CGTN documentary records life of lighthouse keepers across South China Sea

An episode of "Genglubu: Charting the South China Sea", a China Global Television Network (CGTN) documentary series, offers a rare glimpse into the life of lighthouse keepers who climb reefs, brave typhoons and keep the lights shining across the South China Sea.

Among them is Zhou Liang, a lighthouse keeper from Sansha Navigation Aid Office in South China's Hainan Province. His job often requires him to stay on remote islands for months at a time to maintain these vital navigational aids.

"For sailors, seeing a lighthouse in the vast expanse of the ocean is like seeing hope," he said.

However, maintaining these lighthouses is not easy, as some stand on reefs surrounded by complex undercurrents. After typhoons, repair teams must reach them as soon as the sea allows.

"In summer and autumn, typhoons are frequent here. We must carry out inspections and maintenance after every typhoon," said Zhou Liang.

Hainan Province boasts a long history of lighthouses. Around its coastline stand 25 lighthouses, with some over 100 years old.

"Each lighthouse is basically located at an important angle, at a key position, mainly to help ships returning from the open sea use the lighthouses to determine their position," said Liu Huashun from Haikou Navigation Aid Office.

Today, new lighthouses stand in Xisha Qundao (the Xisha Islands) and Nansha Qundao (the Nansha Islands).

In the age of the Genglubu, a manual of sea routes created by Chinese fishermen more than 600 years ago, captains read the wind, the tide and the shape of reefs. Today, new systems keep watch.

"Today, relying on technologies such as BeiDou high-precision positioning, AIS remote telemetry and big data, we can track the movements of vessels navigating the South China Sea in real time. If a ship veers off course or gets too close to dangerous reefs, we can warn it in real time," said Zhou Jun from Sansha Navigation Aid Office.

"Imagine being surrounded by total darkness. Then, all of a sudden, you strike a match and watch the flame flare to life. I think that's what it feels like when a sailor suddenly spots a lighthouse in the darkness of the night," said Zhou Liang.

CGTN documentary records life of lighthouse keepers across South China Sea

A senior official from China's State Taxation Administration on Tuesday reported major improvements in taxpayer convenience and a surge in overseas tourists using China's departure tax refund service in the first six months of this year.

Rong Hailou, chief economist and spokesman for the State Taxation Administration, made the remarks during a press conference held by the State Council Information Office in Beijing to outline tax reform and development during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030).

He said the fully digitalized electronic tax bureau is now widely accessible. He noted that most high‑frequency tax services, including routine filing, invoice issuance, social security fee refunds, and personal contribution record inquiries, can now be handled online or via mobile devices.

The coverage of intelligent tax services has reached 85 percent, reducing average processing time by 20 percent, he said.

"We have piloted the 'instant invoicing upon payment' initiative in sectors closely related to people's daily lives, including parking lots, retail supermarkets, and hospitality services such as catering and accommodation, thereby improving the efficiency and user experience of invoice collection for consumers. We have also continued to refine the 'immediate tax refund' service for overseas tourists departing China. In the first half of the year, the number of overseas tourists using the tax refund service increased by 366 percent year-on-year, while the sales value of tax-refundable goods and the corresponding tax refund amount both rose by 69 percent," he said.

China posts tax service improvements, tourist refunds surge: official