Life--China Economic Net

As the Chinese New Year festivities reach their peak, expats across China have joined the celebrations, not merely as spectators, but as active participants in what has become a global cultural phenomenon.

In western China, when the shadows still answer the light2026-02-13
On a winter night in Xining, capital city of northwest China's Qinghai Province, a beam of light cuts through the cold, casting figures in red and green leather and flowing sleeves into sharp relief as gongs strike and a deliberate chant hangs over the street, holding time itself in suspended motion.

Celebrating Spring Festival in China emerges as new global trend2026-02-11
As the Chinese New Year, or the Spring Festival, draws near, a growing number of international travelers are planning their trips around this traditional celebration to immerse themselves in China's vibrant culture and festive spirit.

China's world natural heritage sites well conserved2026-02-07
China's world natural heritage sites, along with its mixed cultural and natural heritage sites, are in sound conservation condition, with no cases of serious human-induced damage or any threats to their outstanding universal value identified, according to a report released by the National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Friday.

Becoming content creators: New way to embrace retired life for Chinese elderly2026-02-05
With his smartphone camera on, an elderly resident surnamed Liu, who is now nearly 70, filmed a five-minute clip at his home in the coastal city of Dalian, northeast China's Liaoning Province, sharing his homemade seafood feast as usual.

Wear it, drink it: how China-chic products ignite consumer passion2026-02-02
Behind a carved gate in a Suzhou garden, four-year-old Miao Muqing twirls in a peach-colored cloak and an embroidered horse-face skirt. For her mother, Zhao Yajing, this outfit isn't just a souvenir during their trip -- it's a modern take on Hanfu (traditional Chinese clothing) designed for everyday wear.

“Becoming Chinese” trend on social media reveals China’s growing cultural appeal2026-01-28
“Tomorrow, you are turning Chinese,” a creator says in a viral TikTok video, listing a series of distinct Chinese lifestyle habits. The playful “prophecy” by @sherryxiiruii has sparked a global fever, gaining nearly 750,000 likes and sparking a top-trending hashtag #BecomingChinese.

Imported horror films find unexpected moment in China's pre-holiday box office lull2026-01-23
In late January, as China's movie theaters drift through a lull between the New Year and the Spring Festival holidays, two imported psychological horror films -- separated by decades and production contexts -- are landing on the big screen almost back to back.

China discovers earliest known texts on horses from Warring States Period2026-01-21
Chinese researchers have found the earliest known literature on horses via bamboo slips dating back over 2,000 years to the Warring States Period (475 BC-221 BC). This discovery was announced at a press conference held at Tsinghua University in Beijing on Monday.

Southeast Asian tourists flock north, fueling China's ice-snow economy boom2026-01-20
Despite the biting minus 20 degrees Celsius cold on the century-old Central Street in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Thai tourist Nattapong Somchai stamped his feet to keep warm yet happily embraced a local tradition by trying a classic ice cream bar.

China Focus: "Yao-Chinese Folktales" returns with bolder narratives, richer aesthetics2026-01-16
In the world of Chinese animation, few titles have sparked as much cultural resonance as "Yao-Chinese Folktales."

From apothecary to Americano, traditional Chinese medicine turns into a lifestyle add-on2026-01-15
For generations, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) arrived with ceremony as dried roots and peels were carefully measured from wooden drawers, taken home, and simmered for hours in a slow, bitter ritual that demanded attention whenever the body called for care.

Chinese troupe wins Grand Prix at Budapest International Circus Festival2026-01-13
The China National Acrobatic Troupe claimed the Grand Prix at the Budapest International Circus Festival, which concluded late Monday with a gala performance marking the 30th anniversary of the event since its launch in 1996.

Silver screens light up cultural consumption upgrade with "cinema plus" model2026-01-11
What can be done in a cinema, other than watching a film? There are now numerous options for Chinese residents, as these once single entertainment venues are upgrading into multi-functional public cultural spaces.

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China starts 2026 with resilience

China's headline consumer inflation of 0.2 percent in January represents a moderation from the previous month, but this is largely a story of the calendar rather than a lack of vitality. Because the Lunar New Year fell in January last year, the comparison base was higher than usual.