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

Brands Allegedly Ban E-Sales in Hangzhou’s Livestreaming Hub

Customers with addresses in the neighborhood, known for its livestreaming community, reported being unable to order items from various luxury brands online for several days.

He Qitong

An Indie Drama About Leaving China Finds an Audience at Home

A film about the life, traditions, and emotional landscape of the Chaoshan region in southern China has struck a chord with viewers for its moving portrayal of local culture and familial bonds.

Li Xin

TMS May Ease Autism-Related Social Symptoms, Chinese Study Finds

By targeting the brain’s motor cortex with magnetic stimulation, the treatment reduced social and language deficits in young children with the condition, while also shortening treatment.

Chen Yiru

Chinese Sites Are Selling Tutorials on How to Use AI to Create Porn

Though AI chatbots and apps are moderated for explicit content, using specific prompts, English, or vague wording allows users to bypass restrictions.

Fan Yiying

China Hits Top Platforms With Record Fine Over Fake Cake Orders

Seven task forces probing major delivery platforms uncovered more than 67,000 ghost kitchens nationwide, some linked to over 3.6 million fraudulent cake orders.

Chinese Robot Runner Beats Men’s Half-Marathon World Record

The robot, named “Lightning,” was crowned the winner of the country’s second annual mixed human-robot half-marathon.

How an Influencer Made the Prefrontal Cortex Go Viral in China

A neuroscience Ph.D. student posted videos online to raise awareness about the brain region’s development. Netizens started using it to describe themselves.

Jiang Xinyi

China’s Latest Season of ‘Ride the Wind’ Goes Viral Due to Poor Performances, Drama

Marketed as a platform for female empowerment, the show casts famous women to compete to become part of a girl group. But its latest season is trending for different reasons.

In China, a Women’s Hackathon Series Opens the Door to Tech

At women-led coding events across China, participants are turning overlooked problems — from menopause to workplace sexism — into products of their own.

China and FIFA Face Off Over World Cup Broadcast Rights

The football association asked for a record $250 million from the country’s state-owned TV broadcasting company, with negotiations failing to bring the price down to what the network deemed acceptable.

Song Dynasty: Ancient Poets Find New Fans on China’s Music Apps

Multiple domestic music platforms have updated the credits for modern songs to reflect the original writers, drawing netizens’ attention.

One Chinese Town’s Fight Against the Desert Attracts Thousands

Launched by a local man, an anti-desertification initiative in the country’s arid northwest went viral after being featured on a popular show.

China’s Wu Yize Wins World Snooker Title, Second-Youngest Ever

The 22-year-old is the second Chinese player to win the championship, and the first born after 2000 to do so.

Chinese Tourists Leave Textbooks at Monuments for Others to Find

Travelers first began posting online pictures of the textbooks, whose covers feature famous sites from around the world, before leaving the books there for others to discover and sign.

China Sees Record Domestic Travel This May Day Holiday

Tourists are choosing to primarily take domestic road trips this year, with music and cultural events driving tourism.