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“‘Xiao Zhan Sat Next to Me’ Goes Viral: A Mirror of China’s Frenzied Fan Economy and Celebrity Culture”

The phrase “肖战坐我旁边” (Xiào Zhàn zuò wǒ pángbiān) – literally “Xiao Zhan sat next to me” – has become a surprisingly vivid litmus test for the intensity of China’s modern fan culture. On Weibo, the hashtag #肖战坐我旁边# has racked up millions of posts, each one a mixture of envy, humor and outright admiration for the 28‑year‑old actor and singer who rose to fame as a member of the boy band X NINE and later cemented his solo stardom with dramas such as “The Oath of Love” and “The Wandering Earth 2”.

News & Politics

China’s College English Test Scores: A Nationwide Ritual Shaping Careers, Industry, and Policy

When Chinese university students wake up on a crisp August morning and type “四六级查分” into their phones, they are tapping into a nationwide ritual that has become a barometer of personal ambition, corporate hiring practices, and even national policy. The phrase, most commonly rendered in English as “CET score inquiry” or “Check CET scores,” refers to the College English Test – a pair of standardized exams known as Band 4 (四级) and Band 6 (六级) that gauge English proficiency across mainland China’s higher‑education system.

News & Politics

Tianjin Resident Seals Off Apartment Lobby, Turning Shared Space into Private Room and Triggering Online Outcry

A resident of a high‑rise apartment complex in Tianjin has turned the building’s first‑floor lobby into a private extension of his own flat, sparking a wave of disbelief and outrage on China’s social‑media sites. The incident, which unfolded between the evening of Aug. 12 and the early hours of Aug. 13, involves a first‑floor tenant of the Shui’an Gongguan (often translated as “Waterfront Mansion”) in the city’s Hexi District. According to photos posted by neighbors, the tenant demolished the wall that formed his apartment’s entrance and, under the cover of night, erected a new brick barrier that sealed off the entire ground‑floor lobby. By doing so, he effectively added roughly 200 square metres of space to his unit, converting a communal area that is meant to serve all residents into his own “extra living room.”