China launches first national science popularization month

China launched its first national science popularization month on Monday, starting a 30-day nationwide carnival of science.

Organized by the China Association for Science and Technology, the activities will spotlight scientific innovation achievements, celebrate the scientific spirit and the legacy of scientists, .and make science accessible to the public.

Opening ceremonies were held at the National Communication Center For Science and Technology and the China Science and Technology Museum in Beijing -- with more than a hundred related exhibitions and activities planned for September.

Among the displays is an innovation achievement exhibition, featuring outcomes from over 30 scientific research teams. For the first time, a number of groundbreaking "first-of-their-kind" exhibits were presented in an interactive "watch, listen, and touch" format.

"The core of this new electronic fabric is its conductive fibers. Though the fiber itself is small, it contains intricate microscopic structures. When we apply an alternating current, the luminescent layer emits light," said Wei Lei, a staff member at the China Science and Technology Museum.

A variety of engaging science popularization events will be held across the country throughout the month. This nationwide effort aims to foster a society-wide atmosphere that celebrates and values science.

"We are collaborating with a broad coalition, including national societies, local science associations, enterprises, universities, research institutes, educational bases, museum networks, and academies of science. Together, we will launch a series of distinctive activities across the country to create a science popularization festival that is all-encompassing, covers every region, utilizes full-media communication, and encourages participation and sharing by all citizens," said Ni Zhiyu, head of the science popularization department of the China Association for Science and Technology.

China's revised Science and Technology Popularization Law, which took effect on December 25, 2024, designates September as the annual national science popularization month.

China's outstanding aggregate social financing -- the total amount of financing to the real economy -- reached 442.12 trillion yuan (about 63.4 trillion U.S. dollars) as of the end of 2025, up 8.3 percent year on year, central bank data showed on Thursday.

The country's aggregate social financing stood at 35.6 trillion yuan (about 5.1 trillion U.S. dollars) in 2025, up by 3.34 trillion yuan (about 479 billion U.S. dollars) from the year 2024, said the People's Bank of China (PBOC), the country's central bank.

According to the data, the M2, a broad measure of money supply that covers cash in circulation and all deposits, increased 8.5 percent year on year to 340.29 trillion yuan (about 48.8 trillion U.S. dollars) as of the end of December.

In addition, outstanding yuan loans stood at 271.91 trillion yuan (about 39 trillion U.S. dollars) at the end of 2025, up 6.4 percent year on year.