Apr 5, 2022 5 min read

Club Mate is the Newest Fad among China’s Party People

Too busy to get your daily dose of RADII? We got you every Tuesday with a summary of all the freshest takes on China’s youth culture in the last week.

Ultra-popular in Berlin's techno scene, Club Mate is in vogue among youth in China who want to party and dance until the early morning hours.
Fans in China have expressed high hopes for the upcoming Korean remake of 'Someday or One Day'. However, many have pointed out that the performance of the original male lead — Taiwanese actor Greg Hsu — can never be matched.
Vegetable- and fruit-shaped emojis recently flooded the comments section for an Ultra Miami 2022 Livestream. Many Shanghai EDM fans even asked, “Where can I buy vegetables?” and “Who is selling vegetables here?”
While a vocal group on Twitter has taken the justifiable stance that Smith’s actions constitute assault, many Chinese social media users think differently.
Influencers will do anything for ‘the Gram’ these days, but they might want to think twice in China — especially with children in their vicinity.

Intrigued? Keep scrolling, my friend.

Herbal Beverage Club-Mate Is the Latest Craze Among Chinese Clubbers

Despite challenges caused by Covid, frequent crackdowns, and skyrocketing rents for venues, the live electronic music scene in China is alive and well, with local labels breaking boundaries and dozens of clubs across the country keeping the party going. Mate (pronounced mah-tay) soft drinks, canned, carbonated herbal beverages derived from a traditional South American caffeine-rich drink made with yerba mate, help fuel the late-night mayhem.

Carbonated mate-extract beverages have worked their way into the thick of China’s underground music community, especially in the burgeoning techno subculture, where some clubs stock up to 40 cases per month.

Find out how it ended up filling the glasses of the coolest underground clubs across China here

Is It a Waste for China’s PhDs to Teach in High Schools?

When the education bureau of Hangzhou, a city in affluent East China, released a list of newly-employed teachers in the city’s public high schools in February, some were surprised to note that four teachers have PhDs from prestigious Chinese universities, including the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences and Zhejiang University.

Among them, Dr. Jia Ke, who previously researched computer chips for the Institute of Computing Technology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, is now teaching information technology at Xuejun High School, a top-ranking public institution in Hangzhou.

“Why do PhD graduates have to become professors or do something big? I don’t necessarily agree [that they have to],” said the academic in an interview.

“I will transfer what I learned during my PhD — learning methods, cutting-edge research in IT — to my students, who might go into the computer chip sector in the future,” she continued, adding, “It’s worth it.”

It’s no secret that public high schools in China’s first-tier cities are keen to recruit people who hold doctorates. In 2020, half of the newly employed teachers at Shanghai High School had PhD degrees under their belts, according to Shanghai’s human resources bureau.

High schools in Shenzhen, the tech hub of South China, have also become destinations for those with ‘Dr.’ titles.

Last year, a list that was widely circulated — first on social media before being picked up by state media in China — revealed that of the 66 newly employed teachers at Shenzhen Middle School, 27 had PhDs from some of the top schools worldwide.

What’s more, six of them previously held postdoctoral positions.

Considered one of the first Class-One Schools of Guangdong Province, the public high school requires educators to hold a master’s degree, at the very least, according to its 2021 recruitment notice.

✍🏼 What is causing this shift of mindset in PhD holders?

This is the way of MMA in China.

RADII Studios presents 'Way of the Warrior.'

Please join us for the OFFICIAL ONLINE PREMIERE of RADII Studios' latest documentary film- 'Way of the Warrior' airing on 12th April (US)/13th April (China)!

Be the first to watch this two-part documentary and hear from the filmmaker and the athletes themselves in a post-screening conversation.

Witness the fiery resolve of notable Chinese athletes — many from humble backgrounds — as they chase their dreams to become the world's best in MMA.

See how this sport transcends cultural and national boundaries as these athletes and trainers come together from all parts of the world in their pursuit of a common passion for athletic excellence. We follow young fighters in training, but also former world champions and UFC Hall of Famers.

Following the screening, then go behind the scenes with film director Billy Starman, learn about the development of MMA in China from UFC SVP Kevin Chang, plus hear about the incredible journeys of the MMA athletes themselves- Shiming and Qiulun.

Marriage registrations hit a historic low in China. “The thought of bringing a baby into this world full of grueling competition and without the means to provide is horrifying.”
While it hasn't been a great month for containing the spread of Covid 19 in China, it certainly has been a wonderful time to enjoy new Chinese music.
The smoke effects are strong in this one - On March 31, Jackson Wang dropped his new single "Blow" mere weeks after surprising fans with the unannounced release of his mixtape Lost & Found.

Another crushing defeat on the world stage for China’s men’s soccer team, and Chinese fans are expressing their frustration online.
Have you watched the Taiwanese drama “Light the Night” on Netflix? Yay or nay?

‌Are you a gifted meme maker? Or a storyteller crazy about Chinese youth culture? Take a look below, because we’re currently hiring for the following positions:

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