Get the unmissable news stories of the day.
This is the Beijing Hour.
Examining the events that impact and shape China and the rest of the world.
This is the Beijing Hour, one hour of news and information brought to you every weekday.
Now here's your host.
Shane Biggum with you on this Monday, May 4th, 2026.
You're listening to the Beijing Hour, coming to you live from the Chinese capital.
On today's program.
China's erected a monument for the Cairo Declaration that affirmed the return of stolen Chinese land at the end of World War II.
Millions of Chinese travelers who've been enjoying immersive tourism experiences over the May Day holiday are starting to head home.
The us says it'll guide shipping vessels through the strait of hormuz, but iran's warned washington to stay away from the waterway.
In business, this year's canton fairs attracted a sharp increase in foreign business and trade delegations.
In sports, china and france have gone head-to-head for badminton's thomas cup title.
In culture and entertainment, china's made a holiday.
Box office numbers have surged well past last year's total.
Now the day's top stories.
The Chinese embassy in Egypt says China has erected a monument at the Mina House Hotel to commemorate the signing of the Cairo Declaration.
Issued by China, the United States and Britain in 1943.
The declaration affirmed that territories Japan had stolen, including Taiwan and the Penghu Islands, would be restored to China after the war.
The Cairo Declaration made an important contribution to ending World War II and remains a key historical and legal basis confirming that Taiwan's an inalienable part of China's territory.
Japan marked the 79th Memorial Day of its post-war constitution on Sunday.
Japanese citizens have taken part in a rally in Tokyo to defend the country's pacifist constitution.
Bai Chun-Yang has their reactions.
Tens of thousands of people gathered in Tokyo, calling for the protection of the country's pacifist constitution.
Participants expressed deep concern over what they described as a dangerous shift away from Japan's post-war commitment to peace.
Many voiced opposition to rising defense spending, the expansion of military capacities and ongoing discussions about revising the constitution.
There is absolutely no need to revise the constitution now.
I believe the Takeichi administration is aiming to amend Article 9 of the Constitution by explicitly recognizing the self-defense forces and promoting military expansion.
Such actions would only heighten international tensions, especially with neighboring countries in Asia, and increase the risk of war.
For these reasons, I strongly oppose any move toward constitutional revision.
Under Article 9, Japan has at least in principle maintained its identity as a peaceful nation.
It upheld a ban on exporting lethal weapons, an extension of the post-war commitment that Japan must never again go to war.
These long-standing principles are now being fundamentally eroded.
I believe the push to allow weapon exports is part of a broader shift.
The Takaichi administration is steering the country toward a path that enables war.
This is something we must absolutely not accept.
I hope the Takaichi administration steps down as soon as possible.
Its push toward military expansion is deeply regrettable and should never have happened.
I strongly call for its resignation and for an immediate halt to militarization.
At a time when many children are still living in poverty.
I hope they would stop allocating large sums of public funds to military spending.
I urge the government not to use taxpayers' money for military expansion.
That was a report from Tokyo on the call for peaceful development.
It's been 80 years since the Tokyo trials.
The tribunal convicted 25 Japanese Class A war criminals.
On this anniversary, global media and research institutions are reflecting on the legacy of the trials and warning against the resurgence of Japanese militarism.
Russia's task news agency said Japan's military expansion proves persistent militarism.
Other Russian outlets spotlighted Japan's biological warfare in northeast China and the massacre in Nanjing.
The Week in Britain reported that Prime Minister Sanai Takeichi is ending Japan's pacifist constitution by lifting lethal weapons export bans.
The Philippines' Asian Century Journal cited global concerns over Japan's World War II atrocities and resurgent militarism.
The Nanjing Massacre in 1937 is the most infamous atrocity Japanese troops committed during their invasion of China.
In just six weeks Japanese forces killed over 300,000 Chinese civilians and unarmed soldiers.
Despite overwhelming records confirming these war crimes, Japan still refuses to acknowledge its history of aggression.
Jeff Moody examines the lasting impact of that traumatic period.
We have records from missionaries and other third country actors who wrote down what they saw at that time and you know it remained burned in their minds in many cases.
Those records are here in the Nanjing Museum, along with the Wall of the Dead names etched in stone.
Here too, the pictures of those who somehow escaped, who lived through it but carried the horror with them forever.
A horror not acknowledged by Japan.
So it is very personal and not just for me, but really millions and millions of people have experienced family members being lost in Nanjing and elsewhere because of Japanese aggression, which they don't even acknowledge today.
In its own history books, in its own museums, doesn't even recognize that these historic events took place at their own hands.
Without that apology, healing is hard.
The Rape of Nanjing, as it's known, ended as quickly as it began, a little over six weeks.
Japanese troops called away to fight elsewhere.
They left behind a city destroyed, its people brutally murdered, and China nursing a wound that its people will carry in their collective psyche for generations to come.
That was Jeff Moody reporting.
During World War II, Japan forced hundreds of thousands of Korean laborers to support Japanese war efforts across Asia.
Decades on, their suffering remains a source of deep historical trauma and ongoing dispute.
Shane Hamm reports from Busan.
Tucked into a corner of a train station plaza in Seoul stands a two-meter tall statue.
It serves as a quiet reminder of a painful chapter in the nation's history.
During World War II, this station was one of the gathering points where Korean laborers were assembled before being sent to Japan, forced to work under harsh and dangerous conditions.
According to historical records, up to roughly a million Koreans were mobilized for forced labor under Japan's wartime policies, sent to mines, factories and military sites across Japan and its occupied territories.
Many of those sent away never returned.
Others came home injured, sick or permanently disabled, often without pay, records or recognition.
Today, many of those stories are preserved at the National Memorial Museum of Forced Mobilization under Japanese occupation, located in the southern coastal city of Pusan.
It's heartbreaking every time I come here.
I can't even imagine what it would have been like to live in that era and go through something like that.
It really hurts to think about it.
And it makes me feel that we need to make sure something like this never happens again.
For many of the surviving family members, like Mr. Lee Cheol-gwon, the pain is deeply personal.
My father worked deep underground in coal mines, going down hundreds of meters every day and coming back up.
All of his wages were taken and deposited into a post office account there.
But when he finally returned home, he came back with nothing, no money at all, just his body.
And the damage wasn't limited to lost pay.
Years of brutal labor left many survivors with chronic illness and injuries that followed them for the rest of their lives.
To this day, questions of accountability and responsibility remain unresolved.
Japan maintains that compensation for victims was settled under a 1965 treaty normalizing diplomatic ties with the Republic of Korea.
However, the ROK Supreme Court has ruled otherwise.
Under the treaty that normalized the relations, the state's right to diplomatic protection was settled, but individual claims were not extinguished.
They remain valid.
This applies not only to South Korea, but to China as well.
Based on this principle, the Supreme Court has ruled that individual victims are entitled to compensation in the form of damages.
However, the reality is that the Japanese government and Japanese companies have refused to comply with the ruling.
Activists say the issue isn't simply about compensation, but about how history is remembered.
If Japan truly wants to move forward as a peaceful nation, it must confront and reflect deeply on its past and resolve this issue.
The biggest problem is that history continues to be distorted and the reality of Japan's war of aggression is still being denied.
More than eight decades later.
The issue goes beyond compensation for victims and their family members.
It's now an issue about dignity and whether the truth of history will be fully confronted.
That was Shane Hamm reporting.
And coming up, travel numbers are peaking in China as Labor Day holiday is wrapping up.
And find your favorite news, talk, features, entertainment shows and podcasts.
Hear the difference with CTTN Radio.
At 11 past the hour on Monday and Tuesday are peak travel times in China, as people make their return trip from the May Day holiday.
Railway authorities are expecting more than 20 million passenger trips on Monday.
While highways nationwide will see over 60 million trips.
For those not making their way home just yet, there are many cultural events to enjoy.
In Beijing, theaters are staging musicals and plays.
In Fujian province.
Immersive shows are ongoing at historic streets where visitors can follow the plot and feel as if they've traveled back a hundred years.
In Guangdong province.
Intangible heritage performances such as Cantonese opera attract tourists who can join in the singing during the show, and many visitors say they're enjoying these experiences.
I feel very happy with a strong sense of immersion.
Being in this market here, receiving the silver ticket and exchanging some small gifts, I have very good feelings about this scenic spot.
Being able to see such unique folk architecture, buy such exquisite handicrafts and experience folk culture myself.
I feel it's very precious to be here.
When it comes to the age group of 20 to 40, they're not satisfied with just bringing souvenirs back home.
They would rather experience the process.
Many international tourists are also enjoying the trend buoyed by China's visa-free policy.
Land ports are seeing a surge in foreign arrivals from countries including Russia and Vietnam.
Implantable brain-computer interfaces are moving into clinical trials across China, raising new hope for rehabilitation.
But industry insiders say the technology could go much further, opening up possibilities not only in medicine but across a wide range of industries.
Tianlu reports.
The human brain has long been seen as medicine's final frontier a vast network of nearly 100 billion neurons and trillions of connections.
For decades, restoring lost motor function has been a slow and uncertain process.
Now that is beginning to change.
Advances in Brain Computer Interface Technology, or BCI, are allowing doctors to capture and interpret neural signals with increasing precision, making rehabilitation one of its earliest and fastest-growing applications.
Today, it accounts for nearly half of the global BCI market.
Rehabilitation physician Chen Xingren says the impact is already visible.
For frontline doctors, this is a turning point.
From implantation to follow-up, we are seeing real recovery in patients.
It's incredibly encouraging.
During treatment, his team observed something more.
Recovery wasn't limited to a single limb.
Patients showed coordinated improvement across multiple parts of the body.
These results are being driven by rapid technological progress, from wired systems to wireless designs, and from semi-invasive approaches to fully implantable devices.
Such advances are not only improving precision, but also expanding what BCI can do.
At Beijing Tiantan Hospital, neurosurgeon Yang Yi says the implications extend well beyond rehabilitation.
We're seeing major innovations not only in the devices themselves, but also in how they're applied.
Each breakthrough could open the door to new treatment approaches, from enhancing memory and cognitive function to improving sleep.
She adds that the field is still at an early stage, but its potential is vast.
Right now, BCI is focused on urgent medical needs, but far broader possibilities lie ahead.
What we are seeing now is just the beginning.
Those possibilities are already taking shape beyond hospitals.
In China, BCI technologies are being explored in education, helping track attention and improve learning outcomes.
In entertainment, enabling more immersive human-machine interaction, supporting safety systems such as driver fatigue detection.
With more than 200 companies now active in the sector, the ecosystem is expanding rapidly.
Li Yuan, rotating CEO of brain-computer interface company New Cyber Neurotech, says the goal is to make the technology more accessible.
As an emerging technology, BCI has the potential to benefit more people in need.
We hope that people around the world will be able to access these innovations and see real improvements in their quality of life.
Looking ahead, experts say BCI may not only restore lost function, but also enhance human capabilities, fundamentally changing how people interact with technology.
For the Beijing Hour, this is Tianlu.
Artificial intelligence is eliminating some jobs as it reshapes the global job market, but it's also creating others.
Yang Chengxi learns about one of the new professions, AI trainers.
This is one of China's newest occupations, and a critical one, as the country accelerates its push to develop the AI sector.
In 2021.
China's Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security officially issued the National Occupational Skills Standards for AI Trainers.
Xishan recently earned a Level 3 certificate.
She works as a coordinator for a team developing AI-powered software for business data analysis.
I just need to put forward a strategic analysis request and it can break it down into multiple steps like a seasoned analyst with years of industry experience, ultimately generating a data report that used to be accessible only to senior management, even CEOs.
As you can imagine, data accuracy is the lifeline of these AI-generated reports.
She said she works closely with a team of programmers to train the underlying models.
When you're building a product like this, you have to understand the brain behind it.
Earning the certificate gave me a much clearer grasp of AI logic and accuracy.
It allows me to bridge the gap with our technical teams, which significantly cuts down on communication friction.
After the generative AI boom of late 2022, the industry's requirements have shifted swiftly.
A new trend called vibe coding is taking over, where developers use natural language to tell an AI system what they want and it generates the code to make it happen.
This means non-programmers like Xu Shan can dive a bit deeper into product development.
In the past, a product iteration might take three months or even a year.
But using this vibe coding approach, we've been able to build out entire pages and features in just two weeks.
The company she works for is among the enterprises that helped draft the national standards for AI training specialists.
It says the certification curriculum is continuously updated to keep pace with industry needs.
We are introducing new modules like prompt engineering, to teach users how to write high quality instructions for AI.
We are also moving away from just focusing on algorithm tuning toward problem solving, specifically by teaching students how to build and deploy AI agents.
It remains to be seen how the broader market will value the new certification in the long run.
But for now, this emerging profession reflects China's vision for the future, one where the AI industry is powered by a new breed of specialized talent.
That was Yang Chengxi on the future of AI.
As China advances rural revitalization and high-quality agricultural development, more young people are returning to the countryside with new ideas and new skills.
Among them is a young farmer who chose rural land over city life.
And Yang Jinghao has her story.
Jiang Yayu is carefully making what she calls liquid gold organic enzymes that play a vital role on her agro-farm.
Last year she leased more than 200 mu of farmland in southwest China's Yunnan province, taking a decisive step toward becoming a real farmer.
It's really because I love it.
I want to make agriculture my lifelong career.
Jiang was born in 1996 and went to the United States as a teenager.
After graduating from university, she returned home and built a career in the tourism industry.
But in 2019, she made an unexpected decision to step into agriculture.
She began by traveling to villages across China, discovering quality farm produce and telling farmer stories through short videos.
Through our videos on social media platforms, we show consumers what rural China really has to offer.
Later, she began building a bridge between rural producers and urban consumers through live streaming.
A model she believes provides farmers more say in pricing their products.
So far, her team has worked with more than 300 farming households.
But selling farm products is only part of Jiang's work.
She believes real change starts from the soil itself.
When the soil improves, the onions grow better.
So now we focus on restoring the soil while planting.
She avoids chemical fertilizers and herbicides.
Instead, she chooses to restore the land through organic methods, including cattle manure bought from nearby villagers.
As long as you stay grounded and work hard, being a farmer is definitely something to be proud of.
After all, everyone depends on food.
Jia's efforts echo a broader push across China to promote high-quality rural development through fresh ideas, new technologies and innovative sales channels.
For local villagers.
Their arrival has also created new opportunities.
Villagers can work at their company locally, earning both land rental income and wages.
Together, these two sources of income are often higher than farming on their own.
We welcome more young people to develop in our village.
That was a report on young people getting involved in rural revitalization efforts.
Coming up.
The US says it'll escort shipping vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, but Iran warns the Americans to stay away.
Discover the realities and responses to our changing climate With Climate Watch.
Uncover critical issues such as the Messiah Murrah's disrupted wildebeest migration and the drop in the Panama Canal's water levels.
Delve into solutions for a sustainable future.
Tune in to Climate Watch on your favorite podcast platform.
Become more eco-conscious and take action to protect our planet.
23 minutes past the hour.
U.S.
President Donald Trump says the United States is guiding ships out of the Strait of Hormuz starting Monday.
He called the operation a humanitarian gesture and warned of a forcible response against any interference.
The US military said the operation will involve guided missile destroyers, more than 100 aircraft, unmanned systems and around 15000 service members.
Iran's warned the U.S.
Army against entering the Strait of Hormuz.
The Iranian Army said the security of the straits in their hands and that the safe passage of vessels needs to be coordinated with the armed forces.
Iran says it's studying a U.S. response to Tehran's 14-point proposal on ending the war.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmail Begayy, said Washington conveyed its views through mediator Pakistan.
He said there is no nuclear negotiation at this stage.
Al Jazeera reported that Iran's plan contains three main stages, including a 30-day phase aimed at turning the ceasefire into a complete end of the war.
Ehsan Kehvani has more from central Iran.
Iran states that primary focus for tehran is bringing an end to the war.
According to tasnim news agency, which is close to the islamic revolution guard score, iran's 14-point proposal covers a range of issues, including guarantees of non-aggression, the withdrawal of us military forces from areas around Iran, the lifting of the naval blockade, the release of Iran's frozen assets, payment of compensation, the removal of sanctions and ends to hostilities on all fronts, including in Lebanon, and the establishment of a new mechanism for the Strait of Hormuz.
The main point of contention between Iran and the US appears to be nuclear enrichment, specifically Iran's stockpile of over 400 kilograms of 60 enriched uranium a red line Tehran shows no willingness to cross.
This stance has only hardened, specifically after the second round of talks in Islamabad was called off.
Iran declares it will not give in to American aggressions and attaches no importance to US threats.
Meanwhile, the IRGC has warned that If Iran is attacked again, it will target its key oil and gas facilities across Arab countries in the Persian Gulf.
For now, Tehran says it will maintain control of the Strait of Hormuz, considering it as a kind of winning card.
That was Ehsan Kevani in Iran.
Tensions remain high along the Israeli-Lebanese border as Hezbollah continues firing into northern Israel.
The latest war between them began March 2 after Hezbollah fired rockets into Israel in response to the US-Israeli strikes on Iran.
Israel has carried out hundreds of airstrikes and launched a ground invasion of southern Lebanon.
The two countries have since held their first direct talks in more than three decades.
However, despite a ceasefire starting April 17th, both sides have continued attacks.
The ceasefire was later extended by three weeks.
But for residents, it feels like a never-ending war.
This resident says the situation's unbearable.
A war that hasn't ended yet.
Sirens.
If there's something unbearable, it's the batteries of our firing.
The interceptions that are launched two meters from the house. you can never get used to that noise.
It's like an F-16 jet is taking off from your heart from zero to 100.
You can never get used to that.
The two countries have formally been in a state of war since Israel's founding in 1948.
The US congressional midterm election is six months away and many people are weighing a host of issues as they make up their minds.
Hendrix I. Brandy finds out what they're concerned about.
You are not welcome here.
America's sometimes in-your-face style of politics showed up the other day on this college campus.
At Metropolitan State University of Denver.
A local chapter of the conservative nonprofit Turning Point USA was berated for setting up shop here.
In my opinion.
Our campus is exercising our right to not allow people who we don't agree with on our campus.
Just because you don't agree with somebody's opinion doesn't give you the right to silence them.
For many on both sides of the political spectrum, the stakes in this country and in this year's midterm congressional elections feel higher than ever.
I would say it's pretty polarized right now and torn.
And I think that's another important issue too is how can we come back together to agree on things?
But I think it's not a good climate right now.
Many voters have made up their minds on how they plan to vote in November.
But even if they haven't, everyone is evaluating their choices through the lens of their top issues.
Like, for example, the Trump administration's immigration crackdown.
There are absolutely better ways to do that. doesn't have to be what it is.
Like the inflation, it's getting really bad.
Like my opinion, like there's lots of things happening that are kind of unnecessary and we're kind of paying the price for it.
I think like the housing crisis is a big issue and people who like just homelessness in general.
A new Emerson College survey shows Democrats have a 10 percentage point lead over Republicans on a generic congressional ballot, a gain of three points over last month.
The motion is adopted.
Congressional midterms in the US are often a referendum on the party in power, in this case, the Republicans.
And some think those in charge now have leaned too heavily on distractions rather than what affects them most.
Some experts believe the war in Iran and how it's felt in people's pocketbooks will tell the tale in November.
I think those are two big factors.
What is the sort of general state of the economy, as well as, yes, what are the impacts of the war?
Individual rights and freedoms are paramount to others.
Midterm elections, when the presidency is not on the ballot, often see many voters stay on the sidelines.
This year, with passions swirling, may well be different.
That was Hendrick Sybrandy reporting.
We're at 29 past the hour.
Beijing is down to 12 degrees this evening.
It will be overcast in 28 on Tuesday.
Shanghai is overcast overnight.
It's down to 16.
Then sunshine in 27.
Chongqing will be cloudy tonight and tomorrow, low of 16, the high is 30.
Nanchang is cloudy and down to 17, then sunny and 29.
Last up, we'll see showers with a low of 5 degrees, then it's cloudy and 19.
It's time for a short break.
So far this hour, China has erected a monument for the Cairo Declaration that affirmed the return of stolen Chinese land at the end of World War II.
Millions of Chinese travelers who've been enjoying immersive tourism experiences over the May Day holiday are starting to head home.
And the US says it'll guide shipping vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, but Iran has warned Washington to stay away from the waterway.
Shane Bigham with you.
Stay with us here on The Beijing Hour.
From the refreshing cup of tea that starts your morning to the paper that you write on.
The roots of many familiar parts of modern life can be traced back to ancient ideas.
Join us on Made in Ancient China and discover how ideas born millennia ago became some of the world's greatest treasures.
Made in ancient China, brings you stories of human ambition, inspiration, and connection.
Now available on all major podcast platforms.
Shh, listen up.
Can you hear the heartbeat of our world?
It's vibrant and pulsating with the essence of life itself.
From the stem of trees to the gurgle of rivers.
From the silent strength of mountains to the icy whispers of glaciers.
Even the solid ground beneath our feet.
Right there, in the midst of all, beats the heart of humanity.
What if those other heartbeats were to stop?
Would ours keep on ticking?
Examining the events that impact and shape China and the rest of the world.
This is the Beijing Hour, one hour of news and information brought to you every weekday.
Now, here's your host.
Shane Biggum with you on this Monday.
Still to come.
In business.
This year's Canton fairs attracted a sharp increase in foreign business and trade delegations.
In sports, China and France have gone head-to-head for badminton's Thomas Cup title.
In culture and entertainment.
China's May Day holiday box office numbers have surged well past last year's total.
To contact us, you can email radio at cgtn.com or follow our ex-account at CGTN Radio.
Now checking the day's headlines.
Four ministers of Pakistan and Iran have held a phone call to discuss the regional situation and efforts for peace.
The discussion centered on recent developments in the region and Pakistan's role in facilitating dialogue and reducing tensions through diplomatic channels.
Iranian Foreign Minister, Abbas Arachi, appreciated Pakistan's role in its mediation efforts between concerned parties, acknowledging Islamabad's engagement in promoting de-escalation.
Pakistan's Mohammad Ishaq Dar reaffirmed his country's commitment to fostering engagement, saying that dialogue and diplomacy remain the only viable path toward resolving disputes peacefully and ensuring long-term regional stability.
The two sides also said that it's important to make sustained diplomatic efforts to address ongoing challenges and achieve outlasting peace.
An Israeli court has extended the detention of two activists by 48 hours.
The Israeli Navy intercepted boats from an aid flotilla bound for Gaza in international waters.
Spain's foreign minister called for the immediate release of safe...
Abu Kashyik, a dual Spanish-Swedish citizen, was detained along with Tiago Avila of Brazil.
A legal aid group says both men have launched a hunger strike.
Their lawyer, Adil Abu Salah, says they were tortured and kept handcuffed and blindfolded since Thursday.
It's important in the beginning to note that both of them were subjected to torture and violence since the moment they were abducted by the Israeli Navy.
They were kept handcuffed and blindfolded since Thursday morning until they were moved to the authority of the Israeli prison authority.
In an online post, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said the activists were being questioned over possible links to Hamas.
Dozens of other activists were picked up by the Greek ghost card and taken to Crete.
The detention has further strained relations between Israel and Spain, which has been an outspoken critic of the war in Gaza.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merritt says he remains committed to cooperation with the United States despite recent verbal tensions with US President Donald Trump.
His remarks come after the Pentagon announced plans on Friday to withdraw around 5000 US troops from Germany.
The decision follows criticism from Merz, who recently described Washington's military approach toward Iran as planless and said the United States has been humiliated by the Iranian leadership.
Britain is set to begin talks to join the European Union's $100 billion loan to Ukraine.
The government said on Sunday that the funds had helped Kiev purchase vital military equipment as it defends against Russia.
The loan is set to cover two-thirds of Ukraine's needs for the next two years.
The government said the deal could also benefit British defense businesses.
The Trump administration is pushing Europe to take more responsibility for its own defense.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, has called for stronger European defense integration to reduce NATO's over-reliance on the United States.
Hard-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon has announced he'll run in next year's French presidential election.
The 74-year-old France Unbowed candidate made the announcement on Sunday.
Mélenchon previously ran for president in 2012, 17 and 22, when he placed third behind Marine Le Pen and Emmanuel Macron.
Police in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou deployed futuristic technology to boost public safety during the May Day holiday.
Their smart patrol lineup includes humanoid robots, drones, and self-balancing scooters.
At a park on Arsha Island.
A robot wearing a police vest walked alongside officers, performed martial arts moves and delivered anti-fraud messages to the public.
Li Xupeng, with the Guangzhou Public Security Bureau, says the robot helps to alert citizens about scams.
With the robot accompanying us on patrol, citizens tend to linger around us longer and are more receptive to our anti-fraud messages.
That makes them less vulnerable to scams.
Officer Xie Xiaosan says, self-balancing scooters, which can reach speeds of up to 20 kilometers per hour, allow them to quickly reach areas where cars cannot go.
Motor vehicles are not allowed inside this park.
If someone on the other side calls for assistance, we can get to them very quickly.
We'll carry emergency supplies and rescue items in the scooter so if someone has fallen or been injured, we can provide on-site medical aid.
Police also deploy drones for aerial patrols, monitoring crowd flow and traffic in real time, to create a multi-layered security network.
You're listening to the Beijing Hour.
Coming up in business.
This year's Canton fairs attracted a sharp increase in foreign business and trade delegations.
The Beijing Hour, your window on China and the rest of the world.
37 past the hour.
Stock markets on the Chinese mainland are closed on Monday due to the Labor Day holiday.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index gained over 1.2%.
In Japan, the Nikkei gained nearly four-tenths of a percent.
This year's Canton fairs attracted over 150 overseas business and trade delegations, representing a yearly increase of nearly 17.
These overseas business organizations are leveraging the event to deepen connections and strengthen cooperation.
At the third phase, AI-powered healthcare devices are taking center stage, drawing overseas buyers with integrated services from diagnosis to surgery and rehabilitation.
The Intelligent Healthcare Zone features 170 exhibition booths bringing together over 50 companies in the industry to showcase China's latest achievements in digital healthcare and intelligence services.
The exhibition zone showcasing a lineup of innovative products spanning the entire healthcare service system, from disease screening and surgical treatment to functional rehabilitation.
In the treatment sector.
Several AI-powered surgical robots are demonstrating remarkable precision in confined spaces and intelligent bionic hands can interpret muscular signals.
Fabio Galante is an Italian buyer.
I think they have a good level of developing because nowadays AI is very helpful.
Robots are becoming something.
We have a lot of elderly people, so those robots can help a lot, especially because our population is demographically old.
For overseas buyers unable to attend in person.
This year's fairs introduced innovative service models, including dedicated live streams for suppliers and purchasing companies and short videos featuring exhibition tours and product selections.
Auto China 2026 has shattered global records, as visitors voice optimism about the future of China's auto industry.
The 10-day show set a global record for scale, spanning 380,000 square meters across two venues.
It features over 1,450 vehicles, including more than 180 Premieres and 71 concept cars.
This year's auto show attracted nearly 13 million visits, including approximately 65000 that were made by overseas attendees.
Nearly 80 of the new models unveiled were NEVs, while Chinese independent brands accounted for 60 of the total.
China's Autolink presented a next-generation architecture for vehicle electronics at BYD's fast charging booth and NEV charged from 20 to 97 in just 12 minutes.
This year's auto show has also introduced car fans to new types of vehicles, from minimalist leisure cars with ultra simple cockpits to cyber style rugged pickup trucks.
Organizers say future editions will place greater emphasis on enhancing the event's international reach and efforts will be made to achieve brand and value extension across the entire automotive industrial chain.
Young entrepreneurs across China are bringing their skills and enthusiasm to many different fields.
Liu Yang visits Sichuan province to see how a local businessman is blending local culture and art with coffee.
Every cup comes with a twist.
The burning of the red cliffs is a bold Sichuan chili coffee, while a green plum wine blends subtle sweetness with stories from the three kingdoms.
Even the foam becomes a canvas, bristled carefully at Zhuge Liang's portrait, turning each drink into a miniature work of art.
Standing in front of two cups of chili coffee, the founder, lee fei yang, invites me to give it a try.
Well, i didn't expect try this chili coffee, but here we go.
Wow, you probably won't find this anywhere else.
It's pretty spicy.
Each drink blends local Sichuan flavors with history, turning a simple coffee into interactive cultural experience.
But in a way, that's exactly the point.
For young entrepreneurs, inspiration comes from mixing the unexpected.
Books, business ideas, even flavors.
Inside the Chengdu Wu Hou Shrine Museum.
Millions of visitors come for history, but many stay for something more immersive a cup of coffee, a moment to pause.
But Li's story didn't begin with coffee.
He left his stable job to operate a bookstore in 2019.
He also formed a youth business network supporting small and medium enterprises.
Life is short.
I want to do something meaningful. not just follow routines or repeat the same things every day.
In 2023, he launched the coffee brands across cities and tourist sites.
His motto mixes culture with new consumption trends that now inspires young entrepreneurs.
We use coffee to introduce Chinese culture, from flavors to visuals.
Every detail helps people connect with the Three Kingdoms and Chengdu and take that culture further.
And those ideas don't stop at coffee.
On a blueberry farm outside the city.
Li's working with growers, helping them reach new customers through digital tools and e-commerce.
From books to business, a new generation of entrepreneurs in China is redefining how ideas are shared and experienced.
And sometimes Their meaning begins with a cup of coffee you never expected.
That was Liu Yang reporting.
The financial secretary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government says Hong Kong's GDP growth in the first quarter of this year is expected to surpass the revised 4, marking the fastest pace in five years.
Paul chan says the improvement is driven by stronger private spending, robust exports and steady fixed investment.
Tourism also remained robust, with visitor arrivals rising 17 on a yearly basis to over 143 million.
Hong Kong's daily expenditures increased for six consecutive quarters.
In the first three months, retail and catering-related spending rose 5.2%.
Chan also says export value rose 32, marking the 25th consecutive month of growth and the best quarterly performance in five years.
Chan added that efforts must be made to accelerate the application of artificial intelligence across various sectors and strengthen talent training.
Physical AI devices are quickly moving from the lab to the shop floor.
And 2026 has been called the inaugural year of AI glasses.
Aaron Liu shares his experiences of covering stories related to these devices.
I bring the glasses with me, and I tried it when I interviewed the brand in Hangzhou.
First impression, I think, is very lightweight and super light.
It feels like normal glasses because I wear it for a very long time, and no dizziness and very comfortable.
Second, I think it fits people with near-sighted and far-sighted eyes like me.
Just directly adjust your diopters and no need to wear another glasses.
Right now you can use it in normal life.
For me.
I experienced a very different kind of the times, like the hospitals and also museums, and also your daily lives.
Compared with smartphones, I think it's more comfortable because you don't need to pick the phone out and you don't even use your hands when you're traveling around the places.
So next, I think with the visual and hearing problems people can also use it because you can guide the tour.
And besides, I think another thing I learned is the open ecosystem.
Because tech lovers can add new ideas and new functions to the classes.
And also that's why it's very popular along with the tech lovers at home and abroad.
And next, the biggest highlight, I think, is the light weight, like I mentioned earlier.
Because it drops from the 100 grams to just the 49 grams.
I think that means strength of China's super industrial chain and manufacturing capabilities.
Next one since last year, because the hardware and the software changed a lot and users think it's comfortable and useful and also becomes a new trend for smart variables.
I want to share with you some data because first is the number one.
It's overseas.
Up to now, it's overseas.
The market has ranked number one in the global AI glasses market.
And also another is just the 45 days.
It's overseas.
A crowned founding hit 3.4 million US dollars.
And it's the Shattering XR industry records.
And next is tech.
Bloggers and average users share their experience on the social medias, driving over 120 million users on global social platforms to share these classes.
Tech lovers can add their ideas and also new functions to the glasses.
So they can use their imagination, develop new ecosystems for them.
And I feel that enthusiasm about their own programs and create new functions to the glasses.
With the solid hardware and also software.
This special operating model and the Chinese AI glasses have wide recognition around the world.
That was Aaron Leo reporting.
You're listening to the Beijing Hour and coming up in sports.
China and France have gone head-to-head for badminton's Thomas Cup title.
Sideline Story brings you all things sports related.
The hottest topics, latest events, juiciest stories, all with a very personal take.
Subscribe to Sideline Story podcast for heated sports discussions covering events that are happening in China and around the world.
47 past the hour.
I'm turning to sports now.
We begin with badminton.
Defending champions, China fought off a fierce challenge from France to claim a 3-1 victory and reclaim the Thomas Cup title.
World champion Shi Yuchi fired China into an early lead, overcoming Crystal Popov in a thrilling three-set battle.
Two people are trying to figure out how to play this ball.
We were both thinking about winning the next point and we were going knack knack, so it really feels terrific that we were able to win the title in the end.
Alex Lanier fought back for France, leveling the score 1-1 with a straight sets win over China's Li Shifeng.
The third match turned into a grueling contest with Wang Hongyang narrowly edging Toma Jr.
Popov to put China back into the lead.
Then He Jiting and Ren Xiangyu sealed the deal, defeating Aloy Adam and Leo Rossi in straight sets, clinching the decisive point in securing China's 12th Thomas Cup victory since 1982.
Now turning to the World Aquatics Diving World Cup.
China swept all nine gold medals, with Chen Jia and Bai Yuming clinching the final two victories on Sunday.
In the women's three-meter springboard, Chen successfully defended her title, scoring 37440 points, just 135 ahead of her teammate Chen Yiwen.
Later, Bai Yiming surged ahead in the men's 10-meter platform, overcoming Mexico's Randall Willers Valdez in a fierce battle.
Meanwhile, Wang Zongyuan was crowned as the best male diver and Zheng Linjing earned the title of best female diver at this year's World Cup.
In tennis, Yannick Sinner needed less than an hour to defeat Alexander Zivrev and claim the Madrid Open title in dominant fashion.
The victory made Sinner the first man in history to win five consecutive Masters 1000 titles, adding Madrid to his triumphs in Paris last year and Indian Wells, Miami and Monte Carlo earlier this season.
I started very well in the match, breaking straight away, but he was not playing his best tennis today.
So I just try to get with the front foot ahead and I'm very happy obviously, about the level I'm playing.
Incredible winning.
Sinner didn't take a single break point against any opponent, who's typically well-suited to Madrid's clay conditions.
The Italian showed his mastery by converting all four of his break points and winning a staggering 93 of points behind his first serve, keeping Zivarev under constant pressure from the very start.
In football, Inter Milan clinched its 21st Serie A title with three rounds to spare, after securing a 2-0 victory over Parma.
The home side controlled the game from the start but struggled to break down Parma's defense until stoppage time in the first half.
They doubled their lead in the 80th minute.
Elsewhere, AC Milan lost 2-0 to Sassuolo, while Juventus was held 1-1 at home by already relegated Ellis Verona.
In other action, Bologna and Cagliari played to a goalless draw on Sunday.
In the NBA, the Detroit Pistons emerged victorious over the Orlando Magic 160-94 in Game 7, clinching their first playoff series win in 18 years.
Akade Cunningham scored 32 points and dished out 12 assists, leading Detroit to a thrilling comeback.
Playoff basketball is a lot of fun in itself.
Because it's so intense.
It's so much on the line.
But, you know, the Magic, credit to them.
They pushed us.
They, you know, really made us take a look in the mirror, like I said.
And I think we got a lot better from this series.
I got a lot better.
I learned a lot about myself.
Learned a lot about the team.
I think this series really is going to set us up for our next series, and I think we'll be a lot better for it.
Detroit becomes just the 15th team in NBA history to overcome a 3-1 deficit in advance.
Elsewhere, the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the visiting Toronto Raptors 1-14 1-0-2 in Game 7 of their Eastern Conference first-round series.
Jarrett Allen was unstoppable, scoring 14 of his career playoff high-tying 22 points in the third quarter and hauling in 19 rebounds to lead the charge for the Cavaliers.
Donovan Mitchell added 22 points, while James Harden contributed 18 and 6 rebounds as Cleveland surged to a commanding 94-72 lead early in the fourth quarter.
Now fourth-seeded Cleveland will face the top seed Detroit in a highly anticipated Eastern Conference semifinal showdown, a Game 1 scheduled for Tuesday in Detroit.
In the CBA, the Guangdong Southern Tigers held off a late surge to defeat the Guangzhou Long Lions 90-80 in the first round of the playoffs, sealing the series 2-1 and punching their ticket into the quarterfinals.
Guangdong carried an 11-point cushion into the final quarter, but the game suddenly tightened as Lyndall Wiginton caught fire, scoring seven quick points to cut the gap to just four with five minutes remaining.
Twayong Shi then hit a crucial three-pointer, and Xu Jie followed with a basket to put the game out of reach.
Elsewhere, Keontae Johnson poured in 27 points to power the Shandong Heroes past the Liaoning Flying Leopards 98-82, as Shandong closed out that series 2-1 to advance to the quarterfinals.
You're listening to the Beijing Hour.
Coming up in culture and entertainment.
China's May Day holiday box office numbers have surged well past last year's total.
From north to south, east to west, people in China are chasing their dreams and leaving their mark.
Want to know how they beat the odds and made a difference?
Footprints brings you the true life stories of their journeys.
The 53 past now turning to culture and entertainment.
China's May Day holiday box office has surpassed 600 million yuan roughly 88 million US dollars as of Monday afternoon.
According to film data platform Maoyan, the milestone was reached one and a half days earlier than last year's entire holiday box office total.
Leading the charts are the suspense thriller Vanishing Point and the crime thriller Cold War 1994.
The average ticket price on opening day stood at 368 yuan, marking the lowest level for the same period in the past four years.
Industry.
Estimates suggest China's film industry will exceed 200 billion yuan this year as the sector moves beyond single-ticket revenue toward a more diversified ecosystem, including models such as film plus tourism.
Warner Bros.
Discovery shareholders have approved a proposed 110 billion merger with Paramount Skydance, a move that could dramatically reshape the entertainment industry.
It is Tian Shen has more on the potential impacts of the deal.
Warner Bros.
Discovery shareholders have approved a proposed merger with Paramount Skydance, valued at around 110 billion, one of the largest media deals in history.
But it still requires regulatory approval and is already facing its first legal challenge in California, alleging violations of antitrust law.
They're getting antitrust approval from the Justice Department.
That should never give them approval for it.
They're counting on that.
And they're counting on it because the Ellisons are close friends and backers of Donald Trump.
More than 4000 filmmakers and actors have signed a letter urging California's Attorney General to block the merger, warning it could harm the creative community.
We're concerned.
We've already made statements about this.
When two giant media companies merge.
We have concerns for producers and our business.
Competition fairness we don't want to lose jobs.
We want to protect creative freedoms.
So all these things we have to pay attention to and watch what's going to happen with this merger and the regulators will carefully vet it and really look at these issues.
The prospect of consolidation is also raising alarms among industry workers, at a time when jobs in Hollywood are already under pressure.
Almost inevitably, when there's a big merger like this, The workforce is reduced.
It's a way to cut costs.
It's a way to increase cost efficiency for these organizations and maybe boost up the stock value.
Protests are even playing out on the streets of Hollywood.
But it's also about what media consolidation does to consumers.
It results in higher prices, fewer choices, less creativity.
What began as a high-stakes bidding battle has turned into a complex global regulatory test.
This is not just a studio merger.
It's a collision of vast media ecosystems spanning film, television and competing streaming platforms.
On one side HBO Max and Discovery, On the other Paramount Plus and international ventures like Sky Showtime.
And with US regulators reviewing the deal first, authorities in Europe and the UK are expected to follow, meaning this fight over the future of Hollywood could play out for months to come.
A striking Chinese dragon installation at the Beijing Chocolate Museum has drawn wide attention from visitors.
The artwork is crafted from 22 tons of chocolate.
With its body embedded in the wall and its head bursting outward, the dragon conveys a powerful, soaring presence in a distinctly Chinese style.
Combining sculpture and spray painting techniques.
The piece uses white chocolate to mimic the texture of ancient stone.
Its soft, warm surface catches the light, giving it a jade-like glow.
Taihu, an emerging performing arts hub in southeastern Beijing, has turned into a key jazz festival destination during this year's May Day holiday.
The festival has gathered more than 330 jazz musicians from 11 countries and regions.
It runs through Tuesday, the final day of the holiday.
We're at 57 past the hour.
Beijing down to 12 degrees this evening.
Overcast skies in 28 for Tuesday.
Shanghai will be overcast in 16, then sunny in 27.
Chongqing is getting clouds overnight and tomorrow.
A low of 16, a high of 30.
Nanchang will be cloudy and down to 17.
Then it's sunny in 29.
Last, we'll see showers in a low 5 degrees.
It's cloudy and 19 tomorrow.
Elsewhere in Asia, Islamabad's getting a light rainfall of 19 overnight, then cloudy and 31 for Tuesday.
Vientiane will see moderate rain and down to 23 degrees, followed by overcast conditions and 33.
And that's it for this edition of the Beijing Hour.
Making news today.
China's erected a monument for the Cairo Declaration that affirmed the return of stolen Chinese land at the end of World War II.
Millions of Chinese travelers who've been enjoying immersive tourism experiences over the May Day holiday are now starting to head home.
On behalf of the staff.
This is Shane Biggum in the Chinese capital, hoping you'll join us for the next edition of The Beijing Hour and open a window to the world together.
Find The Beijing Hour at precisely 6 p.m.
Beijing time.
We meet you on podcast and on air every weekday.
The Beijing Hour, your window on China and the rest of the world.
The Yellow River is so noble and elegant.
Both my grandpa and dad made the living from the river.
Would you like to move away from the Yellow River?
I don't think I will.
I love it so much.
The Yellow River, the second longest river in China, is regarded as a shaping force in the history, economy and culture of northern China.
Today, about 100 million people live within its water basin, making up nearly 9 of the country's population.
How is climate change felt at its headwaters?
And what are the locals doing to cope with it?
What are the descendants of the boatmen doing?
What has kept some people from leaving their home village by the river?
And what has drawn others back?
Could the fading fishing community revive in a time of digital transformation?
From 2021 to 2024.
Our reporters visited the upper, middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River, talked to the herders farmers boatmen, fishermen and eco-activists who share a close bond with the river, and present their stories in pictures, podcasts and videos, all in our 12-part series.
The Yellow River Mosaic, available only on CGTN Radio.
