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Hello TWOC readers!
We hope the New Year is off to a great start for you! The Chinese box office certainly hit the ground running. After a slump in 2024, the eight-day Chinese New Year holiday raked in 9.5 billion yuan (about 1.2 billion USD). A classic Chinese tale is driving the season’s success and dominating the media’s attention—Creation of the Gods. Both the record-breaking animation Ne Zha 2 (currently at 10 BILLION yuan and climbing) and the historical fantasy Creation of the Gods II: Demon Force are adaptations of this 16th-century novel, which has long been a cultural touchstone in China. The story’s enduring popularity across TV, film, and other media speaks to its place at the heart of China’s entertainment landscape. Revisiting the original work is definitely worth the effort. Here’s a review of the fantasy epic from our archives.
The influence of classic literary works like Creation and mythical figures such as Ne Zha stretches well beyond China, with a strong following in neighboring Vietnam as well. TWOC reporter visited Hanoi over the holiday, uncovering traces of the Chinese language throughout the city—reminders of a shared history that continues to resonate in modern times.
Read on to find out more:
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More than a hundred years ago, the Vietnamese stopped using a logographic script, with its characters borrowed from Chinese. However, traces of the old language remain as TWOC reporter Xi Ningyi embarks on her trip to Hanoi. Read more
Guangdong, which produces more than half of the country’s lychee fruit (an average of 1.5 million tons annually since 2021), experienced a drastic decline in harvests in 2024, marking a historic year for lychee shortages. In the face of increasingly extreme weather conditions that continue to devastate lychee crops, unexpected bonds are being formed between concerned citizens and the growers of these fruits in the southern province. Read more
The recent rise of “relationship streamers (情感主播)” has provided young Chinese women with a new outlet for seeking advice on their relationship struggles. However, questions linger about the quality of advice offered by influencers, most of whom lack formal training in therapy or counseling. The commercial side of livestreaming adds another layer of complexity, as many worry that influencers prioritize selling products over genuinely helping their viewers. Read more
Made in China
Scent Across Time: How Traditional Fragrances Quiet the Clamor of Modern Life
From revered scholars to common folks, fragrance has been woven through Chinese culture for millennia. Today, the country’s fragrance industry is flourishing, fusing time-honored traditions with contemporary trends. Classic aromas like agarwood, jasmine, and osmanthus continue to captivate the new generation, offering a peaceful and calming escape in an increasingly complex and competitive society. Click to find how young Chinese are bringing new twists to these old scents
Love for Live: How Concert Fans Speak Their Passion
Since 2023, concerts, live houses, and music festivals have flourished in the post-pandemic era, with tickets for major acts selling out in both bustling metropolises and smaller cities. By 2024, live concerts reached an all-time high, with box office revenue accounting for over 80 percent of China’s annual live performance sales, totaling 17.9 billion yuan. Yet, demand continues to outpace supply. Here’s the inside lingo guide you might need to secure a ticket in China’s vibrant live music scene.
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