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SCMP

We have selected five Trending in China stories from the past seven days that resonated with our readers. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing.
1. China court auctions 100 tonnes of live crocodiles for US$550,000, no delivery
A Chinese court will auction off 100 tonnes of live crocodiles for four million yuan (US$550,000) in a sale that requires buyers to pick the reptiles up in person. The announcement of this unusual auction attracted widespread public attention for its sheer scale and logistical challenges, and also triggered much amusement online.
2. Daughter of Hong Kong actress attends 2 kindergartens, eats, naps, uses car toilet

A Hong Kong actress’s daughter who attends two kindergartens, eats, naps, and uses the toilet in her car has earned her mother the label “monster parent”.
3. China ‘demon teacher’ with 2 million fans hailed as superstar for ‘tough-love’ style

China’s “demon teacher”, who gained widespread fame with over two million followers online through her unconventional teaching style that often involves scolding students, has received an enthusiastic superstar welcome during her university visits.
4. Impressive Chinese son pays off parent’s US$2.8 million debt by teaching calligraphy

A 31-year-old man in central China who used his skill in Chinese calligraphy to help his parents pay their debts of 20 million yuan (US$2.8 million) in seven years has trended on mainland social media. Chen Zhao, who owns a calligraphy studio in Wuhan of Hubei province, started learning this traditional art at the age of five, the Changjiang Daily reported.
5. Chinese journalism graduate swaps high-paying job for happiness as canteen worker

A woman, who holds a master’s degree in journalism from the prestigious Peking University (PKU), has sparked intense discussions on social media regarding the job choices of young people. The 26-year-old, identified as Huang, graduated from PKU in 2022 and chose to work at the university’s canteen immediately after her graduation, as reported by Sanlian LifeWeek.


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SCMP Highlights

Crocodile auction, China’s ‘demon teacher’, Chinese calligraphy: 5 trending stories

A court in China is auctioning off 100 tonnes of live crocodiles at a starting price of US$550,000, sparking much amusement online. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock

A Hong Kong actress who puts her four-year-old daughter through a rigorous daily educational regime has been labelled a “monster parent”. Photo: SCMP composite/RedNote

Liu Xiaoyan is regarded as a highly influential English teacher on social media, particularly known for her tough-love teaching style to prepare students for China’s competitive postgraduate entrance exam. Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin/RedNote

An artist in China has paid off his parent’s massive debts by teaching calligraphy and writing ornate scrolls. Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin

A woman with a master’s degree in journalism from the esteemed Peking University has ignited significant discussions on social media about the career choices of young people today. Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin

Shock over teen surrogate, China’s ‘century baby’ dies, placenta theft: 5 trending stories

A young woman who struggles with high rent is paying US$7 a month to sleep in a toilet. Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin

There has been a wave of public outrage in China after it emerged that a man paid a teenage girl US$124,000 to bear surrogate twins for him. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock

China’s so-called century baby, who was born at midnight on January 1, 2000, has died from a heart attack at the age of 25. Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin/Sohu

A doctor in China has been fired for stealing the placentas of new mothers, then selling them as Traditional Chinese Medicine ingredients. Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin

A family from the United States has visited a couple in China after a joyful exchange on RedNote as so-called TikTok refugees. Photo: SCMP composite/RedNote

Chinese woman’s ‘immense’ pain, ‘muscle grandma’, robots for rent: 5 trending stories

A woman in China who suffered “immense” pain after a botched tooth extraction has died after plunging from a hospital roof. Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin

Three construction workers in China were hung from a gate by their harnesses as part of their safety training, sparking public shock. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/Douyin

A super fit middle-aged mother who has won a bodybuilding title in China after decades of training says she works out to challenge age stereotypes. Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin

A female student who chased a phone thief in Italy and retrieved her stolen property has been widely praised on mainland social media. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/Douyin

An influencer in China has rented a robot for US$1,400 a day to do housework, and go on a date with him. Photo: SCMP composite/RedNote

Woman dies after 80-year wait for husband, China’s automated noodles: 5 trending stories

A 103-year-old Chinese woman has passed away after waiting 80 years for her husband who went abroad to work. Photo: SCMP composite/YouTube

A Chinese woman who survived a cliff fall instigated by her husband revealed that her IVF newborn has congenital heart disease. Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin/Sohu

A fully automated noodle shop in China prepares orders in 48 seconds for just US$1.4, with no tip required. Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin

A man in China who tortured a cat to death has been detained after his actions sparked a wave of social media anger. Photo: SCMP composite/RedNote/Douyin

A Chinese teen warms hearts online by urging his mother to prioritise self-care, highlighting that her happiness matters as much as his. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/Douyin

Chinese influencer dies, ‘love nest’ scam, DeepSeek founder’s hometown: 5 trending stories

A 24-year-old influencer in China has died after revealing during a live-stream that she had not eaten for two days and was unable to pay her rent. Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin

A woman in China has given birth to a baby boy just 24 hours after she found out she was 34 weeks pregnant. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/Douyin

A scamming woman in China has tricked dozens of men into spending US$140,000 on a “love nest” only to disappear as soon as the deal is done. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock

The China hometown of the founder of DeepSeek has become a tourist haven after he shot to international fame. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/Wikipedia/Weibo/Douyin/163.com

A Chinese man who was pricked by a left-behind needle on a flight suffers depression and seeks compensation from the airline as a result. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/Sohu

Lost Chinese hiker, Trump US$250 bill, gold hotpot: 5 trending stories

A young Chinese hiker survived for 10 days in the cold mountains by eating toothpaste after becoming lost and trapped. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/Douyin

A US proposal to put the face of President Donald Trump on a US$250 banknote has caused much hilarity on mainland social media. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock

A Chinese man has been hospitalised after undergoing a painful three-hour simulation of childbirth at his lover’s request. Photo: The Paper

A pregnant woman in China was forced to lie in bed for weeks to save her fetus after its foot slipped out of her cervix. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/Douyin

A hotpot bowl made of pure gold which costs US$97,000 to buy has shocked social media in China. Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin

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People & Culture

Trending in China

From a court auctioning live crocodiles to a journalism graduate turned canteen worker, here are five stories from SCMP’s recent reporting


From a court auctioning live crocodiles to a journalism graduate turned canteen worker, here are five stories from SCMP’s recent reporting.


Crocodile auction, China’s ‘demon teacher’, Chinese calligraphy: 5 trending stories

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}From a court auctioning live crocodiles to a journalism graduate turned canteen worker, here are five stories from SCMP’s recent reporting

1. China court auctions 100 tonnes of live crocodiles for US$550,000, no delivery

From a court auctioning live crocodiles to a journalism graduate turned canteen worker, here are five stories from SCMP’s recent reporting