livestream

Chinese Livestreamers’ Latest Sales Tactic: Fake Life Crises

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

Livestream hosts are going to ever greater lengths to win viewers’ sympathy — from faking divorces to pretending their kids have been kidnapped.

Fan Yiying

Queen’s Gambit: The Lowly Chinese Go Player Who Conquered the Sport

Contributions from individuals with unique perspectives to share. Hear from everyone, from experts and commentators to those whose voices are often marginalized.

VOICES & OPINION

Zhan Ying finished her last pro season 2-16. How did she become one of the sport’s top streamers?

Cai Yineng

Life Among China’s ‘Apprentice’ Livestreamers

Making a name for oneself online isn’t as easy as it used to be. For those unwilling to sign a contract with a promoter, apprenticing with an established streamer is an attractive option.

Wang Yun

How a Student’s Fake Exercise Book Broke the Chinese Internet

For weeks, China was captivated by an influencer’s heartwarming attempt to find the owner of two lost primary school books. Then, the truth came out.

Ding Rui

Chujiu: A Master of Disguise

Translations, cross-publications, and collaborative projects from Sixth Tone’s external partners. 

SIXTH TONE ×

The makeup artist, who has found fame with her magical transformations, explains the motivation behind the hit “100 Villains” series and the hours of work needed to create just one short video.

Neweekly Lifestyle

Chinese Livestreamer Uses Stock Footage, Sparks Debate on Trust

During a recent broadcast, viewers noticed livestreamer Chen Yi-ru tasting food non-stop during a 15-hour broadcast as well as an apparent glitch where a table leg seemed to “pierce” his forearm.

Ye Zhanhang

Following Rant, China’s Biggest Influencer Accused of Being ‘Out of Touch’

Known for being a livestreamer whose low prices connected him with fans, Li Jiaqi is now being roundly criticized for failing to grasp consumer sentiment.

The Zhang Yingying Case, Six Years On

The parents and fiance of the murdered Chinese student struggle to move on as they prepare to return to the U.S. in the hope of recovering her body.

The Paper

In China, AI Clones Are Putting Human Livestreamers Out of Work

Visual stories that get up close and personal with contemporary China. A mix of short videos, documentaries, photography, and data visualization.

MULTIMEDIA

Xue Haolin

In China’s Clothing Markets, a Battle Over the Future of Livestreaming

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

During the pandemic, Chinese wholesalers turned to livestream e-commerce in a desperate bid to revive flatlining sales. Now, a growing number are trying to return to business as usual — and kicking the livestreamers out.

Wang Lianzhang

Xu Cen

Extreme Drinking Challenges Kill Yet Another Livestreamer in China

Feeling limited with choices in life, 26-year-old Huang Zhongyuan found livestreaming his “drinking battles” with other influencers a quick way to make a living, only to find that they were toasting to their death.

On Douyin, Chinese Companies Sell Coal at Rock-Bottom Prices

With coal prices hitting their lowest in over two years, coal companies are turning to livestreaming platforms to find new customers.

Yang Caini

Can Rural Vloggers Make China’s Countryside Cool? 

Rural vloggers are breaking out of the highly curated Li Ziqi mould to show the countryside as it really looks. Audiences are responding.

Tipping Livestreamers ‘Out of Control’: China State Broadcaster

Following a series of high-profile cases that have sparked public concern, CCTV is targeting internet platforms for neglecting their duty.

Int’l Luxury Brands Embrace E-Commerce to Attract Chinese Buyers

Sales of high-end products online have dramatically increased compared to offline shopping.

Sixth Tone

Hong Kong TV Company Deploys Stars as Salespeople on Taobao

The television broadcasting company is evoking nostalgia while trying to cash in on the mainland’s e-commerce livestream boom.

Restaurants to Livestream From Kitchens to Ensure Food Safety 

The move aims to make food preparation more transparent amid growing complaints from consumers.

Li Xin

The Once and Future CEO

Smartisan founder Luo Yonghao has been an online celebrity, a smartphone maker, and $89 million in debt. Now he’s starting the cycle over again.

Their Secret Sales Weapons? Language Lessons

After a crackdown on after-school tutoring, New Oriental pivoted to online sales. It went poorly until their teacher-turned-livestreamers began offering free English lessons while pitching encyclopedias.

Ni Dandan

A Beijing Artist Is Self-Quarantining in the Name of Art

Pang Kuan is livestreaming his 14 days of isolation around the clock from a gallery space.