jiang-xinyi

China Slams AI-Generated Memes for ‘Desecrating’ Traditional Culture

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

Netizens are using AI video tools to spoof all manner of Chinese classics. The authorities are not amused.

Gridlocked: When Jellyfish Brought a China Power Plant to Its Knees

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

The unexpected surge of jellyfish overwhelmed cooling systems, forcing workers to work around the clock to clear blockages and avert shutdowns — a crisis affecting coastal infrastructure worldwide.

The Poet Changing China’s View of Disability — Through Dance

Yu Xiuhua became a sensation with her raunchy poetry that redefined Chinese perceptions of disability. Now, she’s taking her art a step further.

These Cranes Were Symbols of Fidelity. Now, Science Disagrees.

New genetic analysis reveals complex mating behaviors in black-necked cranes, challenging folklore that portrays them as lifelong, inseparable partners.

China Intervenes to Prop Up Struggling Local Bus Services

As some bus companies teeter on the brink of insolvency, the central government has ordered local authorities to find the money to keep services operational.

In China, Young Women Are Now More Educated Than Their Spouses

Chinese women born after 1990 have on average a higher education level than their husbands, a new study has found.

In Chinese Megacities, ‘Ultra-Long Commutes’ Are on the Rise

A growing number of people in China’s largest cities are traveling over 90 minutes each way for work, a new report has found.

Mind’s Eye Blind: A Shanghai Clinic Treats a Disorder None Can See

China’s first clinic for aphantasia and spatial disorders aims to help children with these rare conditions. However, anxious parents focused on math struggles have sparked debate over the clinic’s approach.

Stunning Tomb Find Sheds New Light on Prehistoric China

The 5,000-year-old burial site suggests that China’s neolithic kingdoms were more sophisticated than previously thought.

How McDonald’s Became China’s New Favorite Wedding Venue

Young Chinese are increasingly opting for simple, affordable wedding ceremonies. That’s leading many to the golden arches.

To Scale Peaks, Chinese Hikers Are Hiring Personal Cheerleaders

University students are turning part-time guides, offering snacks, emotional support, and encouragement to help hikers navigate China’s toughest trails.

China Moves to Tackle a Growing Menace: Rampaging Boars

Wily, aggressive, and weighing up to 200 kilos, wild boars have become a serious problem in many parts of rural China. Now, authorities are calling in the hunters.

China Launches Policy Blitz to Tackle Unemployment

The central government has issued its first package of job creation measures since 2012, as concerns rise over China’s high youth unemployment rate.

China Rolls Out Major Stimulus, Cuts Mortgage Rates to Spur Growth

The plan reduces mortgage rates by 0.5 percentage points, lowers down payments for second homes, and injects 1 trillion yuan in liquidity.

China Proposes Mandatory Labeling of AI-Generated Content

The draft regulations would punish content creators and online platforms for failing to clearly label content that was generated by artificial intelligence.

Tea but No Sympathy: Top Chain Under Fire for Ad Shaming Workers

A viral ad from bubble tea chain Good Me sparked outrage after showing workers apologizing for minor mistakes. The company was forced to apologize, and the video was quickly taken down.

The Woman Trying to Change Chinese Politics From the Inside

Jiang Shengnan is a rare figure in Chinese politics: a vocal women’s rights advocate who is seeking to drive change from within the system.

In China, Social Media Is Fueling Dangerous Beauty Trends — for Babies

Many Chinese parents believe it’s their duty to ensure their children conform to traditional beauty standards. That’s driving the rise of troubling — and, in some cases, potentially life-threatening — infant beauty products.

The Winners of China’s Housing Bust: Burnouts and Beach Bums

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

MULTIMEDIA

Situated in scenic towns and all but free, they’re the perfect flats for lying flat.

On Dialysis in China? Pray There Isn’t a Lockdown.

Across China, kidney disease patients still routinely have to travel long distances to access hemodialysis. For many, the lack of treatment options can be fatal — especially during an era of sudden lockdowns.