1. “Wild Child” from Yunnan Sparks Concern and Investigation

Screenshots circulating on Chinese social media showing the “wild child” in Yunnan.

A tragic and widely discussed story from Yunnan has been trending on Weibo this week, centering on a 3-year-old boy from Nanjian County who was spotted near a highway service area — naked, neglected, and walking on all fours. Online videos led Chinese netizens to dub him the “feral child.”

There have been conflicting media reports on the case over the past few days. From The First Scene (@第一现场) to Shanghai Reporter (上观新闻) some claimed the child’s parents are impoverished and jobless while others reported the father and mother are actually highly educated and do have resources, but that the choice to raise their child like this is related to lifestyle philosophy. The parents reportedly insisted that the child used to suffer from eczema and found clothes irritating and painful, so “he doesn’t like wearing clothes.”

One thing that local villagers quoted in these reports agree on is that the situation is “not normal.” The child, who never wears clothing, allegedly mimics animal behavior and refuses to eat from his hands — preferring to eat food off the ground. Locals previously already villagers reported the situation to the police.

Authorities in Nanjian County have announced the creation of a special task force to investigate this case. Officials said no signs of human trafficking were found, and that the parents are currently outside Yunnan Province. According to Beijing Youth Daily, The child and his parents are now under supervision, although it is not clear what this actually means – since other sources say the parents are not willing to cooperate. They also have another boy, who is currently one year old. Authorities have also investigating whether the parents’ behavior constitutes a crime.

Manya’s Take:
The “wild child” story brings back memories of the Xuzhou mother of eight. That heartbreaking case also gained national attention after netizens shared a video showing a woman chained up in a shed next to her family home. The chaotic media coverage of that case mirrors what we’re seeing now: media outlets are quick to jump on the story, while local authorities — feeling public anger and pressure — rush to investigate, resulting in conflicting reports, rumors, and fake news. Both situations involve rural counties that would otherwise hardly ever make headlines, with local authorities often unequipped to handle such crises quickly. Hopefully, there will be a clearer update on this story soon.

2. China Responds to Trump’s Remarks on Soybean Trade and Cooking Oil

Soybeans have been trending this week. As China is boycotting American soybeans – the fourth most sold agricultural product from the country – farmers in the US are facing uncertain times, as it’s harvesting season and the biggest purchaser of soybean exports is China.

On Tuesday, Trump wrote on Truth Social that China was “deliberately halting U.S. soybean imports,” calling it an “economically hostile act.” He also threatened to terminate business with China regarding cooking oil and other areas of trade as retribution.

On Chinese social media, people seemed unimpressed. The term TACO is also seen more often, a popular abbreviation for “Trump Always Chickens Out.” The Foreign Ministry dismissed Trump’s claims as “unfounded” and emphasized China’s commitment to normal trade relations. On Weibo, commentator Hu Xijin wrote: “Haha, so he [Trump] slaps tariffs on China and blocks chip exports and that’s not considered ‘hostile’? But when China doesn’t buy soybeans, suddenly it is? What kind of logic is that!”

Manya’s Take:
Chinese netizens are treating this latest trade exchange with irony rather than outrage, not only viewing it as a sign of US inconsistency on trade but also there’s some banter about the ‘cooking oil’ threat: when the US side talks about banning imports of “Chinese cooking oil” many assume they meant edible oil (食用油), while what the US actually imports from China is used cooking oil (UCO, 废食用油/地沟油) — waste oil that’s recycled to make biofuels. So the joke is that even Trump himself is seemingly mixing up cooking oil and used cooking oil, moreover threatening a ban that would hurt itself more than China, turning this trade spat into a moment of internet humor.

3. Nanjing Deji Plaza Faces Backlash Over VIP-Only Restrooms

The exclusive members-only restroom at Nanjing’s Deji Plaza.

Nanjing’s luxury shopping mall Deji Plaza (德基广场) has sparked controversy after introducing members-only restrooms accessible exclusively to VIP members (天象会员) who spend over 200,000 yuan ($28,000) annually. Access requires scanning a Deji membership QR code.

Beyond offering peace and privacy, the restrooms feature Tom Ford vanity sets, Jo Malone handwash, and Dyson hairdryers. One Xiaohongshu blogger (and VIP member) noted, “The maintenance cost here is ten times that of a regular restroom.”

After news of the VIP restrooms went viral, it fueled debate about turning ‘a basic human need’ into a ‘class privilege’ or “privatizing a public facility.” One user commented, “Now even restrooms have to reflect the wealth gap?”

Despite the criticism, curiosity grew — many users purchased “code-scanning services” on secondhand platforms to gain access, quickly undermining the restroom’s exclusivity. In response to the controversy, Deji Plaza stated that the members-only restrooms would soon be dismantled and converted into a regular public facility. Regardless, and despite the backlash, the initiative seems to have been fruitful in terms of brand name recognition, as it got everyone talking about Deji Plaza.

Manya’s Take:
There’s some irony in this story: there’s controversy over a mall toilet being “VIP,” yet at the same time, it’s the exclusivity that makes people want to try it. According to the latest posts on Xiaohongshu (XHS) by Deji Mall visitors, the VIP toilets are already gone, and people are back to complaining about the restrooms being too crowded and dirty. One XHS commenter (西蒙吴) had the best take on the issue: in a time when Chinese media are working to downplay the country’s wealth gap and ease public resentment, Deji Mall made the right move by dismantling the card-access VIP toilets — if not for the pressure of online public opinion, authorities might have stepped in themselves. It was an unwise move simply because it was all about a toilet: unlike VIP waiting areas or service counters, consumers don’t like restrooms being divided by class. A smarter approach would have been to create a VIP lounge that just happens to include a restroom.

4. Arc’teryx Responds to Tibet Fireworks Show Environmental Damage Investigation

The controversial fireworks show held in Tibet on September 19.

This is a topic that has sparked outrage and continued discussion in China over the past weeks. On September 19, a major fireworks event was held at an altitude of around 5,500 m or 18,000 feet in Tibet’s Himalayas, created by famous Chinese artist Cai Guoqiang (蔡国强) and sponsored by the outdoor brand Arc’teryx.

The 52-second show, titled “Ascending Dragon” (升龙) was supposed to impress people for its spectacular and colorful use of 1,050 fireworks, but it triggered outrage instead: critics blasted it as tone-deaf commercialization and ecological abuse of sacred and fragile land, and soon an investigation was launched.

Now, the outcome of that investigation has also become a major talking point as it revealed disturbance to local wildlife and caused significant environmental damage of over 30 hectares of grassland.

Cai Guoqiang and his studio will be held legally accountable for environmental damage, and Arc’teryx, as a sponsor of the event, will also bear legal responsibilities. Furthermore, the relevant county officials who had initially approved the show without going through the proper channels are also punished: Party Secretary Chen Hao (陈浩) has been dismissed, and nine other county officials received formal penalties ranging from removal to warnings.

Manya’s Take:
A lot has already been said and written about this controversy. What it comes down to, in the public perception in China, is that the high ambitions and personal goals of the artist and the Arc’teryx brand — which built its image around environmental responsibility and authentic outdoor culture — were pursued at the expense of Tibet’s fragile environment and marginalized communities. Their so-called “dreamlike” event left lasting scars for a fleeting 52-second spectacle. More than just serving as a warning for brands to ensure their actions align with their “eco-friendly” promises, this entire case will undoubtedly go down in history as a moment of awareness — a case study for future art events and large-scale performances in nature in China — on what not to do, and on how to balance spectacle with responsibility.

5. Nobel Laureate Yang Chen-ning Passes Away at 103

Yang Chen-ning passed at the age of 103.

The death of the renowned Chinese theoretical physicist Yang Zhenning (杨振宁, 1922), also known internationally as Chen-Ning Yang, China’s first Nobel laureate in physics, has been trending across Weibo, Douyin, Zhihu, and Toutiao in recent days. Yang passed away in Beijing on October 18, 2025, at the age of 103, just weeks after celebrating his birthday on October 1.

On social media, Yang is remembered as a legendary physicist who devoted his life to science and truth. He shared the 1957 Nobel Prize in Physics with Li Zhengdao (李政道) for discovering parity violation in weak interactions, and co-developed the Yang–Mills theory with Robert Mills in 1954, a cornerstone of modern particle physics.

Many online tributes also recall Yang’s lifelong friendship with nuclear physicist Deng Jiaxian (邓稼先, 1924–1986). The two met in middle school and went on to become giants of Chinese science. Yang’s wife, Weng Fan (翁帆), has also become part of the online remembrances. Over 50 years his junior, she met Yang while she was a student; they married when she was 28 and he was 82. Her tribute to Yang, expressing gratitude for having shared his company for many years, has received over 140 million views on Weibo.

Manya’s Take:
There is certainly a strong sense of national pride in the accomplishments of Yang Chen-Ning, but on social media, much of the attention also centers on his relationship with his wife, who was 54 years younger. Many see Yang’s passing as a moment of reflection — was she there for the money and fame, or for love? Opinions are divided, but the fact remains that the two were married for over twenty years, and she stayed by his side throughout. Some argue that Yang was simply so extraordinary, in both mind and body, that he naturally connected with younger people — and they with him. Others say their love was “timeless,” that true soulmates (灵魂伴侣) do not see age. Either way, it’s clear that 2025 netizens aren’t all cynics — there are quite a few romantics out there.

1. Jingdezhen’s “Chicken Chop Bro” Becomes Nationwide Meme

From Beijing to Zibo, every now and then, food stall vendors go viral — for their charm, their uniqueness, and most of all, their tasty food. The star of this moment is 48-year-old Li Junyong (李俊永), who runs a small fried chicken stall in Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province, with tight rules on who he serves, when, and how.

Li has suddenly become one of the most trending people on Chinese social media under the nickname “Chicken Chop Brother” (鸡排哥 jīpáigē).

Li initially gained popularity among customers for his frantic, multitasking energy — he doesn’t mess around when it comes to his chicken chop business, with superspeed and a clear order of serving customers (“I’ll first do you, then finish yours, then I’ll serve you 做完你的做你的”) and rules such as: no individual customers after 4:30 PM; students pay 1 yuan (about $0.15) less than regular passersby (after 12:00 PM, however, it costs 1 yuan more as punishment for being indecisive); and customers must open the plastic bag themselves before he puts the hot chicken cutlet inside.

The serious way he goes about dealing with his chicken chops almost makes you think he was making big business deals instead of selling to middle school students. In the end, it’s that attitude that gained him social media fame, as students started referring to him as “Head of Chicken Cutlet Operations” (free translation for 鸡排主理人 Jīpái gē Zhǔlǐrén).

Head of Chicken Chop Operations: “Please open your plastic bag”, “No individual customers after 4:30 PM”, etc.

In light of Li’s explosive popularity, his chicken chop stall now sees extremely long queues, and local authorities and city management have had to intervene in order to control the crowds and keep the location safe.

There are definite downsides to such sudden fame, and Li is not the first street vendor this has happened to.

In 2023, for example, Beijing’s ‘Auntie Goose Legs’ (鹅腿阿姨) went viral, and the food stall owner became so overwhelmed that she temporarily had to take a break from her food stall, emotionally sharing how she said she felt too much pressure because of how the situation was unfolding, and that she just wanted to sell her goose legs in peace (“只想平平安安做烧烤”).

Long lines for Auntie’s goose legs.

It seems that “Brother Chicken Chops”, in line with his reputation as the chicken chop CEO, is trying to turn his viral moment into a sustainable business. According to Sina News, Li has drawn in relatives to help him. He reportedly has taught them how to make and sell his tasty fried chicken chops, and now his Chicken Chop Family (“鸡排家族”) has grown to a total of nine stalls.

Over the past week, Li has also joined several social media platforms, including Xiaohongshu, to build a social following that will last after the hype calms down.

Meanwhile, Li is the meme of the moment. As many Chinese workers experience working stress before the National Day holiday, they’ve used his superspeed working style videos to express the pressure they feel to finish all their deadlines. See videos here.

2. China’s 2025 Golden Week Travel Trends

China’s longest holiday of 2025 is coming up, combining National Day (国庆节) and Mid-Autumn Festival (中秋节) into an eight-day Golden Week from October 1–8. If you’re traveling in China this week, good luck — the country’s transportation infrastructure is being pushed to its operational limits.

On September 30, the first “smart people” who opted to leave early to avoid traffic jams already found themselves stuck in them. China’s Ministry of Transport estimates a staggering 2.36 billion trips will be made during this period, with October 1 expected to see over 340 million travelers — surpassing the historical peak of 339 million recorded during Spring Festival earlier this year.

🔸 This week is going to see a lot of events. According to the Ministry of Culture & Tourism, more than 12,000 cultural activities will be held across China during the eight-day holiday period, including over 300 large-scale light shows.

🔸 Chinese local tourism offices are going all in on city marketing and are finding new strategies to make themselves more appealing to young travelers. Chengdu, for example, as Tencent’s gaming hub, is integrating the 10th anniversary of the super popular mobile game Honor of Kings (王者荣耀, Wángzhě Róngyào) into its cultural tourism strategy this year, organizing game-themed city walks, exhibitions, and more.

🔸 China’s travel platform Trip.com reported that interprovincial travel bookings have surged 45% year-on-year, with particularly strong interest in remote destinations like Xinjiang, Tibet, and Inner Mongolia. Searches for hotels in these regions jumped 60% compared to last year. This reflects a shift among middle-class Chinese tourists toward experiential travel and natural landscapes rather than crowded urban attractions.

🔸 The holidays are a time for relaxation, reunions, and eating mooncakes, but it’s also a stressful time for Chinese employers who must comply with labor regulations while managing workforce availability and overtime obligations. Under China’s Labor Law, employees working on statutory public holidays—October 1–3 and October 6 (the official Mid-Autumn Festival date)—must receive at least 300% of their normal daily wage. For adjusted rest days (October 4–5 and October 7–8), employers must provide either 200% overtime pay or compensatory time off. The State Council designated September 28 (Sunday) and October 11 (Saturday) as make-up workdays, but private companies have flexibility to adjust their own schedules.

3. China Faces Unprecedented Donkey Shortage Crisis

[#我国正面临缺驴危机#] [#中国当前不缺牛马只缺驴#]

China is facing a serious donkey shortage. China’s donkey population is far below market demand, and the prices of donkey-related products continue to rise. The Donkey Branch of China’s Livestock Association (中国畜牧业协会驴业分会) addressed this issue in Chinese media earlier last week, telling China News Weekly (中国新闻周刊): “We have plenty of cattle and horses in China now — just not enough donkeys” (“目前我国牛马都不缺，就缺驴”).

Read this entire story here.

4. “Ride-hailing for Relatives” 亲属打车 Qīnshǔ Dǎchē

Tencent has rolled out a new function via WeChat Mini Programs on September 26, aimed at helping seniors who struggle with app-based ride-hailing. Thanks to the new function, now live nationwide, users can order rides on behalf of older relatives directly in WeChat.

Adult children who want to help out their less tech-savvy (grand)parents or other senior relatives can now bind their account to their own, remotely pre-set pickup and drop-off locations, as well as payment methods, and track their journey for safety.

What makes this different from the possibility of just ordering a ride for someone else is that the seniors stay in control to some extent and can see their own journeys on their own phones. Children can configure settings on their side, while the interface for the elderly users is simplified. This allows seniors to ride independently, with a little help from their family.

The move is part of a broader effort in China to make it easier for seniors to stay involved in the digitalization of society.

The word to know is 亲属打车 qīnshǔ dǎchē, consisting of “亲属” qīnshǔ (relatives) and ride-hailing 打车 dǎchē.

By Manya Koetse

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