World News by Wild Rose

A viral interview with Chinese professor-influencer Liang Yongan has reignited the debate over China’s evolving marriage norms after he argued that at least one-third of people in the country are ill-suited for marriage. Liang, 72, a professor of Chinese language and literature at Fudan University in Shanghai, has emerged as a significant voice on mainland social media, attracting nearly one million followers with his candid observations on youth culture, relationships, and social change. The...

Rice may be the most universal ingredient in the world, serving as a cornerstone of the diet for billions in Asia. However, for much of Chinese history, rice faced a serious competitor, and entire cultures developed around a different cereal grain, one that has since diminished in significance: millet. Millet is a cereal grain that behaves and tastes similarly to rice but has a rounder form. It is often used in porridge, stir-fries, or even fritters. In certain regions of China, millet is...

A 20-year-old woman who collects and sorts rubbish in eastern China gained online fame after her modelling talents were discovered by the renowned self-made “village supermodel” Lu Xianren, who shares a similar childhood background. Identified by her alias Chaoren Leng (translated as “Superman Leng” in English), the woman assists her boyfriend’s father in managing his rubbish collection business in Taizhou, Zhejiang province, as reported by Shenzhen TV. Born Leng Minghui in a village in Fuyang,...

China's economy and tech have developed at breakneck speed, but there is plenty worrying its Gen Z.

Frustrated by low-quality materials, careless craftsmanship, and escalating prices, some young women in China are taking matters into their own hands by learning to sew their own underwear, accessories, and handbags. This summer, a surge of sewing enthusiasts flocked to RedNote to showcase their handmade creations. Many beginners embarked on their journey with underwear, assuming it would be a straightforward first project due to its minimal fabric requirements. However, they quickly encountered...

Mooncakes, a sweet staple for China’s annual Mid-Autumn Festival, are not just for people any more. Humans are pulling back, but dogs are digging in. So are cats. Pet mooncakes are popping up across China, from major retailers such as Sam’s Club to online stores and small bakeries. And many are quickly selling out. In the southwestern metropolis of Chengdu, a pack of pet mooncakes selling online for about 50 yuan (US$8) has racked up thousands of sales, news outlet thecover.cn reported. In the...

A woman in China, who dedicated over two decades to her career as a doctor, made a surprising choice three years ago to leave her profession and open a steamed stuffed bun store. As time passed, her store not only survived but flourished in the competitive food industry, prompting her to launch a second outlet in July. “When I was a doctor, the thought of quitting often crossed my mind. Now, running a bun shop keeps me busy and tired, but I am so happy that I can’t stop,” said Dong Min, 48, in...

Foreign visitors to China who choose to stay somewhere other than a hotel can now register their accommodation with the authorities online, which analysts say will make travelling to the country more convenient. China’s Exit and Entry Administration Law mandates that foreigners register their accommodation with the police within 24 hours of arrival. Those who fail to do so could be issued a warning or fined up to 2,000 yuan (US$298). This applies both to foreign visitors arriving in the country...

A woman from northern China has been reunited with her biological family after 26 years, with striking before-and-after images from her disappearance renewing public attention on the plight of human trafficking survivors. Sun Meihua, from Shandong province, was located after an online user known as Chuxin shared her story. During a visit to a village captured on video, Chuxin encountered Sun, who had greying hair, a frail demeanour and signs of cognitive difficulties. Chuxin soon learned that...

Children in China are embracing the trend of consuming “homework” made from rice paper as a way to alleviate their heavy study burdens, raising concerns regarding food safety. Recently, a snack called “homework” has gained viral popularity among primary and secondary school students. These snacks resemble miniature versions of Chinese textbooks and workbooks, but they are marketed as entirely edible. On China’s e-commerce platforms, these edible workbooks are priced at less than 0.50 yuan (7.5...

Uzbekistan’s recent confirmation that China’s J-10CE fighters have entered into service in its air force ended months of speculation. It is the latest of three developments that include Pakistan’s use of J-10CEs in combat last year and Bangladesh’s draft procurement paper for the Chinese aircraft. Read separately, each looks like a win for the J-10CE. Taken together, however, they show something narrower: the Chinese aircraft is gaining export traction without yet winning a clean contest against...

Guangzhou police apprehended a man in the city’s university town district after receiving reports that he was wielding a knife and injuring pedestrians, according to a police statement. According to an alert by the Panyu district branch of the Guangzhou Municipal Public Security Bureau, at about 5.20pm local time, emergency services received calls about multiple stabbings in front of a hotpot restaurant in the district’s Xiaoguwei Island. The bureau said in a social media post that police...

101 East explores how ancient traditions are getting a modern makeover as young Chinese seek new ways to find love.

A junior secondary school in southern China has faced significant backlash since implementing a quota that restricts students to using the toilet only once during class for the entire term. This toilet policy was highlighted in a photo reportedly taken by a teacher at Ruyuan County High School in Guangdong province during an internal management meeting in late August, as reported by the Xiaoxiang Morning Herald. Concerning classroom discipline, the school specifies that each student is permitted...

A 106-year-old man in eastern China has inspired many online with his unconventional lifestyle and enduring marriage. Wang Dinggao, from Rui’an in Zhejiang province, remains remarkably independent despite experiencing some hearing loss, according to the mainland media outlet Daxiang News. In contrast to most people, he adheres to a “reverse schedule”: sleeping around 4 or 5pm, waking at 1am, enjoying breakfast at 3am before embarking on his morning walk. His son has adapted to this unusual...

A foreign cargo ship caught fire on Thursday morning while docked for repairs in the eastern Chinese city of Qingdao, causing heavy casualties, state broadcaster CCTV reported. The report did not mention the number of killed or injured. President Xi Jinping has given orders to find those missing in the fire. More to follow...

“I do not want to stop [searching]. If I pause, I start thinking about my brothers and sisters and all the moments of my life here.” Gui Xinwei, deputy chief of the Gyirong Border Inspection Station, was speaking to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV from the ruins of his workplace, seven days after the devastating mudslide erased the port crossing where China and Nepal meet. “I just don’t want to stop.” Gui was away on holiday on August 26 when a glacier collapsed in Nepal, triggering a massive...

Authorities in central China have joined forces in an effort to investigate suspected industrial dumping on the Yangtze River following the release of rare drone footage of the activity. The environment bureau in the Hubei city of Wuhan said on Monday that it had launched the inquiry in association with police and transport authorities. The announcement comes less than two weeks after Beijing revised performance assessment rules for officials, holding them accountable for life for serious...

Behind many sexual difficulties lie questions that extend far beyond the confines of the bedroom. After years of assisting clients in navigating issues of intimacy and relationships, one of China’s pioneering sex therapists has observed how gaps in education and communication shape individuals’ most private struggles. Originally from Taiwan, Tong Songzhen began her career as a nurse before attaining a doctorate in sexology from Shu-Te University. Since 2016, she has established sex therapy...

Radically rewriting world and Chinese history without solid proof could threaten China’s international image and national identity, a leading Communist Party journal has warned. There has been a growing trend to promote a less Western-centric view of history in recent years, while Beijing has also been keen to promote the idea that Chinese civilisation has a long and continuous history. But at the same time, the so-called pseudo-historical school – which has cast doubt on the origins of Western...

More than 5,500 people are still missing in China and Nepal after catastrophic floods across the two countries.

Severe flooding in China’s Fujian province has caused a three-storey building to collapse.

An impoverished county in southwestern China issued an apology for arranging its primary and junior secondary school teachers on stage to pose for photos alongside prominent characters depicting humiliation due to their students’ low test scores. The images, which went viral on social media, sparked widespread public condemnation. They were captured at an internal meeting organised by the Leibo County Education Bureau in Sichuan province in late August, as reported by Zhengzai News. During an...

The trend of wearing disposable clothing while travelling gained popularity among Chinese internet users this summer, drawing criticism for its environmental impact. The term “disposable clothing” recently had gone viral on social media, with its hashtag accumulating 6.8 million views and 135,000 discussions on one platform. People shared their experiences of wearing disposable clothing on their trips, highlighting it as an economical choice. One individual noted that she bought five sets of...

A woman in China, suffering from severe scoliosis, has gone viral after accusations that she is “making money by doing nothing” surfaced. This scrutiny followed the revelation that her boyfriend, Yan Ruize, worked gruelling food-delivery shifts to fund her much-needed surgery. He Ling, 23, hails from southwest China’s Sichuan province and was diagnosed with congenital scoliosis – a sideways curvature of the spine – at five years old. Now, at just 1.35 metres tall and weighing 31.5kg, she...