Culture
Dating apps with Chinese characteristics draw Gen Z and millennials
Young romance seekers in China flock to a new breed of dating services designed to fill the gaps left by existing apps like Tinder and Grindr.
Internet celebrities offering rustic escapism get a government boost
Online personalities from rural China, like viral Tibetan star Dingzhen, are drawing huge followings as Chinese authorities seek to boost rural economies.
Bilibili’s New Year’s show gets airtime on TVB after fireworks axed
After the usual waterfront fireworks display was cancelled, Hong Kong’s TVB viewers will be watching a New Year’s Eve event from mainland video streamer Bilibili, known for catering to China’s younger generation.
Baidu’s top 2020 internet buzzwords reveal new work-related anxieties
The annual Baidu Buzz List shows people searched for new terms like ‘flexible work’, ‘cloud supervisors’ and ‘715’, revealing changes to work and everyday life in China amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Want to be a Chinese diplomat? Program emulates ‘Wolf Warrior’ rhetoric
Chinese diplomats have been taking a more aggressive stance on Twitter this year and a GitHub text generator is here to help.
First price hikes on China’s video platforms spark doubts
As Tencent Video and iQiyi users face higher prices for the first time, some complain that user experience on the streaming platforms does not justify the price hike.
Netflix’s Over the Moon praised in China but bigger box-office bomb than Mulan
With an all-Asian cast, Netflix’s new animated film is being applauded for its handling of Chinese culture, but it has failed to attract a wide audience.
China’s first virtual idol talent show draws mixed reactions
Video streaming platform iQiyi is trying to connect with younger users by letting virtual avatars compete in front of human judges on the show Dimension Nova.
Men more prone than women to phone addiction, China study says
Researchers look at residents in Beijing to study smartphone addiction, often defined as stressful phone use that leads to anxiety and depression.
China’s new Mulan film upsets audiences more than Disney’s
Kung Fu Mulan was pulled from cinemas within three days after opening on Saturday to terrible reviews and poor turnout.
Workers who got Huawei’s foldable Mate Xs free promptly sell them online
After 10,000 Tencent employees reportedly got Huawei’s new foldable Mate Xs smartphone, additional listings started showing up online.
Shanghai tackles China’s massive e-commerce waste problem
China is on track to have packaging waste as heavy as more than 400 aircraft carriers by 2025.
This is the worst day to hail a taxi in China, but Didi says it’s ready
Didi says there’s less than a 60 per cent chance of successfully hailing a taxi the day before China’s week-long national holiday.
A teacher’s bid to explain pregnancy to kids hits a nerve in China
Sex education remains taboo in Chinese schools despite efforts from educators and publishers.
How a Chinese network of fake accounts infiltrated Facebook
This is the first time that Facebook has taken down Chinese-based accounts for foreign interference and engagement in US politics.
5G and smart speakers are widening China’s digital divide
China’s rural residents under 18 years old are less likely to have used smartwatches, voice assistants and computers to get online, new study says.
Mulan hit by rampant piracy in China yet again
Mulan was downloaded hundreds of thousands of times ahead of its theatrical debut, mirroring rampant piracy of the animated version in 1999.
Alibaba crooner Jack Ma duets with pop diva Faye Wong
The Alibaba founder is famed for his flamboyant performances and love for the stage.
Chinese netizens post bad reviews for Hong Kong security law book
Douban is known for its community of liberal bookworms and film fanatics, but censorship is common on China’s internet platforms.
Disney’s Mulan compared with Western Chinese food
Disney’s Mulan was highly-anticipated in China, but now the live-action remake is disappointing early viewers who are blasting it online.