China Digital Digest Weekly: Exploring the Chinese Digital Landscape
- ClickInsights
- 3 days ago
- 4 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. Alibaba Cloud Rolls Out “Ultimate Coding Plan” Featuring Four Leading Open-Source Models
Alibaba Cloud’s Model Studio has introduced its most advanced Coding Plan yet, granting API access to four high-performance open-source models– Qwen3.5, GLM-5, MiniMax M2.5, and Kimi K2.5.
Under a single subscription, users can seamlessly switch between models instead of being restricted to just one, ensuring improved stability and substantially higher token allowances. At present, Alibaba Cloud stands as the only global cloud provider to offer a multi-model coding subscription of this kind. The entry-level Coding Plan Lite package supports up to 18,000 requests per month and is available to new users at an introductory price of USD 1 for the first month.
2. Qwen to Launch AI Glasses, Earbuds, and Ring
Alibaba’s personal AI assistant Qwen will reportedly enter the AI hardware space in 2026, with plans to launch AI glasses, AI earbuds, and an AI ring for the global market.
Among them, Qwen AI Glasses are expected to debut at Mobile World Congress 2026. To enhance the user experience across devices, functions currently available in the Qwen app– such as food delivery and ride-hailing– will be seamlessly integrated into these upcoming hardware products. Alibaba had already tested consumer AI hardware in 2025: the Quark team released AI glasses, while DingTalk launched its AI recording device DingTalk A1.
3. Alipay’s “AI Pay” Surpasses 100 Million Active Users
Alipay has announced that its innovative payment product, AI Pay, has officially surpassed 100 million active users, with weekly transactions exceeding USD 17.47 million.
Alipay says AI Pay delivers more than just ease of use– it also strengthens customer loyalty. Users who engage in voice-based shopping are more likely to return, reinforcing repeat usage. Powered by insights from millions of interactions, the system continuously refines its accuracy. Merchants gain as well, receiving higher-quality leads from customers who have clearly expressed their purchase intent.
4. JD.Com Renews On-Demand Delivery Fight With US$2.9 Billion in Grocery Subsidies
JD.com is making a renewed push into its online supermarket business with a subsidy programme worth more than 20 billion yuan (US$2.9 billion) over three years, a move aimed at defending its position in China’s e-commerce and on-demand grocery sectors.
JD.com said the subsidy would cover products on a dedicated channel called “Billion-Yuan Supermarket”, under its JD Supermarket service. The aim was to help vendors generate an additional 200 billion yuan in sales over the next three years. JD Supermarket has experienced rapid growth, with the growth rate of users and orders exceeding 20 percent in 2025, the company said, without revealing specific figures.
5. Meituan Debuts “Fantuan Comics,” Expanding into AI-Driven Motion Comics
Meituan has introduced a new motion comic feature, “Fantuan Comics,” within its flagship app, signaling its official move into the rapidly expanding motion comic (manhua drama) market.
The section combines traditional motion comics with AI-generated content, all offered free to users. With this launch, Meituan joins a growing list of major Chinese tech players competing in the increasingly crowded digital comic drama arena. Fantuan Comics spans a broad mix of popular genres, from youth romance and historical fantasy to urban narratives and post-apocalyptic storylines. The catalog includes series ranging from just a handful of episodes to over 40, with several titles already attracting significant viewership.
6. Tencent Closes Montreal Studio
Tencent’s TiMi Studio Group has reportedly shut down its Montreal studio in Canada, with multiple former employees confirming the closure on social media.
The Montreal studio was established in 2021 under the leadership of Ashraf Ismail, former creative director of the Assassin’s Creed franchise. It was TiMi’s third major North American development hub after Los Angeles and Seattle. At launch, the studio aimed to develop large-scale, open-world titles with AAA production quality. However, over five years, it did not release an original title, gradually shifting its focus to development and localization work for games such as Pokemon Unite and Call of Duty Mobile.
7. Rarely Seen Shein Founder Praises Guangdong ‘Roots’ as Offshore Listing Stalls
Xu Yangtian, the low profile founder and chairman of online retail giant Shein, recently made his first-ever public appearance, praising southern Guangdong province’s role in the company’s global success.
Xu praised the “complete industrial ecosystem” in the region from apparel manufacturing to logistics, as well as the “first-class business environment” provided by local officials. He also said that “serving the high-quality development of Guangdong’s manufacturing sector” was regarded as the company’s “core mission”.
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.
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