China Local News

Sichuan Power Cut: From Dinner by Candlelight to Farm Chickens Dying

Local power cuts and heatwaves lead to extraordinary scenes in Sichuan and beyond.

Published

4 years ago

August 23, 2022

Some cities and regions in China are turning off lights and locally cutting off power as part of a summer peak plan to save power.

The past two days, it was not just Shanghai’s Bund area that stayed dark by night. The power cuts in Sichuan province went trending on Chinese social media on Tuesday, with dozens of videos and images circulating on WeChat, Weibo, Xiaohongshu and other apps showing how residents are…

Up Next

“True Heroes of the City”: Sparks of Patriotism as Firefighters Contain Chongqing Wildfire

Don't Miss

Follow-Up to China’s Ugly Math Textbook Controversy: 27 People Punished

Manya Koetse

Manya Koetse is a sinologist, writer, and public speaker specializing in China’s social trends, digital culture, and online media ecosystems. She founded What’s on Weibo in 2013 and now runs the Eye on Digital China newsletter. Learn more at manyakoetse.com or follow her on X, Instagram, or LinkedIn.

Click to comment

China Local News

Six Chinese Students Dead After Falling Into Flotation Tank During Mine Visit

After six students drowned in a mine tank, social media users question safety precautions and media framing.

Published

1 year ago

July 25, 2025

Manya Koetse

🔥 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 story also appears in the Weibo Watch newsletter. Subscribe to stay in the loop.

The tragic death of six Chinese students during a visit to the Wunugetushan Copper-Molybdenum Mine (乌努格吐山铜钼矿) in Inner Mongolia has been trending on Chinese social media this week.

The students, who study mineral…

China Local News

The Liaoyang Restaurant Fire That Killed 22 People

Published

1 year ago

April 29, 2025

Manya Koetse

🔥 Quick Take: Trending in China – Week 18
This is a brief update from our curated roundup of what’s trending in China this week. A version of this story also appears in the Weibo Watch newsletter. Subscribe to stay in the loop.

An enormous fire that happened at a restaurant in Liaoning’s Liaoyang on the afternoon of April 29 (see video) has gone top trending on Chinese social media, mainly…