author

 
 

Meta

Sophie Yu
China's 15-day visa-free policy is giving tourism a huge boost, with bookings from eligible countries surging 150% and attracting millions of visitors post-pandemic.
ASIA PACIFIC
Jul 17, 2024
China strives to lure foreign tourists, but it's a hard sell for some
The recent surge in tourism comes after China closed its borders in early 2020 to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, and kept them shut until the start of 2023.
Passengers look at the tarmac as they wait for flights at Beijing Capital International Airport on April 20.
BUSINESS
Jun 17, 2024
Chinese outbound travel recovery lags due to costs and visa snags
Chinese people took 87 million trips abroad last year, down 40% from pre-COVID 2019.
A Starbucks coffee shop in Beijing on May 22
BUSINESS
May 27, 2024
In China, Starbucks tries to avoid price war but gets dragged into discounting
A coffee price war in China has arisen amid persistent deflation, weak consumer sentiment, and stagnant wages.
Visa-free access for Chinese tourists to Southeast Asia countries boosted traffic and signaled a robust revival in travel since Beijing lifted strict COVID-19 restrictions in early 2023 that had all but shut China's borders for three years.
BUSINESS / Economy
Feb 21, 2024
Chinese tourists flock to Southeast Asia as travel bounces back
The increase provides welcome relief to countries that rely on the Chinese and their spending.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Apr 27, 2023
Jobless young Chinese seek solace in temples and tale of failed scholar
Despondent young worshippers crowd temples in China on weekends, as they pray to find jobs in an economy slowly clawing its way back from the coronavirus pandemic.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / ANALYSIS
Nov 22, 2022
China's great reopening may come too late for many businesses
China, the last among major countries not treating COVID-19 as endemic, this month unveiled 20 new steps that eased its stringent anti-COVID policies.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy / ANALYSIS
Jul 27, 2022
Crisis of confidence stifles China's economic recovery
Consumer and business confidence slumps in China as strict curbs aimed at stamping out COVID-19 undercut a recovery in the world's second-largest economy and dent global growth.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / ANALYSIS
Dec 22, 2021
China puts regulatory spotlight on livestream retail boom
Viya, dubbed the country's 'queen of livestreaming,' had her e-commerce and social media accounts shut down after she was fined more than $200 million for tax evasion.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Dec 11, 2020
In China men's skin care boom, startups and investors seek rich glow
Already the biggest in the world, the Chinese men's facial skin care market is forecast to hit 12.5 billion yuan ($1.90 billion) this year — and expand 50% by 2025.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jun 9, 2020
Robust sales in China keep Uniqlo owner Fast Retailing on top amid pandemic
With much of Asia having subdued the spread of COVID-19, Fast Retailing is seeing trade return to its Uniqlo stores.

Longform

Construction takes place on the Takanawa Gateway Convention Center in Tokyo, slated to open in 2025.
A boom for business tourism in Japan?