Huawei’s 1800-Mile Battery ⚡ AI Robots Attract Billions 🤖 Luckin Coffee Hits NYC 🗽

2025-07-14 | subscribe | homepage

Welcome back to this week’s edition of the China Insights Weekly Newsletter!

Here are some of the key highlights for this week’s edition:

• China’s science output quadruples its lead over the US

• China-beauty brands go global, winning awards and luxury shelf space

• Fishery-solar farms and vanadium batteries boost clean energy push

• Anta and Laopu Gold ramp up global retail expansion from LA to Singapore

Dive deeper into these stories and more by clicking the headlines below. We value your feedback. Let us know your thoughts or suggestions on LinkedIn, X or Facebook.

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🚀 Headlines

China's lead in world-class science has quadrupled in just one year (link)

China's lead in world-class science is growing rapidly. According to the Nature Index database, China's lead over the United States has quadrupled in just one year. It was only in 2023 that China surpassed the United States. In 2024, China's Share (a metric tracking author contributions to research articles) was 32,122, compared to the United States' 22,083. China's adjusted Share increased by 17.4% in 2023, while the United States' fell by 10.1%. The United States saw the largest declines in chemistry (11.6%) and physical sciences (10.6%), though it still leads in health sciences (with a 2.7% decline) and biological sciences (with a 5.4% decline). Other Western countries like Canada, France, and the UK also experienced declines. Meanwhile, China is projected to produce 77,000 STEM PhD graduates annually by 2025, compared to 40,000 in the United States.

Anta to open first US store in Beverly Hills, Luckin Coffee debuts two US stores in New York (link, link)

Chinese sportswear giant Anta is set to open its first permanent US store in Beverly Hills, positioning itself among luxury brands like Louis Vuitton and Chanel. This strategic move aligns with Anta's higher pricing in the US market, comparable to Nike and On. Anta's US expansion began with pop-ups in 2024, featuring its signature trainer, the Kai 1, which quickly sold out. The brand's growth was significant, with a 1,900% increase in sales on the resale marketplace StockX in 2024. Anta is also expanding into Southeast Asia, with stores in Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines, and plans for more openings in FY2025. The Anta Group, which owns Arc'teryx and FILA in China, aims to overtake Nike internationally within the next three years, solidifying its position as one of the top three global sportswear groups.

Luckin Coffee has opened its first two US stores in New York, marking a significant step in its global expansion. Located in Midtown Manhattan and near Washington Square Park, these high-traffic locations saw strong foot traffic on their opening day. Since entering the overseas market in 2023, Luckin Coffee has grown to 24,097 stores globally, with 1,757 net new store openings in Q1 2025 alone. The US stores feature a full suite of intelligent equipment for quick, customized drink preparation and integrate US payment platforms like Apple Pay and PayPal. The menu includes both classic and signature offerings like the Coconut Latte and Velvet Latte, along with locally tailored products. Luckin Coffee's global supply chain and digital platform ensure consistent product quality and efficient operations. The company plans to leverage its core competencies in localized innovation and digital excellence to continue expanding its global footprint.

China's embodied AI sector sees funding boom, surpassing 2024 totals with 23 billion yuan invested year to date (link)

China's embodied AI sector is experiencing a significant funding boom, with investments surpassing 2024 totals to reach 23 billion yuan year-to-date. Notable investments include Galaxea AI's USD 100 million in A4 and A5 series strategic financing, Deep Robotics' 500 million yuan, Unitree Robotics' 700 million yuan Series C round, and Galbot's 1.1 billion yuan funding. Over 40 projects have secured over 100 million yuan, indicating strong capital interest. Investors view embodied AI as a vast, multi-trillion RMB market, with 2025 anticipated as the "delivery year one" for significant unit shipments. The investment logic varies, focusing on scalability, real-world product validation, and resilient teams.

China's gold sensation Laopu's international expansion has Western giants on edge (link)

Chinese jewelry brand Laopu Gold, founded in 2020, opened its first overseas store in Singapore on June 21, targeting Southeast Asia's growing market. The Singapore outlet is a strategic move to signal confidence in broader regional growth. The brand's 2024 revenue surged 167.5% year-on-year to 8.5 billion yuan (USD 1.18 billion), up from 3.18 billion yuan in 2023. By the end of 2024, Lao Pu Gold had launched nearly 2,000 original designs and secured 1,314 domestic patents. Its unique selling point is its use of ancient techniques such as hammered 999.9 gold and filigree, inspired by the Song dynasty. In Q1 2025, Southeast Asia drove global gold consumption, with Singapore's gold demand reaching 2.5 tonnes, up 35% year-on-year. The brand plans to open five more stores in Southeast Asia within two years, leveraging cultural ties and market potential.

China’s tech giant Huawei patents 1,800-mile range solid-state EV battery technology (link)

Chinese tech giant Huawei has filed a patent for a sulfide-based solid-state battery with energy densities between 180-225 Wh/lb, two to three times higher than typical EV batteries. The battery uses nitrogen-doped sulfide electrolytes to reduce side reactions at the lithium interface. Huawei claims this technology could provide up to 1,864 miles of range and charge from 10% to 80% in under five minutes. While these claims are theoretical, they highlight Huawei's significant advancements in battery technology. China is rapidly expanding in solid-state battery development, filing over 7,600 patents annually, accounting for 36.7% of global activity in this field. This development underscores China's growing dominance in the EV market and its potential to reshape the industry.

370,000 solar panels grace one of world’s largest hybrid fishery farms in China (link)

Beijing-based Dajin Heavy Industry has completed a fishery-solar hybrid project in Tangshan, Hebei Province, featuring 370,000 bifacial solar panels. The 250 MW solar farm spans 353 hectares and adopts a "power generation above, aquaculture below" model. The project is expected to generate 400 million kilowatt-hours of clean electricity annually, equivalent to saving 120,000 tons of standard coal and reducing 320,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions. Bifacial solar panels, which capture sunlight from both sides, are particularly efficient when placed above water, as the water's reflective surface enhances their performance. Additionally, the panels provide shade, reducing water temperature and evaporation, which benefits aquaculture by improving metabolism and reducing disease outbreaks. This innovative approach optimizes land use and supports China's transition to renewable energy.

Chinese makeup brands are winning over global consumers (link)

Chinese makeup brands are gaining global traction, driven by social media platforms like RedNote (Xiaohongshu) and TikTok. Brands such as Judydoll have seen significant growth, with total sales increasing from USD 232 million in 2023 to USD 345 million in 2024. Overseas retail sales for Judydoll surged by 400% in 2024, partly due to direct-to-consumer channels like Shopee and TikTok Shop. Florasis, another Chinese brand, opened its first European counter at Paris's Samaritaine department store in September, marking a milestone in global luxury retail. Florasis' products, featuring traditional Chinese motifs, have won awards from Allure and Marie Claire. The brand has also seen double-digit growth annually since 2019 and recently debuted on the luxury e-commerce platform Ounass. These successes highlight a shift from past perceptions of Chinese goods as low quality, positioning C-beauty brands as high-quality, culturally rich alternatives in the global market.

World’s largest vanadium flow battery goes online in China (link)

China has completed the world's largest vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) energy storage project in Xinjiang, backed by China Huaneng Group. The project features a 200 MW/1 GWh VRFB system paired with a 1 GW solar farm. With a total investment of CNY 3.8 billion (USD 520 million), the project spans 1,870 hectares in Jimusar County. It is expected to generate 1.72 TWh of electricity annually and reduce CO₂ emissions by over 1.6 million tonnes per year. The system provides five hours of continuous discharge, addressing the intermittency of renewable energy and stabilizing the local grid. This is particularly crucial in Xinjiang, which is rich in solar and wind resources but faces challenges with curtailment and transmission bottlenecks.

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Jinan pioneers green construction with 50-meter-high inflatable dome (link)

Jinan, the capital of Shandong province, has unveiled an innovative air-supported membrane dome as part of its Honglou 1905 urban renewal project. The dome, standing at 50 meters tall and covering 20,000 square meters, is a symbol of sustainable urban development. Developed by a joint venture between China Energy Construction Group and Licheng Urban Development Group, the dome enables dust-free, low-noise, all-weather construction in densely populated areas. It features heat-reflective PVDF membrane materials that reduce energy use by up to 90% and includes intelligent systems for real-time monitoring of temperature, air quality, and safety. This initiative reflects Jinan's broader commitment to green growth, with projects in renewable energy, low-carbon infrastructure, and smart emissions monitoring, setting a benchmark for sustainable urban transformation.

Xixia Imperial Tombs became 60th site in China inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage Site (link)

China's Xixia Imperial Tombs were officially inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee in Paris, France, on July 11, 2025. This addition brings the total number of World Heritage sites in China to 60. The Xixia Imperial Tombs, located in Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, are a group of imperial burial sites from the Xixia Dynasty (1038-1227). Covering nearly 40 square kilometers, the site includes 9 imperial mausoleums, 271 subordinate tombs, a northern architectural complex, and 32 flood control works. The site is the largest, highest-ranked, and most intact archaeological site from the Xixia period. The World Heritage Committee recognized the site as a testament to cultural fusion and the unique role of the Xixia Dynasty in Silk Road exchanges. The Chinese government's efforts in protecting and managing the site were also commended.

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