business

After 3 Years of Lockdowns, a Chinese Border City Struggles to Rebuild

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

Ruili faced some of China’s strictest virus-control measures during the height of the pandemic. Now, local people are gradually picking up the pieces.

Li Pasha

China’s Maternity Hotels Offer New Moms a Break — From Their In-Laws

Maternity hotels have found success by tapping into the Chinese tradition for mothers to “sit the month” after giving birth. But they also offer young moms another benefit: an escape from unwanted parenting advice.

Wang Lianzhang

Hong Kong TV Company Deploys Stars as Salespeople on Taobao

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

The television broadcasting company is evoking nostalgia while trying to cash in on the mainland’s e-commerce livestream boom.

Ye Zhanhang

China’s Booming New Toy Market: Hyperrealistic ‘Military Lego’

Lego has found huge success in recent years by tapping into popular movie franchises like “Star Wars.” Its Chinese rivals are turning to a very different source of inspiration: the People’s Liberation Army.

Wu Peiyue

Zhang Liting

To Boost Economy, Shanghai’s Districts Ready Multi-Pronged Plan

Experts say local governments will play to their strengths to stand out from the competition.

Sixth Tone

Stakes High as China’s Game Makers Gamble on Overseas Markets

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

SIXTH TONE ×

As large and small developers attempt to expand abroad in the face of a tough domestic market, industry insiders warn of soaring costs and culture clashes.

Shenran Caijing

How China Fell In Love With Cheap Wine

Contributions from individuals with unique perspectives to share. Hear from everyone, from experts and commentators to those whose voices are often marginalized.

VOICES & OPINION

Once a symbol of luxury, today’s wine market is dominated by so-called little wines — and increasingly the category known as “996-es”: six-bottle cases priced at 99 yuan or less.

Xiao Kunbing

For Chinese Wine Lovers, It’s a Whole New World

Low-cost wines from nontraditional regions like Australia and Chile have won over young consumers and made wine an everyday drink.

China’s Spring Festival 2023 in Numbers 

From tourism to the box office, several sectors have seen business surge for the first time in years.

Yang Caini

Shanghai Vows Greater Market Access for Economic Recovery

China’s financial hub prepares for a post-COVID era.

China’s Holiday Box Office Sees a Subdued Opening 

Film insiders say business is likely to pick up following the word of mouth publicity for movies like “The Wandering Earth” and “Full River Red.”

‘Lazy Economy’ Is Taking Off in China

Convenience-driven consumption is gaining popularity among young Chinese not wanting to spend time cooking and cleaning.

Henan’s Embattled Village Banks Start Repaying Big Depositors 

While depositors with over 500,000 yuan can withdraw their money, those who had opened their accounts in person are yet to receive answers.

Luo Meihan

Overcapacity Plagues China’s Dairy Sector as Demand Dampens

Dairy farmers have started dumping their produce and killing livestock to curb financial losses.

With Borders Reopening, Many Chinese Are Ready to Travel Again

Searches for outbound destinations on travel sites soared to a three-year high, though flights and other services still remain costly.

Li Xin

With More People Getting Sick, China’s Restaurants Are Struggling

Restaurants have only shown a positive business outlook in January, February, and August this year.

China’s Sluggish Inbound Travel Will Recover in 2023: Report 

The country is expected to welcome more visitors as COVID curbs are likely to be loosened further next year.

For China’s Gen-Z, Entrepreneurship Represents a Ticket to Freedom

Starting a business in China’s pandemic-stricken economy is far from easy. Young Chinese are plowing ahead anyway.

Fan Yiying

Chang Minxiao

China to Strengthen Supervision of ‘Absolute Terms’ in Advertising

The draft guideline mainly targets medical and financial products, with hefty fines for violators.

China’s COVID Testing Complex Complains of Paper Profits and Real Losses

The Paper dives into the data to see who’s making bank and who’s in trouble.