Life--China Economic Net

For decades, Chinese families marked the Chinese New Year by gifting boxes of health supplements and traditional delicacies. Now, high-tech gadgets, from drones to AI glasses, are emerging as the gift of choice, fueled by government subsidies, innovation and a consumer shift toward smart lifestyles.

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.

Turkish artist paints new Silk Road stories in China's "porcelain capital"2026-01-11
In a quiet studio in Jingdezhen, a Chinese city famous for its ancient porcelain heritage, Turkish artist Dilan Atasayar guided a brush dipped in cobalt blue across the curve of a white clay body.

"Zootopia 2" surpasses "Avengers: Endgame" as China's top imported film2026-01-07
"Zootopia 2" has become the highest-grossing imported film in Chinese box office history, exceeding the previous record held by "Avengers: Endgame," industry data showed on Tuesday.

24th Vasaloppet International Ski Festival kicks off in NE China2026-01-05
The 24th China Changchun Jingyuetan Vasaloppet International Ski Festival opened Sunday in Changchun, capital of northeast China's Jilin Province.

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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.