consumption

Chilean Cherries: Why Prices in China Plunge Every Winter

Translations, cross-publications, and collaborative projects from Sixth Tone’s external partners. 

SIXTH TONE ×

As the season rolls on, imported Chilean cherries get much cheaper — and the reason is no real mystery.

The Paper

Why China’s ‘Baijiu’ Giants Are Pouring Into SE Asia

Facing a tough domestic market, major producers of the Chinese alcohol ‘baijiu’ are pinning their hopes on distributors across Southeast Asia.

Jiemian News

The Making and Unmaking of China’s Backpacker Hostels

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

As China’s early independent travelers age and costs climb, the youth hostel model that once offered cheap beds and shared life is thinning out, leaving scattered holdouts and fading memories.

Chen Yiru

Guarded Looks: China’s Gatekeepers Bring Status and Suspicion

A crime writer explores why “young, tall, handsome” neighborhood security guards are hot property, and the distrust that can exist between residents and their protectors.

More of China’s Gen Z Embrace This Year’s Double Eleven

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

Younger consumers report “paying for happiness” and spending more thoughtfully, such as on experiences like travel, during the year’s largest shopping festival.

Fan Yiying

Minding Nemo: Vlogger Finds Fatal Flaws at China’s Aquariums

A social media influencer touring aquatic attractions nationwide is exposing the perilous problems he finds in water quality, staff training, and erroneous signage.

Original (Jiefang Daily)

Banned, Cancer-Linked Dye Found in Chinese Skin Care Products: Report

Amid China’s biggest shopping festival, a third-party testing group has reported that several major skin care brands sold in the country contain trace levels of Sudan Red, a dye banned globally for its potential cancer risk.

He Qitong

People Mountain, People Sea: Golden Week in Pictures

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

MULTIMEDIA

Millions travel, shop, and celebrate during China’s extended holiday.

Sixth Tone

Golden Ticket: China Bets on Holiday Travel to Boost Spending

China’s extended Golden Week is set to drive more than 2 billion trips, with Gen Z and families fueling demand for cultural tourism as authorities look to boost spending.

Dolled Up: The Streamers Scouring Stores for Labubu Fits

Thinking on her feet, a “mobile livestreamer” started selling doll outfits to Labubu fans — but does a market slump mean playtime’s over?

White Night Workshop

With ‘Ticketomics,’ China’s Cities Cash In on the Show Economy

A surge of festivals and shows is driving far more than ticket sales, spilling into hotels, restaurants, and entire city economies.

Feng Jingyi

Street Smart: Why China’s 5-Star Hotels Are Now Cooking Curbside

With banquet bookings on the decline and budgets tight, some luxury hotels are selling discounted takeout on the street, betting visibility will bring customers back inside.

Feud Between Chinese Restaurant and Celebrity Leads to Change

Xibei, a popular chain, has faced backlash in the last week regarding its reported use of pre-made food in supposedly freshly-made menu items, resulting in an apology and change.

To Lift Economy, Shaoxing Brings Subsidies to the Banquet Table

The city in eastern China is subsidizing hotel banquets as part of a 100-million-yuan plan to revive its dining and tourism sectors.

Why Painting the Sky With Drones Is Now an Official Job in China

Lü Xiao

Amid Heatwaves, China’s ‘North Pole’ Cranks the AC

Guesthouse owners in the country’s northernmost city are sweating over installing air conditioning as rising summer temperatures affect bookings.

Sting in the Tail: Life’s No Fairy Tale for Mermaid Dancers

Underwater performers nationwide are risking life and limb as aquariums and other tourist attractions cut back on safety protocols to boost profits.

2025 Shanghai Int’l Film Fest Sees Record Premieres and Bigger Crowds

The festival, now in its 27th year, features 400 movies as well as numerous promotions geared toward attracting out-of-town crowds and boosting tourism spending.

China’s ‘Hermès of Ice Cream’ Melts Under Debt 

Zhongxuegao was once China’s most coveted luxury ice cream, but a string of scandals and a cooling market have left it struggling to survive.

Li Xin

Bank of Labubu: Branches Lure New Customers With Coveted Dolls

A Shenzhen-based bank is getting customers through the door with the promise of a much sought-after — and potentially lucrative — Labubu toy.