In the early hours on the streets of Chiang Mai, Jian, a 25-year-old from Yunnan, looked up and sighed, “I’m out of money again. I’ll have to go home, find a job, save up, and then hit the road once more.” Jian’s cyclical journey—leaving China to travel abroad, running out of money, and returning to […]
About CIW Team
Pinduoduo Surpasses Taobao in User Engagement During Double 11, While Taobao Leads in Daily Active Users
The annual Double 11 shopping festival has once again revealed the fierce competition among China’s e-commerce giants. QuestMobile’s latest report highlights the changing dynamics of the sector, showcasing a pivotal moment in user behavior and market competition during the extended promotional period, which now spans nearly 30 days compared to 20 days in previous years. […]
China’s Generative AI Software Market to Reach $3.54 Billion by 2025
The International Data Corporation (IDC) has unveiled a report that sheds light on the rapid evolution of the generative AI software market in China, which IDC forecasts will hit $3.54 billion by 2025. The Demand for Unified AI Development Platforms As enterprises increasingly adopt generative AI applications, the report emphasizes the pressing need for a […]
Tencent’s in Q3 2024: mini program GMV over 2T yuan
Tencent Holdings Limited, the Shenzhen-based internet and technology giant, showcased a robust performance for the third quarter of 2024, with revenues reaching RMB 167.2 billion (USD 23.9 billion), an 8% year-on-year (YoY) growth. The company’s results reflect strong execution across key business sectors—gaming, social media, cloud services, and financial technology—alongside strategic initiatives to leverage artificial […]
JD.com Reports Robust Q3 2024 Growth
JD.com, one of China’s leading supply chain-based technology and service providers, has delivered a solid set of financial results for the third quarter of 2024. The company reported strong growth across key business areas, underpinned by its expanding ecosystem, innovative initiatives, and enhanced operational efficiency. Steady Revenue Growth Amid a Competitive Landscape In the three […]
Alibaba Reports Resilient Q3 2024 Performance Amid Strategic Investments and Market Expansion
Alibaba Group (NYSE: BABA; HKEX: 9988) announced robust financial results for the quarter ending September 30, 2024, underscoring its diversified revenue streams and strategic advancements in key sectors such as e-commerce, cloud computing, and international commerce.
Double 11 2024: China’s biggest shopping festival shifts focus from discounts to user experience and brand growth
As the clock struck midnight on November 11, China’s Double 11 shopping festival—one of the world’s largest online retail events—came to a close, setting new records in sales, user engagement, and strategic shifts. Leading platforms like Tmall and JD.com took a fresh approach this year, extending the duration of the festival and shifting focus from […]
China’s AI Advantage: Faster, Cheaper Commercialization of Large Models, Says Kai-Fu Lee
As AI technology moves from breakthrough innovations to widespread commercial applications, China’s AI landscape is gaining confidence in its ability to compete globally, particularly with Silicon Valley. According to Kai-Fu Lee, former Google China president and founder of AI startup 01.AI, Chinese AI firms have a unique edge over their U.S. counterparts: faster and more […]
WeChat Quietly Mimics Xiaohongshu as Tencent Strengthens Its Core Strategy
In an unexpected yet strategic move, WeChat has been quietly introducing a new content feature, closely resembling the popular Chinese lifestyle platform, Xiaohongshu (Little Red Book). Through subtle UI adjustments, primarily using red dot notifications, WeChat has begun channeling users into a dual-column, image-text format that feels strikingly similar to Xiaohongshu’s interface. This development, which […]
Searches Surge 500% as EDC Toys Become Popular for Stress Relief in China
In 2024, a unique trend has emerged in China, where EDC (Every Day Carry) toys have skyrocketed in popularity, especially among men. According to data from Taobao, searches for EDC toys increased by 532% year-on-year, with transaction growth reaching an impressive 345%. Over 70% of buyers are male, particularly those between the ages of 18 […]
China’s Cloud Service Spending Reaches $9.4 Billion in Q2 2024, Led by AI Integration
China’s cloud infrastructure service spending reached $9.4 billion in the second quarter of 2024, marking an 8% year-on-year growth, according to the latest data from Canalys. The country’s leading cloud providers—Alibaba Cloud, Huawei Cloud, and Tencent Cloud—dominate the market, collectively holding a 71% share. Despite broader macroeconomic conditions slowing growth in some sectors, cloud service […]
JD.com and Alibaba Invest Billions in Hong Kong to Lead the Double 11 E-commerce Battle
With the upcoming Double 11 shopping festival just around the corner, China’s leading e-commerce giants, JD.com and Alibaba, are pouring substantial investments into the Hong Kong market. Both companies are ramping up efforts to capture market share with aggressive campaigns that go beyond simply offering free shipping.
Chinese E-Commerce Powerhouse Soars on Niche Platforms
In the ever-evolving landscape of global e-commerce, Chinese sellers are increasingly turning their attention to niche platforms across Europe, reaping substantial rewards. A standout example is Zhiou Technology (致欧科技), which has surged on the German e-commerce platform OTTO, amassing a staggering 570 million yuan (over US$80 million) in just two and a half years. A […]
China’s Cloud Market Enters a New AI Era
The landscape of China’s cloud services industry is undergoing a seismic shift, propelled by the burgeoning applications of artificial intelligence (AI). As the sector moves beyond the intense competition over large-scale AI models that characterized last year, this year marks the rise of AI-driven applications as the new battleground. This evolution signals a transformative phase […]
Instant Retail: New Battleground for Chinese e-commerce platforms?
In China’s fast-paced lifestyle, consumers are demanding more immediacy and convenience from their shopping experiences. With just a few taps on their phones, they want products delivered within the hour. This growing trend has led to the rise of instant retail, a retail model where products are ordered online and delivered to consumers in as […]