chen-yiru

In National First, China Founds ‘School of Space Exploration’

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 institution, envisioned roughly 70 years ago, will bring together scientists from multiple fields to advise the country’s next generation of aerospace scientists.

Among China’s Oldest, Vegans Less Likely to Reach 100: New Study 

Vegetarianism is widely seen as a way to prevent cardiovascular disease and obesity. A new study reveals that for older people, the relationship between diet and health is more complex.

Brain Implant Trial in China Leaves Patients with Gambling, Sexual Urges

Participants in a deep brain stimulation trial for drug addiction say the implants triggered compulsive behavior that upended their lives.

The Making and Unmaking of China’s Backpacker Hostels

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

As China’s early independent travelers age and costs climb, the youth hostel model that once offered cheap beds and shared life is thinning out, leaving scattered holdouts and fading memories.

China Moves to Protect Child Actors in Viral Short Dramas

Children have become central to the ultrashort drama industry, with public concerns rising about long hours and the dissonance between dramatic themes and children’s lived experiences.

China Targets the Algorithms That Made Loyal Shoppers Pay More

New rules ban data-driven price discrimination and tighten oversight of algorithmic pricing on e-commerce platforms.

Ancient Fossil in China Rewrites Story of Early Animal Migration

The discovery of a new dicynodont species suggests early land animals moved across Pangaea later and more widely than previously thought.

China Bans Retractable EV Door Handles Over Safety Concerns

Safety concerns after fatal crashes have prompted rules requiring doors to open without electricity.

New Chinese Study Links City Childhood to Early Puberty in Girls 

Based on brain scans and survey data from nearly 3,000 young women, researchers used age at first menstruation and personality tests to examine how urban childhood environments shape development.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.