chen-yiru

No Free Lunch: China’s Takeout War Wraps Up Without a Winner

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

Meituan, JD.com, and Alibaba poured billions into subsidies. Now they’re pulling back after steep losses.

China Performs First Brain Implant Procedure Under State Pricing

A patient has received a brain implant to help with hand function, the first BCI procedure billed through China’s new regulated pricing system.

‘Lens Bullying’: Outrage Over Tourists Photographing Minority Women

A post by a traveler who captured tourists crowding and taking photos of multiple Yi minority women on a train in southwestern China has sparked a heated debate online over appropriate tourist conduct and respecting locals.

The Chinese College Student Who Took on Annoying Elevator Ads

A college junior in Shanghai used a “universal key” to shut down elevator ad screens to protest their intrusive noise, going viral online after netizens applauded the move.

China’s Mice See Stars as Nation Sends Its First Rodents to Space

The mice launched on Oct. 31 and are currently aboard China’s Tiangong space station, where they are being studied for their behavioral response to the spatial environment.

Down the Toilet: Shanghai Bids Farewell to Chamber Pots

A multi-decadelong government initiative to renovate the city’s old buildings and install indoor plumbing in all housing has brought an end to the era of chamber pots.

Neurodivergence and Depression: Psych and Tech Merge at CIIE

Companies at the eighth China International Import Expo presented AI-driven products aimed at addressing suicidality in children, neurodivergence in schools, and the need for companionship in adults, among other issues.

Use Your Coconut: Farm Tech Steals the Show at CIIE 

From AI-powered durian scanners to smart coconut plants and robot dogs, companies from around the world brought high tech farming to Shanghai.

Bloodcats: Video of Stray Cat Blood Trade Scandalizes China

The video, showing a cat being forcibly bled, sparked public outrage and an investigation by the local forestry and parks bureau.

Audrey Hepburn’s Son Wins Lawsuit Against Chinese Restaurant

A Chinese court has ruled that a Suzhou-based Audrey Hepburn-themed chain violated personality rights by using the late actress’s image and name on signage, in restaurants, and on promotional materials without the consent of the actress’s family.

China’s First Macaque Biobank Addresses Lab Monkey Shortage

Chinese scientists have analyzed the genomes and physical characteristics of nearly 1,000 macaques to provide domestic researchers with improved human disease modeling techniques.

The Architect Saving China’s ‘Ugly’ Buildings, One Photo at a Time

For two years, Liu Yujia has crossed China on foot and by bike, photographing the tiled towers, tinted-glass hotels, and industrial relics of a disappearing urban era, once often dismissed as “ugly.”

In China’s ‘Land of Wilderness,’ a Human Centipede Proves Too Wild

The artwork, along with several others, had been part of a popular art park in the scenic town of Lijiang, Yunnan province, but drew controversy in the past week.

On the Pot: Chinese Teens Who Urinated in Hotpot Ordered to Pay 2 Million Yuan

In March, a court ruled that the two teens who drunkenly urinated into a Haidilao hotpot must apologize and pay for their actions. On Thursday, the judgment went into effect.

China’s ‘Worst Handwriting Group in History’ Rewrites Grief

The online forum, which began as a way to bond over poor penmanship, has recently expanded into a place to seek solace and help in deciphering notes left by deceased relatives.

China’s Latest Reform Eases Property Purchases for Overseas Individuals

A new policy allows overseas individuals to make immediate down payments on properties and scraps restrictions on the purchase of non-self-use residential property.

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.

Shanghai Pilot Offers Grants to Help New Mothers Stay in Science

The city’s Chinese Academy of Sciences branch is offering one-time grants to new mothers in science, aiming to offset career setbacks from childbirth.

Chinese Brand Severs Ties With Marathon Winner Amid Controversy

The “fastest nurse” in China appealed to her employer to recognize running as a legitimate reason to adjust her hospital shifts, dividing netizens and resulting in a terminated sports contract.