China Business NOW

In the spring of 2026, as the “Guangdong Goods Global Reach” campaign launched in Foshan with a flourish of live-streamed home-appliance promotions, something profound was unfolding.  Beyond the flashing screens and surging sales figures lay a quiet revolution: products born in the Pearl River Delta were no longer merely filling shelves—they were reshaping households, imaginations, and econom...

Five years ago, being cool was perhaps spending half of one’s monthly paycheck on a designer handbag just to “fit in,” while today,  “showing off” a highly sought-after concert ticket is more likely to get you the most likes on your social media page. As the calendar turned to the year of 2026, the phrase “Love Yourself First” has exploded across China’s social media. From TikTok-style short...

By Stephanie LI丨SFC, 21st Century Business Herald  As the calendar flipped to 2026, Guangdong Province kicked off the year with a resounding “grand opening” in its cultural and tourism sector. Preliminary estimates from the Guangdong Department of Culture and Tourism reveal that during the three-day New Year’s holiday, the province welcomed 17.875 million visitors, marking a 34.8% year-on-ye...

Hello! Welcome to this edition of CBN Perspective. I’m Stephanie Li. As Marvel superheroes stumble and Disney princesses falter, a rabbit cop and a fox con artist are rewriting the rules of Hollywood success in China in late 2025. The return of the favorite duo Nick and Judy knocked Avengers off its feat, as “Zootopia 2” roars back at the Chinese box office, breaking multiple records nine years af...

"Host a great event, revitalize a city" is more than just a slogan. The 15th National Games has reframed it as "Host a great event, activate a circle" — the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) cultural, tourism and consumption circle. 1.46 billion views of National Games-related videos, 61.9 million  content exposures of Cantonese cuisine, 10.48 million searches for travel guides...

The 15th National Games, co-hosted by Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao, has garnered widespread attention not only for its sports events but also for a surprising cultural phenomenon: the playful public debate surrounding its official mascots, “Xiyangyang” and “Lerongrong.” Designed as Chinese white dolphin, a Grade 1 National Key Protected Species, with their names symbolizing joy, harmony, and un...

Hello! Welcome to this edition of CBN Perspective. I’m Stephanie Li. For decades, public universities have dominated China's higher education system. But recently, a new crop of elite, heavily funded research universities in China is shaking up the country’s higher-education landscape, attracting top students with admissions standards that now rival or exceed those of many of the nation’s most pre...

Hello! Welcome to this edition of CBN Perspective. I’m Stephanie Li. Today, we’re shining a light on an event that’s been the backbone of China’s foreign trade for nearly seven decades: the 138th China Import and Export Fair, better known as the Canton Fair. Let’s kick things off with a staggering statistic: This year, over 207,000 buyers from 217 global markets arrived in Guangzhou—a “millennium-...

Hello! Welcome to this edition of CBN Perspective. I’m Stephanie Li. Not long ago, China’s "new trio" of exports – new energy vehicles, lithium batteries, and solar panels – turned "Made in China" into a label for green manufacturing. Today, artificial intelligence, robotics, and innovative pharmaceuticals emerged as the new "new trio", marking a pivotal transition for China’s economy that powered...

Stephanie: Hey everyone, and welcome to this edition of CBN x ASEAN Watch. I’m Stephanie, your host, and today we’re taking you to the ongoing China-ASEAN Expo.  Entering its 22nd edition this year, the old-line China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) for the first time set up a 10,000-square-meter pavilion dedicated to Artificial Intelligence (AI), underscoring the ever-expanding and deepening c...

After engaging in a months-long price war of instant retail, two of China’s “Big Three” delivery platforms - Alibaba and Meituan - are again wrestling on a different ring as they unveiled new initiatives targeting each other’s turf. Chinese internet giant Alibaba Group Holding on Wednesday released a major update to its navigation platform Amap, adding a new artificial intelligence-powered feature...

Imagine the frustration. For years, Alexei, a small business owner from Moscow, has wanted to attend the Canton Fair in Guangzhou to source new products. Each time, the process was the same: a lengthy application process, the wait for visa approval, and the constant worry that a minor error could derail his entire trip. The dream of easily exploring Chinese markets or even taking his family to see...

Hello! Welcome to this edition of CBN Perspective. I’m Stephanie Li. On August 26, Guangzhou inaugurated its first in-city duty-free store in Tianhe District, drawing throngs of shoppers. Notably, Shenzhen also rolled out its first in-city duty-free outlet on the very same day—a synchronized move that marks a pivotal step in enhancing outbound travel convenience for residents of the two Pearl Rive...

Stephanie: Hello everyone, I'm Stephanie Li. Today's episode dives into how Chinese enterprises are reshaping Southeast Asia's e-commerce landscape. Joining me is our ASEAN correspondent Sharon Hu, whose on-the-ground reporting brings fresh insights. Sharon, let's start with those staggering growth numbers you mentioned earlier. Sharon: Absolutely, Stephanie. A report released by DBS Group of Sing...

Hi everyone. I’m Stephanie LI. Coming up on today’s program Toy maker Pop Mart posts over 360% rise in profit in H1 as Guochao trend accelerates global expansion; Xiaomi reports 75% leap in Q2 profit as EV business gains momentum. Here’s what you need to know about China in the past 24 hours  Shares in Chinese toymaker Pop Mart reversed course to rise Wednesday, a day after the company posted...

Hi everyone. I’m Stephanie LI. Coming up on today’s program China's summer box office surpasses CNY10 billion, led by domestic films; Japan prepares to approve first yen-backed stablecoin. Here’s what you need to know about China in the past 24 hours  China's summer box office revenue has surpassed CNY10 billion as of Monday, with homegrown titles dominating the season's top earners...

Hi everyone. I’m Stephanie LI. Coming up on today’s program Shanghai Composite Index hits 10-year high on Monday, with gross A-shares market cap surpassing CNY100 trillion; China’s economy remains steady despite July data dip. Here’s what you need to know about China in the past 24 hours  The Shanghai Composite Index surpassed 3,740 points and reached an intraday high of 3,745 on Monday,...

Hi everyone. I’m Stephanie LI. Coming up on today’s program A-share market is poised for sustained bull run; Tencent’s stock soars to 4-year high on strong Q2 performance. Here’s what you need to know about China in the past 24 hours  The signs of a bull run are slowly but steadily emerging in China's A-share market, underpinned by ongoing structural reforms and sustained long-term capital in...

Hi everyone. I’m Stephanie LI. Coming up on today’s program China launches a 1-percentage point personal consumer loan interest subsidy to boost spending; Shanghai Composite Index recorded a near 4-year high on multiple boosts. Here’s what you need to know about China in the past 24 hours  China has unveiled an interest subsidy for personal consumer loans to boost domestic consumption, with a...

Hi everyone. I’m Stephanie LI. Coming up on today’s program Beijing’s home viewing jumps after lifting curbs on suburban house buying; China will extend tariff suspension on imported U.S. products. Here’s what you need to know about China in the past 24 hours  Recent policy adjustments in major Chinese cities are fueling expectations that more policy fine-tuning and easing measures are likely...

Hi everyone. I’m Stephanie LI. Coming up on today’s program China sees positive price trends in July amid demand pickup; “ChatGPT moment” for robots is likely to arrive within 3 years, said Unitree’s Wang Xingxing. Here’s what you need to know about China in the past 24 hours  China reported positive signs in terms of both consumer and producer prices last month, as government policies to boo...

While much of China swelters under scorching summer heat, Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, is drawing visitors with a refreshing contrast, offering a chilly escape with a comfortable 23-degree-Celcius coolness. As the northern hemisphere enters its hottest months, China's "Ice city” is welcoming another heat waves of tourists not just from the rest of the nation, but eve...

Hi everyone. I’m Stephanie LI. Coming up on today’s program China's foreign trade rises 3.5% in first seven months of 2025; China’s NEV penetration rate surpassed 54% in July. Here’s what you need to know about China in the past 24 hours  China's foreign trade has maintained a growth trend in the first seven months of this year, with total imports and exports reaching CNY25.7 trillion, up 3.5...

Hi everyone. I’m Stephanie LI. Coming up on today’s program Searches for flights to Seoul surge on travel platform as South Korea is reportedly offering visa-free entry to Chinese group tourists; China will make care and education for kids in the third year at public kindergartens free starting this fall. Here’s what you need to know about China in the past 24 hours  South Korea will implemen...

Coming up on today’s program China reinstates tax on bond interest income and steps up enforcement of income tax on overseas investments gains; Survey found Chinese brands are increasingly popular among Singaporean consumers. Here’s what you need to know about China in the past 24 hours  China plans to reintroduce tax on bond interest income in a surprise move that could boost government coff...