By Xu Peiyu

China has cemented its position as the world’s largest new energy vehicle (NEV) market, leading global production and sales for 11 consecutive years. At the heart of this achievement lies a formidable force: the nation’s young engineering talent. What drives China’s remarkable NEV advancement, and how have these professionals propelled its rise?

Seeking answers, a documentary crew from South Korea’s Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) visited BYD’s Shenzhen headquarters in Guangdong province this April.

Their observations revealed a striking contrast: while South Korea’s top students traditionally pursue medicine, China has cultivated deep engineering expertise that now powers cutting-edge technological breakthroughs — moving decisively beyond its former reputation for low-end manufacturing.

Intrigued by what they termed “China speed,” KBS producers expanded their documentary focus from education comparisons to China’s NEV sector. What astonished them most wasn’t just industrial scale, but the youth of China’s engineering corps.

BYD exemplifies this trend with over 120,000 engineers on staff. Between 2023 and 2025, the company recruited over 50,000 fresh university graduates, with nearly 80 percent entering research and development (R&D) positions. About 70 percent hold master’s or doctoral degrees. 

Ye Zi, head of BYD human resources., said the company’s well-developed training system, flexible job assignments and tolerant attitude toward trial and error have helped young recruits transition quickly from graduates into engineers.

At BYD, engineers in their twenties and thirties routinely lead core technical projects. KBS producer Jeong Yong-jae noted his surprise: “When I requested to interview younger engineers, they responded, ‘Everyone here is young.’ Witnessing professionals in their thirties making critical technical decisions would be extraordinary in South Korea.”

“Youth is the greatest source of innovation for China,” Jeong said after visiting schools and companies across the country. In his view, China encourages creativity and exploration from an early stage of education, giving students opportunities to engage with cutting-edge technologies and hands-on innovation projects. That environment, he said, has planted the seeds of innovation early and created a steady pipeline of young talent for industries such as NEVs.

“What people call ‘China speed’ is not a miracle,” he said. “It is the result of talent, education, national strategies and collective determination coming together.”

Near BYD’s headquarters, ultra-fast charging stations showcase this innovation. There, People’s Daily met Qiu Song, who leads BYD’s Pure Electric Platform development. His team pioneered 1,500A ultra-fast charging technology, achieving stable extreme-current transmission through thinner cables. This breakthrough addresses critical consumer pain points: slow charging and excessive wait times.

Qiu joined BYD in 2016 when China’s annual NEV barely surpassed 500,000 units, Qiu has witnessed production surge past 16 million annually — with NEVs now dominating over half of new car sales. For him, the industry’s ethos is clear: “Dare to dream big, act boldly, and experiment fearlessly.”

Cao Zhiyuan, born in 1995, represents a new generation of engineers driving that momentum. A PhD graduate in electrical engineering from Xi’an Jiaotong University, Cao joined BYD in 2023 and now leads development work on overseas ultra-fast charging products.

Much of his daily work revolves around one goal: making charging faster.

Experiments, data analysis, cross-team brainstorming sessions and daily reviews have become routine for him and his colleagues. The challenge they are tackling is one of the core bottlenecks facing the global EV industry: charging speed.

“We want charging an electric vehicle to be as fast as refueling a gasoline car,” Cao said. “That’s the goal we keep working toward every day.”

Inside the laboratory, engineers repeatedly test charging performance under different current levels and temperature conditions. The team operates with a highly open culture: ideas are evaluated by data and verification rather than hierarchy or seniority. That technology-first environment has enabled many young engineers to quickly grow into key contributors capable of leading major projects on their own.

After relentless refinement, BYD’s flash-charging technology can now charge a battery from 10 percent to 97 percent in just nine minutes, placing it among the global leaders in charging speed.

Through hard work and continuous innovation, China’s NEV engineers are giving real meaning to the phrase “China speed,” while injecting sustained momentum into the future development of the industry.

By Dou Hanyang, People’s Daily

The harvest season for branched string lettuce recently wrapped up along Xihu port in Huangbi’ao township, Xiangshan county, Ningbo, east China’s Zhejiang province.

“I earned more than 60,000 yuan ($8,846) harvesting seaweed for the science and technology backyard,” said Baiyu village resident Qiu Yonggao with a broad smile. “I never thought tidal-flat seaweed could bring real income.”

Huangbi’ao township sits along the East China Sea. Stretching across the coastline are vast expanses of high-quality tidal flats where algae such as branched string lettuce, kelp and laver thrive naturally. 

The “science and technology backyard” Qiu referred to is the Xiangshan Seaweed Science and Technology Backyard, jointly established by the local government, universities and leading enterprises. 

Supported by this innovation hub, the local seaweed industry now spans cultivation, processing and domestic and overseas sales. This shift has upgraded the industry from traditional extensive farming to modern intensive production, lifting incomes for more than 180 local households.

At a local production base, workers are testing indoor cultivation of branched string lettuce in a 900-square-meter, state-of-the-art seedling workshop.

“The branched string lettuce produced here is purchased in large quantities by internationally renowned snack companies and used as a food seasoning,” said Zhu Wenrong, head of the production base and chairman of Xiangshan Xuwen Seaweed Development Co., Ltd. “Thanks to the area’s natural ecological advantages, branched string lettuce around Xihu port stands out for its premium quality and rich nutrients.”

Operating under a “company + farmer” model, the base provides growers with free seedlings, technical guidance, and guaranteed minimum prices. During this year’s bumper harvest, more than 100 local villagers participated in harvesting every day, with daily purchases of fresh branched string lettuce reaching more than 40 metric tons at peak times. Some villagers earned up to 1,500 yuan($221) a day solely from harvesting.

Building on the growth cycle of branched string lettuce, the base has also introduced high-quality kelp and laver seedlings, creating what locals call a “marine vegetable garden” in Xihu port. Moving beyond the traditional practice of “depending on the weather,” the farms now use intelligent equipment to monitor seawater temperature and pH levels, enabling precise environmental regulation.

“Look at this kelp — broad leaves and thick flesh. It can sell for around 5 yuan ($0.73) per kilogram,” Zhu said, pointing toward the rows of kelp racks in the sea. Last year, kelp production remained stable at over 2,000 metric tons, most of which was sold to supermarkets and restaurants in Shanghai and Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang.

Remarkably, one kilogram of seedlings yields 1,000 kilograms of mature seaweed. As the algae grow, they absorb nitrogen and capture carbon dioxide. Scientists now quantify sequestered carbon, unlocking new industry potential.

On Feb. 28, 2023, China’s first blue carbon auction deal was finalized in Huangbi’ao township. The annual fishery carbon sink of 2,340.1 tons from Xihu port was traded at 106 yuan($15.63) per ton, with a total transaction value of around 248,000 yuan($36,563).

“Blue carbon trading clarifies pathways to monetize ecological value,” said Yang Yang, deputy director of Xiangshan marine economic development center.

Profit distribution from carbon trading directly benefits villagers. Profit distribution from carbon trading directly benefits villagers. Hugang Village resident He Shichang received 1,200 yuan($176.93) worth of seedlings last year, calling it “income from protecting the ocean.” Local fishers now practice sustainable harvesting and actively safeguard marine ecosystems.

Xiangshan county has incorporated the seaweed industry into its overall marine economic development plan and established multi-party coordination mechanisms to turn the Xiangshan Seaweed Science and Technology Backyard into a key platform for technological breakthroughs and the commercialization of research results.

“In the past, universities often struggled to commercialize research findings. Now, technologies developed in the lab can be tested and promoted directly in the waters of Xihu port,” said Chen Haimin, a researcher from Ningbo University who leads a team studying healthy seaweed cultivation and resource utilization at the science and technology backyard.

According to Chen, new laver varieties developed by the team are now applied in standardized and precise seedling breeding and harvesting demonstrations across laver farming zones in Xiangshan. 

Today, seaweed cultivation in Huangbi’ao township has also become deeply integrated with rural tourism. Visitors can experience sea farming and recreational fishing, enjoy local seafood cuisine, and learn about blue carbon through science exhibitions. 

At the Xiangshan Marine Carbon Sink Comprehensive Exhibition Center, a “digital blue carbon map” provides real-time visualization of carbon sink changes across local waters, making ecological assets visible and tangible.

Meanwhile, researchers at the science and technology backyard are refining an ecological mixed-farming model integrating algae, shellfish and fish. Fish are raised in the upper waters, shellfish in the middle layer, and algae below, forming a circular system that maximizes the use of the same body of water.

From “seaweed” growing on tidal flats to a fully developed industrial chain, and from invisible carbon sinks to tradable ecological assets, the ocean in Huangbi’ao township is steadily becoming a “blue granary” that offers broad prospects for advancing all-around rural revitalization.

By Chen Ran, Feng Xuezhi, People’s Daily

On the night of May 24, televisions flickered late into the evening across Hong Kong as families waited for a moment many described as historic.

At 11:08 p.m., the countdown rang out on live broadcast. “Five, four, three, two, one… ignition!” As a rocket carrying the Shenzhou-23 crewed spacecraft roared into the night sky, cheers erupted simultaneously in homes citywide.

Among the crew, Hong Kong native Lai Ka-ying drew special attention. A former University of Hong Kong scholar and Hong Kong Police Force officer, she now wears China’s astronaut uniform as the city’s first representative on a national space mission.

In interviews, Lai detailed her rigorous training after being selected for the fourth group of reserve astronauts. The training included 72-hour sleep deprivation tests, 48-hour desert survival drills, six-day cave expeditions, and high-G centrifuge sessions. Despite the intensity, she persevered with unwavering commitment.

Lai’s journey began humbly in Tsuen Wan, where academic struggles in primary school gave way to a passion for technology ignited by a secondary school teacher. She excelled at the University of Hong Kong, earning a doctorate in computer science. Her police career in electronic forensics and cybersecurity saw her solve critical cases, blending technical skill with civic duty — qualities that propelled her into China’s astronaut corps.

On launch day, crowds packed the Hong Kong Space Museum’s exhibition A Voyage to Space: China’s Manned Space Expedition. Many parents brought their children to learn about astronaut training and space station experiments. One young visitor vowing: “I’ll study hard and become an astronaut too.”

At Pui Kiu Middle School, the mission ignited enthusiasm. Principal Ng Woon-kit noted how each Shenzhou flight expands students’ visions of science and national contribution. The school shares deep ties with China’s space program: astronaut Yang Liwei planted an oak tree there in 2003; astronaut Chen Dong sent an orbital letter in 2022 and visited in 2023. “Education is the best launchpad,” Ng stated, hoping more Hong Kong youth will join future space endeavors.

Several students witnessed the Jiuquan launch firsthand. Fourth-grader Lam Yan-ying reflected: “Space once felt distant, but at liftoff, I saw our nation’s technological advancement. I felt proud — and newly curious about China’s space program.”

Wu Bin, deputy chief designer of the astronaut system for China’s Manned Space Program, emphasized Lai embodies Hong Kong youth’s capability and patriotism. He hopes more from Hong Kong and Macau will join astronaut selection as China advances toward lunar and deep-space exploration.

“Safe journey and welcome home.” “Sister Ka-ying is amazing.” “The pride of Hong Kong — we’re proud of you.” Even in the early hours of the morning, messages celebrating the successful launch of the Shenzhou-23 spacecraft continued flooding Hong Kong social media platforms.

In Tsuen Wan, along Victoria Harbor, on school campuses, inside the Hong Kong Space Museum, and in countless homes across Hong Kong, people looked up at the stars — and for a moment, space no longer felt so far away.