Inside OPPO’s Mother’s Day PR fiasco and other failed marketing campaigns in China’s gender minefield
From AI-generated film releases to popular “micro-vacations”, these are the digital & social trends shaping Chinese online conversations this May Day holiday.
Catch up on the week's most critical China trends in 3 minutes.
How a niche online debate was amplified into a global “racism” story, and why the real discussion runs deeper
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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."
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...
From ugly-cute rebellion to a new kind of 'C-pop,' the breakout success of Wakuku sheds light on Chinese consumer culture and the forces driving China’s trend...
🔥 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...
🔥 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...
What’s in your water? Would a water by any other name taste as good? That’s the main gist of the topic that’s been trending these days...
