Gaming Giant Blizzard Shutters China Operations

On Thursday, November 17, gaming giant Blizzard Entertainment announced that it would cease operations in China. Its licensing agreement with Chinese tech giant NetEase is drawing to a close in January 2023.


As a result, all of Blizzard’s games, including big hits such as World of Warcraft and Diablo III, along with the two co-developed titles Diablo Immortal and Heroes of the Storm, will no longer be available for players in the country.


The licensing agreement was first stipulated in 2008, but according to Blizzard’s announcement, it will not be renewed because “the two parties have not reached a deal to renew the agreements that is consistent with Blizzard’s operating principles and commitments to players and employees.”


Following the announcement, NetEase stocks plummeted by 14% in just a few hours, according to the Chinese online publication The Paper.


During a quarterly earnings conference call the day after, NetEase CEO Ding Lei made it publicly known that the company had worked hard to reach an agreement with Blizzard, but the negotiation proved to be more difficult than expected. However, some of Blizzard’s terms, especially “concerning sustainable operations and the core interests of Chinese players,” were unacceptable to them.


The news immediately made its rounds on Chinese social media, and a related hashtag has gained more than 160 million views on Weibo, China’s top microblogging platform.


blizzard games diablo immortal

Image via Twitter


Many users have shed digital tears over the pending withdrawal of their favorite games, while others have wondered whether competitors such as Tencent and miHoyo (Genshin Impact’s developer) will seize the opportunity to take over the distribution rights.


Tencent and miHoyo have dismissed the speculation as rumors and have denied engaging in any talks with Blizzard.


Earlier this year, Blizzard found itself in hot water before the release of its latest title Diablo Immortal. Initially scheduled for a June release, its debut was postponed allegedly due to politically sensitive content posted by the development team on Weibo.


Blizzard’s president Mike Ybarra said that the company would seek out alternative solutions to continue distributing the titles in China. The statement does not come as a surprise, as China is currently home to the biggest gaming market in the world, generating billions of dollars each year.


However, the Chinese gaming industry has stagnated in the past year due to various factors, ranging from restrictive policies to market saturation.


In August 2021, China’s General Administration of Press and Publication issued a nine-month ban that froze the release of new titles in China while announcing new rules that limit minors’ gaming time online.


Cover image via Wikimedia Commons

China to Get Rid of College Majors With Low Employment Rates

On November 14, the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China announced that it plans to eliminate certain college majors. The news was part of a report outlining 21 steps the government will take to increase the employment rate of college graduates.


One of the steps calls for colleges and universities to “focus on majors with strong social needs, higher employability, and large talent gaps, and promptly eliminate or update disciplines and majors that no longer meet social needs.”


china unemployment rate, chinese ministry of education, education in China

The 2022 college graduation ceremony at Peking University. Image via Xiaohongshu


This plan comes after a year of record-breaking youth unemployment. In July, the percentage of unemployed youth aged 16 to 24 reached 19.9%.


Therefore, the plan is to eliminate majors with high post-graduation unemployment rates to lower the overall rate of joblessness.


To establish which majors do not live up to the standard, the Ministry of Education said they would conduct broad follow-up surveys on college graduates’ employment status.

Public response to the announcement is largely mixed. Some wholeheartedly agree with the plan, even going so far as to list the majors they believe should be eliminated, including Chinese language and literature, music performance, and human resources.


One Weibo user commented, “There are clearly too many liberal arts graduates. There is no place to put them.”


However, other netizens believe the idea is senseless. A Weibo user wrote, “This is too utilitarian; academics cannot be based on market demand.”


Others are questioning the definition of ‘social needs.’ One netizen said, “Society needs not just technological progress but also cultural heritage. If the most basic elements of Chinese culture are abandoned, our society will eventually become a cold and impersonal machine.”


Besides eliminating specific majors, the Ministry of Education also plans to strengthen relationships between universities and employers, increase support for entrepreneurs, promote military conscription, and implement more employment guidance.


Cover image via VCG

Chinese Zoo Turns To Animal ‘Adoption’ to Stay Afloat

China’s zero-Covid policy has affected countless individuals and businesses, including zoos. To cope with low attendance rates and to generate revenue via social media, the Hongshan Forest Zoo in Nanjing, East China’s Jiangsu province, has rolled out digital programs that encompass livestream sessions and an animal ‘adoption’ program.


Don’t raise your eyebrows just yet: Contrary to what it sounds like, ‘adopters’ aren’t taking animals home, but simply covering the cost of daily necessities like food, healthcare, and more.


hongshan forest zoo

A ring-tailed lemur at the Hongshan Forest Zoo enjoying some watermelon


First launched in 2001, Hongshan Forest Zoo’s adoption program was reintroduced online last year to mitigate its cash flow problems. The program has recently made waves on the Chinese internet again, as the zoo went into yet another round of lockdown.


According to the zoo’s website, the annual fee to adopt an animal is up to 2,000 RMB (about 300 USD) per individual. 39 varieties of animals, such as pandas, tigers, wolves, koalas, and otters, are up for adoption. So far, 150 animals have been vouched for, and the zoo has raised 2.63 million RMB (370,000 USD) through livestreaming.


Screenshots of Hongshan’s tigers and leopards open for adoption with brief introduction.

Tigers at Hongshan Forest Zoo that are available for adoption


Although adopters aren’t able to physically take care of their favored animals, they receive daily reports documenting their pets’ daily lives, and receive certificates, souvenirs, and invitations to experience a day in the life of a zookeeper.


hongshan forest zoo

“What’s that over the window? I have to check it out,” reads part of the zoo’s daily report for an orangutan. Image via Weibo


Reportedly China’s best zoo, Hongshan Forest Zoo was established in 1954, and is now home to about 3,000 animals of 260 species. It was the first zoo in China to abolish animal performances, and is allegedly the only independent public zoo in the country.


In modern society, zoos play a vital role in wildlife conservation, public education, and scientific research. After China banned animal performances in 2011, many (but not all, sadly) zoos have dropped the practice, and mostly rely on tickets sales for income, including Hongshan Forest Zoo.


hongshan zoo

A staff member of Hongshan Forest Zoo releasing rescued birds back into the wild


Hongshan Forest Zoo has been experimenting with new sources of revenue, such as hosting livestream sessions of its animals and selling creative merchandise, but the pandemic has greatly disrupted its operations. Due to unpredictable lockdowns and travel restrictions, the zoo lost more than 30 million RMB (4.2 million USD) in 2020, stated recent data.


A few weeks ago, the zoo publicly announced that it was in a dire situation, and encouraged more animal lovers to participate in its adoption program. Many netizens have shown their support by proudly sharing their certificates from the zoo and daily reports of the animals. At the time of writing, the hashtag about the animal adoption program has garnered over 75 million views on Chinese microblogging platform Weibo.


hongshan forest zoo

Hornbills enjoying a special autumn meal of fruit and osmanthus flowers


“I adopted a leopard named Yue Yue at Hongshan, and hopefully I can renew my (adoption) certificate in the upcoming years. I also hope this program can help encourage more people to care about wildlife protection, rather than simply checking them online or visiting them in the zoo,” said a Weibo user.


All images via Hongshan Forest Zoo unless otherwise stated

Staggering AI-Generated Art Where Cyberpunk Meets Chinese Culture

A divisive topic in recent months, AI-generated art is worrying to some artists, who wonder whether they’ll be replaced by algorithms. Meanwhile, others deem AI creations as little more than high-tech plagiarism.


In 2022, an array of AI tools have become available to the general public. The most accessible ones only require inputing a few words to create original images, which has resulted in a tidal wave of surreal memes — who doesn’t want to see the Demogorgon from Stranger Things playing basketball?


However, when a work of art made with AI controversially won an art prize in Colorado in September, many realized that the technology has more to offer than just memes.


A digital artist experimenting with AI is Zzai (born Chen Zhe). Born in the Chinese province of Guangxi, Zzai teaches visual communication, boasts a phD in media studies, and has been exhibited around China.


chinese porcelain art ai art chinese tradition

Artwork from Zzai’s Porcelain Opera series


While browsing Zzai’s mesmerizing creations, few might guess that the artist has been experimenting with AI for only half a year.


“In May I started following some bloggers on Xiaohongshu [a Chinese social media platform similar to Instagram] and I was really inspired by their creations, so I started learning,” says the artist in an interview with RADII.


Relying on a software called Midjourney, Zzai creates visionary images that put cyberpunk spins on Chinese culture and history.


cyberpunk ai art chinese opera artificial intelligence

Artwork from Zzai’s Cyber Peking Opera series


The artist’s series Cyber Peking Opera attempts to answer the question, ‘When we enter the metaverse, what will traditional art come to?’ and explores the relationship between tradition and technology while also processing culture by way of digitization.


“The rise of AI technology is an irreversible trend,” opines Zzai before adding, “Its scale and spread will only increase when the physical world and virtual reality are blended.”


ai generated art cyberpunk cinese art wu zetian

Artwork from Zzai’s Wu Zetian’s 12 Costumes series


In the series Wu Zetian’s 12 Costumes, the artist pays homage to the fierce beauty of Wu Zetian, China’s only legitimate empress. Born during the Tang Dynasty (618-907), the famously capable leader even founded her own dynasty, Wu Zhou.


“I designed the garments by borrowing elements from warrior armor, and combining them with the gowns of noble women in the palace,” Zzai explains, before adding, “I hope this will reflect [Wu Zetian’s] identity and express her authoritative aura with touches of feminine softness.”


ai art cyberpunk chinese art beijing opera

Artwork from Zzai’s Cyber Peking Opera series


While generating AI artwork often takes no more than a minute, the preparatory work is time consuming. Artists need to familiarize themselves with different software, research source material, and put together strings of text to produce the desired results.


Zzai is using his eye-catching creations to combat negative stereotypes of AI-generated art.


“Opinions are very polarized in China. Some are supportive of this technology, but many are resistant to change,” he says. “AI is very worthy of our imaginations, and my projects make use of this technology to make bold attempts at creation.”


All images courtesy of Zzai

The Chinese Celebs Speaking Up for the Environment With WildAid

About 35,000 delegates representing almost 200 countries are currently in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, for the 27th United Nations climate summit (COP27) that runs from November 6 to 18. At the conference, WildAid China, a branch of the global wildlife conservation nonprofit, launched its ‘Every Climate Action Counts’ campaign, starring Chinese actor Leo Wu.

Wu’s video aims to “inspire simple actions to reduce carbon footprints.” Known as ‘China’s little brother,’ the 22-year-old actor, who has appeared in commercials and TV series since the age of 3, rose to fame after starring in TV programs Home with Aliens (2009) and Nirvana in Fire (2015).


In his spare time, Wu is an avid cyclist, which is his personal way of taking “climate action” — by avoiding fuel-powered vehicles and transportation, he is therefore reducing harmful emissions.


a poster for the every climate action counts wildaid campaign starring leo wu

Leo Wu in WildAid’s campaign. Image via @wildaid/Twitter


As part of the ‘Every Climate Action Counts’ campaign, WildAid has released a 35-page-long handbook, which identifies barriers to climate action, lays out a roadmap to surpassing them, and provides a guide to implementing personal climate action.


The campaign is the most recent example of the organization’s climate communication efforts. WildAid China has also collaborated with other celebrities, such as former K-Pop idol Wang Yibo, actor Huang Xuan, and actress Yang Zi, whose previously shot videos were also shown at COP27.


Titled ‘Dining Green,’ Wang’s video series, which explored sustainable dining options like reusable cutlery, has appeared on billboards across China since its launch in 2020.

The three aforementioned celebrities are also WildAid ambassadors. The respected title extends to icons like actor Jackie Chan, former basketballer Yao Ming, former footballer David Beckham, and Kate Hudson.


Climate activist groups’ growing use of star power to spread the word about saving the planet does seem to have an effect: On Weibo, the tag ‘4 Chinese youths’ public service advertisements at COP27’ (#4位中国青年公益广告亮相COP27#) has over 50 million views.


a poster from Wang Yibo's WildAid campaign

A poster from Wang Yibo’s WildAid campaign, which began in 2020. Image via Weibo


Public response to the campaigns has mostly come from stans.


One netizen wrote, “Wang Yibo will protect the earth with you!” while another called him a “little angel who protects the environment.”


COP27’s overarching goal is to work towards the 2015 Paris Agreement, a global treaty drawn up to mitigate global warming.

An issue that was raised at COP27 revolved around whether China, the world’s biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, will contribute to a ‘climate compensation fund,’ which essentially entails paying developing countries for climate change-related damage. To complicate matters, however, the UN still classifies China as a developing nation.


Cover image of Leo Wu’s WildAid campaign at COP27 via Weibo

China’s DIY Crowd Is Using This Common Plant to Make Soap

In addition to persimmon and osmanthus, another autumn plant has gotten young Chinese people’s attention: soapnut.


Also known as soapberry, the plant is native to warm parts of the world. In China, it is widely spread along the Yangtze River and the country’s southern regions. The tree usually produces orange-colored fruits in the autumn, which fall to the ground when they ripen.


As young people in China are getting more aware of environmental issues, they are beginning to look for natural products, which is where soapnuts come in: their fruit pulp can be used to make organic soap.


Soapnuts without kernels and liquid soap made from the pulp

Soapnuts without kernels and liquid soap made from the pulp

A Green Lifestyle

Soapnuts can be used as an all-purpose cleaner for everything from laundry to dishes, toilets, and human bodies. As they’re chemical and allergy-free, soapnuts are also safe for babies or pets.


Chinese environmentalists and DIY enthusiasts have been sharing ways of using soapberries on Chinese social media. At the time of writing, the hashtag ‘Urbanites go collecting soapnuts after work’ (#城里人下班就去捡无患子#) has garnered more than 2.4 million views on China’s Instagram-like platform Xiaohongshu.


“The liquid soap made from soapnuts is amazing! It washed my hands so clean and even left a fresh fruity smell on my fingers. What a magical plant!” wrote a netizen.


Soapnuts easily found and collected in parks

Soapnuts are easily found and collected in city parks


Thanks to the prevalence of the plant, this eco-friendly cleaner is easy to make and accessible to everyone — for free.


“I was taking a stroll in the park beside my office building during my lunch break, and I came across a mass of soapnuts. So I rushed back to my car, fetched a bag, and spent my whole break collecting these natural treasures. I felt so happy,” gushed a Xiaohongshu user.


“I’ve never noticed this humble fruit [soapnuts] just hanging in front of my door until my grandma educated me about its functions. I picked one, rubbed it with my hands under the tap, and was amazed. It’s a gift from nature!” another shared.

Easy DIY Projects

In addition to their eco-friendly features, young people also favor soapberries as an accessible component of DIY projects.


First of all, as mentioned above, it is relatively straightforward to make soap from soapnuts. The fruit naturally dries and turns dark brown once it is picked or falls off the tree. All you need to do is to deseed it and boil the pulp for about 15 minutes. Check out the tutorial below:

And don’t throw away the removed seeds just yet — they can be used for traditional Chinese medicine or simply decorative purposes.


Due to their well-rounded shapes, soapnut seeds are believed to bring luck in Chinese culture. Therefore, bracelets made of these nuts have also become popular among young fashionistas.


Bracelets made with soapnuts’ kernels

Bracelets made of soapnut kernels


Although China has a robust digital retail system and ordering soap online is just a click away, some progressives are going green and enjoying DIY projects with natural objects.


All images via Xiaohongshu