This week in China: Grassroots football fever, a Nobel laureate writes for the TikTok era, France's cultural relic bill, and a 19-year-old’s blind box obsession bankrupts her father's company.
A 2-minute overview of trending topics on Chinese social media, including XChat, Orbán’s defeat, and that tripe-strawberry hotpot.
China’s AI actors are on the rise, and not everyone is buying it. The country’s microdrama industry offers a glimpse of what’s to come for the broader film and TV sector.
About a widely discussed "chilling effect", the death of Chinese researcher Wang Danhao, and unanswered questions. (April 3 update included)
From official reactions and armchair generals to women’s rights defenders: China’s online discourse surrounding the war in Iran.
Han Futao’s explosive report on fake patients and systemic abuse has triggered a heated online debate over hospital malpractices, the fragility of the welfare system, and the vital role of investigative reporting.
From top trends to platform scandals, these were the biggest online topics of the year.
Hasan Piker's controversial China tour, a Chinese school uniform resurfaces in Africa, a new winter hotspot, why Chinese elites 'run' to Tokyo, and more.
Female comedians are taking center stage in a new era of Chinese stand-up, challenging stereotypes and turning jokes into real-life impact.
The major talking points on Chinese social media this week: from the capture of a notorious child trafficker and unexpected death of Zhang Xuefeng, to one of the most expensive Chinese music video ever made.
Chinese netizens “raising lobsters,” farmer pensions emerging as a key Two Sessions talking point, and humanoid robots running through Beijing — what you need to know about Chinese social media discussions this week.
Inside this week's trends: Two Sessions talking points, a massive celebrity meltdown, and a pet gym in Shanghai charging $275 a month.
Russian recruitment ads, China's censorship, and how Western media sometimes guess Beijing's stance by reading between the wrong lines.
Weibo, Wechat, Douyin, or Xiaohongshu? Understanding China’s top 10 social media platforms.
From 'Chinese Twitter' to digital dinosaur, the story of Weibo reflects the shifting dynamics of China’s online media landscape.
Behind the hashtag about Nanjing's cross-dressing ‘Sister Hong’: from legal implications to viral spectacle.
Labubu is not ‘Chinese’ at all—and at the same time, it is very much a product of present-day China.
As American 'TikTok Refugees' flock to China's Xiaohongshu (Rednote), their encounter with 'Li Hua' strikes a chord in divided times.
Eye on Digital China is an independent publication by sinologist and China trend watcher Manya Koetse, offering analysis and reporting on China’s digital culture, media,...
Watch the CGM Spring Festival Gala with us. It’s that special annual evening show that captures millions of viewers on the night of the Chinese New...
From digital stress to “dangerous Japan,” here are the trends that stood out this week on Chinese social media.
We’re at a very complicated time in our online lives. An explainer of “Chinamaxxing,” the “kill line,” and the platform politics behind them.
From 5,000 people crashing a rural pig feast in Chongqing to the collective effort to save Yanran Angel hospital.
How Chinese social media is making sense of the first geopolitical shockwaves of 2026.
Andrew Methven's favorite Chinese phrases of the year, a special feature by RealTime Mandarin.
How and why fetal sex testing became a national security story
The 2025 scandal surrounding Wong Kar-wai shows that public outrage only produces consequences when it aligns with official interests.
He Qing is remembered as a veteran actress, a symbol of classical Chinese beauty and literary culture.
As December 13 marked the 88th anniversary of the Nanjing Massacre, this Memorial Day trended online amid rising China–Japan tensions and sharper official rhetoric.
From Hong Kong’s Wang Fuk Court fire and China’s new “family member” rule to Japanese concerts halted, the Nantong viral remark, childcare subsidy payouts, 6G trials,...
From quick scrolls to the discussions that matter, these are the topics trending in China this week.
A look back at the three major phases of China’s social media — and why What’s on Weibo is evolving into Eye on Digital China.
The meeting between US President Donald Trump and new Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi became a popular topic on China social media, thanks to a stream...
