Beijing's dual-airport hubs -- Beijing Capital International Airport and Beijing Daxing International Airport -- handled 410.98 billion yuan (around 60.87 billion U.S. dollars) in foreign trade in the first half of 2026, marking an 18.7 percent year-on-year increase, according to Beijing Customs.
In the same period, the two airports recorded 63,000 inbound and outbound flights, reflecting a steady recovery in cross-border air transport capacity.
High value-added commodities emerged as the core driver of the air cargo expansion.
Robust import and export demand across sectors including biomedicine, integrated circuits and precision equipment underpinned the robust growth of air freight throughput at the two airports.
Beijing airports see robust growth in foreign trade in H1
Chinese crested terns, one of the world's rarest seabird species, have been recorded in coastal wetlands in Nantong, east China's Jiangsu Province, for a seventh consecutive year.
Bird photographers captured images of the critically endangered birds on July 23 and 24, with sightings this season reported to be more frequent than in previous years.
With a global population of just over 200, the Chinese crested tern is under China's highest level of national protection. Its rarity and elusive nature have earned it the nickname "the mythical bird" in the country.
The species breeds mainly on uninhabited islands off the coasts of Zhejiang and Fujian provinces in east China. Between July and September, some birds stop in Nantong's coastal wetlands to rest and feed during their seasonal migration.
The repeated sightings underline the role of Nantong's wetlands as a stopover site for rare migratory birds, as Jiangsu continues efforts to restore wetland habitats.
Rare Chinese crested terns return to east China wetland for seventh year
