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Weibo Watch: Burning BMWs
About Qingming, nitpicking, Oppenheimer in Japan, other trends, and how we’re all burning BMWs in our own different ways.
PREMIUM NEWSLETTER | ISSUE #26
This week’s newsletter:
◼︎ 1. Editor’s Note – Burning BMWs
◼︎ 2. What’s Been Trending – A closer look at the featured stories
◼︎ 3. What More to Know – Five bit-sized trends
◼︎ 4. What’s the Drama – Top TV to watch
◼︎ 5. What’s Noteworthy – For Yiwu, the Olympic Games have begun
◼︎ 6. What’s Popular – A Chinese song goes viral on TikTok
◼︎ 7. What’s Memorable – Which language does Ma Ying-jeou speak?
◼︎ 8. Weibo Word of the Week – Nitpicking
Dear Reader,
Expensive watches, cigarettes, jewelry, and liquor – there’s a wide array of offerings for ancestors beyond ‘ghost money’ and food. This week marks China’s Qingming Festival (清明节), also known as Tomb-Sweeping Day, a special time to honor family ancestors by visiting graves, making offerings, and burning spirit money and other paper tributes.
In this age of e-commerce, the ancient ritual of paper offerings has undergone some changes, becoming more diverse and extravagant. Thanks to platforms like Taobao, people now have instant access to a variety of ritual paper gifts. By burning them, it’s believed these offerings are sent to the afterlife, hopefully pleasing the ancestors.
As symbols of power and status evolve, gold and silver paper alone are no longer enough in the 21st century. Nowadays, one can purchase paper replicas of golden credit cards, iPhones, smartwatches, massage chairs, designer bags, rice cookers, furniture, air conditioners, refrigerators, bodyguard ‘puppets,’ and even BMW cars.
Examples of the various paper offerings available on Taobao: red BMW car, tablets & smartphones, air conditioner, luxury watches, creditcard, massage chair.
Some take it a step further and create entire paper replicas of two-story villas or palaces to honor their ancestors (see video). As many cities already grapple with air quality issues and smog, these customs have sparked discussions for years, with some places prohibiting burning incense and paper during Qingming.
People set up entire paper replicas of two-story villas to honor their ancestors (image circulating on Weibo).
This year, there’s been increased debate surrounding the burning of paper offerings during Qingming. Authorities in Jiangsu’s Nantong, one of China’s fastest-aging cities, recently announced a city-wide ban on the production and sales of paper effigies due to concerns over air pollution and fire safety risks.
The ban has sparked discussions across Chinese social media, particularly because Nantong authorities referred to the custom of burning paper as “feudal superstition” (“封建迷信”).
In China, the practice of making paper replicas of worldly items and ‘sending’ them to deceased family members through fire and smoke is at least a thousand years old. It’s a spiritual aspect of daily life that has become more than tradition alone – it’s deeply ingrained in many families’ lives.1
Image by The Paper, 2015: link.
The numerous comments on Weibo this week underscore how significant this topic is for many people. Some threads received over 179,000 likes and over 11,000 replies.
Although opinions vary, it’s evident that most people feel Nantong’s ban was too stringent and that they should be more cautious about banning centuries-old traditions. Some sarcastic comments suggest if they care so much about safety, they should focus more on food regulations instead.
Others note that the city has many Christian churches where people can honor their religion as they please, and that Chinese traditional folk beliefs should not be diminished or looked down upon compared to these Western-based religions.
The popular Weibo account “Xu Ji Observation” (@徐记观察), known for promoting positive online content and the “mass line,” suggested that while the practice of burning entire paper houses reaching two stories high should be abandoned, there should still be room for people to burn smaller paper offerings. There shouldn’t be a “one-size-fits-all approach,” they wrote.
Every year, hundreds of tons of paper are burned in Chinese cities. Besides the billions of yuan spent on paper itself, there are also considerable costs in terms of time and labor to clean up the ash piles.
Ultimately, the question revolves around what is considered ‘extravagant,’ ‘silly,’ or ‘superstitious,’ and where the line is drawn between tradition and absurdity. Some draw the line at anything taller than one story. Others believe anything beyond paper money alone is unnecessarily harmful to the environment, and everyone burning paper items should consider the negative impact.
What’s striking about these discussions is that while they focus on things literally going up in smoke, they also reflect on the world around us. After all, when people are driving around in huge SUVs, consuming plastics, wasting water, constantly buying new gadgets and laptops, and indulging in fast fashion, it seems odd to fuss over sacrificing a paper car for a beloved grandparent. In the end, we’re all burning BMWs in our own different ways. These discussions about where we draw the line, whether in our current world or in our rituals for the afterlife, will only become more prominent over time.
Despite all the discussions and controversy surrounding this Qingming festival, Nantong’s ban has been upheld. Officials argue that instead of elaborate paper items like puppets, purses, and palaces, ancestors would be just as pleased with flowers on their graves. Though less flashy, it’s much better for the environment.
Best,
Manya (@manyapan)
What’s Been Trending
1: China’s New City Marketing | Since the early post-pandemic days, Chinese cities have stepped up their game to attract more tourists. The dynamics of Chinese social media make it possible for smaller, lesser-known destinations to gain overnight fame as a ‘celebrity city.’ Now, it’s Tianshui’s turn to shine with its special take on malatang. City marketing in China will never be the same again. Read all about it here👇🏼
2: Micro Drama, Major Profit | Closely intertwined with the Chinese social media landscape and the fast-paced online entertainment scene, micro dramas have emerged as an immensely popular way to enjoy dramas in bite-sized portions. With their short-format style, these dramas have become big business, leading Chinese production studios to compete and rush to create the next ‘mini’ hit.
3: Bolt from the Blue | Two years after the tragic crash of MU5735, a new report on the ongoing investigation into the cause of the plane crash has been released. According to China’s Civil Aviation Administration, the report has found “no abnormalities” in the circumstances surrounding the MU5735 incident. Even after two years since the plane nosedived mid-air, people are still awaiting clear answers on what caused the devastating crash in Guangxi, which claimed the lives of all 132 people on board.
What More to Know
◼︎ ⛑️ Taiwan Earthquake | After the 7.3-magnitude earthquake struck the east coast of Taiwan on April 3, expressions of solidarity and support for “our Taiwan compatriots” flooded Chinese social media. However, amidst these sentiments, there were also instances of people mocking the disaster, which claimed the lives of at least 9 people and left over 1000 injured. Weibo management cautioned users against posting content that “lacked empathy” in the wake of the devastating earthquake. Following the quake, Beijing’s Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council promptly offered disaster assistance, but Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council declined, stating that assistance was unnecessary. However, the decision by the Taipei government to accept Japan’s aid, specifically for using hi-tech equipment to detect signs of life, was criticized by netizens. Some nationalistic bloggers even commented that this would be an opportune time to “reunify with the motherland.”
◼︎ 😢 Ma Ying-Jeou’s ‘Voyage of Trust’ | At the invitation of Beijing, former Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou is currently visiting the Chinese mainland. His 11-day trip to China began last Monday. It is anticipated that he will also hold a meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping next week. Accompanying Ma on this visit is a group of Taiwanese students, and the focus is on cultural exchange, labeled as ‘a voyage of trust.’ Last year, Ma made history as the first former Taiwanese leader to visit China. Given the escalating tensions over Taiwan’s status, his current visit holds particular significance. Serving as president from 2008 to 2016, Ma emphasizes peace and connectivity, according to his own statements. On Chinese social media, there’s much discussion about Ma’s tendency to become emotional quickly. He shed tears last year while visiting his family’s grave in Hunan, and this year, he displayed his emotional side on multiple occasions once again. Some people believe it’s inappropriate for a (former) leader to be so emotionally expressive. As one Weibo blogger questioned, “Ma Ying-jeou cries from dawn till night, from night till dawn. Can crying bring about the reunification with Taiwan?”
◼︎ 🥀 Chongqing Mother Kills Toddler Son | A video circulating on Chinese social media this week has shocked viewers, depicting a 37-year-old mother throwing her 3-year-old son out of a window from a 22nd-floor apartment in Chongqing’s Banan District. The tragic incident occurred on the morning of April 1st. Police reports indicate that prior to this, the woman also attacked her mother-in-law with a knife. While investigations are ongoing, there is speculation online regarding the mother’s mental state. Commentator Hu Xijin emphasized in a recent column the urgent need for increased awareness and support for mental health issues, stressing that it could be a matter of life or death. This case also evokes memories of the “Chongqing Siblings’ Falling Case” (重庆姐弟坠亡案) in 2020, where two siblings (a girl, 2, and a boy, 1) from Chongqing were killed after being thrown from a high-rise apartment window on the 15th floor. Their father and his girlfriend, who allegedly couldn’t accept the children from his previous marriage, were both sentenced to death for their crime and executed on January 31st of this year by lethal injection.
◼︎ 🎬 Oppenheimer in Japan | Japanese filmgoers’ mixed and emotional reactions to the American Oscar-winning movie “Oppenheimer” sparked discussions on Chinese social media this week. The movie finally hit Japanese cinemas on March 29, eight months after its initial premiere, which drew controversy in Japan due to the humorous marketing of the film alongside the release of Barbie (which led to the creation of the ‘Barbenheimer’ meme). The movie centers around the American ‘father of the atom bomb,’ Oppenheimer, and the events leading to the devastating bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It has faced criticism in Japan for being America-centric and failing to fully depict the horror of nuclear weapons. Chinese netizens showed little understanding for the mixed feelings about the movie in Japan. With the history of the Sino-Japanese War still very much alive in China today, some people wonder why many Japanese people do not have “mixed feelings” about paying respect to the war dead at the Tokyo Yasukuni Shrine. “They’re playing the victim again,” various commenters wrote. (For Dutch-speaking readers, I discussed this topic on Dutch Radio 1; listen to the interview here.)
◼︎ 🇺🇸 Yellen Again | U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is visiting China for the second time since summer this week, from April 4th to 9th. Yellen’s itinerary includes meetings with top Chinese officials in both Guangzhou and Beijing, aiming to address ongoing bilateral tensions and manage trade relations between the two countries. Apart from engagements with officials, Yellen will also meet with students and business leaders during her visit. This trip follows a recent phone call between President Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping. While many social media discussions focus on the key topics of Yellen’s visit, there is also curiosity among netizens about whether or not she will eat ‘magic mushrooms’ again during this trip. At the time of Yellen’s last visit in 2023, she went viral for dining at a Yunnan restaurant in Beijing, where she was served mushrooms that had hallucinogenic properties (read here).
What’s the Drama
Given the current surge in popularity of Chinese short dramas, let’s introduce you to one of the hottest mini series of the moment: “Fortune Writer” (执笔, zhíbǐ) [“Writing”]. It’s a fantasy costume drama centered around Su Yunqi (苏云绮), who discovers she’s the villainous female lead in a novel—no happy endings for her. Unwilling to accept her fate, Su embarks on a mission to rewrite her life. Released on March 20, this short drama has a total of 24 episodes lasting about 15 minutes each—slightly longer than other popular ‘micro-dramas,’ some of which are only 2-3 minutes per episode nowadays.
Noteworthy:
▶️ This drama’s script is adapted from a series of stories shared on Zhihu’s short story platform, Yanyan Gushi (知乎盐言故事), by the author Lin Yannian (林言年), who also directed the drama.
▶️ In addition to the micro-drama and short story, there is also a podcast available, so fans of this series can enjoy reading, watching, and listening.
▶️ The widespread acclaim for “Fortune Writer” is seen as a sign that the Yanyan Gushi short story app might just be the next goldmine for the Chinese drama and film industry, as short story dramatization is becoming increasingly popular. To date, nearly a hundred stories or series published on Yanyan Gushi have been authorized for film and television adaptations.
You can watch Fortune Writer online here (no English subtitles), or on WeTV here with English subtitles.
What’s Noteworthy
The countdown to the Summer Olympic Games in Paris has begun. Even though we still have some 112 days to go before July 26, there is one city in China that is already fully immersed in the Olympic atmosphere. That city is Yiwu in Zhejiang province, where local companies have already exported $76 million worth of Olympic-related products to France within an eight-week timeframe. From shirts, scarves, and caps for sports fans to trophies and medals for athletes, Yiwu is manufacturing a diverse array of clothing, fan accessories, and other Olympic merchandise. Local businesses are currently operating at full capacity, with many working overtime to fulfill orders.
Yiwu, Zhejiang, is renowned as China’s largest “small commodities city” and, with its expansive International Trade City, serves as the global hub for Christmas merchandise. Following a report by CCTV on Yiwu’s soaring Olympic-related export sales, netizens have expressed pride in Yiwu’s entrepreneurial spirit: “I really admire the people of Yiwu for how fast they are in seizing business opportunities. Time and time again, they make accurate predictions and receive massive orders. Regardless of where the Olympics are held, it’s always Yiwu laughing all the way to the bank!” Others remarked, “We’re an export country, after all.”
What’s Popular
If you’re an avid TikTok user, you’ve likely come across numerous videos of users lip-syncing to a Chinese song. The song, titled “This Life’s Fate” (今生缘), has evolved into a social media challenge where TikTokers strive to deliver a flawless performance without necessarily understanding its meaning (watch video here). If you’re curious to learn more about the song behind this trend and what it actually means, continue reading here 👇.
What’s Memorable
This pick from our archive takes us back to last year’s trip to the mainland by former Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou. One aspect of his trip received relatively little attention in the media, even though it generated some buzz among Chinese netizens: Ma’s way of speaking Chinese. What language did he use during his 10-minute speech at Hunan University and while he was paying repects at the graves of his ancestors? Jin Luo explains.👇
Weibo Word of the Week
“Flashlight Evaluation” | Our Weibo Word of the Week is “Flashlight Damage Assessment” or “Portable Lamp Property” (tídēng dìngsǔn 提灯定损), shortened to “Flashlight Evaluation”, a term recently coined by Chinese netizens in response to a story where a landlord conducted a post-lease property inspection by carrying around a large lamp, meticulously shining it into every corner and inspecting every inch of the apartment.
In this context, “Flashlight Evaluation” actually means ‘nitpicking’.
The incident that gave rise to this term went viral on March 28, 2024, after a woman from Shangrao’s Yushan County posted a 10-minute video depicting her landlord inspecting the apartment for damage using a large portable lamp as she prepared to move out. After scrutinizing the property, which the landlord himself constructed, he reportedly compiled a list of all the (minor) damages he found and demanded over 10,000 yuan ($1380) in compensation from the tenant – a substantial sum, particularly considering the monthly rent was only 1200 yuan ($165) and the tenant resided there for just 22 days.
Following the incident’s online explosion, local authorities in Yushan County established an investigation team to probe the matter. According to the latest reports, the landlord has now refunded the tenant’s money. On top of that, he has been detained for throwing bricks at people. I bet he’s fun at parties.
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.
Featured
Weibo Watch: The Land Rover Woman Controversy Explained
‘Land Rover Woman’ is more than just the Chinese equivalent of the American ‘Karen’ meme. Understand why this viral story is shaking things up, and read about the trending topics that matter this week.
PREMIUM NEWSLETTER | ISSUE #36
This week’s newsletter:
◼︎ 1. Editor’s Note – Landrover Woman Controversy
◼︎ 2. What’s New and Noteworthy – A closer look at featured stories
◼︎ 3. What’s Trending – Hot highlights
◼︎ 4. What’s Noteworthy – South Korean women ask for help on Weibo
◼︎ 6. What’s Popular – The contagious success of Black Myth: Wukong
◼︎ 7. What’s Memorable – Train Tyrant Woman
◼︎ 8. Weibo Word of the Week – Armless Flying Fish
Dear Reader,
One can become a meme overnight. There are many people who could tell you all about it, from the Subway Judge to the Train Tyrant. This week, it’s ‘Land Rover Woman’ who has become the latest addition to the Chinese Lexicon of Viral Incidents.
The incident, which we detailed in our recent article, occurred on August 28. In short: a woman in a white Range Rover, complete with a Chanel logo, became enraged when another driver refused to yield as she attempted to force her way into traffic while driving in the wrong direction. In the middle of a congested road, she exited her vehicle and caused a scene. She screamed, pointed, kicked the other car, and ultimately yanked open the driver’s door of the man who blocked her path, proceeding to hit him in the face. She then drove off (see video here).
Land Rover Woman during the incident.
The man, blood dripping from his nose, remained calm and did not retaliate, explaining afterward that he chose not to strike back because his children were in the back seat. The woman, identified as 36-year-old Wang from Qingdao’s Laoshan district, was subsequently handed 10 days of administrative detention and fined 1,000 yuan (approximately $140).
As footage of the incident went viral on Chinese social media, it sparked widespread debate.
The man, later revealed to be a former member of the military, spoke to reporters a day after the altercation, stating that it had left him not only physically hurt but also mentally distressed. He announced that he was preparing to take legal action against the woman and would not accept mediation.
The man, Lin, received overwhelming support from Chinese netizens, who saw the situation as an injustice on multiple levels.
Gender Dynamics
The woman physically assaulted the man, who chose not to defend himself—not because he couldn’t, but because of social norms, his responsibilities as a father, and his background in the military.
This dynamic has triggered discussions about the double standards in how aggression is viewed depending on gender and how a “real man” (真汉子) would and should respond in such a situation.
Some commenters suggested that the man “lost face” by being hit by a woman without fighting back, especially given his military background. Others argued the opposite, saying his restraint proved he truly was a “real man.”
Regardless, both perspectives agree that Chinese societal norms put the man in an unfair, vulnerable position.
Social Privilege
A major factor in the controversy revolves around social privilege. The woman’s entitled behavior—saying “So what if I hit you?” (“打你怎么了”)—and her driving a luxury 1.3 million yuan ($180,000) Range Rover with a Chanel logo contrasted sharply with Lin, a decommissioned soldier running a local guesthouse who was simply traveling with his children.
Many netizens saw this as a clear example of social class injustice, a power imbalance between a wealthy woman and a working-class man. Wang’s sense of entitlement allowed her to believe she could act violently without facing real consequences. The outrage was further amplified by Lin’s former military service, a profession meant to protect others, making the incident feel even more unjust.
Legal Disparities
Perhaps the biggest point of contention in the Land Rover Woman controversy is the perceived leniency of the punishment. The woman received 10 days of administrative detention and a small fine, but many netizens feel her actions amount to disorderly behavior (“picking quarrels and provoking trouble” 寻衅滋事罪), which has seen far harsher penalties in cases with less public impact.
The light sentence is viewed by many as a failure of the legal system to adequately address the severity of the incident, especially given the public nature of the attack and its broader social implications.
This has led to people seeking justice in their own ways. Some people started calling the Qingdao city hotline, directly expressing concerns to local authorities that the sentence given to ‘Land Rover Woman’ is too lenient. Others took matters into their own hands through digital vigilantism, attempting to track Wang’s whereabouts to ensure she was being properly detained. Earlier this week, her license plate went viral, with livestreamers filming her car as it was spotted in the streets.
Beyond the “Karen” Meme
As this incident has sparked online conversations about fairness and accountability, ‘Land Rover Woman’ has also become an internet meme.
With her black face mask, summer hat, long hair and white dress, she has become a recognizable figure, embodying the kind of woman everyone loves to hate. She’s poppping up in various photoshopped images and AI-generated videos. Even car stickers have been made featuring her image alongside the now infamous quote, “So what if I hit you?””1
Various “Land Rover Woman” AI-generated images published on Xiaohongsu.
Car sticker “So What If I Hit You?”
‘Land Rover Woman’ is more than just the Chinese equivalent of the American “Karen” meme, which depicts a stereotypically entitled, middle-aged white woman who often complains or picks fights. Land Rover Woman is not just entitled and rich, she also embodies netizens’ frustration over what they see as an imbalance in how justice is applied across gender and social class.
‘Film poster’ published on Weibo: “逆行的血案“: “The Bloody Wrong-Way Incident”
Turning her into a meme has become a form of social critique. By making Land Rover Woman part of China’s larger digital discourse, it has also become a way for netizens to seek justice. For Wang, becoming an internet meme and a target of public outrage is likely to have a far greater impact on her daily life than a ten-day detention.
Miranda Barnes contributed to the compilation and interpretation of some topics featured in this newsletter. Ruixin Zhang has authored the ‘What’s Noteworthy’ section.
Personal Note: I’ll be traveling in China for the next two weeks, so the upcoming newsletter might arrive a bit later than usual. However, rest assured, I’ll return with fresh insights. Not long ago, I covered the ‘robotaxi revolution’ in Wuhan, now the world’s largest city for driverless taxis. I’ll be heading there to explore the latest AI trends and see the developments firsthand. Have any specific questions about robotaxis? Let me know!
Best,
Manya Koetse
(@manyapan)
1 AI images from Xiaohongshu by AI老白, 忙到七点的麻辣香锅, 视野洞见PPT. Car sticker images by 小文分享.
What’s New
The Paralympic File | Following China’s golden success at the 2024 Paris Olympics, the spotlight now shifts to the Paralympics (残奥会), running from August 28 to September 8, 2024. While not as widely followed as the Olympics, the Paralympics still garnered significant attention on Chinese social media, where many athletes are celebrated not so much as national heroes, but as champions of their home regions.
Road Rage | What possessed the female driver of a Land Rover to drive against traffic, cut in line, and assault another driver? This incident has dominated trending topics on Chinese social media over the past week—not just because of the woman’s behavior, but also because of how the victim responded and the legal fallout. See article, video link included.
Bump in the Road | A viral court case in China has sparked debate after a female employee was fired shortly after announcing her pregnancy. While the company cited “poor performance,” the courts ruled in her favor. The case highlights the ongoing issue of pregnancy discrimination in Chinese workplaces, but also reveals the mixed feelings people have about women who may be seen as taking advantage of the system.
What’s Trending
🛑 Edible Oil Scandal Update & Goji Controversy
On August 25, China’s State Council Food Safety Office, alongside several other government agencies, released the results of their investigation into a cooking oil scandal that shocked the nation earlier this year. The scandal involved edible oil being transported in tankers that had previously carried chemicals and waste, raising serious food safety concerns. The investigation uncovered multiple violations of food safety laws across Hebei, Tianjin, Inner Mongolia, and Shaanxi, including failures to properly clean tankers before transporting food products and attempts to cover up these actions. Nationwide inspections reportedly have not found similar issues in other regions so far. The government has since imposed significant penalties, including a $400,000 fine on Sinograin Oil and a total of $1.1 million in fines on six other logistics and edible oil companies. Additionally, criminal charges have been filed against two drivers involved in the illegal activities.
While people are still concerned about the safety of their cooking oil, another food safety controversy has popped up again. CCTV-2 recently exposed that some merchants in Gansu have been illegally using industrial sulfur to fumigate goji berries to enhance their appearance and boost profits. Industrial sulfur, which contains high levels of arsenic, is not approved for food processing. Though the berries may look appealing, they are toxic, further fueling netizens’ fears about hidden dangers in other food products.
💍 Huang Zitao’s Three Years of Mourning
Chinese celebrity Huang Zitao (黄子韬) has been the center of attention lately. The former EXO member recently announced his engagement to fellow singer Xu Yiyang (徐艺洋). Both artists appeared on the reality show Dare Or Not, where Huang’s proposal to Xu was featured in the final episode. The couple had publicly confirmed their relationship in July, following years of dating rumors.
It has now come to light that Huang Zitao allegedly chose to observe a three-year mourning period in honor of his late father before announcing any major personal news. After the mourning period ended, he began preparing to publicly share his relationship and marriage plans. Huang’s father unexpectedly passed away in 2020, and the revelation about Huang observing a mourning period has sparked conversations about upholding traditional family values. However, some skeptical voices suggest that Huang is only using filial piety as a way to explain why he previously denied being in a relationship.
🙏 Man Killed at Gaomi Nightmarket
A shocking incident took place on August 28th in Gaomi (高密), a county-level city in eastern China’s Shandong Province. Videos shared online captured how a seemingly minor argument between two men at a night market escalated into a horrifying tragedy.
Initially, the altercation seemed minor, as a man argued with a market vendor who was there with his wife and child. However, the situation took a tragic turn when the man suddenly grabbed a large knife and fatally attacked the vendor in front of his family and numerous bystanders. The man was decapitated in the attack. Police have urged people to stop sharing videos of the incident. The attacker, a 36-year-old local, has been detained. Social media discussions have largely centered on the idea that the crime occurred in a moment of uncontrollable rage. While one life was lost and another family devastated, the lives of the wife and young son, who witnessed the horrific killing of their husband and dad, will be forever changed.
🐸 From Eyelid Surgery to Sad Frog
“How am I supposed to face people looking like this?” The story of a certain Ms. Yuan from Guiyang went top trending on Weibo recently. The Chinese woman spent 20,000 yuan ($2820) on a double eyelid surgery, a procedure that creates a crease in the upper eyelid to give the appearance of larger, more defined eyes – it’s very popular among women in East Asia for cosmetic reasons. However, in this case, the procedure turned out differently than expected.
The procedure was poorly executed and had created an overly wide crease, which gave the woman’s eyes a somewhat exaggerated, bulging appearance. “I look like a sad frog,” the woman told reporters. She made the news after filing an official complaint about the wide crease. The topic became popular because the “Sad frog” is a well-known online meme, but others also took this news as a warning: be careful about choosing a reputable clinic for cosmetic surgeries.
⚽ 0-7 Soccer Match Between China and Japan
One Weibo hashtag about China’s national soccer team losing 0-7 to Japan in the third round of the 2026 World Cup Asian qualifiers garnered over 360 million views in a single day on Thursday (#国足0比7日本#). Regardless of what is said about the spirit of sports, soccer inevitably gets dragged into the political arena, and in the case of China versus Japan, this match is particularly sensitive for Chinese audiences, bringing up associations of national pride linked to historical conflicts and more recent geopolitical tensions. Perhaps losing wasn’t the biggest issue, but losing with a 0-7 score—the biggest-ever loss to Japan in Chinese soccer—certainly was.
On Weibo, many found the outcome of the match unacceptable, not just because it was against Japan, but because they felt China’s overall performance was disappointing and ill-prepared for Japan’s attacking strategies. All things considered, 0-7 isn’t too bad—there was a trending match in 2014 during the Beijing Cup between Haidian and Fangshan junior teams that ended with a 47-0 score.
What’s Noteworthy
An unusual plea recently appeared on Weibo as several South Korean accounts urgently called for help. Using translation tools, these women reached out to Chinese netizens, raising awareness and seeking support to combat the sexual exploitation of girls and women in South Korea related to the ongoing “Deepfake Room” scandal.
The deepfake scandal centers around online chat groups where AI was used to generate countless pornographic images by manipulating real photos of South Korean female students and schoolgirls, all without their consent. These images were then shared in Telegram chatrooms, some with thousands of members—one reportedly had 220,000 participants. The scandal has ignited national outrage, with growing calls for stricter regulations on apps like Telegram and harsher punishments for those involved.
These posts quickly gained significant attention on Chinese social media, sparking discussions about similar issues in China, such as the widespread problem of men secretly filming women with hidden cameras in places like dressing rooms and public transport, with the footage often shared online. Many Chinese netizens voiced their support, urging East Asian women to stand together and protect each other from such threats.
What’s Popular
The success of the Chinese game Black Myth: Wukong (黑神话悟空) continues to snowball, becoming a true national sensation. Officially released on August 20 after years in development, the game has exceeded all expectations. Within an hour of its release, it topped Steam’s “Most Played” list, with over 2 million concurrent players.
According to recent data, the game, based on the classic Chinese tale Journey to the West, has been selling around 400,000 copies per day on the American gaming platform Steam over the past two weeks, with no signs of slowing down.
Chinese brands and tourism sites are also benefiting from the success of Black Myth: Wukong, China’s first major ‘AAA’ blockbuster game. The Luckin Coffee chain collaborated with the game to launch a special drink and merchandise. The collaboration drew huge crowds, and the merchandise sold out nationwide in seconds, reportedly almost crashing Luckin’s system. Various scenic sites in Shanxi that appear in the game, from temples to gorges, have also seen a significant boost in tourism.
What’s Memorable
In light of the Land Rover Woman controversy, our archive pick this week takes us back to a popular story from September 2018. A female passenger’s refusal to give up her seat on a high-speed train ignited a wave of reactions on Chinese social media. Dubbed the “High-Speed Train Tyrant Woman” (#高铁霸座女#), her rude behavior quickly went viral. Netizens drew comparisons to a similar incident involving a male passenger earlier that year, sparking a flood of memes featuring the two “train tyrants.”
Weibo Word of the Week
Armless Flying Fish | Our Weibo word of the week is 无臂飞鱼 (wú bì fēi yú), which translates to ‘Armless Flying Fish.’
During the Paralympics, some Chinese athletes have been nicknamed “Armless Flying Fish” by Chinese netizens and media to metaphorically describe their extraordinary ability to “fly” underwater despite their disabilities.
The athlete currently receiving the most attention with this nickname is Para swimmer Guo Jincheng (郭金城), who won five medals, including three gold, at the Paris 2024 Paralympics. The 23-year-old from Hebei Province lost both arms in an accident at the age of five. Since joining the swim team at age 12, Guo has trained nearly every day, focusing not only on body strength but also on breathing techniques to help him swim longer without needing to come up for air.
Another Chinese para athlete, Lu Dong (卢冬), has also been dubbed the ‘Armless Flying Fish’ for her incredible speed in the water despite her disability. At 32, Lu continues to excel—having already won numerous medals throughout her career.
Para swimmer Yuan Weiyi (袁伟译) is another athlete who has earned the “Armless Flying Fish” nickname for transcending boundaries and winning multiple medals over the course of his career.
The original ‘Armless Flying Fish’ is Chinese swimmer Zheng Tao (郑涛), who set a world record by winning four gold medals at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. Zheng lost his arms due to an electric shock when he was a child but did not let this prevent him from achieving remarkable success.
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China at the 2024 Paralympics: Golds, Champions, and Trending Moments
China’s standout moments, trending topics, and social media buzz from the 2024 Paralympics in Paris.
This article was first published by What’s on Weibo on
After China’s golden success at the 2024 Paris Olympics, it’s time for the Paralympics (残奥会) from 28 August 2024 – 8 September 2024. Although not as popular as the Olympics, the start of the Paralympics was still a popular topic on Chinese social media, with the topic hitting the top trending lists on August 28-29.
China has sent a delegation of 284 athletes—126 men and 158 women—to compete in 302 events across 19 sports. For 95 of these athletes, it’s their Paralympic debut.
This article is a ‘live file’ to track the various relevant hashtags and discussions on Chinese social media surrounding the events. If you don’t see any current updates, refresh the page or check back a day later to see new additions.
August 28
🔹 Celebrating the Start of the Paralympics
The opening ceremony of the 2024 Paralympics on August 28 took place at the Place de la Concorde, featuring 500 performers and a parade celebrating the 128 competing nations.
The Chinese delegation was led by two flag bearers: female wheelchair fencer Gu Haiyan (辜海燕) and male weightlifter Qi Yongkai (齐勇凯).
What particularly attracted attention on Chinese social media is how the renowned actor and martial arts hero Jackie Chan participated in the Paralympic torch relay (#成龙传递巴黎残奥会火炬#). He carried the Paralympic flame through the city, and also found some time to pose for selfies. People seemed to especially appreciate how popular Jackie Chan is, not just in China but also among fans abroad. This even made it to the number one trending topic on Chinese short video app Kuaishou.
August 29
🔹 China’s First Paralympic Gold
🥇 The first gold of the 2024 Paralympics for China was won by para-cyclist Li Zhangyu (李樟煜) in the Men’s 3000 m Pursuit. Beyond winning gold, he also broke a world record, smashing the previous record by crossing the line in a time of 3’31”338, 11 seconds faster than his compatriot Liang Weicong (梁伟聪), who finished with a time of 3’42”468 and took the silver medal.
For the 36-year-old Li, this marks his fifth Paralympic gold. He previously won the 3000m Individual Pursuit event at Rio 2016, and also earned a silver at London 2012 and a bronze at Tokyo 2020.
Chinese state media celebrating the first Paralympic gold.
Li Zhangyu was born in 1988 in Nanshan Village, Zhejiang. Diagnosed with cerebral palsy as a child, he had difficulty walking and often fell. To help him, his father bought him a small bicycle at the age of five or six. This marked the beginning of Li’s cycling journey, which would eventually lead him to become a historic Paralympic champion.
🔹 China’s Second Paralympic Gold
🥇 Wang Xiaomei (王小梅) became the second Paralympic athlete to win gold for China in the women’s C1-3 3000m individual pursuit.
The 24-year-old athlete from Yunnan’s Dali set a new world record in the women’s C3 3000m individual pursuit with a time of 3:44.660. In the final, where she claimed gold, she broke the world record again with a time of 3:41.692.
Wang Xiaomei has congenital cerebral palsy, which primarily affects the right side of her body. Cycling has significantly improved her physical condition. She is widely recognized as an inspiration for the way she has faced her challenges and persevered, which has led her to where she is today.
🔹 Two Swimming Gold
August 29 also marked the start of the swimming events, with 46 athletes from the Chinese team participating.
🥇🥇 Chinese swimmer Chen Yi (陈怡) secured gold in the women’s 50m freestyle S10, while Jiang Yuyan (蒋裕燕) claimed gold in the women’s 50m freestyle S6.
As a result, on the first day of the Paralympic events, the Chinese sports delegation earned a total of 4 gold medals and 1 silver medal.
August 30
🔹 Zhou Xia’s Three-Time Gold
🥇 Chinese para-athlete Zhou Xia (周霞) grabbed another gold for China on Friday. In the women’s T35 100m final, she claimed her medal with a season-best time of 13.58 seconds.
Zhou in Paris (left), Tokyo (middle) and Rio (right).
For Zhou, it’s her third Olympic success; she previously also grabbed gold in Rio and Tokyo. Zhou suffers from muscular atrophy in her left leg and left hand due to a car accident.
🔹 Yang Hong’s World Record
🥇 It seems that China is breaking many world records at this Paralympics. The 24-year-old Yang Hong (杨洪) clinched the gold medal in the Para Swimming Men’s 200m Individual Medley at the La Défense Arena in Paris.
August 31
🔹 China Going Strong: 20 Gold Medals on Day Three
On the third day of the Paralympics, Team China is going at full speed, as its gold medal count is already up to 20! This also includes a few athletes who grabbed gold on the 30th.
With 42 medals in total, China is topping the Olympic ranking.
September 1
🔹 “The Paralympics Are About the Limits of the Mind”
How does the general Chinese audience feel about the Paralympics? On Weibo and other platforms, the event is generally receiving less attention that the Olympics, also because it generally is less popular, with less commercial value.
Nevertheless, many people do follow the Paralympics and are impressed by the athletes. “The Olympics are about the limits of the body, the Paralympics are about the limits of the mind,” one Weibo user wrote.
Another Weibo blogger wrote: “The level of attention for the Paralympic events is still very low. It would be great if they could go trending a bit more. I bet many people don’t even know that the Paralympics take place after the Olympics. There’s only one gold medal for each event, but all those who participate in the Paralympic Games are heroes, winners, and champions in their own lives!”
September 2
🔹 From Small Village to Para Archery Gold
🥇 Zhang Tianxin (张天鑫), from a small village in Jiaxing, claimed gold in the Mixed Team W1 Para Archery event on September 2, alongside teammate Chen Minyi (陈敏仪). The pair defeated the Czech team. This victory comes shortly after Zhang also secured a bronze medal on September 1.
Having started archery in 2017, Zhang previously won gold at both the Tokyo Paralympics and the Hangzhou Asian Para Games.
On social media, his achievements are celebrated by Pinghu, the county-level city in Jiaxing where Zhang’s hometown, Shanqinggang village, is located. Pinghu also created a special film featuring Zhang, highlighting the strength of Para athletes.
September 4
🔹 The First gold for Henan: Wang Jingang
🥇 On September 4, Henan athlete Wang Jingang (王金刚) won the gold medal in the men’s 50m butterfly S6 final at the Paris Paralympics with a time of 31.24 seconds. This victory was celebrated on social media as it marked Henan’s first Paralympic gold. Henan is not typically among the top-performing provinces in the Olympics.
Wang Jingang (王金刚) taking the first Paralympic gold for Henan. Image via Zhengzhou Weibo account @郑州发布.
At the Paris Olympics, Chinese athletes from Guangdong Province won the most medals, followed by those from Shanghai, Shandong, Zhejiang, and Jiangsu.
It’s notable that during the Paralympics, even more than the Olympics, athletes’ hometowns are enthusiastically celebrating their Paris medals. Their achievements are viewed not just as national victories, but as local triumphs, bringing pride and joy to their communities.
This is evident in places like Henan, celebrating Wang Jingang, and Pinghu, honoring Zhang Tianxin, among many others. Rather than being solely seen as national heroes, these Para athletes are embraced as regional champions.
🔹 Who is four-time Paralympic champion Jiang Yuyan?
🥇 Jiang Yuyan (蒋裕燕) is one of the most discussed and popular Paralympic champions in China these days. She is also nicknamed the “Flying Fish with Broken Wings” (折翼飞鱼).
The Zhejiang-born athlete first claimed gold in Para Swimming in the women’s 50m freestyle, then went on to win another gold in the 50m butterfly. She added a third gold in the mixed event and secured a fourth on September 4th in the women’s 100m freestyle.
Jiang celebrated by Chinese official accounts.
Jiang began her professional athletic career in 2017, competing in national para events as part of the provincial team. She reportedly trains for at least six hours a day, with a key focus on maintaining balance, as she is missing her right arm and right leg.
As a preschooler, Jiang was involved in a car accident that resulted in the loss of her right hand and leg. To prevent muscle atrophy and aid her recovery, her mother enrolled her in a summer swimming class.
From the moment she entered the water, Jiang fell in love with swimming. She told reporters: “Fish have a tail, and I have a leg. In the water, I can enjoy freedom.”
September 5
🔹 Blind Soccer
While everyone’s focused on China’s national soccer team losing 0-7 to Japan in the 2026 World Cup Asian qualifiers, there’s a more successful story in Chinese soccer. China’s Blind Soccer team triumphed 1-0 against Morocco at the Paralympics, a victory that continues to be celebrated online despite the national team’s loss to Japan.
September 6
🔹 China’s Paralympic Success
With two days left before the end of the Paralympics, China is far ahead in the medal rankings with 186 medals, including 82 gold. The UK, in second place, lags behind with 100 medals, of which 42 are gold.
For both the Olympics and Paralympics, much of China’s sports success is often viewed by looking back at how far the country has come since it first participated in 1984.
In the Paralympics, China’s winning streak has continued since 2012, when Team China first took the top position.
Although China has seen great success in the Paralympics, and much like the Olympics, this success is tied to its rise on the global stage. However, it hasn’t led to more discussion on systemic issues around disability. The focus remains more on individuals overcoming challenges rather than addressing broader issues.[1]
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As the Paralympics are ending, more updates following soon to wrap up this article! (I’m out traveling a bit so please bear with me.
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By Manya Koetse
[1] Also see: Liu Yang & Zhongxuan Lin (2023) The national hero, the supercrip, and the self-reliant figure: Paralympic champions on China Central Television’s sports channel, Sport in Society, 26:9, 1477-1491, DOI: 10.1080/17430437.2022.2147064
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