China recently announced that sports are set to become a core part of school exams. 

China’s top population control authority may be moving toward loosening birth restrictions imposed under the country’s current two-child policy.

Chinese consumers spent about 821 billion yuan (US$127 billion) on shopping and dining during this year’s Spring Festival holiday, an increase from 2020 but still below the amount in 2019, which was over 1 trillion yuan, according to government data.

Data released by the JD Big Data Research Institute on Feb. 9 indicates, sales of prepared versions of Chinese New Year dinner must-haves are significantly higher than before. Sales of a one-person serving of the traditional delicacy Buddha Jumps over the Wall have increased four times. Some consumers have gone all out – sales of set meals of auspicious CNY dishes are up 3.5 times.

The top 30 Chinese mobile game publishers reported a surge in revenue last month thanks to their overseas market expansion. These game developers raked in over $2.3 billion in worldwide revenues in January, a surge of 47.3 percent year on year, according to Sensor Tower, a mobile app data analysis firm.

A growing number of multinational companies are foraying into China’s esports sector, vying for a piece of the booming market topping the world with more than 20 billion US dollars in revenue and hundreds of millions of avid players. Global furniture retail giant IKEA on Friday crossed into the gaming world by debuting its home furnishings collection designed for esports gamers, including tables, chairs, storage boxes, and other accessories, in Shanghai.

Over recent years, young Chinese have become increasingly disillusioned with the gruelling work schedules and cutthroat competition that come with living in the country’s major cities, leading many to embrace a range of alternative lifestyles — from extreme saving, to hermit culture and alternative food networks.

Morgan Stanley analysts predict China’s private consumption is set to more than double to reach $12.7 trillion by 2030. Private consumption is driven by increases in household income and urbanization.