China Recap is a weekly roundup tracking Chinese companies expanding abroad, covering market entries, funding rounds, product launches, and global partnerships.
China’s corporate globalization strategy is evolving fast. Industry giants are rewriting the global playbook, while a new generation of companies charts fresh paths overseas.
China Recap tracks both—focusing on strategic expansion, brand building, and localized operations—to help readers make sense of shifting trends and understand how Chinese firms are reshaping their global approach.
This edition shows fandom evolving into a multi-pronged strategy spanning IP protection, live events, new launches, and beyond.
Pop Mart steps up anti-counterfeit drive
Pop Mart said 7.91 million counterfeit products have been seized since it filed customs recordals in 27 countries and regions. European customs have been especially active, with the Netherlands intercepting more than 260,000 items. The company also issued multilingual guides to help identify fakes of its popular IPs. —36Kr
Xiaohongshu debuts offline market in Shanghai
Xiaohongshu launched “RedMarket” in Shanghai, a four-day fair featuring over 100 stalls of lifestyle goods, regional cuisine, and cultural heritage crafts. Paired with a new “Market” tab on its app, the event underscores its bid to rebrand as an interest-focused community bridging offline and online commerce. —Dao Insights
Mini Labubu hype cools after rapid sellout
Prices for Pop Mart’s mini Labubu figurines have dropped 10–30% just a week after selling out online on August 28. Early resale listings topped RMB 2,500 (USD 350), but rising supply and mixed product feedback have cooled demand. More than 56,000 units have reportedly traded hands on resale platforms. —Jiemian News
Love and Deepspace wins at Gamescom
Love and Deepspace, a 3D romance game by Infold Games, won “Best Mobile Game” at the latest Gamescom, becoming the first female-oriented title to earn the honor. Since launching in January, it has reportedly topped iOS charts in over 30 countries and drawn 70 million players with its blend of sci-fi themes, cinematic immersion, and character intimacy. —TechNode
Top Toy opens first Japan store
Top Toy opened its first store in Japan on August 30 at Tokyo’s Sunshine City, recording over JPY 11 million (USD 74,460) in sales on day one. The move follows an investment led by Temasek, valuing the company at HKD 10 billion (USD 1.3 billion). —36Kr
Mihoyo debuts new Honkai title
Mihoyo unveiled its latest game, Honkai: Nexus Anima, on August 29 with a debut trailer and gameplay demo. The title blends pet collection and auto-battling in a casual strategy format. Led by Honkai: Star Rail producer David Jiang, it also features town exploration, mount riding, and avatar customization. Closed beta signups are now open. —36Kr
Mini Labubu toys drive resale frenzy
Pop Mart’s mini Labubu collectible, priced at RMB 1,106 (USD 154.8) per set, was reselling for up to RMB 2,500 prior to its official launch on August 28. Each set includes 14 standard figures and one hidden model. The release is part of “The Monsters” series, which drove a 668% year-on-year surge in revenue for the first half of 2025. —Jiemian News
That wraps up this edition of China Recap. If your company is expanding internationally, we’d love to hear about your latest milestones. Get in touch to share your story.