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.
From breathtakingly gorgeous cinematography to the downright hilarious and bizarre moments captured on film, a look back at some of the most amazing viral videos from China in 2016.
10. Dog rides scooter
Watch on Youtube here.
Bizarre video of a dog riding a scooter went viral in China in December. The video, which was widely shared on social media platforms such as WeChat, shows a dog with white fur standing on its hind legs on a scooter while a man riding a motorbike (presumably his owner) pushes him along.
9. Giant moon wreaks havoc in Fuzhou during Mid-Autumn Festival (AKA Mooncake Festival)
Is there anything more hilarious or ironic than a giant moon-shaped balloon being blown away into oncoming traffic ahead of a holiday in China that is specifically centered around the moon? Answer: probably not. That's exactly what happened in September in Fuzhou, Fujian province just as Mid-Autumn festival began.
8. Epic bulldozer street battle in Hebei
If you thought that Chinese capitalism wasn’t competitive enough, think again. Indeed, on a quiet small town street in Xingtang county, Hebei, two construction firms fought over a client’s contract the good old-fashioned way: duking it out on a dusty road... with their bulldozers.
7 (tie). Video compilation of China's funniest driving moments
From notoriously heavy traffic in China's major cities, to videos of horrifying accidents, the prospect of driving a vehicle in the Middle Kingdom can be intimidating. There are humorous moments too — some of which have been captured in this hilarious supercut. From scooters with way too many passengers, to locals riding farm animals on the side of the road, this compilation is sure to make you laugh.
7 (tie). Video compilation of people freaking out on Chinese glass bridges
Glass bridges are having somewhat of a moment in China. Back in August, Zhangjiajie National park opened (and then shut, and then reopened) their record-breaking glass bridge, attracting massive crowds to the park. Since then, glass bridges have become a pretty see-through attempt to boost tourist numbers at honey traps across the country. Even the capital now has its own glass-bottomed walkway at Qinglianggu Valley. While some tourists absolutely love the thrill, some people — as you can from this hilarious supercut — really can't handle it.
6. Hot pot noodle dancing like you've never seen it before
Hot Pot chains like Haidilao have made meals an entertaining spectacle for diners by making the "Kung Fu Noodle Dance" a special item on the menu — an absolute must for impressing visitors. Taking that a step further, one madly skilled hot pot server recently made waves on Chinese video platforms for his incredible moves with the noodles to the beat of "Little Apple" (because of course).
5. Daredevil rooftoppers take on skyscrapers across China
Talk about getting high. Daredevils continued to take on some of China's tallest skyscrapers in 2016, with a number of "rooftoppers" releasing gut-wrenching footage of their climbs to the top. Above: daredevils climbing the China World Trade Center (Tower III B) in Beijing, which has 81 levels and measures 330 meters in height. Other notable climbers include the teen daredevils who scaled Jinmao Tower in Shanghai and the team at On the Roofs, who recently released some truly incredible (read: gut-wrenching) footage from their Shun Hing Square ascent last year.
Teen daredevils climb Jin Mao Tower in Shanghai
Daredevils scale Shun Hing Square in Shenzhen
4. The BBC's Chinese New Year documentary
While billions of Chinese families enjoyed the most significant holiday of the year, the BBC tagged along to capture their experiences. Documenting the 2016 CNY in three episodes – Migration, Reunion and Celebration – the BBC presents an up-close and personal look at a festival celebrated by 1.4 billion people. Check out the first episode above.
3. SK-II ad on China's Leftover Women
An ad campaign from luxury cosmestics brand SK-II generated a lot of buzz for its portrayal of China's shengnu (剩女) or ‘leftover women.’ The four-minute documentary-style commercial, titled 'Marriage Market Takeover,' went viral in April after sparking debate about single women in China. The ad features interviews with unmarried women and their parents who are pressuring them to settle down.
2. 'Shanghai Forever'
Shanghai-based videographer JT Singh has made yet another jawdropping video that beautifully encapsulates Shanghai. Using his breathtaking cinematographic skills, Singh's latest masterpiece takes you on a mesmerizing journey through Shanghai, capturing all the people that inhabit the city in just three minutes.
1. Shanghai Tower timelapse
Watch on Vimeo
Watch China's tallest building go from 0 to 128 stories in this incredible 3-minute timelapse by Shanghai-based video professional Joe Nafis. He recorded the footage starting from 2009, using hundreds of thousands of photos and over 1,000 hours to put them all together.
See more China videos here.
For more 2016 Year in Review coverage, click here.
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