Japanese beauty and cosmetics brand Shiseido is optimistic about China and is seeing new growth points in the country, its top China executive said, while assuring that the company would continue to invest in the domestic market. “China is no longer following the trend. China is creating a new trend under diverse lifestyles,” said Toshinobu Umetsu, Shiseido China and Travel Retail CEO. Umetsu noted that China has a diversified consumption market. Consumer values are increasingly diverse, with various orientations and preferences. Consumers have, meanwhile, also evolved from focusing on basic…
The Times of China
Kurbonov Temurmalik has been busy lately making baklava — a kind of pastry from West Asia — along with preparing traditional clothing from his home country. At the school’s RE-26 Carnival this month, he and his classmates will set up a booth to showcase the culture of Uzbekistan and help raise funds for charity. “We hope to gain a deeper understanding of other countries’ traditional cultures and customs while showcasing our own,” said Temurmalik. Every April, Yinghua Academy of Tianjin in Wuqing district holds a grand charity carnival. Entirely led…
Introduction The peony, often referred to as the King of Flowers, holds a special place in Chinese culture, symbolizing prosperity, honor, and beauty. With a history spanning over 4,000 years, the flower has been deeply ingrained in the nation’s cultural, artistic, medicinal, and economic spheres. Its vibrant colors and elegant appearance have made it a favorite among Chinese people, and it has been widely cultivated across the country. The peony’s significance has been further amplified by its association with imperial China, traditional Chinese medicine, and its role as a cultural…
Chinese outdoor lifestyle brand Moution unveiled its 2026 sun protection collection at Shanghai Fashion Week in Xintiandi on Sunday, with global ambassador Zhao Lusi in attendance. Known for its pioneering yarn-dyed sun-protective clothing and collaboration with China’s Long March-8 Y2 carrier rocket test team, Moution focuses on “lightweight gear, new comfort.” The latestcollection features UPF50+ sunscreen and ice-titanium cooling fabric, balancing functionality with style. Titled “MOUTION Garden”, the collection draws on the idea of an “Inner Garden,” encouraging a sense of calm and self-renewal. Inspired by the transformation of a…
The Tongkun China Fibers Fashion Trends Conference 2026/2027 officially opened on Wednesday at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai, bringing together representatives from leading chemical fiber companies, the fashion industry, and the artistic community. The event serves as a platform for an industry celebration that integrates trend releases, fashion shows, public welfare initiatives and art exhibitions. Under the theme “Momentum Breakthrough”, the conference seeks to harness the momentum of material innovation, green transformation and cultural empowerment to break boundaries. The release of the latest fiber trends interprets the…
Pickleball’s rapid rise in China is often discussed in terms of scale — participation growth, tournament expansion, institutional backing — but in Beijing last week, those discussions were put into practice across a two-day program co-hosted by the National Tennis Center and Peking University. The Beijing stop of the 2026 Joola Pickleball Titans Tour brought together the likes of tennis legends Andre Agassi, Steffi Graf with pickleball world No 1 Ben Johns. Rather than functioning as a conventional tournament, the event combined exhibition matches, interactive formats and campus engagement, reflecting…
As consumption in China continues to evolve with new formats and policy support, the China International Consumer Products Expo is becoming an important window for multinational companies to track shifts in the Chinese consumer market and explore new business opportunities, analysts and executives said. The six-day expo, which kicked off on Monday, is a major international event being held in Hainan province since the free trade port launched its island-wide special customs operations in December, offering companies a closer look at the policy environment and new investment prospects. Speaking at…
Bauhinia variegata, commonly known as orchid trees, are now in full bloom across Xiamen, Fujian province, covering the coastal city in a romantic pink hue. With leaves shaped like cattle hooves and petals resembling butterfly wings, the trees typically flower from March to April. Xiamen’s warm and sunny climate creates ideal conditions, making the city’s streets, parks, and Xiamen Botanical Garden a vibrant showcase of the blossoms. Strolling among the blooming trees, visitors are treated to picturesque views at every turn, making this the perfect season to admire the orchid…
China has issued new rules regulating providers of AI systems that simulate human personality traits, thinking patterns and communication styles in continuous emotional interactions with users, placing strict safeguards on content for minors. The interim measures, jointly released by the Cyberspace Administration of China along with four other government departments, aim to balance technological innovation with safety and public interest. Under the new regulations, such services cannot generate content for minors that could encourage unsafe behavior, trigger extreme emotional responses or promote harmful habits that may affect their physical or…
China to grow 4.4% in 2026, IMF forecasts
The International Monetary Fund on Tuesday projected China’s economy to expand by 4.4 percent in 2026, a forecast that underscores the country’s resilience amid global headwinds from the Middle East conflict. The forecast was unveiled during the 2026 Spring Meetings of the IMF and the World Bank Group, or WBG, held in Washington from April 13 to 19. The latest World Economic Outlook was released as the heads of the IMF, the WBG, and the International Energy Agency met on Monday to coordinate their response to the conflict, one day…