Fresh explainers, culture news, practical guides, and evergreen stories for readers who want to understand China with context.
Quick answer: in mainland China, the price on the menu is the price you pay. Servers are paid hourly wages by the restaurant owner, not by tip. Service may be slower and less attentive than …
You walk into a coffee shop on Shanghai’s Anfu Road. On the menu, a flat white costs ¥38 and is named 醒狮 (lion dance, the wake-up lion). The cup …
You’ve arranged your bedroom just the way you like it. The sheets are clean, the lighting is soft, and you’ve invested in a quality …
Walk down any main street in Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, or Chengdu, and you will see it: young people walking with tall, clear plastic cups filled …
Walk into any major Chinese city today and you will find them on nearly every corner: shared workspaces with glass walls, industrial-chic lighting, …
China’s AI and Automation Revolution: How Artificial Intelligence Is Reshaping Everyday Life Walk through any major Chinese city in 2026, and …
Walk through any Chinese city park at 6 AM, and you will see a scene that surprises many visitors: hundreds of people practicing tai chi in …
On any weekend in China’s major parks — from the Summer Palace in Beijing to the West Lake in Hangzhou — you will see young people dressed in …
China’s Pet Economy: How Cats, Dogs, and a New Generation Built a Billion-Yuan Industry On a Saturday afternoon in Shanghai, a woman in her late …
China’s Camping and Outdoor Trend: How Young Urbanites Found Escape in the Wild On a Friday afternoon in Shanghai, 28-year-old graphic designer …
Wanghong Economy: How China Built a Billion-Dollar Industry on Smartphones and Personality In a Shanghai apartment, a young woman turns on her ring …