Stories from China

In the first quarter of 2026, China's insurance industry achieved a premium income of 2.31 trillion yuan, a 6.2% increase year-on-year. Payouts during the same period reached 0.89 trillion yuan, up 7.5% compared to the previous year. China's economic growth has slowed since September of last year, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics. China's insurance industry committee has proposed a projected interest rate of 1.93% for ordinary personal insurance products in the first quarter of 2026. The current predicted interest rate for ordinary personal life insurance products in China is 1.93%, a decrease of 0.04 percentage points. China's ordinary life insurance rate has seen its first increase since the Insurance Association of China announced its projected interest rate research in 2025. This growth indicates a potential shift in consumer behavior or market conditions.

CLS Finance has published a guide explaining how consumers can take advantage of 'wool-gathering' opportunities with general repurchase agreements during the May Day holiday.

Gibel announced a net profit of 41.9942 million yuan for the first quarter of 2026. This represents a year-on-year decrease of 15.21%. The company's operating income for the same period was also detailed. Huarong Shares announced a 2025 net profit of 370 million yuan, representing a year-on-year decrease of 19.99 percent. The company reported operating income of 3.218 billion yuan for the period.

Mr. China's Ministry of Tourism is initiating measures to address illegal sales within the tourist market. One individual invested 108,000 yuan for glove machines, expecting returns over three to four months. However, the actual income was only around 5,000 yuan due to merchants deducting 10% to 20% of the price for alleged quality issues. The scam involved approximately 20,000 pairs of gloves with a recycling price of 0.38 yuan per pair. Chinese authorities are cracking down on the sale of scam glove machines, which are often refurbished or used with low production capacity and frequent malfunctions. Many glove machines are refurbished or second-hand, with low production capacity and frequent faults, but are rented out at high prices. Processors are often unable to produce large quantities of gloves, and companies may refuse to buy back gloves as promised.

Lai Junheng, deputy secretary-general of the Guangdong Provincial Fast Charging Industry Association, advised consumers on how to identify counterfeit charging heads.

The culture of Hui'an women in China is evolving, with women increasingly engaging in tourism, art activities, and entrepreneurship. Historically known for their resilience while men were at sea, they are now establishing guesthouses and art bases. Different towns within Hui'an county have distinct clothing styles, reflecting regional variations.

Since the Canton Fair, foreign merchant visits to the Guangzhou Beijing Road store have increased by 5% compared to the same period last year. Guangzhou's mall has equipped bilingual guides and promotional information across its premises. The 2026 Beijing International Auto Show has attracted global attention, with a foreign automotive blogger organizing a tour for international enthusiasts to experience China's automotive industry transformation. Visitors were impressed by the high-tech and affordable models, questioning market access barriers in some overseas markets. The blogger's channel, 'Wheels on Fire,' has a large international following, particularly from the US, who express regret over not being able to access these vehicles.

Chinese kitchen hoods are inefficient and waste energy because users do not operate them correctly. Consumers often wait until oil pans are smoking before turning on the hood and turn it off too soon after cooking to save electricity. The hoods are designed for cooking methods that produce less oil smoke than typical Chinese cuisine.

Searches for Guangzhou as a travel destination have increased by 116% compared to the previous month, as of April 26th. Search interest for Guangzhou as a destination has increased by 116% compared to last month, according to Tongcheng Travel platform data as of April 26. The Guangzhou Tower tourist area has upgraded its cultural and tourism services to attract international visitors.

China has strongly criticized a European Union plan aimed at bolstering its industries against competition from China. Beijing has vowed to deploy countermeasures if the scheme is enacted. The EU unveiled the new plan this month.