The top 5 China business stories of 2023

From travelling in China post-Covid to what Gen Z are wearing, these were the five stories that captured the most attention on FOCUS this year.

1. China travel tips for business travellers in 2023

Following several years of Covid-related disruption, business travel to China was back with a vengeance in 2023. While this is fantastic news, with so many years in between visits, many found that the travel landscape had changed substantially due to the rapid pace with which China has embraced digitalisation and the number of every day services that now require a Chinese ID card or a local Chinese bank account. With that in mind, we detailed some of the things people need to consider before a trip to China, from downloading WeChat to making sure you still have access to things like Google and Facebook.

2. What is Temu? The new Chinese bargain shopping app explained

We often talk about Chinese super apps like WeChat and Douyin, but now Chinese-owned apps are targeting the Western market, too. For example, Temu (pronounced ‘tee moo’), a discount e-commerce platform shoppable via an app and website that launched in the UK in April 2023, has captured the attention of millions of shoppers worldwide with its promise to let you “shop like a billionaire” at rock-bottom prices. However, its exponential growth has raised concerns within the business community, particularly in terms of data protection and sustainability.

3. 5 Chinese Gen-Z fashion trends you need to know

It may not seem important to known what Chinese zoomers (i.e., young people born since the mid-to-late 1990s) are wearing, but understanding the fashion zeitgeist can offer insights into wider consumer trends. For example, the popularity of the so-called ‘Old Money’ trend is reflective of more rational consumer behaviour in the face of economic uncertainty, emphasising quality and value over flashy logos.

4. Why is live commerce so popular in China?

The gold-paved streets of China’s live streaming landscape have attracted many brands and even encouraged some to try and replicate the successful live commerce model in the West. But Western consumers aren’t biting, with companies like Meta quietly dialling back live streaming initiatives. We looked at the differing attitudes to live commerce in China and the West, and what that means for Western consumer brands targeting China.

5. The Rise and Fall of Guochao: China’s Nationalistic Branding Phenomenon

Guochao, which literally translates to “national trend” but can be more eloquently translated as ‘China chic’ – encapsulates the rise of Chinese brands that celebrate and promote Chinese cultural identity. This movement gained momentum during the Covid pandemic, raising questions about whether China’s nationalistic sentiment intensified during the crisis. Now, as China gradually opens up again, is the country still embracing internationalism, and does the allure of Western brands hold strong?