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 […]
How the zoo and aquarium industry in China is overcoming monotony
In the zoo and aquarium industry in China, many parks have been for failing to innovate, mainly relying on animals without offering new experiences to encourage repeat visits. However, those that have transformed into immersive and comprehensive spaces — incorporating hotels, restaurants and attractions — are successfully bringing more people. Download the winter sports market […]
From milk tea to chili sauce: Can Sexy Tea (茶颜悦色) catch up with CHAGEE (霸王茶姬)?
Founded in 2013 in Changsha, Hunan, Sexy Tea (茶颜悦色) built its brand around “New Chinese-style Fresh Tea”(新中式鲜茶) focusing primarily on light milk tea (轻乳茶). Thanks to its distinctive flavor and exclusive local business model, it quickly gained popularity. However, while its reputation soared, Sexy Tea remained cautious about expansion and only ventured beyond Changsha […]
POP MART in China: How it became a brand that pops to mind
In July 2016, POP MART in China introduced blind boxes, signifying its evolution from a conventional toy distributor to a pop toy intellectual property operator. Not long after in 2020, it was listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, paving the way for international expansion. Its revenue from Mainland China in the first half of […]
China’s toys market: a new addiction among kids and adults?
Many people know China as the world’s largest toy exporter. It has a solid manufacturing reputation, especially in the southeastern provinces. Indeed, China’s toys market has consistently exhibited positive growth over the last ten years. In 2023, the size of China’s toy market stood at a substantial RMB 159.8 billion, indicating that the demand for […]
Dating apps in China: Meet the platforms bringing China’s singles together
Balancing work, personal development, social and romantic life is becoming increasingly challenging for Chinese people due to the fast pace of the modern environment. This leaves a lot of singles without life partners, especially in big cities. Recent data released by China’s Ministry of Civil Affairs reveals that the rate drastically decreased from approximately 13.5 […]
How the fight against youth unemployment in China will change the economy for the long term
The Chinese economy is currently in a phase of slow economic growth that is affecting various sectors of its social landscape. In the last few months, the sharp surge of youth unemployment in China has attracted attention. However, countermeasures have been put in place to respond to this problem. Will the high youth unemployment rate […]
Barbie in China: From limited appeal to cinematic success
Barbie is an iconic and globally recognized toy created by the American toy company Mattel. The American toy firm Mattel produced the iconic and well-known Barbie. Since her debut in 1959, Barbie has evolved into much more than a mere doll; she has become a cultural phenomenon and a representation of play, fashion, and imagination. […]
Gen Z are pursuing chill vibes (松弛感) on Chinese work culture: Is it time to say “bye” to 996?
Modern-day Chinese work culture is focusing on a strict hierarchical structure and long work hours. Clocking on an average 48.7 hours of work a week in 2023, Chinese employees are often compelled to make sacrifices for their employers. The IT sector in China is particularly infamous for its long work hours and lack of holidays. But as […]
“Why are rural elders reluctant to retire in the city”: Trending hashtag on Chinese social media
According to China’s Population and Development Research Center (中国人口与发展研究中心), by 2050, the number of people over the age of 80 in the country will quadruple. This means that China has entered the era of longevity and become home to the world’s largest elderly population. Facing a rapidly aging population, people are increasingly taking an active […]
“Are you an old spirit (精神老年人)”: Trending hashtag on Chinese social media
Although having a busy schedule is often perceived as being successful or at least competitive in the workplace, some young people are turning their backs on the hustle culture. On Chinese social media, Douban (豆瓣), there is a group of users who call themselves “old spirits (精神老年人)”, which refers to young people whose lifestyle, daily […]
How health-conscious consumers are transforming the Chinese beverage market
The beverage industry in China is booming, thanks to the recovery of social events like parties and wedding banquets after the pandemic. The market grew to 1.25 trillion RMB (182 billion USD) in 2022 and produced 183.3 million tons in 2021. The most popular beverages in China in 2022 were packaged drinking water, carbonated beverages, […]