By Bao Han, People’s Daily

According to rankings released by OpenRouter, a global aggregation platform for large-language models, Chinese large-language models have outperformed their overseas counterparts in usage for a full month. 

In the most recent week (March 30 to April 4), Chinese models took the top six spots among the global top 10, with total token calls reaching 12.27 trillion. This is no fleeting spike, but a sustained trend.

Before going further, it is worth unpacking a technical term that has recently entered the public conversation: the token. A token is the smallest unit of information processed by large models. It can be measured, priced, and traded. Every Chinese character input, every line of generated code, and every image recognized, all consume tokens.

If the industrial era was defined by petroleum, and the internet age by traffic, then the AI era is defined by token usage. It serves as a key barometer of the development of the AI industry.

In March this year, China’s daily token usage exceeded 140 trillion, equivalent to processing the entire holdings of roughly 250 National Libraries of China in a single day. Even more striking is the growth rate: since early 2024, when token usage stood at 100 billion, China has achieved a thousand-fold increase in just over two years. China has undoubtedly become one of the most active countries in the world for AI applications.

What fuels this extraordinary growth? Three fundamental pillars stand out.

The first is a solid foundation of power supply. AI development fundamentally depends on electricity. China possesses the world’s largest and most advanced power supply system, with total installed capacity reaching 3.95 billion kilowatts and a continuously expanding share of clean energy. Converting watts efficiently into tokens is essential. Without power, AI simply cannot function.

The second is China’s strength in computing power. Superior computing infrastructure accelerates token processing and reduces unit costs, while advanced algorithms enhance output quality and increase token utilization frequency. 

National initiatives such as “Eastern Data, Western Computing” and coordinated computing-power systems have built a robust computing network. Continued breakthroughs by technology companies in inference chips and model architectures mean that Chinese large models are not only capable, but also more efficient and cost-effective.

The third is a sound application ecosystem. Tokens serve as the bridge between technological supply and real-world demand. From financial risk control and cross-border e-commerce operations to short-video generation, tokens are being transformed into tangible productivity. 

Behind a daily token call volume in the hundreds of trillions lies a vast array of high-frequency, large-scale and sustainable commercial applications, forming a virtuous cycle of data supply and value realization.

Some analysts have noted that China is building a competitive advantage in what can be called the “token economy,” laying out the entire value chain from energy and computing power to models and applications.

When assessing China’s AI competitiveness through the lens of the token economy, it is clear that the country’s strength lies not in fleeting competition over scale, but in persistent long-termism.

China has laid out clear targets: by 2027, it aims to promote the in-depth application of 3 to 5 general large models in manufacturing and roll out 1,000 high-level industrial intelligent agents.

The outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) has explicitly called for the full implementation of the “AI Plus” initiative to empower all industries across the board.

Furthermore, the government work report has underscored goals to forge new forms of smart economy and advance the large-scale commercial application of AI in key sectors.

Taken together, these form a cohesive strategic blueprint with sustained policy momentum, painting a broad and promising picture for China’s AI development.

Another emerging consensus is that China’s approach to open source is becoming an important force in shaping the global AI technology stack. Large models such as DeepSeek have been made open to the world, helping support digital infrastructure development in Africa and providing solutions such as industrial visual inspection for factories in Southeast Asia. 

From open-source models to shared capabilities, this collaborative approach not only accelerates the evolution of China’s AI industry, but also empowers the global innovation ecosystem and promotes more inclusive access to technology.

In this long run toward the future, China is not developing itself behind closed doors, but is committed to a people-centered, AI-for-good vision featuring fairness, inclusiveness and collaborative governance. China’s response to the intelligent era is inscribed in every dynamic, pulsing token.

By Wu Qiqiang, Cheng Yuanzhou, People’s Daily

A persistent bird call at a middle school in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, recently sparked a widely discussed life lesson, transforming a student’s frustration into an opportunity for learning about nature and coexistence.

The situation began when students at Shenzhen Bao’an Middle School preparing for exams were disturbed by the loud, frequent calls of an Asian koel, a native bird perched outside their classroom window. One student, Le Zongyan, anonymously left a handwritten letter on principal Yuan Weixing’s desk. The letter candidly explained the disruption to their studies and suggested removing the bird’s nest.

Yuan, whose open-door policy encourages students to share their thoughts directly or leave notes, was impressed by the letter’s sincerity and rational tone. Recognizing the students’ understandable desire for a quiet study environment, he chose not to give a simple answer. Instead, he penned a thoughtful public response shared via his social media channel.

In his letter, Yuan acknowledged the pressures students face. He gently explained that the birds sing at dusk instinctively — for mating, marking territory, and communication — and cannot adjust their natural rhythms for human schedules. He encouraged students to reframe the sound: perhaps as natural “white noise” or even a “twilight serenade” offered by the birds.

“The world does not exist for any one individual alone,” Yuan wrote. “Learning to coexist with all living things is a required lesson in growing up. The ultimate goal of education is not to make the world adapt to us, but to help us learn how to live with the world.”

The principal’s warm and insightful reply quickly gained widespread online praise, hailed by many as “exemplary education.” Le Zongyan later responded, stating that the principal’s words had become “a valuable lesson in life education,” emphasizing the importance of harmony with others and nature.

Recognizing this as a broader educational opportunity, Yuan noted, “Simply driving the bird away wouldn’t be appropriate, but doing nothing wasn’t an option either.” The school subsequently invited ecological experts to conduct science sessions on campus and organized student representatives to collaboratively discuss practical solutions, turning an isolated complaint into an ongoing journey of learning about respect and coexistence.

Experts clarified that the bird, colloquially termed the “noisy cuckoo” by students but scientifically known as the Asian koel, becomes especially vocal during its March and April breeding season. Male birds call persistently to attract mates. While their calls can reach 60 to 80 decibels at close proximity, the birds’ activity is sporadic, and their locations shift.

To reduce disruption, the school provided earplugs to students in dormitories near wooded areas. At the same time, artificial nests were installed to guide the birds toward a designated “life garden” recreational zone, away from classrooms and dorm buildings.

In fact, such life education has long been part of the school’s routine practice. When ducks in the campus pond began eating lotus plants, students formed a “campus duck management committee” to address the issue. During typhoons, the principal writes letters encouraging students to respect nature and appreciate resilience. A student-run “campus cat club” also cares for stray cats on school grounds.

According to Liu Yang, a professor at the School of Ecology of Sun Yat-sen University, true civilization is not about conquering nature, but about balancing development with ecological protection. This lesson at the Bao’an middle school planted seeds of ecological awareness in students’ minds, making harmony between humans and nature a living reality on campus, Liu said.

The story also reflects Shenzhen’s broader efforts to promote ecological conservation. 

To protect more than 100,000 migratory birds wintering in the city each year, Shenzhen Bay Park has chosen not to install high-intensity lighting, preserving natural darkness. Futian Mangrove Ecological Park has introduced specially designed “bird-friendly streetlights” to provide safe nesting spaces. Some high-rise buildings have added dotted patterns to glass facades to prevent bird collisions.

Survey data show that Shenzhen is home to over 450 species of wild birds, accounting for about 1/3 of China’s total. From 2021 to 2025, monthly counts of migratory birds on the Shenzhen side have remained at around 40,000, reflecting the city’s ongoing commitment to ecological protection.

By Chen Zihan

On social media platforms, senior users are quietly reshaping perceptions of aging. Today, it’s common to see 90-year-old men sipping bubble tea and playing basketball, or women in their sixties confidently sharing their life stories through short videos.

According to a statistical report on China’s internet development, by June 2025, the number of internet users aged 60 and above in China had reached 161 million, with an internet penetration rate exceeding 52 percent within this demographic. Transitioning from passive users to active content creators, seniors are entering the digital age with a newfound sense of presence.

Take Mr. Wang, a 90-year-old who shares his vibrant life on short video platforms. Bubble tea, traditional Nuo dance, basketball, and urban explorations are regular features of his content.

“I used to plan five ‘one-hour activities’ each day: basketball, dance, music practice, news reading, and outdoor time with my wife. Since starting my social media account, that became six activities, adding an hour for posting, reading comments, and replying,” Wang wrote in his 2025 year-end summary. “It’s been my busiest year since retiring.”

His journey began unexpectedly at the end of 2024 when a video of him ordering bubble tea went viral. Inspired by the response, Wang started sharing his daily life online. Within just over a year, he evolved from a novice who struggled with basic tasks like forwarding links to a popular creator with over 100,000 followers.

His story is far from unique. According to the global travel media platform Travel and Tour World, senior content creators are increasingly influencing audiences’ travel and consumption decisions, thanks to their authenticity and natural relatability.

Why do videos by seniors resonate so strongly with younger viewers?

Jin Yong’ai, a professor at the Population Development Studies Center of Renmin University of China, explained that seniors bring valuable life experience and resonant stories. In the fast-paced online world, their calm and sincere communication offers young people both insight and emotional comfort.

“The warmth and wisdom of older generations can help ease the anxiety and loneliness many young people feel, while also giving seniors a stronger sense of fulfillment,” Jin added.

Xin Tao, a senior engineer at the China Research Center on Aging, noted that the rise of older creators reflects broader social and technological changes. “This trend is driven by multiple factors, including desires for self-realization and social participation, platform incentives and targeted support, intergenerational collaboration, and a more inclusive cultural mindset,” he said. 

Through content creation, Xin emphasized, seniors are not only boosting digital engagement and cultural preservation but also transforming their rich human capital into a new driver of social development.

There’s another influencer who calls herself “Chaoyi” online, which means “fashionable aunt.” From sharing her energetic daily life as a sanitation worker to showcasing her creativity in handcrafting a baby room, the 61-year-old woman has gained over 300,000 followers in just over a year with her optimistic and humorous style.

Like many older creators, she is curious about new things. However, she still relies on her son and daughter-in-law for much of the video production work.

Her experience reflects a broader reality. For many seniors, fully mastering digital tools and independently producing content remains a challenge. To help bridge the digital divide, China has introduced a national standard on age-friendly smart multimedia terminals. Communities across the country regularly offer smartphone training, while user-friendly AI-powered devices are being rolled out, combining technological accessibility with human-centered support.

Meanwhile, Deng Hong, a 72-year-old Chinese expatriate in France, greets her audience cheerfully: “Hello everyone, I’m Hongjie, living in France.” Creating short videos has added a vibrant new dimension to her life. “I want to show my confidence in life and share positive energy through my videos,” she said. “I’m planning to learn video editing myself. With today’s powerful AI tools, I will be able to add scripts to my videos in the future.”

“Older people should not be seen simply as a group in need of care,” Jin emphasized. “They are actively participating in society.” Recent survey data from her research team showed that in areas such as instant messaging and online payments, seniors’ internet usage is now largely on par with other age groups.

From Wang’s six “one-hour activities,” to Chaoyi’s family-assisted creativity, and to Deng Hong’s exploration of AI, a growing number of older creators are finding their unique rhythms in the digital world, redefining what it means to age in the modern era.