20240718 Xiaohongshu main image

Xiaohongshu occupies a unique position in China as a lifestyle encyclopedia and guide to daily life that few if any competitors seem able to match. (Source photos by Getty Images and Xiaohongshu website)

Xiaohongshu: Can China's wildly popular app raise its profit game?

Users find its shopping advice priceless, but go elsewhere for better deals

HONG KONG -- Two years ago, Daniel Zhang downloaded Xiaohongshu so he could order a special edition of "Flowers of the Amazon Forest," a book by the British botanical artist Margaret Mee that was only available on the Chinese social app. What he didn't anticipate was that Xiaohongshu would become an indispensable part of his daily life.

The 35-year-old midlevel manager in south China uses the app to find answers for everyday issues like finding a good restaurant, get advice on travel and stay on top of the latest events.

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