Editor finds balance, fulfillment through Peking Opera

A publishing editor with a deep passion for Peking Opera immerses herself in the art form, finding relief from daily stresses, forming meaningful connections, and discovering a sense of personal fulfillment.

Xu Mengran, the editor and a devoted Peking Opera enthusiast, finds that the art form infuses a spark into her otherwise routine life.

"My name is Xu Mengran. I'm an editor at a publishing house specializing in computer science textbooks. My job is to collaborate with authors to create well-crafted books for readers," Xu said.

However, when she steps away from her desk, Xu transforms into a performer of Peking Opera, which has been a fundamental part of her life since she was six years old.

Though not a professional performer, Xu has dedicated herself to honing her singing skills. Through countless competitions and constant practice, she continues to make strides and push her boundaries.

"In 2024, I took part in the inaugural Peking Opera Fans Conference, hosted by China Media Group (CMG). I was incredibly nervous. After all, I was performing in front of some of the most respected artists in the field, on such a prestigious stage," she recalled.

For enthusiasts like Xu, preparing for a performance demands significant time and effort. From makeup and hairstyles to donning costumes, the entire process often takes around two hours. Furthermore, since opportunities to perform are scarce, every chance to take the stage is cherished by fans like Xu.

Fortunately, there is a growing enthusiasm for Peking Opera among younger audiences in China, with many theaters now filled with youthful viewers, ensuring the art form's continued vitality.

For Xu, Peking Opera is not just a hobby to unwind but also a bridge to connect with like-minded individuals.

"The pace of my work is fast, and I'm always mentally on edge. But every Saturday, I attend a Peking Opera club, where I meet friends from all over the country. Practicing Peking Opera during my free time helps me relax and nourishes my soul," she shared.

Editor finds balance, fulfillment through Peking Opera

China aims to achieve secure and reliable supply of key core artificial intelligence (AI) technologies by 2027, with its industrial scale and empowerment level remaining among the world's forefront, according to a recent government action plan.

The plan, jointly issued by eight departments including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Cyberspace Administration of China, and the National Development and Reform Commission, outlines an ambitious push to deeply integrate AI with the manufacturing sector, foster new quality productive forces and comprehensively empower new industrialization. By 2027, the plan targets the deep application of three to five general-purpose large AI models in manufacturing, the development of specialized, full-coverage industry-specific large models, the creation of 100 high-quality industrial datasets, and the promotion of 500 typical application scenarios.

It also aims to cultivate two to three globally influential ecosystem-leading enterprises, a batch of specialized and sophisticated small and medium-sized enterprises, and a group of enabling service providers proficient in both AI technology and industry know-how.

Furthermore, China plans to build a world-leading open-source ecosystem, enhance security governance capabilities, and contribute Chinese solutions to global AI development.

The document outlines measures including promoting the coordinated development of AI chips' hardware and software, supporting innovations in model training and inference methods, fostering key industry-specific large models, and deeply embedding large model technology into core production processes.

The plan also emphasizes making breakthroughs in key technologies such as security protection for industrial model algorithms and training data protection.

China aims for secure, reliable supply of AI core tech by 2027