fan-yiying

Frog Gone: China’s Beloved Traveling Game Is Going Offline

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 mobile game, popular since 2018, features a frog who holidays across China. Users say they can’t bear to delete it.

End of the Vine: China’s ‘Calabash Grandpa’ Cuts Down His Famous Gourds

Seven gourds growing outside his home turned the elderly resident into an online celebrity after visitors linked them to the beloved Chinese cartoon “Calabash Brothers.”

Scammers Are Targeting China’s Content Creators for Ransoms

The practice, known as “account striking,” targets short-video creators, falsely accusing them of platform violations to extract ransoms.

‘Just So Easy’: Why China’s Gen Z Prefers Credit Without the Card

Credit card ownership is plummeting across China, but young consumers are still borrowing, increasingly through food-delivery, shopping, and payment apps.

Lost, Looted, Crumbling: The Vanishing Temple Murals of Yu County

The county is known for its hundreds of ancient temple murals. An investigation has revealed that most specimens no longer exist or are in disrepair.

For China’s Gen Z Investors, Patriotism Meets Portfolio Math

As confidence in domestic tech grows, young Chinese investors are piling into the market, even as they remain wary of hype and easy money.

Who Let the Dogs In? Chinese Universities Open Dorms to Pets

At least seven universities around the country now permit students to have pets, with some institutions creating animal-friendly dorms.

China’s Chatbot Users Are Grieving the Loss of Their AI Partners

After a central government policy that banned AI services “that lead to emotional dependence” went into effect in July, some users say they feel an “emotional void.”

Chinese County Takes Aim at Soaring Bride Prices

In line with national policy recommendations, the eastern county of Shicheng has implemented pilot programs and targeted matchmaking services to decrease or eliminate family spending when asking for a bride’s hand in marriage.

China’s Elderly Embrace an Unlikely New Sport: Hyrox Races

China’s millennials have taken up the hardcore fitness activity in huge numbers. Now, they’re pushing their aging parents to join them.

China’s Short-Drama Boom Calls for a New AI Crew

AI is shrinking crews and production times while opening film jobs to workers trained in fields far beyond cinema.

China’s Bank Wealth Products Face Scrutiny Over Yield Displays

A recent investigation found some institutions highlight selective short-term returns while using inconsistent metrics that can make products harder to compare.

China’s AI Summer Camps Tap Into Parents’ Worries

As parents push to equip their children with AI skills, companies seeking to exploit their anxieties around the new technology are exaggerating claims about what they can teach their children.

China’s Scenic Spots Chase Views. Travelers Want the Real Ones.

For years, scenic spots and historical sites have capitalized on online trends and “check-in” culture, leading to what tourists describe as “tacky” aesthetics. After the backlash, sites are changing their tune.

Scan Scam: Criminals Redirect China’s Public QR Codes to Porn

Government-registered codes whose associated web domains have expired are being rerouted by criminals to scams or pornographic websites, making scanning everything from street lamps to public vehicles a potential risk.

No Woo: At China’s Top Anime Convention, Love Takes a Back Seat

For more than a decade, the niche, female-focused nüwu genre has attracted a cult following through web novels. Now, fans are taking it offline.

Investigation Uncovers China’s Underground Height Surgery Market

The cosmetic procedure has been banned in China for two decades. But underground, a market has continued to flourish.

Gaokao Results Trigger Wave of College Admissions Scams

Worried that their children may not apply to the right schools, parents are enlisting application consultants for help — and getting scammed.

Bot for Profit: Can China’s Top AI App Convince Users to Pay?

China’s most popular chatbot has announced new subscription plans, marking a turning point for the country’s AI industry as companies look to convert massive user bases into revenue.

Locked Out of China’s AI Boom, Graduates Turn to Bootcamps

With new graduates facing a crowded job market, AI bootcamps are offering three-month courses designed to turn newcomers into junior AI workers.