China Local News

Public Outcry after Sinkhole in Beijing’s Historical Center

Trending on Sina Weibo this week was a 10-meter deep hole that appeared in Beijing’s historical city center on January 24th. The incident stirred public outcry when netizens discovered the cause of the sinkhole.

Published

12 years ago

February 1, 2015

Manya Koetse

READING TIME: 2 MINUTES, 13 SECONDS

Trending on Sina Weibo this week was a 10-meter deep hole that appeared in a street in center of Beijing on January 24th. The ‘sinkhole’ appeared in front of a courtyard at 93 Denei Avenue, a culturally significant old street with many buildings designated as ‘cultural relics’ by the government. As a result, the courtyard and four houses to its north collapsed. No one was hurt in the…

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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.

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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…