Chayan Yuese (茶颜悦色), the tea brand that refuses to franchise
Chayan Yuese (茶颜悦色), the Changsha tea brand that retired its English name Sexy Tea in 2022, ran 734 stores as of April 2026, every one of them operated by the company itself, and more than half of them in its home province of Hunan. In April 2026, Mixue (蜜雪冰城) counted 44,836 stores and CHAGEE (霸王茶姬) […]
How China’s stricter regulations reshape, not replace, vaping in China
China’s vaping market used to be fast-growing and free-for-all. Now it’s a tightly controlled, state-run system. Retail sales peaked at RMB 19.7 billion (USD 2.9 billion) in 2021 and then shrank to USD 2.67 billion. Rather than suppressing the market, strict regulations just changed how brands compete. Today, there are two markets running side by […]
China’s organic food market: Navigating scale, regulation, and the trust premium
Organic food refers to agricultural products produced under a strict regulatory system. This system strictly prohibits the usage of synthetic pesticides, chemical fertilizers, and genetic engineering. In China, organic food is entering a more established, commercially viable phase. Stricter regulations have strengthened the credibility of China’s organic food market. Meanwhile, rising demand for safer, higher-quality […]
Convenience stores in China: What’s becoming more important beyond convenience
In China’s convenience store industry, companies face rising price sensitivity, traffic shifting to discount snack stores, and intensifying competition from instant retail. In 2025, although 66.1% of companies achieved year-over-year sales growth, the momentum slowed compared to the previous two years. 81.4% and 70% of companies experienced growth in 2023 and 2024, respectively. Sales growth […]
How current lifestyle is shaping the Chinese sleep economy
As economic pressure and fast-paced urban lifestyles reshape daily routines, many people in China are experiencing growing levels of stress in both work and personal life. Sleep problems, particularly insomnia, have become an increasingly common concern. Long working hours, digital habits, and irregular schedules are contributing to shorter sleep duration and declining sleep quality for […]
Structural shift in consumption: The rise of the silver economy in China
Driven by one of the fastest-aging populations globally, China is entering a demographic turning point that will redefine how businesses, governments, and families think about aging, longevity, and value creation. The silver economy in China has become one of the most structurally important forces reshaping consumption, public policy, and service innovation. Understanding China’s seniors is […]
From beauty ideals to black market: The changing face of plastic surgery in China
In the bustling streets of modern China, a new trend is quietly reshaping the nation’s perception of beauty and self-improvement. Plastic surgery, once a taboo topic, has surged in popularity from both reconstructive and aesthetic aspects. Cosmetic surgery, a subset of plastic surgery, is now reshaping beauty standards, particularly among younger generations. Propelled by social […]
When nostalgia meets rebellion: The new face of Hello Kitty in China
In April 2025, Beast 野兽派, a leading Chinese lifestyle brand known for its premium floral products and artistic collaborations, launched a high-impact Hello Kitty pop-up campaign on Shanghai’s West Bund. Tapping into the strong cultural resonance of Hello Kitty in China, the activation aligned with the ongoing Shanghai Flower Show. It quickly gained traction on social media, generating […]
Skyward bound: charting the new global course of aircraft manufacturing
The Chinese aviation market is rapidly growing, boosted by a rising middle class and government support. With an average yearly growth of 10.5% over the past decade, as per the International Air Transport Association (IATA), China surpassed the U.S. as the largest aviation market in 2019 based on passenger numbers. To meet this demand China […]
Dongbei Renaissance: from industrial decline to cultural and economic renewal
The Northeast region, known as Dongbei (东北) in Chinese, encompasses Liaoning, Jilin, and Heilongjiang provinces, along with East Wuleng City in Inner Mongolia. Historical events, such as the Japanese invasion and the Civil War, unfolded on this fertile land, rich in natural resources like coal, fertile soil, and various minerals. During the first two decades […]
How can China, the leader in renewable energy but the world’s biggest carbon emitter, find its path to carbon neutrality by 2060
China is heavily investing in renewable energies to stay within the limits of its two carbon emission goals: to reach peak emission by 2030 and neutrality in 2060. While China is the biggest investor in renewable energy globally, it is simultaneously also the biggest emitter of CO2, as energy supply stability and continued economic growth […]
The ultimate guide to navigate the Chinese digital marketing ecosystem
The incredible popularity of instant messaging and online shopping in China, along with the adoption of smartphones, has greatly helped China in becoming the largest social network and e-commerce market. As of 2021, it is estimated that the total social network users and digital buyers in China reached 987.3 million and 824.5 million respectively. Behind […]