consumption

Moutai’s Liquor-Filled Chocolates Spark Buying Frenzy in China

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

With prices surging on second-hand trading platforms, the company has said it is boosting production and advised consumers to only buy chocolates from official stores.

Ding Rui

Following Rant, China’s Biggest Influencer Accused of Being ‘Out of Touch’

Known for being a livestreamer whose low prices connected him with fans, Li Jiaqi is now being roundly criticized for failing to grasp consumer sentiment.

China Loosens Homebuying Policies — Will Buyers Bite?

The policies arrive just in time for “golden September and silver October,” the traditional peak season for property sales.

Li Xin

Why China’s E-Bike Market Is Facing a Wave of Battery Fires 

Experts say the rapid growth of the electric battery market in China has far outpaced current safety regulations.

He Qitong

Chinese Consumer Backlash Beckons as Japan Releases Nuclear Wastewater

The move to release nuclear wastewater into the Pacific Ocean is likely to hit Japanese-related businesses in China hard, from restaurants to cosmetics.

Discount Duel: China’s Top Retail Giants Go Head-to-Head on Prices

With several traditional supermarket chains shutting shop, Sam’s Club and Freshippo are locked in a race to expand their market share and adapt to a new consumer landscape in Beijing and Shanghai.

Retro Stores Selling Vulgar Snacks Under Investigation

The stores are suspected of violating China’s advertising law because of their vulgar content and lack of labeling.

Click-Clack Chic: The Art of Building the Perfect Keyboard

Visual stories that get up close and personal with contemporary China. A mix of short videos, documentaries, photography, and data visualization.

MULTIMEDIA

With every component tailored to their liking, tech-savvy youth in China aspire to express themselves through custom-made keyboards.

Gao Shenghan

Dip In Spending Kicks off Price War in China’s Fast-Food Industry

Discounted menus targeting the price-conscious are emerging across the country, leaving small eateries at risk in an increasingly price-sensitive market.

Charging Your Electric Car is Becoming More Expensive in China 

The government has moved electricity supplied to public electric charging stations to a higher rate. Charging station operators are passing on the increased costs to consumers.

Stooping Takes China by Storm as Zoomers Scour the Streets for Junk

Articles that cut to the core of contemporary China. In-depth, informed, and carefully crafted, every piece is carried by the voices of the story’s participants.

FEATURES

Cash-strapped young Chinese have developed a sudden passion for furnishing their homes with discarded items found on the street. Their parents are horrified.

Fan Yiying

Price Drops Beckon for Money-Conscious Chinese Consumers  

Prices of meat and vegetables are flatlining in China despite serious disruptions to supply. Consumers are happy, suppliers less so.

Established Chinese Apparel Brands Struggle to Stay Afloat, Including China's Zara

Established apparel brands have struggled to find a foothold in a fast-changing industry dominated by e-commerce.

Ye Zhanhang

From Hot Pot to Milk Tea, Chinese Influencer Praised For Exposing False Advertising

BTai and his friends go around the country checking that milk tea and hot pot meats served at different establishments are the amounts advertised. His meticulous nature has won him plaudits online.

Yang Caini

Young Chinese Have a New Plan to Escape Tough Times: Win the Lottery

China’s millennials are seeking cheap thrills and get-rich-quick solutions amid a tough economy. That’s leading many to embrace an institution long considered hopelessly uncool: the country’s state-run lotteries.

Wang Lianzhang

Beyond Saving: In China, Young Shoppers Are Locked Out of Luxury

Over a period of four years, the price of luxury goods has almost doubled. But with their salaries stagnant, young consumers are now forced to decide between indulgence and financial stability.

Chinese Netizens Condemn Sale of Foot-Binding Shoes 

Several e-commerce platforms were found to be selling items relating to the practice of foot binding, which was outlawed in 1912.

China Puts Banquet Food Waste in the Spotlight 

Clients should be able to choose the combination of dishes served at their banquets, according to a new draft notice.

Int’l Luxury Brands Embrace E-Commerce to Attract Chinese Buyers

Sales of high-end products online have dramatically increased compared to offline shopping.

Sixth Tone

Chinese Coconut Drink Known for Sexist Ads Turns Its Gaze to Men

The strategy, however, hasn’t yet worked entirely in the company’s favor.