Latest news with #RedNote
The Star
14 hours ago
- Health
- The Star
Quirky China trend shows kids, pets hugging giant winter melons to stay cool at night
A trend in China features kids and pets cuddling with oversized winter melons to keep cool at night. - Photo: SCMP composite/RedNote BEIJING: The scorching summer heat in China has sparked a trend where people hug a giant winter melon while sleeping to find relief from the sweltering temperatures. The topic 'sleeping with a winter melon is cooler than using an air conditioner' has gone viral on mainland social media, with one Chinese platform alone garnering 4.4 million views. Many individuals shared photos of themselves slumbering while clutching these large vegetables, which are comparable in size to a toddler, highlighting their remarkable cooling effects. A resident of northern China's Tianjin municipality, known as Longma, claimed to be among the first to introduce this effective cooling method that ignited the trend. She purchased a 14kg winter melon from the local market for her child, who complained that the summer heat was making it difficult for him to sleep at night. Longma noted that she refrained from using air conditioning in the bedrooms to avoid catching a cold, and saw the 'ancient method' of hugging a winter melon as a viable alternative. Each day, she would gently pat the vegetable to monitor its condition, stating that her winter melon remained in excellent shape after 26 days. Many families have purchased these vegetables for their children and pets, with photos capturing them snugly clinging to the melons during their sleep. - Photo: RedNote Another participant from eastern China's Anhui province admitted she felt foolish purchasing a 21kg winter melon at the market, but was pleasantly surprised to discover it was indeed effective. She mentioned that by keeping the white wax on the melons, they can remain fresh longer. Numerous people have bought these vegetables for their children and pets. Judging by how tightly they cling to the melons while asleep in the videos, it seems to provide significant benefits. This method is also quite economical. One individual reported that her 14kg winter melon cost only 54 yuan (US$7.5). Many have noted they could use the same melon for several days. However, one person cautioned against eating the melon, stating: 'The one people have slept with does not taste good.' It is said that sleeping while hugging a winter melon is an ancient Chinese remedy for cooling down in the summer. The vegetable contains over 95 per cent water, which aids in absorbing heat through skin contact. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) also incorporates the vegetable's rind in prescriptions aimed at clearing heat from the body. TCM expert Yang Zufu from the China Recovery Research Centre explained to People's Daily that this method can benefit those unable to use air conditioning, including the elderly, toddlers, and pregnant women. However, individuals with weak spleens and stomachs are advised against pressing their bellies against the vegetable for extended periods, as it may exacerbate symptoms like stomach pain or diarrhoea. Yang recommended that those with sensitivities wrap the melons in towels and position them at a slight distance to minimise side effects. 'Watermelon is also effective, but they're too delicious to resist,' one commenter remarked. 'It stops being funny when you try sleeping with one – it's really useful!' another noted. A third chimed in: 'So that's why they named it winter melon – to bring some winter to the summer.' - South China Morning Post
The Star
17 hours ago
- Business
- The Star
Wooing more Chinese tourists through social media
PETALING JAYA: Plans are in the works to attract more tourists from China by using popular Chinese social media platforms like Xiaohongshu (RedNote), WeChat, Weibo and Douyin. This includes partnerships with online influencers to target younger, tech-savvy Chinese visitors, said Tourism Malaysia. Such was part of the agency's efforts to reach out to the Chinese market for Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026), seeing that many from the Middle Kingdom are turning to social media for travel information. 'We have also noticed a strong shift towards independent travel, especially among younger Chinese visitors who rely heavily on digital platforms like Xiaohongshu, Bilibili and Dianping for travel inspiration and planning. 'This trend reflects a desire for flexibility, personalisation, and real-time access to information and recommendations,' Tourism Malaysia told The Star . China now ranks as the third-largest source of international visitors to Malaysia, following Singapore and Indonesia. The agency, under the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry, was asked to comment on the role of social media and influencers in guiding tourists from China on their visit to Malaysia. From following trends like cool photo spots to viral food videos, a growing number of Chinese tourists were using social media to plan their travel itineraries here. 'It is undeniable that social media platforms play a role in promoting Malaysia to Chinese visitors as their content shapes perceptions, builds interest, and directly influences travel decisions. 'For example, with more than 300 million monthly active users, Xiaohongshu plays a critical role in shaping consumer travel choices in China, especially among younger audiences and free independent travellers,' Tourism Malaysia said. These types of content strongly influence young travellers, helping to drive viral trends, such as visiting specific photo spots or trying iconic local foods, which can inspire large numbers of followers to visit the same places. Examples of such trends are taking pictures in front of the Maybank branch in Gaya Street, Sabah or trying roti tisu at mamak shops. Previously, Tourism Malaysia announced that it will operate an official Xiaohongshu account, publishing engaging travel content from every state in Malaysia. Tourism Malaysia said its marketing plan for China for VM2026 also included developing Mandarin-language content and marketing materials to better connect with Chinese visitors, highlighting cultural festivals, eco-adventures and luxury offerings. 'We also plan to collaborate with Chinese tour operators to create tailored travel experiences that cater to Chinese preferences, including shopping, cultural experiences, and eco-tourism,' it said. To attract Chinese Muslim travellers, efforts will also be made to highlight Malaysia's strengths in halal-friendly tourism and wellness retreats. 'We will also be increasing collaboration with airlines and travel agencies to boost direct flights and offer attractive package deals through travel agencies,' Tourism Malaysia said. With the extension of the visa-free policy for China nationals and enhanced air connectivity, these measures are expected to drive continued growth in visitor arrivals from China, it added. 'In fact, from January to April this year, Malaysia welcomed 1.4 million visitor arrivals from China, a robust 37.8% increase compared to the same period in 2024. 'It's also a 22.6% increase compared to the pre-pandemic level of 2019,' it said. Chinese travellers have shown a strong preference for destinations that offer a blend of cultural richness, natural beauty, and modern conveniences, said Tourism Malaysia. 'Among the most popular locations are Kuala Lumpur, known for its iconic landmarks and shopping experiences, as well as Penang, famed for its heritage, street art, and unique local cuisine. 'Sabah, especially Kota Kinabalu, is also highly favoured for island-hopping and nature experiences,' it said.
Android Authority
5 days ago
- Android Authority
Not again: Sony's WH-1000XM6 hinge shows signs of cracking
TL;DR A WH-1000XM6 user has reported a broken hinge, even after using the headphones 'carefully.' While there has only been this one report so far, Sony supposedly redesigned the XM6 hinge to prevent this. The problem echoes an issue that plagued the previous XM5 model. The flagship Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones are barely two months old, but a new report is raising concerns about their durability. Specifically, it's an issue from the predecessor device we had hoped was in the past. A Reddit post spotted by Gizmodo shows what may be the first reported case of a WH-1000XM6 with a snapped hinge near the headband — a location many will remember as the weak point that plagued the previous-generation XM5. The original source appears to be a user on the Chinese platform Red Note, who shared photos and claimed to have handled the headphones 'carefully.' Red Note A Red Note user shared this image of the XM6's broken hinge. That's important context because the XM6 was supposed to fix this exact problem. According to our sister site, SoundGuys, Sony completely redesigned the hinge with this new model, embedding a metal component within the plastic housing and reintroducing a folding mechanism for compact storage. The XM5 used a flatter design with no folding arms and suffered enough failures that 25% of SoundGuys readers polled said their hinge had broken. Even when you factor in that people with a broken hinge might be more likely to partake in such a poll, it was still a concerning stat. It's far too soon to say whether this is an isolated case or the start of another widespread durability issue. After all, there will always be some devices that break, and we can't be sure that the report of the headphones being handled carefully is accurate. Nevertheless, it was enough to concern some of the Reddit users in the thread, especially given the $450 price tag and Sony's track record with hinge strength. The WH-1000XM6 has been seen as a fix-it release, addressing complaints about things like hinge durability. SoundGuys' review praised the headphones for solid audio, excellent ANC, and being a meaningful step up from the XM5 in most categories. If the hinge is once again a potential point of failure, it could undermine Sony's efforts. For now, this appears to be a single failure, but we'll keep an eye out. If you've upgraded to the XM6 and experienced any issues, let us know in the comments. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
Gizmodo
5 days ago
- Gizmodo
Sony's Best-in-Class ANC Headphones May Have a Major Design Flaw
Sony's WH-1000XM6 headphones might sound great, but that's only if they don't break before you put them on your head. While it's too early to say whether Sony's latest world-class headphones have a widespread issue, the first reports of broken hinges are starting to roll in, and they feel ominously reminiscent of similar problems with the WH-1000XM5. In a Reddit thread that's actually pulled from a Red Note post (sorry for the convolution; that's just the way life is sometimes), one user shows how their Sony XM6 have seemingly snapped at the hinge that holds the headband and earcup/internal speaker components together. Having looked at these pics myself and knowing how much these headphones cost ($450), all I can say is… ouch. As I mentioned, it's obviously too early to tell if this is an issue that XM6 owners should be worried about, but it does feel relevant considering widespread reports of the XM5 hinge, which you need only take a short gander at Reddit to contextualize. I'm also curious how exactly this pair of XM6s broke—specifically how much force was applied. Did they get sat on, or did they just explode after being gently picked up? I used Google Translate on the Red Note post, and the original poster of this hinge failure claims they 'usually use [the headphones] carefully,' but again, it's kind of hard to know for sure what transpired. One thing is for sure, though, and that's if there's a problem, someone at Sony is going to be mighty disappointed. As noted by SoundGuys, the XM6 actually come with a redesigned hinge that's meant to prevent this whole problem from happening. Specifically, there's a redesigned folding mechanism that features a metal hinge inside the plastic housing that is (theoretically, at least) more durable. It's worth noting that in a poll conducted by SoundGuys, 25% of users reported having a broken hinge. That's a lot of angry customers and potentially a lot more first-time AirPods Max owners. Say what you will about Apple's very expensive AirPods Max, but they do have a premium metal build and great sound. For now, we'll just have to see if any more reports of broken hinges start to roll in and hope that Sony's redesign actually solved the problem. If this is actually a widespread issue, Sony XM6 owners may want to be extra cautious with their headphones until Sony either addresses the issue or puts out some kind of recall, though I don't think it'll get that far.
South China Morning Post
7 days ago
- Automotive
- South China Morning Post
Hongkongers use driving schools over border to get cheap licences illegally
Mainland Chinese middlemen are offering Hongkongers driving lessons and tests at nearly half the price of city rates and showing them how to convert permits into local licences, a practice that authorities have deemed illegal. Checks by the Post on popular mainland social media platform RedNote have found that a driving school in Shenzhen is offering tailor-made packages for Hong Kong residents, including ways to circumvent legal requirements. It charges 6,800 yuan (HK$7,422) for a driving course to obtain a licence in Shenzhen, including five test retakes within three years. In Hong Kong, it costs learner drivers at least HK$15,000 for lessons and other fees before taking the test. The process is also much faster in Shenzhen, where a licence can be attained within three months, compared with at least a year in Hong Kong, assuming a learner passes written and road tests. 'We will lend you our employees' addresses. They are real and reliable,' an agent with the driving school told a Post reporter pretending to be a potential customer. 'More than 1,000 Hongkongers have successfully used our service to obtain mainland driving licences and get them converted in Hong Kong in the past two years.
