China Insider

News.

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

Tech

Alibaba’s Qwen AI Gives Away Free Milk Tea — Stores Nationwide Swamped With Orders

Chinese milk tea shops just survived what netizens are calling the “AI boba apocalypse.

Feb 141 min read
Travel

China’s Gen Z Is “Evil Cult Packing” During Chinese New Year Chunyun — And It’s Genius

Every year around Chinese New Year, hundreds of millions of people across China return home to reunite with family — a massive movement known as chunyun, or…

Feb 121 min read
Entertainment

Eileen Gu Brings a Fan-Gifted Labubu to the Olympics — And It Steals the Show

During the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Eileen Gu proved once again that she’s built different.

Feb 111 min read
Tech

By 2026, you may not tell if a video is AI — thanks to Seedance 2.0

ByteDance just turned a corner in AI video — and the internet is buzzing. Its new Seedance 2.

Feb 101 min read
Business

KFC teams up with SpongeBob for a Chinese New Year toy drop in China

KFC just turned Chinese New Year into a full-on cartoon variety show.

Feb 81 min read
Lifestyle

The “hunter type” boyfriend is China’s latest romance obsession

Got you — the idea is cute and very CI-coded, but right now it does feel a bit long and slightly repetitive, especially around “bringing things home / small…

Feb 61 min read
Fashion

LOEWE & Wang Yibo bring a Chinese classic back to life for the Year of the Horse

LOEWE just dropped a Lunar New Year collab that’s equal parts nostalgia and high-fashion daydream.

Feb 51 min read
Viral

How Draco Malfoy Accidentally Became China’s Year of the Horse Icon

Chinese New Year internet logic strikes again — and this time, it unexpectedly pulled Draco Malfoy into the festive spotlight 🧧😂.

Feb 31 min read
Business

Wanglaoji Goes Ultra-Luxury: “Diamond Wanglaoji” Priced at ¥18.28M 💎

Legendary Chinese herbal tea Wanglaoji — the brand many of us grew up grabbing at corner stores — just took a turn into the ultra-luxury world that even…

Feb 21 min read
Travel

Chinese New Year Surprise: UK and Canada Get 30-Day Visa-Free Access to China 🎉

Remember a few days ago when we told you China was planning visa-free travel for UK and Canadian passport holders? Well — it’s official now 🎉✈️.

Feb 11 min read
Lifestyle

This Chinese grandma moved to Canada — and built her comeback with LEGO

Meet Zhao Yushu, an 85-year-old Chinese grandma who’s proving that Lego isn’t just for kids — it can be therapy, culture, and pure joy wrapped into one.

Jan 281 min read
Business

Luckin moves into Starbucks’ old Shanghai flagship — and keeps the 9.9 RMB price

In early 2026, Shanghai’s coffee scene got a plot twist.

Jan 261 min read