Economic Recovery
Economy
How Guangzhou and Shenzhen weathered Trump’s tariff storm
Guangzhou and Shenzhen, manufacturing and technology engines of Guangdong province, were hard-hit by Trump 2.0 tariffs, but they managed to bounce back or even hold steady with resilience under pressure. Economics professor Jiang Kun gives her analysis in ThinkChina’s Eye on Guangdong series.
Jiang Kun
26 Aug 2026
Economy
Zero self-sufficient provinces: China’s new fiscal reality
Data shows no province in China was able to fully cover its own spending in the first quarter, highlighting growing dependence on central government transfers as tax revenues become increasingly concentrated in Beijing. Lianhe Zaobao associate China news editor Chen Jing finds out more.
Chen Jing
29 Jul 2026
Society
[Big read] Why China’s viral cities rise fast and fade faster
As local governments in China bank on becoming the next viral sensation to revive local economies, experts warn that turning short-term internet hype into sustainable growth is a steep climb. Lianhe Zaobao journalist Zeng Shi tells us more.
Zeng Shi
17 Jun 2026
Economy
China’s housing market flashes signs of life in core cities
China’s property market shows signs of life with sharp luxury project rebounds in Shenzhen and Shanghai. Yet this fragile recovery remains highly uneven; mid-tier markets still languish while growth relies heavily on bargain hunters.
Caixin Global
05 Jun 2026
Economy
Deflation: Beijing’s blind spot or its strategy?
China’s deflation reflects both weak demand and deliberate industrial strategy. But the model depends on consumption eventually catching up, raising questions over sustainability and regional spillovers for Southeast Asia. Researcher Genevieve Donnellon-May explains.
Genevieve Donnellon-May
18 May 2026
Economy
Why China’s finances are weaker than they seem
While China has outlined an expansionary macroeconomic strategy, researcher Amit Kumar dives into the fiscal data that show the severe limitations of China’s fiscal capacity, such as a declining national budget revenue and high debt burden.
Amit Kumar
19 Mar 2026
Economy
China’s confidence campaign: Can slogans solve economic woes?
Beijing urges the media to “sing loudly” about growth, but empty malls, job struggles and property woes show confidence must rest on real economic fundamentals, not rhetoric, says Lianhe Zaobao China news editor Yang Danxu.
Yang Danxu
18 Mar 2026
Economy
China enters the 4% growth era: Stability over speed
Amid rising global uncertainty and frequent international trade frictions, the Chinese government’s lower national growth target reflects its emphasis on stability. Lianhe Zaobao associate editor Han Yong Hong observes that this eases the pressure on local governments but leaves international investors cautious.
Han Yong Hong
06 Mar 2026
Society
From canteens to guesthouses: China unlocks idle state property
Across China, local government canteens, state guesthouses and more state-run facilities are opening up to the general public. Not only are these places well received by the people, the move also helps generate revenue for local governments and makes use of spaces that would otherwise be idle. Lianhe Zaobao journalist Meng Dandan finds out more.
Meng Dandan
09 Feb 2026
Economy
Hong Kong isn’t falling — it’s rewiring itself for a fragmented world
Beneath the pessimism, Hong Kong is adapting fast. Its reinvention — spanning finance, talent and integration with mainland China — may prove decisive in a fractured global landscape, say AMRO economists Jae Young Lee and Jungsung Kim.
Jae Young Lee, Jungsung Kim
25 Nov 2025