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Hello! Welcome to this edition of CBN Perspective. I’m Stephanie Li.
As Marvel superheroes stumble and Disney princesses falter, a rabbit cop and a fox con artist are rewriting the rules of Hollywood success in China in late 2025.
The return of the favorite duo Nick and Judy knocked Avengers off its feat, as “Zootopia 2” roars back at the Chinese box office, breaking multiple records nine years after the original franchise charmed global audiences.
The Disney sequel opened to impressive numbers. The animation premiered in China on November 26, day-and-date with North America, and immediately set a new box-office benchmark.
According to movie data platform Beacon Pro, the film grossed CNY227 million (USD32 million) on its opening day, becoming the highest-earning imported animated film for a single day in China's box-office history.
Industry projections for the film's final China run are now sky-high. Maoyan forecasts a final total of approximately CNY4.25 billion for "Zootopia 2." Should it reach that level, it could put the film on par with "Avengers: Endgame" and position it to challenge the title of highest-grossing imported film ever in China.
The Oscar-winning core team spent nine years crafting the new film, which involved a 700-member production crew, 80 new settings, 76 animal species, up to 140 variations, and crowd scenes featuring as many as 50,000 characters.
The sequel picks up right where the original left off. Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde reunite as a trusted duo, guiding audiences back into the vibrant metropolis of “Zootopia” for a fresh adventure. Fan-favorite characters such as Flash the Sloth, Mr. Big and his daughter Fru Fru, Gazelle, and Clawhauser return, while a new character – Gary De'Snake – adds an intriguing twist to the story.
While its Douban rating is slightly lower than the original’s 9.3/10, the sequel still holds a strong 8.5, showing solid audience support. After watching the film, many viewers praised its fast pace, detailed animation, and the chemistry between Judy and Nick.
The popularity of “Zootopia 2” in China extends beyond theaters. As Judy and Nick now become two of China’s most in-demand IP characters once again, over 60 brands, including Luckin Coffee, Miniso, Pop Mart, and SAIC Volkswagen, released “Zootopia 2-themed” merchandise. These collaborations sparked a wave of fan-driven spending both online and offline.
Meanwhile, Shanghai Disneyland—the world’s first and only park with a full Zootopia-themed land—is enhancing the sequel’s momentum by updating more than 200 details inside its popular attraction “Zootopia: Hot Pursuit.”
Now let’s dig deeper into why “Zootopia 2” achieves such extraordinary feats in the Chinese market.
First, nostalgia laid the groundwork. The 2016 original “Zootopia" became a cultural icon in China with engaging plot, beloved characters, and cultural nuances. The sequel capitalizes on this emotional connection, reviving the whimsical Zootopia universe and familiar faces to evoke cherished childhood memories, turning long-time fans into eager patrons.
Disney’s localized marketing is then a masterstroke. Coinciding with Shanghai Disney’s ninth anniversary and its milestone of 100 million cumulative visitors, the film creates synergy between theatrical and experiential entertainment. Not to mention the new character, Gary De’Snake, which coincides with the Chinese Year of the Snake.
Voice casting reveals similar thinking. Disney brought back Ji Guanlin and Chang Chen as Judy and Nick, signaling that continuity and emotional connection matter more than technical perfection.
The market environment further fueled its success. China’s demand for high-quality animation far outstrips supply. Domestic hits are scarce, and recent Hollywood animations underperformed. The “Super Mario Bros” movie grossed just CNY171 million in 2023, while “Inside Out 2” earned CNY344 million in 2024. “Zootopia 2,” with its proven IP and universal appeal, filled this gap, becoming the top choice for diverse audiences.
Finally, state-of-the-art technology delivers a visual spectacle. Judy’s fur rendering is 40% more efficient, with realistic translucency in rain; Gary’s scales achieve “microscopic realism,” showing wetness and sand adhesion. Advanced techniques like global illumination and AI-powered virtual production create immersive scenes—color-shifting underwater coral reefs, physics-driven desert sand, and “flying cities” formed by migrating birds—enhancing the film’s allure.
The triumph of “Zootopia 2” lies in its ability to resonate deeply. By blending nostalgia, meaningful content, local adaptation, market timing, and technical innovation, it proves animation’s power to entertain and unite. For Chinese audiences, it’s a return to a beloved world, and a testament to what happens when a global IP truly understands its audience.
Sports Cultural Synergy in 15th National Games Invents GBA’s Winning Formula
Épisode 2
vendredi 21 novembre 2025 • Durée 05:12
"Host a great event, revitalize a city" is more than just a slogan. The 15th National Games has reframed it as "Host a great event, activate a circle" — the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) cultural, tourism and consumption circle.
1.46 billion views of National Games-related videos, 61.9 million content exposures of Cantonese cuisine, 10.48 million searches for travel guides... In the first week since the opening of the games, the "event economy" effect in the GBA has already been fully unleashed.
The concentrated outbreak of online popularity is continuously transforming into tangible transaction volume. Data from Douyin shows that since November 1, Gross Merchandise Volume in Guangzhou and Shenzhen have both risen by over 130% year-on-year.
Meituan Travel data also shows flight bookings to Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Zhuhai rose 26% year-on-year, while Qunar reported venue-area hotel surges, such as a 125% jump for hotels near Shenzhen’s Longgang District, home to the Universiade Center.
The games gives "sports+" real substance, integrating intangible cultural heritage, local cuisine, and "guochao" (China Chic) IPs, creating event-culture-commerce synergy. This fueled 2,800 licensed products selling out instantly, generating 680 million yuan.
Star athletes further amplified regional demand: national swimming icons Sun Yang and Pan Zhanle’s showdown in Shenzhen lifted Longgang’s hotel popularity 24% month-on-month, while Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha’s table tennis matches in Macao drove a 52% year-on-year surge in the city’s hotel bookings.
Leveraging on the games’ rising popularity, ticket stubs have also transformed into a city-wide benefits package, rather than one-time passes. Spectators can use stubs for free subway rides, free and discounted tickets at over 100 tourist attractions across the region, 60% off at Guangzhou Tower, among other catering and shopping discounts, extending the consumption journey of 5 million visitors across 24-hour city life.
But what's truly impressive is GBA's cross-border connectivity that makes the one-hour economic circle possible. For the first time in National Games history, events are held in Hong Kong and Macao, and it’s also the first time three regions’ consumption policies are bundled. The seamless flow of people, vehicles, and payments makes cross-city event attendance as common as cross-district commuting. The data — over 18 million tourists in Guangzhou and Shenzhen in seven days, and hotel bookings surging by up to 125% — is the best proof of the GBA’s coordinated operation.
Dolphin or Chicken? 15th National Games Mascots Turn a Meme into GBA Value
Épisode 3
vendredi 14 novembre 2025 • Durée 08:09
The 15th National Games, co-hosted by Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao, has garnered widespread attention not only for its sports events but also for a surprising cultural phenomenon: the playful public debate surrounding its official mascots, “Xiyangyang” and “Lerongrong.”
Designed as Chinese white dolphin, a Grade 1 National Key Protected Species, with their names symbolizing joy, harmony, and unity, the pair has sparked a viral online discourse where netizens affectionately dub them "Greater Bay Chickens"—a lighthearted misinterpretation rooted in their round silhouettes and pink-and-white color scheme, which evoke Cantonese culinary staples soft-boiled chicken and soy sauce chicken.
In an interview with China Daily, Liu Pingyun, also the creative mind behind the Beijing Winter Olympics’ “Bing Dwen Dwen,” said the designing team was really worried about ending up with a mascot that people would link to food. So we went with Chinese white dolphins—thinking, surely dolphins wouldn’t get mistaken for something edible?”
Guess what? They’ve simply underestimated the imagination and humor of Cantonese people. When statues of "Xiyangyang" and "Lerongrong" popped up on Guangzhou's streets to hype up the National Games, locals were quick to joke: "It has a chicken's tail, wings, beak, and comb, so why not a chicken?”
This unexpected meme has transcended mere entertainment, becoming a window into how regional cultural elements can intersect with event economics to drive widespread engagement. What initially began as a casual online joke has evolved into a cultural touchpoint, bridging the gap between a national sports event and everyday public experience.
Despite the fact that the "comb" actually features the three symbolic colors—red, purple and green, which represent Guangzhou’s kapok flower, Hong Kong’s bauhinia, and Macao’s lotus, let's be real—the internet only believes what it wants to believe. Well, who can blame them? After all, Cantonese are all about food!
The design also incorporates scientific accuracy: the pink-hued “Lerongrong” mirrors the natural color change of Chinese white dolphins when active, while the white “Xiyangyang” represents the species’ resting state, adding a layer of educational value to the cultural symbol.
How New Private Universities Might Reshape China's Higher Education
Épisode 4
vendredi 24 octobre 2025 • Durée 08:44
Hello! Welcome to this edition of CBN Perspective. I’m Stephanie Li.
For decades, public universities have dominated China's higher education system. But recently, a new crop of elite, heavily funded research universities in China is shaking up the country’s higher-education landscape, attracting top students with admissions standards that now rival or exceed those of many of the nation’s most prestigious legacy institutions.
As results from the 2025 Gaokao, China’s national college-entrance examination, roll in, a cohort of recently established universities including Westlake University, Fuyao University of Science and Technology(FYUST), and Ningbo Eastern Institute of Technology(EIT) posted minimum cutoff scores that surpassed those of traditional top-tier schools.
This new wave of research-focused private universities is challenging the status quo, bringing innovation that aligns with China’s key scientific research goals. Their unique approach to running schools not only attracts top talent but also redefines the potential of Chinese higher education.
These schools are part of a new form of philanthropic endeavor among Chinese entrepreneurs that is focused on promoting China’s national strategy of “scientific self-reliance” through education.
Now why have these institutions suddenly gained close attention from parents and high school graduates as strong rival of top public universities such as Tsinghua and Peking universities?
At the core of their impact is a breakthrough in governance—one that addresses the bureaucratic inefficiencies long plaguing public institutions. Unlike traditional private colleges—long dismissed as "profit-focused alternatives"—these new schools use a board-of-trustees model pioneered by Westlake University.
The board, made up of donors, academics, and public figures, serves as the top decision-making body: it oversees budgets and appoints leaders, giving the institutions greater autonomy to act quickly on societal and industrial needs.
Public universities rarely get this kind of freedom to cut through red tape and focus on emerging scientific research fields. Their disciplinary focus also ties education closely to national scientific research strategies—a sharp contrast to traditional universities, which tend to cover too many areas.
How 69-Year-Old Canton Fair Honors Guangzhou’s 1,000-Year Legacy
Épisode 5
vendredi 17 octobre 2025 • Durée 06:19
Hello! Welcome to this edition of CBN Perspective. I’m Stephanie Li. Today, we’re shining a light on an event that’s been the backbone of China’s foreign trade for nearly seven decades: the 138th China Import and Export Fair, better known as the Canton Fair.
Let’s kick things off with a staggering statistic: This year, over 207,000 buyers from 217 global markets arrived in Guangzhou—a “millennium-old commercial hub”—to take part.
Since 1957, the Canton Fair has never missed a beat, even through global disruptions. But what keeps it relevant after 69 years? To answer that, we first need to tap into Guangdong’s millennium-long legacy of cross-border commerce.
Rewind to ancient times: Guangdong was the starting point of the Maritime Silk Road, with Xuwen Port (dating back to the Qin and Han dynasties) as one of China’s earliest official gateways for global trade. By the Tang and Song dynasties, it housed the Shibo Si （市舶司）—the Imperial Maritime Trade Supervisorate, China’s first formal system for managing foreign commerce. Later, in the Qing Dynasty, Guangzhou’s “Thirteen Hongs” became the epicenter of Sino-Western trade. Openness is deeply woven into Guangdong’s DNA.
Fast forward to 1957: The first Canton Fair opened to bypass Western economic sanctions against China. Back then, it focused on agricultural goods and everyday staples. Today, it’s an epicenter for high-tech, smart, and green innovations. This year, over 32,000 enterprises exhibited—including, for the first time, more than 10,000 high-caliber firms labeled “high-tech” or “specialized & innovative.”
So, what’s the Canton Fair’s secret to staying vibrant? Let’s talk innovation. This year, it launched its first-ever dedicated “Smart Medical Zone,” showcasing medical robots and AI-powered diagnostic tools. It also introduced “modular booth construction”—think of it as “trade-show Lego”—cutting costs for businesses and slashing carbon footprints.
As for the exhibits, over 1 million new products are on display, from AI+AR glasses that translate 89 languages in real time to bionic crawler robots that clean skyscrapers. More than 60% of these new items leverage cutting-edge technology.
Meet the New "New Trio”, China’s Answer to Tech Revolution
Épisode 6
samedi 27 septembre 2025 • Durée 06:38
Hello! Welcome to this edition of CBN Perspective. I’m Stephanie Li.
Not long ago, China’s "new trio" of exports – new energy vehicles, lithium batteries, and solar panels – turned "Made in China" into a label for green manufacturing. Today, artificial intelligence, robotics, and innovative pharmaceuticals emerged as the new "new trio", marking a pivotal transition for China’s economy that powered by technological breakthroughs.
To anyone tracking China’s rise, these three sectors are no longer just market darlings, but have formed the backbone of its high-quality development and hold the key to redefining Chinese assets on the global stage.
Technology companies now make up over a quarter of China's A-share market as the country steps up support for sci-tech innovation, China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) Chairman Wu Qing announced at a recent press conference. The market cap of tech stocks is significantly higher than the combined market cap of the banking, non-bank financial, and real estate sectors, Wu said. This signals a clear paradigm shift: robots, AI, and innovative drugs have officially taken over as the new growth engines of China’s economy.
The rise of the new "new trio" is no accident. Globally, technological competitiveness has become the cornerstone of national strength, while domestically, the land-finance growth model has run its course, with AI breakthroughs taking the wheel to drive on the lane of new productive forces.
Each of these three sectors fills a non-negotiable niche: Robotics serves as the "physical engine" of smart manufacturing, addressing labor shortages and boosting efficiency. AI acts as the "digital brain," supercharging everything from factory operations to drug R&D. Innovative pharmaceuticals stand as the "value core" of life sciences, safeguarding public health while generating high returns to fund further innovation.
Let’s examine the market dynamics. In the robotics sector—particularly humanoid robots, viewed as the next transformative smart terminal after computers, smartphones, and new energy vehicles—A-share leader Inovance Technology boasts a market cap exceeding 200 billion yuan. Sanxie Motor surged by more than 785% on its debut trading day, while unlisted players like UBTECH and DeepRobotics have also become darlings of capital.
SFC Correspondents at China-ASEAN Expo 2025: AI in spotlight丨ASEAN Watch
Épisode 7
vendredi 19 septembre 2025 • Durée 08:57
Stephanie: Hey everyone, and welcome to this edition of CBN x ASEAN Watch. I’m Stephanie, your host, and today we’re taking you to the ongoing China-ASEAN Expo.
Entering its 22nd edition this year, the old-line China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) for the first time set up a 10,000-square-meter pavilion dedicated to Artificial Intelligence (AI), underscoring the ever-expanding and deepening cooperation between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The expo opened on Wednesday in Nanning, the capital of Guangxi province in southern China. This year, it boasts an exhibition area of nearly 160,000 square meters, with over 3,200 enterprises from 60 countries participating.
Joining me today is Sharon and Jiaying, our ASEAN correspondents who are now at the very location of the expo in Nanning. Hi, Jiaying.
Jiaying: Hi, Stephanie, and hello to our listens.
Can you guess where I am now? Yes, I’m at the AI Pavilion, the absolute spotlight of this year’s China-ASEAN Expo.
The AI pavilion is the largest single-theme hall in the expo's history. It hosts nearly 200 tech firms, from industry leaders to innovative startups, showcasing about 1,200 innovative products and technologies, ranging from consumer-grade smart devices to industrial-grade solutions, forming a complete innovation chain.
Stephanie: Wow, this is so exciting! How is the AI pavilion like?
Jiaying: Of course. On opening day, the AI pavilion quickly became a major draw for visitors. I’ve been talking with some of the exhibitors, and they are very excited to be here with their latest AI products. Take a listen.
(In Chinese: Staff from InMyShow Digital Technology Group, a Guangxi-based MCN company that incubate online influencers, introduces their latest AI digital avatars that support Chinese as well as the languages used in all 10 ASEAN member countries.)
Stephanie: What are some of the “hardcore” AI products that impressed you? And how do they serve ASEAN clients?
Why Alibaba’s Amap is Unmapping Meituan’s Turf?
Épisode 8
vendredi 12 septembre 2025 • Durée 07:35
After engaging in a months-long price war of instant retail, two of China’s “Big Three” delivery platforms - Alibaba and Meituan - are again wrestling on a different ring as they unveiled new initiatives targeting each other’s turf.
Chinese internet giant Alibaba Group Holding on Wednesday released a major update to its navigation platform Amap, adding a new artificial intelligence-powered feature allowing users to leave a ranking for local businesses just like on Dianping, an app by rival Meituan.
Now when you open Amap to find a nearby restaurant, this new "Street Stars” ranking is going to pop up—not just any list, but one weighted by your actual behavior and Alipay's credit score. This seemingly small change is quietly rewriting the rules of how we discover and choose local businesses, as users can review restaurants, hotels, tourist attractions, and others using the new Amap ranking.
Alibaba also promised to offer over CNY1 billion of incentives to support the spending of 10 million customers on car rides, dining, and other services.
Alibaba set up the Amap “Street Stars” project in June and has since been making secret progress, covering over 1.6 million offline service providers in more than 300 Chinese cities, including over 870,000 restaurants, 230,000 hotels, and nearly 50,000 scenic spots.
Amap “Street Stars” is based on users' behavior trends rather than their likes or favorites, values returning customers, and will never be commercialized, said Guo Ning, chief executive of Amap.
Interestingly, Alibaba linked the feature to Amap rather than its Taobao Flash Buy, which market analysts attributed to the former's mapping and navigation data.
Alibaba’s move isn't just another marketing push—it's a full-on assault on Meituan's most profitable territory: in-store services.
Let's put things in perspective. China's local services market is predicted to hit CNY35.3 trillion by 2025, with only 30.8% of that happening online. So there's massive room to grow.
Alibaba's strategy here is cleverly layered. Let's break it down. First, traffic. As one of the most popular map apps in China, Amap hails national utility with 700 million monthly active users. Every time someone searches for directions, that's a chance to nudge them toward a nearby café or shop. It's like turning every car ride or walk into a potential shopping trip.
China Opens Doors to Russian Tourists as People-centric Exchange Deepens
Épisode 9
vendredi 5 septembre 2025 • Durée 08:34
Imagine the frustration. For years, Alexei, a small business owner from Moscow, has wanted to attend the Canton Fair in Guangzhou to source new products. Each time, the process was the same: a lengthy application process, the wait for visa approval, and the constant worry that a minor error could derail his entire trip. The dream of easily exploring Chinese markets or even taking his family to see the Great Wall felt distant.
But things are about to change. In a significant policy shift, China has announced a trial program that addresses this very challenge. As of September 15, 2025, the door to China will swing open for Russian citizens, marking a new era of travel and cooperation.
Russian passport holders can stay in China for up to 30 days without a visa starting from Sept. 15 this year to Sept. 14 next year, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Tuesday.
The introduction of the China visa-free for Russians policy is more than just an administrative update; it’s a game-changer for tourists, entrepreneurs, and families alike, sparking an immediate surge in searches for flights from Moscow on Chinese online travel sites.
Moscow to China flight searches almost doubled within half an hour after the visa waiver was announced, soaring by as much as four times at one point, according to travel agency Qunar. Russia was among China's top three sources of international tourists this summer, with such visitor numbers expected to soar once the new policy kicks in.
"China's main sources of inbound tourism are Japan and South Korea, but the number of Russian visitors is rapidly growing, and they are particularly fond of traveling to Sanya on the southern tropical island of Hainan," a deputy general manager of travel agency Spring Tour told media. He expects that lower-tier cities and unique tourist destinations will also grow in popularity with this trial visa-free policy.
Over the summer holiday, the top 10 destinations in China for Russian tourists were Beijing, Shanghai, Sanya, Guangzhou, Harbin, Shenzhen, Xi'an, Zhangjiajie, Chengdu, and Hangzhou, according to Trip.Com data.
Cross-border tourism has significantly benefited in recent years as bilateral ties continue to deepen. Chinese mainland residents made 1.04 million trips to Russia last year, up 209 percent from the previous year, while the number of Russian tourists traveling to China surged 115 percent to 1.5 million, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
A Duty-Free Tale of Two Cities丨Perspective
Épisode 10
vendredi 29 août 2025 • Durée 06:40
Hello! Welcome to this edition of CBN Perspective. I’m Stephanie Li.
On August 26, Guangzhou inaugurated its first in-city duty-free store in Tianhe District, drawing throngs of shoppers. Notably, Shenzhen also rolled out its first in-city duty-free outlet on the very same day—a synchronized move that marks a pivotal step in enhancing outbound travel convenience for residents of the two Pearl River Delta megacities, offering them streamlined access to duty-free shopping prior to international trips.
This milestone follows a key policy push: in August 2024, five central government ministries, including the Ministry of Finance, jointly released the Notice on Optimizing Policies for In-City Duty-Free Stores. The notice announced the approval of 8 new in-city duty-free locations nationwide, with Guangzhou and Shenzhen each securing one slot—underscoring the central government’s strategic focus on leveraging duty-free commerce to stimulate high-end consumption and fortify the two cities’ roles as regional economic hubs.
Authorized by the State Council, in-city duty-free stores are situated in urban cores and cater exclusively to travelers departing China. Their competitive edge over traditional port-based duty-free shops is stark: unlike port stores, which tie shoppers to tight customs clearance timelines, in-city outlets offer unparalleled flexibility. This allows consumers to browse and purchase a diverse range of duty-free goods at their leisure, eliminating the rush often associated with last-minute airport or port shopping and better aligning with modern travelers’ demand for convenient, stress-free retail experiences.
What sets Guangzhou and Shenzhen’s new stores apart is their deep integration with each city’s unique cultural and industrial identities—a deliberate design choice that transforms them from mere retail spaces into showcases of local character.
As a global hub for electronics innovation, Shenzhen’s store features an extensive lineup of “Made-in-Shenzhen” products, such as cutting-edge smartphones and panoramic cameras. This not only highlights the city’s technological prowess but also provides an international platform for local high-tech brands to reach outbound travelers, strengthening Shenzhen’s reputation as a leader in global tech manufacturing.
The 15th National Games has proven more than a sports spectacle—it’s a catalyst for the GBA’s integrated development. What began with reimagined ticket stubs and "sports+" innovation has grown into a model of cross-border collaboration: seamless travel, bundled benefits, and surging consumption that bridges cities and cultures.
As the GBA builds on this momentum, the Games’ legacy will lie in turning temporary excitement into lasting habits—making cross-city experiences, cultural exchanges, and shared economic opportunities a daily part of life for millions.
From the simultaneous torch relay across four cities to the cross-border layout of events, from the extensive selection of torchbearers to the diverse formation of volunteer teams, "National Games for All" has become a tangible, perceptible, and accessible real-life experience for GBA residents.
Cross-border integration and convergence have elevated the value of the National Games, transcending sports beyond itself. The 15th National Games is drawing to a successful close, but the GBA’s story is far from over. It is a new starting point for the GBA’s development narrative, and also a fresh chapter in China’s sports journey.
Beneath the humorous public reaction lies a meticulously crafted design that embodies the unity and uniqueness of the Greater Bay Area. This deliberate choice reflects the games’ mission to celebrate regional integration while showcasing distinct local identities.
The cultural histories of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao each possess unique characteristics. Hong Kong and Macao showcase a vibrant fusion of Eastern and Western cultures, according to the lead designer.
Despite these distinctions, the three regions share common foundations such as language, the appreciation of Chinese culture and a unique maritime heritage from their locations along the Maritime Silk Road. While preserving their distinctiveness, the regions demonstrate a marvelous integration, embodying the cultural essence of the GBA, Liu Pingyun said.
Originally from Jiangxi province, Liu relocated to Guangzhou in 2000 to study for his master's degree, and then to Macao in 2018 to pursue a doctorate. Subsequently working at the school of visual arts design at the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts, where he now serves as the dean, he has spearheaded numerous design projects, including the creation of the widely acclaimed Beijing Winter Olympics mascot “Bing Dwen Dwen.”
Now as the popularity of the "Greater Bay Chickens" continues to rise, with related online topics racking up over 500 million views and search volume surging by 300%—poised to become the most explosive cultural and sports IP in the Greater Bay Area this year, they have also translated into substantial economic impact, particularly for GBA manufacturing and cultural industries.
Official data revealed that the event has attracted 33 licensed manufacturers and 44 retailers from across the country. As of Wednesday, a total of over 2,800 licensed products spanning 20 categories, ranging from plush toys and blind boxes to cultural souvenirs, have been approved, setting a new record in terms of both quantity and variety compared to previous editions. The total market value of launched licensed products has exceeded 680 million yuan.
Dongguan, known as China’s "toy capital," has emerged as a key production hub: factories in Liaobu and Chashan towns have developed over 1,500 types of authorized products, leveraging the city’s industrial expertise to meet soaring demand.
This collaboration between event organizers and local manufacturers has not only boosted short-term sales but also strengthened the region’s reputation as a leader in cultural product development. It demonstrates how a single cultural symbol can activate a full industrial chain, from design to production and market distribution.
Beyond commercial success, the mascots serve as a catalyst for promoting intangible cultural heritage and regional traditions. The games have integrated local cultural elements into event experiences, such as wooden clogs from Dongguan’s Shilong town—given as gifts to athletes to symbolize "ascension"—and handcrafted drums from Xinchang. Plans to incorporate regional delicacies like goose rice noodles further highlight the games’ role as a platform for showcasing Lingnan culture.
By linking a national sports event to grassroots cultural practices, the mascots have fostered a deeper sense of cultural pride and accessibility. They allow audiences, both local and national, to connect with regional traditions through a familiar and beloved symbol.
Unlike rigid promotional symbols, the adorable mascots evolved into a shared cultural reference, bridging the gap between formal sports events and everyday life.
Either a happy coincident or a meticulous plan, the “dolphin-or-chicken” hype serves as another model of successful event economics that is not merely about infrastructure investment but about creating cultural touchpoints that resonate with diverse audiences—whether through humor, nostalgia, or emotional connection.
As digital platforms continue to reshape audience engagement, the ability to blend cultural authenticity with online trends will be key to unlocking the full economic potential of future large-scale events.
China has approved the establishment of several similar universities in key economic hubs in recent years, includingWestlake University in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, which concentrates solely on science, engineering, and life sciences; Eastern Institute of Technology, founded in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, by semiconductor magnate Yu Renrong, which zeroes in AI, integrated circuits, intelligent manufacturing and mathematics, and Shenzhen University of Advanced Technology and Greater Bay University in Dongguan, that leverage their proximity to Huawei to strengthen programs in communications and robotics.
Wang Shuguo, inaugural president of FYUST and a veteran of prestigous public institutions, notes that private schools "are as dynamic as private enterprises, with stricter accountability to student demands." This flexibility let FYUST launch majors in intelligent manufacturing and new materials—directly matching China’s advanced manufacturing objectives.
FYUST, initiated by glass tycoon Cao Dewang and the Heren Charitable Foundation that donated 10 billion yuan ($1.38 billion) to launch the school, not only touts global faculty and cutting-edge laboratories, but also generous financial aid, charging just 5,460 yuan (US$762) in annual tuition fees, while EIT’s inaugural students will receive full scholarships valued at 96,000 yuan.
At EIT’s recent open day, assistant professor Huang Yuanlong said that undergraduate students could join top Chinese research teams as soon as they enroll. “The batteries used in future electric vehicles may come from our solid-state battery lab,” he said.
By aligning courses with growing industries like AI and integrated circuits, these universities build talent pipelines for China’s scientific research frontlines. Their "small but elite" talent development model is equally transformative, blending education, research, and industry.
Westlake University enrolls fewer than 100 undergraduates annually, keeping its student-to-faculty ratio below 10:1, far lower than the 15:1 average at top public universities.
FYUST goes even further: its ratio hovers around 5:1, and it offers an 8-year bachelor-master-doctor track. This mirrors global elite practices, nurturing talent for long-term scientific research.
This targeted approach also avoids wasting resources, letting schools dive deep into critical areas. FYUST, for example, has already partnered with Haier and FAW Group to build joint labs, turning classroom knowledge into industrial innovation.
People’s Daily reported in March that the domestic semiconductor industry faces a talent shortfall of 300,000 people. Data from the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security indicates a gap of over 5 million AI professionals, with a supply-to-demand ratio of just 1:10.
Crucially, these universities act as "catfish" to spur reform in public institutions. Still, concerns linger. Many traditional private universities still struggle to fill enrollment quotas.
The founders’ willingness and capacity for sustained investment would be crucial to the universities’ future, industry experts noted. There’s still a long way to go for the investors. Today, as China aims to become a global technology power, these research-oriented private universities are more than just additions to the system—they’re catalysts for reshaping it.
The rise of private universities comes as China’s higher education sector faces demographic headwinds. This year’s national college entrance exam had 13.35 million registrants, down from a record 13.42 million last year and the first decline in nearly eight years.
But only 9.54 million births were recorded last year, pointing to empty lecture theaters down the track. This year, private colleges in Guangdong province left thousands of seats empty, while Yunnan province had to lower admission cutoffs by 30-40 points. High tuition fees and lingering perceptions of "inferiority" hold them back.
Against that backdrop, the rise of institutions like FYUST and EIT is more than just a personal experiment by the tycoons, because its offers a revealing case study of China’s higher education reform.
The success of these “catfish” proves a mindset shift can drive change, and people need to stop seeing private universities as profit centers and start viewing them as public service providers. By combining flexible governance with a focus on key scientific research, they may just bridge the gap between academia and industry, nurture future talent, and push China’s higher education to be more innovative and relevant.
But the fair isn’t just about gadgets; it’s about forging real connections. Its global network keeps expanding: This year, it added 18 new partners (like Brazil’s Federation of Foreign Trade Chambers), bringing the total to 227 across 110 countries. Even amid U.S. tariff shifts, American buyers—including retail giants like Target—still rely on the fair to stock their shelves.
And let’s not overlook the small touches that make a big difference. This year, the fair added on-site tax refunds for overseas buyers, mobile “ASK ME” foreign-language help desks, and even Bluetooth+Beidou+5G navigation to find booths in a flash. Self-service kiosks can help you get a visitor badge in just 30 seconds. There’s even a “Canton Fair Music & Food Festival” to share Cantonese delicacies and folk art—because doing business should feel like making friends.
At the 137th Canton Fair earlier this year, "intelligence" emerged as a standout feature, with service robots stealing the spotlight at one point. By showcasing a diverse range of products, from embodied robots to educational and entertainment robots, the fair presented a concentrated display of China’s latest developments in service robots and the status of its upstream and downstream industrial chains. The fair also offered a glimpse into the profound transformation underway in Guangdong’s foreign trade.
Throughout its changes over the millennia, especially in the new era, the underlying logic of Guangdong has remained consistent, with greater emphasis on innovation and openness.
From ceramics to OEM (original equipment manufacturing) products, and then to high-tech products; from the original "new trio" to the current new "new trio"—the evolution of Guangdong’s export products maps out a clear path of industrial upgrading. It has gradually transformed from a "contract manufacturer" passively accepting orders into a "rule-setter" that proactively participates in and even leads industry development.
A thousand years ago, merchant ships docked at Fanfang, the foreign quarter in ancient Guangzhou, to complete tangible transactions; a thousand years later, global merchants gather at the Pazhou Exhibition Center, seeking the latest products and reliable partners at the Canton Fair.
From "selling to the world" to "buying from the world," and further to "linking with the world," the core of Guangdong’s foreign trade story has always been about doing business, making friends, and pursuing development. Guangdong has walked this path for a thousand years and will continue to move forward firmly, as a bridge between China’s past and the world’s future.
In AI, multiple enterprises already hold a market cap of over 100 billion yuan. The colloquial “Ji Lian Hai" refers to Cambricon, Foxconn Industrial Internet, and Hygon—firms focusing on AI computing chips and infrastructure. Their order books and profit margins hit record highs in H1 2024. Meanwhile, “Yi Zhong Tian" denotes Eoptolink, Zhongji Innolight, and Tianfu Communication, whose optical modules are in high demand for high-speed data transmission in large AI models, driving simultaneous growth in both earnings and stock prices.
For innovative drugs, Hengrui Pharmaceuticals is approaching a 500 billion yuan market cap, with WuXi AppTec, Hansoh Pharma, and Innovent Biologics each exceeding 100 billion yuan, with their business models shifting from "capital-intensive investment" to "profit-generating operations."
In a global perspective, China’s position in these three sectors is evolving from "catch-up" to "leadership."
Robotics leads the pack, ranking among the global first tier as it boasts a complete industrial chain, the world’s largest market, and advanced localization of components, though high-end servo motors still rely on imports as Japanese firms control 60% of the servo market.
AI is in "overall catch-up, with leadership in specific applications"—excelling in computer vision and speech recognition, but facing gaps in core chips (NVIDIA dominates 80% of the global market) and framework ecosystems.
Innovative pharmaceuticals are moving from "follow-up" to "catch-up," with overseas transaction volumes surging, a sign of international recognition for R&D capabilities, yet challenges remain in target discovery and basic research translation.
But these bottlenecks are far from dead ends; they’re precisely the arenas where China’s strengths will come to the fore. The solution is clear: Unlock cross-sector data to unleash AI’s full potential; speed up approvals for life-saving technologies; build more computing hubs and train interdisciplinary talent; implement "regulatory sandboxes" to allow room for innovation experimentation, avoiding "one-size-fits-all" policies that restrict development; and join global tech standard-setting to ensure China’s voice is heard.
The shift from the old "new trio" to the new "new trio" reflects the intrinsic logic of China’s industrial upgrading. While challenges lie ahead, the performance of leading enterprises, supportive policy rollouts, and tangible technological breakthroughs all indicate that capital is casting a "vote of confidence" with real investment.
For international investors and collaborators, this is likely the masterplan for the upcoming wave of tech-driven expansion. Leveraging its vast market expanse, targeted policy impetus, and robust industrial ecosystems, China’s new "new trio" stands poised to transmute present-day trials into triumphs of tomorrow.
Jiaying: Major tech giants such as Huawei, Alibaba, iFlytek, Unitree Robotics and Qi-Anxin Group are prominently featured in the AI pavilion, where they showcased their advanced products.
(iFlytek staff: We have recently launched a multilingual AI model specifically designed for the 10 ASEAN members. This model has significant enhancement in capabilities, including language understanding, machine translation, knowledge question-and-answer facilities and text generation. In 2024 we sold approximately 15,000 smart devices in ASEAN countries, generating total revenue of about 13 million yuan.)
Stephanie: Thank you, Jiaying, for bringing us the vibe of the AI pavilion.
As an important open platform for China-ASEAN cooperation, the expo has tightly embraced the new era of AI.
The theme of this year's expo, "Digital Intelligence and Innovation Empower Development – Leveraging China-ASEAN FTA 3.0 New Opportunities for an Even Closer China-ASEAN Community with a Shared Future," highlights the role of technology in boosting bilateral trade and cooperation.
Cambodian Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Vongsey Vissoth said that the theme underscores "the urgent need" for cooperation in building a region that is both prosperous and peaceful by leveraging digital technology and innovation, as well as promoting trade and investment.
At this year’s edition, ASEAN members have also been actively engaging with the expo's emphasis on AI. The AI pavilion is also presenting the latest scientific and technological achievements from many ASEAN members, including Brunei, Malaysia and Thailand.
Now let’s talk to Sharon. She’s been covering the ASEAN Zone.
Sharon: Hi Stephanie. The ASEAN Zone at the dedicated AI pavilion has been warmly welcomed by ASEAN members, including the Brunei Innovation Lab, Indonesian Telematics Society, Malaysian Global Telecom Group, Myanmar Computer Industry Association, and Thai Mitr Phol Group, which showcase smart agriculture technologies, remote communication equipment, and scientific and technological innovation projects from ASEAN countries.
For example, the Indonesian Telematics Society - a non-profit dedicated to information, communication and broadcasting technology - has showcased Indonesia's cutting-edge products. Sarwoto Atmosutarno, the organization's president, said the firm has collaborated with Chinese tech leaders like ZTE and Huawei. It now boasts 31 member units, all actively applying AI and building data centers and cloud services.
Meanwhile, Vietnam's Ministry of Science and Technology has been organizing Vietnamese enterprises to exhibit high-tech projects at the Vietnamese Commodities Pavilion.
Stephanie: Collaboration between China and ASEAN members through platforms such as this expo is crucial for sharing knowledge, resources, and best practices in AI.This partnership not only strengthens economic ties but also promotes technological advancements that can address common challenges faced by the region.
Sharon: Exactly. With the demand for AI solutions ever increasing, the debut of these products at the expo serves as a catalyst for further cooperation and innovation, paving the way for a more integrated and technologically advanced future for both China and ASEAN.
I was talking with the Vice President of the Laos Chamber of Commerce, and he told me that Guangxi is a strategic location to implement China-ASEAN cooperation in AI.
(Thanousone Phonamat, vice president of Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry: This morning I had the opportunity to attend the Ministerial Round Table on AI with high level officials from China and ASEAN. After discussion between ASEAN member countries and China, the conclusion from theChina side is that Guangxi is located in very strategic location. It’s the gateway for collaboration between ASEAN and China.
I’ve also come to Guangxi many times. We work with quite a few technology companies. Every time we come, we see that Gangxi’s technology development is quite fast, because I also travel to cities in China, like Shenzhen or Shanghai, and I found that it's not too big different. We are happy to be close to Guangxi as we share similar culture, similar food, and our communication is easier and we are very happy to cooperate with the Guangxi government and Guangxi businesses, for our AI development. )
Stephanie: Thanks Sharon for sharing your observations at the expo. Official data show that bilateral trade volumes have consistently risen, with China remaining ASEAN's largest trading partner for 16 consecutive years, while ASEAN has been China's largest trading partner for the past five years.
By enhancing trade frameworks and embracing AI, China-ASEAN economic and trade cooperation is set to become even more dynamic and deliver even greater win-win outcomes.
And that’s our program today. Thanks for listening and until the next time!
Then there's the tech angle. By tying in Alipay's credit system, they're filtering reviews through a trust layer. So a five-star rating from someone with a solid credit score matters more than a random anonymous review. Add AI to eliminate fake comments, and suddenly you've got a more reliable recommendation engine.
And let's not forget the ecosystem play. That CNY1 billion subsidyworks hand-in-hand with Ele.me's delivery services, creating a loop: find a place on Amap, go there, or get it delivered via Ele.me, avoiding Meituan's stronghold in food delivery and hitting where Meituan is vulnerable: trusted recommendations.
The numbers back up why Alibaba's doubling down. Their local services arm grew 12% last fiscal year to CNY67 billion. Even better, losses are shrinking—down to CNY2.3 billion in Q4. They're getting more efficient, which gives them the cash to invest here. And who can blame them? Meituan once saw 43.3% profit margins in in-store services. Alibaba certainly wants a piece of that.
But Meituan isn’t sitting idle. On the same day, Meituan’s Dianping platform relaunched its “Premium Delivery” service, promising 30-minute delivery from top-rated restaurants featured in its “Must Eat” list and “Black Pearl” guide.
Dianping said it would "restore" its quality food delivery service by using a self-developed business-to-business AI model to analyze users' demand based on a vast amount of review data, filtering non-genuine reviews to provide a reliable reference for decision-making, with consumer-facing AI agents set to launch within a week. It will also issue 25 million large-denomination "quality takeout" consumption coupons.
The effect of Dianping's new project remains to be seen because its users tend to dine in, while restoring the food delivery business requires guiding users to order food on the app, analysts pointed out.
Meituan "suffered grievously" in the last round of the food delivery war with JD.Com and Alibaba's Ele.me. Its net profit plunged 89% to CNY1.5 billion in the six months ended June 30 from a year earlier, while its revenue rose 12% to CNY91.8 billion, it said in its first-half financial report released on Aug. 27.
Meituan's strength has always been its network effect—more restaurants mean more riders, which brings more customers. But that doesn't protect them in in-store services, where fake reviews have long been a problem. Alibaba's "never commercialize" promise for its rankings hits right at that trust issue.
Now, Alibaba is building a "home delivery + in-store" and "long-distance + nearby" ecosystem. But to challenge Meituan's Dianping—with its deep content and user habits—Amap needs more than traffic and data. It will need a richer content ecosystem and stronger merchant partnerships.
The more intriguing fact is that this AI-driven battle is rewriting the rules of local services, shifting trust from subjective reviews to real behaviors, moving decision-making from users to machines, and refocusing businesses from traffic chasing to value creation.
The endgame here won’t be endless app wars. It’ll be a showdown between super AI assistants—the one that truly understands what consumers want, and the one that delivers better experiences and more choices for both businesses and consumers. That’s where the future of local services will be decided.
Evgeny Kozlov, First Deputy Head of the Moscow Mayor's Office and Chairman of the Moscow City Tourism Committee, told the 21st Century Business Herald in a previous interview that the city has made various efforts to attract Chinese tourists. Moscow has opened accounts on most popular Chinese social media platforms, including Douyin, WeChat, Xiaohongshu, and Weibo, and it was the first Russian city to have an official page on Trip.Com.
In 2024, Moscow held large-scale Chinese Spring Festival celebrations for the first time, with over 300 events taking place from February 9 to 18. Chinese-language signs have also been installed at Moscow's airports and major scenic spots. There have been over 100 restaurants in Moscow specializing in Chinese cuisine, Kozlov noted.
China's trial visa-free policy for Russian citizens is "amazing news" that will change Russians' approach to travel in China, said the Russian Union of Travel Industry (RST), Xinhua reported, adding that tourist numbers are expected to surge significantly.
The policy could boost tourist flows from Russia by 30 to 40 percent, the Association of Tour Operators of Russia said.
Alexander Bragin, director of the Association of Travel Aggregators, said that the number of search queries for flights and accommodation in China has doubled after the announcement of the pilot visa-free policy.
According to data from Russia's Federal Security Service, 836,600 Russians visited China for tourism and private purposes in the first half of 2025, up 38.5 percent from the same period a year earlier.
As China expands its visa-free access to a growing list of countries, the nation is repositioning itself to be a more open and accessible destination for global travelers. Guo Jiakun, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said that “China attaches great importance to activating exchanges between the peoples of the two countries,” highlighting the people-centric philosophy behind the policy.
At its core, this policy is a testament to the robust and deepening partnership between China and Russia. For years, the two nations have been aligning on multiple fronts, and simplifying travel is a logical next step in solidifying this relationship.
By removing a significant barrier to entry, the policy encourages more frequent interaction not just at the governmental level but also among ordinary citizens and business leaders. This fosters a sense of goodwill and mutual understanding that paper agreements alone cannot achieve. It is a practical contribution to the "comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era" that both countries have cultivated, which have set a model for the world on building new-type international relations.
Besides the visa-free policy, there have been a lot going on in terms of cultural exchanges between the two neighboring countries. For instance, a China-Russia people-to-people and cultural exchange event commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the Soviet Union's Great Patriotic War was held on Wednesday. The event was co-hosted by China Media Group and All-Russia State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company.
It is one of the hundreds of events launched within the framework of the 2024-25 China-Russia Years of Culture that kicked off in May last year. Cultural events have been and will be held in 51 Chinese cities and 38 cities in Russia over the two years.
Other recent initiatives include the movie Red Silk, coproduced by Chinese and Russian filmmakers, that is currently showing in Russia and achieving great box office success, and a new version of the opera Eugene Onegin, created by artists from the two countries, that has just debuted in China.
China is not only paying great attention to the cultural events between the two sides to ensure their success but is also committed to making its people-to-people and cultural exchanges with Russia sustainable in the long run, so as to strengthen the bonds between the two peoples.
History shows that it is the mutual trust, mutual respect, mutual learning and mutual understanding realized through people-to-people and cultural exchanges that is the requisite for any substantial engagement between major countries and a defining characteristic of the healthy and sustainable development of Sino-Russian relations.
In contrast, Guangzhou’s store doubles as a gateway to Lingnan culture. Infused with design elements that pay homage to Guangzhou’s nickname, the “Flower City,” the outlet includes a dedicated atrium zone for experiencing Lingnan traditions and Chinese time-honored brands. This cultural integration serves a dual purpose: it enriches the shopping experience by connecting consumers to local heritage, and it positions Guangzhou as a city where commerce and culture intersect—an essential trait for building a globally appealing international consumption center.
Regulatory guidelines for in-city duty-free shopping are clear and targeted. Eligible shoppers include all travelers (Chinese and foreign alike) departing China via air or international cruise within 60 days. For Guangzhou and Shenzhen residents with upcoming outbound trips, the process is straightforward: they can shop at the in-city stores using valid 60-day outbound flight/cruise tickets and entry-exit documents.
Importantly, purchases are not available for immediate pickup; instead, goods are held at dedicated duty-free collection points in the departure isolation areas of ports, ensuring compliance with customs regulations and seamless transport abroad.
Early indicators of success are already evident. Since Shenzhen’s store entered a trial operation phase on August 23, it has become a hotspot for “prospective international students”—a demographic with significant demand for duty-free goods like electronics and skincare. Their enthusiastic spending has sparked an immediate “in-city duty-free shopping boom,” signaling strong initial consumer interest and validating the policy’s relevance to key traveler groups.
The launch of these stores carries far-reaching implications for both cities’ economic recovery and long-term competitiveness.
Data from the first half of 2025 underscores their growth potential: Shenzhen’s ports handled 130 million inbound and outbound passengers, a year-on-year increase of 16.2%, while Shenzhen Airport recorded a passenger throughput of 32.57 million, up 10.9% year-on-year. This surge in cross-border travel creates a massive pool of potential duty-free consumers, directly fueling the stores’ viability and their ability to drive consumption growth.
The initiative is a multi-faceted catalyst: it will accelerate the development of the duty-free economy, boost inbound tourism-related spending, and crucially, redirect domestic consumers’ overseas purchases back to China.
Additionally, by integrating consumption with culture and tourism, the stores will enhance both cities’ international profiles and competitiveness—key goals in their quest to become globally influential international consumption centers.
Looking ahead, these in-city duty-free stores will play a dual role: they will complement existing high-end commercial districts, filling a gap in pre-travel duty-free access, and serve as “new consumption landmarks” that accelerate Guangzhou and Shenzhen’s progress toward their long-term urban development goals.
