Hello from Shunyi again where we are supposed to be looking at tech, marketing, business and social media in China making “News.” However, July is turning out to be our bete noir as, once again, this weeks top news focuses on finance, economics and generally themes outside our scope. So we look briefly at a couple of smart phone brands making news, retail on Beijing subway, the good old weather and end of Bitcoin in China- well, it is sort of techish! ,
The Fall of China’s Bitcoin Mining
As we said, not something we usually focus on, but for some time now China has been closing down and squeezing out Bitcoin miners. If memory serves us it actually began a year back in Mongolia, China picked up the ball and ran with it.
Partially under the name of ecology – Bitcoin mining uses tens of thousands of energy hungry, high revving computers all needing equally energy hungry air conditioning which together consume enormous amounts of power. With China supporting the global move to green data centres, having these on her doorstep was not a good look.
Another reason of course, is the substantial effort China is making toward empowering the RMB on the global stage. China’s reserve bank is itself also moving towards digital currency with several banks in different regions trialling it in various forms. There can only be one!
If this interests you and you’d like to know more we recommend this long read from our friends at Caixin Premium: In Depth: The Fall of China’s Last Bitcoin Mining Haven.
China Smartphone News
First up, but for no particular reason, Chinese smartphone-maker Vivo and Shanghai-based delivery company Dada Group will enable within the hour delivery of Vivo phones purchased on Dada’s on demand e-com platform. Although why one would want an urgent delivery of a smart phone is beyond us. Chocolate well yes and tea of course, but a phone?
What we did note was the company apparently uses a;
“recommendation system that uses big data and algorithms to provide interested users with products, thus helping vendors selling goods on JDDJ boost sales.”
Dada representative
This peaked our interest as recent news in China has focused around the Gvts war on tech brands using and abusing customers data with algorithmic formulae to unfairly compete in or corner various markets. Not to mention exploitation of delivery guys + gals, woe betide if they are 30 seconds outside the hour. We are curious to see how long before this venture catches Gvt’s eye. You can read the full story here: Over 500 Official Authorized Vivo Stores Launch on Dada Group’s JDDJ courtesy of Bloomberg.
Sticking with humanity’s addiction to those shiny bits of black plastic things, China’s old smartphone brand Honor is on a comeback. Those of you with long memories may recall that Honor was part of the Huawei livery until it was cut lose circa 2020. Want more details? Smartphone Brand Honor Makes a Comeback After Being Ditched by Huawei courtesy of Caixin. free.
Beijing Subways go 7/11
Ok, yes, we admit it, struggling to fill in a page here. But we can claim legitimacy by noting that – some – Beijing subway stations are now as from this week, also businesses. Convenience stores no less. No? Located currently at least on lines 5, 6 and 7 they are a trifle out of our way so we have not had time to test them- yet. But hopefully Everlyne will bravely venture out next month .
We’ve used 7/ 11 in our heading but not really. They are part of the JD push into off line retail. Lines 6 and 7 are located south of the Forbidden City, running East West, or West East if you like, parallel to the old, original line one. Line 5 runs North South, yes, yes, the other way too. Sort of down the middle of Beijing, if you will, in that it bisects line 1 at Dongdan. And that’s a just a stroll from Wangfujing and the tourist retail mecca – as you can see on China Travel Guide’s Beijing Subway Map.. We finish with a few images from the good old China Daily: Beijing subway stations open convenience stores.
Quick China News Links
To round off China business related but maybe not so focused news a couple of links from Caixin premium that may interest you:
South China Coal Power Giant Makes Yet Another Big Bet on Solar
China’s Top Court Rules Facial Recognition Without Consent Is Illegal in Civil Cases
This article is especially interesting as currently, many places such as banks, hospitals shopping malls and even residential compounds are installing face recognition technology
The Rain in Spain ……
Yes, we know, we have punned this to death already. But, as around the rest of the world, the rain keeps on falling in China. We tend to expect the seasonal monsoons to play havoc in south China, especially in the rural areas where, sadly deaths are not unusual.
It is however, less usual for today’s modern, bigger cities to be caught short. As was the case in Zhengzhou: capital city of Henan province where 14 people died when a subway flooded. Big cities are often criticised for being cold, sterile impersonal, but the Zhengzhou tragedy shows that even big cities have a heart and soul. Sadly it takes something like this to bring it out. We will leave you with some images of peoples tributes to the victims. Gallery: Mourning the Zhengzhou Subway Victims
TAKE CARE OUT THERE, STAY SAFE.
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