China’s golf market and why it’s about to look very different from the west
Golf is a sport traditionally characterized by vast, manicured nature with a high barrier to entry. For a country like China where the wealthy are clustered in tightly organized cities, often away from areas where hundreds of acres could be transformed into a golf course, it might not be a surprise that penetration is under […]
China’s tennis market: The fashion and frenzy behind the world’s second-largest tennis base
Racquet sports are one of the fastest-growing sport categories in China, and tennis is taking the lead. China’s tennis market has seen continued growth, bolstered by both celebrity and fashion. While the “Li Na effect” first sparked national interest in the 2010s, Zheng Qinwen’s recent triumphs have injected new momentum. This growth is proving more […]
China’s 2026 618 shopping festival: The quietest… and what that really means
According to Syntun, total online sales across all e-commerce platforms during the 2026 618 Shopping Festival totaled RMB 934 billion from May 13th to June 18th, representing slowed growth of 4% year-over-year. This shift is also evident in how brands are approaching the festival. Unlike in past years, major e-commerce platforms have generally stopped disclosing […]
Proya (珀莱雅): How a domestic beauty brand reached the top charts and what it faces next
In 2024, Proya became the first domestic beauty brand in China to record RMB 10.778 billion in annual revenue. More significant than the number was how it got there. Chinese skincare consumers had spent several years shifting from brand prestige to ingredient literacy. Proya built its product strategy entirely around that shift while international incumbents […]
China’s organic cosmetics market: Navigating regulation, scale, and consumer trust
Organic cosmetics are personal care products that leverage natural ingredients grown without synthetic pesticides. Under minimal processing, they retain active nutrients that the skin easily absorbs. Driven by these benefits, Chinese consumers are embracing natural skincare, causing China’s organic cosmetics market to boom rapidly. Although strict local laws disabled explicit “organic” packaging labels, analytical shoppers […]
From Kyrie to Curry: Chinese sportswear brands are signing basketball’s biggest stars
In June 2026, Stephen Curry ended thirteen years with Under Armour and signed a ten-year deal with Li-Ning, a partnership worth roughly USD 400 million that wasn’t even the most lucrative offer he received. It was the loudest moment yet in a quiet takeover. Across the NBA, Chinese sportswear brands are now signing the sport’s […]
RTD market trends in China: The emergence of a health-conscious consumer
Four criteria influence Chinese beverage consumers’ decisions (N=1,168, 2026 April) when purchasing ready-to-drink (RTD) drinks. When asked to select influencing factors (multiple choice), 41% cited taste, while 35% cited each of safety, health attributes, and functional benefits. And finally, functional benefits at 35%. It is reasonable to assume that a beverage combining these various requirements […]
Sauce and condiment market in China: What Chinese consumers seek from Western brands
China’s sauce and condiment market is becoming more segmented as consumers and foodservice players move beyond basic seasonings toward products that make cooking easier and more consistent. Soy sauce, vinegar, and salt remain daily staples, but compound condiments, or pre-mixed, ready-to-use sauce blends that combine multiple ingredients and flavors into a single product, are gaining […]
The 2026 World Cup in China: Opportunities for brands when the home team is absent and the games air at dawn
China did not qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and for the first time the tournament is hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico. For Chinese viewers that means kickoffs land roughly between 3 and 10 a.m. Beijing time, a drastic reverse of the convenient evening slots of Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022. […]
Sun protection in China: the market that’s growing, shrinking, and transforming all at once
Chinese consumers, whose skin tends to both burn and tan, treat sun protection as a daily routine that prevents tanning, keeps skin bright, and slows aging. As a result, demand for sun protection in China runs all year and appears across many product types. China’s sun protection market is really two markets moving in opposite […]
Price wars are losing their edge in China’s automotive industry
The automotive industry in China has indeed become increasingly competitive, especially with Chinese brands scaling production quickly and delivering high tech cars at affordable prices. However, following the intense price wars, consumers are shifting to more value-driven purchases. While price remains a key purchasing factor, they are also evaluating the value of the car and […]
China’s fashion industry: Growth returns, but consumers are more selective
China remains an indispensable pillar of the global fashion economy. On the consumption side, the mainland is one of the world’s largest apparel consumer markets and the world’s third-largest personal luxury goods market. On the production side, China remains the world’s largest exporter of textiles and clothing products. In 2025, retail sales of apparel, footwear, […]