Thatsmags.com's Most Popular Articles of 2016

By Bridget O'Donnell, December 31, 2016

For many in the West, 2016 will be remembered for Trump, Brexit, terrorism in Europe and an absurd number of pop culture deaths, from Bowie to Muhammad Ali. By comparison, China had an unusually quiet year. Nonetheless, there were still a few goings-on in the world's most populous country.

In our 2016 Year in Review series, we recap the best (and worst) of China's year in the worlds of technology, social media, sport, fashion, food, arts and more.

A look back at the most popular Thatsmags.com articles of 2016...

10. China to Get Hit With Coldest Winter Since 2012

Thanks to a weather phenomenon known as La Niña, most of China will experience its coldest winter on record since 2012.

9. PHOTOS: October Holiday Crowds Swarm Tourist Sites

As predicted, National Day traffic was horrendous and domestic tourists swarmed famous sites and landmarks like bees attacking a honey-starved bear.

8. 26 Restaurants Got Michelin Stars in First Shanghai Guide

The day Shanghai's chefs were fretting about for a year was finally upon us: the release of the first Shanghai Michelin Guide. Not only was it a first for Shanghai — it was also a first for Chinese mainland

7. Explosion at Shanghai Pudong Airport's T2

An explosion was heard at Shanghai Pudong International Airport's Terminal 2 in June. No casualties were reported. "We saw a beer bottle filled with black explosive powder rolling towards us with a lit fuse," one eyewitness told That's of the bombing. Read his full account of the incident here.

6. WATCH: Jawdropping 'Shanghai Forever' Video Captures the Real Shanghai

Shanghai-based videographer JT Singh has made yet another jawdropping video that beautifully encapsulates Shanghai.

5. Shanghai Mayor Vows to Shut Down Yongkang Lu

Shanghai's most popular bar street was the biggest target in a major culling of the city's F&B scene.

4. Cultural Differences Between East and West, Illustrated

Yang Liu knows a thing or two about cultural comparisons. The Chinese illustrator, who was born and raised in Beijing, moved to Berlin at the age of 13. After living in the German capital for 13 years, Liu began working on a project to document the differences between Eastern and Western culture. The result is these simple posters which compare and contrast certain attitudes and behaviors, with red representing China and blue representing the West.

3. INFOGRAPHIC: The Languages Spoken in China

China has a lot of languages and dialects — 298 to be exact. Take a look at the country's main languages and dialects and where they are spoken in China.

2. WATCH: What It's Like to Marry a Chinese Woman

Have you ever wondered what marrying a Chinese woman would be like? Although his impersonations and accent are typically Shanghainese, a laowai’s video about his marriage has echoed with many as a surprisingly accurate portrayal of Chinese family life.