Timely reports on issues and events from across China. Drawing on a vast range of sources, these succinct articles provide insights into the significance of each issue in a wider context.

NEWS

Rising Tones

Scammers Are Targeting China’s Content Creators for Ransoms

The practice, known as “account striking,” targets short-video creators, falsely accusing them of platform violations to extract ransoms.

Fan Yiying

China Pushes for Homes to Be Completed Before They’re Sold

Top government regulators across multiple industries have issued policies encouraging the sale of finished homes in response to recent shifts in the housing market.

Li Xin

China’s Chatbot Users Are Grieving the Loss of Their AI Partners

After a central government policy that banned AI services “that lead to emotional dependence” went into effect in July, some users say they feel an “emotional void.”

Xiao Chuhan

Eating Less Reduced Breast Tumors in Mice, Chinese Study Finds

Mice subjected to three weeks of restricted caloric intake experienced a reduction in breast tumor size and number due to a newfound biological mechanism — potentially enhancing existing cancer therapies.

He Qitong

Chinese County Takes Aim at Soaring Bride Prices

In line with national policy recommendations, the eastern county of Shicheng has implemented pilot programs and targeted matchmaking services to decrease or eliminate family spending when asking for a bride’s hand in marriage.

For China’s Gen Z Investors, Patriotism Meets Portfolio Math

As confidence in domestic tech grows, young Chinese investors are piling into the market, even as they remain wary of hype and easy money.

Xu Ruishuo

Study Linking Solar Farms to Bird Loss Draws Scrutiny in China

China’s scientific community has questioned a recent study in the country that concluded solar farms may reduce bird diversity, interrogating the paper’s data and statistical methods.

Jiang Xinyi

Hundreds Still Missing After Deadly China-Nepal Border Mudslide

Search teams are still working through deep mud and broken roads as an upstream landslide dam raises fears of further flooding.

Who Let the Dogs In? Chinese Universities Open Dorms to Pets

At least seven universities around the country now permit students to have pets, with some institutions creating animal-friendly dorms.

China’s Beloved Beef Noodles Are Getting a Rebrand

Lanzhou pulled noodles, a beloved food across China, are often sold by people from Qinghai, not Gansu, as the name suggests. Now, their branding is changing to fit reality.