“Brother Orange” Documentary Out Today on Apple TV and Prime Video

A new documentary out today on Apple TV and Prime Video chronicles the incredible, unlikely friendship of a New York writer and a restaurant owner from Meizhou, China.

Matt Stopera, a BuzzFeed writer, and “Brother Orange,” a owner in a Guangdong province, were united through tech: photos of a Chinese man in an orange grove taken on a stolen iPhone begin appearing in Matt’s photo stream, and after he posts them on social media, his search for Brother Orange becomes a Weibo meme in China that escalates into an outrageous but heartwarming story of face-to-face cultural exchange in both countries.

The documentary highlights the cultural divides they traverse. Stopera, a city-dwelling millennial from the United States, encounters the vibrancy and traditions of rural southern China. Meanwhile, Brother Orange, whose modest life was uprooted by sudden fame, discovers a world of social media buzz and public adoration. Their story also sheds light on the urban-rural dynamics within China and the cultural curiosity sparked when two vastly different worlds collide.

At its heart, the film underscores how technology, often blamed for isolating people, can also forge deeply human connections. Through viral selfies, online conversations, and the mutual vulnerability of sharing their lives with millions, Matt and Brother Orange overcome language barriers and cultural misunderstandings, forming an enduring friendship that transcends the U.S.-China divide.

Brother Orange is available to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video.

Cover image via Variety

The Controversial Rise of Erotic Literature in C-Dramas

Jinjiang (晋江文学城) is a major Chinese web novel publisher covering a variety of genres, with most traffic generated from romance, fantasy, and danmei (Boy’s Love novels). Over the years, Jinjiang has been through increasingly harsh crackdowns against pornographic and indecent content. As of 2024, any below-the-neck explicit content is forbidden on the platform. Jinjiang also became the first Chinese website to require real-name verification with a user’s hukou (the resident identity card every Chinese citizen has) rather than their phone number. 

As restrictions grew, Jinjiang users began migrating to overseas websites, such as POPO and Haitang (海棠书城) from Taiwan. Neither of these websites has explicit content restrictions; the majority of the content is erotic romance and danmei targeting a female audience. 

Haitang titles include Handsome Prince and Silly Princess and I Transmigrated into a Trophy Husband. Screenshot of the novel covers from the Haitang app.

Literature on Jinjiang and Haitang is frequently criticized for its unapologetically provocative and raunchy original content. Despite this, RedNote and Weibo users claimed that over 60 Jinjiang web novels were sold to production companies to be adapted into streaming shows in 2024 alone. 

These novels are popular because they often break the traditional romance model with stereotyped characters and generic plotlines. This novelty translates to the drama industry, where the audience is constantly looking for diverse and stimulating stories.

The eroticism that captivates Jinjiang and Haitang readers is typically removed from streaming drama adaptations, however. The National Radio and Television Administration prohibits “sexual and obscene content, showing vulgarity, rape, prostitution, sexual behavior, fetishes, homosexuality, masturbation, and content showing sexual organs.” All of these are frequently found in Jinjiang and Haitang novels. 

Jinjiang titles include The Husband’s Dead Wife Came Back and Husband! I’m Not the Villain. Screenshot of the novel covers from the Jinjiang app.

2018’s adaptation of Bloody Romance was celebrated for its excellent plotline and visuals. However, discourse erupted regarding whether a tacky erotic novel banned from Jinjiang deserves to be dramatized at all. Despite such debate, erotic literature titles are still constantly being adapted to live action dramas, with The Prisoner of Beauty and Sunsets Secrets Regrets set to be released in 2025.

The rise of erotic literature adaptations has led to other controversial online discussions centering on feminism and women-targeted literature. Some netizens have voiced their displeasure that dramatized web novels are often directed by men, with male audiences in mind, even though the majority of these web novels are written by women and marketed exclusively towards women. (Jinjiang’s user base is over 90% women.)

Furthermore, over 50 female erotic writers have been detained since June 2024, for the crime of “producing and spreading pornographic materials,” some receiving sentences of up to ten years. Netizens are understandably outraged, saying, “Haitang writers should not have a longer sentence than rapists.” There is money to be made from erotic literature, but there is also no definitive line that separates what is approved but criticized and what is outright criminalized. 

Cover image via Youku

Grab and BYD Join Forces to Accelerate EV Adoption in Southeast Asia

Grab, Southeast Asia’s leading ride-hailing and delivery app, has announced a strategic partnership with Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker BYD. The collaboration aims to scale Grab’s EV fleet while making electric mobility more accessible to drivers and passengers in key markets such as Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia.

The partnership ties in with Grab’s commitment to sustainability and reducing its carbon footprint as part of its 2030 Zero Emissions goal. BYD, with its established presence in Southeast Asia, will provide a range of EV models tailored to the needs of ride-hailing and delivery services, prioritizing efficiency and affordability. Grab driver-partners will gain access to favorable financing options, battery-swapping technology, and extensive charging infrastructure to ease their transition to the 50,000 EVs included in this partnership. 

In all markets, driver-partners can choose between the DENZA D9, ATTO 3, SEAL, and M6 models. These vehicles are specifically chosen for urban commuting and practical features. BYD’s cutting-edge EV technology will complement Grab’s digital platform, enabling real-time battery performance monitoring, optimized routes, and seamless vehicle maintenance scheduling. These advancements are meant to enhance operational efficiency and facilitate a smoother experience for drivers and passengers.

BYD Seal. Image via BYD.

The partnership makes strategic sense. BYD commands a significant market share in the Southeast Asian region, especially in Malaysia and Singapore, even eclipsing competitors like Tesla and KIA. The Shenzhen-based conglomerate brings invaluable expertise and resources to the partnership. Its strong foothold in the region ensures the scalability of the initiative and positions it as a pivotal player in advancing green mobility solutions.

With BYD’s strong manufacturing capabilities and Grab’s expansive user base, the partnership is expected to catalyze the shift toward green mobility at a pace that meets regional goals. For passengers, this means more environmentally friendly options when booking rides. For drivers, it’s a chance to reduce operational costs and contribute to a cleaner future.

As Southeast Asia’s EV market continues to evolve, the Grab-BYD partnership sets a benchmark for innovative collaborations aimed at tackling climate challenges. By fostering greener urban mobility, the alliance not only benefits individual users, but also supports regional aspirations for sustainable development.

Banner image via Grab.

Chinese Artist Hong Jinshi Sees Renewed Interest in Buddha-Trump Statues

Xiamen-based ceramist Hong Jinshi is known for his unique ceramic sculptures blending modern cultural figures with traditional Buddhist iconography. One of his works is particularly fitting to the current United States political landscape: president-elect Donald Trump depicted as a serene, cross-legged Buddha figure, eyes half-closed in meditative repose.

Hong initially conceived the Trump-Buddha statues in 2021 as a humorous project, inspired by one of Trump’s Chinese nicknames, “King of Knowing Everything.” The juxtaposition of Trump’s signature brash personality with the tranquil demeanor of a Buddha was intended to amuse and provoke thought. The statues quickly went viral on Chinese e-commerce platform Taobao, attracting worldwide headlines and significant public interest. 

Hong debuted the statues in 2021. Image via Reuters.

Now, as Trump begins a second term in the Oval Office, there’s a renewed interest in Hong’s statues. Packaged with the phrase “Make Your Company Great Again,” a cheeky twist on Trump’s MAGA campaign slogan to the grind of capitalism, the sculptures are priced between RMB 999 and 20,000(about $140-2,700 USD), depending on size. Unsurprisingly, Hong has faced challenges with counterfeit versions appearing on various online platforms, including Amazon and Temu, priced at around $45 USD. 

Beyond the Trump-Buddha figures, Hong has expanded his satirical art to include other prominent personalities. He recently unveiled a sculpture of divisive tech entrepreneur and Trump backer Elon Musk, portrayed in the style of Marvel’s Iron Man, complete with a prominent rocket symbolizing Musk’s space exploration ambitions.  

Despite the renewed interest in his work following Trump’s re-election, Hong no longer sells his statues on Chinese platforms, possibly due to concerns about offending religious sentiments, according to him. Nevertheless, orders continue to pour in from tourists visiting his workshop in Hong Kong and through personal networks. Hong’s Trump statues draw parallels to a Chinese artist who tried to predict the US election last year through merch sales. Though at that time, the result was anyone’s guess.

Banner image via AFP

TikTok Refugees Are Co-Creating a New Internet Culture with Chinese Netizens on RedNote

After several days of growing momentum, TikTok refugees have propelled RedNote (aka Xiaohongshu), the Chinese app, to the top spot among free Apple App Store downloads worldwide.

On an app that has never been so bustling, the fusion of TikTok culture and the unique style of RedNote, combined with bilingual interactions, has given rise to countless memes and new cultural codes.

RedNote memes
RedNote memes
Cat memes is the most popular meme among the Red Note posts. Photo via Xiaohongshu.

New to RedNote? Luckily, thousands of people have summarized steps for you to become a power user with a million followers.

Pay the tax — not the citizen tax, but sharing photos of cats/plants/houses — say “ni hao” from where you are, and then you will enjoy a boom in followers. 

American user on RedNote aka Xiaohongshu
Netizens’ exaggerated performance showing their experience of learning Chinese on the app. Video via Xiaohongshu.

RedNote has long been a lifestyle sharing platform for Chinese speakers, and was unprepared to accommodate the sudden and massive influx of foreign users that have come in recent days. The app’s translation feature remains underdeveloped, inadvertently driving a surge in demand for Duolingo’s Chinese beginner lessons. With a 216% increase in Mandarin learners, Duolingo has taken the internet by storm, humorously claiming on Instagram that Duolingo’s owl mascot and RedNote are the most compatible pair.

RedNote meme
It is not only overseas users learning Mandarin Chinese, Chinese netizens also posted English exercises in the comment section of the immigrant bloggers for help. Photo via Xiaohongshu. 

As of this writing, it’s still easy to get attention on RedNote if you are a foreigner. Basic starting lines follow a format like this:

New Here 🙂 I’m gonna try to translate everything to be more culturally open because I want to be. But it’s gonna be in Google Translate so, it might not be all accurate lol. A lot of times with rigid machine translation like: 新来的。我会尝试将一切变得更加文化开放，因为我想这样做。但它会出现在谷歌翻译中，所以它可能并不完全准确，哈哈。

Some Chinese users feel that their fellow netizens are being overly welcoming, prompting them to start posting sarcastic comments such as: Hi Chinese here. I’ve been learning Chinese for over 20 years and want some Chinese friends. Could you share some Chinese memes?

RedNote and TikTok meme
American creators described the current situation on Red Note with a SpongeBob clip. Video via Xiaohongshu.

The influx of TikTok users onto RedNote, predominantly English-speaking and often unfamiliar with deeper aspects of Chinese culture, has disrupted the platform’s dynamic. For many overseas Chinese users, this shift feels like an intrusion into a previously intimate space for connecting with domestic trends and news.

The stark linguistic divide between English and Chinese speakers has turned interactions into surface-level exchanges, where individuals are often reduced to “scenery” rather than seen as people. This oversimplification, driven by language barriers, mirrors a form of “language nationalism” and reinforces uncomfortable reminders of white privilege in online spaces.

Meanwhile, Chinese RedNote users are noticing that the platform’s algorithm is becoming increasingly unfriendly to older generations, raising concerns about censorship.

Despite these challenges, it’s undeniable that the influx of TikTok users to RedNote presents a rare opportunity to challenge stereotypes and bridge the isolation of everyday internet users in China and the U.S. Ultimately, having a channel for communication is a net benefit for cultural interaction.

Banner Image via RedNote.

Cardi B and Travis Scott Invited to Perform on Hainan Island

In September 2024, Kanye West sold out two 42,000-seat stadium shows in Haikou, Hainan. Following Ye’s success, Hainan’s tourism bureau plans to invite more Western musicians to perform on the island for cultural exchange and a tourism boost — starting with Cardi B and Travis Scott.

Hainan is an island province known for palm trees and beautiful shorelines, attracting tourists year-round. At a recent press conference, Wang Ke, director of the Hainan Tourism, Culture, Radio, Film and Television Bureau commented, “In 2025, Haikou City will continue to strengthen our tourism, performing arts, sports, and exhibition developments, [and] continue to attract domestic and international performers such as Dao Lang, Travis Scott, [and] Cardi B…”

In 2020, the Chinese government set plans in motion to transform Hainan into a free trade port, investing in tourism, economic globalization, and high-tech industries. The development was designed to attract foreign investments, partnerships, and cultural imports.

Ye’s two concerts last year attracted 80,000 visitors to Hainan Island, with 95% of them coming from outside of the province. These two concerts alone drove tourism consumption by 730 million RMB (about 100 million USD).

It seems that the Hainan Tourism Bureau wishes to replicate this success with more international stadium concerts. Following Kanye, the popular American musician Charlie Puth and the Philadelphia Orchestra have also visited the island.

Ye performing in Hainan, September 2024. Image via Xiaohongshu.

In 2024, Hainan Island attracted 9.72 million visitors, 1 million of them foreigners. To attract more international engagement, a new visa policy was introduced in 2024 that allows a conditional 30-day, visa-free entry into Hainan for travelers from 59 countries, including the United States.

Given Cardi B’s explicitly sexual songs, like “WAP,” and her form-fitting and revealing performance wardrobe, some netizens have wondered about the legitimacy of the news. Cardi B seemed to confirm the invitation herself in a post on X, however.

Following the announcement, netizens have discussed the possibility of inviting other artists in the future, including Doja Cat, Lady Gaga, and the Weekend. Chinese netizens are also wondering whether “WAP” will be on the setlist, and what potential lyrical alterations there will be.

Overall, Chinese hip hop fans are excited for the revived trend of international hip hop artists performing in China, with Travis Scott and Cardi B continuing last year’s momentum in Hainan.

Cover image via Getty Images