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China Insight

Something In the Water: How Yuhang’s Smelly Water Went from Odor Incident to Trust Crisis

“Tap water safety is a barometer of a city’s level of civilization.”
Manya Koetse

Published

1 year ago

on

On July 16, locals in Yuhang (余杭), a district of Hangzhou, noticed something fishy about their running water. It had turned brown and smelled unpleasant.

From residential compounds in Liangzhu to Renhe Street (良渚街道–仁和街道), some residents complained that their water smelled like “dead rats,” while others thought it resembled the odor of sewage, and later started smelling like disinfectant or other chemicals.

Soon, rumors began to spread that there was poop in the water,…

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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 Digital

How Chinese AI Videos Turned Foreigners into Villains

How viral AI videos turn racialized outsiders into threats and violent Chinese heroes into defenders of social order, China’s first nationally broadcast AI drama, and why a newspaper is being sold for 50 times its original price.
Manya Koetse

Published

2 weeks ago

on

August 3, 2026

By

Welcome to China Trend Watch (Week 30–33 | 2026), where I bring you the latest trends, memes, and debates driving conversation across Chinese social media. Subscribe here to receive future editions.

 

Over the past few weeks, a noteworthy amount of AI-related news has been trending on Chinese social media, which is reflected in this week’s edition.

Now that AI has entered every corner of media consumption and online life, related discussions seem…

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China Insight

“Even Pigs Have AC”: The European Heatwave Through Chinese Eyes

As Europe struggles through record heat, Chinese social media is turning the story into something much bigger than the weather. Plus: the graduation speech everyone is talking about & more.
Manya Koetse

Published

1 month ago

on

July 5, 2026

By

🔥 China Trend Watch (week 26/27 | 2026) Part of Eye on Digital China, this is my premium newsletter where I explain the stories, memes, debates, and viral moments shaping online conversations in China. This edition was sent to paid subscribers — subscribe to receive the next issue in your inbox.

 

Here’s your weekly update on what’s been trending. In case you missed it, earlier this week I published a deep dive

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