Unlike traditional cafés, Paid Study Rooms (PSRs), the name already gives away how it works: people pay to self-study here. Many of them bear the word “dream” in it, like Dream Runner, Dream Seeker or Dream Builder. In this society where competition and hardworking are extensively encouraged, PSR has just started its journey.
Category: Hong Kong Freelancing Global Gig
Hong Kong Freelancing Global Gig
Founder of Alibaba Becomes the Symbol of Capitalism in China
Where is Jack Ma? The whole world is wondering what has happened to one of the richest men in China, who used to have a very high profile and now has disappeared for over two months. The founder of Alibaba didn’t even show up in Africa’s Business Heroes as scheduled, a TV show funded by Jack Ma Foundation. Concerns and speculations over his current situation have been circulating in China.
Chinese Internet Users Indignant at Another Young Karoshi
Right before the new year, on December 29, Zhang didn’t leave work until 01:30 a.m. While walking home with her colleagues, she suddenly fainted. Even though she was immediately sent to a local hospital in Urumchi, she still passed away six hours later.
The tragedy had been circulating unperceivably on the internet, until it trended on January 3. One day later, on Zhihu, people started to spread a screenshot of a post by the official account of tech giant Pinduoduo:
Hong Kong Re-Arrests Jimmy Lai
A Hong Kong court on Thursday once again issued an arrest warrant for businessman Jimmy Lai, a notable critic of China who had been granted house arrest on bail. Lai’s case is the first to involve a person accused of violating the new National Security Law, which many see as a test of the territory’s judicial independence.
Rich Chinese Couples Explore New Form of Marriage
Will China get old before it gets rich? This is an important question frequently discussed in China and by its rivals. It’s a matter of national power. The answer, according to most, is Yes. And it is already happening. Statistics from the CIA show that China has the same median age as the US, which is not a good sign for a developing country where the income per capita is not even half the level of a common developed-country.
Values Expressed by Chinese Government Unsettle Internet Users
Ding Zhen became famous overnight. On November 11, a 7-second video of him was uploaded to TikTok, in which he simply smiled slowly to the camera. It went viral and trended on many social platforms. Internet users are deeply charmed by his raw beautiful face. But no one could have foreseen how the story would unravel itself.
Concerns Over the Future of Community Group Buying in China
The concept of community group buying (CGB) started in Changsha in 2016, when several local supermarkets explored selling daily necessities online. Neighbors of the same residential unit could participate together to make a big order, and the supermarkets would deliver the orders at once in a few days.
Parents’ Anxiety Creates a New Multi-Billion Market in China
“The next Bill Gates will be someone who starts programming as a toddler.”
“In the future, illiteracy means not knowing how to code.”
Recently, many education companies in China offer programming lessons for kids from 4 years old. Such lessons consist in using toy blocks to construct required shapes and interacting with robots. A 40-minute lesson costs about $15, while a full training course usually contains more than 40 lessons.
The Marriage Between the Deceased in China
In 2008, Li Zhong suspected that his wife, Kang Cuicui, was cheating on him. They had a fight and Kang ran away. She went to a hotel and drank paraquat, an acute toxic herbicide without antidote. Her family was outraged, and Li’s parents had to spend over $15,000 to bury her properly in the family tombs. On November 14, 2020, when they went to clean the tombs, Li found out that Kang’s tomb had recently been dug up and buried again. They called the police and opened the coffin, only to find nothing inside but a big red carrot.
New Internet Fraud on the Rise in China
The Covid pandemic has greatly reduced social interactions in the real world, which becomes a big opportunity for online dating apps. They not only survived but thrived during this difficult time. However, you never know who is on the other side of the phone. In China, internet fraud is living its life this year.
Pompeo: Hong Kong Another City Controlled by CCP
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned business leaders that the United States will treat Hong Kong like other cities in mainland China. Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam jumped out to argue that Hong Kong’s status as a global trade and financial center will not change.
Long Commute is “Killing” Workers in China
“Every morning when I get on the subway, I feel like a pig on a slaughterhouse truck, waiting to be sacrificed.” Hu Yun spends over three hours each day on commute. In Beijing, she’s far from alone.
According to a report by Alipay, Beijing is the earliest city in China to wake up. Millions of people have to get up at 5 am when it’s still dark outside, rushing into the center of Beijing and then coming back at night. It’s Beijing’s tide. The average commute there surpasses half a marathon. “Just getting to the company already takes away all my energy. What is spare time? When I get home I only want to lie down because it’s almost midnight.”
Chinese Government Targets Private Credit Products
On December 4, Beijing Daily, the official newspaper of the Chinese Communist Party Beijing Municipal Committee, posted on Weibo an article titled “The Young Generation that Got Stuck in Huabei.” According to a study, there are 175 million people born between 1990 and 1999 in China, the so-called “post-90s.” Only 13.4% of them claim that they avoid any debt, while 86.6% have tried credit products, the most popular ones being Huabei and Jiebei, two credit services offered by Ant Group.
Hong Kong — Joshua Wong Remanded Over Protests
Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong pleaded guilty to inciting and staging illegal demonstrations in the Special Administrative Region, and risks up to five years in prison. The activist was remanded in custody on Monday after the first court hearing in his case, related to his involvement in pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong last year.
The Impact of CoronaVirus on Travel and Tourism, Globally!
Gone are the days when we used to book flights and buy tickets without thinking about travel bans and restrictions. Unfortunately, everything has changed in the past few months – be it businesses, the education sector, or travel. The travel and tourism sector has massively suffered during the crisis. Not only airlines but almost all major tourist attractions and cruise lines have also been shut down during the pandemic.
Five Eyes Condemn China’s Actions in Hong Kong
The Five Eyes alliance, comprising of the US, UK, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia, issued a joint statement on Wednesday, in which they expressed their “grave concern” over the autocratic actions of China against Hong Kong. The statement was issued through their respective foreign ministers.
Hong Kong — Five Eyes Alliance Condemns China
After the Hong Kong government canceled the qualifications of four pro-democracy legislators last week, the Foreign Ministers of the “Five Eyes Alliance” issued a statement on Wednesday, expressing concerns about China’s practices. They called on the Chinese government to stop destroying the rights and freedoms of Hong Kong people.
The Bathroom Panorama in Chinese Tech Giants
Founded in 2015, Pinduoduo is without doubt the fastest growing tech company in the world. In merely five years, it has become the strongest rival of Alibaba Group in China. Huang Zheng, the founder, is now the 4th richest man in China, 24th in the world. Together with other Chinese tech giants like Alibaba, Tencent and ByteDance, they have become the dream destination for most Chinese coders. Recently, a bathroom problem might make jobseekers think twice before applying to Pinduoduo.
You Are Not Powerless in Your Job Search During Covid-19
You probably never dreamed you’d be in search of a job during a global pandemic. Talk about challenges, right? Okay, before you get down and think your chances just slid to the floor, let’s look at what you can do to make the most of your time, and how you can land that next job interview.
One of the first things to consider is how you present yourself to others. Have you evaluated your personal brand lately? What makes you a valuable candidate to prospective employers? How will you stand out in a crowded marketplace? What transferable skills do you have? What are your strengths and how can you amplify them? Consider what courses are available to help you stay competitive in your industry. By evaluating your personal brand, you’ll get an overarching view of how potential employers see you.
Hong Kong — All Remaining Opposition MPs Resign
All of Hong Kong’s opposition MPs resigned en masse on Wednesday in protest of the removal of four of their colleagues by the local government. A new resolution from Beijing allows the Hong Kong government to remove dissident members of the Legislative Council.
Wig Town in China Struck Hard by Covid
“You know that Michelle from Africa? First Lady, her wig was made in our village.” Although someone reminded her that Michelle is an American, Zhou doesn’t think there is a difference. All that matters is that the most famous black female in the world wears a wig from Xuchang. Right now, however, the wig industry in Xuchang is having a hard time.
Future of China’s Richest Man Becomes a Timing Bomb
The rumors started at around 8:50 pm. On November 3, first Shanghai Stock Exchange announced the halt of Ant Group’s IPO on November 5, then HK Exchanges and Clearing and Ant Group published the same announcement. In less than one hour, the originally planed world’s largest IPO died on the vine. At $34.5 billion, it could have broken the record set by Saudi Aramco’s $29.4 billion IPO last year. It’s worth noting that the current second largest IPO was set by Alibaba at $25.0 billion. Both Ant Group and Alibaba were founded by Jack Ma, the richest man in China.
Hong Kong- Seven Pro-Democracy Activists Detained
Seven members of the pro-democracy opposition in Hong Kong were arrested today for being involved in the clashes in May in the parliament of the Chinese special administrative region, the police announced. “All arrestees are being detained for further inquires. The operation is under way and further arrests may be made,” the police said.
Unfinished Buildings in China Drag People Back to Poverty
Beijing. Back from work, parking the car. Even the underground parking lot has a chandelier, shedding light on the luxury cars around. Their owners might be executives at different industries. To get to the elevator, people will pass the four-season entrance hall, with tropical plants and a fountain in the middle. The house will be designed in the popular modern Chinese decoration style, outside of whose windows the lake nearby becomes a favorite for birds…
Hong Kong Activist Sought US Protection Were Asked to Leave Consulate
The four Hong Kong activists who sought protection at the U.S. consulate had previously contacted the diplomatic service, according to a British-based organization that helped several young Hong Kong people go to the US consulate.
Starbucks Exceed Earnings, Chinese Concepts Up
On Thursday, Starbucks announced the company’s fourth quarter financial report. Starbucks’ fourth-quarter revenue was $6.203 billion, a decrease of 8.1% from last year. Among them, revenue in the Americas was $4.233 billion, a decrease of 9% from last year. International revenue was $1.492 billion, a decrease of 5%.
China’s Generation 2000s – The Generation of Bucket Lifters
Foxconn never lacks for a labor force. For Foxconn, if they can’t get enough workers for $3.57/h, the easiest solution is to make it $3.72/h. During this past September, right before the launch of the iPhone 12, over 1,000 new workers joined Foxconn Zhengzhou every day, at $4.62/h. Among them, some are the 2000s. This generation is already a growing labor force. According to a government report, over 40 million 00s entered the labor market right after high school.
In China They’re Asking “Is a Full-time Housewife a Waste of Education Resources?”
In 1996, Zhang Guimei applied to transfer herself to teach at a school in a remote village, Huaping, after her husband passed away of cancer. One year later, she was diagnosed with uterine fibroids. Seeing the conditions in which local female students were living, she decided to dedicate the rest of her life to help these girls to “fly out of the mountains and never come back.” In 2008, after years of extreme hard work and with the help of local government, Huaping Female High School (HFHS) was founded, the first free female high school in China.
Chinese Superstar’s Parents Refuse to Pay Debt
On October 17, Zhou Zhennan, leader of a popular Chinese idol boy band R1SE, posted “I really don’t know how to go on” on Weibo, where he has over 18 million followers. In the comments, he added “please stop calling and texting my parents, my family is my limit.” The post trended and people assumed it’s about “Sisheng,” fans who interfere with celebrities’ personal lives, which has been bothering many celebrities in China.
Hong Kong Slaps Goldman Sachs with Record Fine
The Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission fined Goldman Sachs (Asia) Co., Ltd. a record $350 million (HK$2.71 billion) on Thursday, saying they made “serious lapses and deficiencies in its management supervisory, risk, compliance and anti-money-laundering controls.”
Ant IPO Pushes Hong Kong Dollar Demand
Yesterday, Ant Group’s Hong Kong IPO has been approved by the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, and the public offering has entered a countdown stage. The data shows that due to the enthusiasm of global investors, Ant’s IPO plan in Hong Kong stocks has pushed the demand for Hong Kong dollars to historical highs.
Cathay Pacific to End Dragonair, Sweden Bans Huawei & ZTE
The South China Morning Post reported that Cathay Pacific will lay off 6,000 employees and end its Cathay Dragon brand as part of a strategic assessment to deal with the unprecedented damage caused by the new coronavirus pandemic. The SCMP said the Hong Kong airline is expected to officially announce the plan after the close on Wednesday.
Concerns Over Suicides Among Higher Education Students in China
In recent years, more students in China have chosen to obtain a master’s degree or a PhD as a way to postpone their entrance into the labor market, either out of a mere hope of increasing their competitiveness in the future, or simply because they haven’t found a proper job. However, graduate education is not meant for everyone. The pressure of being able to graduate on time, the relationship with academic supervisor, the higher expectations from the society…For the students, it has become a question of who gives up first.
A Death Note Reveals Nasty Situations in a Chinese University
On October 15 Mao Hongtao posted for the first time on Wechat Moments. Families and colleagues tried to reach him after seeing the post, but his phone was already turned off. On the same day, local police got involved and the news trended on Weibo. The next day his body was found in Jiang’an River, close to his house in Chengdu. Police concluded it was a suicide. Mao was the Party Committee Secretary (PCS) of Chengdu University, a mayor-level official according to the current civil service hierarchy in China.
Protect the Free World – Boycott the China Vaccine for Corona
The Free World believes in democracy. The Free World believes in freedom. Corona virus has crippled the free world. The free world has gone into quarantine. Until comes the vaccine for Corona the future of the free world is to go into quarantine return to normalcy and return to quarantine again. Israel went into quarantine and returned to normalcy only to return again to quarantine. The same is true for the whole world. Quarantine is bondage to the free world much more than to China and communist nations.
Chinese Deal Hunters Force Online Shops Out of Business
Taobao, Tmall, Jingdong, Pinduoduo…Endless competition between different online shopping websites in China has greatly benefited domestic online shoppers. Thanks to competition between couriers, most products can be delivered very fast and free of charge. But all people will not be satisfied. Consumers keep demanding cheaper products. In recent years, a new word, “Yangmao Dang,” has been created to describe people who seek deals on different websites. Yangmao means woolen fleece in Chinese. These deal hunters are like shearers who cut Yangmao off the sheep (in this case, the online shops).
Indignant Internet Users Plead to Change Law on the Protection of Minors in China
At 3 pm on October 20, 2019, 10-year-old Qi called her mother saying that she had just finished her art class and that she was on the way home. It’s a 15-minute walk. At 3:50 pm, with still no sign of her daughter, Mrs.Wang went out to look for her with family members. At around 7 pm, they found Qi in a bush a few hundred meters away from home, covered in blood and pants off.
The Unheard Voices of Domestic Violence in China
Had nothing happened, Lamu would be in the mountains digging up Notopterygium roots, a traditional medical herb in China. Once she’s back at home, she would stream for a while on TikTok to chat with her fans. On September 14, while Lamu was streaming in her kitchen, fans saw a man enter the room before the screen went black.
Hong Kong: Lam Hails National Security Law
Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam today praised the controversial Chinese national security law imposed on Hong Kong, saying that it has restored peace in the city, and helped end the pro-democracy movement protests therein. Lam made her remarks as part of the 71st anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.
In China Online Games Create New Forms of Scams
Online games have witnessed an unprecedented surge in China, with a projected market volume of $4.5 billion in 2020, highest in the world. Even some universities have created majors related to online games management. Companies have developed a series of new services trying to grab market share, including a peculiar one called “peiwan.”
China’s Largest Online Driving School Goes Bankrupt
Zhu Jianqiang, which means Strong Pig in Chinese, is the name of a pig that survived under rubble for 36 days after the 8.0 MS Wenchuan Earthquake in 2008. It has become a symbol of survival in China ever since. Since September 2014, a namesake company started to enter people’s daily lives.
Xi Jinping and Yoshihide Suga Establish Talk
Japan’s new Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga spoke for the first time with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday. The leaders of the two countries agreed to “closely cooperate” on bilateral and international issues but did not discuss Xi Jinping’s plan for a state visit to Japan.
Hong Kong — Joshua Wong Detained, Released
Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong, who was detained Thursday and released hours later, has called for intervention by the international community in the case of the group arrested in China more than a month ago. Wong was arrested when he appeared at the Central Police Station for judicial control.
New German Technology to Aid in the Crowd Numbers Calculations
Germany announced the creation of the new technology to assist in providing the accurate crowd numbers. At the end of August, thousands took to the streets in the “anti-Corona protests”. There was an attempt to close Berlin by the law enforcement. The government tried to stop the planned demonstration due to the concern of the Coronavirus spread.
Chinese University Students Confined Since Back At College
Covid-19 continues to be rampant in many countries, except where it broke out first: China. According to the latest statistics, on September 18, there were only 18 new confirmed patients, all travelers from other countries. Even so, the Chinese government is extremely careful with these imported cases. On September 13, in Ruili, two illegal travelers from Myanmar were reported to be infected. The next day, the local government quarantined the entire city and started to carry out massive PCR testing. In just three days, they’ve already completed 95,362 tests (all negative), and more underway.
Chinese Hard Candy: A Pedophile Lawyer or a Lying Girl?
For five months, internet users in China have been waiting for the result of a special case. On April 9, Yantai Police Department announced that they were officially investigating an alleged statutory rape. A girl, Li Xingxing, claimed that her foster father, Bao Yuming, had been raping her for the past three years. The news heated up when people found out that Bao is a board member of the ZTE Corporation (he was kicked out right after the news).
Chinese Defector Alleges Coronavirus Manmade
Chinese virologist Li-Meng Yan, who worked in a Hong Kong lab, published a report on Zemodo, an open-access digital platform, alleging the SARS-CoV-2 virus is manmade. According to Dr. Li’s abstract, “SARS-CoV-2 shows biological characteristics that are inconsistent with a naturally occurring, zoonotic virus.”
The Dark Sides of the Underground Surrogacy Markets in China
Due to the Covid-19, it has become harder to seek certain services in other countries, which forces people to turn to their domestic markets. On the one hand, according to a report by China Population Association, one in every six Chinese couples have fertility issues. On the other hand, in China, surrogacy is illegal.
The Perilous Life of a Chinese Food Delivery Rider
While most industries suffer from the Covid-19 this year, one keeps thriving: food delivery. However, more often than not, the winner of the game is the capital. The frontline workers are the ones who make it all great, not the ones to benefit from it. These days, an article called “Takeaway Riders, Stuck in the System” has sparked waves of discussions online.
Real Estate Ponzi Schemes Are a Real Problem in China
On August 9, Mrs. Wu from Hangzhou authorized a real estate agent to rent her apartment to a tenant for $880 per month. On August 28, the agent told her that his company was abandoning Hangzhou and that he had resigned the same day. Mrs. Wu has only received the rent for August. She got in touch with the tenant and was informed that he had paid upfront almost $6,000 for a whole year’s rent to the agent plus deposits. That is, the agent company charges the tenant less than $600 a month while paying the owner almost $900. Something doesn’t add up here.
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