People's Daily, China

Elena Davydova, a Russian with People's Daily Online, recently spent a full day living alongside robots in Beijing. "Mom, you asked if I ever feel lonely living alone in Beijing. Let me tell you about yesterday." What's it like to spend a day in Beijing surrounded by robots? From a robot barista brewing morning coffee in the park, to an AI-powered restaurant, a robot salesperson and even a robot dog performing traditional lion dances, technology is becoming part of everyday life in China's capital. More than just efficiency and innovation, these intelligent companions are also bringing unexpected warmth and emotional connection to urban life.

Go with the flow of this folk artist from north China’s Hebei Province, who is masterfully demonstrating his sugar painting skills, effortlessly crafting fish figures with molten sugar.

Astronauts, mythical creatures, giant cakes … Chinese artist Xu Dengyong transforms simple balloons into eye-catching creations that delight audiences of all ages.

What were you doing at 3 years old? At just 3 years old, this calm, confident and talented skater has already won two titles at a rollerskating competition in Qinhuangdao, north China.

A drone loaded with fish feed took to the skies over Guoxing'ao Pier in Wenzhou, east China’s Zhejiang Province, carrying out precision feeding for large yellow croakers. Since the introduction of agricultural drones, feeding efficiency has more than tripled compared with traditional manual operations.

Tens of thousands of butterflies have emerged from their cocoons and filled the skies over Honghe Butterfly Valley, marking the largest “butterfly explosion” in nearly a decade in the valley in southwest China’s Yunnan Province. More than 320 butterfly species have been identified in the valley through specimens and photographs, including China’s rarest, most primitive, largest, and smallest butterfly species.

China has recently earmarked 500 million yuan (about $73 million) of the central budget incentive funds to support campus football development in 41,000 primary and junior secondary schools nationwide, the Ministry of Finance said on Thursday. For the 2025-2026 period, the central government has allocated a total of 1 billion yuan from the central budget to support and guide local authorities in scaling up campus football initiatives, the ministry noted.

The China-led world’s first global technical standard for monitoring of key karst zones was released by the International Organization for Standardization, which establishes a comprehensive technical system —ranging from monitoring network setup to data services — to address major challenges facing karst regions, including water shortages, pollution, and land degradation.

The world’s first 24,000-TEU methanol dual-fuel container ship departed from Nantong in east China’s Jiangsu Province on Thursday for sea trials ahead of its expected delivery in June. With a deadweight of 225,000 tonnes, the 399.99-meter-long and 61.3-meter-wide vessel is equipped with the world’s largest methanol dual-fuel propulsion system, which is estimated to reduce CO2 emissions by 150,000 tonnes annually when operating on methanol. It will enter service on international shipping routes.

China's zero-tariff policy opens new opportunities for Africa's development A significant announcement recently captured attention across African social media: China has granted zero-tariff treatment to all 53 African countries with which it has diplomatic relations. This move comes at a critical time, as global protectionism rises and the international trade environment faces unprecedented challenges. China's move has created a significant opportunity for Africa to expand exports and accelerate industrialization. As an African journalist living and working in China, I have gained intimate, firsthand insights into the potential impact of this policy. In recent years, I have noticed how African products are gradually becoming more visible in Chinese daily life. Ethiopian coffee, Ghanaian shea butter, Kenyan tea -- products that once felt distant are now available on major e-commerce platforms and increasingly appearing in supermarkets and specialty stores across China. Crucially, they are finding a warm reception among Chinese consumers. It is no exaggeration to say this zero-tariff policy is reshaping the structure of China-Africa trade, opening new commercial pathways, and fostering a deeper appreciation among Chinese consumers for the quality of African goods. By lowering trade costs and expanding market access, China is effectively opening its doors -- the world's largest consumer market -- to African farmers, businesses, and entrepreneurs more directly than ever before. Rooted in the principle of shared prosperity, this initiative fully demonstrates China's commitment to supporting Africa's economic development and its deeper integration into the global trading system. Africans understand profoundly the historical difficulties African products have faced in penetrating global markets. For years, Africa's foreign trade has been constrained by structural bottlenecks that severely undermined its international competitiveness. High tariffs, complicated customs procedures and weak cross-border logistics have often squeezed profit margins long before products even left the continent. Simultaneously, protectionist policies and additional tariffs imposed by some developed economies further compounded Africa's trade challenges. Given this context, China's announcement of zero-tariff treatment for these 53 nations struck me as a powerful potential accelerator for development. It offers African goods unprecedented efficiency and reach into the vast Chinese market. My coverage of last year's 8th China International Import Expo left a lasting impression, particularly the debut of a dedicated exhibition zone for products from least developed countries. Seeing African specialties showcased there was deeply moving. Many African entrepreneurs told me the expo provided unmatched exposure for their products, and they eagerly anticipated the opportunities the zero-tariff policy would bring. Today, that anticipation is translating into tangible purchase orders and genuine benefits for African producers. Of course, policy dividends do not automatically guarantee development. African countries must act proactively and seize the opportunity. Key steps include improving cross-border logistics, aligning products with Chinese market quality standards, and developing distinctive goods tailored to Chinese consumer preferences to transform policy advantages into concrete economic gains. From my vantage point in China, I've witnessed African entrepreneurs tackling market challenges with impressive resolve. They are strategically positioning themselves within the Chinese market, adapting to consumer demands, and scaling up production. A growing number of African business leaders are blending entrepreneurial drive with strategic clarity, striving to convert potential into tangible improvements in livelihoods across the continent. Through years of study and work in China, and participation in various Sino-African economic, trade, and cultural exchange activities, I've also felt a strong mutual desire for respect and cooperation. This embodies the true value of the China-Africa partnership -- one built on solidarity and shared development. The year 2026 marks the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and African countries. The zero-tariff policy vividly demonstrates China's efforts to practice the principles of the country's Africa policy -- sincerity, real results, amity and good faith, and to pursue the greater good and shared interests. It reflects China's openness, sense of responsibility, and belief in shared prosperity. The "zero-tariff express" has started running. The challenge now is for African countries to seize this historic opportunity by strengthening their industrial foundations, improving logistics infrastructure, ensuring product quality, and building competitive brands that resonate with the Chinese consumers. With the strong foundation of China-Africa friendship and mature cooperation mechanisms already in place, African countries are fully capable of turning the advantages of zero tariffs into tangible economic and social benefits. The future has already arrived. And Africa, without question, is beginning to pick up speed. (By Michael Oduro)

U.S. President Donald Trump left Beijing on Friday afternoon, concluding his state visit to China.

U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday that he is willing to continue to maintain sincere and in-depth communication with Chinese President Xi Jinping, and warmly looks forward to hosting Xi in Washington, D.C. He made the remarks during a private meeting at Zhongnanhai in Beijing with Xi. The meeting came a day after Xi held talks with Trump, who is on a state visit to China from May 13 to 15. Trump said that he is very grateful to Xi for inviting him to visit Zhongnanhai. His China visit has captured the world's attention and is very successful and unforgettable, he said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump had a private meeting on Friday in Beijing. The meeting came a day after Xi held talks with Trump. Noting that Trump's visit was a historic and landmark one, Xi said the two sides had set the new vision of building a constructive China-U.S. relationship of strategic stability. "We had reached important common understandings on maintaining stable economic and trade ties, expanding practical cooperation in various fields, and properly addressing each other's concerns," Xi said. The two sides also agreed to strengthen communication and coordination on international and regional issues, according to Xi. The visit is conducive to enhancing mutual understanding, deepening mutual trust and improving the well-being of the two peoples, Xi said. This once again demonstrates that it is a shared aspiration of both peoples and the expectation of people across the world for China and the United States to find a right path to get along with each other and to achieve peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation on the basis of mutual respect, Xi added. "While President Trump hopes to make America great again, I am dedicated to leading the Chinese people toward national rejuvenation," Xi said, stressing that the two countries can advance their respective development and revitalization by strengthening cooperation. China and the United States should implement the important common understandings that have been reached, cherish the hard-won positive momentum, keep to the right direction, steer clear of disruptions, and promote the steady development of bilateral relations, Xi said.

China's railways handled more than 1.55 billion passenger trips in the first four months of 2026, up 6.8% YoY, according to China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. on Friday.

China on Friday successfully launched a Lijian-1 Y13 carrier rocket from the Dongfeng commercial space innovation pilot zone in northwest China, sending 5 satellites into the preset orbit.

Blooming Chinaberry flowers mingle with the ancient architecture in quaint elegance at Beihai Park, Beijing.

Crested ibis adults and chicks are pictured inside a nest by a reservoir in Nanzheng District of Hanzhong City, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. The crested ibises, a national first-class protected species, have recently entered a critical period of their breeding process.

Built in 1420, the Temple of Heaven has witnessed over six centuries of history—and still thrives today.

The Jinshan Bridge in Kaiping, south China's Guangdong Province, blends the city's exotic architectural style with advanced bridge engineering, making it a local landmark.

China has begun the world's first space experiment on human artificial embryos, with samples delivered by the Tianzhou-10 cargo craft and now aboard its space station's experimental module, where the study is progressing smoothly, scientists announced Wednesday. Artificial embryos are structures derived from stem cells that closely resemble real embryos, which include two types of models: one cultured on uterine cells and another placed inside a microfluidic chip. The goal is to understand how the microgravity environment in space affects early human embryonic development. The human artificial embryo experiment is scheduled to last five days in space. After that, the samples will be frozen in orbit and later returned to Earth at an appropriate time for comparative analysis with the ground-based samples.