20221215

Begone!

How do you banish a foul presence from your life? In a viral video, a woman in a parking dispute was caught on camera stomping her feet, waving her arms, and repeatedly telling the other person to “begone.” The quirky combination reminded many social media users of a traditional ritual to ward off evil spirits, and the woman’s words were quickly turned into an incantation to protect users from bad luck or misfortune.

Buried in Sand

A man demonstrates sand therapy, a form of traditional Chinese medicine, at the Fushan Chinese Medicine Museum in Taiyuan, Shanxi province, Dec. 14, 2022. Wei Liang/CNS/IC

Naturalized Athletes in the Crosshairs

Two Star Athletes Have Chosen to Represent China. Netizens Are Furious.

Two Hungarian speed skaters of Chinese descent announced they would take Chinese citizenship and begin competing for Team China – only to face a backlash online. The pair, known for on-ice dust-ups with their Chinese counterparts, were criticized for poor sportsmanship and a lack of loyalty. Others complained they were only joining Team China for the lucrative commercial opportunities it affords, a criticism also leveled at Eileen Gu.

New ‘Three-Body Problem’ Adaptation a Hit

On Parents’ Demand for Tutoring, Even When It Breaks the Law

China Is Cracking Down on ‘Hidden’ Tutoring Schools 

How China Perfected Middlebrow Cinema for Middle-Class Viewers

Cultural critics and audiences alike are growing tired of aggressively middling films, but the industry is showing no signs of slowing down.