China Celebs
China’s “Most Famous Foreigner” Mark Rowswell: Ready for Dashan 3.0
He has been China’s most famous foreigner for nearly three decades: Canadian Mark Rowswell aka Dashan. On March 30, he talked about his life as a household name and his work as a comedian in the PRC at Beijing’s the Bookworm. What’s on Weibo was there to take note.
China Celebs
Quiet Nationalism, Loud Statements, and Nanjing Memorial Day
From war memory to viral eggs, salty cakes, an unfortunate dinner party and farewell to an iconic actress.
Eye on Digital China is a reader-supported publication by
Manya Koetse (@manyapan) and powered by What’s on Weibo.
It offers independent analysis of China’s online culture, media, and social trends.
To receive the newsletter and support this work, consider
becoming a paid subscriber.
Blame Games & Bad Signs: Nepal–Tibet Floods, Huawei’s Toilet Trouble, “Screwed” Graduates
The Power of Ugly: Why Niu Lai Became China’s Unlikeliest Box-Office Hit
AI Actress Ad Pulled, Baihaitun Disrupts Shanghai and Cicada Meme Bugs Huawei
How Chinese AI Videos Turned Foreigners into Villains
“God Won’t Save Us, but the PLA Will”: Floods, Faith, and Kung Fu Soccer Nostalgia
China’s CITIC Tower Crash: The Story That Never Trended
“Even Pigs Have AC”: The European Heatwave Through Chinese Eyes
Auntie Goose Legs, China’s Shrinking Condom Market, and DeepSeek’s AI Blind Spot
Quack Like a Goose: Why Beijing Street Vendor “Auntie Goose Legs” Sparked a Nationwide Debate
“God Won’t Save Us, but the PLA Will”: Floods, Faith, and Kung Fu Soccer Nostalgia
-
China Arts & Entertainment11 months agoThe Wong Kar-wai Scandal Explained: The Dark Side of ‘Blossoms Shanghai’
-
Chinese New Year7 months agoInside Chunwan 2026: China’s Spring Festival Gala
-
China World12 months agoFrom Schadenfreude to Sympathy: Chinese Online Reactions to Charlie Kirk Shooting
-
China Brands, Marketing & Consumers10 months agoHasan Piker’s China Trip & the Unexpected Journey of a Chinese School Uniform to Angola