Introduction: If one day you discover that “you” can be perfectly replicated, does your current existence still have meaning? When the logic and reasoning of AI gradually approach or even surpass that of humans, we may have to confront a cruel yet rational fact: consciousness might not be a soul, but rather a “model” that is currently running. I. Defining Consciousness: The “Ultimatum” from AI Before discussing “who I am,” we must first let go of the sanctified image of the self. ...

Many parents send their children to study in Europe or the US for a common reason: “Education abroad is more relaxed, so kids have less stress, are less prone to depression, and it’s better for their mental health.” It sounds reasonable: children in China have a lot of homework, fierce competition, and frequent exams, while children abroad seem happier, getting out of school around 3 PM for sports, clubs, dances, and summer camps. ...

No verb conjugations, no grammatical gender, and highly efficient and precise expression. The logical beauty of Chinese is not just something to marvel at, but something to be confident about. 🇨🇳 There’s a Confidence We Should Express Loudly Living abroad these past two years, I’ve often heard some Chinese friends belittle their own mother tongue and culture: “Chinese people aren’t as beautiful as white people.” “Chinese people have always been uncivilized.” “The Chinese diet is too eclectic.” “Our language lacks class; it’s not as high-end as English.” ...

I passed my road test, and I’m here to share my experience. During the driving road test in Spain, the examiner will only give instructions in Spanish, and the instructor is generally not allowed to translate. Therefore, it is crucial to master the following common Spanish commands and their expressions: Start the engine: Arrancar Turn right: Derecha Turn left: Izquierda Go straight: Recto Make a U-turn: Cambio de sentido Indirect left turn: izquierda indirecto Roundabout: Rotonda First exit: Primera salida Second exit: Segunda salida Third exit: Tercera salida Fourth exit: Cuarta salida Stop: Parar Park: Aparcar If you don’t hear an instruction clearly, you can ask the examiner to repeat it in Spanish, for example: “Por favor repita”. ...

Last summer, I completed a 10-day grand road trip loop through northern Spain. Starting from Valencia, we traveled through Zaragoza, Olite, Bilbao, Santander, Comillas, Covadonga, Salamanca, Ávila, and Madrid, finally returning to Valencia after lunch in the cliff town of Cuenca. This journey offered a mix of cities, ancient castles, mountains, the sea, and delicious food. This article shares all the details of our trip for four people, serving as a direct reference for anyone interested. ...

We often say, “If you’re sick, get treated promptly.” But often, the real problem isn’t about being “prompt” but about being: “Treated correctly.” When faced with discomfort, many people’s first reaction is to judge based on experience: 🧠 “Nasal congestion? Must be rhinitis.” 🧠 “A cough? Just a cold.” 🧠 “A headache? I’ll just take a painkiller.” Then they begin to self-diagnose and self-medicate. But the truth is, many different illnesses can present with the exact same symptoms. ...

My previous article, [《The Downsides of Living in Spain: A Detailed 2024 Comparison of Madrid vs. Beijing》], sparked considerable debate despite objectively presenting Spain’s cost of living with reliable data. One commenter asked, “Why not compare the income of Spanish locals? For them, these prices are nothing.” Alright, let’s complete the picture today: What are the income levels in Madrid and Beijing really like? We’ll cover high-income earners, blue-collar workers, and post-tax disposable income all in one go. ...

1. Submission Time Requirements Item Description Earliest Submission Time 60 days before NIE expiration Latest Submission Time Within 90 days after NIE expiration Financial Requirements Explained The non-lucrative visa renewal is for a 2-year period. One year requires 4 times the IPREM, so two years require 8 times. For each additional family member, add 1 time the IPREM for one year, and 2 times for two years. For example, using the official 2025 figures: IPREM = €7,200 / year ...

We often say, “Large Language Models are very smart.” They can write articles, answer questions, code, and even perform some logical reasoning. But in reality, the principle behind them isn’t mysterious: 👉 It just turns a piece of text into a string of numbers, 👉 and then “calculates the distance” in a high-dimensional space. This might sound a bit abstract, but with a small example, you’ll understand it right away. 👇 ...

Spain has long been regarded as a country with a high quality of life in Europe, attracting a large number of immigrants and international students. However, when we make a direct comparison with China, especially its capital Beijing, we find that Spain has significant shortcomings in many core aspects of life. Based on the latest data from 2024, this article provides a systematic comparison between Madrid and Beijing across dimensions such as consumer costs, education, healthcare, transportation, housing, home appliances, cars, and public safety, deeply revealing the various inconveniences and cost pressures of life in Spain. ...

1. Mythical Beginnings: Yan, Huang, and Chiyou As recorded in the Records of the Grand Historian and Discourses of the States: The Yellow Emperor (Huangdi) defeated the Yan Emperor (Yandi) at the Battle of Banquan, causing the Yan tribe to submit to his rule. He then defeated Chiyou at the Battle of Zhuolu, achieving ultimate victory. These are not merely legends but symbols of the integration of ancient tribes: The Yellow Emperor’s group: An agricultural tribe from the Central Plains, with the surname Ji. The Yan Emperor’s group: A tribe with the surname Jiang, related to the ancient Qiang people. Chiyou’s group: The Jiuli (Nine Li) tribes, ancestors of the Miao-Man peoples of the south. Ultimately, the people of the Yan Emperor and Chiyou were incorporated into the Yellow Emperor’s tribe, forming the “Huaxia.” ...

At the dawn of human civilization, two mathematical works emerged in almost the same era. Like two rivers flowing in different directions, they quietly shaped the completely different intellectual traditions of the East and West. One came from China, the other from ancient Greece. They are: China’s Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art Ancient Greece’s Elements (from Euclid’s work) To this day, our understanding of science, technology, and even artificial intelligence still carries the DNA of these two books. ...

Many people assume that, The British royal family is British, The French royal family is French, And the Spanish royal family is, naturally, Spanish. But if you take even a brief look at the history of European royalty, you’ll discover a fact that seems absurd, yet is entirely true— The core of the entire European royal system is almost entirely of German origin. And not just a little bit. We’re talking about a systemic presence. ...

Historical and archaeological clarification: The imperial examination system was not solely about the eight-legged essay; it originally promoted a balance of arts and sciences. The foundation of Han civilization’s belief system is rationality and ethics, not theocracy. While Europe was consumed by faith, China had long esteemed science. Many people assume that the ancient imperial examinations only tested on the eight-legged essay, and that scholars were all “bookworms.” But the opposite is true. For a very long time, the true imperial examination system was a balance of arts and sciences. Ancient China was not just a land of poetry, books, rites, and music; it was a civilization that revered science and reason. ...

When people talk about European democracy, they often focus on a specific revolution or declaration, as if democracy were an institutional innovation that suddenly appeared one day in modern times. But if we look back through history, we discover a more fundamental and often overlooked fact: Europe did not suddenly learn republicanism; it has long lived with the political experience that ‘a republic can exist.’ The republic in Europe was never a fleeting moment of inspiration, but an institutional tradition spanning over two millennia. ...