China Trend Watch: AI Actor Debate, Tragedy in China’s “Fireworks Capital,” and the Viral Labubu Fridge

From AI-generated film releases to popular “micro-vacations”, these are the digital & social trends shaping Chinese online conversations this May Day…

May 6 • Manya Koetse

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April 2026

Quick Eye: AI Drama Takedowns, Meta’s Blocked Deal, and "Lying Flat" Conspiracies

Catch up on the week's most critical China trends in 3 minutes.

Apr 29 • Manya Koetse

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From “Ching Chong” to “Pocket Asian”: The Prada 2 Debate in China

How a niche online debate was amplified into a global “racism” story, and why the real discussion runs deeper

Apr 26 • Manya Koetse

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Su Chao Fever, Mo Yan’s "Scrollable" Book, and Why Li Xiaoran is China’s New Office Icon

This week in China: Grassroots football fever, a Nobel laureate writes for the TikTok era, France's cultural relic bill, and a 19-year-old’s blind box…

Apr 22 • Manya Koetse

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Quick Eye: What’s Trending in China in 2 Minutes 

From global brands to campus message boards — a quick scan of what’s trending on the Chinese internet

Apr 14 • Manya Koetse

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Cancel-Proof: The Rise of China’s AI Actors

China’s AI actors are on the rise, but not everyone's buying it. The Chinese microdrama industry offers a glimpse of what’s to come for the broader film…

Apr 10 • Manya Koetse and Ruix Z

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Chinese Postdoc Death Raises Questions as Key Details Remain Missing

About a widely discussed Chinese researcher’s death and the unanswered questions surrounding it. (Added update on April 3rd, 2026.)

Apr 1 • Manya Koetse

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March 2026

"Auntie Mei" Captured After 20 Years, China's Train-Stain Scandal, and Zhang Xuefeng’s Final Lesson

The major talking points on Chinese social media: from the capture of a notorious child trafficker and unexpected death of Zhang Xuefeng, to one of the…

Mar 24 • Manya Koetse

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AI Lobsters, 6G, Two Sessions, and DIY Deities

AI lobsters going viral, farmer pensions emerging as a key Two Sessions talking point, and humanoid robots running through Beijing. These are the…

Mar 15 • Manya Koetse

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Two Sessions, a Celebrity Meltdown, and the Rise of China’s “Forget It” Mindset

Inside this week's trends: Two Sessions talking points, a Weibo traffic driver, and a pet gym in Shanghai charging $275 a month.

Mar 8 • Manya Koetse

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From Armchair Generals to Women’s Rights Defenders: Inside the Great Chinese Debate Over the Iran War

From official hashtags to netizens cheering for women’s liberation, this is how China’s online discourse has taken shape this week.

Mar 4 • Manya Koetse

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February 2026

Spring Festival Trend Watch: Gala Highlights, Small-City Travel, and the Mazu Ritual Controversy

One Shanghai woman was so disappointed by what her boyfriend's parents served for Chinese New Year that she ended the relationship over it.

Feb 22 • Manya Koetse

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