“Imagine Spending $4,235 to See the Back of Yao Ming’s Head”

On Wednesday night, the legend Yao Ming was in attendance for the Brooklyn Nets home opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The 7-foot-6-inch Hall of Famer and chairman of the Chinese Basketball Association sat courtside, and while he enjoyed a direct view of the action on the court, the spectators seated behind him did not.


Photos and video circulating online showed Yao occupying a significant portion of space in the front row. In the seats directly behind him were two fans who appeared to be craning their necks to catch an occasional glimpse of the court.


The unfortunate juxtaposition was immediately observed by keen-eyed Twitter users, and the jokes that followed were exactly what you’d expect.

The Nets broadcast team even commented on the situation during the game, joking that the two fans would hopefully be getting some photos with Yao.


Kevin Hart, who had nothing to do with the game, also caught some strays.


While Yao’s appearance generated plenty of laughs on social media, he took it in stride, enjoying face time with fans during timeouts and keeping a smile on his face. Ultimately the Cavaliers edged out the Nets 127-125 with a clutch 3-pointer by Donovan Mitchell — even though Yao unwittingly stole the show.


Image via Twitter

RADII and Goldthread are Joining Forces

RADII has always been dedicated to shining a light on emerging Asian culture. Now, we’re excited to announce an exclusive licensing agreement to operate Goldthread, previously launched by the South China Morning Post.


“The strategic alliance between RADII and Goldthread creates a unified vision to illuminate the vibrant diversity and dynamism of Asian youth culture,” said Brian A. Wong, Founder and Chairman of RADII. “This collaboration is set to redefine how the world perceives, understands, and connects with contemporary Asian culture.”


Established in 2017, RADII has emerged as an award-winning digital media pioneer, spotlighting vibrant narratives in China and Asia that are often overlooked by mainstream media. Rooted in a belief that the commonalities between people are greater than the differences, RADII’s editorial coverage keeps a finger on the pulse of emerging trends across Asian and Asian diaspora culture, entertainment, and society.


Goldthread was launched in June 2018 with a mission to deepen the world’s understanding of Asia through a rich tapestry of food, travel, and cultural stories. Its compelling video content uncovers both timeless traditions and the intricacies of modern life across the continent.


This partnership unlocks exciting possibilities, marking a new chapter of innovative storytelling and impact-driven content, both for audiences and brand partners.


As always, stay up to date on fresh, trending news by subscribing to RADII’s newsletter here.

Zootopia Theme Park Opening at Shanghai Disneyland

Disneyland is set to open the world’s first Zootopia-themed Disney attraction in Shanghai on December 20, 2023. The new area will become the park’s eighth themed land.


‘Zootopia’ raked in over $230 million in China, smashing box office records and becoming one of the most successful Disney titles in the country. Now, China seems to be embracing its status as Zootopia’s highest-grossing overseas market.

The immersive area will place guests inside the movie’s urban world alongside their favorite characters. Disney says the area will continue their design philosophy of “authentic Disney, unique Chinese style” while incorporating classic Disney storytelling into localized offerings.


The Zootopia land is Shanghai Disneyland’s largest expansion since opening in 2016 — there’s a ‘Zootopia: Hot Pursuit’ simulator ride, which takes fans on a police chase through the animal metropolis, and a clothing boutique run by the film’s fashionista Fru Fru, among other attractions.




Disney fans have been watching the construction of the Zootopia area since 2019, and there was social media chatter when the lights went on in March.


Now, the park is doing trial runs to prepare for the inevitable masses on opening day.


Images via Disney Parks

Partying with Web3 Disruptors at Singapore’s Biggest Crypto Conference

This September in Singapore, more than 10,000 bright-eyed Web3 disruptors and innovators gathered at TOKEN2049 to reimagine the future of the internet, finance, and commerce. And, also, to have a really good party.


With headlines about the rise and fall of the latest crypto-mirage seemingly inescapable, and an increasing number of talented friends changing careers to work in Web3, I found myself suffering a little from FOMO, but also concerned by questions of social hierarchy and credibility within the Web3 community.


The term “Web3” was coined back in 2014, but has gained more widespread usage since 2021, incorporating projects based around decentralization, blockchain technologies, and token-based economics. In contrast to the “Web2” world in which most of us currently reside, the main advantage of Web3, proponents argue, is that internet users will be able to benefit directly from this alternative new world. In contrast to the Web2 world, where large organizations such as Google, Meta, or Tiktok are the main financial beneficiaries from its mass adoption and popularity, in the Web3 world, everyone will be able to “read-write and own” a particular piece of the internet through token-based economics. The hope is that this new method of incentivization may act as an equalizer in our crisis-ridden capitalist system and bring about a more equitable, self-governing society.


It sounds like a romantic modern-day Robin Hood story. But what about the myriad of scams and worthless initial coin offerings (ICOs) we hear of? Armed with my ambition to uncover the “truth” and an unmissable opportunity to hop on party boats with beautiful people, I ventured deeper into the 100 or so side events at TOKEN2049.


TOKEN2049 Conference Singapore


From Ivy League graduates to serial entrepreneurs, roaming Russians to flamboyant Frenchmen, the attendees included a diverse group of nationalities, professions, and specialities. There were seemingly no overt commonalities — except that everyone seemed to have their 30-second elevator-pitch perfected and their phones at the ready to add you on your social media platform of choice. I found myself overwhelmed: how could I tell who was the real deal, or even prioritize my attention given the hundreds of people I was meeting every night?


“Referrals are critical in the Web3 community, you tend to prefer and work with contacts through a validated network of your own,” argued my friend Dan Sun, a Web3 veteran and trilingual polyglot (Chinese, Korean, and English).


From a networking perspective, this does make sense. In a world where brand names, traditional institutions, or past records (for example, your Twitter/X profile) are all difficult to see as true indicators, “social capital” seems to be the most reliable form of benchmarking. It is by meeting one another face-to-face that individuals in the Web3 community are able to tap into new opportunities and other groups’ resources, often on the other side of the world or in adjacent technological spaces, yielding significant results and success in their next projects. I began to empathize more with the compulsive-networking happening over the three day fiesta, and refrained myself from further party-pooper style questioning every time a new person was introduced, usually sporting a monochrome t-shirt with a single-word logo promoting their “world-changing” Decentralized Finance (DeFi) project.


But sometimes this system also goes awry.


In 2018, the CEO of a digital marketing company that Kevin Cook previously worked for recommended him to a creator-driven blockchain company. With his good looks and charming personality, Kevin joined on as president. Gradually, he realized he was unwittingly part of a Ponzi scheme. “Despite being the president of this web3 company, I had no idea what I was doing,” he told me. Kevin went on roadshows across the world, selling this sexy new idea to investors and raising millions in the process. After five months at the company, however, he had realized that none of the products pitched were being built as promised, and that none of them actually used blockchain technology. “It was just too difficult at the time to do this on a technological level. It seemed like our tech team knew this and we were getting along fine with the business model, building it on a centralized platform.”


Despite many similar cases, the industry’s momentum has continued, fueled by “free” money seeking high returns and a lack of vigilant investor governance. In 2019 alone, $4.2 billion was poured into VC investments in Web3.


Yet it would be unwise to dismiss all efforts within Web3 as simply fads or frauds. Both the capital invested into it and the level of talent in the industry indicate otherwise. The global cryptocurrency market capitalization today is at $1.11 trillion dollars, of which over 47% sits on Bitcoin (BTC).


TOKEN2049 Staircase Singapore


Web3 is more than just cryptocurrencies though: its activities take place across various “Layer 1” chains such as Ethereum, Solana, and Cardano. Decentralized applications (DApps) and use cases build upon these chains via smart contracts, whilst a whole host of other “on-ramp” and “off-ramp” projects are also being built to bridge the gap between the “traditional” Web2 financial system and the Web3 financial world.


Meanwhile, for Singapore’s government, balancing financial stability and innovation remains a challenge. In the immediate wake of FTX’s collapse back in 2022, Singapore’s state-owned investment firm Temasek Holdings lost over $275 million. At the time, Singapore’s finance minister made his stance clear: “Singapore is open to digital asset innovation but is not open to crypto speculation at all.” Although Singapore’s monetary authority banned all advertisements for retail crypto trading in early 2022, it has continued to use blockchain to update its cross-border payment systems.


So, Web3 moves forward, sometimes haltingly, but undeniably part of the zeitgeist. Young people today are determined to reconstruct power and authority through their own value systems and aren’t afraid to advocate for a new “imagined world order.” But like any revolution, a new Web3 world will only come into being once the technology spreads beyond early adopters and is recognized in the intersubjective realities of millions of individuals. As I looked out over the attendees at another TOKEN2049 afterparty, it was hard to tell who had seen the future and who was just selling a fantasy.


Images courtesy Rilly Chen

‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’ Actress Zhang Ziyi Divorces Musician Husband

Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi and her musician husband Wang Feng have announced their divorce after 8 years of marriage.


On October 23, the former couple each posted statements to social media platform Weibo, stating that after careful consideration they had decided to end their marriage. They said the separation was a mutual decision between two adults and asked for understanding from the public.


“After eight years of marriage, we have carefully considered and discussed our situation and have decided to end our marital relationship,” reads the statement. “In the future, we will continue to co-parent and accompany our children’s growth as responsible parents whom our children trust.”


“There have been no disputes between us regarding right or wrong, and separation does not imply betrayal or wrongdoing,” it adds. “This is a mutual decision made by two adults, and we hope to receive understanding and support from everyone.”

Zhang Ziyi’s martial arts skills on display in 2013’s ‘The Grandmaster’


Zhang, 44, and Wang, 52, married in 2015 and have two children together – a daughter born in 2015 and a son born in 2020. While this was Zhang’s first marriage, it was Wang’s third.


The split comes after years of rumors about marital troubles between the two. Their joint statement stressed that the divorce is a mutual decision and that the two will continue to co-parent their children together as a family unit.


Zhang is a renowned actress in China who rose to international fame with roles in movies like ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’ and ‘Memoirs of a Geisha.’ She has had a prolific career in Chinese cinema spanning almost 30 years.


Wang, meanwhile, is a rock musician and composer. He was the founder and lead vocalist for Chinese rock band No. 43 Baojia Street.


Although the news of the high-profile couple’s divorce has sparked intense public interest in China, Zhang and Wang said they will not provide any further comments on the matter in order to protect their families’ privacy.


Image via Weibo

Adidas’ SAMBA Doc Captures Shanghai’s Skate Scene

A new short documentary offers an intimate look at Shanghai’s thriving skateboarding culture through the lens of the city’s skate videographers.


SAMBA, directed by Roni Shao and sponsored by Adidas Originals, features plenty of skate clips and casual moments, as well as interviews with skaters and videographers who are documenting the evolution of Shanghai’s scene.



As a Shanghai native who’s close to the community, it’s a meaningful story for Shao.


“This is the skate film I’m doing for my brothers only,” he posted on Instagram. “From LOVEPARK to ANRAYA, you guys have been establishing a skate empire in China. The legend goes on, and the family always stays the same.”


The short video captures camaraderie among the city’s core group of skaters and videographers, exploring how skate culture in China has progressed over time, with fashion and aesthetics becoming increasingly important creative components.


“A long time ago in the 90s, or even earlier, when we went skateboarding, skaters didn’t really care about their looks,” says skater Xu Zhao. “We dressed randomly. But now when we watch a video, we might say, ‘wow bro, you look good!’”

For an authentic snapshot of China’s skate scene, give SAMBA a watch.


Cover image via SAMBA