In late January, a Chinese start-up unveiled an artificial intelligence (AI) model that it says outperforms its peers. As familiar as this sounds, the company in question is not DeepSeek. Rather, what the appearance of another Chinese AI model like Moonshot’s Kimi k1.5 shows is that China’s rapid AI iterations are no anomaly – they…
A company in southern China has sparked public outrage for mandating that its staff use the toilet during specific time slots, contending that this policy aligns with an ancient Chinese medicine text. Three Brothers Machine Manufacturing Company, situated in Foshan, Guangdong province, introduced the Toilet Usage Management Rule on February 11, aiming to maintain order,…
Some Japanese tour agencies and hotels are elevating holiday travel by offering a snow-shovelling experience as a unique tourist attraction for overseas visitors. During the week-long Spring Festival holiday in January and February, mainland China recorded 7.7 million entry-exit trips. Japan emerged as one of the top international destinations for Chinese tourists, with tourism orders…
A woman in China has invented a clever and straightforward method using a rope and a large piece of cloth to create a tent over her hotel bed, aiming to shield herself from potential hidden cameras. Her innovative approach has sparked a discussion about privacy concerns in hotels. The woman, known by her surname Dang…
Since its rapid rise, the Chinese artificial intelligence start-up DeepSeek has faced considerable scrutiny from some Western countries but that is unlikely to be the case in the Global South where observers say it offers great potential. According to observers, this means DeepSeek’s success could be a huge boost for China’s soft power, especially in…
A woman from southwestern China misidentified a firecracker as a milk confectionery, resulting in mouth injuries when it exploded unexpectedly, alarming many and raising concerns about misleading packaging. The woman, surnamed Wu, from Chengdu in Sichuan province, shared her experience on social media, revealing that the packaging of a specific type of firecracker, commonly known…
A four-year-old girl in rural China has been affectionately dubbed the “electric daughter” by mainland internet users for her adorable, carefree nature, amassing an impressive 21 million followers online. Her parents, who lovingly refer to her as Yaoyao, began sharing videos of her daily activities on Douyin in 2021. She skyrocketed to fame the following…
Hong Kong’s economic recovery is likely to be hindered by America’s decision to impose a 10 per cent tariff on Chinese goods, with the move to also exacerbate the woes of small and medium-sized enterprises, business leaders and lawmakers have warned. They also said on Saturday that the local government was facing increasing pressure to…
Chinese travellers opted for adventures closer to home during this year’s Lunar holiday, taking journeys by road and train rather than flying abroad, with increased spending defying concerns of a slowdown in consumption. A woman and child beat a drum at a carnival during a national holiday on the sixth day of the Lunar New…
From snake-themed events to whether your luck is in: discover all you need to know about the Lunar New Year in our Year of the Snake 2025 series. Chinese President Xi Jinping, US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are going to shape – and possibly reshape – the world in the coming…