Fresh voices from today's China — news, features & commentary from a human perspective. Also on Facebook, Instagram, WeChat, & YouTube.
Shanghai
- Tweets 32,811
- Following 877
- Followers 76,299
- Likes 1,432
A video of an art troupe posing on a moving walkway at Shanghai’s Pudong International Airport has gone viral after a middle-aged man decided to join in with his own playful pose, delighting netizens.
9
1,813
11,636
286,741
Straight out of a video game: China’s ubiquitous food-delivery app Ele.me caught the Chinese internet’s attention this week after testing a powered exoskeleton for its couriers. The exoskeleton endows the wearer with the strength to carry up to 50 kg with ease.
301
2,221
7,194
As China‘s group dance livestream scene booms, 20-year-old college student Huang Li — known as “Violent Zhouzhou” — has become its breakout star, redefining the role behind the lens by swinging a 5-pound camera through high-energy shows that draw over 40,000 viewers.
6
272
2,167
229,899
As Shenyang’s youth fades into memory and nostalgia, Xu Shouzhong’s arcade lives on.
Read more: ow.ly/79Jo50WO1fc
12
295
1,001
96,413
China plans to nearly double the number of its “15-minute community life circles” by 2030, with a focus on expanding services for the elderly and children, the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) announced Friday.
By the end of 2024, the country had established 5,188 such circles across 210 pilot areas, covering 118 million residents and creating 7.32 million jobs, according to MOFCOM.
The “15-minute community life circle” — also known as the “15-minute city” — is an urban planning concept that ensures residents can access essential services such as healthcare, education, eldercare, shopping, and leisure within a 15-minute walk or commute.
Related read: ow.ly/Pv9I50X07oP
15
178
982
415,466
A Stanford University graduate has ignited a social media storm by taking a job with an obscure township government in eastern China — highlighting the ferocious competition for state-sector positions.
Read more: ow.ly/7aw950SlBMt
72
48
768
2,370,348
In a notice Friday, Douyin — the Chinese version of TikTok — said six kinds of content including “flaunting wealth,” promoting money-worship, and “making fun of the poor” are now banned on the short-video app.
ow.ly/Hpa450DNTgR
27
133
684
In recent years, a growing number of Chinese women have been shunning real-life relationships, and instead finding romance in a series of viral video games. Now, many are trying to move these digital relationships into the physical world. 1/6
6
231
716
125,660
Chinese archeologists announced on Tuesday the discovery of what is believed to be a 5,000-year-old settlement near the Sanxingdui ruins in Sichuan province where a large number of relics were unearthed, including a pottery pig reminiscent of the smartphone game Angry Birds.
10
209
629
Qian Haifeng has been documenting China’s disappearing “green trains” for about 10 years.
“All you have to do is to board a green train … and you’ll understand how many people on low incomes exist in China,” Qian told Sixth Tone.
Read more: ow.ly/lCCu50B6fG0
16
292
641
“Skr,” one of the most popular memes this year, has taken over the Chinese internet since pop idol Kris Wu used it in a reality show. What does this three-letter word mean?
Read more on China’s top slang of 2018: ow.ly/aCT330n6UW8
39
665
659
As a new wave of coronavirus infections threatens Suzhou, Jiangsu province, the local government has created cat-themed pandemic prevention posters to raise public awareness.
7
222
588
Students at Yangzheng Primary School in Hangzhou wear DIY “one-meter hats” on the first day of the new semester. The headmaster said the initiative aims to help students get accustomed to social distancing amid the #coronavirus pandemic. (Photos courtesy of Zhejiang Daily)
35
333
528
A father waiting outside a test site for China’s national college entrance exam in Zigong, Sichuan while holding a banner reading “No matter how well you did on the exam, Dad and Mom will always love you” has tugged at the heartstrings of Chinese netizens. (Photo: The Paper)
6
79
512
Wuhan will conduct full-scale nucleic acid testing of its 11 million residents over the next 10 days, after six new #coronavirus cases were reported over the weekend.
Read more: ow.ly/cQZ650zDClf
40
307
509
China’s National Health Commission wants to open “weight management clinics” nationwide.
Read more: ow.ly/BNxb50Vh7it
7
40
448
619,955
While the US remains the global center of sneaker culture, demand is growing even faster in China. The market is fueled by trends in streetwear, hip-hop, and the digital platforms that allow collectors to trade shoes like stock market shares.
Learn more: ow.ly/gI1750wJjZ0
8
128
437
Young Chinese are moving to Sweden in record numbers, seeking better labor conditions and a more tolerant society. Many are underwhelmed by what they find.
ow.ly/BXmt50NZQv1
65
65
428
492,862
A Chinese schoolgirl bought a writing robot for 800 yuan ($120) to write her homework. "This is too deceptive. If you don't look closely, it's hard to distinguish what's real," her mother yelled at the robot after figuring it out.
8
232
371
In China, buzzwords on social media are more than just trendy phrases; they’re a snapshot of a society in flux, capturing everything from the daily grind to the joys and challenges of modern life.
In 2023, this lexicon ranged from new takes on parenting and the growing popularity of MBTI tests to the way young Chinese travel and unwind.
Here are Sixth Tone’s top internet buzzwords of 2023:
3
118
376
48,176
A couple in rural Zhejiang province has caught the attention of Chinese social media with their slick dance moves, which they practice every day to relieve their stress and anxiety.
9
107
355
Beijing Wildlife Park issued a statement Sunday saying that two families got into a fight when visiting the park. “It was the first time that the animals saw a fight between humans, and they were deeply impressed. Some animal families followed suit that night,” said the notice.
9
78
306
China’s Su Bingtian set a new Asian record in the men’s 100-meter dash with a time of 9.83 seconds at the #TokyoOlympics semifinals on Sunday, becoming the first Asian man to qualify for the final of the event.
3
38
291
Young Chinese have coined another term to reflect their growing disillusionment with the country’s grueling work culture. Rather than trying to keep up with society’s expectations, many are resolving to simply “lie down.”
Read more: ow.ly/uExD50EWyBo
8
84
281
A 1-year-old boy and his ride-or-die goose bodyguard in the northern Hebei province have gone viral on Chinese social media.
3
45
284
A father in Shanghai created a “safety capsule” to protect infants from #COVID19. He's planning to mass-produce and price it at around $1400.
24
119
270
Inspired by thousands of real cases, “No More Bets,” directed by Shen Ao, offers an unparalleled glimpse into the dark world of overseas cyber fraud that has grown rampant in China.
Read more: ow.ly/mrl550PzgSc
1
163
256
9,633
Update: Pop star Kris Wu has been criminally detained on suspicion of rape, the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau announced on Saturday.
sixthtone.com/news/1008022/i…
12
230
245
Li Zhendong was the first patient diagnosed with #coronavirus in Jingzhou City, Hubei Province. After 16 days of fight against the disease, he was cured and discharged from the hospital. Li shared his experience online:
13
118
236
Maid cafés have been controversial in China ever since the industry first started to take off, with detractors arguing that they degrade women and in some cases become hotbeds of sexual harassment.
ow.ly/vOOv50RkmX3
8
14
229
128,217
Chinese government introduces #Chinglish guide to standardize translation and reduce embarrassing situations ow.ly/7V3N30cPk3z
6
164
225
At the end of February 2023, a workshop on “male morality” was held in Beijing. The initiator said that the purpose of the class was to teach men how to be “good partners and fathers” and move away from traditional notions of masculinity.
ow.ly/VrfN50NuwfJ
2
30
221
51,834
The latest celebrity taking #Weibo by storm is @gavinthomas, the American boy whose facial expressions provide perfect meme fodder for every situation
6
45
221
Young women from around China have been taking up a viral online challenge of imitating “greasy men”.
Read more: ow.ly/96HX50OBtce
9
61
223
40,284
In 2017, pop idol Kris Wu’s impromptu rap — “Look at the noodle, it’s long and thick — just like the bowl, which is big and round” — was mocked by netizens. This year, Wu opted to get in on the joke himself. ow.ly/Ugtg50ra9GS
2
183
215
How do you stop people crossing on red lights?
Traffic police in one Hubei city think spraying jaywalkers with water is the best deterrent.
19
133
194
In early December, China dismantled its “zero-COVID” policy. Within a month, the virus was everywhere. Sixth Tone’s @BeimengFu traveled to remote villages in the southwestern province of Sichuan, where she witnessed firsthand how the virus surge has inundated local hospitals.
13
82
182
143,255
“Men are either horny or act like I’m out of their league. But female cosplayers can give me a fully immersive experience, and I won’t fear being judged or harassed.” — Rynee Ren, dream girl
1
20
178
16,055
Sichuan province is one of the country’s biggest electricity producers; the power from its massive hydro dams helps keep the lights on in faraway Shanghai and other Chinese megacities. Yet Sichuan is now facing its own crippling energy shortage.
ow.ly/jEmH50KtVm7
5
47
182
Beijing residents noticed that metro station signs are being changed to replace the English word “station” with the pinyin “zhan.” Some say that it will confuse tourists. Beijing Metro said that the new translations are mandated by China’s latest regulations on place names.
28
55
189
It’s no accident that the cosplayers hired for cos commission are almost always female; clients tend to prefer an all-female environment for their dates, even if the cosplayers are playing male characters. 4/6
1
27
178
19,082
The Cyberspace Administration of China said it will strengthen oversight of “chaotic fan circles” in a three-month campaign to minimize hate and abuse on social media.
ow.ly/aqMU50EIKSI
3
71
176
A women in Chongqing was stopped by rail transit staff when she attempted to bring a live chicken on the subway. Then she killed it on the spot.
14
83
161
A man in Henan was detained five days for creating a public disturbance after he changed his negative nucleic acid test result to positive and shared it in a 20-member WeChat group to avoid attending a banquet where he had to drink alcohol, local authorities said Wednesday.
10
35
163
The Qianlong Emperor, the longest-lived ruler of the Qing dynasty, wrote 43,000 poems in his lifetime — most of them bad. Besides poor writing and plagiarism, the emperor was also suspected of using ghostwriters.
Read more: ow.ly/VdU550G0Ev3
11
48
156
Pan Ruibin, a knitter from the southern province of Guangdong, has attracted 3 million followers across a number of livestreaming platforms by teaching skills in knitting.
2
42
158
Chinese archaeologists recently discovered five cat paw-like gold ornaments at the 2,700-year-old Beibaie cemetery in the northwestern Shanxi province. The trinkets were found on the waist of a buried nobleman.
2
43
153
Fan Bingbing, involved in an alleged tax evasion scandal, ranks the lowest on a social responsibility list, which evaluates Chinese celebrities based on their professional work, charitable work and integrity ow.ly/EFnS30lFY6u
1
43
150
The American burger chain Five Guys opened its first location on the Chinese mainland on Monday. Customers in Shanghai were spotted lining up to visit the store on Huaihai Road. (Photos: Weibo)
12
27
150
Zou Deqiang is one of many that remains missing after torrential downpour and floods devastated central China’s Henan province this week. Zou’s wife, Mrs. Bai, is desperately trying to find him.
Read more: ow.ly/z9AO50FC6wl
35
62
150
Some local governments in China are urging residents to get vaccinated by hanging red banners bearing various motivational slogans. Some are straightforward, while others are amusing:
5
41
153
Sichuanese cuisine is everywhere, according to a new survey, but there are signs of spice fatigue. Two new surveys from the China Catering Industry Research Institute and delivery app Meituan have found that, while spice is still king, the milder flavors of Cantonese cooking are making a comeback. 1/7
sixthtone.com/news/1014342
2
35
165
51,199
Chinese netizens are using the phrase 乌心工作(wú xīn gōng zuò), or “too focused on Ukraine to work” to describe their distracted mindsets as they watch news filter in from the front.
Check out more Daily Tones: ow.ly/iE5y50I3XLF
3
43
148
Chinese gaming giant Tencent Games has applied its facial verification system to keep tabs on children and teenagers playing between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m.
“Anyone who refuses or fails the face verification will be treated as a minor … and kicked offline.”
ow.ly/bXJT50FpDuW
17
45
147
Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province, has drafted a policy requiring dim sum restaurants to label dishes as made using “traditional” or “non-traditional” methods and set up a talent-training system to protect the region’s culinary craft.
ow.ly/uIQV50XbGvV
13
153
67,745
Young Chinese are burning out in the grueling private sector their elders built. With this new generation realizing capitalism isn’t all it was cracked up to be, can Marxism make a comeback?
ow.ly/Qaxx50CEECz
6
26
131
The Chinese startup #Shein has won over Western shoppers by churning out trending styles at ultra-low prices. But at what cost?
A thread about the shady labor practices underpinning Shein’s fashion empire:
3
212
139
An elderly woman driving an amusement park ride on an open road has caught the attention of Chinese social media — and traffic police.
6
36
130
On Chinese online platforms, users serve as ‘cyber jurors,’ to settle minor conflicts, from mismanaged orders to late deliveries. So far, over 6 million have registered to participate in this unique system.
Read more: ow.ly/X4nq50QmRN9
18
120
27,763
The "Social Shake" has become a cultural phenomenon. So, what exactly is this viral song that it is breaking the Chinese internet?
ow.ly/4xGU30hmDPO
5
35
126
Students in China are calling on the U.S. government to revoke Proclamation 10043, which prohibits Chinese nationals affiliated with their country’s “military-civil fusion strategy” from pursuing graduate degrees or research programs at American schools.
ow.ly/dnD350EVC2K
39
61
133
According to activists, the Tmall ad is a rare step forward for LGBT acceptance and equality in China, where same-sex relationships are still largely taboo.
ow.ly/6spM50xRWFC
1
71
130
Welcome to the brave new world of “cos commission” — a wildly popular new service that is helping women across China bring their virtual boyfriends to life.
Read more: sixthtone.com/news/1012605
1
24
126
16,556
Shanghai, a city of 25 million people, has come to a standstill.
The government announced Sunday a two-phase lockdown measure to make its 25 million residents quarantine at home.
Here’s what that looks like.
1
54
124
Assisted by artificial intelligence tools, a vlogger has brought the old Beijing back to life by colorizing and restoring footage of the Chinese capital captured in the 1920s.
3
49
116
"I ask the students if they’ve lost respect for #American #democracy. Some of them nod yes" ow.ly/AKYj100tcvN
45
72
110
China’s National Development and Reform Commission is fed up with ugly, impractical buildings. In a notice published Tuesday, the agency said urban structures should be functional, environmentally friendly, and pleasant to look at.
Read more: ow.ly/jXv850EpbLu
8
28
122
In 1981, a Japanese photographer traveled the length and breadth of China, capturing the everyday lives of local children. Nearly 40 years later, his “Hello, Little Friends” project is getting another edition.
See more: ow.ly/VVCu50zVnmm
2
34
116
A 70-year-old man in northeastern China's Heilongjiang province amazed netizens with his seven-meter-long high-speed rail model made of snow.
Check out more Daily Tones: ow.ly/wgxz50HqyQx
2
24
109
Replug: Did Chinese kiss? It may seem like a silly question, but a book by scholar Hu Wenhui tries to resolve the debate over whether kissing has always been a part of Chinese courtship.
According to Hu, the earliest credible Chinese records regarding kissing can be found in Mawangdui, an archaeological site in central China known for its Han dynasty tombs (202 BC – AD 220).
Read more: ow.ly/eFF350X7bsH
5
9
123
28,682
Vendors are selling statues of Donald Trump as Buddha on e-commerce platform Taobao, with the mantra "make your company great again." Global Times reported that a seller said the idea was inspired by Trump's campaign slogan and his claims that he knew things better than anyone.
15
40
114
Large, rare animals are showing up unexpectedly in towns and villages across China — often for the first time in decades, or even centuries. Why have so many animals begun wandering into populated areas, apparently unafraid of the people living there?
ow.ly/GF5A50Kpm3V
37
34
121
A fire broke out in an office building in the central city of Changsha Friday afternoon. The fire has since been put out, according to domestic media reports. The number of casualties and injures are still unknown.
13
34
114
Japanese skater Yuzuru Hanyu didn’t land the first quadruple Axel during a Winter Olympics event Thursday. But millions of Chinese fans have rallied behind Hanyu, with veteran sports commentator Chen Ying often using poetic comments to describe his performances.
5
20
105
Across the country, museums are commissioning recreations of ancient artifacts. But beyond simple replicas, these efforts aim to revive the techniques and craftsmanship that shaped China’s cultural legacy.
2
16
104
16,476
The new lifestyle buzzword, “tang ping,” or “lie down,” reflects a resolution among China’s young people to just scrape by, exerting the bare minimum at an unfulfilling job, as opposed to the futility of raging against the capitalist machine.
ow.ly/f5qj50EWurR
5
20
104
Authorities in Jiangsu province managed to locate a wanted fugitive by tracking the distinctive scent of hot pot after learning he had recently purchased ingredients for the dish.
Read more: ow.ly/9iZX50w3Qo3
8
20
91
"Lion dancing is like life: You face a lot of difficulties, and you need to have a clear mind. Finally, you can reach life's peak. "
Meet these young lion dancers in Shenzhen.
1
41
104
Over more than 10 years, a Chinese woman wrote several million words of fake Russian history, creating 206 articles and contributing to hundreds more on Chinese Wikipedia. Some netizens are calling her China’s Borges.
ow.ly/ISPZ50JJqMT
3
44
105
Extremely online Chinese patriots are accusing the nuts brand Three Squirrels of “smearing Chinese people” by hiring a model with “slanted eyes” in 2019. The model questioned on Monday, “Am I not worthy of being Chinese because I have small eyes?”
17
29
91
Fifty-three-year-old street calligrapher Mr. Ren is keeping a craft from the past alive, painting Chinese slogans in streets across the eastern province of Anhui as accurately as in print form.
2
25
101
“To live with him is stress, stress, stress.”
Tired of her abusive husband, 56-year-old Su Min took the car and left. Her journey made her an icon for China’s unhappy housewives.
ow.ly/M0Cy50CUtE7
18
106
Dubbed the "potato city" of China, Ulanqab in the northern Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region is voting on a new potato statue aiming to “showcase the city’s taste and spirit of the times.” As of Friday, more than 20 percent of voters were not pleased with either design.
9
24
98
The distinguished Chinese translator Xu Yuanchong passed away on Thursday at the age of 100. Xu was known for his translations of ancient Chinese poems into English and French. 1/2
3
38
97
In China, animation, comics, and gaming are followed almost exclusively by the generation born after 1990. And the love this generation has for animation is gradually leading to what some optimists believe to be a Chinese animation renaissance.
ow.ly/gVOs50wQ387
2
51
94
A property developer in the eastern Shandong province was accused of luring potential home buyers by putting up a sign for a subway station that didn’t exist.
2
27
95
Zhengzhou, Henan province, suspended subway services on Tuesday after five days of torrential rain. Footage showed water pouring into a subway station in the capital city. More than 144,660 residents in the province have been affected by the heavy rains, according to Xinhua.
7
82
95
After becoming obsessed with a classic martial arts novel, a 25-year-old “wuxia” enthusiast dedicated two years to practicing his favorite character’s trademark technique — “flying needles.”
2
60
97
An elementary school in Hangzhou, eastern China’s Zhejiang province provided adjustable-height desks and reclining chairs for first grade students to lie flat while napping. Netizens are calling for more schools to follow suit. (Photos: Qianjiang Evening News)
25
87
Update: Peng Yinhua, a 29-year-old Wuhan doctor who had postponed his wedding to treat #COVID19 patients, died Thursday night after becoming infected with the virus, according to local health authorities.
3
65
88
“My family thinks I’m at work, just like they used to think I was in school.”
With tens of thousands of arcades shuttered from decades of policy and changing lifestyles, Xu Shouzhong’s arcade is the last one left in Shenyang, Liaoning province, a time capsule for the heady days of youth.
Read more: ow.ly/qxVz50WNvB0
1
37
94
7,721
Facing a difficult job market, highly educated Chinese have found a new way to monetize their degrees: “knowledge street vending.”
Read more: ow.ly/8lfo50OJKSz
5
25
84
52,142
Duan Shaojie started building giant #robot sculptures after seeing part of a #Transformers movie. Now, he's turned his hobby into a thriving business. ow.ly/NHsN30j5zTi
2
24
79
As time marches on, many classic Beijing sounds have disappeared — vendors, bells, more — but this man has collected hundreds of the sounds of old Beijing.
1
42
79
AI Game Mimicking Nosy Relatives Takes China by Storm
In the game, users must field questions from eight aunties and uncles one by one at a virtual family reunion. Users can progress to the next relative by fielding their personal questions without provoking an angry response. The closer the relative, the harsher they are, with the game’s final bosses being the parents themselves.
Read more: ow.ly/ClF550QxQBe
1
24
74
21,405
Chinese people are marrying more and more foreigners, raising a new question about China's national identity: What makes someone Chinese? ow.ly/9Vz730jQL3d
9
76
80