China This Week: I’m Lovin’ It

China This Week, March 26 – April 1, 2016

Want to know about the hottest trending topics in China, you won’t see on TV or newspapers? Follow the weekly updates from U.S.-China Perception Monitor, “China This Week”. We are providing you with the most talked-about topics, most interesting points and must-know information of Chinese culture and society

1. New trend sweeping the nation!

So a few weeks ago, we shared a trend among young Chinese women to aim for their waists to be slimmer than a piece of paper. Well, if you thought that was extreme, then I think you should take a seat. You’re not going to believe this one.

Now, the big trend is have legs thinner than an iPhone. Yeah, seriously. As you probably expected, the response from Chinese social media has been…less than positive.

LIYANMINGXQ：
That’s quite enough. Can our society improve already?

不要停止你的步伐：
D0n’t keep spreading around this type of unhealthy content!!! The way this keeps us, the beauty standard of the future will be skin and bones!!!

___无敌大丑男：
The premise of this (meme) is that you need an iPhone 6 to do it.

However, it’s unlikely that this trend will last long, because…

2. I’m Lovin’ It!

McDonald’s plans to open 1,250 new outlets in China! Yes, McDonald’s plans to increase its presence in China, and the move would even make China McDonald’s second largest market (after the United States). The plan is also to increase presence in Hong Kong and South Korea.

Emerging markets provide a solid customer base for the fast food chain and in recent years McDonalds has faced fierce competition from Yum! Brands, the conglomerate that owns both KFC and Pizza Hut, two chains that are relatively popular in China (yes really).

3. Chinese Subway photography

A Chinese photographer has taken a bunch of photos the Beijing subway from 2010 to 2015.

The variety of images show snapshots of Chinese life range from heartwarming to heartbreaking. We encourage you to take a look here.

4. GANBEI!!!

China has overtaken the United States as the largest beer market in the world! In 2015, China consumed almost twice as much of the beer that the United States consumed (which is interesting given that China’s population is way more than two times as large as the United States).

The fastest growing beer market is the craft beer market, so much so that the Tampa-based World of Beer will be making its way to Shanghai this May. China is also attracting the interests of firms like Anheuser-Busch, who acquired Jilin Ginsber Draft Beer and Jiangus Regal Beer in 2014. With the growing beer market in China (particularly international brands), global distillers are sure to find some happy markets in Middle Kingdom.

By AARON WALAYAT compiled by YAO SUN on USCNPM