Wednesday, September 23 2026

Hair Stylist Xiaohua from Huaihua Boosts Local Economy; Guizhou Woman, Unable to Get a Turn in Line, Sets Up a Coffee Stall on the Spot and Earns 700 Yuan a Day

Huaihua in Hunan Province quickly went viral on social media thanks to the sincere service of hairstylist Xiaohua, attracting over 200,000 visits in total, with more than 60 specialty shops already set up locally, and the culture and tourism authorities also rolling out supporting perks such as free admission to scenic spots. Amid this wave of traffic-driven dividends, a woman from Guizhou who had originally planned to get a haircut from Xiaohua queued for several days in a row but failed to get a reservation number, so she simply set up a temporary coffee stand beside her self-driving car, serving passersby pour-over coffee and reaching daily sales of around 700 yuan. This impromptu entrepreneurial move sparked heated discussion among netizens, with some praising her creativity and drive, and others questioning whether it was an elaborately planned marketing stunt. [more…]

Starbucks opens at the Tianquan Service Area on the 318 Sichuan-Tibet Highway: freshly ground coffee even on a road trip

The G318 Sichuan-Tibet Highway is known as "the Chinese people's scenic avenue," with magnificent views along the way, but enjoying a freshly ground coffee during the long drive has always been a luxury. Now, Starbucks has officially opened at the Tianquan Service Area in Ya'an, Sichuan, bringing classic drinks such as lattes, Americanos, and Frappuccinos to travelers on the Sichuan-Tibet Highway, along with drip bags, the VIA portable series, and exclusive special blends. The Tianquan Service Area itself is already a popular check-in spot for Sichuan-Tibet road trippers, and Starbucks' arrival makes travel refueling even richer. Drivers have been sharing their surprise encounters with the new store on social media—some drew fun coffee catchphrases, and some became the 318th lucky customer. From now on, driving the Sichuan-Tibet Highway means you can wake up your caffeine anytime and enjoy a cup of hot, freshly ground coffee. [more…]