“Two Months Since the Want Want Incident, Digital Workers Continue Speaking Out Despite Repression (August 12–28, 2026)”
As of August 28, exactly two months have passed since the Want Want incident. Despite the Chinese Communist Party’s escalating crackdown, digital workers have refused to remain silent and continue to make their voices heard through various offline actions. Between August 12 and 28, the Yesterday Project documented 19 large-screen advertisements, graffiti messages, and similar displays across China; 23 flag-display actions; and numerous other acts of solidarity using shopping bags, T-shirts, vehicle decals, and other items.
“Shanghai Owners of RMB 10 Million Luxury Homes Face Police Crackdown During Protest at State-Owned Developer’s Headquarters (August 27, 2026)”
On August 27, homeowners from Kaiyun Hujing Huating, the third phase of Pukai Yunjing in Shanghai’s Pudong New Area, gathered at the headquarters of the developer, Shanghai Pudong Exploration Group Co., Ltd. They demanded that the group’s chairman, Yan Jionghao, come forward to address and resolve their grievances. Police cracked down on the protesting homeowners, and several people were beaten during the confrontation.
According to the homeowners, the development has numerous problems, including electrical current detected on some metal fixtures or equipment, severe flooding in the basement, downgraded lobby stonework and household appliances, and poorly designed entrances and exits. The homeowners had previously staged multiple protests over these issues.
Publicly available information shows that units at Kaiyun Hujing Huating range in price from several million yuan to more than RMB 20 million, with multiple unit types costing over RMB 10 million.
“Several Injured as Nanjing Police and Chengguan Clash with Street Vendors During Eviction (August 26, 2026)”
On the evening of August 26, police and chengguan (urban management officers) clashed with street vendors while driving them out of the Xiamafang Night Market in Xuanwu District, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province. According to eyewitnesses, people on both sides were injured in the confrontation.
“Hundreds of Police in Wenzhou Block Villagers’ Procession, Sparking Clashes (2026.08.26–27)”
On August 26 and 27, authorities deployed hundreds of police officers in Ningcun Village, Haibin Subdistrict, Longwan District, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, to prevent villagers from holding a large procession as originally planned. The event was intended to commemorate the 700th anniversary of the birth of Tang He and celebrate the nationally recognized intangible cultural heritage tradition known as “Tang He Folk Beliefs and Customs.” Villagers and police remained locked in a standoff from the evening of August 26 until the morning of August 27, with violent clashes erupting at one point.
According to villagers, they had spent months preparing and rehearsing for the procession. However, on the eve of the event, authorities suddenly announced its cancellation, citing the approaching typhoon. Villagers expressed anger over the decision, arguing that the typhoon was not expected to make landfall until the night of August 27 or the morning of August 28, while the procession had been scheduled to run from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. on August 27. They therefore believed the daytime activities would not be directly affected.
Weather forecasts showed that Typhoon Saudel, the 18th typhoon of the year, was expected to make landfall somewhere along the coast between Xiangshan, Zhejiang, and Fuding, Fujian, from the night of August 27 to the morning of August 28. The strongest winds and rainfall in Wenzhou were also forecast to occur from the night of August 27 through August 28.
“Huawei ‘Public Toilet Photo’ Controversy Continues to Escalate as Netizens Join the Photo Check-In Trend (2026.08.26)”
On August 26, after a photo showing a public restroom sign alongside Huawei’s flagship store in Shanghai went viral online, the sign in question was removed. However, Huawei’s attempt to “silence” the matter failed to quiet netizens. Instead, the internet was flooded with more photos showing public restroom signs alongside Huawei stores in different cities.
Meanwhile, a school in Guangdong was forced to switch to a one-day weekend because its Friday dismissal time coincided with the end of the workday for nearby Huawei employees, causing traffic congestion.
“Apple Contractor Denies ‘Five-Day, Eight-Hour Work Schedule’; Jiangsu Luxshare Worker Fired After Requesting Sick Leave During Overtime (2026.08.24)”
At Luxshare Precision Industry (Kunshan) Co., Ltd. in Kunshan, Jiangsu Province, a worker’s request for sick leave during scheduled overtime was denied, and the company recorded his absence as unauthorized. On August 24, when the worker approached a company manager to appeal the decision, the two became involved in a heated argument. During the confrontation, the manager openly denied that the five-day, eight-hour work schedule is a legally mandated standard under China’s Labor Law and then fired the worker. The worker said he would apply for labor arbitration and file a lawsuit in court, refusing to back down or compromise.
Public records show that Luxshare Precision is one of China’s leading electronics manufacturing services companies and Apple Inc.’s second-largest final-assembly contractor worldwide. It primarily manufactures and assembles core Apple products, including Apple Watches, AirPods, and iPhones. Luxshare is currently producing components for the iPhone 18 series.
“Worker Dies Suddenly at Factory in Puning, Guangdong; Family Marches to Demand Compensation (2026.08.24)”
On August 24, a worker died suddenly inside Puning Yuanhui Chemical Fiber Co., Ltd. in Jieyang, Guangdong Province. The worker’s family members marched to the factory entrance carrying banners and demanded reasonable compensation from the company.
“Worker in Guanghan, Sichuan, Climbs Streetlight to Demand Unpaid Wages, Remains There for 11 Hours (2026.08.25)”
On August 25, in Guanghan, Sichuan Province, a worker demanding unpaid wages climbed to the top of a Sanxingdui-inspired decorative streetlight outside the Bailun Jiangyueju residential complex and unfurled a banner reading, “Pay Me My Hard-Earned Wages.”
According to eyewitnesses, the man climbed the streetlight shortly after 6 a.m. and was not rescued by firefighters until shortly after 5 p.m., remaining there for approximately 11 hours.
“Hundreds of Henan Investors Surround Officials Demanding Repayment; County Chief Nearly Attacked by Crowd (August 24, 2026)”
On August 24, a large-scale protest erupted in Yudian Village, Huangchuan County, Xinyang City, Henan Province. Hundreds of investors in Yufeng Grain and Zhongxing Grain and Oil gathered outside the Yudian Village Committee office, demanding that the head of Huangchuan County address the repayment of their investments. Clashes broke out between the protesters, government personnel, and police. At one point, the county chief was surrounded by the angry crowd and narrowly escaped being attacked.
“Hundreds of Students Surround Henan’s Shaolin Tagou Martial Arts School for Days as Multiple Clashes Erupt (2026.08.21–23)”
From August 21 to 23, hundreds of former students of the Shaolin Tagou Martial Arts School gathered at the school in Dengfeng, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, for three consecutive days, demanding the return of security deposits that the school had withheld for years. According to the students, each was owed between 3,000 and 5,000 yuan, with some deposits having been withheld for more than a decade.
During the protest, the students clashed several times with school staff and teachers, leaving at least one student injured. Authorities deployed a large police presence to the school for “stability maintenance.” By August 23, following three consecutive days of collective protest, most of the students had recovered their deposits.
