As Europe struggles through record heat, Chinese social media is turning the story into something much bigger than the weather. Plus: the graduation speech everyone is talking about & more. Here’s ...

How information surrounding the CITIC Tower crash was managed, from a five-day media blackout to a sixth-day official narrative. My premium newsletter covering the stories, memes, debates, and viral ...

If it walks like a duck, it might just be Auntie Goose Legs. A wrap-up of noteworthy trending stories in China. From the real Rolex recruiting fake crowds to diaper scares & a funny Deepseek moment.

📌 The Major May Day Holiday The upcoming May Day holiday is about to start, and because it runs from May 1–7 this year, it’s being called a “super holiday” and a time for “cultural tourism spending” ...

Watch the CGM Spring Festival Gala with us. It’s that special annual evening show that captures millions of viewers on the night of the Chinese New Year. Loved by many, hated by some, it always ...

2026 hasn’t exactly seen a peaceful start. In a shocking turn of geopolitical events, Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro was captured by the US on Saturday. Facing narco-terrorism charges, he was flown ...

From mockery of his pro-gun stance to posts over America’s deepening divisions, Chinese social media responds to the Charlie Kirk shooting. The assassination of prominent American activist and Trump ...

These days have been filled with tension and anger in the city of Jiangyou (江油市), Sichuan, after a rare, large-scale protest broke out following public outrage over a severe bullying incident and how ...

🔥 This column also appeared in the Weibo Watch newsletter. Subscribe to stay in the loop. Earlier this month, a female Weibo user nicknamed “The Armpit-Haired Dude” (@腋毛大汉) posted an exposé on Weibo, ...

From ugly-cute rebellion to a new kind of ‘C-pop,’ the breakout success of Wakuku sheds light on Chinese consumer culture and the forces driving China’s trend toy industry. Wakuku is the most ...

Labubu is not ‘Chinese’ at all—and at the same time, it is very much a product of present-day China. Labubu – the hottest toy of 2025 – is making headlines everywhere these days. The little creature ...

China has a thriving gaming culture with far-reaching impact — not just on pop culture, but on language too. Even those who aren’t into gaming inevitably use expressions that come from it. RealTime ...