Manya Koetse
@manyapan • 70,498 subscribers
Eye on Digital China newsletter | Sinologist exploring China’s digital culture, social trends & online life 🇨🇳 | Japan Studies | Wannabe Hotpot Ambassador 🔥
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A Chinese guy who paid 297,000 yuan (US$43,900) for a phone back in 2015 now regrets it, and went viral after posting about it on Douyin. The luxury smartphone in question is a Vertu Signature, covered in alligator leather and white diamonds, with a sapphire crystal screen, ruby keys, and a 24-hour personal concierge service included. But the problem is that the phone only supports 2G and is now non-functional as a phone in mainland China. It’s basically become a very pricey paperweight. Like he said, if he’d put that 297,000 yuan into gold back then, it would be worth five times as much today (当年这29万7买成黄金，翻五倍). Others commented that 297,000 yuan might have been enough to buy a house back then. The comment section is entertaining, with at least one person also posting an image of their own paperweight Vertu, and another commenter replying: “That’s nothing. My cousin lost a kidney over an iPhone 4S, and it even made the news.” (Which could very well be true. One story from 2011, when the iPhone 4S launched, reported how a 17-year-old from Huaiyuan, Anhui, sold his right kidney through an illegal broker for 22,000 yuan ($3,200) and used the money to buy an iPhone and iPad.) You might find it interesting to know that this phone is not even the most expensive Vertu. There’s also the Vertu Signature Cobra. Limited to 8 pieces worldwide, it’s a collaboration with jewellery house Frederic Boucheron and is adorned with 439 rubies and a 1.02-carat diamond. That one costs $504,000. Video by 赫兢棘
Manya Koetse1,003,554 views • 1 month ago
This video (that mixes AI with some real footage) has circulated across Chinese social media following the recent floods in Guangxi. Titled “Your God May Not Save You, but the PLA Will,” it contrasts passive Western faith in divine intervention with the proactive Chinese trust in the PLA, portraying the People’s Liberation Army as a “miracle” of modern-day China, where god becomes obsolete.
Manya Koetse20,101 views • 1 day ago
The floods in Guangxi, particularly near Nanning, are absolutely devastating. Besides Guangxi, eastern Hubei and parts of Gansu and Guangdong have also been hit by floods and extreme weather. The Guangxi floods are leading to all kinds of unimaginable scenes. (Thread👇)
Manya Koetse43,591 views • 14 days ago
A noteworthy moment during Saturday's meeting between Xi and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung. China gifts South Korea Chinese Xiaomi flagship phones for Lee and his wife (with a Korean-made display). When Lee Jae-myung jokingly asked, “How’s the telecommunication security?” Xi Jinping replied: “You can check whether or not there’s a backdoor.” So what do we see? ➡️China gifts South Korea, smartphone powerhouse and home of Samsung, a Xiaomi — signalling symbolic confidence of China while also acknowledging interdependence in smartphone technology development 👉 great technological diplomacy and a really "smart" gift! ➡️ Despite this being the first 🇨🇳🇰🇷 meeting in 11 years, the atmosphere was relaxed enough for Lee to playfully address geopolitical sensitivities around Chinese technology. ➡️ Xi replied with quick wit, which showed a good sense of humor. Overall, I'd give this moment a "12 out of 10" 😂
Manya Koetse624,289 views • 8 months ago
Chinese divers Chen Yuxi and Quan Hongchan have become meme-worthy due to their expressions. After they won gold, the British team, who took bronze, apparently first congratulated the North Korean team that won silver, bypassing the Chinese duo and creating an awkward situation. But nothing ruins the excitement of a gold medal victory.🇨🇳🤣
Manya Koetse1,010,967 views • 1 year ago
Just curious: why would someone put this inside a peephole that's already got a cover anyway? 🤔
Manya Koetse268,679 views • 7 months ago
![[1] Continuing my thread on the big Trump–Xi summit day through the lens of Chinese social media. 🧵👇 It’s time for the state banquet. Xi and Trump have both delivered their speeches and toasts, but on Chinese social media, people are more interested in what “Old Musk” (Elon Musk), Tim Cook, Jensen Huang, and the other business heavyweights are up to. The mood before the banquet is relaxed, with guests chatting, mingling, and taking photos.](https://image.24vids.com/tw-2054874755715518682/amplify_video_thumb/2054873849078988801/img/pU_--zF5UzIVV2eT.jpg)
[1] Continuing my thread on the big Trump–Xi summit day through the lens of Chinese social media. 🧵👇 It’s time for the state banquet. Xi and Trump have both delivered their speeches and toasts, but on Chinese social media, people are more interested in what “Old Musk” (Elon Musk), Tim Cook, Jensen Huang, and the other business heavyweights are up to. The mood before the banquet is relaxed, with guests chatting, mingling, and taking photos.
Manya Koetse69,692 views • 2 months ago
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What exactly happened when a 16-year-old girl named Liu fell to her death at the cliff swing attraction at the Maliuyan Adventure Park in Huaying, Sichuan? This incident has been widely shared on social media since it happened on May 3rd, and various explanations have circulated, such as the rope snapping, her not being fastened tightly enough, or the flag she carried being somehow related, or that the girl herself said before falling: "没绑紧!" "Not fastened tightly!"). But a lot about that is not true, so here are a few more details (thread🧵👇).
Manya Koetse45,146 views • 2 months ago
Ooh, should add a trigger warning for Sichuan people and hotpot purists for this hotpot trend circulating on Chinese social media right now: Tripe-Strawberry Hotpot (毛肚草莓火锅), where you wrap strawberries in organ meat before dipping them into the spicy simmering broth and eating them with your regular dipping sauce. I’ve seen this pop up before, but it’s now gaining more traction—and not just as rage bait, since some people seem to genuinely enjoy it. One Weibo user wrote: “First, I apologize to the tripe, then to the strawberries, to the hotpot, and fourth, to myself”😅 (Video via "by Uur").
Manya Koetse44,217 views • 3 months ago
This is so heartbreaking. A 3-year-old child from Nanjian County in Yunnan was recently spotted near a highway service area — neglected, naked, and walking on all fours. As videos and images of the child spread online, he was dubbed the “feral child” by Chinese netizens, and now thousands are concerned about the boy. Local villagers claim the child’s parents are poor and “not normal.” They're jobless and the child’s grandmother is said to be the family’s sole financial supporter. The boy apparently never wears clothes. A local restaurant owner who tried to give him food said the child refused to eat with his hands and would only eat from the floor. Authorities in Nanjian County are now involved, and I really hope the boy gets the care he needs.
Manya Koetse69,354 views • 9 months ago
A noteworthy moment came after almost two hours of what appeared to be a Fox News B-roll livestream, when footage showed an altercation between American staff & press and Chinese security at the Temple of Heaven. Some of the U.S. staff traveling with Trump claimed they were being prevented from leaving until they physically pushed their way out.
Manya Koetse19,651 views • 2 months ago