Following the Yuan

When crowds are back but money doesn’t follow 🤔| Following the Yuan

Has China's consumption gone back to 'normal'?

Apr 30 • Following the Yuan

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Navigating mainland China's regional archetypes | Following the Yuan

Chinese people have taken genuine pleasure in learning about and debating regional archetypes and stereotypes. Here are 6 of them.

Apr 24

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#74: AI short drama, Patagonia’s “earth tax” backlash, “drink-for-you” on demand, Lay's potato resto 🥔 | Following the Yuan

Brands mentioned in this issue: Master Kong, BOSS Zhipin, Meituan, MUSINSA, Didi, Tencent, Lay’s, RedNote, Foxconn, Apple, Patagonia, ZXMOTO.

Apr 16 • Rongrong Zhuge

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March 2026

How China found joy in being “cheap” | Following the Yuan

When being economical becomes a competition.

Mar 29 • Yaling Jiang

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Consumer news digest: March 15 Consumer Rights Gala highlights AI safety, Pop Mart sues 3D printer, Disney's new local rivals | Following…

Mentioned brands, companies and institutions are: Pop Mart, Bambu Lab, Papergames, Centurium Capital, Blue Bottle, Chagee, Alibaba, Formula 1, Tencent…

Mar 16 • Yaling Jiang and Rongrong Zhuge

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February 2026

What are premium Chinese brands doing for Spring Festival 2026? 🧨 | Following the Yuan

Since the rise of ‘guochao’ movement, domestic brands have increasingly taken over the centerstage in consumer aspirations, which also make them role…

Feb 21 • Yaling Jiang and Rongrong Zhuge

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🐎 Consumer news digest (CNY edition): from Spring Festival Gala to AI red envelopes | Following the Yuan

The brands/companies we mentioned in this issue are: Gaggle studios, Kingsoft Shiyou

Feb 18 • Yaling Jiang and Rongrong Zhuge

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America’s perceived downfall activated China’s soft power, what now? | Following the Yuan

adjusted from my panel speech at LSE's China Development Forum

Feb 13 • Yaling Jiang

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🗣️ Dialect renaissance: 10 Chinese dialect influencers to watch | Following the Yuan

Once upon a time, speaking Mandarin with an accent in China was looked down upon. That is not the case anymore (at least with these influencers).

Feb 5 • Yaling Jiang and Rongrong Zhuge

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January 2026

🍼 China's birthrate crisis and the business of single women's fertility | Following the Yuan

On the missing piece in China's birthrate narrative

Jan 29 • Yaling Jiang

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Consumer news digest: you can help rename viral app "Are you dead", Apple Watch becomes Class II medical device in China, Alo Yoga to open…

China's closure rate of food and beverage venues is expected to more than double, reaching a record of 48.9% in 2025 from under 20% in 2019.

Jan 14 • Yaling Jiang and Rongrong Zhuge

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December 2025

Life in China: When economic indicators and lived experience diverge | Following the Yuan

After speaking with over 50 residents in more than 10 cities and towns she visited this year, Wanqing writes about the things that cannot be priced into…

Dec 30, 2025 • Wanqing Chen

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