Frogs are taking over China’s streets

Jun 01, 2023

Dear TWOC reader, in this month’s newsletter you’ll get a dose of:

– Frog frenzy
– Wangba nostalgia
– Migrant worker spirit
– Dongbei crime

Thanks for reading!

Street seller in frog costume running away from Chinese police

What happens when entrepreneurial spirit meets cheap frog costumes from Taobao and the power of Chinese social media? A “frog army” invading China’s cities and social media feeds!

Street vendors in frog costumes selling their “offspring” (frog-shaped toys) have appeared all over China—much to the entertainment of Chinese netizens, but to the chagrin of urban management trying to curb illegal street hawking. The mix of controversy and internet humor is reflected in countless viral videos and hilarious memes, but when the frog heads are removed, the laughter dissipates, leaving behind a poignant reflection on the transient nature of online phenomena and the people behind them, writes Huang Shichan.

The frogs are but the latest in a long list of viral trends and internet phenomena over the years that trace back all the way to the early days of Chinese internet culture and the era of internet cafes (known as wangba). Once bustling hubs for online gaming and social interaction, wangba are remembered fondly by Chinese millennials, some of whom still visit for a nostalgia hit, writes Roman Kierst. But now wangba face the challenge of retaining their appeal in a smartphone-dominated era. Some have adapted by diversifying their offerings to attract a wider clientele, including those without a place looking for cheap overnight options—for example migrant workers.

Many of the migrant workers in China’s cities today, who left their rural hometowns to seek employment, still struggle to secure stable jobs and living conditions, especially after reaching retirement age. The labor market for older workers remains unregulated, leaving them without contracts, insurance, or retirement benefits, and age restrictions in industries like construction exacerbate their limited employment options. Despite these challenges, many older workers show resilience and an unwavering spirit as they navigate urban labor markets, writes Yang Tingting.

Street seller in frog costume being confronted by Chinese police

An invasion of people in frog costumes has taken China’s internet by storm—and posed a challenge to urban management. Read the full story here.

Front entrance of Chinese internet cafe by night

Some millennials still visit China’s internet cafes for a nostalgia hit, but that won’t be enough to sustain the wangba industry. Read the full story here.

Elderly Chinese migrant worker looking at job ads on a wall

With a growing urban-rural gap and lack of social security, China’s first-generation migrant workers are heading back to the workplace. Read the full story here.

What We’re Watching

Still from Chinese TV Series "The Long Season"

The Long Season
#tvseries #dongbei #crime

The TV series The Long Season by musician-turned-director Xin Shuang, following his 2020 hit drama The Bad Kids, is set in an old industrial city in northeastern China, or Dongbei. In 2016, taxi driver Wang Xiang (Fan Wei) and his brother-in-law Gong Biao (Qin Hao) try to get a refund on a secondhand car Gong just bought, only to find the car is associated with an unsolved murder and the drowning of Wang’s son 18 years ago. Though rated at 9.4 out of 10 on Chinese review platform Douban, The Long Season has been criticized for its male leads’ toxic masculinity and its one-dimensional portrayal of female characters.