October 24 marks International Gibbon Day, highlighting conservation efforts to protect these threatened primates. In China, the gibbon population in Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park, established in 2021, has continued to grow. According to official data, the population of Hainan gibbons has increased to 44 in seven groups, making it the only gibbon species in the world with a continuously growing population.

11th Global Mazu Culture Forum to be held in SE China's Fujian from Oct. 31 to Nov. 2 The 11th Global Mazu Culture Forum will be held from Oct. 31 to Nov. 2 in southeast China's Fujian Province, organizers announced at a press conference in Beijing on Oct. 23. The main venue will be Meizhou Island in Putian, with 13 branch venues across the world. Among them, a forum on Mazu culture and cultural exchanges between China and Brazil will be held in Sao Paulo, Brazil, the first offline sub-forum the event has staged overseas. Under the theme "Peace Reigns Across the Four Seas, Love Creates the Future," this year's forum is co-hosted by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the government of the Macao Special Administrative Region and the Fujian provincial government. It will run alongside the 28th Meizhou Mazu Culture Tourism Festival. "Mazu culture is an important part of fine traditional Chinese culture," said Jiang Erxiong, vice-governor of Fujian. She noted that Chinese President Xi Jinping announced that China will enable 30 countries to use the MAZU AI-powered meteorological warning system to safeguard homes around the world, highlighting the contemporary value and global significance of Mazu culture. Ten sub-forums will cover topics including cultural tourism in Fujian and Taiwan, youth exchanges, peace, the marine economy, green power on islands, rural revitalization, mangrove ecology, humanitarian affairs, women's exchanges, and China-Brazil cultural exchanges. During the forum, organizers will release the first batch of typical cases of marine disaster reduction in China, version 2.0 of the "Mazu" intelligent marine forecasting model, a Mazu culture digital platform, a report on the development of Chinese Mazu culture and the Meizhou Declaration. A delivery ceremony for MAZU intelligent all-in-one units to Sri Lanka, a Mazu scholarship presentation and the appointment of global ambassadors for Mazu culture are also on the agenda, along with folk performances and the dance drama "Mazu." Since it was approved in 2016, the forum has grown from a purely academic event into a comprehensive humanities forum, promoting the Mazu spirit of virtue, kindness and great love.

One brave step at a time! A red panda adorably climbs its way up some branches at a zoo in Zhongshan, south China’s Guangdong Province.

Photos show the Orionid meteor shower in the sky over northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. The Orionid meteor shower, caused by remnants from Halley's comet, peaked on Wednesday and Thursday.

More than just beautiful designs! A Hanfu vlogger from central China’s Hubei Province showcases the intricate patterns of Hanfu—each carrying unique charm and wishes for good fortune.

The People's Bank of China on Thursday issued a set of commemorative coins to mark the 90th anniversary of the victory of the Red Army's Long March. The set of commemorative coins comprises one gold coin with a face value of 100 yuan (about $14.97) and one silver coin with a face value of 10 yuan, both of which are legal tender of the People's Republic of China. #LongMarch90

Would you take a stroll through a "mushroom" forest? Over 8,000 mushroom-shaped sweet osmanthus trees are in full bloom across the 27-hectare Hangzhou Guibo Garden in east China's Zhejiang Province, transforming it into a fairy tale-like wonderland.

China put a total of 1,625 kilometers of new railway lines into operation in the first three quarters of 2026 as the country, home to the world's largest high-speed rail network, speeds up efforts to build a modern railway infrastructure system. During the period, the railway sector completed fixed-asset investment of 601.2 billion yuan (about 89 billion U.S. dollars), up 1.3% year on year, according to data from the China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. (China Railway).

The morning glow bathes the Taihang Mountains in golden hues, highlighting the majestic peaks and showcasing the breathtaking beauty of north China's Shanxi Province.

A conversation with Liu Cixin: From The Three-Body Problem to the future of humanity In 2006, Chinese science fiction writer Liu Cixin's novel The Three-Body Problem began appearing in serial form in Science Fiction World magazine. Two decades later, the novel has not only made its mark on the world stage but also offered a lens through which to examine real-world developments. Artificial intelligence (AI), commercial spaceflight, and interstellar exploration are advancing at a remarkable pace, as humanity sets its sights on the far reaches of space. Recently, People's Daily spoke with Liu about science fiction and the future of human civilization. Q: What were you thinking when you first wrote The Three-Body Problem? How have your perspectives evolved since then? Liu Cixin: Twenty years ago, as I typed The Three-Body Problem on a computer in my office deep in the mountains, I never imagined it would find such a large readership. First and foremost, The Three-Body Problem is a work of popular fiction, intended above all to tell a story that leaves readers stunned. If I could step back into that moment, I might hesitate before including some of the darker themes woven into the story. They were originally narrative devices meant to engage readers, yet they have since been widely interpreted as reflections of what I later termed "cosmic sociology." With such a vast readership today, I sometimes feel I have lit a fire that now burns beyond my control. My fundamental worldview has remained unchanged over the past two decades. However, writing has grown more difficult. Generating fresh concepts for science fiction is increasingly challenging. On the one hand, AI is advancing rapidly. I am not worried about being replaced just yet, but what about 10 years from now? If AI can produce a superior manuscript in five minutes that would take a human writer five months to craft, what role will authors still play? On the other hand, science fiction has permeated almost every aspect of our lives and society. Paradoxically, this has diluted its identity as a distinct literary genre, making it harder for science fiction writers to thrive as its influence continues to spread. Contemporary Chinese science fiction is remarkably diverse. Younger writers often bring broader knowledge, wider perspectives, and a more nuanced understanding of how emerging technologies reshape society and everyday experience. Read full: en.people.cn/n3/2026/1022/c9…

Falling snow mingles with colorful foliage, creating an enchanting landscape in Ergun, north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

China Post on Thursday issued a set of six commemorative stamps marking the 90th anniversary of the victory of the Long March, an epic undertaking in modern Chinese history. These six stamps feature the following themes: the departure of the Red Army, the bloody Battle of the Xiangjiang River, the landmark Zunyi Meeting, the battle at Lazikou Pass, the victorious reunion of Red Army forces, and carrying forward the great Long March spirit. #LongMarch90

PD Explainer | City tweets: Beijing through the ears of three foreign birdwatchers As Beijing's streets grow quieter, its birdsong grows livelier. For three birders from the UK and Belgium, these changes tell a bigger story of the city's improving environment. What does traffic noise have to do with bird conservation? And how is Beijing making room for more wildlife? Join People's Daily reporter Wang Ruofan to explore the city's changing soundscape and what it reveals about Beijing's efforts to live in greater harmony with nature.

Mohe, China's northernmost city in Heilongjiang Province, has recently welcomed its first snowfall of the season, as fluffy snowflakes blanket the landscape and usher in the winter tourism season.

The future is here: Where city and nature coexist in China's smallest reserve Nestled amid the hustle and bustle of Shenzhen, a metropolis in south China's Guangdong Province, the Futian Mangrove Nature Reserve is China's only national nature reserve located in the heart of a city and serves as a vital stopover along the East Asian–Australasian Flyway. Spanning 367 hectares, the mangrove wetland is home to 273 bird species, including 60 under national protection. In 2026, 341 black-faced spoonbills — out of a global population of just 7,746 — were recorded here, accounting for 4.4% of the world’s total. To protect this precious habitat amid urban development, the reserve employs digital technologies such as AI-powered bird recognition, drone patrols, and intelligent sluice gate control, demonstrating how urban life and nature can coexist and thrive in harmony.

The autumn scenery of Maiji Mountain Grottoes, one of the four most famous grottoes in China, and its surrounding mountains attracted numerous tourists.

In pics: Golden snub-nosed monkeys at the Dalongtan Golden Monkey Research Center in Shennongjia National Park under the Shennongjia Forestry District, central China's Hubei Province.

It is not that storms bypass China, but that we have built a steady shield: Global Times editorial This autumn of 2026 lays bare a stark contrast between a turbulent world and China's stable governance. On one side, the ongoing conflict in the Middle East keeps roiling global energy supplies. Diesel prices in Europe and the US have climbed to an all time high of around $220 per barrel. Meanwhile, France and wider Europe are gripped by sustained unrest, with long simmering social contradictions boiling over. On the other side, China presents a vastly different picture over the same period. Nationwide cross regional trips reached 2.144 billion over the seven day National Day holiday, bringing the combined figure for the Mid Autumn and National Day holidays close to 2.8 billion as people traveled across the country. In September, China's consumer price index (CPI) rose by just 0.9 percent year on year, while food prices actually fell by 1.7 percent. The world is in turmoil, yet ordinary Chinese people can still plan trips and live their lives with peace of mind. Many are asking why the global crises unfolding elsewhere seem to have limited impact on China. The answer is straightforward: It's not that the storm has automatically veered off course; it's that we have preemptively shielded people's livelihoods from these risks. Read full: en.people.cn/n3/2026/1022/c9…

In southwest China's Chongqing, creativity flows even at bus stops—waiting for a ride has never looked this fun. 🎨🚌

Hop aboard a special sightseeing tram in Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province, and take in the golden hues of autumn while soaking up the nostalgic charm of this classic ride.