Featured Article
Official 2025 Beijing Visa, Residence Guide Drops for Foreigners (September 22, 2025, The Beijinger)
The Exit-Entry Administration Municipal Public Security Bureau recently released their “Welcome to Beijing: Guidance on Entry, Exit, and Residence Services for Foreigners” for 2025. The English-language guide consists of 39 pages of information related to entry, exit, visas, business, and residence for foreigners in China. There are also references and pages of addresses and contact information for various entry-exit bureaus and other places that might be of interest to foreigners.
Spotlight
Webinar – The Antioch Factor: Keys to Unlocking the Great Commission
(October 2, 2025, Field Partner International)
Registration OPEN Now! Why was Paul, the world’s most effective missionary sent out with Barnabas from the Antioch church, not Jerusalem? What was the difference between them? The book of Acts is full of pointers to help us become a church that will make an eternal impact. Based on Ross Paterson’s impactful book, this webinar will give you fresh vision, along with practical tips to become an ‘Antioch Church’.
Government / Politics / Foreign Affairs
China Is Eyeing Superpower Status Via Africa and the Caribbean. But Are They Partners or Pawns? (September 17, 2025, The Guardian)
At a high-profile global summit held by China this month, there were strong statements directed at the west’s “bullying” as well as renewed calls to stabilise “global governance”. The meeting was the clearest indication yet that China is vying to become a world superpower, aiming to marshal an anti-western bloc. But the foundations of that position partly lie in Africa and the Caribbean, where China has been building relationships for decades.
Lawyers vs. Engineers: Dan Wang Sees U.S.-China Dynamics in a New Paradigm (September 20, 2025, NPR)
During the three years of “zero-COVID” lockdowns, analyst Dan Wang emerged as one of the most astute observers of China’s rapidly shifting domestic dynamics. Wang witnessed how the stringent COVID measures sparked rare protests and the government’s eventual change of course in late 2022. His annual letters from China remain widely read and praised by those looking to make sense of China. But Wang’s work goes beyond helping Western readers decode China. He wants to challenge them to think whether China’s triumphs and missteps might also offer lessons for the United States.
Religion
China’s ‘Temple Economy’ In the Spotlight as Scandals Rock Influential Religious Leaders (September 17, 2025, The Guardian)
For a religious leader, the allegations were scandalous. Mistresses, illegitimate children, embezzlement. But in 2015, the head abbott of Shaolin monastery, the cradle of Zen Buddhism and kung-fu in China, was untouchable. Shi Yongxin, the so-called “CEO monk” who turned the 1,500-year-old monastery into a commercial empire worth hundreds of millions of yuan, held firm. Soon he was cleared of all charges. But 10 years later, the 60-year-old monk was not so lucky.
Xuzhou: Building a Fervent Church (September 18, 2025, China Partnership)
Traditional Xuzhou house churches display God’s grace to this city — but to better serve the current generation, those older house churches also need to change with the times. Xuzhou pastors say they are trying to transition their traditional churches to become better organized, with stronger teaching and theology. At the same time, Xuzhou pastors want to hold onto their Chinese church inheritance of perseverance and walking the road of the cross.
Thin Office Walls and Thinner Egos (September 22, 2025, ChinaSource)
When we peel back the layers of opposition we face in ministry, we often find something nasty and dark disguised within ourselves, calling out for “innocent clout,” legitimate influence, or ministerial camaraderie, but is it really just that we want to be liked? If we wait for everyone to get on our side, especially those who already should be, we will never get anywhere in life or in ministry. But there is still a weird feeling of unmet expectations even in this niche ministry, even when it comes to East Asian-focused gospel work.
Building Mercy in China: Part 1 (September 22, 2025, China Partnership)
In China, formal, organized ministries of mercy are a pretty new concept. These organizations really became organized after the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, but the process has not been smooth or easy. There are a lot of reasons for this, including government pressure, a bad economy, and a general uncertainty within Chinese culture about specific types of charity. Despite these difficulties, many Christians are trying to be a part of the solution.
Chinese Youth and International Students (September 23, 2025, ChinaSource)
As a new academic year begins, campuses around the world once again fill with expectation—and tension. Recent events remind us that universities are not only centers of learning but also contested spaces where ideas, identities, and even lives can be at risk. For Chinese students, whether in fast-changing cities at home or on campuses abroad, this reality only heightens their need for safe communities where they can explore faith, ask hard questions, and encounter the hope of Christ.
Society / Life
China’s Birth Crisis Is a Crisis of Faith in the Future (September 18, 2025, ChinaFile)
China’s birth rate has fallen from 2.5 births per woman in 1990 to just 1 birth per woman in 2023. The country’s declining birth rate is not only an economic problem but a cultural one. For many young people, the real barrier is not the cost of raising children. Rather, it is the conviction that parenthood no longer makes sense in a future that feels uncertain and unworthy of investment.
China’s Latest Meme Is Sponge Gourd Soup (September 19, 2025, Sixth Tone)
Sponge gourd soup, a staple in Chinese home cooking, has unexpectedly gone viral online — not for its taste, but as a metaphor for the way parents often dismiss their children’s feelings, as well as gaslighting in familial relationships more generally.
Two Unlikely Travel Buddies Find Road to Stardom (September 23, 2025, Sixth Tone)
Ibrahim was a struggling rickshaw driver who spent 13 hours a day weaving the gridlocked streets of Dhaka, capital of Bangladesh, when Chinese travel vlogger Du Hongwei first flagged him down last year. The journey they were about to make would change their lives.
Economics / Trade / Business
Nvidia Violated Antimonopoly Laws, China Says (September 15, 2024, Associated Press)
China accused Nvidia on Monday of violating the country’s antimonopoly laws and said it would step up scrutiny of the world’s leading chipmaker, escalating tensions with Washington as the two countries held trade talks this week. Chinese regulators said a preliminary investigation found that Nvidia didn’t comply with conditions imposed when it purchased Mellanox Technologies, a network and data transmission company.
Top Marketing Insights from August 2025 (September 16, 2024, Chinaskinny)
August has seen some interesting developments from consumer spending demanding more value to supermarkets exploring innovative store formats. Here are some of the top marketing lessons from China for August 2025.
China Is Still Struggling to Manage Local Debt Stress (September 17, 2025, The Diplomat)
Bloomberg recently reported that Beijing is preparing to mobilize over 1 trillion yuan in loans from state-owned and policy banks to help local governments clear overdue payments to private enterprises. On the surface, this appears to be a bold and innovative step to alleviate local debt pressures and bolster private sector confidence. Yet behind it lies a harsher reality: China’s policymakers are still grappling with the country’s persistent local debt crisis.
Science / Technology
How a Chinese Company Exports the Great Firewall to Autocratic Regimes (September 18, Global Voices)
Following a joint investigation of 100,000 leaked internal documents linked to the Chinese company Geedge Networks, researchers found that the Chinese company has exported an internet censorship toolset similar to the Chinese Great Firewall to autocratic regimes.
Corruptible Connections: CCP Ties and Smart Device Dangers (September 19, 2025, China Brief, The Jamestown Foundation)
PRC companies have shipped products overseas that have been assessed as having serious cybersecurity risks: a U.S. government agency found TCL smart TVs allowed unauthorized access to the devices’ data and media files, while users discovered Skyworth Group smart TVs were sending back data about other devices in users’ homes back to a Beijing-based company’s servers.
Travel / Food
In the Land of Couscous, Pulled Noodles from China Cause a Stir (September 22, 2024, Christian Science Monitor)
His real name is Zhao Jun, and he is a Muslim Chinese immigrant from Lanzhou, in northwestern China, who came to Algeria in 2022 and opened a halal ramen restaurant two years later. “I found there were no Chinese halal stretched noodles restaurants in Algiers,” Mr. Zhao says. “I wanted to open a ramen shop so Chinese people living in Algeria could have a place to eat Chinese food.” But now, more than half of Mr. Zhao’s customers – and staff – are Algerian.
Outdoor brand Arc’teryx apologises for ‘dragon’ fireworks in Himalayas (September 22, 2025, BBC)
Chinese officials are investigating outdoor clothing brand Arc’teryx after it apologised for a fireworks display in the Himalayan region of Tibet, which drew backlash for its potential impact on the fragile ecosystem. Videos from the 19 September event show multi-coloured fireworks erupting across foothills in a display intended to resemble a dragon, designed by Chinese artist Cai Guo-Qiang.
Arts / Entertainment / Media
Short, Absurd, and Addictive: Welcome to the Micro-Drama Nation (September 23, 2025, The World of Chinese)
Light, flashy, and dangerously addictive, micro-dramas run 1 to 10 minutes per episode, and series can run into the hundreds of episodes. One second you may be scrolling social media for fun, the next you’ve accidentally binged 50 episodes of high-octane drama, or as one netizen put it: “I just can’t stop. I simply switch off my brain and keep watching. (上头了，每天脑子一扔就是看。Shàngtóu le, měitiān nǎozi yì rēng jiùshì kàn.)”
Newsroom Standards in the AI Era (September 23, 20205, China Media Project)
The advent of ChatGPT in 2022 sparked a global boom in generative artificial intelligence (AI). Its applications are rapidly expanding, and journalism is no exception. From AI-powered news anchors to assisted writing, editing, and transcription, image generation, and analysis of massive datasets, AI is now widely applied across every step of news production. Recently, newsroom-tailored AI consulting tools have emerged, aiming to promote “responsible AI use” among journalists.
Health / Environment
China Is Helping Uzbekistan Save the Aral Sea (September 17, 2025, Global Voices)
Uzbekistan is now enlisting help from China, a global leader in fighting desertification and soil erosion, and the situation is looking up for the first time in decades. China has extensive experience implementing drip irrigation methods (also known as micro-irrigation), a process where water is dripped directly into the soil near the roots of crops through tubing. This process can save 50–80 percent more water than traditional farming methods and can achieve water-fertilizer integration.
Don’t Fret Over China’s New Climate Targets (September 18, 2025, The Economist) (subscription required)
It is a huge moment for the world’s biggest polluter. China’s steel mills, factories and coal-fired power stations pump out billions of tonnes of carbon dioxide each year. At the same time, massive spending on clean-energy technologies continues and China’s emissions are starting to dip. Next week Li Qiang, the country’s prime minister, is expected to announce China’s new set of climate pledges at the un General Assembly in New York. Momentum is building ahead of the COP30 climate talks in Brazil in November.
Super Typhoon Ragasa: China’s Guangdong Evacuates 371,000, Suspends Hundreds of Flights (September 23, 2025, South China Morning Post)
The global manufacturing centre of Guangdong in southern China has come to a halt as people brace for the most powerful typhoon to hit the region in recent years. On Tuesday morning, the province upgraded its typhoon alert to Level 1, the highest in a four-tier warning system, as officials declared a “combat-ready” status in preparation for Super Typhoon Ragasa. More than 10 cities, including the technology hub Shenzhen, have announced the closure of all markets, schools, factories and transport systems, advising people to stay indoors and stockpile food and water.
Education
Translation: International Students in China Complain, “Quark AI Has Forgotten Us!” (September 16, 2025, China Digital Times)
Some international students in China have taken to social media platform RedNote (Xiaohongshu) to complain about being excluded from obtaining free educational accounts for Quark AI, an LLM tool widely used by their Chinese university classmates. Using the hashtag #WeStudyInChina, these students have also set up an online “message wall” to lobby for inclusion in the popular AI tool. Chinese online reactions to the students’ pleas ranged from sympathy to amusement, Schadenfreude to national pride.
China’s Universities Bet on STEM. Arts Grads Bet on Themselves (September 17, 2025, Sixth Tone)
By junior year, Li Jialu had stopped pretending his advertising major was enough. Since December, he’s spent most nights teaching himself to code, convinced it will matter more than his major ever could.
History / Culture
Innocent Hearts or Warped Wood?: Children in Ancient Chinese Philosophy (September 17, 2025, The World of Chinese)
In China, where academic success is often seen as the gateway to a better future, parents buckle under guilt and pressure, torn between pushing their children toward excellence or allowing them a simpler, happier childhood—fueling yet another round of debate over what constitutes good parenting. In fact, this debate is not a recent one, as the role and treatment of children have played a central role in theological debates throughout Chinese history.
Books
Loving the Pope: Reflections on China’s Catholic Story (September 19, 2025, ChinaSource)
China’s Church Divided tells the story of the fraught relationship between the Chinese Catholic Church, the Vatican, and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), focusing on the post-Mao reform era that began in the late 1970s. What has emerged is a divided church, with two distinct entities: the Patriotic Church, which is officially recognized and controlled by the state, and the Underground Church, which remains loyal to Rome and operates outside state approval.
Job Opportunities
Senior Administrator (Hong Kong) | Reframe Ministries
Job Type: Part-(me 3 days per week, minimum 20 hours per week
Location: Remote/Occasional in-office visits
Length of Commitment: at least 2-year commitment, continuous contract
Salary expectations: HKD 15000 to HKD 20000 per month
This role will focus on ensuring the smooth operational and administrative management of
the Hong Kong office, while also caring for and overseeing human resources functions
within the Hong Kong staff team, and with Mainland Chinese partners.
Pray for China
September 20 (Pray For China: A Walk Through History)
On Sept. 20, 1929, Mrs. Xi Shengmo (席胜魔师母) went to be with the Lord in Zhaocheng, Shanxi. Pastor and Mrs. Xi were some of the first Chinese to come to Christ from a scholarly family. After their conversions in 1879 and 1883 respectively, they ministered to opium addicts for many years. They often housed 50-60 new Christians who studied the Bible and worked the fields. The year after her conversion, Mrs. Xi gave her husband all the jewelry that had been his wedding gift to her so that a mission station could be opened in a nearby city. Pray for families in Shanxi to worship the Eternal King Jesus. They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful. Revelation 17:14
Praying Through ZGBriefs (August 29, 2025, ChinaSource)
Prayer Walking as a Rhythm of Life (May 30, 2025, ChinaSource)
Operation World (April 21, 2025, ChinaSource)
Pray for China (prayforchina.us)
Pray for China (China Partnership)