University of Heidelberg

HRA11 Chinese Entertainment Newspapers

Chinese Entertainment Newspapers

Coordination: Catherine Vance Yeh

Abstract

Project website

This database project focuses on a special type of newspaper known as the xiaobao or entertainment newspaper. It first appeared in China in the 1890s and was inspired by Western entertainment tabloids. The center of publication was Shanghai, and from the time of its creation, it became one of the most popular media for the daily publication of entertainment news, serialized fiction, short stories, social and political commentary, and cartoon drawing. While little studied, its impact on the formation of popular culture and of urban lifestyle for the first half of the 20th century has been all-pervasive.