Hello!

This week Tait and Lawrence talk about auto trends - new energy vehicles, smart vehicles, delivery drones and more.

Plus, we chat a bit about China's economy, aging population and crypto asset predictions.

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Topics and sources:

Alibaba fined 2.8 Billion USD, vows to end forced exclusivity.

Source (English): https://technode.com/2021/04/12/alibaba-pledges-end-to-forced-exclusivity-after-antitrust-penalty/

Chinese citizens prefer less military spending, more income equality.

Source (English): https://www.neican.org/p/briefing-alibaba-fine-huawei-and

How did COVID affect tour guides in China and elsewhere?

Source: Interviews of tour guides on https://www.synotrip.com

China domestic tourism booming for Qingming Festival.

Source (Chinese): http://123.232.116.200/articleContent/2241_857140.html

Source (English): https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-56621342 

China has given 120 million COVID vaccinations so far.

Source (English): https://www.hstong.com/news/detail/21040117070459961

Hainan seeks modern cultural tourism, builds pavilions by the seaside.

Source (English): https://jingculturecommerce.com/pavilions-by-the-seaside/

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• Tait on Minds

Hello!

This week we’re looking into Chinese travel trends.

We hope to help you understand what’s going on with Chinese tourism, both inside China and in/out of China. 

In short, domestic travel in China is back to normal, with strong travel over Qingming Festival. Many Chinese citizens feel safe from COVID and they’ve become even more comfortable with travelling.

But first, two now-travel news items.




Topics and sources:

Alibaba fined 2.8 Billion USD, vows to end forced exclusivity.

Source (English): https://technode.com/2021/04/12/alibaba-pledges-end-to-forced-exclusivity-after-antitrust-penalty/

Chinese citizens prefer less military spending, more income equality.

Source (English): https://www.neican.org/p/briefing-alibaba-fine-huawei-and

How did COVID affect tour guides in China and elsewhere?

Source: Interviews of tour guides on https://www.synotrip.com

China domestic tourism booming for Qingming Festival.

Source (Chinese): http://123.232.116.200/articleContent/2241_857140.html

Source (English): https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-56621342 

China has given 120 million COVID vaccinations so far.

Source (English): https://www.hstong.com/news/detail/21040117070459961

Hainan seeks modern cultural tourism, builds pavilions by the seaside.

Source (English): https://jingculturecommerce.com/pavilions-by-the-seaside/



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Hello!

This week we chatted about trends in environmental protection in China. It's a big opportunity for businesses from around the world. Plus, Baidu is rolling out a new landing page tool that will be required for many advertisers - marketers will want to learn about this.

Dig in!

Topics and sources:

Is after school tutoring banned?
Source (English): https://pandaily.com/beijing-retightens-its-grip-on-the-after-school-tutoring-industry/

Baidu’s new “Jimuyu” landing pages required for some companies
Example page: https://isite.baidu.com/site/xlmbjgs.cn/480b01e8-7b72-4362-910e-a2f3f729eeae?fid=nHTdn1mzPH6vPHbvnHbLPHfzn1PxnWcdg1D&ch=4&bd_vid=10990386154637090780 

Bitcoin mining in China to surpass total carbon emissions of Qatar by 2024
Source (English): https://pandaily.com/bitcoin-mining-in-china-on-pace-to-surpass-total-carbon-emissions-of-some-mid-sized-countries-by-2024/ 

China to make up 40% of Tesla’s sales by 2022
Source (English): https://pandaily.com/china-demand-contributes-to-teslas-estimate-crushing-deliveries-in-q1/ 

Bubble tea drinkers mad about plastic ban
Source (English): https://www.pri.org/stories/2021-04-07/backlash-bubble-tea-fans-after-china-bans-plastic-straws-restaurants 

Xiaomi’s CEO responds to Xiaomi’s new logo
Source (Chinese): https://haokan.baidu.com/v?vid=10165837768418403867&pd=bjh&fr=bjhauthor&type=video

China’s livestream sales king sells 300 million USD in 12 hours
Source (English): https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3127332/comeback-king-chinas-disgraced-live-streaming-sales-king-sells-12 

More places to follow us:

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Hello!

Here’s our new pitch to newcomers:

If you want to make money in China, you'll need to understand the trends in Chinese culture, technology and business.

I've spent a quarter of my life in China, and I've been doing business there since 2003.

In this podcast, I chat with my friends about the newest developments from China that I think will affect business, or are just plain fun.

Topics and sources:

Huawei Pay is really coming
Source (English): https://news.cgtn.com/news/2021-03-28/Huawei-obtains-payment-license-by-acquiring-digital-payment-company-Z0h1PqzHXy/index.html

More WeChat Updates!
Source (Chinese): https://36kr.com/p/1158969102697865 

Some places accepting Digital CNY for delivery
Source (Chinese): http://www.nbd.com.cn/articles/2021-03-30/1677918.html

New marketing guideline: Don’t put flags or maps on your Chinese website
Source: Tait's crystal ball

Xiaomi to release a New Energy Vehicle
Source (Chinese): https://36kr.com/p/1160470921889160
Source (English): https://pandaily.com/xiaomi-confirms-it-will-spend-10-billion-on-building-its-own-electric-cars/ 

Xiaomi has a new logo
Source (English): https://www.theverge.com/tech/2021/3/30/22358033/xiaomi-new-logo-design-square-round 

A Weibo KOL announced their gender transition. How did fans respond?
Source (English): https://radiichina.com/abbily-transgender/ 

More places to follow us:

• NMG's weekly newsletter
• Odysee
• YouTube
• LinkedIn
• Tait on Twitter
• Tait on Minds

Join Tait and Lawrence to hear about Chinese cultural, tech and marketing trends.


This week's topics:

Chinese apps to collect less personal data.

Source (English): https://pandaily.com/chinese-regulators-clamp-down-on-apps-collecting-excessive-personal-data/ 

China’s largest automaker teams up with US lidar producer.

Source: https://pandaily.com/chinese-carmaker-saic-teams-up-with-lidar-specialist-luminar-to-make-new-self-driving-cars/ 

Pinduoduo founder steps down at age 41. 

Source: https://technode.com/2021/03/18/pinduoduo-founder-steps-down-as-chairman-as-users-surpass-alibaba/

The Chinese digital Yuan vs Bitcoin showdown is approaching.

Source (English): https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/peoples-bank-of-china-official-says-fully-anonymous-digital-yuan-not-feasible-2021-03-22 

Source (English): https://technode.com/2021/03/18/exclusive-chinese-state-banks-accepting-applications-for-enterprise-e-cny-accounts/ 

More places to follow us:

• NMG's weekly newsletter
• Odysee
• YouTube
• LinkedIn
• Tait on Twitter
• Tait on Minds

Join Tait and Wiki to hear about Chinese cultural, tech and marketing trends.

This week's topics:

Cangzhou grants Baidu first robotaxi permit.
Source (English): https://technode.com/2021/03/17/china-grants-baidu-first-robotaxi-permit-for-paying-riders/ 

Savvy Chinese consumers complain online, mostly on Weibo.
Source (Chinese): https://www.huxiu.com/article/414898.html

China’s vaccination program speeds up with approval of 5th vaccine.
Source (English): https://supchina.com/2021/03/16/china-approves-fifth-covid-19-shot-in-push-to-vaccinate-half-a-billion-by-end-of-june/
Source (English): https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/03/16/china-coronavirus-vaccine-visas/

WeChat testing new features for the Mac desktop version.
Source (Chinese): https://36kr.com/p/1134258302190729 

Huawei to sell 5G patents and solar panels for fish farms.
Sources (English): https://technode.com/2021/03/17/huawei-to-begin-charging-phone-makers-for-5g-patents/
https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2021/3/15/bbafter-us-sanctions-huawei-turns-to-new-businesses-to-boost-rev 

Douyin (and the government) fight the show-offs on Chinese social media.
Source: https://jingdaily.com/douyin-bans-wealth-bragging-xuanfu-luxury/
Source: http://chinamktginsights.com/appearance-anxiety-driving-chinese-consumers-to-take-loans-to-pay-for-cosmetic-procedures/ 

Will China remove English as a compulsory subject?
Source: https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202103/08/WS60457153a31024ad0baad756.html

More places to follow us:

• NMG's weekly newsletter
• YouTube
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• Tait's Twitter

Join Tait and Lawrence to hear about Chinese cultural, tech and marketing trends.

This week's topics:
China’s dating apps let users filter out partners from inferior colleges.
Link: https://www.sixthtone.com/news/1006892/China%E2%80%99s%20Dating%20Apps%20Are%20Swiping%20Right%20on%20Snobbery/

American opinions of China at a low.
Link: https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2021/03/04/most-americans-support-tough-stance-toward-china-on-human-rights-economic-issues/

Side note, Tait is apparently the only person on the Internet sharing a realistic view of China on the alt-tech social platforms. If you like trying out new platforms, follow him here:
Gab: https://gab.com/OneTwoTait
Parler: https://parler.com/profile/OneTwoTait
Minds: https://www.minds.com/onetwotait/

China beats U.S. in patent filings for the second straight year.
Link: https://www.caixinglobal.com/2021-03-03/china-beats-us-in-patent-filings-for-second-straight-year-101669845.html

China Launching Vaccine Travel Pass.
Link: https://news.sina.com.cn/c/2021-03-08/doc-ikknscsh9462470.shtml

Zhihu applies for an IPO.
Link: https://www.protocol.com/china/zhihu-ipo
Tour of Zhihu: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-ym2pK-JMk

PDD’s daily active users surpassed Taobao’s for the first time.
Link: https://jingdaily.com/pinduoduo-daily-active-users-taobao/

Chinese students cautious about studying abroad.
Link: https://sg.news.yahoo.com/chinese-students-weigh-overseas-options-125440572.html

More places to follow us:

• NMG's weekly newsletter
• YouTube
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• Tait's Twitter

Join Tait and Lawrence to hear about Chinese cultural, tech and marketing trends.

WeChat emojis have stopped smoking.
Source (Chinese): https://new.qq.com/omn/20210301/20210301A0E2KN00.html 

We published “11 Ways to Use WeChat for Student Recruitment in China”.
Source (English): https://www.nanjingmarketinggroup.com/blog/wechat-student-recruitment 

China’s home-built passenger plane gets its first buyer.
Source (English): https://supchina.com/2021/03/01/chinas-home-built-passenger-plane-rival-to-boeings-737-max-to-join-china-eastern-airlines-fleet-this-year/ 

Inner Mongolia to shut down Bitcoin mining.
Source (English): https://en.pingwest.com/w/8367 

Tim Horton’s receives new funding, planning to open 200 new stores this year.
Source (English): https://pandaily.com/tim-hortons-china-completes-new-fundraising-round-two-years-after-entering-market/ 

China asks Westerners to stop putting food in chamber pots (funny).
Source (English): https://pandaily.com/expensive-chinese-antique-fruit-basket-sold-on-amazon-turns-out-to-be-chamber-pot/ 

More places to follow us:

• NMG's weekly newsletter
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• Tait's Twitter

Join Tait and Lawrence to hear about this week's Chinese marketing trends.


Chrome now offers QR codes for every page.

Source (English): https://chromeunboxed.com/chrome-88-dino-codes-full-roll-out 

China’s trade with Canada up 8%. If Canada can do it, anybody can.

Source (English): https://www.ualberta.ca/china-institute/research/analysis-briefs/2021/canada-china-2020-yearinreview.html 

China might allow all residents to invest in foreign securities.

Source (English): https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3122647/china-signals-real-financial-opening-will-it-follow-through 

Esport gamers to receive government certification.

Source (Chinese): https://finance.sina.com.cn/tech/2021-02-21/doc-ikftpnny8827645.shtml?cref=cj 

Mask-wearing caused lipstick sales to tank.

Source (Chinese): https://finance.sina.com.cn/chanjing/cyxw/2021-02-22/doc-ikftssap7946996.shtml?cref=cj 

Why is a shipment of ants trending on Weibo?

Source (English): https://m.weibo.cn/2286908003/4608194351990704 

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Happy Chinese New Year! 新年快乐！

Join Tait and Wiki to hear about this week's Chinese marketing trends.


Clubhouse has been blocked

Source (English): https://pandaily.com/clubhouse-banned-in-mainland-china/ 

Source 2 (English): https://www.whatsonweibo.com/a-breath-of-fresh-air-clubhouse-app-discussed-by-chinese-social-media-users/ 

Douyin users surprised by the lyrics of popular Polish song

Our discussion about it (English): https://youtu.be/flvhgQ-EOYY 

The video (Chinese): https://www.iesdouyin.com/share/video/6927201216757796096/ 

Kuaishou launches IPO, hits $180 billion valuation. But what is it?

Source (English): https://techcrunch.com/2021/02/04/kuaishou-ipo/

Source 2 (English): https://walkthechat.com/why-is-kuaishou-better-than-douyin-for-e-commerce-conversion-social-engagement/ 

Would you buy a creepy lamp to spy on your kids?

Source (English): https://technode.com/2021/02/05/bytedance-dali-spy-lamp/ 

Source 2 (Chinese): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96GIrLAZcmg 

China’s birthrate drops in 2020.

Source (English): https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/10/china-birthrate-slumps-experts-blame-changing-attitudes 

China formalizes antitrust rules.

Source (English): https://technode.com/2021/02/08/china-formalizes-antitrust-rules-targeting-tech-giants/ 

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