desertification have delivered remarkable results, while population of key endangered species, such as giant pandas and snow leopards, have risen steadily

The first humanoid robot football tournament in east China's Shandong Province recently kicked off in the provincial capital of Jinan. Robots played autonomously and scored their first goal within 10 minutes, with no remote control or human intervention.

China will expand its national environmental monitoring network to more than 50,000 sites during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), up from the current 33,000, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment said on Monday. The country also plans to develop and launch six environmental satellites and build 30 ground verification stations to raise the accuracy of major domestically produced satellite data products to above 80%.

AI and structural upgrades forge a more robust Chinese steel industry China's steel industry is accelerating its transformation through structural upgrades and the deep integration of artificial intelligence (AI), strengthening its capacity to supply high-end materials for advanced manufacturing. At Shougang Zhixin Qian'an Electromagnetic Material's production line, robotic arms handle coils of high-performance electrical steel with precision. Among these is an ultra-thin variant measuring just 0.1 millimeters -- the world's first when launched in August 2025. Electrical steel is a key material for new energy vehicle motors, high-end home appliances, and ultra-high-voltage transformers, said An Dongyang, chief technical expert of the company. "This material is critical for new energy vehicle motors, premium appliances, and ultra-high-voltage transformers," explained An Dongyang, the company's chief technical expert. Developed to meet demands for smaller, more powerful EV motors, the innovation attracted immediate interest from over a dozen automakers. Compared to standard 0.25mm steel, it reduces energy loss by over 30% and significantly improves efficiency, extending vehicle range. "Today, one in three new energy vehicles in China uses this product," An said, adding that specialized applications for humanoid robots are now being explored. As a cornerstone of China's industrial system, the steel sector has in recent years stepped up efforts to upgrade its product mix and expand the supply of advanced materials. In 2025 alone, nearly 20 world's first steel products were launched. China's top steel manufacturers are powering major national breakthroughs across key industries. Masteel, a subsidiary of China Baowu Group, produces high-speed railway wheels for the CR450, the world's fastest bullet train. Pangang Group Company Limited, under Ansteel Group, supplies special blade steel for China's first homegrown F-class 50MW heavy-duty gas turbine. Nanjing Steel Group provides exclusive steel plates and sections for Adora Magic City, China's first large domestically built cruise liner. These developments reflect a broader shift in demand. In 2025, steel used in construction accounted for 49 percent of total demand, down from 58 percent in 2020, while manufacturing's share rose from 42 percent to 51 percent. "For the first time in China's history, steel demand from manufacturing has surpassed that from construction," said Jiang Wei, vice chairman and secretary-general of the China Iron and Steel Association. "This reflects the industry's proactive adaptation to changing demand and its push toward higher-quality development." During the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), China's steel self-sufficiency rate remained close to 100 percent, ensuring strong support for the broader economy. Alongside product upgrading, digital and intelligent technologies are reshaping production processes. At a plant of HBIS Group's Tangsteel Company in Tangshan, north China's Hebei province, molten steel at 1,650 degrees Celsius poured from a converter. In the control room, chief expert Zhou Quanlin monitored operations on a screen. With a few taps, the system autonomously completed key smelting processes. Achieving precise temperature control in steelmaking is highly complex. Last year, HBIS Group integrated large AI models into its proprietary platform to develop an intelligent steelmaking system, now applied in core production stages. "In the past, we relied on experience, watching the flame and judging when and how much material to add," Zhou explained. "Now, the AI model analyzes vast historical data along with real-time signals such as furnace sound and gas emissions to precisely control reactions inside the furnace." The results have been significant: since deployment, steelmaking efficiency has increased by 10.3 percent, while overall energy consumption has dropped by about 10 percent. AI is reshaping every link of China's steel industry, far beyond steelmaking itself. Steel manufacturer Baosteel uses an AI cloud surface inspection system. It accurately spots 96 percent of critical material flaws, and cuts missed inspections by 35 percent. Meanwhile, Shanghai Steel Information Technology Co., Ltd. leverages AI for smarter supply chain operations. It handles more than 10 million daily transactions with over 95 percent accuracy, and completes billions of intelligent trade matches efficiently. Today, AI integrates across steel production, manufacturing, and operations, accelerating industry-wide intelligent transformation. Over 95% of major steel enterprises tracked by the China Iron and Steel Association have incorporated digitalization into core strategies, shifting from pilot projects to systematic implementation. As a pillar industry of the national economy, the steel sector boasts massive data resources and diverse industrial application scenarios, and thus serves as a perfect platform where next-generation AI can make a difference, said Zhang Longqiang, president of the China Metallurgical Information and Standardization Institute. "AI-steel integration holds immense long-term potential," he added. "With large language models permeating production chains, industry-wide intelligent upgrading will accelerate significantly." (By Wang Yunshan, People's Daily)

China's first fully autonomous-developed autogyro successfully completed its maiden flight on Tuesday in Yantai, east China's Shandong Province, marking a major step in closing the country's gap in lightweight autogyro technology. The two-seat light sport aircraft flew for more than 38 minutes, with all performance metrics meeting both design and airworthiness expectations.

A "super factory" for the manufacturing of the Lijian-2, a large liquid-propellant carrier rocket, was fully completed in Shaoxing, east China's Zhejiang Province, on Tuesday, marking a significant leap toward the mass production phase for the launch vehicle. Once it is fully operational in 3-5 years, the factory will have an annual production capacity of 12 Lijian-2 rockets.

China on Tuesday unveiled an integrated large model system, delivering tailored AI models for eight specialized disciplines, including mathematics, physics and astronomy. The system has currently covered over a hundred research scenarios, demonstrating great potential in scenarios such as high-speed rail flow field reconstruction, spectral recognition, material discovery, and astronomical observation. (file pic)

Chinese research institutions have recently completed a demonstration of space metal 3D printing technology in the Qingzhou Cargo Spacecraft Test Vehicle, which was launched at the end of March. During the demonstration, the 3D printing device aboard the Qingzhou spacecraft autonomously initiated operation according to ground commands. Using a laser wire-feed process, it completed metal melt deposition in a stable and smooth manner, successfully verifying the reliability of multiple remote-controlled start-stop cycles. The technology is expected to help transform the traditional space mission model of "bring what you need" into "make what you need." In the future, it can be used in scenarios such as in-orbit manufacturing and maintenance, spare part production for space facilities, structural component repair, and autonomous support for deep-space missions.

The world’s largest pure car and truck carrier with a max capacity of 10,800 car equivalent units was delivered Tuesday in Guangzhou, south China’s Guangdong Province. The China-built new-generation ultra-large vessel measures 230 meters long and 40 meters wide, with a design draft of 10.5 meters and a cruising speed of 19 knots. Powered by a LNG dual-fuel system, it has 14 vehicle decks and can carry a range of cargo, including electric vehicles, hydrogen-powered vehicles and heavy trucks. In recent years, Chinese-built vessels have renewed the record for the world's largest car carrier. In late April 2025, BYD Shenzhen, with 9,200 standard vehicle spaces, made its maiden export voyage. Less than a month later, Anji Ansheng, with 9,500 vehicle spaces, set off from Shanghai for Europe on its maiden voyage. Both vessels were independently built by Chinese shipyards.

With the rapid development of embodied artificial intelligence (AI), a new profession - trainers of embodied AI - has emerged, which comprises roles such as data collectors and data annotators. Jinan and Qingdao in east China's Shandong Province have established robot data collection and training centers tailored to various scenarios. Equipped with simulated workshops replicating real-world environments such as automotive manufacturing, 3-C factories, logistics, retailing, and household care-giving, these centers allow trainers to guide robots one on one through tasks like grasping, identifying, walking, and delivering. Through thousands of repetitions and corrections, massive amounts of real machine data are generated, making embodied AI increasingly smart and capable of service in all walks of life.

The Heimifeng environmental protection park is a large-scale comprehensive environmental protection industrial park in Changsha, central China's Hunan Province. The park's daily processing capacity of household waste reaches 10,000 tonnes and that of sludge is 1,000 tonnes. Through waste incineration, the park generates over 1.7 billion kWh of green electricity annually and reduces carbon dioxide emissions by over 1.2 million tonnes each year.