AI Actors, Fireworks Tragedy, and Labubu Fridge: China's Digital Culture Roundup
A weekly roundup of China's digital culture trends covers the AI actor debate sparked by iQIYI's 'Nadou Pro' initiative, which allows actors' likenesses to be used for AI-generated content, drawing backlash over consent and authenticity. Meanwhile, a deadly explosion at Liuyang Huasheng Fireworks Manufacturing Company killed 26 and injured 61, exposing deep-rooted safety risks in China's 'fireworks capital.' The Labubu mini fridge by Pop Mart, priced at 5,999 yuan, sold out instantly and resold for 12,999 yuan. Other stories include a Chengdu car attack that killed one and injured 11, an environmental blogger harassed for exposing pink river water in Henan, and the rise of 'micro-vacations' as economic pressures shift travel habits. China also approved its first AI-generated film, 'Sanxingdui: Future Memories,' and a court ruled that companies cannot fire workers solely due to AI replacement.
Key facts
- iQIYI launched 'Nadou Pro' AI film production initiative and an 'AI Artist Library' featuring dozens of actors' likenesses.
- CEO Gong Yu suggested actors could appear in up to 14 dramas per year via AI, sparking online backlash over consent.
- A film 'Love Letters to Grandma' became a hit during May Day, praised for its authenticity and Chaoshan dialect.
- An explosion at Liuyang Huasheng Fireworks Manufacturing Company killed 26 and injured 61 on May 4.
- All fireworks manufacturers in Liuyang were ordered to halt production pending safety inspections.
- Pop Mart's Labubu mini fridge, limited to 999 units, sold out instantly and resold for 12,999 yuan ($1,900).
- A car attack in Chengdu on May Day killed one and injured 11; official framing as 'road traffic accident' drew criticism.
- Environmental blogger Dongbei Biaoge was harassed after exposing pink river water in Dancheng County, Henan.
Entities
Artists
- Kasing Lung
- Gong Yu
- Manya Koetse
- Dongbei Biaoge
- Jackie Chan
- Zhang Yimou
- Lei Jun
- Zhou Yunjie
- Joker Xue
- Li Yutong
- Xie Na
- Zhang Jie
- Faye Wong
- Cai Ming
- Liu Tao
Institutions
- iQIYI
- Pop Mart
- Liuyang Huasheng Fireworks Manufacturing Company
- Chengdu Public Security Bureau
- Trip.com
- ByteDance
- Huawei
- DeepSeek
- Xiaomi
- Haier Group
- Douyin
- Xiaohongshu
- Tencent Video
- China Media Group
- Unitree Robotics
- Noetix Robotics
- MagicLab
- Galbot
- What's on Weibo
- Eye on Digital China
Locations
- Hangzhou
- China
- Liuyang
- Hunan Province
- Chengdu
- Sichuan
- Henan
- Zhoukou
- Dancheng County
- Shanghai
- Nanjing Road
- Guangzhou
- Beijing
- Los Angeles
- Thailand
- Southeast Asia
- Chaoshan
- Guangdong
- Jiangxi
- Harbin
- Yunnan
- Kunming
- Lijiang
- Xishuangbanna
- Dali
- Chongzuo
- Guangxi
- Vietnam
- Jieyang
- Chaozhou
- Shantou
- Jingdezhen
- Kaifeng
- Quanzhou
- Zigong
- Shishi Village
- Zhanjiang
- Milan
- United States