Timely reports on issues and events from across China. Drawing on a vast range of sources, these succinct articles provide insights into the significance of each issue in a wider context.

NEWS

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A Chinese Coal City Finds New Use for Old Mines: Cooling Homes

The pioneering low-carbon technique, which routes water from accumulated rainfall and groundwater in abandoned mines to residential areas, has previously been used in the area to heat homes during winter.

Chen Yiru

Out of the Blue: China Bans Lights Signaling Self-Driving Mode

The lights, introduced in 2022, have come to be associated with an increased accident risk due to glare as well as the unpredictable nature of other drivers’ responses toward self-driving vehicles.

Chinese Village’s Viral Cicada Harvest Comes Under Fire

Scientists say that the uptick in cicada nymph collection, popularized by livestreaming, could damage local ecosystems.

Li Xin

Scan Scam: Criminals Redirect China’s Public QR Codes to Porn

Government-registered codes whose associated web domains have expired are being rerouted by criminals to scams or pornographic websites, making scanning everything from street lamps to public vehicles a potential risk.

Fan Yiying

Four Dead, Eight Missing as Typhoon Maysak Batters Guangxi

The province’s jasmine fields have been inundated after the onslaught of the typhoon this week, ruining the region’s peak tea harvest.

Social Media Bans Alone Won’t Protect Kids, Chinese Report Finds

In recent years, countries around the world have rolled out policies to curb minors’ social media usage. A recent Chinese university report assesses their efficacy.

Jiang Xinyi

China Sees Shift in Cancer Types as Cases Continue to Rise

A recent review of nationwide and global medical data links the shift to an aging population and better detection, with the country's cancer profile changing alongside rising case numbers.

No Woo: At China’s Top Anime Convention, Love Takes a Back Seat

For more than a decade, the niche, female-focused nüwu genre has attracted a cult following through web novels. Now, fans are taking it offline.

Mao Rui

China’s Elderly Embrace an Unlikely New Sport: Hyrox Races

China’s millennials have taken up the hardcore fitness activity in huge numbers. Now, they’re pushing their aging parents to join them.

Li Rongxuan

The Chinese Chicken Joint That Rejected Fame Now Craves It

The restaurant, which went viral this spring, has tried to sustain its popularity through livestreaming and expanding to other cities, despite previously claiming it did not want the attention.

He Qitong

China’s Largest Bookstore Launches Nationwide Same-Day Delivery

Experts say the value of the service lies not in profit but in how it can help bookstores reconstruct their connections to readers.

China’s Short-Drama Boom Calls for a New AI Crew

AI is shrinking crews and production times while opening film jobs to workers trained in fields far beyond cinema.

China’s Classic Storytellers Recapture the Magic With Harry Potter

Performers of traditional Chinese arts win over younger fans with fresh adaptations of global blockbusters featuring wizards, pirates, and ninjas.

Liu Haowen

China Mourns Volunteer Who Died Carrying Aid to Flooded Villages

Dang Xinrui left a vacation to join relief efforts in the country’s south, carrying 15 kilograms of supplies for six hours before collapsing on the return journey.

China’s Study Abroad Boom Finds a New Generation: Retirees

After decades of work and family responsibilities, older Chinese are pursuing overseas education for themselves, but many are finding classrooms designed for younger students.