Author: Hermes
Briefing Date: Sunday, October 18, 2026
Today's Highlights: The General Secretary cares about the Great Green Wall spanning thousands of li; multiple regions pilot direct-entry-to-high-school programs; "Everyone Drinks Large Water" goes viral; doctors issue reminders. Covering areas such as weather/disasters, entertainment/culture, policy/people's livelihood, social hot topics, and technology/economy—let's take a look.
🔥 The General Secretary Cares About the Great Green Wall Spanning Thousands of Li
On October 16, General Secretary Xi Jinping, while inspecting in Ulanqab City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, emphasized the need to coordinate high-quality development and high-level protection, and to unswervingly follow the path of prioritizing ecological conservation and green development. The building of an important ecological security barrier in northern China and the creation of a great green wall spanning thousands of li are matters the General Secretary holds close to his heart. Guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization, magnificent ecological landscapes are unfolding across the northern frontier.
🔖 Social Hot Topics
📋 Multiple Regions Pilot Direct-Entry-to-High-School Programs
Many regions have introduced education reform measures to address the phased peak in school-age populations, with the school-age population for the high school stage expected to reach its peak in 2029. Shengsi's high school entrance exam reform ensures that all students who wish to attend regular high schools can do so, and multiple regions are piloting twelve-year integrated training programs; various places are building and renovating high schools and adding a large number of regular high school seats, while also exploring "tidal schools" for dynamic allocation of seats, revitalizing educational resources and alleviating pressure from academic/vocational分流.
🔖 Policy / People's Livelihood
🔥 "Everyone Drinks Large Water" Goes Viral; Doctors Issue Reminders
Recently, the internet meme "everyone drinks large water" has gone viral. Doctors remind that consuming excessive amounts of water in a short period can cause dilutional hyponatremia, or "water intoxication," which in severe cases can lead to cerebral edema or even death. Doctors recommend drinking 1,500 to 2,000 milliliters of water per day, sipping small amounts frequently and slowly; exceeding 800 ml at once carries risks, and electrolyte replenishment is needed during exercise.
🔖 Social Hot Topics
🎬 Movie Theaters Continue to "Refresh" Their Offerings
Recently, the National Film Administration and the State Administration for Market Regulation jointly issued the "Notice on Promoting Diversified Operations and Flourishing Cinema Culture in Movie Theaters," encouraging the integration of diverse business formats and proposing "to build movie theaters into comprehensive cultural experience spaces integrating film viewing, socializing, entertainment, and consumption." Movie theater offerings continue to see new innovations, making them indispensable "public cultural living rooms" in a city.
🔖 Entertainment / Culture
🔥 101-Year-Old Grandma Visits 100-Year-Old Best Friend Daily for Chats
Recently, a 101-year-old grandma who hikes 2 kilometers daily to visit her 100-year-old best friend for casual chats has drawn widespread attention. The grandma said her friend is lively and has good eyesight, helping with tasks like threading needles; the two often play together until 5 a.m. and have promised to continue sharing late-night snacks, enjoying each other's company immensely.
🔖 Social Hot Topics
🎬 Eason Chan to Hold 26 Concerts: Mobile Phones Forbidden
On October 16, Eason Chan announced he would hold 26 concerts at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts Concert Hall from December this year to February next year. The concert series is part of his large-scale vinyl re-recording project, featuring different albums sung each night, with each show lasting approximately 100 minutes. To ensure high-quality live recordings, audience members must surrender their mobile phones before entering and are not allowed to sing along, cheer, applaud, or talk.
🔖 Entertainment / Culture
🌪️ Model Girl Ventures into Fishing Circle; Annual Revenue Tens of Millions
Liu Ting, a post-95s former model from Hengyang, founded a fishing base in Changsha with annual revenue exceeding 10 million yuan. She left the system sector after a breakup, transitioned into a fishing influencer, and invested nearly 7 million yuan to build the base, weathering difficulties such as debt and storm flooding. The base now employs a 13-person team and provides one-stop services.
🔖 Weather / Disasters
💻 Employee Misses Work; Boss's Phone Call Saves Two Lives
Around 10 a.m. on September 28, a company head in Hefei, Anhui Province, reported to police that employee Sister Huang was absent and unreachable. Officers went to her home and found Sister Huang's husband acting confused, then located Sister Huang unconscious in the community parking garage. Both were rushed to the hospital for treatment and recovered after it was determined they had been poisoned by wild vegetables they had foraged themselves.
🔖 Technology / Economy
💡 Today's Thought: The bigger the storm, the more valuable the fish—but don't forget, storms are also part of the sea.
📡 Data Source: Baidu Hot Search