Flocks of blue-throated bee-eaters have recently returned to Nanping in east China's Fujian Province for the breeding season, drawing bird enthusiasts from across the country to observe these stunning birds playing and foraging in the wild.
The birds, under second-class national protection in China, have blue feathers around their necks, a graceful figure and a loud, distinctive call, all of which has seen them dubbed as one of China's "most beautiful birds".
Their return in early May now marks the tenth consecutive year that this popular bird species has been spotted around Nanping's picturesque Xiexi Village. Located in the upper reaches of the Minjiang River, the village boasts a beautiful environment with dense forest coverage and abundant food resources, making it an ideal habitat for the birds during the breeding season.
The appearance of the beloved birds has delighted birdwatching enthusiasts who have gathered at the site to catch a glimpse of the special winged visitors.
"This is my fourth time here. The landscape is definitely wonderful, as well as the ecology. I feel proud to have these birds here," said Song Hongwei, one of the birdwatchers.
Located along the bird migration route between East Asia and Australasia, the coastal Fujian Province is noted for its great biodiversity, and the number of wild animal and plant species ranks among the top in all of China.
A large number of migratory birds breed, overwinter or stop over in the province every year, with around 600 bird species being recorded in 2024.
Birdwatchers flock to Fujian to catch glimpse of beloved blue-throated bee-eaters
China's latest high-speed train model has reached 450 kilometers per hour in test runs, pushing the frontier of the country's high-end manufacturing and further underpinning its strategy of promoting industrial upgrading through technological innovation.
The CR450 high-speed train, China's newest-generation high-speed train, has completed half of its road tests, marking a milestone for the country's railway industry and reflecting closer integration between manufacturing and research, according to a leading railway scientist.
"Extensive work has been carried out on the CR450 project since 2025, and significant progress has been made. So far, the train has completed about 300,000 kilometers of testing, with more than half of the evaluation process already finished," said Zhao Hongwei, a chief researcher at the China Academy of Railway Sciences.
Developed entirely with independent intellectual property rights, the CR450 also demonstrates stronger resilience in China's industrial supply chains. The project is boosting related sectors such as machinery, metallurgy, electronics and chemicals, as key components are now produced domestically.
"A high-speed train is a highly complex piece of engineering equipment. We estimate it contains more than 40,000 components, along with multiple control systems. These parts come from many different sectors, supported by an entire industrial ecosystem. So projects like this naturally drive the development of the broader industrial chain," said Zhao.
The train also offers a glimpse of the direction China's manufacturing sector is heading for, as the government has pledged during this year's" two sessions" to promote the full integration between technological and industrial innovation.
Speaking at the Ministers' Corridor during the annual meetings, Li Lecheng, China's Minister of Industry and Information Technology, emphasized the need to translate scientific breakthroughs into tangible industrial progress.
"We will follow the principle that industry sets the questions and technology provides the answers. A new round of initiatives will upgrade key manufacturing supply chains, drive breakthroughs across the entire chain, and speed up their conversion into new quality productive forces," said Li.
China’s new high-speed train unveils ambition to bridge technology, manufacturing
