China Newsbase
Fast, easy search of the China news that matters
The China News Database was last updated at 08:27AM on December 31, 2023.
Database searches currently perform best when a tag filter is used. We suggest trying out these tags: Xi Jinping, Russia, Taiwan, COVID-19, climate change, electric vehicles, gaming, IPOs, Belt and Road Initiative.
You may also filter by articles featured in our daily members-only Access newsletter, to get a curated overview of the top news and analysis about Chinese politics, business, and society. Select one option:
- All top news and analysis
- The China Project top news and analysis
- Top news and analysis from elsewhere — Stories in the “News briefing,” previously known as “Recommended links”
This product is in beta testing and development. If you would like to share feedback on the content or user experience, please email editors@thechinaproject.com.
99 articles matching the search query.
How a woman in rural China posing as Russian became a gay icon
A middle-aged woman in rural China — who was once caught pretending to be Russian using an AI-powered face and voice filter on Douyin — has cultivated an online following for her perceived “campy” aura…and one rather awful song.
LGBTQ year in review: What happened in 2022
Looking back on a challenging year in the fight for LGBTQ rights in China and Taiwan.
Feminists and LGBTQ activists at China’s COVID protests
A feminist and an LGBTQ activist speak out about the A4 protests inside and outside China — how they sparked divisions, misogyny, and violence, but also hope and solidarity.
‘Real-world consequences’: Safe spaces shrink for China’s LGBTQ community
China’s LGBTQ community has already seen its rights and representation diminish in the past few years. Now, with Xi Jinping confirmed for a third term, the future looks bleaker than ever.
Remembering Queer Lala Times, a lesbian publication that transcended boundaries
Just a few years ago, LGBTQ voices and views were easily found on the Chinese internet. That’s changed. But this is the story of Queer Lala Times, which operated openly in China from 2013 until 2016.
Taiwan Pride, the region’s largest pride march, makes triumphant return
Despite rain, thousands of people filled the streets of central Taipei to celebrate the return of Taiwan Pride.
Chinese LGBTQ dating apps, past and present
Gay dating apps briefly flourished in China. But many have been shut down, either for financial or political reasons. Let’s have a look at some of the most influential ones.
Shandong ‘Rose Boy’: Student’s suicide sparks outrage over LGBTQ discrimination in Chinese schools
The recent death of a promising young dancer has highlighted the lack of safe spaces for queer youth in Chinese schools.
Two male celebrities in China kissed on livestream. Were they coming out or queerbaiting?
Chinese singer Liu Cong and social media influencer Chen Lu recently intimated they’re lovers — which would make them the first openly gay couple in mainland China’s entertainment industry. But many fans have cast doubt on the legitimacy of their relationship.
The Hong Kong LGBTQ community’s diminishing visibility
Hong Kong’s turbulent political situation has affected sexual and gender minorities, especially transplants from mainland China, many of whom no longer see the city as the safe haven it used to be.
Hong Kong student challenges school dress code that bans long hair for boys
A rare display of defiance against gendered dress codes in Hong Kong schools.
Taiwan withdraws from hosting WorldPride 2025 over naming dispute
A blame game involving contradictory accounts erupted after Taiwan backed out from hosting a global LGBTQ gathering due to a name dispute with the event’s licensor.
Looking back at Les+, China’s community-building lesbian zine
Many of the stories printed in Les+ from 2005 until its official suspension in 2015 showcase women’s journeys of identification, their quotidian joys and struggles, and their pursuit of intimate life, while some of the special issues touch on topics that were fervently discussed by the community, recording the history of the lesbian subculture of those years.
China’s ban of LGBTQ content in movies didn’t begin with ‘Lightyear’
In China, censorship of LGBTQ content in imported movies has been going on for years. But within the country, queer-themed films continue to be produced.
5 streamable Chinese LGBTQ documentaries
Although more obscure than feature films, there are many thoughtful and compelling Chinese nonfiction movies featuring queer themes. Have a look.
Drag queens and crossdressers: Where straight and queer meet on the Chinese internet
The presence of drag queens and crossdressers who identify as straight on the Chinese internet is seen as a symbol of LGBTQ representation, helping cultivate tolerance and acceptance. It is also a reminder that Chinese society’s relationship with “queer” is more complicated than meets the eye.
LGBTQ Uyghurs live trapped between layers of trauma
“I like living at home with my parents. To take care of them in their old age would be a great honor, and I could live out my days alone, working in my hometown until my death. If I could choose, that’s the destiny I would pick.”
‘Moneyboys’: A provocative, atmospheric film about Chinese hustlers
A Taiwanese and Viennese coproduction, “Moneyboys” follows Fei, a gay sex worker, as he explores love amid his life of secrecy.
Remembering Shanghai Pride, China’s largest LGBTQ festival
This month would have marked the 14th Shanghai Pride event, an annual festival first held in 2009 — if not for the fact that it has been on indefinite hiatus for the last two years.
Must-read LGBTQ China books for Pride Month
In celebration of Pride Month, we’re giving visibility to queer Chinese stories. We’ve compiled a list of LGBTQ books across multiple genres, written by authors of mainland Chinese, Hong Kong, and Taiwanese descent.
