Starting this season, we are bringing you new content from tech trends to culture and consumption, with a focus on what's making waves in China's fast-paced society. In this episode of Trending in China, host Zhang Yiyi is joined by Lucas Zhang, a frequent blind box buyer and art toy collector. They dive into the fascinating world of China’s rapidly expanding art toy market, with a particular focus on Pop Mart and its viral blind boxes, where Lucas shares insights into how these toys transcend their function as simple playthings and instead serve as cultural ambassadors, offering emotional fulfillment and self-expression for Gen Z consumers. They explore the growing trend of emotional consumption, where younger generations prioritize products that connect with their individuality and offer a deeper emotional resonance, rather than just fulfilling material needs. The conversation also touches on the role of intellectual property (IP) in shaping art toys, how these toys reflect not just a consumer trend but a shift towards self-expression and community-building, and also the consumption upgrades taking place in China. This episode was recorded in December 2024. Highlights: 4:47 Adults also need to play with toys 10:08 Art toys like Pop Mart make art more approachable 13:00 Labubu storms Southeast Asia 16:21 When we talk about IPs, what are we talking about? 20:00 Huge market reflected by growth of Pop Mart and Gen Z’s growing purchasing power 25:16 What makes them buy: emotional value 26:06 Shopping malls in Beijing are providing services different from the past 28:39 China is shifting from a production-driven to a consumer-driven society 29:40 Gen Z consumers are spending money to buy happiness and please themselves 34:25 Purchases of art toy blind boxes is not about escapism but shows confidence of GenZ consumers 36:36 How brands should adapt to the evolving market landscape to attract the younger generation of consumers This podcast is available on Spotify, Apple Podcast and YouTube. You are also more than welcome to check our newsletter where you can find more in-depth sharings around Chinese economy: https://pekingensight.substack.com/

Check out China's thriving innovative enterprises in this episode! What are gazelles and unicorns? Why are dynamic enterprises like these driving China's national policy? And what are the country's strategies to better support them? Let's take a look at those fantastic beasts in China and see where to find them!😜

What's the meaning of the debut economy? What is patient capital really about? What are the priorities of China's new reform master plan? Here are six buzzwords of China's ongoing reforms that may offer you some clues. 01:31 Debut economy 03:56 Industries of the future 05:57 Patient capital 08:15 New forms of employment 10:11 Childbirth-friendly society 12:15 Silver economy

🚗🚝🌳A 15min tour of the best of Chinese city clusters!😜

In this episode, come and join us to visit lottery stores, where youngsters gather to buy excitement of anticipation, to stroll around a supermarket to shop for unique experiences, and to look through new policies to cultivate new consumption drivers.

This week, Mike and Sylvia are off on a "Culture Express," diving into the world of new Chinese style travel, museums, and Yue Opera. 01:24 New Chinese style travel 06:05Chinese museums greet more young people 11:16 Yue Opera fever

This week, join Mike and Sylvia to explore why America is "unhappy" about China's strong new energy capacity. This episode is produced by Trending in China, with additional help from Allen Zhu.

In this episode, come and explore new policies allowing visa-free entries to China, the bike boom in bustling cities, and a miniseries that leads us "to the wonder" of Altay, Xinjiang! 00:55 New policy to facilitate foreign cruise ship trips 04:35 Bicycles become symbols of tech and fashion 07:30 "To the Wonder" ignites a strong desire among viewers to visit Altay

Back to latest economic trends in China! In this episode we look at new reading habits among the young, thriving pet-related businesses, memes gone viral during the May Day holiday tourism boom, and how "world's supermarket" welcomes the Paris Olympic Games. 00:45 "Listening to" books becomes popular among young people 06:04 China's pet industry and related new jobs 07:49 New trend on social media -- Selfies? No. Memes？Yes! 11:15 Yiwu & Paris Olympic Games

Hi, you're listening to a special episode on the 4th China International Consumer Products Expo. Check out what participants have to say about the event! 01:39 Ireland's ambassador to China, Ann Derwin 04:01 Irish Food Board 05:27 Estée Lauder 08:46 "Newcomers" & "old friends"

In this episode, we look at Qingming Festival holiday consumption, "Shenzhen bag" and young people's new consumption habits, and the upcoming consumer products expo in Hainan. (00:22) Qingming festival holiday consumption (03:17) "Shenzhen bag" and trade in second-hand goods (09:40) 4th China International Consumer Products Expo Trailer: www.hainanexpo.org.cn

In this episode, we look at China's performing arts industry, the "multilingual" businesswomen in Yiwu City, rapid development of microdramas, and the newly unveiled negative lists for cross-border trade in services. * (00:56) World Theatre Day & the performing arts industry * (03:46) Zhang Jiying the "polyglot" in Yiwu * (08:03) China's huge market for microdramas * (10:22) Negative lists for cross-border trade in services