Falling apartment prices have erased the savings of millions of Chinese households, but exports lifted the economy to 5 percent growth last year.

For China, the record $1.2 trillion annual trade surplus its authorities reported Wednesday is resounding proof of the resilience of its economy in the face of US trade friction.

Beijing’s air pollution continued to get worse for some years after the games as China continued to industrialize, grow, and urbanize, but since reaching it’s peak in 2013, the city has seen a drastic drop in pollution.

The trip, a whirlwind of meetings with Chinese industry and top government officials, conveyed how the prime minister is viewing the wider world.

In 2021, Alibaba (BABA) founder Jack Ma publicly criticized Chinese regulators, sparking a massive backlash. He effectively vanished into exile for months as authorities launched an antitrust investigation into Alibaba for alleged monopolistic practices.

But that thickened a hazardous smog, which cloaked Beijing every winter. In 2017 the government banned coal burning and started installing gas heaters instead. The plan (combined with other measures,

When Beijingers need fresh air, they head for the Western Hills. It’s an easy journey, 55p by subway. From the station, I climbed to a viewpoint, called “Shimmering in Snow”. Spread out below were lakes,

Beijing residents witness the first snow of 2026 on January 18, 2026.Photo: VCG. Beijing’s plain areas continue to see light snow on Sunday morning, with yellow alerts in place

China’s flagship overseas infrastructure finance programme the Belt and Road Initiative increased by three-quarters to a record $213.5bn in 2025 as Beijing sought to take advantage of wavering US influence around the world by pouring funding into development projects.