A few things on my radar #7
Korean Tourists; TikTok Refugees; Coffee Equipment; BYD
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Korean Tourists
Shanghai locals staged a luxury car display in response to Korean tourists' comments
Following South Korea's visa-free policy expansion and increased tourism to Shanghai, some Korean visitors' comments about the city's lack of luxury cars triggered a backlash from wealthy locals, reported by dotdotnews.
In response, wealthy locals organized a luxury car parade along Wukang Road, a popular tourist destination for Korean visitors. The event ignited widespread support online, local tourists and netizens, with the tacit approval of police, are cheering for those tycoons driving luxury cars — seeing it as a patriotic defense of national pride.
"We cannot let Koreans look down on us and leave with a sense of superiority," one popular comment declared.
While many media outlets argue this response is immature - national pride is natural, but, flaunting wealth to visitors may alienate rather than welcome tourists - most Chinese people strongly support this action, and even finding more joy in watching the luxury auto show freely.
Following years of crackdowns on displays of wealth, affluent individuals in China have generally maintained a low profile. However, such wealth-flaunting exhibition on Wukang Road received unprecedented public support, with police even managing crowds to ensure orderly proceedings. This was likely because authorities viewed the event as a peaceful patriotic demonstration of national economic success and a reasonable response to foreign provocations, which fit their general diplomat strategy.
TikTok Refugees
Chinese users warmly welcome TikTok refugees flocking to RedNote
RedNote users welcomed over 700,000 "TikTok refugees" from the U.S. with selfies and messages, as a potential TikTok ban looms over the app's 170 million American users, said Reuters.
The influx of US users to RedNote has created an unprecedented space for Chinese and American cultural exchange. Despite tense official relations, China-US people connected naturally through casual online exchanges, sharing happiness, humor and warmth. These direct interactions helped Americans see authentic Chinese life while Chinese users experienced American friendliness firsthand, bypassing political narratives and media stereotypes, said the Diplomat.
The TikTok refugee phenomenon highlights how regular citizens can bridge divides. While government restrictions have limited economic and technological exchanges, these spontaneous cultural connections on RedNote show how people-to-people relationships can transcend political barriers and shape meaningful cross-cultural understanding.
While this warm atmosphere may be temporary - neither China nor the US will stand idly by - the US may ban RedNote for the same reasons as TikTok, and Refugess may leave due to the serious censorship by the CCP - witnessing people from China and abroad connect online for the first time has been remarkable. In these interactions, we share laughter over jokes, feel moved by the same music, and connect through our daily struggles. These moments reveal our shared humanity and prove there's no fundamental reason for division.
I just hope these authentic connections continue to flourish.
Coffee Equipment
Chinese coffee equipment brands are rapidly expanding their global presence beyond domestic markets
In 2023, Chinese coffee machine exports reached 95.5 million units (US$2.1 billion). 80% of global coffee equipment is now manufactured in China, said 36Kr.
While European and American brands like Mahlkönig and La Marzocco have long led the high-end coffee equipment market, Chinese manufacturers are now applying their tech expertise to create competitive quality products globally, said Coffee Intelligence , an industry media outlet.
Western and Japanese brands have traditionally commanded premium prices based on their reputation. However, this strategy is becoming harder to maintain as Chinese manufacturers now offer similar quality products at significantly lower prices.
Chinese coffee tool brands like Timemore, which produces manual grinders and kettles, and Anysort, which makes affordable optical coffee sorting equipment, are expanding into foreign markets through strategic product offerings. The former is priced around $70, while the latter costs only $10,000, both far below similar product in the global market.
This shift may benefit coffee enthusiasts everywhere — consumers, café owners, and roasters will have more affordable and practical products to choose from, but it is also a warning call to all international coffee brands, particularly specialty coffee players, to innovate to maintain their competitive edge.
China's coffee industry growth extends beyond its vast number of coffee shops. Leveraging decades of manufacturing expertise, Chinese coffee equipment production has risen steadily and even expanded into international markets.
Many prestigious specialty coffee brands and top baristas worldwide now use Chinese coffee tools—from high-end single-dose grinders like the $2,500 FM Grinder (rivaling the Mahlkönig EK43) to basic items like the $30 MHM Bomber milk pitcher. This shows how Chinese brands can produce quality equipment that stands toe-to-toe with global manufacturers in the coffee enthusiast market.
However, reviews of Chinese coffee tools aren't universally positive. For example, James Hoffman, a leading coffee influencer, tested various AliExpress coffee products and criticized an espresso cup that completely missed the mark - with a strange, chubby design that had nothing to do with espresso cup dimensions. This revealing example shows how some Chinese manufacturers still lack fundamental coffee industry knowledge.
Clearly, China's coffee manufacturing industry is growing rapidly, but quality standards vary widely between manufacturers. The industry must improve its professional standards to meet international requirements. For overseas consumers interested in Chinese-made coffee tools, the safest approach is to choose brands with proven domestic reputations—otherwise, as James Hoffman discovered, purchasing can be risky.
Note: If you're a casual home brewer, I highly recommend the Timemore C2 Grinder, an entry-level grinder perfect for filter coffee at home or outdoors. While its flavor layers and complexity don't match the C40, and its sweetness strength can't compete with the Ditting 807 Sweetlab, it still produces clear notes of acidity and sweetness with a great balance. Best of all — it costs just one-fifth of what you'd pay for a C40, making it perfect for beginners.
BYD
This week, China's BYD has just entered South Korean EV market with a competitive pricing strategy
BYD enters South Korea with its Atto 3 electric SUV, priced at $21,700-25,500. With government subsidies, prices may drop to around $15,000 - half its US/Europe cost, reports Korea Herald.
It’s the lowest price for the model outside of China and is cheaper than almost all offerings from Hyundai and KIA, the domestic powerhouses that dominate the market, said Bloomberg.
BYD plans to launch the Atto 3 with preorders starting Thursday and mid-February deliveries, followed by two more models later this year - the Seal sedan and Sealion SUV — without disclosing prices.
Prior to entering South Korea, BYD had already achieved a major milestone by outselling Toyota in EV sales in Japan for the first time — BYD saw 54% growth last year, while the Japanese EV market declined by 33%.
In 2024, BYD is providing emergency EV power to Japanese shelters and hospitals through 10 dealerships, while partnering with Keihan Bus and Kansai Electric Power to support Japan's 2050 carbon goals.
With EVs making up only a small share of total vehicle sales, Japan and South Korea lag behind in global EV adoption. To succeed in these markets, BYD must both drive its own growth and work with local governments to accelerate broader EV adoption. This will likely require sufficient patience and commitment.