Daxue Consulting

China’s tourism boom is breaking records and breaking limits. After years of pandemic disruption, travel is back with unprecedented force. But as the crowds return, so do new challenges, from overtourism to viral-driven chaos. Here’s how China’s Golden Week revealed both the strength and the strain of its tourism recovery. 📈 The numbers behind China’s tourism comeback: In 2024, China’s railways carried 23.1 million passengers in one day, a new national record. By 2025, regional routes like the Yangtze Delta saw traffic jump 10% year-on-year. The travel surge is real, but so are the capacity limits. 👮♂️ How China is battling overtourism: Massive crowds have pushed authorities to innovate. From mandatory reservations at top attractions to AI-powered crowd monitoring, cities like Shanghai are using tech and traffic control systems to keep Golden Week safe and orderly. ⚠️The dark side of going viral: Overnight fame has turned small towns like Zibo and Tianshui into flash tourism hotspots, overwhelming infrastructure and safety systems. The risks go beyond crowding: old bridges, weak oversight, and unplanned tourism are exposing serious cracks. ⚖️Can China find balance in its tourism boom?: The future of Chinese tourism depends on a balance between economic gain and sustainable management. Stronger safety enforcement, smarter infrastructure investment, and faster responses to viral trends will decide whether China’s tourism boom can last. China’s overtourism challenge is a cautionary tale, but also a potential model for how fast-growing destinations can adapt. The question is no longer whether people will travel, but how destinations will handle the weight of their own success. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eG6FPjjc #ChinaTourism #TravelTrends #GoldenWeek #ChinaInsights #Daxueconsulting #Daxuestories

Nearly a billion Chinese consumers live outside of the spotlight. We scraped and analyzed millions of social media posts from lower-tier cities to uncover how China’s sinking markets are transforming from “catch-up” economies into innovation hubs. 📕 Download the China Emerging-Tier Market Report here: https://lnkd.in/gHpGw_Hd Highlights: 💰 Rising potential: The GDP of emerging-tier cities is projected to reach RMB 110 trillion by 2025, with rural disposable income growth outpacing urban areas. 🏗️ Policy push: Initiatives like the Rural Revitalization Strategy and Digital Countryside Plan are expanding infrastructure, logistics, and digital inclusion, fueling local spending. 📦 E-commerce boom: Platforms like Pinduoduo and Douyin dominate shopping habits, blending entertainment, social connection, and impulse consumption. 🥤 Affordable indulgence: From RMB 5 milk tea to cost-effective coffee, beverages have become small luxuries that symbolize emotional comfort and “sweet escape.” 🚗 EVs for everyone: Lower-tier consumers are powering China’s EV wave, driven by short-distance commutes and government subsidies. 💅 Redefining beauty: Aesthetic ideals favor transformation and glamour, adapted from big-city trends but localized to reflect practicality and aspiration. 🎢 Reverse tourism rise: Urban youth are seeking slow-paced “anti-tourism” escapes to smaller cities, fueling local hospitality and cultural tourism. 🏠 Home upgrade wave: High marriage rates and family gifting drive demand for durable, premium home appliances across counties and towns. 💎 Download the full report here: https://lnkd.in/gHpGw_Hd #ChinaMarket #ConsumerTrends #EmergingCities #Ecommerce #ChinaInsights #StrategyResearch #Daxueconsulting 

What if the future of skincare isn’t just about what’s on your skin, but how it makes you feel? Across China’s beauty market, a new wave of “emotional skincare” is blurring the line between science, self-care, and sensorial wellbeing. 🌸From efficacy to emotion: Chinese consumers are shifting from ingredient lists to emotional impact, seeking comfort, calm, and confidence through skincare. 🧠The science of feeling good: The skin–brain axis proves that emotions and skin health are biologically linked. The $3B neurocosmetics market is redefining beauty through neuroscience. 🔬Turning research into ritual: From Sisley’s EEG-tested actives to Aesthesis’ white paper in China, brands are turning emotion into measurable efficacy, where wellbeing becomes a functional claim. 🌺The power of multi-sensory beauty: Texture, scent, and ritual now shape the emotional experience of skincare. From YSL to Givaudan, brands are crafting holistic routines that soothe both skin and mind. Emotional skincare isn’t a passing trend. It’s the next evolution of beauty. Where science meets the senses, and feeling good becomes the ultimate proof of efficacy. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gi2BRwNR #EmotionalSkincare #Neurocosmetics #BeautyInnovation #ChinaBeautyMarket #Daxueconsulting #Daxuestories 

Once a commodity business defined by “weight + labor cost,” China’s gold jewelry sector is being rewritten by Laopu Gold, the brand now hailed as the “Hermès of Gold.” 💰 The rise of China’s “Hermès of gold”: Laopu Gold has rewritten the rules of China’s luxury jewelry market, achieving record-breaking 459M RMB per-store efficiency and a 1600% stock surge. 🏺 From commodity to cultural artifact: Laopu pioneered the concept of heritage gold jewelry, blending imperial craftsmanship with modern aesthetics. Its collections turn gold from a material investment into a symbol of national artistry and identity. 💎 Redefining luxury pricing in gold: Instead of selling gold by weight, Laopu prices by craftsmanship and story, commanding prices 60%+ higher than mass-market peers. By embedding cultural value into its products, Laopu transforms gold into an emotional luxury, aligning itself with Hermès and Tiffany in strategy, but not in origin. 🏛️ Crafting luxury through space and scarcity: With only ~40 boutiques in China’s most prestigious malls, Laopu embodies luxury through limitation. Each store merges Chinese Old Money aesthetics with bespoke service, creating immersive experiences that build exclusivity and deepen loyalty among high-net-worth clients. Laopu Gold is defining what Chinese luxury means in the post-logo era. By uniting heritage, artistry, and scarcity, it proves that the future of global luxury may well be written in Chinese gold. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/g8wJ2z7R #LuxuryInChina #ChineseLuxury #LaopuGold #Daxueconsulting #Daxuestories 

As the full moon rises this Mid-Autumn Festival 🌕, we celebrate the beauty of connection, between people, cultures, and communities. Wishing you harmony, prosperity, and bright moments ahead.

How does Chanel navigate China’s complex luxury market? By blending cultural relevance, exclusivity, and a selective digital approach, Chanel has crafted a strategy that speaks to both Gen Z trendsetters and long-time elite clientele. 🎎 Blending tradition & trend: Chanel localizes with Lunar New Year limited editions 🎊 while tailoring digital campaigns for Gen Z on WeChat, Weibo, and Xiaohongshu. Meanwhile, VIP clients enjoy ultra-exclusive Salons Privés for private shopping. 🏙️ Quality over quantity: Unlike rivals, Chanel has just 18 boutiques in mainland China—focusing on Tier-1 and select Tier-2 hubs like Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, and Hangzhou. Each boutique placement reinforces its prestige positioning. 📲 Engaged but exclusive: Chanel leads on WeChat with AR try-ons, mini-programs, and immersive storytelling. Yet it resists selling fashion online—keeping handbags & couture offline to preserve aura while digitizing customer service. 🔒 Authenticity as luxury: To combat fakes, Chanel introduced NFC microchips in handbags—offering scannable authenticity verification. This reassures Chinese buyers and signals a commitment to safeguarding credibility in a counterfeit-prone market. Chanel’s China playbook shows how cultural insight, selective presence, and digital innovation can power luxury success, without diluting exclusivity. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/g7dkwgRg #LuxuryStrategy #Chanel #ChinaLuxuryMarket #Daxueconsulting #Daxuestories

Founded in 2017, Judydoll has quickly risen to the top of China’s color cosmetics scene by reimagining what “国货彩妆” can mean for Gen Z consumers. Its secret? A unique blend of playfulness, affordability, and cultural savvy. 💄 National leader in less than a decade: Within just a few years, Judydoll turned “play makeup” into a serious business. Affordable palettes and single shadows made experimenting with color easy, building a reputation as the “light of domestic beauty”. 👁️Extensive product line tailored to Chinese needs: With 800+ SKUs, Judydoll doesn’t just follow trends—it solves local beauty pain points. From its “Iron Mascara” for short, straight lashes to contour palettes matching Asian skin tones, the brand turns consumer conversations into viral hits. 🥤Winning the dupe culture: At milk-tea prices, Judydoll products are marketed as smart alternatives to luxury. By embracing “平替” culture instead of fighting it, the brand transformed affordability into savviness, keeping consumers loyal even as their incomes rise. 🎨Building a “cool girl” brand image: Colorful campaigns, Gen Z collaborations, and relatable ambassadors create a fun-yet-approachable personality. Judydoll isn’t an untouchable luxury—it’s the cool girl next door who knows the trends and makes you feel included. Judydoll proves that in today’s China, success doesn’t always come from premiumization. By staying accessible, trend-driven, and culturally fluent, the brand has built a loyal fanbase that sees it not just as makeup, but as a lifestyle companion. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gc8hk4eF #ChinaBeauty #GenZConsumers #Judydoll #CBeauty #Daxueconsulting #Daxuestories

The finish line is moving in China’s consumer race. Once defined by Sprinters chasing trends and instant gratification, the market is now increasingly led by Marathoners, seeking stability, health, and long-term fulfillment. Here’s how brands can win in this new era 👇 🏃Sprinters vs. Marathoners: Chinese consumers are evolving from impulsive, dopamine-driven purchases to more thoughtful, serotonin-based ones. Both archetypes still exist, but brands must decide who they’re running with, and why. 🔍The informed insider (内行):Marathoners pride themselves on research and expertise. To earn their trust, brands need to shift from selling images to demonstrating performance, science, and transparency. 🪨Grounded substance (踏实): Reliability is the new luxury. Consumers value durability, timeless design, and trustworthiness—qualities that keep a brand relevant long after hype fades. 🤝Tribal affinity (圈层认同): Marathoners seek identity in niche communities, from running clubs to sustainable living groups. Brands that foster authentic tribes unlock deeper loyalty and advocacy. China’s new consumer playbook is not about chasing quick wins, but about building long-term trust, value, and community. The brands that can pace themselves like a Marathoner will cross the finish line first. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gDMbARkE #ChinaConsumerTrends #BrandStrategy #ChinaMarketing #ConsumerInsights #Daxueconsulting #Daxuestories

China’s rise in the EV industry is no accident. It’s the result of long-term state planning, vertical integration, and bold risk-taking. But as its automakers expand globally, challenges are mounting. 🚘Strategy as a national priority: How China turned EVs into a strategic lever for growth and global influence. 🚗Closing the gap: Chinese EVs now rival luxury Western brands, with BYD’s “God’s Eye” autonomous driving system leading the way. ⚡Challenges ahead: Tariffs, overcapacity, and fierce price wars test the resilience of China’s EV industry. 👉Looking forward: Backed by its 2060 carbon neutrality goal, China’s EV and charging market is still on track to hit USD 572B by 2030. The question is: can China sustain its momentum abroad while managing structural risks at home? Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eD7vZr5 #EVs #China #BYD #Daxueconsulting #Daxuestories

From the trails to the streets, Salomon is making bold moves in China’s booming outdoor market. 📈 With China’s outdoor market set to reach nearly RMB 10B by 2025, Salomon sees massive opportunity as more consumers embrace hiking, camping, skiing, and active lifestyles. 🏬 Backed by Amer Sports & Anta, China now drives 25% of global revenue. Salomon is scaling fast, expanding from 163 to ~300 stores by 2025, targeting lifestyle seekers, outdoor athletes, and trend-conscious youth. 👟 Collaborations with Comme des Garçons & MM6, plus endorsements from Rihanna and Bai Jingting, push Salomon into the streetwear conversation, blending performance with fashion to capture younger audiences. 🎯 By sponsoring outdoor events and driving KOL-led campaigns on Xiaohongshu & Douyin, Salomon embeds itself in middle-class lifestyles, moving from a pure performance brand to an everyday lifestyle companion. Salomon’s China story shows how outdoor brands can scale by blending heritage, local partnerships, and lifestyle relevance. A blueprint for global brands eyeing China’s evolving consumer landscape. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gRK75AEF #Salomon #OutdoorLifestyle #Sportswear #Daxueconsulting #Daxuestories