By Michael Banks

Physics World published its first special report on China in 2011, which looked at China’s lunar programme and how the country was tackling fraud, as well as profiling the Kavli Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics and the Institute for High Energy Physics, which are both located in Beijing.

Five years on and physics in the world’s most populous country has rapidly expanded, with China building a number of other huge facilities – including the China Neutron Spallation Source and the China Jinping Underground Laboratory. Now close to completion, they will put the country at the forefront of physics.

So what better time to have another special report on China? Based on visits to Beijing, Hong Kong and Shenzhen, the issue, which you can read free here, includes an overview of the current state of physics in the country as well as an interview with Wei Yang, president of the National Natural Science Foundation – the country’s biggest investor in basic science – and a piece looking at how scientists can foster good collaborations with physicists in China.

I hope you enjoy the special report and if you have any comments please let us know by e-mailing pwld@iop.org.

Here is a full list of contents:

• Rise of the physics powerhouse – the opening feature looks at the state of play of physics in China

• A vision for the future – Wei Yang, president of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, describes how the agency is boosting physics in the country

• World beaters – a look at some of the key facilities being built in China

• Taking stock: trends in publishing – an infographic showing the 10 most popular IOP Publishing journals and partner journals with authors in China

• Cultivating good relations – Barry Sanders, a physicist working in both China and Canada, explains how to foster successful collaborations with researchers in China

• Plotting a strategy for space – discover how China is pushing ahead in space science through a number of launches this year

• Tunnel vision – a review of a new book that makes a compelling case for a new particle collider in China

This special report is published by Physics World – the member magazine of the Institute of Physics (IOP) – which appears 12 times a year. If you’d like to read Physics World each month, you can do so via the digital version of the magazine or via the Physics World app, available from the App Store and Google Play. If you’re not yet in the IOP, you can join as an IOPimember for just £15, €20 or $25 a year to get a full year’s access to Physics World both online and through the apps.