iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Manya Koetse

𝕋𝕙𝕖 ℍ𝕚𝕤𝕥🎃𝕣𝕪 𝕠𝕗 ℂ𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕒 ℙ💀𝕕𝕔𝕒𝕤𝕥 @thoc.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

No-one RUNS like Gaston! Makes huge JUMPS like Gaston! No one's horn-shapes are grown quite as FUN as Gaston's! "I'm especially good at high-SPEED evasion!" ANTelope Hunk, that's Gaston!! h/t: @manyapan.bsky.social

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Manya Koetse @manyapan.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

No matter how you feel about Niu Lai, we can all agree on one thing: something extraordinary happened in Chinese cinemas this month. A mother-and-son duo’s animated 3D film earned just 342 yuan ($50) on opening day. Then its crude visuals turned it into a viral success. This is a video thread.

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Manya Koetse @manyapan.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Shanghai Disneyland cast members were among the many other workers in Shanghai who had to show up to work despite the extreme weather. I can almost feel their expression through their costumes.

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Manya Koetse @manyapan.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Turns out Shanghai really is the "Venice of the East" 😱. Typhoon Baihaitun caused major disruptions and record-breaking rainfall, leaving roads, homes, and entire parking lots completely flooded. In Xujiahui, nearly 316 mm of rain fell within 24 hours, the highest amount ever recorded in Shanghai.

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Manya Koetse @manyapan.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

Chinese viral AI videos are turning foreigners into villains, flooding Chinese social media. They depict foreigners as threats to China’s social, moral, and national order. Strong, confident Chinese people confront, violently beat, and humiliate them in defense of their country. See more below🧵

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Manya Koetse @manyapan.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

Just sent out my latest newsletter. A catch-up on the trending topics that mattered on Chinese social media over the past 2 weeks, with the Guangxi floods & the narratives surrounding them standing out: god won't save you, but the PLA will. See on Subs: eyeondigitalchina.substack.com/p/god-wont-s...

eyeondigitalchina.substack.com

“God Won’t Save Us, But the PLA Will”: Floods, Faith, and What's Trending in China

Also in this issue: the Hong Kong bookstore arrests that did not go trending, AI bank cards, Haaland becoming China’s summer meme king, and a delivery rider winning the Lu Xun Literature Prize.

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Reposted by Manya Koetse

Fred Sengers @blogaap.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

Scherpe reactie van @manyapan.bsky.social op een opiniestuk waarin zij als "hippe influencer" is opgevoerd die is verblind door een autocratisch regime. Terwijl zij een eminent onderzoeker is die ons helpt begrijpen wat gewone Chinezen denken en vinden. eyeondigitalchina.substack.com/p/look-only-...

eyeondigitalchina.substack.com

Look Only at the Ugly Sides, and You Won’t See China

A response to a Dutch debate on China, and why nuance matters in an age of geopolitical polarization.

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Manya Koetse @manyapan.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

Interesting to see The Guardian on the conceptual pairing of these 2 distinct trends today. If you want to stay updated on China’s online culture, consider subscribing to my Eye on Digital China newsletter, where my analysis of the “kill line” discourse & Chinamaxxing was published five weeks ago.

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Reposted by Manya Koetse

Niao Collective @niaocollective.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

Thought this was interesting, because it's clearly complicated - "Another viewpoint missing from these official media talking points is how the conflict is directly affecting China, diplomatically or economically, and how China’s own interests are being harmed in this war."

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Manya Koetse @manyapan.bsky.social · 11/03/2026

This is why I love Beijing taxi drivers, and this one minute just happened to catch it all ✔️complaining about rising prices & living costs ✔️scolding & sighing about Beijing traffic ✔️some social commentary ✔️a little communist joke

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Manya Koetse @manyapan.bsky.social · 04/03/2026

I’ve been closely tracking Chinese social media reactions to the developments in Iran over the past few days. In the end, the findings of my research say much more about China’s online discourse than about what’s happening in Iran. Read on whatsonweibo or Substack: open.substack.com/pub/eyeondig...

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Manya Koetse @manyapan.bsky.social · 16/02/2026

Wondering where to watch the CMG Spring Festival Gala? Join me live in 1.5 hours as I follow the show and share real-time updates - the highs and the lows. No paywall, no registration required. whatsonweibo.com/inside-chunw...

whatsonweibo.com

Inside Chunwan 2026: China’s Spring Festival Gala

Watch the CGM Spring Festival Gala with us. It’s that special annual evening show that captures millions of viewers on the night of the Chinese New Year. Loved by many, hated by some, it always genera...

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Manya Koetse @manyapan.bsky.social · 16/02/2026

Hello, is it me you're looking for? Yes! Lionel Richie is joining the CMG Spring Festival Gala tonight, together with Jackie Chan. This is already iconic. #CMGChunwan

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Manya Koetse @manyapan.bsky.social · 10/02/2026

Jimmy Lai sentenced to 20 years. It's frontpage news on China Daily, and the Weibo hashtag is there (#黎智英被判20年#), but Weibo apologizes: "the topic's contents cannot be displayed."

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Reposted by Manya Koetse

samuelwa.de @samuelwa.de · 16/01/2026

I haven't paid much attention to him since he started flirting with election denial in 2020 (x.com/StephenMcDon...), but @manyapan.bsky.social's argument against characterising his recent statements as a straightforward "pro-Beijing turn" seems persuasive: x.com/manyapan/sta...

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Manya Koetse @manyapan.bsky.social · 12/01/2026

Since looking back on 2016 seems to be the thing people are doing right now, it feels like a good moment to dive back into my photo archives. 2016 was a special time for China. 🧵👇

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Manya Koetse @manyapan.bsky.social · 03/12/2025

One to add to the list of "the prettiest KFC I've ever seen"

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Manya Koetse @manyapan.bsky.social · 01/12/2025

It was an early morning train and I wasn't quite awake yet, but conversations with this nice guy from Fengjie woke me up a bit – especially when he asked me if I was from Xinjiang (this actually happens quite frequently..)

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Manya Koetse @manyapan.bsky.social · 26/11/2025

On way home after hutong walk with Beijing friend, I mentioned I needed a powerbank before leaving. "Let’s order one," he said. "Can't, need it within 1 hour." Got laughed at. Powerbank was waiting on doormat by time we got back. Barely took 20 minutes. Thanks Xiaomi & Meituan, sorry to doubt you😅

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Manya Koetse @manyapan.bsky.social · 26/11/2025

Happy to randomly run into little Wukong here in Beijing. It's undeniably the cat that made the most impact in China news this year. I hope the art dedicated to her will stay around for a while 🐾

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Manya Koetse @manyapan.bsky.social · 05/11/2025

The Xiaohongshu-for-foreigners bubble has burst. Months after the hype, when Americans flocked to RedNote, the app's now riddled with loopholes: accounts flagged as “security risks”, need to submit passport, face+ID photo, phone verification, only for the process to fail. Exit for foreign creators?

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Reposted by Manya Koetse

Jeff Wasserstrom @jwassers.bsky.social · 11/10/2025

My first ever talks in Holland coming up soon/Leiden Oct 22, this in The Hague on Oct 23 leidenasiacentre.nl/event/jeffre... & Nowhere bookstore in The Hague on Oct 24. (Btw, I’ve long found lots of value in What’s on Weibo by @manyapan.bsky.social so delighted to see the 23rd talk mentioned by her)

leidenasiacentre.nl

Jeffrey Wasserstrom on China, Protest and Asia’s Struggle against Autocracy - Leiden Asia Centre

China is changing the world—and the world is responding. In just a few decades, China has gone from isolated state to global powerhouse, reshaping politics, culture, and the fight for democracy across...

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Manya Koetse @manyapan.bsky.social · 05/10/2025

Before heading into the new week, let’s dive into some of the stories that trended. ➡️ During Nanchang’s fireworks show, a man drew attention shouting and holding something that sparked panic. Moments later, he was kicked down and taken away by police. It turned out to be a major misunderstanding.

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Manya Koetse @manyapan.bsky.social · 04/10/2025

That's a particularly sweet SWAT officer

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Manya Koetse @manyapan.bsky.social · 04/10/2025

Traditional 哭嫁 (crying marriage), the bride parts with her family. The "happiest day of your life" comes with sorrow & some added drama. OP wrote: "I’ve heard of 喜丧 (joy-in-mourning: funeral for long-lived elder),but this is the first time I’ve seen 丧喜"(mourning-in-joy, made up word for this scene😅)

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Manya Koetse @manyapan.bsky.social · 03/10/2025

Whenever reports surfaced about the harsh conditions on the set of renowned director Wong Kar-wai, mainstream media and fans often brushed off his tyrannical habits as the "quirks of a genius." This time, it feels different. Read more at: www.whatsonweibo.com/the-wong-kar...

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Reposted by Manya Koetse

China Law Translate / Jeremy Daum @chinalawtranslate.bsky.social · 03/10/2025

Different take: This strain of content regulation feels written by a parent-teacher association: well-intentioned but poorly thought through, heavy-handed enforcement of vague concepts. But the sentiment- fear of social media blackpills is very relatable. chinamediaproject.org/2025/09/26/t...

chinamediaproject.org

The Malice Police - China Media Project

China's latest internet special actions, a campaign against "negative emotions," lifts the lid on the country's obsessive and capricious control culture.

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Manya Koetse @manyapan.bsky.social · 01/10/2025

Really, you don't wanna mess with the dancing grannies. You can interfer with their music, spray them with water, but they're gonna come for you in the end. Better invest in earplugs for those early morning dance routines 😅

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Manya Koetse @manyapan.bsky.social · 30/09/2025

China is facing a serious donkey shortage. And the headline “We have cows and horses, but no donkeys” (“牛马有的是，就缺驴”) is sparking viral discussion online, not just because of the actual donkey crisis but due to wordplay in Chinese of having too many obedient workers in the workplace vs stubborn ones.

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Manya Koetse @manyapan.bsky.social · 30/09/2025

48-year-old Li Junyong (李俊永), who runs a small fried chicken stall in Jingdezhen, has a snappy multitasking style and tight rules on who he serves, when, and how. His earnest approach to his chicken stall business has turned him into a viral sensation under the nickname "Chicken Chop Brother" (鸡排哥)

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Reposted by Manya Koetse

Liz F. @elizfreed.bsky.social · 26/09/2025

A great deep-dive into viewers' true opinions!

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Manya Koetse @manyapan.bsky.social · 25/09/2025

How did "731", one of the most anticipated recent Chinese war films, go from patriotic hype to online backlash? I dove into official narrative, audience reception & everything particular about this movie - that was a "10" but dropped to 3.1 acc to IMDb: www.whatsonweibo.com/evil-unbound...

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Manya Koetse @manyapan.bsky.social · 20/09/2025

Perhaps you’ve heard about the online controversy surrounding the Chinese restaurant chain Xibei and the debate on pre-made food. If you have no idea what’s going on and need a clear explainer, we’ve got you covered. Read this one to stay updated: www.whatsonweibo.com/chinas-prefa...

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Reposted by Manya Koetse

OVT @ovt-vpro.bsky.social · 12/09/2025

Een Chinees AI-filmpje met een soldaat uit de tweede wereldoorlog.

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Reposted by Manya Koetse

OVT @ovt-vpro.bsky.social · 11/09/2025

Vergeet het leed, China overwon! Dat is het verhaal dat China over WOII wil vertellen. China noemt het zelf: het einde van de ‘verzetsoorlog tegen de Japanse agressie en oorlog tegen het fascisme’. Met AI brengen ze zelfs soldaten uit de Tweede Wereldoorlog tot leven. @manyapan.bsky.social vertelt.

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Manya Koetse @manyapan.bsky.social · 10/09/2025

From the "BBC smog" to "AFP filter": for years, Chinese netizens have joked about how Western media photos make China look darker and gloomier. But during this year’s VDay parade, China's "villain look" was embraced with some netizens thinking AFP wasn't AFP-ing enough, fixing their photos for them.

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Reposted by Manya Koetse

OVT @ovt-vpro.bsky.social · 07/09/2025

China herdenkt de oorlog met spierballen en spektakel. Het controversiële gezelschap van Xi Jinping was een grote blikvanger maar @manyapan.bsky.social vindt het minstens zo belangrijk om te kijken naar wat er op het plein in Peking en de Chinese online-mediakanalen gebeurde. tinyurl.com/2s8bcaan

nporadio1.nl

China herdenkt de oorlog met spierballen en spektakel

China organiseerde deze week een grootschalige militaire parade in Peking om het einde van de Tweede Wereldoorlog te herdenken. Volgens China-kenner Manya Koetse was het een ongeëvenaard vertoon van m...

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Manya Koetse @manyapan.bsky.social · 03/09/2025

Just in case it wasn't clear enough, an extra military parade public-facing message, emphasizing: this is not for decoration nor for show. All it takes is one command and all of these soldiers and their weapons, tanks, drones, missiles are ready for the battlefield.

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Manya Koetse @manyapan.bsky.social · 03/09/2025

Yao Ming can never really keep a low profile at these events, can he. #militaryparade

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Manya Koetse @manyapan.bsky.social · 03/09/2025

"Can you sell?" "No those are not for sale. Those colorful balloons, however! You could take some with you" 😅 #militaryparade #meme

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Manya Koetse @manyapan.bsky.social · 03/09/2025

"Kim Jong-un looking at Xi Jinping pointing at things."

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Manya Koetse @manyapan.bsky.social · 02/09/2025

Wanted to cancel my Netflix account because I feel Netflix lately isn't keeping its facts straight. Then it told me this and it kinda confirmed that for me.😂

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Manya Koetse @manyapan.bsky.social · 01/09/2025

It's the final countdown. Wednesday is 🇨🇳 V-Day. What's behind China's social media storylines about the major military parade? I've looked at 225 official media hashtags so you don't have to. For that and more, check out the latest packed premium newsletter 👉 www.whatsonweibo.com/newsletter/n...

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Manya Koetse @manyapan.bsky.social · 31/08/2025

The 55,000 yuan ($7,783) Louis Vuitton "lobster"🦞 purse is trending on Chinese social media because people think it resembles a cockroach. It does, though! 🪳

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Manya Koetse @manyapan.bsky.social · 23/08/2025

It's the train topics that always go trending. There's a big discussion about instant noodles on China's high-speed trains, as some stations have stopped selling instant noodles in light of broader measures to "maintain cleanliness." This triggered the big noodle debate.

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Manya Koetse @manyapan.bsky.social · 21/08/2025

What's trending on Weibo today? Here's a quick top 3 overview I just published, from Lhasa to Labubu: www.whatsonweibo.com/china-trend-...

whatsonweibo.com

China Trend Watch: From Lhasa to Labubu

What's on Weibo's Top 3: From Xi in Tibet to the next project after Black Myth: Wukong.

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Manya Koetse @manyapan.bsky.social · 07/08/2025

Good news after the scandal involving the corrupt abbot of the Shaolin Temple: the high price of 400 yuan ($55) for burning incense at the temple has now been canceled. You get 3 sticks for free! Wonder if they'll still sell those monk ice-creams though 😅

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