China trends: week of 2026-10-26

AI Layoffs Controversy Causes Laoganma Sales to Halve

Lao Gan Ma

A Chinese brand of chili sauces and condiments based in Guizhou province. Reference ↗

Dayi Ge Returns Home to Farm After His Performance Was Canceled

Background: Brother Dayi is the stage name of Chinese folk singer Zhu Zhiwen.

Foreign media focus on the Fifth Plenum of the 20th Central Committee

Background: The Fifth Plenary Session is a meeting of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.

A camouflaged next-generation Xiaomi SU7 Ultra test car appears in a road-test video, featuring a huge rear wing

Xiaomi

A Chinese company whose products include smartphones, connected home devices and electric vehicles. Reference ↗

Will Detective Conan inevitably end with Conan permanently reverting to Shinichi Kudo?

Background: *Detective Conan* is a Japanese manga and anime series about a teenage detective transformed into a child.

The 70th Ballon d’Or was announced in 2026, with Kane winning both the Best Scorer Award and the Ballon d’Or. How should this result be assessed?

Background: The Ballon d’Or is an annual football award presented by France Football.

How should we view the claim that OpenAI has disproved the ETH (Exponential Time Hypothesis)?

Background: The Exponential Time Hypothesis is a computational complexity conjecture about the time required to solve satisfiability problems.

Several Universities in Jiangsu Will Pay Salaries Using the Digital Yuan; How Does It Differ from Bank-Account Salary Payments?

Background: The digital yuan is China’s central-bank digital currency.

Laoganma AI

Background: Lao Gan Ma is a Chinese brand best known for its spicy chili sauce.

Lao Gan Ma

A Chinese brand of chili sauces and condiments based in Guizhou province. Reference ↗

Liu Yifei has mastered the essence of bullet time

Background: Bullet time is a visual effect that makes action appear frozen while the camera moves around it.

No need to wish me a son soon—I am the son

Background: 'An early noble son' is a traditional Chinese wedding blessing wishing a couple an early birth of a distinguished child.

Grab down jackets at 50% off on Tmall for Singles' Day

Background: Double 11 is China’s major annual online shopping promotion held on November 11.

Infinity and Beyond: Taiwan Season 2 Premiere Lineup

Background: *Infinity and Beyond* is a Chinese music variety show featuring songs from across the Chinese-speaking world.

Infinity and Beyond Livestream

Background: Endless Melody is a Chinese music variety show.

Xiaohongshu Issues Statement Regarding Kylian Mbappe

Background: Xiaohongshu, also called RedNote, combines lifestyle recommendations, product discovery and community discussion.

Xiaohongshu / RedNote

A Chinese social platform focused on lifestyle posts, recommendations and product discovery. Reference ↗

A Time-Honored Brand Becomes the New Trendsetter

Background: Laozihao refers to a long-established Chinese brand with a recognized traditional reputation.

[Huadiao Learns Programming] Arduino BLDC: A CAN Bus-Based Synchronized Robot with Position and Speed Dual Loops

Background: Arduino is an open-source electronics platform used to build programmable hardware projects.

Cao Cao

Background: Cao Cao was a prominent Chinese warlord and statesman during the late Eastern Han dynasty.

My Years with Sonos: From One Speaker to a Home Theater System

Sonos

An audio company that makes connected speakers, home-theater products and headphones. Reference ↗

Media comment on a crosstalk performer telling the audience to “go away”

Background: Crosstalk is a Chinese comic performance tradition built around dialogue and wordplay.