By Tait Lawton
Join us to keep up on the trends affecting marketing in China!
We cover new features in WeChat, Douyin, Baidu, Weibo, Bilbilili and other Chinese platforms.
Plus, we'll give a brief o
... more
The podcast currently has 30 episodes available.
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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More places to follow us:
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/
More places to follow us:
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
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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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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
More places to follow us:
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/
More places to follow us:
The podcast currently has 30 episodes available.