China Insights Weekly highlighted China's economic and technological advances. Here are some key points from this week:
- China's scientific output quadruples lead over US
- Chinese beauty brands expand globally, win awards and a place in luxury stores
- Fish and solar farms and vanadium batteries support the transition to clean energy
- Anta and Laopu Gold accelerate global retail expansion from Los Angeles to Singapore
Main News
China has quadrupled its lead in quality science
China has quadrupled its lead over the US in cutting-edge science in just one year, as measured by the Nature Index database. In 2024, China's share is 32,122 points, while the US is 22,083. China's share rose by 17.4 %, while the US share fell by 10.1 1 %. The US saw the largest declines in chemistry and physics. At the same time, China is investing massively in education - already by 2025 it is expected to produce 77,000 PhD graduates in STEM fields annually, compared to 40,000 in the US.
Anta opens store in Beverly Hills, Luckin Coffee lands in New York
Chinese giant Anta is entering the US market with the opening of its first permanent store in Beverly Hills, alongside brands such as Louis Vuitton and Chanel. The brand sells its sneakers at prices comparable to Nike, and the Kai 1 model quickly sold out in 2024. Anta has also grown in Southeast Asia and plans further expansion.
Meanwhile, the Luckin Coffee brand has opened two new locations in New York. With a total of over 24,000 locations globally and a rapid growth rate, the company is betting on digital innovation and tailoring its offerings to local tastes, including quick brew technology and payment methods like Apple Pay.
Artificial intelligence in robotics pulls in billions
China's "embodied AI" sector - physically embodied artificial intelligence - is attracting unprecedented investment. This year, it has already surpassed the total for the whole of 2024, reaching 23 billion yuan. Major investments include Galaxea AI (US$100 million), Deep Robotics (500 million yuan) and Galbot (1.1 billion yuan). The market looks set to be key for 2025, when the first major shipments of robotic equipment are expected.
Gold as the new luxury hit: Laopu Gold conquers the world
Founded in 2020, the Laopu Gold brand opened its first overseas store in Singapore in June. Sales in 2024 rose 167.5 % to 8.5 billion yuan. The brand relies on traditional goldsmithing techniques and patented designs inspired by the Song dynasty. Five more stores are planned in Southeast Asia.
Huawei patents a revolutionary battery with a range of 3,000 km
Huawei has registered a patent for a sulphide solid-state battery with an energy density of 180-225 Wh/lb, which is 2-3 times more than conventional EV batteries. In theory, it will allow a range of up to 3,000 km and charge from 10 % to 80 % in less than five minutes. China is the global leader in this technology, with over 7,600 patents per year, accounting for 36.7 % of global activity.
370,000 solar panels over a fish farm
One of the largest hybrid fish-solar farms in the world has been completed in Tangshan, Hebei Province. The system, with 370,000 bifacial panels and a capacity of 250 MW, is expected to generate 400 million kWh of clean energy annually. The shade of the panels lowers the water temperature, improving conditions for fish farming. The project saves coal and reduces emissions by 320,000 tonnes of CO₂ per year.
Chinese cosmetics brands celebrate success in Paris and online
Brands like Judydoll and Florasis are celebrating success on the global market. Judydoll has seen a 400% increase in international sales thanks to the Shopee and TikTok Shop platforms. Florasis made its mark on the luxury market by opening a counter in the Samaritaine department store in Paris. Their Chinese culture-inspired products are changing the world's perception of Chinese cosmetics.
World's largest vanadium battery in operation
The world's largest vanadium flow battery (VRFB) with a capacity of 200 MW and 1 GWh has been launched in Xinjiang. The project is connected to a 1 GW solar power plant and can supply power for 5 hours at a time. It is expected to generate 1.72 TWh of electricity annually and reduce CO₂ emissions by 1.6 million tonnes. Objective: to stabilise the transmission system and solve congestion problems.
Jinan is building green: Inflatable dome as a symbol of innovation
The city of Jinan unveiled a unique 50-metre high inflatable structure as part of the city's Honglou 1905 project. The dome enables quiet and environmentally friendly construction in the city. The PVDF material reflects heat and reduces energy consumption by up to 90 %. The system intelligently monitors temperature and air quality. The city thus shows the way to sustainable development.
Imperial tombs of the Xixia dynasty have been granted UNESCO status
On 11 July 2025, the Imperial Tombs of Xixia were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is the 60th Chinese site on the list. The complex in Ningxia province covers nearly 40 km² and includes nine mausoleums, hundreds of smaller tombs and defensive structures. The UNESCO committee praised the cultural significance of the tombs and China's efforts to preserve them.
Tomáš Kučera & Yereth Jansen
China-insights.com/gnews.cz - GH
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