Newsletter
The Hashtagification of Chinese Propaganda
From tech-powered messaging to pop culture politics, China’s propaganda has undergone a major transformation in the social media age.
PREMIUM NEWSLETTER | ISSUE #38
Dear Reader,
October 1st marked the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Flags, hearts, balloons—National Day celebrations turned Chinese social media red.
Among the key players in leading the propaganda around National Day was People’s Daily, the official newspaper of the Communist Party of China. To commemorate the occasion, People’s Daily published a column titled “Today’s China, Tomorrow’s China” (今天的中国，明天的中国)1, outlining a clear vision for the future and emphasizing China’s rise under the Party’s leadership.
The article highlighted how hard work and perseverance are crucial to achieving the ‘China Dream,’ with national unity being the driving force behind the country’s continued progress. It also stressed the pivotal role of China’s youth in shaping the future of the nation.
The article was accompanied by four posters, each conveying a specific message:
“Today’s China is a China where dreams are continuously realized” (今天的中国是梦想接连实现的中国)
“Today’s China is a China full of vibrancy and vitality” (今天的中国是充满生机活力的中国)
“Today’s China is a China that carries on the national spirit” (今天的中国是赓续民族精神的中国)
“Today’s China is a China closely connected to the world” (今天的中国是紧密联系世界的中国)
A related hashtag, “75th Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China” (#新中国成立75周年#), received over 590 million views on Weibo.
But People’s Daily also put out a much simpler message, posting the hashtag: “I Love You, China” (#我爱你中国#).
This hashtag was accompanied by an online poster featuring the Chinese characters for “China.” The characters in the picture are shaped by various symbols representing both traditional and modern China, from lanterns and Tiananmen to rockets and railways. That post was shared over six million times.
The immense popularity of the poster and the “I Love You China” hashtag page, initiated by People’s Daily and garnering over eight billion views through the times, highlights the strength of Party-led propaganda in the social media era.
A Major Shift
A few days ago, De Balie, a cultural venue in Amsterdam, hosted an event focused on how Chinese state propaganda has evolved, coinciding with the 75th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China. As a participant in the discussion, I’ve recently been reflecting on the nature of Chinese propaganda in the digital age.
Propaganda has always been a key element of the Party’s strategy—not just for the past 75 years, but for over a century. Since the founding of the Central Propaganda Department in 1924, three years after the establishment of the Communist Party, propaganda has played a central role in shaping official narratives. China’s propaganda system exerts significant influence over nearly every major medium involved in disseminating information within the country, from news outlets and educational institutions to cultural organizations, artistic circles, and literary institutions.2
China’s rapid digitalization and the rise of social media posed significant challenges for officials in disseminating propaganda, particularly in the early 2010s when there was an explosion of self-media, app culture, and intense celebrity idolization. Amid this cacophony of new media channels, Party propaganda was increasingly overlooked as people’s attention shifted to what they found more engaging, such as movie stars and other celebrities representing new, exciting lifestyles.3
This was not the first ‘disruptive force’ the Party Propaganda Department had to confront. (Side note: Chinese officials, aware of the negative connotations of ‘propaganda’ in English—though it’s a neutral term in Chinese, 宣传—later changed its English name to the ‘Publicity Department.’)
As Stefan Landsberger notes in Chinese Propaganda Posters,4 the Party’s well-established system for propaganda and political education faced similar challenges in the 1980s following the Open Door policy. This policy significantly transformed Chinese society, bringing a wave of foreign cultural and lifestyle influences and accelerating the spread of electronic media.
Although the spread of non-official media and information may have disrupted the central messaging dynamics of the Propaganda Department in the 1980s, the growing presence of radio and television sets in people’s homes also allowed Party leaders to shift their focus from propaganda posters to new media as a means of communicating political messages.5
A similar shift has occurred over the past seven to eight years when it comes to social media. Initially, propaganda authorities struggled to convey official messages on Weibo and other emerging digital platforms, but in 2017, China’s propaganda system saw a pivotal change in its approach to domestic social media, particularly on Weibo.
Instead of trying to pull young people into traditional Party narratives, it began weaving propaganda directly the fabric of social media itself —blending politics seamlessly into the digital content young audiences were already engaging with.
No three-and-a-half-hour speech, but a three-and-a-half minute video. In 2017, Chinese state media explained China’s new strategies through catchy rap music and trendy graphics. Read more.
2017 was a pivotal year for Chinese propaganda with three major events: the One Belt One Road (OBOR) Summit, the 19th Party Congress, and the APEC Summit. For each occasion, publicity authorities launched distinctive, high-profile campaigns.
The OBOR Summit featured several high-production videos with catchy tunes, often starring foreigners (though some found them awkward). The 19th Party Congress saw a flood of new propaganda videos and initiatives, including a clapping game produced by Tencent that allowed users to applaud Xi Jinping’s speech. Meanwhile, the APEC Summit videos saw a manga-style version of Xi Jinping, portraying him as lovable and approachable.
Hashtagification of Propaganda
Propaganda departments in China have adapted various strategies over the past few years to make official Party narratives more appealing by adjusting to the fast-paced, fleeting, and trendy nature of China’s social media environment. I’d call this the ‘hashtagification’ of Chinese propaganda—turning political messaging into viral trends by embedding it in hashtags and social media content. These are essentially hashtag-driven narratives that netizens can easily engage with and share.
Within this movement, I see six major strategies of digital propaganda emerging on Weibo and other social apps, such as Douyin, from 2017 to 2024.
📌 1. Old Message, New Media: Revival of Classic Propaganda
The types of posts that People’s Daily shares around National Day and other celebrations often echo classic nationalist messages about unity and national pride. This is part of a broader strategy within China’s social media propaganda, focusing on strong, simple messages that, at their core, are not much different from the political narratives promoted in previous decades. However, these messages are now disseminated through modern channels, using more sophisticated techniques and production methods. These can include online posters, as well as music or high-quality videos (example).
📌 2. Double Agenda: Foreign-Facing Propaganda with Domestic Goal
Although there’s traditionally been a clear distinction between domestic propaganda and waixuan (“external propaganda”), the past few years have seen the rise of a new kind of propaganda. It appears to target an international audience but is actually aimed at bolstering domestic support and reinforcing a positive image of China. Assertive or aggressive videos and posts, supposedly directed at foreign viewers, are often used to stir national pride at home. A good example of this is the Xinhua video series featuring Young Lady Guoshe (国社小姐姐), whose real name is Wang Dier (王迪迩), an anchor for Xinhua who previously worked for CCTV. If you’re unsure what this looks like, check the full clip here.
📌 3. Grassroots ‘Propaganda’ in Official Communication
Over the past few years, particularly during the Covid period, official channels began repurposing satirical online artworks created by independent artists or popular nationalistic influencers as a form of national propaganda. Much of this art was produced by Chinese cartoonists and artists, mocking Western hypocrisy and political leaders. These pieces were then retweeted and widely shared by official Chinese channels, amplifying domestic support and fueling anti-Western sentiment. You can read more about this trend here.
‘Investigate Thoroughly! Except Here’ (‘彻查！除了这儿’) satirical illustration by artist 半桶老阿汤 / Half Can of Old Soup in response to US calls for investigation into the origins of Covid in China while ignoring a possible link with Fort Detrick. This post was shared by the Communist Youth League on social media.
📌 4. Tech-Driven Party Messages
The use of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and gamification by Chinese state media serves a dual purpose: reinforcing the Party’s messaging while simultaneously showcasing China’s digital innovation. By integrating technology with propaganda, the Party’s message becomes more engaging and interactive, while also projecting China as a leading tech power. For instance, in recent years, the annual CCTV New Year’s Gala has become a platform to display China’s cutting-edge digital technologies on stage. Online, tech and propaganda are frequently intertwined, such as in the aforementioned clapping game by Tencent. Other examples include virtual newsreaders for state media and the ‘Study Xi app’ (Xuexi Qiangguo), which allows users to earn points for engaging with official Party content. You can read more about these innovations here and here.
📌 5. Pop Culture Propaganda
By ‘Pop Culture Propaganda,’ I refer to the blending of propaganda with pop culture in various ways. One example is the use of Chinese celebrities to promote official Party messages, such as the 2017 campaign for China’s New Era (hashtag: ‘Give A Shout-Out to the New Era‘) or the Social Credit song launched by the Communist Youth League. Another form of this propaganda involves colorful and cute animations and cartoons that primarily appeal to younger generations. These often incorporate Japanese influences, like anime and manga, which are especially popular among Chinese youth, making propaganda more accessible and attractive. Currently, many manga-themed propaganda-style images are circulating, blurring the lines between fan-made content and official productions (as mentioned in point 3!).
Official or not? Official channels sometimes share non-official digital art on their pages, while everyday netizens often post official “pop propaganda” on their own accounts (Images via Weibo).
📌 6. Guerrilla Propaganda: Coordinated, Multi-Front Engagement Across Media & Influencers
A final technique I’ve observed on Chinese social media since 2016-2017 is topic-centered propaganda that is spread simultaneously across multiple platforms. In these campaigns, social media, local authorities, businesses, and influencers collaborate to create a coordinated wave of messaging. A notable example is the 2021 Xinjiang cotton campaign, which followed H&M and the Better Cotton Initiative’s boycott of Xinjiang cotton over alleged human rights abuses. In response, a massive pro-Xinjiang cotton campaign erupted on Weibo, with state media, Baidu, e-commerce platforms, and celebrities uniting to cancel H&M and support Xinjiang-sourced cotton. The campaign was highly effective, with the hashtag “Wo Zhichi Xinjiang Mianhua” (“I Support Xinjiang Cotton” #我支持新疆棉花#) receiving over 8 billion views on Weibo—comparable to the “I Love China” hashtag.
Propaganda posters by People’s Daily at the time of the Xinjiang cotton controversy. The posters say “Xinjiang Mianhua” (Xinjiang cotton) in a similar font to the H&M logo, the “H” and “M” within ‘mianhua‘ being identical to the H&M letters.
What’s particularly interesting about propaganda in China’s social media era is that, unlike previous periods, it’s no longer a one-way street from billboard to pedestrian or from TV screen to viewer. Social media is inherently interactive, and despite the overwhelming presence of official accounts on platforms like Weibo, WeChat, and Douyin, there are still over a billion individual social media users in China who can choose to scroll away, mute, or ignore these messages.
While the line between state media and other accounts is increasingly blurred, state propaganda continues to compete for attention in a dynamic and vibrant online culture.
Stefan Landsberger – In Memoriam
There is so much more to say about all of this, and it only highlights how multi-faceted and complex the topic of propaganda in China truly is.
No one understood this better than sinologist Prof. Dr. Stefan Landsberger. I was shocked and deeply saddened to hear of his sudden passing this week. Coincidentally, I received the news while working on this newsletter, with his beautiful Chinese Propaganda Posters book open on my lap.
If you’re not familiar with his name, you might have come across his work if you’ve ever read anything about Chinese propaganda. Landsberger was a leading authority on the subject, having spent decades—since the late 1970s—collecting an extensive array of posters and conducting thorough research in the field. His collection grew to become one of the largest private collections of Chinese propaganda posters in the world.
Landsberger was an Associate Professor of Contemporary Chinese History and Society at Leiden University. In that role, he also taught me Chinese Modern History when I was an undergraduate there. He was a dedicated teacher—often critical, which made him intimidating to some students—but deeply appreciated by most for his brutal honesty and his immense passion for Chinese history and modern Sinology.
One memory from 2018 stands out. I was in China as a post-graduate student and took a taxi on a cold and rainy January night in Beijing. During the ride, I struck up a conversation with the driver, who asked me where I was from. When I told him I was Dutch, he proudly shared that he had a Dutch friend—one of his dearest, he said, whom he’d known since the early 1980s. That intrigued me, as I’d never heard anything like that from a Beijing taxi driver before. As we continued talking, he mentioned that his friend was a teacher and then showed me a photo on his phone of them together. I was surprised to see that the man in the picture, smiling warmly beside the taxi driver, was none other than my own teacher Stefan Landsberger.
In a city of 21 million people, I had somehow hailed a cab driven by one of Landsberger’s oldest friends in the city, whom he had known since he was a student in Beijing. I shared this story with Dr. Landsberger later through WeChat—it made him laugh. This chance encounter left a lasting impression on me, not just because of the coincidence, but because it spoke volumes about Landsberger’s enduring love for China and his ability to cultivate deep, lasting friendships. It showed his loyalty, not just to his work and research but to the people and connections he built over decades.
Landsberger will be greatly missed. His contributions to the growing body of work on Chinese propaganda are invaluable. This ever-evolving phenomenon can only be fully understood by examining both its current trends and its historical roots—and Landsberger’s work will forever be foundational in that effort, helping to better understand “Today’s China, Tomorrow’s China.”
My thoughts are with his family and friends during this difficult time.
Best,
Manya Koetse
(@manyapan)
1 Ren Ping, “今天的中国，明天的中国” [Today’s China, Tomorrow’s China], People’s Daily, September 29, 2024, https://weibo.com/ttarticle/p/show?id=2309405083853533610297
2 David Shambaugh, “China’s Propaganda System: Institutions, Processes and Efficacy,” The China Journal 57 (2007):27-28.
3 See Willy Lam quoted in Yi-Ling Liu, “Chinese Propaganda Faces Stiff Competition from Celebrities,” AP News, October 23, 2017, https://apnews.com/article/1616c60ab01d43caae024d34cb98d532 (accessed October 12, 2024).
4 Stefan Landsberger, Chinese Propaganda Posters: From Revolution to Modernization (Amsterdam: The Pepin Press, 2001): 11.
5 Landsberger, Chinese Propaganda Posters, 15.
PS: If you’re a loyal reader of Weibo Watch, you might have noticed I’ve been trying out some changes in the newsletters lately to deliver more frequent updates while balancing things on the site. Don’t worry if this edition is missing the hot topics section—it’s not going anywhere! But if there’s anything you’d love to see in the newsletters moving forward, please let me know. Your feedback really helps with planning future editions.
What’s New
Golden Week | China celebrated its National Day Holiday earlier this month. This week-long holiday, also known as the Golden Week, is a popular time for trips, travel, and sightseeing. On Chinese social media, it has become somewhat of a tradition to post about just how busy it is in China’s various sightseeing spots. This is often done by using hashtags including “人人人人[place]人人人人.”
Being Watched | Could it be that someone is watching you while you think you’re all alone in your private hotel room? Without realizing it, some guesthouses or hotels may have hidden cameras secretly recording their guests. This issue has long been a source of concern in China and has recently become a hot topic again. The Chinese Douyin and Weibo blogger @ShadowsDontLie (@影子不会说谎), an ‘anti-fraud’ influencer, has made it his mission to expose hidden cameras in guesthouses. The controversy following his recent discoveries are perhaps just a tip of the iceberg – we’ll follow up on this story soon. Meanwhile, check out the full story here.
For the Clicks |The debate over influencers performing dangerous stunts for clout is ongoing in the West, but it has also recently gained attention in China after another motorcycle influencer was killed in a crash.
China’s Image | On October 10, 2024, De Balie hosted an event discussing how China portrays itself to its citizens and the world, marking the 75th anniversary of the People’s Republic. The panel explored the evolution of Chinese state propaganda, the public’s response, and how the emergence of digital China has reshaped the landscape. Speakers included Ardi Bouwers, Florian Schneider, Qian Huang, and myself (Qian and I appear in the second half). You can watch the full event here.
What’s Memorable
Old one-child policy propaganda slogans, especially in rural areas, remain visible on walls across China, even though they contradict the government’s current push for families to have more children due to declining birth rates. While efforts to remove these outdated slogans have intensified, some people question the urgency.
Weibo Word of the Week
Rushing to the Counties
Our Weibo word of the week is 奔县 (bèn xiàn), which translates to “rushing to the county.” This term has recently surged in Chinese media after this month’s National Day holiday, a popular travel time, saw an increased popularity of lesser-known county-level towns instead of large cities or famous tourist destinations.
According to the latest travel industry reports following the week-long holiday, bookings have significantly increased compared to last year, despite last year already being notably crowded. This year, 765 million trips were taken nationwide, marking a 10.2% increase compared to pre-pandemic 2019.
Last year, ‘domestic travel’ was the key trend, with the so-called “special forces travel” (特种兵旅游 tè zhǒng bīng lǚxíng) becoming popular among Chinese youth. That trend was all about visiting as many places as possible at the lowest cost within a limited time, often involving incredibly tight schedules and 12-hour travel days.
This year, the focus has shifted to a more relaxed and cost-effective approach. This has turned county-level tourism (奔县游 bènxiànyóu) into a new trend. People are not just visiting county-level towns to see family; more young travelers from China’s major cities are exploring nearby smaller towns for “micro-holidays” (微度假 wēi dùjià).
County-level towns in China are smaller than bigger cities like Beijing or Shanghai, but still big enough to usually have plenty to do as they are important hubs for the surrounding rural areas. In these county-level destinations, the cost of hotels and meals tends to be much cheaper than in popular tourist hotspots. Staying closer to home also reduces travel time and expenses, while offering the opportunity to visit lesser-known locations and avoid the peak tourist crowds.
According to The Observer, places like Jiuzhaigou, Anji, Shangri-La, Pingtan, Dujiangyan, and Jinghong saw booking increases of 109%, 86%, 74%, 67%, 51%, and 50%, respectively.
This is an on-site version of the Weibo Watch newsletter by What’s on Weibo. Missed last week’s newsletter? Find it here. If you are already subscribed to What’s on Weibo but are not yet receiving this newsletter in your inbox, please contact us directly to let us know.
Newsletter
Weibo Watch: A New Chapter
About balloons, drone dragons, changes coming to What’s on Weibo, and much more.
PREMIUM NEWSLETTER | ISSUE #42
This week’s newsletter:
◼︎ 1. Editor’s Note – A New Chapter
◼︎ 2. What’s New – A closer look at featured stories
◼︎ 3. What’s Trending – Hot highlights
◼︎ 4. What’s Noteworthy – A strange record
◼︎ 6. What’s Popular – Jackson Yee’s stellar performance
◼︎ 7. What’s Memorable – Looking back at the 10 most-read stories of 2024
Dear Reader,
From Hangzhou to Wuhan, the New Year in China was celebrated with the release of thousands of balloons at midnight in cities across the country. In Hangzhou alone, approximately 70,000 people attended the New Year countdown celebrations, with some bloggers estimating that street vendors sold at least 20,000 balloons in one night. In Nanchang, the capital of Jiangxi province, thousands of people also released balloons in the city center, resulting in stunning crowd videos (see here).
While a sky filled with balloons makes for some spectacular images and footage, adding to the festive sphere, there are also worries about this contemporary ‘tradition.’
The Nanchang balloon moment at midnight.
The sight of tens of thousands of people gathering in city centers, such as in Nanchang, has triggered discussions about the dangers of unexpected incidents leading to panic, potentially causing stampedes like the tragic event in Shanghai a decade ago.
Beyond crowd safety, the release of thousands of balloons introduces another serious risk. Hydrogen-filled balloons (hydrogen is often illegally used in balloons because it’s cheaper than helium) are highly flammable, and contact with high-voltage lines or open flames can lead to explosions and hazardous situations. One such incident occurred in Xinyang on New Year’s Eve, when balloons exploded at the crowded entrance of a shopping mall (video). In Hangzhou, a 22-year-man was arrested at the scene for setting off fireworks in Hangzhou during the balloon release festivities, also causing local explosions.
And then, there are concerns about the environmental impact. The balloon release festivities in Hangzhou alone resulted in an estimated six tons of garbage being left behind, making the cleanup a massive and costly undertaking. While sanitation workers are mobilized to tackle the mess, many balloons end up caught in trees, tangled in bushes, or drifting so far that they’re beyond the reach of cleanup crews. The sheer amount of plastic waste left behind has sparked online discussions, with many questioning the environmental consequences of these celebrations.
So what’s the alternative?
This year, you might have seen a viral video of an impressive drone show supposedly held on the Bund in Shanghai, featuring a dragon formed by dozens of drones dancing in the night sky, crowned by a circle of fireworks. The video went viral across Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and X. Even Elon Musk liked the video, tweeting his “wow” comment: look how China celebrates the New Year!
The video, however, turned out to be fake. In fact, there was no show for New Year’s at the Bund at all.
The video creator combined elements from various other videos, including a drone light show featuring a majestic dragon that took place in Shenzhen on October 1st, marking the 75th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China (video).
The glowing circle in the sky was from a firework and AI show held in Liuyang, Hunan, on December 7, titled “Tears of the Gate of Heaven” (天空之门的眼泪). The falling lights symbolized tears from heaven and were designed by a local firework company boss to commemorate his late mother (video).
Upon further research, I found that the Liuyang show had inspired a series of edited videos, placing the Liuyang show highlight in different locations, with each version more spectacular than the last (see examples). As reported by Annielab, there are even online tutorials teaching netizens how to digitally insert the Liuyang ‘gate’ into different backgrounds with the Jianying (剪映, aka Capcut) editing app.
What began as an online meme (“I haven’t been to the Liuyang show, but I can bring it to my town”) eventually resulted in the viral video combining the Shenzhen and Liuyang shows against the backdrop of the Bund. For the quick scrollers, it apparently was so realistic that even Elon Musk thought it was genuine.
Stills from the fake drone dragon video.
The fake drone dragon New Year video is interesting for several reasons. It highlights how quickly fake news about China spreads across social media, with few questioning the authenticity of viral posts—even when they’re shared with millions of followers. We’ve seen this pattern before, with stories about the social credit system, a supposed Xi Jinping chatbot, and heavily edited cyberpunk-style Chongqing scenes.
These trends often repeat themselves, portraying China in extremes: either as a futuristic utopia or a dystopian threat. They go viral because they serve as clickbait, used by both hostile “anti-China” accounts and propaganda-heavy “pro-China” accounts to push their narratives—look how great China is or look how scary China is.
The dragon video, though fake, also underscores China’s role as a global tech power. Its components—real drone and AI shows in Liuyang, Shenzhen, and other cities—demonstrate just how advanced the technology has become, to the point where reality and fabrication are increasingly difficult to distinguish.
It’s just a video, but it points to something bigger: the lack of understanding about what is actually happening in China. Whether it’s about China’s digital space or society at large, most people don’t take the time—or simply don’t have the time—to look beyond the surface of fast-moving stories. This tendency risks amplifying misconceptions. Before you know it, you might retweet a fake dragon video, interpreting it as evidence of a powerful or intimidating China, without realizing it’s part of a broader grassroots trend that’s misunderstood—or missing the fact that, for now, far more balloons than drones still rise into the skies during New Year’s celebrations.
Before I wander off with the balloons, what’s the takeaway? As we step into 2025, with AI playing an ever-growing role on social media and global influencers shaping the news we consume—often with their own agendas—it’s more important than ever to examine the stories we amplify critically. Only by paying attention to the details can we truly understand the bigger picture.
Announcing some changes to What’s on Weibo
This brings me to an exciting new chapter for What’s on Weibo and how I see the future of the site. The China-focused global news environment has evolved significantly since I first started this platform. There’s now an increased focus in mainstream media on China’s social media trends, and niche China-related news has become accessible to many thanks to innovative tools at our fingertips. While there’s more information than ever, it’s also becoming increasingly chaotic and fleeting.
As a smaller, independent voice in this fast-paced and crowded media arena, I’m committed to offering you unique and meaningful insights into Chinese society and digital culture that you won’t find anywhere else. In this video, I’ll explain the changes coming to the site, introducing What’s on Weibo Chapters. In these turbulent, dragon-drone times, I hope you’ll appreciate this new chapter for What’s on Weibo.
Our first Chapter, of course, is “15 Years of Weibo,” reflecting on the platform’s evolution since its launch in 2009 and its role in China’s competitive social media ecosystem today. We’ll explore the most popular influencers on Weibo, go deeper into Weibo diplomacy aka ‘Weiplomacy’, and will feature a special contribution by an expert guest writer. More on that coming soon!
A shout-out to Miranda Barnes and Ruixin Zhang for helping select some of the topics for this newsletter, and a very special thanks to Wytse Koetse for filming and editing the What’s on Weibo Chapters video.
Stay tuned!
Warm greetings,
Manya Koetse
(@manyapan)
What’s New
Our picks | From ‘Chillax’ to ‘Digital Ibuprofen,’ this compilation of ten Chinese buzzwords and catchphrases by What’s on Weibo reflects social trends and the changing times in China in 2024.
What’s Trending
🏚️ Earthquake in Tibet
The devastating 7.1 magnitude earthquake that struck Shigatse’s Tingri County high on the Tibetan plateau on the morning of January 7th has already claimed the lives of at least 95 people and left over 130 injured. Approximately 6,900 people reside in the villages surrounding the earthquake’s epicenter. On Weibo, videos reveal the catastrophic impact of the earthquake, with entire neighborhoods reduced to rubble.
Shigatse City’s Deputy Mayor Liu Huazhong (刘华忠) appeared visibly emotional as he announced the latest death toll and shared that 14 townships have been severely affected by the disaster. At the time of writing, the government has activated the highest-level emergency response for disaster relief, with hundreds of rescue workers deployed to the affected areas to provide medical assistance, conduct search and rescue operations, and distribute emergency supplies.
🤒 Peak Flu Season
It’s peak flu season, and it’s evident in the various trending topics circulating on Chinese social media. As discussions grow about crowded hospitals, face masks, and flu medication, concerns about the rapidly rising rates of influenza viruses have also emerged. Currently, according to monitoring data from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, over 99% of flu cases in China are identified as the Influenza A virus subtype H1N1 (“甲流”).
There have also been reports of an increase in flu-like human metapneumovirus (HMPV, 人偏肺病毒) infections in northern China, particularly among children under the age of 14. On social media, Chinese experts are largely addressing these concerns by emphasizing that HMPV is not the same as Covid-19, is less common compared to influenza and mycoplasma infections, and that the recent rise in HMPV cases is not unusual but rather reflects the typical higher prevalence of respiratory viruses during winter.
🏓 Chinese Table Tennis Superstars Withdraw from World Rankings
There has been a lot of buzz about the world of table tennis recently. After a tumultuous 2024 in which Chinese table tennis players shone at the Paris Olympics, super popular table tennis stars Fan Zhendong (樊振东) and Chen Meng (陈梦) announced on Weibo (post 1, post 2) their withdrawal from the World Rankings (WR) due to new fines imposed by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) for players not participating in tournaments.
Fan wrote that the Paris Olympics had left him “mentally exhausted” and that the new rules imposing fines for not participating in tournaments left him no other choice but to withdraw entirely. He also said he would not retire yet and quoted the Wicked line, “It’s time to try defying gravity 💚.” That post received more than 2.8 million (!) likes. Likewise, Chen also wrote about the impact of Olympic stress and that she still needs time to recover.
The withdrawal of these major table tennis icons—veteran athlete Ma Long (马龙) later also announced his withdrawal—has ignited discussions and criticism over WTT’s mandatory participation rule and whether it merely serves commercial interests instead of protecting athletes. Liu Guoliang (刘国梁), president of the Chinese Table Tennis Association (CTTA), said he would press World Table Tennis to revise its rules.
🏛️ Verdict in Handan Schoolboy Murder Case
A case in which a young boy from Feixiang County in Handan, Hebei, was murdered by three classmates shocked the nation in March 2024. The young boy, Wang Ziyao (王子耀), had suffered years of bullying before his three classmates, all 13 years old, killed and buried him. Wang had been missing for one day before his body was discovered buried in a greenhouse in a field near the home of one of the suspects. The case attracted major attention at the time, not just because of the cruel crime, but also due to its legal implications. Since an amendment to China’s Criminal Law in 2021, children between the ages of 12 and 14 can be held criminally responsible for extreme and cruel cases resulting in death or severe disability, if approved for prosecution by the Supreme People’s Procuratorate (SPP).
Now, the court verdict has been reported by Chinese media. Two of the male defendants were sentenced to life imprisonment, while the third defendant was not legally punished due to his minor role in the crime but was still placed under “special correctional education.” The verdict has triggered discussions on its implications and how it should now be clear to minors aged 12 and above, and their parents, that they cannot escape severe punishment for extreme crimes.
🎬 Li Mingde’s Livestream Permanently Banned
The young Chinese actor Li Mingde (李明德), also known as Marcus Li, has been the center of attention on Chinese social media recently due to the drama surrounding the production of the Chinese TV series The Triple Echo of Time (三人行). In a Weibo post published on the night of January 4, Li, a supporting actor in the series, accused co-star Ma Tianyu (马天宇), the male lead, of displaying diva behavior on set. He also complained about the harsh filming conditions, alleging that he was made to wait in freezing temperatures wearing nothing but a t-shirt.
The production team has since issued a statement denying Li’s claims and turned the tables, accusing Li of being unreasonable, negative, and frequently late or leaving early during filming. They also confirmed that they had officially terminated their collaboration with him.
Adding to the controversy, Li Mingde’s livestream channel was suddenly shut down on January 7, with Douyin permanently banning his account. The platform cited “deliberately stirring controversy to attract attention” as the reason for the ban, sparking widespread discussion online. Li, who has over 7.6 million followers on Weibo, continues to post updates at the time of writing. After Ma Tianyu suggested in a now-deleted post that Li might be suffering from a mental illness, Li refuted the claim and stated he plans to take legal action. It seems this drama is far from over.
What’s Noteworthy
Did you know that the final Guinness World Record of 2024 was set by Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com? Honestly, the record is so unusual that I initially struggled to understand what the achievement was: JD.com now holds the Guinness World Record for the world’s “largest object unveiled” in Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan, on December 29, 2024—a staggering 400.66 meters long.
Is it a rocket? A train? A cruise ship?
No, it’s actually a list of 173,583 authentic user comments—a 400-meter-long comment section reviewing the platform’s major home appliance products. JD.com, one of the leading players in China’s home goods and household appliances market, seems to have orchestrated this extravagant marketing stunt to emphasize its position as a trustworthy market leader with an alleged 98% satisfaction rate.
The 400+ meter list, via Digitaling.
As an online retailer, printing reviews and displaying them in an offline setting where virtually no one but Guinness World Records takes notice does seem wasteful. But here we are, talking about it—along with a trending hashtag (#24年最后一个吉尼斯纪录是京东的#), so I suppose the PR effort paid off.
What’s Popular
After the 2024 success of Her Story(好东西) directed by Shao Yihui (邵艺辉) YOLO (麻辣滚烫) by Jia Ling (贾玲), Like A Rolling Stone (出走的决心) by Yin Lichuan (尹丽川), we are now seeing another hit film by a female director, highlighting the growing prominence of female directors in Chinese cinema.
The hashtag for the new movie Little Me (小小的我) has received over a billion views on Weibo this week (#电影小小的我#), noting its popularity. The movie was directed by Yang Lina (杨荔钠), the female director also known for her film Song of Spring (妈妈), which tells the moving story of an 85-year-old mother caring for her 65-year-old daughter with Alzheimer’s disease.
Little Me again touches on profound themes as it tells the story of a young man suffering from cerebral palsy who nevertheless tries to find his own direction in life. The role is played by Jackson Yee (易烊千玺), the superstar with an enormous fanbase on social media. Although he is still known as the youngest member of the boyband TFboys, Yee has gone far beyond that and shows his talent and dedication as an actor in this film with a credible performance.
Although Jackson Yee’s standout performance in Little Me is praised across social media, some have also commented that the actor might be too good for the film. Qilu Evening News published a sharp movie review, noting that Yee’s performance creates a stark divide between his brilliance and the film’s otherwise mediocre quality. This disparity has led some viewers to comment that Little Me is “a dumpling made just for the vinegar” (“为了一碟醋包了一顿饺子”). Despite this criticism, the film is still scoring a 7.2 on the Douban platform, where it has been rated by over 164,000 people.
What’s Memorable
As we’re entering the second week of 2025, I’d still like to take this time to look back look back at 10 of the most popular stories on
What’s On Weibo of 2024 for this week’s archive lookback. From viral trends to shocking incidents, it was a tumultuous year with some moments that’ll be ingrained in China’s collective digital memory. 🧵👇
1️⃣🐱 When ‘Fat Cat’ Jumped into the Yangtze River | He invested all he had for a girl he’d met online. Then she broke up with him. The tragic story behind the suicide of a 21-year-old Chinese gamer nicknamed ‘Fat Cat’ (胖猫) became a major topic of discussion on Chinese social media in May of 2024, touching upon broader societal issues from unfair gender dynamics to businesses taking advantage of grieving internet users.
🔗
https://www.whatsonweibo.com/the-tragic-story-of-fat-cat-how-a-chinese-gamers-suicide-went-viral/
2️⃣✨ Chengdu Disney | How did a common park in Chengdu turn into a hotspot that got everyone talking? By mixing online trends with real-life fun, blending foreign styles with local charm, and adding humor and absurdity, Chengdu had the recipe for its very own ‘Chengdu Disney’ in 2024. Undeniably, the quirkiest trend of the year.
🔗
https://www.whatsonweibo.com/chengdu-disney-the-quirkiest-hotspot-in-china/
3️⃣💧 Nongfu and Nationalists | One of the most noteworthy online phenomena in China during 2024 was the big battle over bottled water after the death of Zong Qinghou (宗庆后), the founder and chairman of Wahaha Group (娃哈哈集团), the country’s largest beverage produce. What started as a support campaign for Wahaha morphed into a crusade against another major water brand, Nongfu Spring, led by online nationalists.
🔗
https://www.whatsonweibo.com/in-hot-water-the-nongfu-spring-controversy-explained/
4️⃣🔪 Beishan Park Stabbings | 2024 was, unfortunately, a year of many deadly mass attacks by individuals ‘taking revenge on society,’ from Zhuhai to Changde. One such incident that made headlines around the world was the June 10 stabbing at Beishan Park in Jilin, which left four American teachers injured, among others. While the story spread widely on X, it was initially kept under wraps on the Chinese internet. This article analyzes how the incident was reported, censored, and discussed on Weibo.
🔗
https://www.whatsonweibo.com/the-beishan-park-stabbings-how-the-story-unfolded-and-was-censored-on-weibo/
5️⃣🥇 Golden Olympics | The 2024 Paris Olympics were the talk of Chinese social media. Beyond the gold medal moments, there were plenty of happenings on the sidelines, at the venues, and on the award stage that went viral, sparking countless memes. From China’s cutest weightlifter to viral sensation Quan Hongchan, this top 10 list of meme-worthy moments was a favorite among readers.
🔗
Team China’s 10 Most Meme-Worthy Moments at the 2024 Paris Olympics
6️⃣🚗 Land Rover Woman | In 2024, ‘Land Rover Woman’ (路虎女) became the latest addition to the Chinese Lexicon of Viral Incidents. A female Land Rover driver sparked outrage among Chinese netizens with her entitled behavior, driving against traffic and reacting aggressively when confronted—even striking a Chinese veteran in the face. The incident highlighted widespread frustration with social class injustice, as many viewed it as reflecting existing power imbalances between the wealthy and the working-class.
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https://www.whatsonweibo.com/weibo-watch-the-land-rover-woman-controversy-explained/
7️⃣🧮 Controversial Math Genius Jiang Ping | It’s rare for a math competition to become the focus of nationwide attention in China. But when 17-year-old vocational school student Jiang Ping made it to the top 12 of Alibaba’s Global Math Competition, competing against contestants from prestigious universities worldwide, her humble background and outstanding achievement sparked debates and triggered rumors. She was called China’s version of Good Will Hunting, but her math story had a disappointing ending.
🔗
https://www.whatsonweibo.com/chinas-controversial-math-genius-jiang-ping/
8️⃣🇺🇸 Trump’s Triumph |The assassination attempt on former US President (now President-elect) Trump at a Pennsylvania campaign event in July 2024 became a major topic on Chinese social media. Trump’s swift reaction and defiant gesture after the shooting not only sparked widespread discussions but also fueled the “Comrade Trump” meme machine.
🔗
https://www.whatsonweibo.com/a-triumph-for-comrade-trump-chinese-social-media-reactions-to-trump-rally-shooting/
9️⃣📚 Crusade against Smut | A recent crackdown on Chinese authors writing erotic web novels sparked increased online discussions about the Haitang Literature ‘Flower Market’ subculture, the challenges faced by prominent online smut writers, and the evolving regulations surrounding digital erotica in China. But how serious is the “crime” of writing explicit fiction in China today? Ruixin Zhang explored this topic in an insightful and widely-read article, with a sad update.
🔗
https://www.whatsonweibo.com/the-price-of-writing-smut-inside-chinas-crackdown-on-erotic-fiction/
🔟🚴♂️ Cycling to Kaifeng | The term ‘yè qí‘ (夜骑), meaning “night ride,” suddenly became a buzzword on Chinese social media in late fall of 2024, as large groups of students from various schools and universities in Zhengzhou started cycling en masse to the neighboring city of Kaifeng on shared bicycles in the middle of the night. From city marketing to the spirit of China’s new generation, there are many themes behind their nightly cycling caravan, explained in this article, which also became one of the best-read pieces on What’s on Weibo this year:
🔗
https://www.whatsonweibo.com/the-cycling-to-kaifeng-trend-how-it-started-how-its-going/
This is an on-site version of the Weibo Watch newsletter by What’s on Weibo. Missed last week’s newsletter? Find it here. If you are already subscribed to What’s on Weibo but are not yet receiving this newsletter in your inbox, please contact us directly to let us know.
Newsletter
Weibo Watch: Christmas in China Is Everywhere and Nowhere
Christmas is an interesting time in China: here are some must-knows about this merry and military time of the year.
PREMIUM NEWSLETTER | ISSUE #41
This week’s newsletter:
◼︎ 1. Editor’s Note – Christmas in China: everywhere and nowhere
◼︎ 2. What’s New and Noteworthy – A closer look at featured stories
◼︎ 3. What’s Trending – Hot highlights
◼︎ 4. What’s Noteworthy – ‘It’s My Party’ book launch
◼︎ 6. What’s Popular – Goodbye, my lover
◼︎ 7. What’s Memorable – Santa Bao
◼︎ 8. Weibo Word of the Week – Scaring myself
Dear Reader,
Even before December arrived, malls, shops, and hotel lobbies across Chinese cities were already busy putting up Christmas decorations, ensuring that Christmas trees, snowmen, and reindeer would spread joy and festive season vibes.
Christmas seems to be everywhere in China-but nowhere at the same time. Throughout the years, Christmas has become more popular in China, but as a predominantly atheist country with a small proportion of Christians, the festival is far more about the commercial aspects of the holiday season—including shopping, promotions, decorations, and entertainment—than it is about the birth of Jesus Christ.
Christmas in China is generally perceived as a “foreign” or “Western” festival, and there have been ongoing concerns and social media discussions about whether the festivities associated with Christmas clash with traditional Chinese culture.
These dynamics make it clear that Christmas is an interesting time in China, so I’ll take this occasion to highlight some must-knows about Christmas in China.
1: In China, It’s Not Merry Christmas, but Military Christmas
Now that Christmas time is here, a different kind of message is emerging on Chinese social media, countering the festive spirit. Some recurring comments include:
•”It’s not Santa Claus who brings you a silent night—it’s Chinese soldiers! Salute to them!” (“给你带来平安的不是圣诞老人，而是中国军人! 致敬!”)
•”December 24 isn’t Silent Night; it’s the night of victory at the Chosin Reservoir.” (“12月24日不是平安夜，是长津湖战役胜利之夜。”)
•”China doesn’t celebrate Christmas! On our ‘Silent Night,’ we wrapped the U.S. military like dumplings!” (“中国人不过圣诞节！中国人的平安夜，包美军的饺子。”)
These statements reflect China’s complicated relationship with Christmas. Especially in recent years, Chinese state media and influential social media accounts have been promoting an alternative Christmas narrative, emphasizing that the peace and safety enjoyed in China today is not thanks to a Western “Father Christmas,” but rather the sacrifices and strength of China’s military forces.
The main argument propagated is that this time of year in China should not focus on Christmas or Santa Claus, but instead on commemorating the end of the Korean War and honoring the country’s soldiers.
In the context of the Korean War (1950-1953), December 24 marks the conclusion of the Second Phase Offensive (1950), which was launched by the Chinese People’s Volunteer Army against the United Nations Command forces–primarily U.S. and South Korean troops. The Chinese divisions’ surprise attack countered the ‘Home-by-Christmas’ campaign. This name stemmed from the UN forces’ belief that they would soon prevail, end the conflict, and be home well in time to celebrate Christmas. Instead, they were forced into retreat and the Chinese reclaimed most of North Korea by December 24, 1950.
Especially in recent years and in light of the launch of success of the blockbuster movie Battle at Lake Changjin and its sequel, there has been increased attention on the Chinese offensive at Chosin Reservoir. This battle has been framed as a decisive and glorious victory, turning the tide of the Korean War and reinforcing the military strength of the People’s Republic of China as a new global force to be reckoned with.
Various online posters posted on Weibo by various channels, reinforcing the message that China’s ‘Christmas’ should be about remembering the victory at the Chosin Reservoir.
This growing official narrative highlights the importance of this military history for Chinese national identity, offering a stark contrast to the traditionally Western themes of December 24. It underscores the message that this time in China should be about honoring the military, not celebrating imported festivities.
2: When Mao Canceled Christmas
A true communist wouldn’t celebrate Christmas, would they? To solve China’s ‘Christmas problem,’ all Christmas celebrations were canceled during the Cultural Revolution (1966–1976) under Mao Zedong as part of the fight against foreign influence and the complete abolishment of all religion and religious customs.
As described in Gerry Bowler’s book Christmas in the Crosshairs (2017), after Mao’s death in 1976 and the subsequent economic reforms under Deng Xiaoping, attitudes changed. A new consumer culture emerged and China began to open up to global influences, which included Western holidays like Christmas.
As Christmas slowly gained popularity in China, it took on a primarily secular and commercial identity. It first found its way into society in larger cities, such as Shanghai and Beijing, as businesses began incorporating a commercial Christmas theme into their winter promotions and activities. Foreign communities in China also contributed to the holiday’s visibility by organizing parties and events.
Foreign chains like Pizza Hut and Starbucks further added to the festive season. Many restaurants in larger cities began offering Christmas-themed menus featuring foods like cheese, baked bread, and chocolate. It soon became a tradition to see Christmas trees, Santa, and his reindeer at malls and shops.
Christmas in China is commercial and non-religious: shopping, food, and entertainment. Images posted on Weibo and Xiaohongshu.
But not everyone is happy about the growing popularity of this foreign holiday. Over the past ten to fifteen years, resistance to the further popularization of Christmas in China has increased.
For example, in December 2015, a group of Hunan high school students dressed in traditional Chinese clothing (hanfu) protested by holding red placards reading, “Boycott Christmas—don’t celebrate foreign festivals.”
In 2017, the city of Hengyang stirred controversy by ordering government officials and their families not to celebrate Christmas, calling it “spiritual opium.” Local authorities further warned Party members and officials they would face heavy fines for making or selling artificial snow.
At the time, Chinese state media suggested that although this was a local policy, it was part of a wider campaign against Christmas as people in other cities, including students and workers, had received a similar notices. Several media reported that some universities across China, including one in Shenyang, banned their students from celebrating Christmas.
This year, similar stories are emerging. One company in Dongying, Shandong, issued a notice this week strictly prohibiting employees from participating in Christmas-related activities. The notice reportedly stated that Christmas decorations were not allowed and that employees should not share any content related to “foreign holidays” on their social media (#山东一公司禁止员工过圣诞节#).
In this way, it seems that Mao’s ban on Christmas still resonates nearly five decades later.
3: China as the World’s Christmas Factory
There is some irony in the efforts to replace Christmas narratives with stories of China’s military victories, or in the broader resistance to the presence of Christmas in China—both in its religious and commercial forms.
Why? Because China, in fact, is the home of Christmas as we know it today. Whether it’s the decorations on your tree, the toys underneath it, or the stockings by the fireplace, chances are they’re all “Made in China.”
In the Organizing Christmas (2024), author Philip Hancock highlights China’s critical role in the global Christmas economy. In particular, the town of Yiwu, in eastern Zhejiang Province, produces about 60% of the world’s Christmas decorations. It’s essentially Santa’s workshop brought to life.
With Christmas being serious business for around 600 local factories operating year-round, Yiwu has become known as the “Christmas Capital of the World.” While countries with Christian traditions focus on the spiritual aspects of the holiday, China handles the industrial and logistical side of Christmas.
Hancock also notes that beyond China’s position as the preeminent global manufacturer and exporter of Christmas-related goods and ornaments, the festival has gained increasing entertainment appeal among Chinese consumers.
In an effort to capitalize on the popularity of Finland’s Santa Park among Chinese tourists, the city of Chengdu once planned to build the world’s largest Santa-themed park—a 13-square-kilometer attraction dedicated to Santa Claus and his workshops. However, due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and other factors, the plans were never realized. Still, as Hancock concludes, “the very fact that the project came so far attests to the popularity of Christmas in the country.”
Christmas may officially have no place in China, but in reality, it’s everywhere.
Lastly, in case you’re wondering: is it okay to sing Jingle Bells in China? Yes—but you might want to tweak the lyrics:
“Jī gōng bāo, jī gōng bāo, jīng guò wǒ de wèi”
(鸡公煲，鸡公煲，经过我的胃)
(“Chicken hot pot, chicken hot pot, passing through my stomach.”)
Sing it out loud and you’ll find it fits the tune perfectly and captures the fun (food-loving) spirit of Chinese Christmas! 😂
For those celebrating, I wish you a Merry Christmas. And for everyone, I hope these winter days bring you warmth and joy.🎄✨🌟🎄
I would like to thank Miranda Barnes and Ruixin Zhang for their contributions to this newsletter.
Warm greetings,
Manya Koetse
(@manyapan)
What’s New
The Disappearance of an MA Graduate | In this article, we explore the story that recently took Chinese social media by storm: the case of Ms. Bu, a once-promising Master’s graduate in Engineering, who was missing for 13.5 years. Her unexpected return brought an end to her family’s long and painful search but sparked the beginning of an online movement. Chinese netizens are not only demanding answers about how she could have remained missing for so long but are also seeking clarity regarding the puzzling inconsistencies in her story. Read on:
Her name is Bu Xiaohua | In this article, we delve deeper into the remarkable story Ms. Bu Xiaohua. Her case is more than just a mystery—it exposes systemic failures and sheds light on the vulnerabilities faced by women in rural China. Read more to unpack the key aspects of her story.
HPV case silenced | This case, also a major topic recently, has some connections to the Bu Xiaohua story. A 12-year-old girl from Shandong was diagnosed with HPV at a local hospital. When a doctor attempted to report the case, she faced resistance. Weibo users are now criticizing how the incident was handled.
What’s Trending
💥 What to Know about the Shenzhen Bay Explosion
The devastating explosion that occurred in a residential building in Shenzhen’s Nanshan District on December 11 has become a major topic of discussion on Chinese social media this month. The incident took place just after 14:30 on the 28th floor of Building 1 of Shenzhen Bay Yuefu Phase II (深圳湾悦府二期), affecting multiple surrounding floors. Shortly after the explosion and subsequent fire, videos and images of the scene began flooding Weibo. Some were particularly harrowing—one video showed a woman sitting on the window frame with flames raging behind her. Tragically, she fell to her death. By late afternoon, the fire was fully extinguished. The explosion is suspected to have been caused by a gas leak, as some neighbors reported smelling gas prior to the incident.
Much of the online discussion surrounding the explosion has focused on the lack of safety measures and the inadequate enforcement of fire safety regulations during construction. The fire occurred in a building located in an affluent area, known for its luxury apartments with sky-high prices—some of the larger units reportedly sold for over 59 million yuan (more than $8 million USD). Moreover, the building is relatively new, having been completed between 2015 and 2018. If such a high-end residential complex is not safe, then what is?
The company behind the construction, Huarun Real Estate Management Company (华润物业公司), stated that they would fully cooperate with relevant government departments to handle the aftermath, provide assistance and care to the affected residents, and “overcome the difficulties together with them” (#华润物业回应深圳高层爆炸事故#). “It’s all a bunch of nonsense!” one netizen responded.
🛂 China Further Relaxing Visa Policies
China is further relaxing its visa-free policies. Last Tuesday, official channels announced that eligible foreign travelers from 54 countries, including Russia, Brazil, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada, who transit through China en route to a third country or region are now allowed to stay in China allowed stay in China for up to 240 hours, or 10 days, instead of the previous 72 to 144 hours.
The move, intended to attract more international visitors, took effect immediately. China has continuously optimized its transit visa exemption policies since it first opened its doors to foreign travelers after its stringent Covid policies. Now, China has unilaterally exempted visa requirements for travelers from 38 countries, and they recently extended the visa-free stay duration from the current 15 days to 30 days, to remain in effect until December 31, 2025.
🗣️ Trump All Over
He hasn’t even moved into the White House yet, but Trump is already a trending topic on Weibo these days. Whether it’s about him saying he has “a warm spot for TikTok” after being asked about the potential ban on the app, claiming that “China and the United States can together solve all the problems of the world,” smilingly telling an audience that Musk will never become president, reigniting the debate over Greenland, or vowing that the US will only recognize two genders (#特朗普承诺美国将只承认两种性别#), Trump has once again become a favorite topic on Chinese social media. It almost feels like we’re back in 2016.
Although Trump is a laughingstock for some netizens, I’ve also noticed waves of support for him on Weibo, with some calling him “clear-headed,” “savage,” and praising his ability to always make a “surprising” move.
📚 Smut Writer Update
We wanted to provide some updates about the erotic content writers we discussed previously (read here), as their final sentencing results were announced recently.
One of the authors convicted is Yunjian (云间), one of the more prominent writers of these sexually explicit web novels. As reported by Lianhe Zaobao, she was sentenced to 4 years and 6 months in prison for profiting from illegal activities. Some authors who were unable to gather funds to return illicit gains faced even longer sentences. On Weibo, some people are outraged over the severity of the punishment, especially since Yunjian reportedly earned no more than 2 million RMB (~$275,000) over several years of publishing. However, there are also some who defend the state’s crackdown on online “obscenities,” arguing that distributing such explicit content is a serious crime.
One commenter on Weibo wrote:
“I don’t want to describe works filled with hope as ‘obscene materials’ (淫秽物品). I don’t want to define the hard-earned income from creative efforts as ‘illegal earnings’ (赃款). I don’t want to reduce the warm and joyful exchanges between readers and authors to the act of ‘distributing obscene materials’ (传播淫秽物品). This is the most degrading and evil form of humiliation.”
🇺🇸 New York Subway Incident
The shocking incident of the woman going up in flames in the New York subway while people passed by is being widely discussed on Weibo (#美国一男子在地铁把一女子点燃#, #纽约地铁一男子在睡觉女子身上纵火#, #美国男子向地铁车厢睡觉女子纵火#). Noteworthy enough, some of the top comments on the incident are more about (foreign) perceptions of China than about the US: “(…) If this happened in China, it would trend for a week,” “This level of apathy is truly terrifying,” and “If something like this happened in China, it would be criticized from multiple angles: the lack of subway security checks, gender issues, and the apathy of bystanders.”
In the past, there have been many incidents in China where horrific things happened without people stepping in—such as the 2011 Foshan toddler incident—leading to widespread reflection, especially in foreign media, on how China’s socio-cultural and historical circumstances contributed to such incredible social apathy. The New York incident, sadly, shows that the ‘bystander problem’ is universal. Perhaps this will become New York’s “Foshan moment,” reflecting on how society has gone this far, this cold.
What’s Noteworthy
Earlier this month, I attended the celebration for the publication of the book It’s My Party: Tat Ming Pair and the Postcolonial Politics of Popular Music in Hong Kong by Yiu Fai Chow, Jeroen de Kloet, and Leonie Schmidt. I’d like to share it with you because it offers a fascinating account of the legendary Cantopop electronic duo Tat Ming Pair (達明一派), one of the most influential and groundbreaking bands in Hong Kong’s 1980s music scene.
Over the past decade, the politically engaged duo—Anthony Wong Yiu Ming and Tats Lau Yee Tat—have faced increasing suppression of dissent in Hong Kong under Beijing’s growing influence. Anthony Wong, in particular, has been a vocal supporter of Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movements and an advocate for LGBTQ rights. His song “Memory Is a Crime,” commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square crackdown, exemplifies his commitment to challenging government suppression. However, spaces for critical voices in Hong Kong have been steadily shrinking. In 2019, all of Tat Ming Pair’s music was removed from Apple Music and other streaming platforms in mainland China. By January 2022, they were blacklisted by Hong Kong’s government-funded broadcaster RTHK, and their name is now censored on platforms like Weibo.
The book situates their music within the historical context of Hong Kong’s transition from British to Chinese rule, exploring how popular music can serve as a medium for cultural memory, resistance, and community building during times of political upheaval. While the hard copy of the book is priced at EUR 109.99, the digital version is available for free download via Springer here.
What’s Popular
Are you familiar yet with See You Again (再见爱人, literally: “Goodbye, Lover”)? It’s the Chinese reality show that EVERYBODY is talking about right now—each episode is sparking massive online discussions. If you’re looking for something to binge-watch this Christmas holiday, it’s available on YouTube with English subtitles (see link below).
Now in its fourth season, the show is produced by Mango TV (芒果TV) and follows three celebrity couples who are teetering on the edge of divorce. Through the course of the show, they attempt to reconcile with their partners by embarking on an 18-day journey—both figuratively, through honest discussions, and literally, by RV travel. Interestingly, the creators of the show drew inspiration from the movie Nomadland.
During this journey, the couples confront the issues that have been haunting their relationships, giving viewers a glimpse into their personal struggles. For instance, Liu Jishou (留几手) and Ge Xi (葛夕) candidly discussed their three-year lack of intimacy, a topic that quickly became a trending topic online.
Beyond the couples’ emotional trials and tribulations, this season has also caught viewers’ attention for the impeccable fashion choices displayed in the “observation room.” Panelists like Papi Jiang (Papi酱) and Pattie Hou (侯佩岑) have stood out for their simple yet chic and practical styles, providing plenty of inspiration for everyday wear. Their outfits have also become a goldmine for Taobao sellers, who are now promoting accessories like earrings and hats “similar to what’s worn in See You Again.”
What’s Memorable
Let’s remember how on Christmas Day 2018, Sina Weibo introduced a new festive emoticon based on Lei Bao (雷豹), the iconic character from the 1990s comedy film Hail the Judge (九品芝麻官). Played by actor Xu Jinjiang (徐锦江), Lei Bao’s red costume, white beard, and bushy eyebrows bear a resemblance to Santa Claus.
Weibo Word of the Week
I Scare Myself | Our Weibo phrase of the week is 自己吓自己 (zì jǐ xià zì jǐ), which translates to ‘scaring oneself.’
This popular catchphrase originates from a line in the recently released animated film The Mermaid’s Summer (美人鱼的夏天). The movie tells the story of Xiao Ai, a mermaid who transforms into a human and embarks on a series of misadventures far more challenging than she ever imagined.
Created by independent filmmaker Shen Xiaoyang (沈晓阳) from Xiamen, the film took over seven years to complete. Its first trailer debuted online in 2022, and the film premiered last month.
Despite the extended production time and a marketing campaign that built up expectations, public reception was underwhelming at best. The movie faced widespread ridicule for its awkward pacing and peculiar voice acting. Some critics went so far as to call it the “biggest joke in domestic animation of the year.”
The phrase 自己吓自己 (zì jǐ xià zì jǐ) comes from an unintentionally comedic scene in the movie. In the scene, Xiao Ai walks by the water when a sudden gust of wind causes her to sense danger coming from nearby bushes. She nervously brushes it off, saying the now-iconic line, “啊呵呵呵自己吓自己” (“Ah-hehe~ hehe~ scaring myself”) in a lifeless tone—only to be ambushed moments later and thrown into the river by a mysterious man in black.
This moment became an instant hit on platforms like Douyin, Xiaohongshu, and Bilibili and catapulted the phrase into meme territory as a moment of abract humor, inspiring countless parodies and spin-offs. Even well-known influencers, such as the “City Bu City” guy Paul Mike Ashton, reenacted the scene on social media. To date, there are hundreds of reinterpretations, including dialect versions, pet reenactments, and everyday life parodies.
Parodies on Xiaohongshu.
‘I scared myself’ has gone beyond the animated movie scene, it’s now a funnily ‘non-dramatic dramatic’ way to react to unexpected events in your surroundings.
Amid the criticism surrounding the film, Shen Xiaoyang has reportedly withdrawn from all social media platforms. However, there’s a silver lining: the viral fame of the phrase has brought the flopped film renewed attention and modest box office gains.
This is an on-site version of the Weibo Watch newsletter by What’s on Weibo. Missed last week’s newsletter? Find it here. If you are already subscribed to What’s on Weibo but are not yet receiving this newsletter in your inbox, please contact us directly to let us know.
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