fan-yiying

Balancing Act: Can ‘Mom Jobs’ Help China’s Women Have It All?

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

Flexible-hour jobs are allowing more mothers to juggle work and childcare, but with most positions in low-skilled sectors, there’s a risk of only reinforcing gender roles.

Consumption Coupons Fuel a Rise in Consumer Spending 

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

Retail sales grew in the first two months of 2025, due in part to big government-sponsored discounts on furniture and home appliances.

China’s Latest Marketing Craze? Rent-a-Robot

After a hit Spring Festival Gala show, Chinese merchants are renting out robots for thousands of yuan a day.

Love Without Labels: Chinese Revise the Rules on Relationships

More Chinese couples are opting for “situationships” over traditional intimate relationships as they put personal happiness ahead of commitment.

China’s Latest Health Trend? TCM Cocktails.

Bars are adding ingredients from traditional Chinese medicine to their drinks. But not all of their creations are safe — or legal.

New China-Led Study Links Pesticides to Massive Ecological Damage

The study, involving experts from multiple countries, reveals the harmful effects of pesticide use on non-target species, and urges urgent policy shifts toward eco-friendly alternatives.

New Fossil in China Pushes Bird Origins Back 20 Million Years

The fossil, dating back 172 million years, may reshape our understanding of bird evolution and early flight.

Amid Retail Price Wars, JD.com Bets on a New Market — Food Delivery

The e-commerce giant is waiving commissions for early restaurant partners as it pivots beyond retail, entering China’s fiercely competitive food delivery market.

China’s Ultrashort Dramas Must Now Clear Official Review

Regulators have introduced a tiered review system for the booming industry, requiring platforms to enforce stricter content oversight before dramas can be released.

Spring Festival 2.0: How Gen-Z Is Changing China’s Biggest Holiday

Young Chinese are reshaping the Spring Festival with online rituals, social commerce, and personalized traditions, balancing family expectations with a digital-first approach.

Neon Genesis: How a ‘Scrolling’ Wall Made a Border City Go Viral

A neon-stacked building in Yanji, a Chinese city on the North Korean border, brings internet culture to life, drawing waves of tourists eager to see the spectacle in person.

OneRepublic, Robots, a Rural Icon: The Spring Festival Gala in 3 Acts

This year’s show drew a record-breaking audience, with over 2.8 billion views on new media platforms.

This Spring Festival, Travelers Are Swiping Right — On Each Other’s Homes

With travel costs soaring, house swapping is emerging as an affordable, offbeat alternative — offering a home for the holidays, no booking fees required.

Fare Play: China Targets Ride-Hailing Drivers Using Fraud Software

Authorities investigate drivers using illicit software to inflate fares, fake locations, and bypass ride-hailing platform rules.

The Big Snip: The Men Making Vasectomies Go Viral in China

In a society where reproductive responsibility has long fallen on women, a growing number of Chinese men are sharing their vasectomy stories online, sparking long overdue conversations about masculinity and contraception.

The Chinese City Betting Everything on Tiny Cars

In Liuzhou, compact EVs reshaped the city’s economy, daily life, and identity. Now, it offers a blueprint for small cities looking to ride China’s electric wave.

Chinese Actor’s Trafficking Ordeal Leaves Thai Tourism Reeling

The actor’s rescue from a trafficking ring has revived fears of cross-border scams, prompting Chinese tourists to cancel trips en masse.

In Shanghai, Brain Implants Turn Thought Into Speech and Movement

The breakthrough in brain-computer interface technology opens possibilities for patients with speech and motor impairments.

China Slaps Heavy Fine on Top Dating Platform for False Ads

Zhenai, one of China’s oldest matchmaking services, was penalized for misleading users with fake profiles, exaggerated claims, and aggressive sales tactics, according to regulators.

Shelf Esteem: Chinese Stores Give ‘Ugly’ Veggies a Fresh Look

Saucy carrots and “smiling” tomatoes have become the face of China’s latest anti-food waste push.