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

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China Braces for Summer of Northern Floods and Southern Droughts

Following some of the heaviest floods on record in 2024, the country prepares for what may be an even more disastrous wet season ahead.

Jiang Xinyi

Hola and Marhaba: Yiwu Exporters Talk Their Way Into New Markets

As trade tensions push Chinese exporters to look beyond the U.S., vendors in the manufacturing hub are turning to Arabic and Spanish to connect with Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa.

Ding Rui

China’s Mushroom Foraging Craze Is Wrecking Its Forests

A boom in organized mushroom foraging tours is threatening the biodiversity in some of China’s most nature-rich environments.

Li Xin

Yang  Xinrui 

He Poisoned Cats in College. Now He Can’t Join China’s Civil Service.

Authorities disqualified the top candidate for a government position in China’s southern Guilin City after netizens uncovered his role in a spate of cat poisonings as a university student.

Chen Yiru

Jiangsu Monk Praised for Helping Children Now Accused of Fraud

After becoming a monk in 2012 and claiming to have helped over 600 children, Jiangsu native Dao Lu is now under investigation for potentially embezzling upwards of 10 million yuan in donations.

China Bans Unsafe Power Banks From Flights Amid Safety Fears

A surge in flight-related incidents involving overheating power banks has prompted China to ban non-certified batteries from domestic air travel.

Fan Yiying

No-Fuss Food: The Rise of China’s Home-Cooking Influencers

Faced with long hours at the office and bored by takeout, some urban professionals are turning to social media for tips on simple, homestyle meals.

Pet Degree: A Top Chinese School Debuts a Companion Animal Major

With an estimated 100 million-plus pet owners in the country, higher education institutions are beginning to realize the potential in pet-related courses.

He Qitong

A Viral Game Targeting ‘Gold Diggers’ Has China Arguing Over Gender

Praised as anti‑fraud education and slammed as sexist fantasy, ‘Revenge on Gold Diggers’ has sparked widespread debate online.

Faith in Finance? China’s Temples Embrace Consumer Culture

Ancient sacred sites nationwide have adopted modern business practices to generate revenue and cater to visitors looking for “light-touch spirituality.”