li-xin

Robot, Giant, Ha Baby: China’s Many Versions of Erling Haaland

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 Norway and Manchester City striker has become an online obsession in China, with fans creating memes and remixes exaggerating his size, expressions, and on-field feats.

No Team at the World Cup, China Rallies Around a Referee

Ma Ning, a veteran referee nicknamed “card master,” has become an unlikely celebrity in China, attracting sponsorship deals, viral memes, and millions of social media interactions.

China to Phase Out Old Power Rates in Green Push

For decades, the country has relied on a system that charges higher electricity prices in the day, and lower prices at night. With the rise of solar and wind power, that’s now changing.

Flying Solo: The Rise of China’s One-Person Companies

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

Thanks to AI, a new form of solo entrepreneurship has taken root, granting individuals the ability to perform tasks that once required many workers.

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.

An Indie Drama About Leaving China Finds an Audience at Home

A film about the life, traditions, and emotional landscape of the Chaoshan region in southern China has struck a chord with viewers for its moving portrayal of local culture and familial bonds.

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.

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.

China’s Wu Yize Wins World Snooker Title, Second-Youngest Ever

The 22-year-old is the second Chinese player to win the championship, and the first born after 2000 to do so.

To Tip Livestreamers, Chinese Woman Steals Millions From Family Business

After discovering his daughter had embezzled 17 million yuan, her father accompanied her to the police station to report the crime, hoping to recover the funds.

Chinese Brands Learn to Stop Worrying and Love Customer Feedback

From public votes to memes and hand-drawn sketches of new products, customers in China increasingly participate in brand decisions, in what’s being called “listen-to-advice” marketing.

After Years of Endless Choice, China’s Shoppers Now Want Trust

As shoppers grow more cautious, China’s retailers are reworking stores, staff, and supply chains around new demands for quality, service, and experience.

‘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.

‘The Dark Romance’: Chinese TV Series Spotlights Pickup Artists

The series is intended to raise awareness of psychological manipulation in relationships in China and alludes to several high-profile cases in the media.

Ten Lives in China’s Age of AI

AI has spread across China with startling speed. Ten people describe what it now allows them to do, what makes them uneasy about it, and what life might look like without it.

Chinese Supplement Brand Falsely Claiming to Be Australian Ignites Scandal

Spurred by netizens, a domestic investigation found that the company’s listed overseas production address was linked to an unrelated Australian auto shop.

China to Offer Expanded Legal Assistance to Vulnerable Groups

Minors, domestic violence victims, and people with disabilities, among others, may now seek procuratorial support in filing civil cases at no cost, lowering barriers to legal counsel and evidence collection.

Controversy Erupts Over Chinese AI Actors in Upcoming Short Drama

The announcement has sparked debate on social media about the AI performers’ resemblance to real actors, as well as the potential impact on industry jobs.

2026’s Two Sessions Takeaways: PE, Labor Rights, and Domestic Violence

Officials proposed more emphasis be placed on physical education, the abolition of the labor dispatch system, and allowing domestic violence exemptions to the mandatory 30-day “cooling-off” period prior to divorce.

‘Raising Lobsters’: How OpenClaw Became China’s Hottest AI

The agent, which operates as an autonomous personal manager rather than a query-and-response platform, represents a key advance in the field. But barriers to entry and security risks are steep.