The National Meteorological Center (NMC) issued a yellow alert -- the third-highest in a three-tier warning system -- on Monday morning, warning of high temperatures that in some regions may exceed 40 degrees Celsius.
An intense heatwave is in the forecast between Monday and Wednesday, with temperatures expected to reach record-breaking levels in parts of Hebei, Shandong, Henan, Hubei and Shaanxi provinces.
Since early July, temperatures have consistently topped 37-39 degrees Celsius in China's central and eastern regions, with some areas hitting 40-41 degrees Celsius. Parts of northern Shandong, eastern Henan, and northern Hunan have endured extreme heat for nine to 12 days on end.
The most intense heat is forecast for the coming days. On Monday, areas including Hebei, Shandong, Henan, Hubei, and Shaanxi could see temperatures nearing or exceeding historical highs.
On Monday, some parts of Shaanxi Province, central Henan Province and the Turpan Basin in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region could experience temperatures higher than 40 degrees Celsius.
Major cities like Beijing and Chongqing are also under alert, with temperatures surpassing 35 degrees Celsius.
Authorities warn that this round of heatwave is prolonged and widespread. The public is urged to limit outdoor activities, stay hydrated, and take precautions against possible heatstroke, particularly workers exposed to direct sunlight.
China issues fresh alert for heatwave amid persisting scorching weather
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
