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) […]
Basketball in China: An unshakable market cruising along strong regulatory tailwinds
When the Phoenix Suns and Brooklyn Nets tipped off in Macao in October 2025, the headlines focused on the NBA’s return to Mainland China after a six-year freeze-out. While the NBA was shut out, an enormous domestic basketball market grew up. Today, China is the world’s second biggest basketball market behind the United States, propelled […]
174,000 openings, 137,000 closures in a year: The evolution and uncertain future of Chinese modern tea sector
The Chinese modern tea sector has matured significantly since 2020, completing a transition from a volume-driven expansion model to a quality-focused era. In terms of growth, we can see this reflected in the shift from an average growth rate of 24.9% CAGR between 2017 and 2022 to a growth rate of 6.4% in 2024. The […]
How Gen Z is driving the secondhand market in China
The idea of using secondhand products was once not widely embraced, but today, the secondhand market is thriving in China, signaling a shift in consumer behavior and opening up new opportunities. This market, which was once seen as a niche, is now becoming a significant part of the economy, especially with the support of digital […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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. […]