Trending Now: China’s Social Media Highlights (#12 January 2026 – 18 January 2026#)

Weibo | Commemorative Currency Frenzy, Spring Festival Rail Upgrades, and Export Growth Signals

Source: BENDIBAO

1) “Year of the Horse” Commemorative Coin Rush Triggers Sell-Outs and Scalping Debate

Pre-booking for 2026 Horse Year commemorative coins/notes sold out nationwide within minutes, sparking discussion around bank-system overload, scalper automation and inflated resale pricing in China’s collectibles market. Read more ->

2) China Railway Expands “Light Travel” Luggage Delivery Ahead of Chunyun Peak

China Railway Express is scaling its “Light Travel” baggage handling service to 111 stations (adding 92) from 15 January, supporting Spring Festival rail travellers with door-to-station and station-to-door options within a 35km range. Read more ->

3) National Rail Timetable Update Adds Capacity and Fuels Spring Festival Mobility Talk

From 26 January, China’s new rail timetable lifts scheduled passenger services to 12,130 trains (adding 243) and freight to 23,748 (adding 177), strengthening cross-regional connectivity and easing peak-season transport pressure. Read more ->

4) “Made-in-China” Exports Gain Momentum with Tech, Green and Cultural Upgrading Narratives

China’s 2025 exports reportedly rose 6.1% to RMB 26.99 trillion, with attention on higher-value segments such as industrial robots (+48.7%), high-end machine tools (+21.5%) and lithium batteries (+26.2), reinforcing global demand for tech-and-green supply chains. Read more ->

Douyin | Cold-Wave Alerts, Cambodia Visa-Free Trial, and “Silver Economy” Policy Tailwinds

Source: XINHUANET

1) China Issues Yellow Cold-Wave Alert as Temperatures Drop Sharply Nationwide

A new cold surge is forecast to drive 6–10°C declines (up to 16°C locally) across parts of central and southern China, pushing weather-risk search spikes tied to commuting, travel safety and winter consumption. Read more ->

2) Cambodia Announces Visa-Free Trial for Chinese Travellers from June 2026

Cambodia’s 4-month pilot (15 June–15 October 2026) enables Chinese citizens to enter visa-free for up to 14 days, supporting SEO themes such as “Southeast Asia visa-free” and “summer outbound travel planning”. Read more ->

3) China’s “Silver Economy” Policies Spotlight Care Robotics and Workforce Gaps

New multi-agency measures promote eldercare service providers and tech adoption (including robotics and exoskeletons), amid data points such as 310 million people aged 60+ (end-2024) and an estimated 5.5 million caregiver shortfall. Read more ->

Xiaohongshu | Chunyun Convenience Services, Flight Disruptions, Visa-Free Philippines, and Snow Tourism

1) “Light Travel” Rail Service Expands to 111 Stations for Spring Festival Journeys

Xiaohongshu users are amplifying practical Chunyun tips as China Railway’s luggage delivery service scales to 111 stations, reducing heavy-baggage friction for long-distance rail travel. Read more ->

2) Shanghai Pudong Airport Delays Surge Under Heavy Fog Conditions

Real-time disruption content spreads quickly as PVG reported 360+ delayed and 150+ cancelled flights (as of 16 Jan 14:40), driving search demand around “flight delay updates” and “travel contingency planning”. Read more ->

3) Philippines Visa-Free Entry for Chinese Citizens Boosts Short-Haul Island Trip Interest

From 16 January 2026, Chinese travellers can enter visa-free for up to 14 days via Manila and Cebu, strengthening “SEA weekend breaks” and “last-minute outbound travel” planning discussions. Read more ->

4) Weihai Snow “Immersion Trips” Go Viral as Southern Tourists Chase Winter Experiences

User-generated stories of first-time snow travellers in Weihai are lifting “snow tourism” and “north China winter trips” keywords, reflecting the continued appeal of seasonal, experience-led domestic travel. Read more ->

Baidu | China–Canada Engagement, Viral “Cry-Cry Horse” Toy, and Beijing Airport Snow Alerts

Source: LIANHEZAOBAO

1) China–Canada Talks Renew Attention on Bilateral Stability and Cooperation

Search interest clusters around high-level China–Canada engagement and policy messaging, reinforcing SEO angles like “China–Canada relations” and “strategic partnership”. Read more ->

2) “Cry-Cry Horse” Plush Turns a Production Mistake into a Scalable Viral Product

A “mis-stitched” horse toy went viral as a “hidden edition”, with production lines reportedly expanding from 2 to ~15 and domestic orders queued to March 2026, highlighting China’s fast trend-to-supply conversion. Read more ->

3) Beijing Capital Airport Flags First Snowfall of 2026 with Potential Flight Impacts

Weather warnings for an extended snow event are driving searches for “flight updates” and “de-icing delays”, underscoring winter operational risk as travel demand rises. Read more ->

Zhihu | Spring Festival Sentiment, Senior Fitness Risk, and Philippines Visa-Free Implications

1) “New Year Feels Less Festive”: Why Spring Festival Sentiment Is Shifting

Zhihu discussions connect “weaker New Year atmosphere” to compressed holidays, work intrusion and rising family responsibilities—an SEO-relevant lens on “holiday sentiment” and “lifestyle change”. Read more ->

2) Senior Exercise Debate Highlights Strength Training as a Fall-Prevention Priority

Users cite fall-risk data (urban ~10%, rural near 20%) to argue that resistance training and balance work should complement walking and square dancing, reflecting growing interest in “healthy ageing” content. Read more ->

3) Philippines Visa-Free: Short-Trip and Island Holiday Demand Expected to Rebound

Visa-free entry from 16 January (up to 14 days via Manila/Cebu) is framed as removing time-cost friction for short breaks and business visits, with discussion also noting 2019’s ~1.7m Chinese visitors as a reference point for recovery potential. Read more ->