fan-yiying

From Blind Boxes to AI Friends, Young Chinese Buy to Feel Better

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

A new report by Chinese social platform Soul and the Shanghai Youth Research Center reveals emotional value is now a key driver of consumer behavior.

Stub It Out! The Influencers Taking on Selfish Smokers

Empowered by legislation, a growing army of social media activists is waging war against smoking in public.

AI, Mini-Games, Short Dramas Drive Growth at China’s Kuaishou

The short-video platform’s latest results show both user demand and creator income continuing to grow.

Exhausted and Alone, China’s Single Moms Are Moving in Together

Articles that cut to the core of contemporary China. In-depth, informed, and carefully crafted, every piece is carried by the voices of the story’s participants.

FEATURES

China has nearly 30 million single mothers. Now, many are finding support by moving in together, splitting bills, sharing child care, and building households outside the traditional family model.

How China’s Urban Youth Became Obsessed With Birding

Driven by social media, more and more urbanites are taking up birdwatching, helping to increase ecological awareness and molding photography trends to their aesthetic preferences in the process.

To Boost Content, China Eases TV Drama Oversight, Episode Limit

Amid competition from ultrashort dramas and streaming platforms, China’s broadcasting regulator will also ease restrictions on historical dramas and allow series to air without a one-year gap between new seasons.

As Ex-Convicts Go Viral in China, Critics Say They Glorify Crime

The trend has alarmed authorities, with state media warning that posts turning crime into entertainment erode respect for the law and re-traumatize victims.

Three and Easy: Racers Find a ‘Midlife Fix’ in Triathlons

Though physically demanding, the sport has boomed among China’s middle-aged, helping them stay fit and achieve a healthy work-life balance.

China’s Illegal Hunting Livestreams Disguised as ‘Outdoor Sports’

Police in northeastern China have uncovered a black market involving livestreamers killing wildlife — including some protected species — to sell hunting gear.

Major Mosquito-Borne Viral Outbreak Hits Southern China

Over 7,700 cases of chikungunya fever have been reported in Guangdong province since the beginning of July, exacerbated by heavy rainfall and thriving mosquito populations.

To Ease Costs, China Launches First Nationwide Childcare Subsidy

Effective as of the beginning of this year, the government will provide an annual subsidy of 3,600 yuan per child under age 3.

China Expands Drug Access, Insurance Coverage Under Reform Plan

During the latest Five-Year Plan, health authorities have sought to balance drug affordability and quality, as well as promote market stability and fairness.

In China’s Factory Belt, Workers Race to Survive the Robot Era

A nationwide reskilling push aims to prepare industrial workers for automation, but the pace of change is testing both people and institutions.

As Debt Concerns Grow, China Halts Pension Loans for Farmers 

Several banks in rural China have suspended their targeted loan services amid concerns they were exacerbating debt among the financially vulnerable.

We Do: On China’s New Dating Apps, Parents Make the Match

As more young Chinese delay marriage, a new wave of dating platforms is giving parents the power to screen, filter, and initiate matches — often before their kids are even told.

As China Cleans Its City Rivers, Locals Begin to Paddle Back In

In cities nationwide, dredged canals and reopened routes are drawing commuters, hobbyists, and influencers back to the water.

300,000-Year-Old Tools in China Show Early Humans Dug for Plants

A team of Chinese scientists has discovered wooden tools in Yunnan province dating back approximately 300,000 years, shedding light on how early humans dug for plant-based foods.

Lead-Tainted Food Poisons 230 Kindergarten Children in NW China

Food at the private school contained more than 2,000 times the legal lead limit, triggering arrests and a sweeping probe into China’s worst kindergarten food safety case in years.

China Bans Unsafe Power Banks From Flights Amid Safety Fears

A surge in flight-related incidents involving overheating power banks has prompted China to ban non-certified batteries from domestic air travel.

Eating for Views: Rising Concerns Over Binge Eating Livestreams

Despite regulations and growing health warnings, China’s “big-stomach king” livestream trend continues to thrive, raising alarms about food waste and the potential dangers of excessive consumption.