PREMIUM NEWSLETTER | ISSUE #4 | READING TIME: 7 MIN

Dear Reader,

It was Saturday night in Beijing’s Dongcheng District when the Chinese comedian Li Haoshi, better known as ‘House’, performed one of his stand-up comedy shows. The 31-year-old had gained significant recognition after participating as a contestant on the immensely popular stand-up comedy competition series called “Rock & Roast,” which had propelled his career to new heights.

However, his world quickly unraveled over the past week when he used a well-known People’s Liberation Army (PLA) motto, “good style of work, capable of winning battles,” to humorously depict two stray dogs chasing a squirrel. A member of the audience recorded the joke and subsequently leaked it. By now, you are likely familiar with the extensive repercussions the Chinese comedian is facing as a result of this incident: his shows were called off, he was banned from social media, his employer was fined more than $2 million, he was blacklisted under orders of the China Performing Arts Association (CAPA), and he is now under official investigation.

As the story made headlines worldwide, it was also the biggest discussion of the week on Weibo, where some related hashtags received over one billion views. Interestingly enough, many of the Chinese online discussions about the scandal were focused on the U.S. and how there are also many limits to freedom of speech in ‘the land of the free.’

Although Li was doing western-influenced stand-up comedy, the U.S. actually had nothing to do with the controversial joke, nor with Li’s cancelation. But it seems that people always need some kind of ‘whataboutism’ to make sense of the things that are happening around them by measuring them to how other nations, cultures, and societies deal with similar issues.

Nevertheless, the American stand-up comedy context won’t really help in further understanding the specific ‘House’ incident – and there’s more to the issue than meets the eye. On social media, numerous netizens expressed anger right from the start, with some aiming to defend the esteemed reputation of China’s military, and others holding the comedian responsible for disregarding well-known boundaries. Then there are those who are more concerned about the potential harm ‘House’ may be causing to China’s flourishing, albeit still evolving, stand-up comedy industry.

This scandal sheds light on a complex interplay of factors, including the challenging and creative working conditions within the Chinese comedy industry, the moral expectations placed on performers in China’s entertainment realm, and the important role played by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in shaping Chinese nationalism.

For our latest article, we did a deep dive to highlight all of these three aspects behind the issue. For all this and more, see our list of featured articles in this newsletter where we explore the major trends that have recently captured the attention of Chinese social media users. Also make sure to get the quick takes on online media, popular Chinese catchwords, and foreign affairs. What’s on Weibo intern Zilan Qian, news editor Miranda Barnes, and Sinification‘s Thomas des Garets Geddes have contributed to this week’s newsletter.

Got questions or suggestions? I always like to hear more about the China topics you’d like to know more about. Contact me via email or DM, or follow me on Twitter for the latest news and trends.

Best,
Manya

What to Know

 
Major trends to know:

• ▶︎ Group of Seven. The G7 meeting that took place in Hiroshima this week made headlines in Chinese media for the group’s “hostile plans against China and Russia.” Neither Russia nor China are part of the group. China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson slammed the G7 communiqué for “smearing and attacking China” as well as “interfering in China’s internal affairs.”
• ▶︎ Update on Chinese couple’s Bali ‘murder.’ Indonesian police announced Wednesday that the death of a Chinese couple in Bali is ruled a murder-suicide. The case had been trending on Weibo since earlier this month. According to the official media briefing, the 25-year-old Chinese man beat and drowned his 22-year-old girlfriend in a bathtub at the InterContinental Hotel. He then took his own life by stabbing himself with a broken beer bottle in his neck and body. On Weibo, many people expressed doubts over the outcome of the investigation.
• ▶︎ Hubei floating bridge incident. Five people from Shanxi Province were killed in Hubei on May 16 when an SUV with 8 passengers plunged into the water from a popular 400-meter-long ‘floating bridge’ at the Lion’s Gate scenic area. The floating bridge had been in operation since 2016 and no prior accidents were reported. A video of the incident went viral on Weibo.
• ▶︎ Chinese pilot fired after secretly filming stewardess.. A short video capturing a tense situation involving Chinese flight crew went trending on Chinese social media platforms this week. A Xiamen Airlines co-pilot was caught secretly filming in the women’s restroom. On Saturday, police confirmed the man had been detained and he has since been fired from his job.
• ▶︎ Uncle Roger’s Weibo account banned. After the Li Haoshi controversy, another comedian saw his Weibo account banned this week. It concerns the Malaysian-born comedian Nigel Ng, aka Uncle Roger, whose Weibo and Bilibili accounts were suspended after clips shared online showed the comedian poking fun at Xi Jinping and Taiwan.

 
Note from the News Editor – by Miranda:

• ▶︎ Over the past week, a story about a manager in the civil service requesting three female employees to coordinate their pregnancies so that they don’t all go on maternity leave simultaneously trended on Chinese social media (#领导让我们三个怀孕错开#). The story first attracted attention because a 26-year-old woman sought advice from netizens. She expressed her desire to have a baby in the year of the dragon, a highly sought-after Chinese zodiac sign. However, the situation became more complex when she discovered that two female colleagues in their mid-30s in the same department were also planning to have their second child, aiming for the same year.
• ▶︎ The situation sparked a lively discussion regarding the challenges posed by balancing office workload and maternity leave. Many expressed concerns about the potential additional burden if all three female staff members were to take maternity leave at the same time, particularly in a small office setting. Others envied the woman for her secure civil servant job, noting that she could proceed without fear of being fired.
• ▶︎ The topic is interesting because it shows the predicament many managers and female employees find themselves in regarding the practical aspects of maternity leave. A majority of commenters suggested that the Chinese government should play a more active role in providing support for both workplaces and individuals. This is particularly important considering the government’s official encouragement for people to have more children in order to address the country’s low birth rates and rapidly aging society.

 
The China-Central Asia summit as viewed from China – by Sinification:

• Context: China’s hosting of its first in-person summit with five Central Asian states, known as the C5, has generated significant headlines in Chinese newspapers this week.
• Why it matters: The China-Central Asia Summit signals China’s growing clout in a region traditionally influenced by Russia.
• What Chinese experts are saying: “Over the years, relations between China and Central Asian countries have developed relatively quickly. The reason for this is that we have complementary economies and common interests in such areas as countering terrorism and opposing colour revolutions. Of course, the current Russo-Ukrainian war is also an important factor … China and the five Central Asian countries are basically on the same page when it comes to this conflict. Central Asia was once a part of the Soviet Union. It does not want the Russo-Ukrainian war to continue and will of course not be recognising Russia’s ‘referendums’ pertaining to these territorial issues.” – Pan Guang (潘光): Senior Researcher, Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences.
• To receive free weekly insights from Chinese think-tank and academic circles on a range of key international topics, subscribe to Thomas’s “Sinification” newsletter here.

What’s Trending

1: A Joke Too Far | There is a delicate balance between humor and controversy, and Chinese comedian Li Haoshi recently discovered the consequences of crossing that line. In a punchline that took aim at China’s People’s Liberation Army, Li found himself at the center of a significant controversy. Is Li deserving of his ensuing cancellation? On Chinese social media, opinions are divided.

2: 10 Innovative Transformations | During the pandemic, nucleic acid testing booths in Chinese cities were primarily focused on maintaining physical distance. Now, empty booths are being repurposed to bring people together, serving as new spaces to serve the community and promote social engagement. From beer shops to study rooms, here are 10 examples of how they are being repurposed.

3: The Dynamics That Led to the Social Storm | The Li Haoshi scandal sheds light on a complex interplay of factors, including the working conditions within the Chinese comedy industry, the expectations placed on performers in China’s entertainment realm, and the significant role of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in shaping Chinese nationalism. A deep dive by What’s on Weibo.

PREMIUM NEWSLETTER | ISSUE #2 | READING TIME: 8 MIN

Dear Reader,

Welcome to Weibo Watch, the exclusive premium newsletter by What’s on Weibo that keeps you up-to-date on the latest stories and trends in Chinese social media and digital culture.

A small business owner in the Shandong city of Zibo had no idea what hit him when he saw thousands of visitors flocking to his shop. The industrial city of Zibo has been an online hit for weeks now, so he was used to seeing a large influx of travelers in the area. But now he himself had become the main attraction after a video in which a female tourist touched his muscles went viral overnight. What do you do when you suddenly see 180,000 visitors a day passing by your small duck’s head [鸭头, a Chinese snack] shop?

As described in one recent Chinese blog, the duck’s head seller is one of the latest “victims” of the ‘Zibo BBQ’ craze. By now, the incredible popularity of the barbecue city is also referred to as the “Zibo Phenomenon” (淄博现象). The city has been all over China’s social media top trending lists over the past week, and there are many discussions on how the city succeeded in becoming such a success, what it all means, and the downsides that come with it.

When a trend becomes excessively popular in a short span of time, it is almost inevitable for an anti-buzz to emerge. With high expectations, people tend to get disappointed easily. The larger the hype, the more significant the impact of even the slightest negative news.

What is striking about the recent Zibo discussions, is how it is triggering introspective debates on the dynamics of Chinese social media and the role played by online influencers and local authorities. However, there are divergent opinions among Chinese scholars, journalists, and bloggers who have written about this ‘Zibo Phenomenon.’ While some argue that it is all about free market governance and public participation, others suggest that the city’s success is actually the result of strict government control and influence.

The duck’s head shop owner probably won’t care a lot about all of these discussions. Although his hit status initially boosted sales, the crowds of people coming to his shop soon became so overwhelming that he could no longer run his business as usual (see video). As some even started harassing and physically assaulting him, he could no longer do his work and has now closed his shop. In a recent live stream, he tearfully talked about how his business, ironically, was ruined due to his viral success.

For all this and more, see our list of featured articles in this newsletter to dive deeper into the major trends that have recently attracted attention on Chinese social media. Also make sure to get the quick takes on social media, foreign affairs, and popular Chinese catchwords by Miranda Barnes, Thomas des Garets Geddes, and Andrew Methven in this week’s newsletter.

Got questions or suggestions? I always like to hear more about the China topics you’d like to know more about. Contact me via email or DM, or follow me on Twitter for the latest news and trends.

Best,

Manya

What to Know

 
Major trends to know:

• ▶︎ May Day holiday craze. The May Day “Golden week” holiday has come to an end. Travelers made 274 million trips within mainland China during the holiday, which exceeds pre-pandemic levels.
• ▶︎ King Charles III coronation. The coronation ceremony of King Charles III was also a big topic on Weibo and Douyin this weekend. noteworthy is that many of the top videos on the event were about the ‘not my king’ protests. China’s vice president Han Zheng arrived in London on Thursday for the coronation.
• ▶︎ Hotel guest finds dead body underneath bed. One Chinese man’s stay at a hotel in Lhasa turned into a nightmare when he discovered a corpse under the bed in which he had been sleeping. The man found the body after noticing a strong smell in his room. The incident led to a murder investigation and the arrest of a suspect.
• ▶︎ Chinese evacuated from Sudan. China successfully evacuated over 1,300 of its nationals from Sudan this week. The safe evacuation was met with praise online, where the mission was also called a “real life version” of Chinese blockbuster Homecoming.
• ▶︎ Chinese couple murdered in Bali? Two Chinese nationals, a 22-year-old female and a 25-year-old male, were found dead in their hotel room at the InterContinental hotel in Jimbaran, Bali. The male’s body was found on the balcony and the female’s body was found in the bathtub with wounds on her neck. While the cause of their deaths is still under investigation, the case has become a big topic on Chinese socials.

 
Note from the News Editor – by Miranda:

• ▶︎ Over the past week, the topic “How Can Ordinary People Have 10 Million in Assets” (普通人如何拥有千万资产) trended on Chinese social media. Some argued that owning a property in tier 1 cities like Beijing or Shanghai could already make you worth over 10 million yuan (just under $1.5 million). Many found the amount of money discussed to be out of touch with reality, as they struggle to cover their daily living costs and have no hope of ever amassing such wealth. The conversation eventually evolved into a broader discussion of achieving financial success.
• ▶︎ In the past 50 years, China has made significant economic strides, leading to an improved quality of life for its citizens. This progress is still remembered by the majority of Chinese citizens who have experienced huge improvements in their standard of living during their lifetime.
• ▶︎ In the late 90s, wàn yuán hù (万元户), meaning “household with over 10k assets” (under $1.5k), was a label of wealth status. However, the number 10 million yuan now seems much harder to attain. This raises concerns about social mobility, as most people interested in the topic are “ordinary” or have not yet amassed that much wealth. It seems that hard work and opportunities may no longer be enough to achieve financial success, but that shouldn’t stop people from dreaming.

 
Sinification’s foreign affairs views from China – by Thomas:

• ▶︎ One of China’s most eminent international relations experts, Yan Xuetong (阎学通), recently warned Chinese businesses to brace themselves for a rough ride over the coming couple of decades. He bemoaned the current dire state of US-China relations and the fractures this is creating across the world.
• ▶︎ In Yan’s words: “I am now in my 70s and when we were children in the 50s and 60s we grew up cursing US leaders. Since Nixon’s visit to China in ’72, China stopped naming and shaming the American leadership. [However,] after Trump came to power, we resumed naming and shaming them, calling Pompeo an enemy of mankind. How far [down] do you want bilateral relations to go? During my most recent visit to the US, I felt that the perception of China in America had also seriously deteriorated. I met some of our overseas students who told me that American students would not say it out loud, but that everyone knows that they harbour a lot of hostility towards Chinese students.”
• ▶︎ For more in-depth takes on foreign affairs as viewed from China, subscribe to the Sinification newsletter by Thomas des Garets Geddes here.

What’s Trending

1: “College Student Special Forces” (大学生特种兵) | This Labor Day holiday, ‘special forces travelers’ were flooding popular tourist spots across China. Their mission is clear: covering as many places as possible at the lowest cost and within a limited time. While the travel trend has become a social media hype, there are also those criticizing the trend for being superficial and troublesome.

2: Consumerism and Empty Social Spectacle | Fast, fun, BBQ travel is a major topic on Chinese social media these days. Chinese journalist & academic Liu Yadong reposted a noteworthy short essay by the WeChat account Jiuwenpinglun in which the author argued that the hype surrounding Zibo barbecue is a symptom of a “sick society” in which people are disconnected from meaningful topics. While serious social issues are muted and superficial marketing tricks are blasted all over the internet, China’s “hypocritical youth” actively participate in the societal emptiness they say they reject. We translated the controversial for you:

3: Why Zibo’s Strength Is Also Its Weakness | It’s like a Shandong ‘Disneyland,’ but with more people and longer lines. The city of Zibo has become a major tourist attraction, filled with lively atmosphere, cheap BBQ, and friendly people. But local business owners also face the downsides of operating in a city that has become so extremely popular. In this feature article, we wrap up some of the latest controversies and discussions surrounding the Zibo trend.