Stories about Chinese from January, 2014
China's Propaganda-Heavy New Year's Gala Fails to Impress Viewers
Known as Chunwan, the variety show regularly draws tens of millions of viewers every year and has become an essential part of Spring Festival celebrations. But its popularity is dwindling.
Old Video of Official Slapping Chinese Tennis Star Li Na Goes Viral
China's sports system is notorious for its abuse of athletes.
China Awards Tennis Champion Li Na With Six-Figure Prize
The Chinese local authorities’ decision to award 800,000 yuan to China's tennis superstar Li Na shortly after her triumph at the Australian Open has triggered criticism among Chinese netizens.
Alarm Bells Ringing (Again) Over China's Housing Bubble
Continuously jumping home prices has raised concerns again about real estate bubble in China as the government refrains from introducing more property curbs that would hinder economic growth.
China Sentences Citizens’ Movement Icon Xu Zhiyong to Four Years in Prison
His imprisonment is part of a crackdown by new Chinese Communist Party leadership under President Xi Jinping against political liberals who have been trying to advocate for constitutional reform.
Chinese-Style ‘Tiger’ Parenting Triggers Complaints Among Younger Generation
"[They] kill innocence during children's’ childhoods, kill our romance during adolescence and kill our will during our youth."
Zhihu: A New Space for Questions and Discussion in China
Since China's crackdown on the most popular social media Sina Weibo, a new online platform Zhihu has become popular among public intellectuals as a space for rich discussion. Similar to Quora.com, Zhihu allows Chinese web users to post questions, with the best responses upvoted by others. It is free from...
China Arrests Ilham Tohti, Peaceful Advocate for Uyghur Minority
Chinese Communist Party mouthpiece Global Times accused university professor Ilham Tohti of being a separatist. His supporters maintain he opposes violence and independence for the Uyghur people.
Most Annoying Emoticons and Expressions in Chinese Online Communication
An online survey has revealed a list of the most objectionable expressions and emoticons in online communication of 2013. More from Nanfang insider.
Indonesian Maid Says She Was Beaten, Starved and Burned in Hong Kong
Another damning case of foreign maid abuse has recently been exposed in Hong Kong. Activist groups are working together to end this modern-day slave system.
One Million Yuan to Hire a Girlfriend for Chinese New Year
"I'm too busy with work, mom is pressuring me to get married, so I sincerely plan to hire a girlfriend to take home."
Photos: Chinese New Year Holiday Travel Rush
The Spring Festival, or lunar new year, is China's most important holiday for family reunions. According to The Ministry of Transportation, around 258 million train trips are estimated to be made during this year's Spring Festival, which runs from January 16 to February 24. China's news website iFeng.com shows images of people...
Hong Kong: An Outraging Elementary School Entry Examination Question
The answer to the question is “nothing”.
Chinese Rock Star Cui Jian Refuses to Sing Under Censorship
Rocker Cui Jian, whose song “Nothing to My Name” became an anthem for Tiananmen Square protesters, won't perform at China’s spring gala if required to censor his lyrics.
Two Steps Forward, One Step Back for China's Stock Market Reforms
After only two weeks of letting market forces set companies' initial public offerings, China's stock market authorities rolled back some of their reforms.
Chinese Mum Buys Ad to Urge Her Son to Come Home for New Year
Chinese New Year is a time for family reunion. For many Chinese singles, returning home during Chinese New Year can be a real headache as the attention and pressure surrounding personal matters from the whole family is simply unbearable. Earlier this week, a Chinese mom bought a whole page of ad...
More Money, More Problems? Taiwan Opens Door to More Chinese Business
Even though China is a huge market for Taiwanese businesses, many worry that unrestricted entry of mainland capital threatens Taiwanese culture, freedom of expression and even national security.
Video: Music Parody about Food in China
“Rice, Rice baby” is a recent parody about the food culture in China from the expats’ point of view. The video is about how expats in China love the food but also are a little nervous of its effects. The lyrics says: “Love it or leave it, you better...
China's Viral Sex Education Videos
A small team has released a collection of one-minute childhood sex education videos on China's youku, China's YouTube. The videos, involving topics such as “Why Are Boys Different from Girls” and “Where Do Babies Come From?”, have become the second most popular search on Baidu and have drawn over one...
Chinese Feminist Activist Walks 2,000 Kilometers to Protest Sexual Abuse
Feminist activist Xiao Meili is four months into her journey on foot from Beijing to to the southern city of Guangzhou.
Price War Kicks Off in China's Budget Smartphone Market
Smartphone maker Xiaomi's cheapest model Hongmi has sparked a buying frenzy among cash-strapped consumers.
About our Chinese coverage
Oi wan Lam is the North East Asia editor. Email her story ideas or volunteer to write.
