As China’s AI industry accelerates, the development and deployment of large language models (LLMs) have become a central focus. From shifts in scaling paradigms to the rise of AI Agents and AI-powered hardware like smart glasses, the LLM landscape is rapidly evolving. Here’s an in-depth look at the trends and breakthroughs shaping the sector. Scaling […]
Premium Articles on China Digital Trends & Insights
Subscribe here.
Xiaohongshu Poised to Overtake Baidu as China’s Leading Search Engine?
In a groundbreaking development for China’s digital landscape, Xiaohongshu (Little Red Book) is emerging as a dominant force in the search engine market. QuestMobile’s recent report reveals that the platform’s daily search volume has reached an impressive six billion queries in Q4 2024—doubling from three billion in mid-2023. This figure now places Xiaohongshu at nearly […]
Lost in Southeast Asia: China’s Young Digital Nomads Seek Freedom and Meaning
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Chinese Sellers Thrive Overseas
In 2024, several sectors continued to thrive, with cross-border e-commerce standing out as a key area of growth. As China’s export e-commerce industry rapidly expands, the scope of its influence has spread across the globe, with sellers from small towns to large cities riding the wave of international digital commerce. Cross-Border E-commerce: A Rapidly Growing […]
Pinduoduo, Douyin, and Kuaishou struggling with growth
In 2024, some of China’s leading internet companies, including Pinduoduo, Douyin (TikTok’s Chinese counterpart), and Kuaishou, reported sluggish growth. Their Q2 financial results signal a potential turning point after a decade of rapid expansion, primarily driven by recommendation algorithms. As these platforms face increasing competition and saturation in their respective markets, the once-powerful engines of […]
68.8% Opt for Online Trade-Ins, 95.5% Engage with Short Videos in H1 2024
China’s digital landscape continues to evolve rapidly, with a marked shift in consumer behavior and digital service adoption. The latest report by the China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC) highlights several key trends in the first half of 2024, focusing on consumer demand, mobile payment convenience, and the burgeoning online video industry. Growing Popularity of […]