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China property

China property
China’s property market has surged in recent years. After prices jumped 25 per cent in 2009 alone, the central government imposed austerity measures, including lending curbs, higher mortgage rates and restrictions on the number of homes each family can buy.
Consumers shop at Florentia Village in suburban Shanghai. Photo: Maggie Zhang
Mainland China

China’s shoppers head for suburban outlets, a bright spot in retail property

Outlet spending nearly doubles to around US$36 billion over five years, prompting investment surge while urban malls suffer high vacancies.

Two Sessions 2026

Why China is moving away from tax cuts and pushing for reform

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Mainland China

Can China’s ‘two sessions’ find a strategy to fix the property rot?

Two Sessions 2026

China’s leaders outline economic focus ahead of ‘two sessions’ – what to expect

Top officials met ahead of Beijing’s annual legislative sessions, when this year’s growth target and five-year plan will be unveiled.

Beijing is gearing up for the “two sessions”, the annual legislative meetings of China’s two main political bodies – the National People’s Congress and the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference. Photo: EPA-EFE
Shanghai

Shanghai eases residency requirements for homebuyers to spark property recovery

Non-residents with three years of social security contributions or individual income taxes will be allowed to buy a second home in the city.

China technology

Shenzhen dethrones Shanghai, Beijing as China’s top industrial powerhouse: mayor

Leading in R&D density, AI innovation and start-up cultivation, Shenzhen is building a full-stack AI ecosystem, according to the mayor’s annual work report.

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Banking & finance

Standard Chartered’s 2025 profit jumps 16% buoyed by wealth management growth

The London-based bank’s underlying pre-tax profit stood at US$7.9 billion last year, versus a gain of US$6.8 billion in 2024.

Standard Chartered Bank is one of Hong Kong’s three note-issuing banks. Photo: Nathan Tsui
Mainland China

Empty shops, falling rents: commercial property suffers in China retail slump

China’s key shopping street rents have fallen to 2018 levels as cautious consumers cut spending and landlords lower prices to fill vacancies.

China economy

Sofa so bad: China’s home-furnishing sector hits a do-or-die stretch

Falling home prices and relentless price competition are forcing small decor firms into a battle for survival.

Banking & finance

China puts another big bank under stricter watch – why now?

Beijing continues to impose stricter regulatory standards on major lenders, shielding the financial system from mounting strains.

A signboard of China Zheshang Bank is seen at its branch in Beijing on March 14, 2016. Regulators have now tightened oversight of the bank. Photo: Reuters
International Property

Year of the Horse kicks off with property mega-deals returning to Asia-Pacific

Large institutional capital is flowing back into Asia-Pacific property, with offices, retail and hotels leading early recovery signs.

Shanghai surprise: the Asia-Pacific region’s property markets have surged 130 per cent since 2024. Photo: Shutterstock
Shanghai

Green shoots for China property? Maybe – but the turnaround’s still shaky

Home-price declines eased in January and policy support is building, but analysts warn oversupply continues to cloud the outlook.

China's economic recovery

As Chinese provinces slash revenue outlook, analysts warn of debt control

Local governments seen curbing infrastructure spending as Beijing’s fiscal discipline pushes regions to prioritise social services and tech over large projects.

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Shanghai

No floor yet: China home prices keep falling despite policy support

Monthly declines narrowed in January, yet worsening year-on-year prices suggest housing pressures persist.

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Chill wind: analysts say China’s nationwide home prices have not yet shown signs of stabilisation. Photo: EPA
Banking & finance

China’s property woes likely to hurt some Hong Kong banks’ 2025 earnings: Citi

Bank of China (Hong Kong) and Bank of East Asia could be affected the most as they have the highest exposure to China’s property sector.

Residential buildings in Beijing’s Chaoyang Park on January 6, 2026. Photo: AP Photo
Asia housing and property

The View | Asian property markets’ supply constraints are a double-edged sword

The narrow pool of high-quality assets benefits landlords and affluent investors but poses a challenge to prospective buyers and renters.

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Property policies

Opinion | China’s real estate rethink can help end developers’ debt addiction

The future of Chinese property looks to be smaller and more rational, with a market defined by real estate’s worth rather than volume.

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China economy

Opinion | China’s real constraint is where to direct limited fiscal resources

With Beijing focusing on spending priorities, Asian investors and businesses must watch which provinces, sectors and state firms are favoured.

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An employee works on a production line at a motorcycle company in Tongren city, in southwest China’s Guizhou province, on January 27. As part of its industrial upgrading, China must direct sustained state financing to support semiconductor ecosystems, advanced manufacturing and strategic technologies. Photo: Xinhua
Shanghai

Why Shanghai is buying small older flats to revive its ailing housing market

Pudong, Jing’an and Xuhui districts will lead the programme, which comes amid signs of stabilisation in the secondary market.

Mainland China

‘Bleak start’ to 2026 for China’s property sector as sales declines accelerate

China’s top developers slumped in January, with weak demand and fading policy support raising fresh concerns over debt repayment capacity.

China economy

Opinion | Why China’s persistently low inflation is not all bad news

For investors and policymakers, the key takeaway is what that outcome shows about the economy’s capacity to absorb shocks while rebalancing.

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A girl selecting snacks in a shop in Mengzi city in southwestern China’s Yunnan province on October 15. Photo: Xinhua
Hong Kong property

Hang Lung flags ‘tough slog’ for property, looks to mainland malls for growth

Hong Kong developer says property segment recovery will be slow, but sees mainland retail and consumption offering the clearest upside.

Hong Kong developer Hang Lung is pinning its hopes on an uptick in mainland consumption. Photo: AFP
China GDP

Historic shift? Why Guangdong could lose its status as China’s No 1 economy

Guangdong has been China’s biggest regional economy for nearly four decades. But its crown is now slipping as the eastern Jiangsu catches up fast.

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China economy

Video | Scuffles break out at Ikea clearance sale in China

Furniture retailer to focus on targeted growth in key cities, with plans to open 10 small-format outlets over two years.

China GDP

Tale of 2 megacities: how did Beijing, Shanghai GDPs surpass 5 trillion yuan?

China’s two largest cities are outpacing national growth rates, each generating gross domestic products equal to a small European country.

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People hang out at The Bund as the financial district of Pudong is seen in the background in Shanghai, China. The GDPs of Beijing and Shanghai have now exceeded 5 trillion yuan and both cities are comparable to European countries Sweden and Belgium. Photo: Reuters
China's economic recovery

China’s manufacturing powerhouse cuts 2026 GDP growth target after missing mark

Guangdong province, an industrial behemoth hit by property and global headwinds, shifts focus in a strategic pivot amid national reforms.

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Employees work on a production line for an electric flying car at a factory in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, on November 6. Photo: AFP
Shanghai

Swire Properties bullish on mainland retail despite slowing market

Foot traffic and sales have been rising across Swire’s mainland portfolio, lifted by Gen Z shoppers, holiday spending and policy support.

China GDP

China’s divided economy

China is likely to set its economic growth target in a range of 4.5 to 5 per cent after meeting its 2025 goal of “around 5 per cent” thanks to domestic subsidies and strong exports.

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