China Digital Digest Weekly: Exploring the Chinese Digital Landscape
- ClickInsights
- 14 hours ago
- 3 min read
Hi folks, we are back with our weekly edition of China’s Digital Digest, wherein we bring you weekly updates on China’s digital space. The report takes a quick glance at China’s complex and rapidly evolving social media landscape by providing updates on the latest happenings across the social media industry. Here are the major highlights of the report.
1. ByteDance Denies Auto-Making Plans
ByteDance denied market rumors that it is co-developing vehicles with automakers, saying the claims are false and that the company has no plans to build cars.
This is not the first time ByteDance has rejected such speculation. On July 29 last year, reports circulated online claiming that Volcano Engine, ByteDance’s cloud and AI services platform, was preparing a so-called “Doubao Car.” In response, a Volcano Engine spokesperson said that the information was purely a rumor. While Volcano Engine provides efficient algorithm training platforms for automotive clients, it has no plans to enter the intelligent driving business itself.
2. Douyin Breaks Ground on Second Headquarters in Shenzhen
ByteDance is establishing a second headquarters for its Douyin business in Shenzhen, according to a local government announcement, further deepening its footprint in one of China’s most important technology hubs.
The new site will support research and development for Douyin, Jinri Toutiao, digital payments, and new AI SaaS service centers, with a particular focus on robotics-related applications. The company acquired land use rights for a 9,508-square-meter plot in Nanshan district for 965 million yuan (US$135 million) through two subsidiaries.
3. Xiaohongshu Tests Paid Notes Feature
Xiaohongshu is reportedly rolling out an internal test of a paid notes feature, allowing creators to charge readers directly for content deemed to have sufficient value.
The monetization model currently includes three main formats, covering most mainstream content types. The first is paid downloads of high-resolution original images, aimed primarily at photographers, illustrators, and wallpaper designers. The second format is pay-per-note reading, suitable for creators producing in-depth tutorials, industry insights, long-form essays, or fiction. The third option is paid access to note collections, designed mainly for serialized content.
4. Kuaishou’s AI Video Model Kling Sees Strong Overseas Adoption, Shares Surge
Kuaishou Technology’s AI video generation model, Kling, is gaining momentum across international social platforms, driven by the popularity of its new “Motion Control” feature.
Launched in December 2025, Kling 2.6 marked a major upgrade with single-pass audio-video generation, along with new capabilities such as the Image O1 model and Kling Digital Human 2.0. Data from Sensor Tower shows the Kling app topping the Graphics & Design download charts in South Korea and Singapore, while ranking second by revenue in the United States. The growing overseas traction boosted investor sentiment, sending Kuaishou’s Hong Kong-listed shares up more than 11% in a single trading session.
5. Baidu Plans Spin-Off of Kunlunxin Chip Unit for Independent Hong Kong Listing
Baidu Group has announced that Kunlunxin Technology had submitted a listing application to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on January 1 through its joint sponsors. Following the proposed spin-off, Kunlunxin is expected to remain a subsidiary of Baidu.
Public information shows that Kunlunxin is an AI chip company incubated within Baidu, formerly known as Baidu’s Intelligent Chip and Architecture Division. The company focuses on the design and production of general-purpose AI chips and completed its first round of external financing in April 2021, at a valuation of approximately $1.86 billion.
6. Unitree Technology and JD Open First Offline Store in Beijing
Unitree Technology has partnered with JD.com to launch its first offline store at JD Mall Beijing Shuangjing.
The store features Unitree’s G1 humanoid robot, Go2 robotic dog, and other products, allowing visitors to experience and purchase on-site, or scan a QR code to order via the official mini-program with options for in-store pickup or JD home delivery. Unitree already operates an official online flagship store on JD Mall, offering G1, R1 humanoid robots, and Go2 robotic dogs.
Wrapping Up
The vast and diverse nature of the Chinese Social Media space makes it incredibly challenging to keep a tab on the rapid developments taking place. However, China’s Digital Digest brings you all the latest updates from there to keep you abreast of all the evolving trends.
To delve deeper into the findings of our latest report, click here.