Gender

The hidden divide: Why China’s vice-ministers rarely reach the top

In China, ministers and vice-ministers play distinct roles which may not be part of a single career path. A close study of ministerial officials informs the wider analysis of China’s political elite, say academics Li Cheng and Ren Xinyuan.

Li Cheng, Ren Xinyuan

27 Jul 2026

Women can hold up half of the sky — Chairman Mao Zedong

From football to world championships, Chinese women have consistently outshone men despite fewer resources. Their success offers a revealing lens on merit, competition and power in China, says Professor Yasheng Huang.

Yasheng Huang

20 Jul 2026

Lin Tianmiao: Making art through sickness, life and play

Chinese artist Lin Tianmiao’s ​artistic career began later in life, after she became a wife and mother. Her inspiration for artmaking comes from everyday life and objects, her experience as a daughter, wife and mother, and her ability to see the bright side amid major life and death encounters. For her, transforming the mundane into the sublime helps make “play” never end. Curator and writer Tan Hwee Koon takes us through Lin’s recent exhibition “Lin Tianmiao: There’s No Fun in It!” at the Power Station of Art (PSA) Shanghai.

Tan Hwee Koon

13 Mar 2026

[Big read] From Egypt to Russia: Chinese men looking overseas for love

Facing steep bride prices and mounting pressures at home, some Chinese men are finding wives abroad. Three men share how marriages with women from Egypt, Indonesia and Russia reshaped their lives. Lianhe Zaobao associate China news editor Sim Tze Wei speaks to the couples about their journeys.

Sim Tze Wei

12 Mar 2026

Not all heroes shout: How The Legend of Hei 2 reimagines Chinese animation

While Ne Zha signals industrial ambition and cultural export, The Legend of Hei reveals a gentler path — hand-drawn, community-made and emotionally grounded in coexistence rather than spectacle. Lianhe Zaobao visual journalist Fio Zhang explains its appeal and understated value.

Fio Zhang

20 Feb 2026

China bans ‘sexual mentor’ for women — but more are popping up

A viral clip of Zhou Yuan, a Chinese “sexual mentor” for women, has shed light on a booming industry that empowers women to use their sexuality to attract men. Lianhe Zaobao’s China Desk takes a look at society’s and authority’s reactions to these grey-zone content.

China Desk, Lianhe Zaobao

05 Feb 2026

[Big read] Safe, but fragile: The rise of women-only spaces in China

Women-only homestays, gyms and bookstores are booming in China, offering safety and solidarity. Yet closures and debates highlight the limits of segregated spaces and the challenges of sustaining a women-only economy. Lianhe Zaobao Associate China News Editor Chen Jing finds out more.

Chen Jing

28 Jan 2026

[Big read] Paying for pleasure: Chinese women indulge in handsome male hosts

From theme parks to mountain climbs, Chinese women are paying handsome male hosts for hugs, spins and close-up attention — indulging fantasies, seeking comfort, and turning male charm into a booming industry. Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Lim Zhan Ting speaks with the men offering these services.

Lim Zhan Ting

19 Dec 2025

[Big read] China’s superwomen are winning on screen: Empowerment or illusion?

China’s newest hit dramas celebrate unstoppable heroines — generals, tycoons, and perfect all-rounders. But scholars and viewers question whether this surge in “superwomen” reflects real empowerment or just another comforting illusion. Lianhe Zaobao journalist Liu Sha speaks to viewers, academics and those in the industry to find out more.

Liu Sha

10 Dec 2025

[Big read] Love is hard to find for millions of rural Chinese men

The gender imbalance in China, especially in the rural areas, has resulted in many men not being able to find a partner. Some are still looking; others have given up and are resigned to being single. Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Li Kang speaks to some of these single men about their views.

Li Kang

05 Dec 2025

Scam meals and broken hearts: The hidden cost of love in Hong Kong

A recent luxury dining scam in Hong Kong — where a man ditched a woman with a hefty bill — highlights a bigger story: a striking gender imbalance that is shaking up relationships and sparking unexpected twists in the city’s social scene. Lianhe Zaobao journalist Tai Hing Shing examines the issue.

Tai Hing Shing

22 Sep 2025

[Big read] Why China’s funniest women are also its most controversial

As Chinese female stand-up comedians challenge deep-rooted gender norms, critics accuse them of fuelling gender divides. But comedy is only exposing what has long festered across film, gaming, and public life. Lianhe Zaobao journalist Zeng Shi finds out more.

Zeng Shi

15 Sep 2025