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Hello TWOC readers!
🎃 Happy Halloween! Here at TWOC, we’ve already kicked off the spooky season with our annual costume party—and the competition was fierce! 👻 Who do you think pulled off the best look? Drop your pick in the comments!
While Halloween isn’t traditionally celebrated in China, it has become a creative outlet in recent years for young urbanites to unwind, poke fun at pop culture, and showcase their humor through costumes. On Halloween night, the streets of cities like Shanghai, Nanjing, and Hangzhou turn into live exhibitions of the year’s biggest memes, viral trends, and iconic (or infamous) figures, far beyond the usual ghosts and superheroes.
To keep up with this year’s hottest costumes and memes, dive into our guide below and discover ideas that could inspire your next viral look!
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Eight Halloween costume ideas inspired by this year’s viral trends in China, from an “international power couple” to a humble fried chicken fillet vendor. Read more
In Zhejiang’s Youtian village, centuries-old homes, time-honored crafts, and a slow-paced way of life remain remarkably well preserved. This summer, the village welcomed a unique group of visitors—translators—as China’s first-ever translator residency program found its home in Youtian. Read more
A cursory look back through some key characters in China’s history reveals that much can be achieved, even in one’s twilight years. Read more
What We’re Watching
National Day Film Picks Despite Box Office Slump
China’s box office stumbled over the National Day holiday, pulling in only 1.84 billion yuan—less than half of what it earned in 2019 and 300 million yuan short of last year’s total. Still, here are a few titles we think are worth checking out. Read now
Chinese You Need
Why Gen Z Is Turning Against Curator Cafés in China
As younger consumers favor experiences over products, “curator”-led cafés and boutiques have sprung up across China. Yet with growing pushback against overpriced, underwhelming offerings, is this trendy fad already losing its appeal? Read more
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Urban Renewal: China’s Urbanization Is Entering a New Phase
As high-rise residential complexes age and the real estate market cools, residents face the pressing challenge of maintaining and repairing their buildings. Traditional shopping centers are also losing ground to online retail. Discover how Chinese cities are entering a new phase, driven by the urgent need for upgrade. All this and more in our latest magazine issue. Support on-the-ground reporting from China—get your copy today!
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