Latest news with #Zhuang
Borneo Post
6 days ago
- Business
- Borneo Post
Post-gaokao spending marks rite of passage for Chinese teens
Students celebrate after the exam at a national college entrance examination site in Changsha, central China's Hunan Province on June 9, 2025. – Xinhua photo BEIJING (June 27): As the plane touched down at Beijing Capital International Airport, 18-year-old Zhao Zhixing from east China's Fujian Province snapped a selfie from his window seat, marking the start of his first solo trip after the grueling national college entrance examination, or gaokao. 'After the intense pressure of high school, I want to relax by traveling and, at the same time, broaden my horizons by experiencing the charm of different cities,' said Zhao, who planned his post-gaokao trip to Beijing and Nanjing – over a week of sightseeing, theme parks and no textbooks – as soon as the exam ended. For millions of Chinese teens like Zhao, the end of the gaokao signals more than just academic relief. It ushers in a unique consumer trend known as the 'post-gaokao economy' as students and their families celebrate hard-earned freedom with a surge in spending on travel, electronics, lifestyle upgrades, and self-discovery experiences. This week, gaokao results have begun to roll out across the country, giving graduates even more reason to unwind and enjoy the summer break. Emotional spending spike Across China, industries ranging from tourism and consumer electronics to personal training and medical services have reported a spike in activity in the weeks following the gaokao, which is held in early June every year. According to data from Ctrip, bookings for travel packages departing between June 9 and June 11 rose by 88 per cent compared to the previous week, as many high school graduates chose to begin their trips immediately after the exam. Destinations such as Beijing, Chengdu, Hangzhou and Xi'an are attracting large numbers of student travelers, with many scenic spots offering discounted or free admission for this year's high school graduates. Retailers are also experiencing growth, with electronics ranking among the top purchases. Sun Jian, store manager of JD MALL in Chongqing, said that alongside popular items like smartphones, laptops and tablets, sales of learning devices, digital notebooks and wearable gadgets have risen by 40 to 50 per cent compared with the pre-gaokao period. Given the immense importance of the gaokao in Chinese society, both students and parents often turn to travel, shopping, or celebration as a way to find emotional release after years of academic pressure. 'My son enjoys gaming, so we promised him that if he focused on preparing for the exam, he could fully relax and have fun afterward,' said a customer surnamed Zhuang, who was shopping for a laptop at a store in Fujian's Quanzhou City. Zhuang added that he was willing to buy the best he could afford for his son, as it would also be useful for college. Style makeovers soar Beyond just spending, the post-gaokao period provides a glimpse into how today's youth are starting to explore their identities and passions. From solo trips and comic con visits to photography workshops and fitness classes, students are using the time to pursue their personal interests. A community gym in Beijing's Xicheng District has seen a surge in visitors this June. 'We receive numerous inquiry calls daily, and many new members are recent high school graduates,' a gym staff member said. 'They hope to use the summer for structured training to enter university better prepared both physically and mentally.' Zhang Qingxi, a high school graduate from Huangping County in the southwestern province of Guizhou, began driving lessons just days after the gaokao. 'I hope to get my license this summer,' she said. 'Once I have it, I plan to travel with friends and see the places I've only read about in books.' According to Zhang, nearly 100 students who recently took the gaokao attend driving lessons at her training center daily. Many students are also taking greater interest in their appearance and personal style. Wang, a hairdresser from Xi'an, said the number of students coming in for hair dyeing has surged since the gaokao, and to keep up with the demand, the salon has even extended its hours. 'Graduates often choose trendy and unique hairstyles, and some even bring in anime-style designs from comics for inspiration,' said another hair salon employee. According to data from Meituan, orders for vision correction surgery rose by 108 per cent in the first week after the gaokao, while orders for orthodontics and teeth whitening each saw a nearly 30 per cent increase week-on-week. From test takers to decision makers Like most post-gaokao travelers, Zhao planned his trip and handled all the bookings – from train tickets to hotel reservations – largely on his own. 'We don't know much about his plan. He's an adult and it's all up to him now,' said Zhao's father. ''Post-gaokao consumption' is not only a wave of youthful spending, but also an important window into the consumption trends among younger generations,' said Long Shaobo, professor from the School of Public Policy and Administration, Chongqing University. According to Xia Ri, assistant researcher at Anbound, an independent think tank in China, high school graduates often seek novelty, quality and variety in their spending, which are traits typical of young people. 'As they gradually become independent decision-makers and key players in the market, their preferences are driving consumption toward greater personalisation and experiential value, accelerating consumption upgrades and product innovation,' Xia said. – Xinhua China gaokao national college entrance examination Xinhua
Mint
6 days ago
- Science
- Mint
Scientists find 99 million-year-old zombie fungus in very rare fossils from the dinosaur era
A piece of 99 million-year-old amber has revealed a shocking sight. It's a fly with a zombie fungus growing from its head. Another fossil in the same amber shows a young ant infected by a similar fungus. The ant and the fly were then trapped in sticky tree sap that became amber. These are among the oldest known examples of fungi controlling insects, killing them in the process. Chinese researchers studies the fossils by using microscopes and 3D scans. Lead author Yuhui Zhuang from Yunnan University said such rare finds help in understanding ancient relationships between fungi and insects. Also Read | Scientists are stunned by how these tiny insects use Milky Way as a guide 'Overall, these two fossils are very rare, at least among the tens of thousands of amber specimens we've seen, and only a few have preserved the symbiotic relationship between fungi and insects,' CNN quoted Zhuang as saying. 'The discovery of these two fossils suggests that terrestrial ecosystems were already very complex, and that Ophiocordyceps, in particular, may have begun to act as 'predators' of insects in the Cretaceous period, regulating the populations of certain groups,' Zhuang added. Also Read | Are we inside a black hole? New study challenges Big Bang theory Some fungi are called 'zombie-ant fungi' because they can control ants' behaviour to spread their spores. This strange idea inspired the video game and TV series The Last of Us. Scientists believe the fungus found in a fossilised ant could be an early form of today's zombie-ant fungi. These fungi likely controlled the ant's body before killing it. Such ancient parasitic fungi are very rare, so not much is known about their history. Experts say these fungi played a big role in shaping life on Earth. Even though amber shows us many hidden species, we still only see a tiny part of the full picture. Each insect probably carried many unseen parasites, fungi or bacteria. New fossil discovery The new fossil discovery shows these fungi existed even during the dinosaur era, around 99 million years ago, and had already attacked insects. According to experts, they may have helped control insect populations back then. Today, such fungi still infect many insects like ants, flies and beetles. Scientists say the fungus enters the ant's body through a weak spot and reaches its brain to control its actions. Interestingly, flies are rarely affected today, which makes a fossil of an infected fly very rare and exciting for researchers.
Cision Canada
20-06-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
YOFC Unveils "AI-2030" Strategy to Drive the Next Generation of AI-Ready Optical Infrastructure
WUHAN, China, June 19, 2025 /CNW/ -- Zhuang Dan, Executive Director and President of Yangtze Optical Fibre and Cable Joint Stock Limited Company (YOFC), participated in the "AI Innovation and Impact" keynote forum at MWC Shanghai 2025 on June 19. During the event, Zhuang delivered a speech titled "Soar Toward Light with Innovation: YOFC AI Strategy Empowers a Bright Future of Digital Intelligence." He stated, "YOFC is launching its 'AI-2030' strategy to precisely address the demands of the AI era. By driving technological innovation and fostering ecosystem collaboration with global partners, the company aims to accelerate the industrialization of cutting-edge technologies, including hollow-core fibre. YOFC is committed to becoming a global leader in AI-optimized optical connectivity infrastructure, working together to build a sustainable future of digital intelligence." Today, AI technology is driving a new wave of industrial transformation around the world. At the heart of this shift is the deep integration of optical fibre networks with AI technologies - a critical trend shaping the future of connectivity. Optical fibre networks are rapidly evolving into strategic infrastructure, enabling digital transformation across industries. YOFC's "AI-2030" strategy focuses on four key areas - technological innovation, ecosystem collaboration, global market expansion, and sustainable development - to explore and implement initiatives that will accelerate the evolution of AI optical connectivity infrastructure. Focusing on technological innovation, YOFC is building ultra-high-speed networks to power the AI infrastructure of the future. As Zhuang noted, without next-generation optical fibre networks, AI infrastructure will be unable to handle the massive surge of data required for digital and intelligent transformation across industries. With a forward-looking approach, YOFC is driving the R&D and commercial application of next-generation optical fibres. By delivering advanced products, including G.654.E fibre, multi-core fibre, high-end multi-mode fibre, ultra-high-speed optical transceivers, and hollow-core fibre, the company is creating high-performance networks characterized by ultra-high bandwidth, ultra-low latency, and ultra-low attenuation, providing vital support for the upgrade of global digital infrastructure. Among these innovations, hollow-core fibre, widely recognized as a disruptive technology for next-generation optical communications, overcomes the latency, attenuation, and capacity limitations of traditional solid-core fibre. This breakthrough enables transformative applications across scenarios, including intelligent computing centers, 6G and submarine communications. Notably, YOFC has developed the full suite of critical raw materials for hollow-core fibre in-house and is collaborating with partners worldwide to advance its application and deployment. Furthermore, the company has achieved continuous transmission over 20 kilometers on a single fibre with an attenuation coefficient of just 0.05 dB/km, cementing its leadership position in global innovation. Advancing end-to-end ecosystem collaboration to accelerate market adoption. YOFC is actively working with upstream and downstream partners across the industry value chain to promote pilot projects and commercial applications of new products in emerging use cases, including multi-core fibre, hollow-core fibre, and in-vehicle optical fibre. The company is strengthening collaboration with research institutes and academic partners to jointly address key technologies and accelerate the translation of innovations into real-world solutions, ranging from next-generation optical fibres and communication components to evolving network architectures. YOFC is also leading or contributing to the development of domestic and international standards for products and technologies - notably G.654.E and hollow-core fibre facilitating alignment and innovation across the global fibre ecosystem. Accelerating the global shift toward digital intelligence to bridge the digital divide. Through 11 years of international expansion, YOFC has established 8 production facilities in 6 countries and built over 20 overseas platforms, delivering products and services to more than 100 countries and regions and helping drive their transition toward digital intelligence. The firm is deepening collaboration with global carriers to support the rollout of large-scale AI networks and the trial and commercial application of new technologies and products, paving the way for widespread digital enablement. In countries and regions with less-developed infrastructure, notably the Philippines, Indonesia, and Peru, YOFC is actively participating in the construction of local optical fibre networks, helping connect communities and extend the benefits of digital intelligence to more people. Committed to sustainability and corporate responsibility. By advancing its green management practices and exploring circular economic models, YOFC has boosted energy utilization by 40%, improved production efficiency by 20%, and reduced operating costs by 20%. The company is also building a sustainable supply chain by implementing eco-conscious procurement, packaging, logistics, and recycling initiatives, contributing to sustainable growth across the entire industry ecosystem. In addition, YOFC has established investment funds to strategically expand into emerging sectors, with a focus on industrial lasers and robotics, advancing industrial collaboration in the AI era and strengthening the company's overall competitiveness. Over the past 37 years, YOFC has produced and delivered over 1.1 billion fibre-kilometers, serving more than 3 billion people and helping raise the global fibre broadband penetration rate to 47.3%. The release of the "AI-2030" strategy underscores YOFC's proactive response to the evolving demands of the AI era and reaffirms its strong commitment to enabling sustainable growth within the global communications landscape. Looking forward, guided by its mission of "Smart Link, Better Life", YOFC will deepen collaboration with partners around the world to empower a digitally intelligent future - further accelerating the momentum of global digital transformation.
Associated Press
18-06-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
To reverse losses, Chinese airlines venture into livestreaming
BEIJING, CHINA - Media OutReach Newswire - 18 June 2025 - The livestreaming-commerce model has taken the world by storm in recent years. In China, numerous enterprises are actively venturing into livestreaming e-commerce, including several airlines. [VIDEO] In 2024, Hainan Airlines established HNA Preferred Business Co., Ltd., specializing in Internet livestreaming and sales. Notably, as early as 2020, the airline began piloting livestream sales on platforms like Ctrip, primarily offering flight tickets and hotel packages—making it one of China's earliest adopters of livestream commerce in the aviation sector. Hainan Airlines released a loss forecast for the first half of 2024. Industry analysts suggest its progressive push into livestreaming likely stems from challenges in its core business, where achieving structural profit growth has become increasingly difficult, compelling the company to seek new revenue streams. Flight attendant Zhuang Xuan of Hainan Airlines began participating in livestreaming e-commerce operations in 2022. Originally from China's Taiwan region, Zhuang has garnered a significant following due to her sweet appearance and distinctive Taiwan accent, driving considerable traffic to the airline's livestream initiatives. 'A sense of belonging means feeling that you have influence or a rightful place within your team—especially when your capabilities are recognized by everyone,' Zhuang remarked. This young professional, under 30, is now pushing her boundaries at Hainan Airlines while seeking her own sense of belonging. Hashtag: #ChinaNewsService The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Arabian Post
18-06-2025
- Business
- Arabian Post
To reverse losses, Chinese airlines venture into livestreaming
BEIJING, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 June 2025 – The livestreaming-commerce model has taken the world by storm in recent years. In China, numerous enterprises are actively venturing into livestreaming e-commerce, including several airlines. In 2024, Hainan Airlines established HNA Preferred Business Co., Ltd., specializing in Internet livestreaming and sales. Notably, as early as 2020, the airline began piloting livestream sales on platforms like Ctrip, primarily offering flight tickets and hotel packages—making it one of China's earliest adopters of livestream commerce in the aviation sector. Hainan Airlines released a loss forecast for the first half of 2024. Industry analysts suggest its progressive push into livestreaming likely stems from challenges in its core business, where achieving structural profit growth has become increasingly difficult, compelling the company to seek new revenue streams. ADVERTISEMENT Flight attendant Zhuang Xuan of Hainan Airlines began participating in livestreaming e-commerce operations in 2022. Originally from China's Taiwan region, Zhuang has garnered a significant following due to her sweet appearance and distinctive Taiwan accent, driving considerable traffic to the airline's livestream initiatives. 'A sense of belonging means feeling that you have influence or a rightful place within your team—especially when your capabilities are recognized by everyone,' Zhuang remarked. This young professional, under 30, is now pushing her boundaries at Hainan Airlines while seeking her own sense of belonging. Hashtag: #ChinaNewsService The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
