PREMIUM NEWSLETTER | ISSUE #36

This week’s newsletter:

◼︎ 1. Editor’s Note – Landrover Woman Controversy
◼︎ 2. What’s New and Noteworthy – A closer look at featured stories
◼︎ 3. What’s Trending – Hot highlights
◼︎ 4. What’s Noteworthy – South Korean women ask for help on Weibo
◼︎ 6. What’s Popular – The contagious success of Black Myth: Wukong
◼︎ 7. What’s Memorable – Train Tyrant Woman
◼︎ 8. Weibo Word of the Week – Armless Flying Fish

Dear Reader,

One can become a meme overnight. There are many people who could tell you all about it, from the Subway Judge to the Train Tyrant. This week, it’s ‘Land Rover Woman’ who has become the latest addition to the Chinese Lexicon of Viral Incidents.

The incident, which we detailed in our recent article, occurred on August 28. In short: a woman in a white Range Rover, complete with a Chanel logo, became enraged when another driver refused to yield as she attempted to force her way into traffic while driving in the wrong direction. In the middle of a congested road, she exited her vehicle and caused a scene. She screamed, pointed, kicked the other car, and ultimately yanked open the driver’s door of the man who blocked her path, proceeding to hit him in the face. She then drove off (see video here).

Land Rover Woman during the incident.

The man, blood dripping from his nose, remained calm and did not retaliate, explaining afterward that he chose not to strike back because his children were in the back seat. The woman, identified as 36-year-old Wang from Qingdao’s Laoshan district, was subsequently handed 10 days of administrative detention and fined 1,000 yuan (approximately $140).

As footage of the incident went viral on Chinese social media, it sparked widespread debate.

The man, later revealed to be a former member of the military, spoke to reporters a day after the altercation, stating that it had left him not only physically hurt but also mentally distressed. He announced that he was preparing to take legal action against the woman and would not accept mediation.

The man, Lin, received overwhelming support from Chinese netizens, who saw the situation as an injustice on multiple levels.

Gender Dynamics

The woman physically assaulted the man, who chose not to defend himself—not because he couldn’t, but because of social norms, his responsibilities as a father, and his background in the military.

This dynamic has triggered discussions about the double standards in how aggression is viewed depending on gender and how a “real man” (真汉子) would and should respond in such a situation.

Some commenters suggested that the man “lost face” by being hit by a woman without fighting back, especially given his military background. Others argued the opposite, saying his restraint proved he truly was a “real man.”

Regardless, both perspectives agree that Chinese societal norms put the man in an unfair, vulnerable position.

Social Privilege

A major factor in the controversy revolves around social privilege. The woman’s entitled behavior—saying “So what if I hit you?” (“打你怎么了”)—and her driving a luxury 1.3 million yuan ($180,000) Range Rover with a Chanel logo contrasted sharply with Lin, a decommissioned soldier running a local guesthouse who was simply traveling with his children.

Many netizens saw this as a clear example of social class injustice, a power imbalance between a wealthy woman and a working-class man. Wang’s sense of entitlement allowed her to believe she could act violently without facing real consequences. The outrage was further amplified by Lin’s former military service, a profession meant to protect others, making the incident feel even more unjust.

Legal Disparities

Perhaps the biggest point of contention in the Land Rover Woman controversy is the perceived leniency of the punishment. The woman received 10 days of administrative detention and a small fine, but many netizens feel her actions amount to disorderly behavior (“picking quarrels and provoking trouble” 寻衅滋事罪), which has seen far harsher penalties in cases with less public impact.

The light sentence is viewed by many as a failure of the legal system to adequately address the severity of the incident, especially given the public nature of the attack and its broader social implications.

This has led to people seeking justice in their own ways. Some people started calling the Qingdao city hotline, directly expressing concerns to local authorities that the sentence given to ‘Land Rover Woman’ is too lenient. Others took matters into their own hands through digital vigilantism, attempting to track Wang’s whereabouts to ensure she was being properly detained. Earlier this week, her license plate went viral, with livestreamers filming her car as it was spotted in the streets.

Beyond the “Karen” Meme

As this incident has sparked online conversations about fairness and accountability, ‘Land Rover Woman’ has also become an internet meme.

With her black face mask, summer hat, long hair and white dress, she has become a recognizable figure, embodying the kind of woman everyone loves to hate. She’s poppping up in various photoshopped images and AI-generated videos. Even car stickers have been made featuring her image alongside the now infamous quote, “So what if I hit you?””¹

Various “Land Rover Woman” AI-generated images published on Xiaohongsu.

Car sticker “So What If I Hit You?”

‘Land Rover Woman’ is more than just the Chinese equivalent of the American “Karen” meme, which depicts a stereotypically entitled, middle-aged white woman who often complains or picks fights. Land Rover Woman is not just entitled and rich, she also embodies netizens’ frustration over what they see as an imbalance in how justice is applied across gender and social class.

‘Film poster’ published on Weibo: “逆行的血案“: “The Bloody Wrong-Way Incident”

Turning her into a meme has become a form of social critique. By making Land Rover Woman part of China’s larger digital discourse, it has also become a way for netizens to seek justice. For Wang, becoming an internet meme and a target of public outrage is likely to have a far greater impact on her daily life than a ten-day detention.

Miranda Barnes contributed to the compilation and interpretation of some topics featured in this newsletter. Ruixin Zhang has authored the ‘What’s Noteworthy’ section.

Personal Note: I’ll be traveling in China for the next two weeks, so the upcoming newsletter might arrive a bit later than usual. However, rest assured, I’ll return with fresh insights. Not long ago, I covered the ‘robotaxi revolution’ in Wuhan, now the world’s largest city for driverless taxis. I’ll be heading there to explore the latest AI trends and see the developments firsthand. Have any specific questions about robotaxis? Let me know!

Best,
Manya Koetse
(@manyapan)

¹ AI images from Xiaohongshu by AI老白, 忙到七点的麻辣香锅, 视野洞见PPT. Car sticker images by 小文分享.

What’s New

The Paralympic File | Following China’s golden success at the 2024 Paris Olympics, the spotlight now shifts to the Paralympics (残奥会), running from August 28 to September 8, 2024. While not as widely followed as the Olympics, the Paralympics still garnered significant attention on Chinese social media, where many athletes are celebrated not so much as national heroes, but as champions of their home regions.

Road Rage | What possessed the female driver of a Land Rover to drive against traffic, cut in line, and assault another driver? This incident has dominated trending topics on Chinese social media over the past week—not just because of the woman’s behavior, but also because of how the victim responded and the legal fallout. See article, video link included.

Bump in the Road | A viral court case in China has sparked debate after a female employee was fired shortly after announcing her pregnancy. While the company cited “poor performance,” the courts ruled in her favor. The case highlights the ongoing issue of pregnancy discrimination in Chinese workplaces, but also reveals the mixed feelings people have about women who may be seen as taking advantage of the system.

What’s Trending

 
🛑 Edible Oil Scandal Update & Goji Controversy

On August 25, China’s State Council Food Safety Office, alongside several other government agencies, released the results of their investigation into a cooking oil scandal that shocked the nation earlier this year. The scandal involved edible oil being transported in tankers that had previously carried chemicals and waste, raising serious food safety concerns. The investigation uncovered multiple violations of food safety laws across Hebei, Tianjin, Inner Mongolia, and Shaanxi, including failures to properly clean tankers before transporting food products and attempts to cover up these actions. Nationwide inspections reportedly have not found similar issues in other regions so far. The government has since imposed significant penalties, including a $400,000 fine on Sinograin Oil and a total of $1.1 million in fines on six other logistics and edible oil companies. Additionally, criminal charges have been filed against two drivers involved in the illegal activities.

While people are still concerned about the safety of their cooking oil, another food safety controversy has popped up again. CCTV-2 recently exposed that some merchants in Gansu have been illegally using industrial sulfur to fumigate goji berries to enhance their appearance and boost profits. Industrial sulfur, which contains high levels of arsenic, is not approved for food processing. Though the berries may look appealing, they are toxic, further fueling netizens’ fears about hidden dangers in other food products.

 
💍 Huang Zitao’s Three Years of Mourning

Chinese celebrity Huang Zitao (黄子韬) has been the center of attention lately. The former EXO member recently announced his engagement to fellow singer Xu Yiyang (徐艺洋). Both artists appeared on the reality show Dare Or Not, where Huang’s proposal to Xu was featured in the final episode. The couple had publicly confirmed their relationship in July, following years of dating rumors.

It has now come to light that Huang Zitao allegedly chose to observe a three-year mourning period in honor of his late father before announcing any major personal news. After the mourning period ended, he began preparing to publicly share his relationship and marriage plans. Huang’s father unexpectedly passed away in 2020, and the revelation about Huang observing a mourning period has sparked conversations about upholding traditional family values. However, some skeptical voices suggest that Huang is only using filial piety as a way to explain why he previously denied being in a relationship.

 
🙏 Man Killed at Gaomi Nightmarket

A shocking incident took place on August 28th in Gaomi (高密), a county-level city in eastern China’s Shandong Province. Videos shared online captured how a seemingly minor argument between two men at a night market escalated into a horrifying tragedy.

Initially, the altercation seemed minor, as a man argued with a market vendor who was there with his wife and child. However, the situation took a tragic turn when the man suddenly grabbed a large knife and fatally attacked the vendor in front of his family and numerous bystanders. The man was decapitated in the attack. Police have urged people to stop sharing videos of the incident. The attacker, a 36-year-old local, has been detained. Social media discussions have largely centered on the idea that the crime occurred in a moment of uncontrollable rage. While one life was lost and another family devastated, the lives of the wife and young son, who witnessed the horrific killing of their husband and dad, will be forever changed.

 
🐸 From Eyelid Surgery to Sad Frog

“How am I supposed to face people looking like this?” The story of a certain Ms. Yuan from Guiyang went top trending on Weibo recently. The Chinese woman spent 20,000 yuan ($2820) on a double eyelid surgery, a procedure that creates a crease in the upper eyelid to give the appearance of larger, more defined eyes – it’s very popular among women in East Asia for cosmetic reasons. However, in this case, the procedure turned out differently than expected.

The procedure was poorly executed and had created an overly wide crease, which gave the woman’s eyes a somewhat exaggerated, bulging appearance. “I look like a sad frog,” the woman told reporters. She made the news after filing an official complaint about the wide crease. The topic became popular because the “Sad frog” is a well-known online meme, but others also took this news as a warning: be careful about choosing a reputable clinic for cosmetic surgeries.

 
⚽ 0-7 Soccer Match Between China and Japan

One Weibo hashtag about China’s national soccer team losing 0-7 to Japan in the third round of the 2026 World Cup Asian qualifiers garnered over 360 million views in a single day on Thursday (#国足0比7日本#). Regardless of what is said about the spirit of sports, soccer inevitably gets dragged into the political arena, and in the case of China versus Japan, this match is particularly sensitive for Chinese audiences, bringing up associations of national pride linked to historical conflicts and more recent geopolitical tensions. Perhaps losing wasn’t the biggest issue, but losing with a 0-7 score—the biggest-ever loss to Japan in Chinese soccer—certainly was.

On Weibo, many found the outcome of the match unacceptable, not just because it was against Japan, but because they felt China’s overall performance was disappointing and ill-prepared for Japan’s attacking strategies. All things considered, 0-7 isn’t too bad—there was a trending match in 2014 during the Beijing Cup between Haidian and Fangshan junior teams that ended with a 47-0 score.

This article was first published by What’s on Weibo on Thursday August 29, 2024

This is a ‘dynamic file’ offering updates on trending topics and buzz related to China’s participation in the 2024 Paralympics in Paris.

After China’s golden success at the 2024 Paris Olympics, it’s time for the Paralympics (残奥会) from 28 August 2024 – 8 September 2024. Although not as popular as the Olympics, the start of the Paralympics was still a popular topic on Chinese social media, with the topic hitting the top trending lists on August 28-29.

China has sent a delegation of 284 athletes—126 men and 158 women—to compete in 302 events across 19 sports. For 95 of these athletes, it’s their Paralympic debut.

This article is a ‘live file’ to track the various relevant hashtags and discussions on Chinese social media surrounding the events. If you don’t see any current updates, refresh the page or check back a day later to see new additions.

August 28

🔹 Celebrating the Start of the Paralympics

The opening ceremony of the 2024 Paralympics on August 28 took place at the Place de la Concorde, featuring 500 performers and a parade celebrating the 128 competing nations.

The Chinese delegation was led by two flag bearers: female wheelchair fencer Gu Haiyan (辜海燕) and male weightlifter Qi Yongkai (齐勇凯).

What particularly attracted attention on Chinese social media is how the renowned actor and martial arts hero Jackie Chan participated in the Paralympic torch relay (#成龙传递巴黎残奥会火炬#). He carried the Paralympic flame through the city, and also found some time to pose for selfies. People seemed to especially appreciate how popular Jackie Chan is, not just in China but also among fans abroad. This even made it to the number one trending topic on Chinese short video app Kuaishou.

August 29

🔹 China’s First Paralympic Gold

🥇 The first gold of the 2024 Paralympics for China was won by para-cyclist Li Zhangyu (李樟煜) in the Men’s 3000 m Pursuit. Beyond winning gold, he also broke a world record, smashing the previous record by crossing the line in a time of 3’31”338, 11 seconds faster than his compatriot Liang Weicong (梁伟聪), who finished with a time of 3’42”468 and took the silver medal.

For the 36-year-old Li, this marks his fifth Paralympic gold. He previously won the 3000m Individual Pursuit event at Rio 2016, and also earned a silver at London 2012 and a bronze at Tokyo 2020.

Chinese state media celebrating the first Paralympic gold.

Li Zhangyu was born in 1988 in Nanshan Village, Zhejiang. Diagnosed with cerebral palsy as a child, he had difficulty walking and often fell. To help him, his father bought him a small bicycle at the age of five or six. This marked the beginning of Li’s cycling journey, which would eventually lead him to become a historic Paralympic champion.

 
🔹 China’s Second Paralympic Gold

🥇 Wang Xiaomei (王小梅) became the second Paralympic athlete to win gold for China in the women’s C1-3 3000m individual pursuit.

The 24-year-old athlete from Yunnan’s Dali set a new world record in the women’s C3 3000m individual pursuit with a time of 3:44.660. In the final, where she claimed gold, she broke the world record again with a time of 3:41.692.

Wang Xiaomei has congenital cerebral palsy, which primarily affects the right side of her body. Cycling has significantly improved her physical condition. She is widely recognized as an inspiration for the way she has faced her challenges and persevered, which has led her to where she is today.

 
🔹 Two Swimming Gold

August 29 also marked the start of the swimming events, with 46 athletes from the Chinese team participating.

🥇🥇 Chinese swimmer Chen Yi (陈怡) secured gold in the women’s 50m freestyle S10, while Jiang Yuyan (蒋裕燕) claimed gold in the women’s 50m freestyle S6.

As a result, on the first day of the Paralympic events, the Chinese sports delegation earned a total of 4 gold medals and 1 silver medal.

August 30

🔹 Zhou Xia’s Three-Time Gold

🥇 Chinese para-athlete Zhou Xia (周霞) grabbed another gold for China on Friday. In the women’s T35 100m final, she claimed her medal with a season-best time of 13.58 seconds.

Zhou in Paris (left), Tokyo (middle) and Rio (right).

For Zhou, it’s her third Olympic success; she previously also grabbed gold in Rio and Tokyo. Zhou suffers from muscular atrophy in her left leg and left hand due to a car accident.

 
🔹 Yang Hong’s World Record

🥇 It seems that China is breaking many world records at this Paralympics. The 24-year-old Yang Hong (杨洪) clinched the gold medal in the Para Swimming Men’s 200m Individual Medley at the La Défense Arena in Paris.

August 31

🔹 China Going Strong: 20 Gold Medals on Day Three

On the third day of the Paralympics, Team China is going at full speed, as its gold medal count is already up to 20! This also includes a few athletes who grabbed gold on the 30th.

With 42 medals in total, China is topping the Olympic ranking.

September 1

🔹 “The Paralympics Are About the Limits of the Mind”

How does the general Chinese audience feel about the Paralympics? On Weibo and other platforms, the event is generally receiving less attention that the Olympics, also because it generally is less popular, with less commercial value.

Nevertheless, many people do follow the Paralympics and are impressed by the athletes. “The Olympics are about the limits of the body, the Paralympics are about the limits of the mind,” one Weibo user wrote.

Another Weibo blogger wrote: “The level of attention for the Paralympic events is still very low. It would be great if they could go trending a bit more. I bet many people don’t even know that the Paralympics take place after the Olympics. There’s only one gold medal for each event, but all those who participate in the Paralympic Games are heroes, winners, and champions in their own lives!”

September 2

🔹 From Small Village to Para Archery Gold

🥇 Zhang Tianxin (张天鑫), from a small village in Jiaxing, claimed gold in the Mixed Team W1 Para Archery event on September 2, alongside teammate Chen Minyi (陈敏仪). The pair defeated the Czech team. This victory comes shortly after Zhang also secured a bronze medal on September 1.

Having started archery in 2017, Zhang previously won gold at both the Tokyo Paralympics and the Hangzhou Asian Para Games.

On social media, his achievements are celebrated by Pinghu, the county-level city in Jiaxing where Zhang’s hometown, Shanqinggang village, is located. Pinghu also created a special film featuring Zhang, highlighting the strength of Para athletes.

Watch the video here.

September 4

🔹 The First gold for Henan: Wang Jingang

🥇 On September 4, Henan athlete Wang Jingang (王金刚) won the gold medal in the men’s 50m butterfly S6 final at the Paris Paralympics with a time of 31.24 seconds. This victory was celebrated on social media as it marked Henan’s first Paralympic gold. Henan is not typically among the top-performing provinces in the Olympics.

Wang Jingang (王金刚) taking the first Paralympic gold for Henan. Image via Zhengzhou Weibo account @郑州发布.

At the Paris Olympics, Chinese athletes from Guangdong Province won the most medals, followed by those from Shanghai, Shandong, Zhejiang, and Jiangsu.
It’s notable that during the Paralympics, even more than the Olympics, athletes’ hometowns are enthusiastically celebrating their Paris medals. Their achievements are viewed not just as national victories, but as local triumphs, bringing pride and joy to their communities.

This is evident in places like Henan, celebrating Wang Jingang, and Pinghu, honoring Zhang Tianxin, among many others. Rather than being solely seen as national heroes, these Para athletes are embraced as regional champions.

 
🔹 Who is four-time Paralympic champion Jiang Yuyan?

🥇 Jiang Yuyan (蒋裕燕) is one of the most discussed and popular Paralympic champions in China these days. She is also nicknamed the “Flying Fish with Broken Wings” (折翼飞鱼).

The Zhejiang-born athlete first claimed gold in Para Swimming in the women’s 50m freestyle, then went on to win another gold in the 50m butterfly. She added a third gold in the mixed event and secured a fourth on September 4th in the women’s 100m freestyle.

Jiang celebrated by Chinese official accounts.

Jiang began her professional athletic career in 2017, competing in national para events as part of the provincial team. She reportedly trains for at least six hours a day, with a key focus on maintaining balance, as she is missing her right arm and right leg.

As a preschooler, Jiang was involved in a car accident that resulted in the loss of her right hand and leg. To prevent muscle atrophy and aid her recovery, her mother enrolled her in a summer swimming class.

From the moment she entered the water, Jiang fell in love with swimming. She told reporters: “Fish have a tail, and I have a leg. In the water, I can enjoy freedom.”

September 5

🔹 Blind Soccer

While everyone’s focused on China’s national soccer team losing 0-7 to Japan in the 2026 World Cup Asian qualifiers, there’s a more successful story in Chinese soccer. China’s Blind Soccer team triumphed 1-0 against Morocco at the Paralympics, a victory that continues to be celebrated online despite the national team’s loss to Japan.

September 6

🔹 China’s Paralympic Success

With two days left before the end of the Paralympics, China is far ahead in the medal rankings with 186 medals, including 82 gold. The UK, in second place, lags behind with 100 medals, of which 42 are gold.

For both the Olympics and Paralympics, much of China’s sports success is often viewed by looking back at how far the country has come since it first participated in 1984.

In the Paralympics, China’s winning streak has continued since 2012, when Team China first took the top position.

Although China has seen great success in the Paralympics, and much like the Olympics, this success is tied to its rise on the global stage. However, it hasn’t led to more discussion on systemic issues around disability. The focus remains more on individuals overcoming challenges rather than addressing broader issues.[1]

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As the Paralympics are ending, more updates following soon to wrap up this article! (I’m out traveling a bit so please bear with me.
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By Manya Koetse

Follow @whatsonweibo

[1] Also see: Liu Yang & Zhongxuan Lin (2023) The national hero, the supercrip, and the self-reliant figure: Paralympic champions on China Central Television’s sports channel, Sport in Society, 26:9, 1477-1491, DOI: 10.1080/17430437.2022.2147064

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