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.
From top trends to platform scandals, these were the biggest online topics of the year.
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.
From ugly-cute rebellion to a new kind of 'C-pop,' the breakout success of Wakuku sheds light on Chinese consumer culture...
Behind the scandal at the China-Japan Friendship Hospital: the doctor, the trainee, and the letter that took over the Chinese...
“This man is doing God’s work. In just six hours, he eliminated all Western media propaganda about China,” Chinese influencer...
From Telegram to Shaolin Temple, the two scandals that rocked Chinese social media this week.
"To put it bluntly, temples have been places of deception, corruption, opportunism, and exploitation since ancient times."
After six students drowned in a mine tank, social media users question safety precautions and media framing.
"Tap water safety is a barometer of a city’s level of civilization."
Behind the hashtag about Nanjing's cross-dressing ‘Sister Hong’: from legal implications to viral spectacle.
Note: In this What’s on Weibo chapter on the story behind China’s designer toys, also read Inside the Labubu Craze and the Globalization of Chinese Designer...
🔥 A version of this story also appeared in the Weibo Watch newsletter. Subscribe to stay in the loop. Our Weibo phrase of the week is...
From China’s first soap opera Yearnings to the rise of AI-fueled nostalgia.
🔥 Quick Take: Trending in China This is a brief update from our curated roundup of what’s trending in China this week. A version of this...
Labubu is not ‘Chinese’ at all—and at the same time, it is very much a product of present-day China.
🔥 Quick Take: Trending in China This is a brief update from our curated roundup of what’s trending in China this week. A version of this...
Gaming lingo isn’t just for players — it’s become part of modern-day Chinese language.
Online sleuths connect emerald earrings to post-earthquake business ties—sparking official investigations.
🔥 Quick Take: Trending in China This is a brief update from our curated roundup of what’s trending in China this week. A version of this...
The Chinese historical drama A Love Never Lost (人生若如初见) has been getting a lot of attention on Chinese social media since it made its surprise premiere...
