Asian Business Online

When Disney Characters Enter Lunar New Year

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 00:24:48 -0800

Introducing some of the world’s most recognizable cartoon characters into a holiday as ritualized as the Lunar New Year is, in itself, a gamble.

This year, Singapore’s Sentosa Island chose to take that risk. As part of a Lunar New Year celebration titled Galloping Into Spring, Disney’s Mickey and Minnie Mouse made their first appearance within the festive setting of Sentosa Sensoryscape, positioned alongside ancient Chinese mythology, seasonal floral displays, and traditional New Year blessings. This is not a simple brand collaboration. It is closer to a test of cultural boundaries: can icons of Western popular entertainment find a place—without feeling out of tune—within an Eastern festive tradition?

The answer, it turns out, has been embedded in a pathway, a horse, and a series of spaces that must be experienced on foot.

An Ancient Legend, and Two Thoroughly Modern Characters

The narrative foundation of Galloping Into Spring is drawn from The Chronicle of King Mu, an ancient text recounting the Zhou dynasty ruler’s journey across distant lands with his eight legendary horses. It is a story about travel and imagination, power and the unknown. At Sentosa, this myth has been lifted from the page and translated into a multisensory experience.

The arrival of Mickey and Minnie subtly shifts the tone of that story.

Near the centerpiece installation, “Flame Sun,” two sculptures of Mickey and Minnie—each standing about 2.5 meters tall—quietly take their place. They are not positioned at center stage. Instead, they are woven into a visual system of floral arrangements, lantern light, and equine symbolism. The choice feels deliberate. Here, Disney’s characters are not protagonists but companions—visitors invited into a mythic world rather than figures meant to dominate it.

Xiaomi SU7 Fatal Crash Sparks Safety Debate, Shares Drop in Hong Kong

Mon, 13 Oct 2025 05:41:26 -0700

A fatal crash involving a Xiaomi SU7 in Chengdu has triggered widespread public concern and renewed scrutiny of the Chinese tech company’s electric vehicle unit. The incident sent Xiaomi’s Hong Kong-listed shares tumbling more than 8% on Monday before paring some losses.

Suspected Drunk Driving; Investigation Underway

According to a statement from the Chengdu Traffic Management Bureau, the crash occurred around 3:18 a.m. on October 13. The driver, a 31-year-old man surnamed Deng, was traveling south along Tianfu Avenue when the vehicle collided with another car, veered onto the central median, and burst into flames. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene, and both vehicles sustained damage. Authorities said preliminary testing suggested the driver was under the influence of alcohol. The investigation remains ongoing.

Videos shared online show several bystanders attempting to rescue the driver, but the car doors could not be opened. Firefighters later arrived and cut open the vehicle to extinguish the flames. The delay in rescue efforts has fueled public concern over the SU7’s door design and overall safety features.

Hidden Door Handles Under Scrutiny

Beyond the driver’s actions, public attention has turned to Xiaomi’s use of semi-recessed electronic door handles, which some believe may have hindered rescue attempts.

The SU7’s handles are designed to sit flush with the body and rely on electronic switches to unlock the doors. If the vehicle loses power in a crash, the handles may become inoperable from the outside. Similar designs are common in modern electric vehicles, prized for aerodynamic efficiency and sleek appearance, but they have been criticized in several past incidents for compromising emergency accessibility.

“Electronic handles offer...Read More

Arc’teryx’s Fireworks in the Himalayas Ignite an Environmental Backlash

Sun, 21 Sep 2025 07:07:12 -0700

High in the Himalayas, more than 16,000 feet above sea level in Tibet, a performance intended to celebrate the union of art and nature has quickly spiraled into a corporate crisis.

On Sept. 19, the Canadian outdoor brand Arc’teryx joined forces with Chinese contemporary artist Cai Guoqiang to stage a massive fireworks display in the Jiangzi Relong region. The piece, titled Ascending Dragon, stretched nearly two miles across the ridge in a rainbow of smoke trails. Organizers described it as part of the company’s “Beauty in Ascent” series, designed to highlight mountain culture.

On social media, the reaction was far less poetic. Many observers saw the spectacle as a betrayal of Arc’teryx’s carefully cultivated ethos of “respecting nature.” In a fragile alpine environment where thin soil, scarce vegetation, and sensitive wildlife are already under pressure, critics argued, the damage from explosives is far harder to reverse than in the lowlands.

Environmentalists and outdoor enthusiasts noted that even so-called “biodegradable” materials can take decades to decompose in Tibet’s cold, arid and oxygen-thin climate. The intense heat of fireworks, they added, risks burning topsoil and native plants—damage that could take years, if not decades, to repair.

Chinese regulations explicitly prohibit fireworks in forests and grasslands considered high fire risks. Yet local officials in Jiangzi County said the event was fully registered, and because the fireworks were marketed as eco-friendly, no environmental review was required. While technically compliant, the approvals did little to calm public outrage.

As criticism mounted, both Arc’teryx and Cai scrubbed related posts from their social media accounts. Two days later, Arc’teryx issued an apology, admitting the project had “deviated” from its intentions and pledging to commission third-party...Read More

Azerbaijan Targets Chinese Tourists and MICE Market After New Visa-Free Policy

Fri, 19 Sep 2025 20:21:22 -0700

By Paul Hsin

SHANGHAI—Azerbaijan, a distant land once linked to China by the ancient Silk Road, is now entering the radar of more Chinese travelers thanks to a new visa-free agreement.

From September 15 to 19, the Azerbaijan Tourism Board held roadshows in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, aiming to showcase the country’s unique appeal to the world’s largest outbound travel market.

The roadshows promoted more than leisure tourism. They also highlighted Azerbaijan’s growing potential in meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE), hoping to position the country as the next popular destination by tapping into China’s vast tourism and business travel demand.

In the first half of this year, over 26,000 Chinese travelers visited Azerbaijan, up 57% year-on-year. Gunel Alakbarova, Regional Director for Asia at the Azerbaijan Tourism Board, said the new mutual visa exemption will further drive arrivals from China.

The agreement, effective since July, allows Chinese citizens with ordinary passports to enter Azerbaijan visa-free for up to 30 days per visit, and no more than 90 days within any 180-day period.

Over the past decade, Azerbaijan’s capital Baku has steadily raised its profile on the global stage. Events such as the Eurovision Song Contest and the Formula 1 Grand Prix showcased the city’s organizational capabilities and modern facilities.

Today, landmarks such as the Flame Towers, the Baku Expo Center, and the Heydar Aliyev Center designed by Zaha Hadid have become not only symbols of the city but also world-class venues for international conferences and business events.

Tourism officials said they hope to leverage China’s fast-growing demand for business travel to position Azerbaijan as a regional hub for conferences and exhibitions.

To...Read More

Xiaomi Recalls Over 110,000 EVs as Safety Concerns Mount Over Driver-Assist Systems

Fri, 19 Sep 2025 20:20:51 -0700

China’s latest large-scale vehicle recall is drawing attention to the safety of advanced driver-assistance technologies.

On Sept. 19, the State Administration for Market Regulation said Xiaomi Automobile Technology Co. would recall 116,887 units of its SU7 standard electric sedan, produced between Feb. 6, 2024, and Aug. 30, 2025. The recall covers nearly one-third of all vehicles the company has delivered to date.

Authorities cited shortcomings in the cars’ Level 2 highway navigation assist systems, noting that in certain extreme situations, the vehicles may not adequately recognize, warn of, or respond to hazards. If drivers fail to intervene in time, the regulator warned, the risk of a crash increases.

Xiaomi launched its first car, the SU7, in March last year, priced between roughly $30,000 and $41,000, with deliveries beginning the following month. The company has since delivered more than 300,000 units. A recall of this magnitude is rare among China’s younger EV makers.

The decision comes as Beijing pushes for stricter oversight of smart-driving technology. Just two days earlier, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology released a draft national standard for advanced driver-assistance systems, outlining requirements for human-machine interaction, functional safety, cybersecurity, and data recording. The draft also included testing scenarios in construction zones, roundabouts, and tunnels.

One of those scenarios closely mirrors a fatal accident in March in Tongling, Anhui province, involving a Xiaomi SU7. The car, traveling at more than 110 kilometers an hour, collided with a concrete barrier after the driver took control from the assist system but was unable to avoid impact within a few seconds. Three people were killed. Xiaomi said the car had detected obstacles and issued alerts before the driver intervened, but the...Read More

China announces finding of 2800-km lithium belt, Reshaping the Global Battery Map

Fri, 19 Sep 2025 20:13:29 -0700

In China’s west, a mineral belt stretching some 2,800 kilometers is reshaping the global lithium landscape. The Ministry of Natural Resources recently disclosed that the so-called “Asian Lithium Belt”—running across Sichuan, Qinghai, Tibet, and Xinjiang—contains multiple large and super-large deposits, propelling China’s share of global lithium reserves to second place.

The discovery comes at a pivotal moment for China’s battery sector. As demand for electric vehicles and energy storage continues to surge, the world’s reliance on lithium has deepened. China, long dependent on imports to meet its needs, now sees the new belt as a potential buffer against supply risks—and as fresh leverage in its bid to dominate the global battery supply chain.

At the core of the belt lies Jiajika in western Sichuan, considered one of the world’s richest spodumene deposits. Official data show that Sichuan accounts for more than half of China’s proven lithium reserves. In recent years, the province has drawn heavyweights such as CATL and Tianqi Lithium, gradually building a full supply chain from mining to battery manufacturing.

Between 2019 and 2021, Sichuan’s share of national lithium-battery investment jumped from 8% to 18%, the fastest growth in the country. In 2021 alone, the province attracted over 170 billion yuan ($24 billion) in lithium projects, ranking first nationwide. Cities like Yibin and Suining have seen their economies transformed: Yibin’s output of power batteries has ballooned from less than 2 billion yuan a few years ago to more than 100 billion.

For Beijing, securing more lithium is not just about industrial policy but also energy security. China has long been one of the world’s top importers of the metal. With the new finds, its share of global reserves has risen from 6% to 16.5%.

Analysts say this will further bolster China’s...Read More

China’s Prepared-Food Debate Exposes Cracks in Restaurant Industry

Fri, 19 Sep 2025 19:42:39 -0700

SHANGHAI—In China, dining culture has long been associated with freshly cooked meals. But a public spat between a celebrity entrepreneur and a popular restaurant chain has pushed the term “prepared food” — long a niche in the cold-chain industry — into the national spotlight.

On Sept. 10, Luo Yonghao, a well-known entrepreneur and online personality, took to social media to accuse Xibei Youmian Village, a nationwide restaurant chain, of serving “almost nothing but prepared food, at high prices.” The claim spread rapidly online, prompting founder Jia Guolong to issue a forceful rebuttal, insisting “Xibei does not serve a single prepared dish” and threatening to sue Luo.

In a market where consumer trust has been tested repeatedly, the dispute has become more than a personal quarrel. It has laid bare the tension between efficiency and transparency in China’s restaurant industry, and underscored growing demands from diners for clearer labeling and greater disclosure.

Luo’s criticism tapped into a central concern: whether restaurants are obligated to tell customers how their dishes are prepared. On his social media accounts, he stressed he was not opposed to prepared food itself but to the lack of transparency. “Consumers have suffered from the opacity of prepared foods for too long,” he wrote, later offering a 100,000-yuan reward for evidence that Xibei outlets used prepared dishes.

Xibei pushed back quickly. The company said its bone broth is made fresh daily and its hand-rolled noodles are prepared in-store, denying that meals are mass-produced and frozen. Jia went further, disclosing details of Luo’s dining experience to show his accusations were unfounded.

The clash raised thorny legal questions: Where should the line be drawn between a consumer’s right to voice opinions and a business’s right to protect its reputation? Legal experts...Read More

China’s EV Startups Enter a Profit-Or-Perish Race

Mon, 09 Jun 2025 23:33:36 -0700

In 2025, for China’s new generation of electric vehicle (EV) makers, the contest is no longer about flashy delivery numbers—it’s about turning a profit. Amid rising competition and investor impatience, the race to achieve profitability has become a decisive survival test. The scoreboard may still favor sales, but it is profit, not volume, that now determines who stays in the game.

According to the China Passenger Car Association, retail sales of passenger vehicles in May reached 1.932 million units, up 13.3% from a year earlier. Yet within the EV startup segment, the rankings are shifting. Leapmotor led monthly deliveries for the third straight month, followed by XPeng, which has maintained a steady 30,000-unit monthly run rate. Li Auto, which topped charts last year, now ranks second, while NIO has fallen to the bottom among the four major startups.

Behind these delivery figures is a tightening race on the financial front. In the first quarter of 2024, Li Auto posted the highest revenue at RMB 25.93 billion. XPeng, NIO, and Leapmotor followed with RMB 15.81 billion, RMB 12.03 billion, and RMB 10.02 billion, respectively—marking year-on-year increases of 141.45%, 21.46%, and 187.1%.

But the real battleground has shifted to profitability.

Li Auto, benefiting from its extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs), reported a gross margin of 20.5%, flat year-on-year, and a net profit of RMB 647 million, up nearly 10%. XPeng and Leapmotor improved margins through technology licensing and volume gains. Leapmotor’s gross margin rose to 14.9%, aided by partnerships with Stellantis and FAW. XPeng reached a 15.6% margin, driven in part by a RMB 5.04 billion technology services deal with Volkswagen.

While still in the red, both Leapmotor and XPeng significantly narrowed their losses—Leapmotor by 87.13% to RMB 130 million, and XPeng by 51.5% to RMB 660...Read More

Starbucks Slashes Prices in China as Pressure Mounts

Mon, 09 Jun 2025 21:58:23 -0700

On June 9, 2025, Starbucks China announced a significant price cut for more than ten beverages across its three major non-coffee categories. Starting June 10, popular summer items such as Frappuccinos, Iced Shaken Teas, and Tea Lattes will see an average price reduction of 5 yuan, with some large-sized drinks priced as low as 23 yuan (approximately $3.20).

The announcement quickly sparked widespread discussion on Chinese social media, trending on Weibo within hours. While many consumers welcomed the move, others questioned the timing. “It’s about time,” some said, while others asked, “Is it too late?” In response, Starbucks stated the price adjustment aims to better align with all-day consumption patterns, particularly growing demand for non-coffee drinks in the afternoon. The company said future pricing strategies would be based on customer feedback—hinting that the “non-coffee” segment may become a long-term strategic pillar.

On the surface, the move appears to be a seasonal promotion. In reality, it reflects mounting pressure in the Chinese market. In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024, same-store sales in China fell 14%, and average ticket size dropped 8%. Although sales showed signs of recovery in the second quarter of fiscal 2025, Starbucks faces a sobering shift: the China coffee market has moved from rapid expansion to a fierce battle for market share.

A New Battleground: Non-Coffee Beverages

With over 200,000 cafés now operating in China, the market has entered a phase of saturation. In 2024, while 70,000 new coffee shops opened, 53,000 others shut down, resulting in a net increase of just 17,000 stores. Meanwhile, the tea beverage segment has remained vibrant, with frequent product innovations and a highly dynamic competitive landscape.

Starbucks is positioning itself to capitalize on this shift. The company has...Read More

China’s Booming Pet Economy Faces Wave of Store Closures

Mon, 09 Jun 2025 01:11:33 -0700

Despite rapid growth in China’s pet economy, a growing number of pet shops are shutting down or struggling to stay afloat. This wave of closures reflects underlying structural challenges in the industry, as investors and operators grapple with shifting market dynamics and financial pressures.

China’s pet market has expanded swiftly in recent years. According to the 2025 China Pet Industry White Paper, the urban pet (dogs and cats) consumption market grew 7.5% in 2024, surpassing 300 billion yuan ($43 billion). The cat segment alone reached 144.5 billion yuan, marking a 10.7% increase. Millennials born in the 1990s account for 41.2% of pet owners, while those born after 2000 make up 25.6%—a demographic steadily on the rise.

The robust market attracted an influx of capital and a proliferation of pet service providers, including high-end pet hotels and budget grooming shops. However, this rapid expansion has brought growing pains. Multiple well-known pet stores have abruptly closed in recent months, leaving consumers unable to redeem prepaid memberships or services.

In Chengdu, for example, several stores under the “LOOK STAR” brand declared bankruptcy earlier this year, with owners vanishing and customers scrambling for refunds. The “Haha Husky” pet café chain also reportedly collapsed, with contact lines disconnected. Similar closures have made headlines across major cities: a popular pet lifestyle boutique run by an influential pet blogger shut down in early 2024; over ten outlets of a Wuhan chain called “X Pet Power Station” shuttered in one week; and Asia’s largest pet store group “Extreme Pet” suspended its last remaining locations by October.

Industry insiders attribute these failures largely to a business model imbalance. Many pet chains aggressively expanded through heavy financing, often engaging in price wars that undermined profitability. Rising rental...Read More