IN BRIEF (Page 4)

Success takes root in peony capital

It's said that Empress Wu Zetian of the Tang Dynasty (618-907), the only empress in China's history, asked all flowers to blossom in winter in Chang'an, today's Xi'an, Shaanxi province.

Master of flowers shares his passion while making a profit

In November, Fu Zhenglin retrieved two boxes of flower cuttings that had been shipped from the Netherlands and took them to Luoyang, Henan province. They contained a new species of peony, which he aimed to plant and study in his garden.

Mandarin skills open doors for people in Kashgar

Abulikem Pida was having a debate in Mandarin with several other villagers on which is better - working at home or in bigger cities. It was to improve his language ability.

Agriculture to reap harvest of modernity

China will accelerate agricultural mechanization and widen the use of agricultural machines, which experts said will increase efficiency for diverse cultivations and help increase farmers' incomes.

Food, class size and veterans among key topics

Ministry-level departments for agriculture and rural affairs as well as education and veteran affairs, have responded recently to issues of public concern.

Policy digest

Public

China drives global wages up

China played a significant role in global wage growth from 2008 to 2017, helping the average wage to rise by 22 percent, compared with just 13 percent if the country is excluded, according to a report by the International Labor Organization.

Improving public's science literacy 'a huge challenge'

The popularization of science in China has seen positive developments in the last year, but more policies, money and media support are necessary to improve scientific literacy, according to data released on Tuesday.

Experts explore ways to manage national parks

China will consider regulations on outdoor recreation as it builds and manages national parks, as the parks have become hot destinations for the growing population of sports enthusiasts, experts said at a forum in Shanghai.

Customers demand their bicycle refunds from Ofo

Nearly 2,000 people gathered outside the headquarters of bike-sharing giant Ofo in Beijing on Tuesday morning, anxious to know whether - and when - their deposits for the shared bikes will be returned.

IN BRIEF (Page 4)