he-qitong

How a Rotten Apple Brought China’s Internet Into a Mushroom Lab

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

After a mushroom grew from an apple, researchers turned online curiosity into a two-year breeding project with help from samples sent in from across China.

China Gives Schools More Flexibility as Enrollment Shrinks

Multiple cities are opening schools that combine educational levels and offer flexible enrollment models to counter falling primary school numbers.

Eating Less Reduced Breast Tumors in Mice, Chinese Study Finds

Mice subjected to three weeks of restricted caloric intake experienced a reduction in breast tumor size and number due to a newfound biological mechanism — potentially enhancing existing cancer therapies.

Cash Cow: China’s Most Mocked Cartoon Is Suddenly a Viral Hit

The film, made by a mother-son duo with no industry experience and without the use of AI, is projected to earn tens of millions of dollars at the box office.

China’s Short-Drama Boom Was Built on Speed. Then AI Got Faster.

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

AI-powered production is upending China’s ultrashorts market, cutting shoots, budgets, and specialized crew work while forcing companies to find cheaper ways to keep live-action production viable.

Hundreds Still Missing After Deadly China-Nepal Border Mudslide

Search teams are still working through deep mud and broken roads as an upstream landslide dam raises fears of further flooding.

Inside the Chinese AI Studio Shrinking Short-Drama Crews to One

Former animators, cinematographers, and VFX artists are helping build AI systems that can script, storyboard, generate, and revise short dramas with unprecedented speed.

An AI Actress Sold Contact Lenses. China Isn’t Buying It.

The ad, featuring breakout AI character Fang Taozi, sparked heated discussion online over whether avatars can and should be used to endorse products meant for humans.

Chinese Rafting Park in Hot Water Over ‘Female Companion’ Service

The attraction, which has since been ordered to suspend operations, had advertised women who would kiss and hug customers, depending on price, as customers river raft.

The Chinese Chicken Joint That Rejected Fame Now Craves It

The restaurant, which went viral this spring, has tried to sustain its popularity through livestreaming and expanding to other cities, despite previously claiming it did not want the attention.

China’s Summer Hit Recasts the Eight Immortals as Con Artists

The blockbuster animation “All Wishes Come True!” places Taoist legends in a fairyland where gods are assigned temples, ranked by incense offerings, and judged by KPIs.

All-Women ‘Shaolin Soccer’ Tribute Scores Big, Divides Fans

The film drew large audiences but disappointed those hoping for the heights of the Hong Kong action star’s past kung fu comedies.

Costumes, Classes, Catwalks: China’s New Retirees Join the Club

After decades in secure jobs, a new generation of Chinese retirees is entering later life with pensions, spare time, and an appetite for new experiences.

Peak Performance: Mountain in China Hires Influencer

Laojun Mountain, one of China’s most famous peaks, is seeking a content creator to boost tourism by posting short videos about its “sea of clouds” phenomenon.

How a Panda Rumor Became a Model Defamation Case in China

A case involving a couple who falsely claimed staff had harvested bone marrow and brain tissue from live pandas has been added to the Supreme People’s Court’s official reference case database.

Death Becomes Her: China’s New Hit Game Finds Fans in Failure

A live-action game about China’s only female emperor is finding devoted fans among people who have never played it themselves. Instead, they watch streamers struggle, die, and try again.

Dettol Ad Backfires in China Over Sexist Setup

The ad attempted to highlight a man’s toxic behavior as the reason for his girlfriend breaking up with him. Many viewers say they just felt offended.

At the Shanghai Film Festival, AI Gets Its Mainstream Break

The festival, one of the largest in Asia, has brought together AI content creators and traditional filmmakers to spur dialogue and collaborations around the latest technology.

Livestreamed Readings of Hit Chinese Novel Spark Copyright Debate

The recent TV adaptation of Chen Yan’s “The Protagonist” has inspired hosts to read the novel aloud during livestreams, potentially infringing on copyright.

Deep-Sea Water to Microchips, China Curbs Flashy Admission Packages

Universities spent years competing with increasingly elaborate welcome packets featuring everything from microchips to deep-sea water. Now regulators are urging schools to return to a simple one-page letter.