Viral Topic

China's Robots Are Here. And They're Dancing.

China isn’t renting robots. It’s beta-testing a new economy.While Silicon Valley obsesses over AI chatbots, China’s bots are already clocking in.

Ne Zha 2’s $500M Merch Storm — How China’s IP Frenzy is Rewriting Global Playbooks

China’s box-office demon child isn’t just a movie hero—it’s a $1.9B case study in consumer mania.

The Gray Ceiling: You’re Too Old to Work, Too Young to Retire

A Guangzhou trash gig wanted workers under 35. The backlash exposed a brutal truth: In China, your career shelf life can end before you even have a chance to have a midlife crisis.

Buried in the Mountains: A Landslide in Sichuan and the Race Against Time

In the blink of an eye, Jinping village was swallowed whole—30 people missing, 10 homes gone, and a race against time to pull survivors from the wreckage. The mountains don’t care, but the rescuers do.

Nezha 2: How a Mythical Rebel Became China’s Box Office King

China’s Ultrashort Drama Boom Meets Regulatory Reality

China’s ultrashort drama industry—a whirlwind of fast-paced, mobile-first storytelling—has become a cultural and economic juggernaut. But as with any runaway success, the government has stepped in to ensure the party doesn’t get too wild.

The New Study Abroad: Disneyland

Young Chinese are taking hustle culture to the happiest place on Earth. With textbooks in hand and annual passes in their wallets, they’re turning Disneyland into the ultimate productivity hack.

The Kidnapping of Wang Xing and the Dark Underbelly of Southeast Asia

A young actor is lured into a trap in Thailand, only to find himself enslaved in a scam compound on the Burmese border. His rescue story reveals the broader crisis of human trafficking and organized crime that’s quietly shaping the region.

RedNote Rises

TikTok Refugees and a Tale of Two Timezones

Babushkas and Bullsh*t: The Truth About China’s “Russian” Stores

When Russian mangoes hit the shelves, you know something’s off. Behind the vodka and matryoshka dolls lies a story of clever branding, imported nostalgia, and a lot of Made in China.

The $118K Game: China’s Viral "Self-Discipline" Trap

When life feels like a Squid Game episode, some bets are just too cruel.