China Insider

News.

What we're reading, writing, and arguing about — every week.

Business

Häagen-Dazs built the idea of “premium ice cream” in China. Now a local brand is quietly taking that spot.

Häagen-Dazs built the idea of “premium ice cream” in China. Now a local brand is quietly taking that spot.

Apr 241 min read
Food

Pizza Hut’s burger era in China just got very real

Pizza Hut in China is no longer just “also selling burgers.

Apr 221 min read
Business

Pizza Hut’s burger move in China isn’t just a menu update — it’s a strategic response to how people are eating now.

Pizza Hut’s burger move in China isn’t just a menu update — it’s a strategic response to how people are eating now.

Apr 221 min read
Tech

This humanoid marathon had everything: some bots fighting for their lives, others casually breaking records 🤖

On April 19, the 2026 Beijing Yizhuang Humanoid Robot Half Marathon wrapped — and this year, it officially turned into a “did that just happen?

Apr 201 min read
Lifestyle

Gen Z are now using shopping malls to play PUBG in real life

Gen Z in China just found a new use for shopping malls — turning them into full-on real-life PUBG arenas after dark.

Apr 161 min read
Travel

Shanghai's giant “messy dog” sculpture went viral before it even opened — and it's 3 stories tall

Shanghai just got a new viral icon — and it’s literally a giant “messy” dog made of plants 🐶🌿 In April 2026, a 5.

Apr 151 min read
Viral

China's latest viral quiz isn't MBTI — it's a brutally unserious drag of your entire personality

China’s internet just found its newest personality obsession, and this one is proudly dumb.

Apr 141 min read
Business

This Chinese pesticide company went viral for looking exactly like Resident Evil's Umbrella

China’s internet has a new “wait what?” company, and no, it’s not from the gaming industry.

Apr 121 min read
Tech

Xiaomi's latest product launch has people lining up… and it's not what you think 😭

Xiaomi just proved its product logic runs deep… like, even into ice cream 🍦 On April 9, during its internal 2026 Values Conference, Xiaomi’s cafeteria…

Apr 111 min read
Travel

China's Xiang Yu NPC competition just ended — and the winner has a wild backstory

China just turned one of its most iconic historical figures into a full-on NPC hiring event — and yes, it blew up online.

Apr 101 min read
Fashion

Xiaomi's YU7 just entered its high-fashion era with Maison Margiela

Xiaomi just gave its YU7 one of its most unexpected upgrades yet — by turning it into Maison Margiela’s official fashion week car in Shanghai 🚗🤍 For…

Apr 81 min read
Food

Shanghai’s viral sheep matcha is so popular now, people are lining up an hour to “kill” it

Shanghai’s latest queue obsession is not a luxury drop or a new pop-up — it’s a tiny sheep floating on matcha 🐑🍵 At Matcha Wang on Huaihai Middle Road…

Apr 61 min read