social media

social-media

China’s Internet Finds Its Mascot: A Tired Opossum

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

A picture of the animal, known for playing dead, has been spreading online, with users attaching captions riffing on life’s hardships.

Jiang Xinyi

Yang Yang

The Rage, Love, and Loneliness Behind China’s Toxic Sports Fandom

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

SIXTH TONE ×

Shippers, solo stans, and spreadsheets — Chinese authorities step in as online attacks and arguments engulf the world of elite table tennis.

White Night Workshop

A Blind Chinese Woman Was Hit by an E-Bike. It Was Staged. 

The woman, along with a 26-year-old man, has been placed under criminal coercive measures to await the conclusion of the police investigation.

Li Xin

China’s Internet Finds Its Dream Job: Herding 3,000 Sheep 

In comments sections beneath the job posting, young Chinese voiced their interest in leaving “cutthroat” cities and paying off debts, saying they could withstand the position’s potential loneliness.

Chen Yiru

How Private Gardens Are Giving ‘Neglected’ Persimmon Trees a Fresh Start 

As social media fuels a growing passion for persimmon trees, wealthy urbanites in eastern China are paying thousands to ship prime specimens from distant villages.

The  Beijing News

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

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.

After ‘Malatang’ Craze, Grimacing Chef Finds Reasons to Be Cheerful

When hordes of foodies descended on a small shop in northwestern China, one cook’s exhausted expression broke the internet. Now his focus is flavor, not fame.

The Paper

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.

Why Jay Chou’s Viral Lookalike Is Sticking With Pancakes

Street food vendor Bai Xianying’s resemblance to the “King of Mandopop” made him an overnight hit — but he prefers flipping pancakes to chasing fame.

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.

How Viral Fame Strained a Noodle Seller Almost to Breaking Point

For 15 years, Chinese farmer Cheng Yunfu had sold cheap hand-pulled noodles at a local fair — then a trending video sent his life spinning out of control.

Instant Karma: No Regrets for ‘Coffee Gran’ Who Stirred Media Frenzy

Han Suzhen’s tiny alleyway store was overrun with customers after a post about her “hand-brewed coffee” went viral — and it almost cost her health.

Should Optimus Prime Be Insured? Ask China’s ‘Bottom Journals’

China’s parody journals are turning failed experiments, revision fatigue, and academic anxiety into comedy — and finding an audience.

After the IShowSpeed Bump, Chongqing’s Uncle Goose Is Back Chasing Traffic

When a Chinese livestreamer ambushed a U.S. streaming star with a braised goose from his hometown, sales boomed. Why didn’t it last?

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.

‘Blind Scoop’: The Online Shopping Craze Taking Hold of China

Fans of the product-reveal videos say they enjoy their healing, cheerful, and personalized nature.

In China, MBTI’s Unhinged Twin Asks About Constipation and Diarrhea

SBTI, or “Silly Big” Type Indicator, borrows the MBTI format but replaces introspection with absurd questions and irreverent personality types.

Fan Yiying

The Chinese Restaurant That ‘Didn’t Want Fame’ and the Internet That Wouldn’t Listen

Netizens have become fascinated by the restaurant owner’s claims that his chicken causes diarrhea and that he doesn’t want to become too popular, as crowds flock to the restaurant from around the country.

The Chinese Deep-Sea Explorer Unlocking Science in Short Dramas

Hard science has taken Tang Limei to the coldest parts of the planet. Pop science is taking her to the hot list.