China–Australia relations have entered a steady, productive phase. The days of patching over diplomatic tensions are largely behind us, and the focus now is on building genuine, long-term cooperation. High-level visits, policy alignment, and business deals demonstrate that both sides view this partnership as crucial to regional stability and shared economic growth. Trade no longer […]

In Q3 2024, WeChat Mini Programs facilitated over RMB 2 trillion in gross merchandise value (GMV), driven by expanded services like food delivery, EV charging, and medical services. Meanwhile, Tencent reported that its Marketing Services revenue grew 17% year-on-year, powered largely by demand across Mini Programs, Weixin Search (搜一搜), and Video Accounts (视频号). These numbers […]

Over the past two decades, China has evolved from an importer of Western cosmetics into the world’s second-largest beauty market. In 2024, its cosmetics and personal-care exports reached 51.2 billion yuan (US$7.2 billion), up 11.9 percent year-on-year. By mid-2025, exports climbed another 12 percent to 18.7 billion yuan. Chinese skincare brands are no longer imitators. […]

When it comes to messaging apps in Asia, WeChat and LINE are two of the most prominent names in the industry. However, while LINE has carved out a solid niche in places like Japan and Taiwan, WeChat has taken things to another level entirely, evolving into a full-blown “super app” that’s practically essential for daily […]

The Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) is China’s flagship regional integration project, linking two Special Administrative Regions (Hong Kong and Macao) with nine mainland cities in Guangdong Province (Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Huizhou, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen, and Zhaoqing).  In 2024, the mega-region covered approximately 56,000 km² and housed over 87 million residents. Beijing’s vision […]

China is now the world’s fastest-growing hub for digital trade. In the first half of 2024, cross-border e-commerce reached 1.22 trillion yuan (US$171 billion), a 10.5% year-over-year increase. Giants like Alibaba, JD.com, and Pinduoduo are investing in supply-chain innovation, while Shein and Temu exploit the U.S. “de minimis” rule to ship low-value goods duty-free. For global SMEs, Chinese B2B marketplaces have become essential. They offer verified suppliers, escrow protection, […]

China’s social media landscape in 2025 is grappling with a long-standing open secret: the prevalence of fake accounts and fabricated engagement on major platforms, especially Sina Weibo. Weibo – often referred to as China’s Twitter – has 588 million monthly active users, but not all are genuine individuals.  A vast ecosystem of “zombie” followers, professional […]

What defines beauty in China today—and why is the world paying attention? From porcelain skin to V-shaped faces, Chinese beauty standards are more than personal preference; history, media, and digital culture shape them. Rooted in imperial ideals and refined over centuries of art, these standards now evolve in real-time on platforms like Douyin and RedNote.  […]

Pop Mart isn’t just a toy brand anymore—it’s a cultural signal for China’s Gen Z. With characters like Labubu and Molly, it transformed collectible toys into lifestyle essentials, tapping into a desire for self-expression, nostalgia, and aesthetic identity. By 2024, Pop Mart’s revenue had reached RMB 13.04 billion, a 107% increase from the previous year. […]

Nowadays, involution (内卷) and lying flat (躺平) have become defining terms in China. Involution describes a cycle where everyone works harder but gains less, while lying flat reflects a conscious refusal to chase hollow milestones.  Competition in education and the workforce has reached new heights, and many young adults feel dissatisfied and frustrated. According to […]

Pop Mart (泡泡玛特) didn’t just sell toys—it built a movement. What started as a niche art toy store in Beijing is now a multi-billion-yuan empire reshaping how China and the world experience collectibles. At the core? A “blind box” format—sealed packaging, mystery figures inside, and a psychology that keeps fans coming back for more. But […]

China’s digital commerce is surging ahead of the rest of the world. In 2024, online retail sales surpassed US$3 trillion, driven by over 1.1 billion internet users. Mobile payments have become an integral part of daily life, with more than 600 million consumers now shopping directly through live streams. This shift has created a “shoppertainment” […]