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

Chinese Tech Firms Pitch AI Agents as the Future of Smartphones

At Shanghai’s World Artificial Intelligence Conference, tech companies showcased phones designed to understand user intent and coordinate tasks across services.

Li Xin

China-Proposed Global AI Organization Launched at WAIC

The organization, established on the eve of the opening of China’s annual World AI Conference, will advance international cooperation on how AI is developed and used.

Deliver Rider Wins China’s Top Literary Prize for Poetry 

Wang Jibing, part of a growing cohort of grassroots Chinese writers, has written more than 6,000 poems about his time spent delivering food.

Jiang Xinyi

Scan Scam: Criminals Redirect China’s Public QR Codes to Porn

Government-registered codes whose associated web domains have expired are being rerouted by criminals to scams or pornographic websites, making scanning everything from street lamps to public vehicles a potential risk.

Fan Yiying

Four Dead, Eight Missing as Typhoon Maysak Batters Guangxi

The province’s jasmine fields have been inundated after the onslaught of the typhoon this week, ruining the region’s peak tea harvest.

Chen Yiru

Social Media Bans Alone Won’t Protect Kids, Chinese Report Finds

In recent years, countries around the world have rolled out policies to curb minors’ social media usage. A recent Chinese university report assesses their efficacy.

Can a Library Read Your Mood? Wuhan Wants to Find Out

Readers can now receive personalized book recommendations based on their emotional state, as well as explore themed displays and soothing audio experiences.

China Sees Shift in Cancer Types as Cases Continue to Rise

A recent review of nationwide and global medical data links the shift to an aging population and better detection, with the country's cancer profile changing alongside rising case numbers.

China’s AI Summer Camps Tap Into Parents’ Worries

As parents push to equip their children with AI skills, companies seeking to exploit their anxieties around the new technology are exaggerating claims about what they can teach their children.

Xiao Chuhan

Hainan to Ban Sales of Gas-Powered Vehicles From 2030

The province is China’s first to implement such a ban, bolstering its status as a leader in EV adoption.

China’s Scenic Spots Chase Views. Travelers Want the Real Ones.

For years, scenic spots and historical sites have capitalized on online trends and “check-in” culture, leading to what tourists describe as “tacky” aesthetics. After the backlash, sites are changing their tune.

Li Rongxuan

All-Women ‘Shaolin Soccer’ Tribute Scores Big, Divides Fans

The film drew large audiences but disappointed those hoping for the heights of the Hong Kong action star’s past kung fu comedies.

He Qitong

Costumes, Classes, Catwalks: China’s New Retirees Join the Club

After decades in secure jobs, a new generation of Chinese retirees is entering later life with pensions, spare time, and an appetite for new experiences.

Peak Performance: Mountain in China Hires Influencer

Laojun Mountain, one of China’s most famous peaks, is seeking a content creator to boost tourism by posting short videos about its “sea of clouds” phenomenon.