Foreign
Maiji Mountain Grottoes: Carved in stone, evolving in time

By Dong Hongliang, Wang Jintao, People’s Daily
Southeast of Tianshui city in northwest China’s Gansu province, deep in the forests in the west of the Qinling Mountains, stands the peak of the Maiji Mountain, hidden in clouds and mist. On its cliff, lifelike clay sculptures can be observed, which serve as a witness to the history of civilization.
The Maiji Mountain Grottoes, with a history of over 1,600 years, contain 221 existing caves that house more than 10,000 sculptures and nearly 1,000 square meters of murals. They are one of China’s four largest Buddhist cave complexes, along with Mogao, Yungang and Longmen grottoes in Gansu, Shanxi and Henan provinces respectively.
Stepping into the Maiji Mountain Grottoes is like unfolding a scroll of history. The grottoes were first built in the Later Qin (384–417) era of the Sixteen Kingdoms period, and constructed and restored in over 10 dynasties. It marks a crucial turning point when Buddhist cave temples became localized and Sinicized in China.
Here, one can find the largest cave in all of China’s grottoes modeled after traditional Chinese architecture, and graceful flying apsaras. It meticulously documents the historical process of Buddhism’s Sinicization.
The gleaming clay sculptures on the cliff range from towering figures over ten meters tall to delicate pieces just tens of centimeters in size. Despite their varied dimensions and forms, they all showcase Sinicized Buddhist art.
Tianshui, where the Maiji Mountain is located, combines the scenic beauty of both south and north China. Historically part of the Longxi region and known as Qinzhou in ancient times, it was a key hub on the Silk Road west of Chang’an, known as Xi’an today. When Buddhism spread along the Silk Road, Tianshui became one of the first inland areas to embrace Buddhist activities.
At the juncture of East and West, Tianshui accumulated diverse and inclusive cultural genes. The Maiji Mountain Grottoes are at the “crossroads” of China’s grotto corridor, as they reach westward to Dunhuang, eastward to Longmen, northward to Yungang, and southward to Dazu.
Throughout its long history, the Maiji Mountain Grottoes have integrated and embraced diverse cultures and made continuous innovation, bearing witness to the fusion of various ethnic cultures and the exchanges between Eastern and Western civilizations.
For instance, some sculptures in Caves 74 and 78 carry obvious features of Gandhara art, but the niches that contain them mimic the architectural style of ethnic minorities in north China. Despite their diverse origins, these elements coexist in perfect harmony.
Civilizations have become richer and more colorful with exchanges and mutual learning. Such exchanges and mutual learning form an important drive for human progress and global peace and development.
While maintaining its unique characteristics, the Maiji Mountain Grottoes have continuously drawn inspiration from and absorbed the outstanding achievements of various civilizations. This process gradually transformed the site into a melting pot of diverse cultures.
The Maiji Mountain Grottoes were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2014 as part of the “Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang’an-Tianshan Corridor,” following a joint application by China, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan.
The dense forests and lush vegetation surrounding the Maiji Mountain, along with its perpetual mist, create a breathtaking scenery. However, this picturesque environment also poses significant challenges for the preservation of the grottoes. The sculptures and murals are prone to different forms of deterioration, including detachment, cracking, and discoloration.
Recognizing the importance of preserving this cultural treasure, a dedicated conservation agency was established as early as October 1953. In March 1961, the Maiji Mountain Grottoes were among the first batch of sites to be designated as Chinese national key cultural relics protection sites. A major turning point came in 2017 when the entire site was placed under the management of the Dunhuang Academy, ushering in a new era of rapid development in conservation efforts.
The implementation of conservation regulations, assessment of plank roads, and revision of protection plans have made preservation and utilization more science-based and standardized. The widespread adoption of new technologies and materials to preserve cultural relics has shifted the focus from emergency rescue to preventive and systematic conservation.
Besides, relevant authorities in China have employed computer graphics, photography, and 3D scanning to build an online touring platform. With 3D printing technology, they have produced life-size replicas of representative niches and sculptures from the grottoes, allowing for off-site exhibitions of these relics.
Cultural relics are witnesses to history and carriers of culture. Throughout the long river of history, Chinese civilization has been continuously inherited and developed.
Foreign
Trump begins mass layoffs at Voice of America

The Trump administration has initiated sweeping layoffs at Voice of America (VOA) and other U.S.-funded international broadcasters, effectively dismantling institutions long seen as critical for American influence abroad.
On Sunday, contractors working for VOA received an email notification that their employment would be terminated by the end of March. “You must cease all work immediately and are not permitted to access any agency buildings or systems,” the email read, according to multiple staff members who confirmed the development.
The move, which comes just a day after all employees were placed on administrative leave, disproportionately affects non-English-language services, where contractors make up a significant portion of the workforce. Many of these contractors are not U.S. citizens and may now face visa issues, further complicating their status in the country.
While most full-time staff remain employed for now, they have been told not to work, leaving VOA and its sister organizations in a state of uncertainty. Some services, unable to produce new programming, have resorted to playing music.
VOA, founded during World War II, has been a critical tool for U.S. public diplomacy, broadcasting in 49 languages to audiences in countries where press freedom is restricted. However, President Trump signed an executive order on Friday targeting its parent organization, the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), as part of broader federal budget cuts.
The cuts extend beyond VOA, affecting other U.S.-funded media entities such as Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, Radio Farda (which broadcasts in Persian to Iran), and Alhurra, an Arabic-language network launched after the 2003 Iraq invasion. The administration argues that taxpayers should not fund what it calls “radical propaganda,” despite VOA’s longstanding editorial independence.
Liam Scott, a VOA journalist covering press freedom and disinformation, expressed concern over the decision. “I’ve covered press freedom for a long time, and I’ve never seen something like what’s happened in the U.S. over the past couple of months,” he wrote on social media.
The move has drawn international attention, particularly from China and Russia, which have been expanding their own state-funded media efforts. The Chinese state-run *Global Times* reacted with an editorial declaring that “the monopoly of information held by traditional Western media is being shattered.”
Trump’s administration has pursued aggressive cuts across federal agencies, including eliminating most foreign aid and significantly reducing the Department of Education. With input from tech billionaire Elon Musk, Trump has focused on reducing government size to facilitate tax cuts.
As the global media landscape shifts, the dismantling of U.S.-funded broadcasters leaves a vacuum that could be filled by rival state-controlled networks. Whether Congress or legal challenges will intervene remains to be seen, but for now, the future of America’s international broadcasting efforts hangs in the balance.
Foreign
Judge blocks Trump from deporting non-citizens using wartime law

A federal judge has temporarily halted the Trump administration’s attempt to deport migrants allegedly linked to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua under a wartime law.
US District Judge James Boasberg issued a restraining order preventing the administration from using the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to expel undocumented migrants accused of gang ties. The order initially protected five individuals challenging the deportation but was later expanded to all affected noncitizens in US custody.
Boasberg also directed that any planes carrying these migrants be returned to the United States. “Any plane containing these folks that is going to take off or is in the air needs to be returned,” he ruled. The restraining order will remain in effect for 14 days or until further court action.
The Trump administration invoked the Alien Enemies Act, citing Tren de Aragua as a terrorist organization that has “unlawfully infiltrated the United States” and is engaging in hostile actions. However, civil rights groups, including the ACLU, argue that the gang’s activities do not meet the legal definition of an invasion.
The Justice Department has appealed the ruling, while the case continues in court.
Foreign
China’s new chapter in global innovation

By Gu Yekai, Liu Yiqing, People’s Daily
At a smart construction project site managed by China State Construction Engineering Corporation, a quiet technological revolution is underway. Amid cranes and concrete, engineers are deploying advanced artificial intelligence (AI) systems that could fundamentally reshape the construction industry.
Li Fengjian, an AI specialistwith Xianyuan Technology, detailed how the company’s latest intelligent system – built on a large model – adapts to complex construction environments.”Engineering machinery equipped with intelligent agents can adjust its operations automatically in response to weather conditions,” Li explained, adding that a spatiotemporal sensing network further enhances the system, providing real-time tracking of both personnel and materials throughout the construction site.
In February this year, Xianyuan Technology rapidly integrated its self-developed model with DeepSeek-R1, effectively blending a general-purpose framework with industry-specific models. This integration, Li noted, has produced a solution capable of delivering expert-level performance in challenging, dynamic environments. The firm is based in the Shanghai Foundation Model Innovation Center, aburgeoning AI incubator that now hosts over 200 innovative enterprises.
China’s technological transformation extends well beyond the construction sector. Overthe past three decades, the country has evolved from its initial forays into internet connectivity to becoming a key player in global digital innovation.
Here, a steady stream of technological innovations are emerging, from the early days of emails and web browsing to the cutting-edge technologies represented by DeepSeek and the dynamic evolution of social media.
Wu Jianping, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering and headof the Zhongguancun Laboratory, pointed out that while China had introduced only one internet standard before 2005, it now contributes to over 200 worldwide. Such strides illustrate the country’s concerted push toward high-level technological self-reliance – a journey marked by both persistence and determination.
Beyond the digital realm, China is makingsignificant inroads in aerospace, new energy, and other high-tech sectors. It has transitioned from being a follower to standing shoulder-to-shoulder with global leaders, and in some areas, even taking the lead. Wu attributed these achievements to a dynamic ecosystem of policy reforms and talent cultivation that encourages creativity and technical expertise at every level.
Amid intensifying international competition, collaborative research and the integration of new technologies with traditional industries are central to China’s high-quality economic development.
Mei Linhai, a researcher at China’s State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Intelligence, remarked that the age of AI calls for continuous exploration. “In this era, everyone is an innovator. Only by persistently pushing the boundaries can we remain at the forefront of both technological and industrial development,” Mei observed.
In the field of general-purpose AI, Mei emphasized that independent innovation is paramount. He advocates for a self-driven industrial ecosystem that leveragesbreakthrough technologies to boost productivity and unlock new possibilities, Mei said.
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