Newsletter: Can the Tinder-like Tantan Help You Find a Real Date in China?

Here is this week’s roundup of tech stories in China.

For dating app users in China, the Tinder-like Tantan is probably a good choice for you! It seems to provide better user experience than the previously popular Momo. Check out Gabriel Li’s insightful and juicy stories about the app Tantan and online dating in China!

June 18 was an important day for e-commerce giant, JD.com as it celebrated its mid-year shopping festival. This also happened to coincide with the traditional Chinese Dragon Boat Festival, and the World Cup games this year, giving consumers all the more reason to fill up their shopping carts!

As Xiaomi announced a delay in its IPO plans in mainland China, the new coffee chain star, Luckin Coffee is said to have closed its Series A round with $200 to 300 million.

Following the ZTE incident, Trump just announced a new tariff of $200 billion worth on imports from China, while Ministry of Commerce in China responded immediately saying “it is blackmail and an extreme threat.”

Enjoy reading up China’s tech news this week, proudly brought to you by Pandaily!

Editor’s Pick

Can the Tinder-like Tantan Help You Find a Real Date in China?
Momo was the top dating app on campus when I was in college a few years ago, while the more recent Tantan seems to offer a better user experience.

E-commerce

On June 18, JD.com announced a strategic investment of $550 million from Google and an establishment of a broad strategic partnership between both parties. This news comes on JD.com’s anniversary, which is also the date of the popular 618 mid-year shopping festival.

The new partnership with Google could be the start of a series of global alliances JD.com is making to contend with Alibaba’s global expansions.

Talking about Alibaba, in the latest KPMG tech survey, Alibaba tops the list to become the number one company that competitors are most wary about for their disruptive business models.

Market Briefings

Xiaomi has announced postponement of its listing process in mainland China while proceeding with original plans in Hong Kong.

The new retail coffee chain Luckin Coffee is rumored to have closed its Series A round at $200 to 300 million with a valuation exceeding $1 billion.

Debuted on May 22, OnePlus 6 has topped the fast selling list amid all other OnePlus devices since 2013.

Overseas

U.S. President Donald Trump announced yet another tariff of $200 billion on imports from China; Ministry of Commerce in China responded immediately by saying “it is blackmail and an extreme threat.”

Didi Chuxing announced that it will be launching DiDi Express on June 25 in Melbourne after a month of pilot operations in Geelong. At the same time, it has started recruiting local DiDi drivers in Melbourne.

New Releases

OPPO launched its latest flagship device, the Find X, at the Louvre in Paris on June 19.

Vivo announced its new flagship phone, Vivo NEX in Shanghai. The most striking feature is its pop up camera, or “elevating front camera” as Vivo calls it.

Meitu is expected to launch a co-branded phone in partnership with Italian luxury sports car maker, Lamborghini.

NIU has launched two all-new scooters, the M+ and N-GT, which have been specifically customized for the European market featuring enhanced riding experience with better safety aids.

Podcast

This week on TechBuzz China by Pandaily, co-hosts Ying-Ying Lu and Rui Ma tell you how Wang Xing, the legendary Chinese serial entrepreneur who started out with “copy to China,” is now standing behind one of the largest unicorns in the world, Meituan-Dianping.