Guancha: Tracing control and influence at Guancha news | Doublethink Lab
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Tracing control and influence at Guancha news | Doublethink Lab
Researcher: Harpre Ke
Guancha Syndicate (观察者网) is one of China’s most popular and influential online media portals, having launched in 2012 to provide an alternative, notionally decentralized, source of news for Chinese internet users.
Guancha is also a locus of China’s “new nationalist” movement predicated on anti-Western sentiment and conviction in the superiority of China’s current model of government.
Doublethink Lab has noted a tendency for international news outlets to cite Guancha as an independent source of news and views, distinct from state-run propaganda outlets such as Global Times and China Daily.
For example, Australia’s ABC News quoted a Guancha post from a “well-known civilian commentator who goes by the name of Xi Yazhou” (who introduces himself as an independent military commentator on the Guancha website ) in a story about the unveiling of a new drone during rehearsals to mark the 70th anniversary of the PRC.
But Taiwan-watchers may recognize Guancha as a source of disinformation operations aimed at the island in the wake of Typhoon Jebi, which struck Osaka in 2018. According to Reporters Without Borders (p.17), Guancha articles and a video falsely claimed Taiwan’s representative office in Osaka had done nothing to help stranded Taiwanese citizens, leaving the Chinese embassy to rescue them.
Taiwanese media picked up the false reports without properly fact-checking them — despite the Taiwan FactCheck Center debunking the disinformation — leading to protests against Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen.
This post serves to clarify Guancha’s positioning in China’s media ecosystem and the historical context in which it has evolved. We aim to show that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), in the form of both the central government via the State Council and the Shanghai municipal government, has influenced the organization since its inception.
Moreover, a network of state-connected influencers at the private entities behind Guancha’s technology platform and financing continues to exercise control of its content, as well as that of numerous WeChat accounts ostensibly authored by famous Chinese influencers.
Guancha has its genesis in Social Observer magazine, a pen and ink product published by the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences (SASS), a state entity. SASS is part-financed by the State Council and the Shanghai city government. (Figure 1)
Figure 1. The social network of the state entities related to the Social Observation Magazine from 2003 to 2010.
In 2010, SASS passed control of Social Observer to the state-owned Shanghai Social Science Magazine (SSSM), which operated out of the same building just off Huaihai Rd, a bustling commercial street that runs through Shanghai’s former French concession.
Between 2010–11, Shanghai Observer Culture Media (SOCM), a private entity, stepped in to co-publish Social Observer alongside SSSM, while the Shanghai Chunqiu Institute for Development and Strategic Studies (SCIDSS) provides content and academic support.
This is the beginning of Jin Zhongwei’s (金仲偉) association with Guancha Syndicate. Jin is Guancha’s co-founder and CEO, but was formerly a deputy editor of Oriental Morning Post, a traditional newspaper published under the state-owned Shanghai United Media Group until its shuttering in 2017. In 2010, Jin was a 50% stakeholder in SOCM. (Figure 2)
Figure 2. The social network of the state and private entities related to the Social Observation Magazine from 2010 to 2011.
In 2011, another entity based at the same address as SASS, Shanghai Social Observer Magazine, took over the publication of Social Observer, with Jin’s SOCM providing content moderation services. In the context of state-run Chinese media, moderation is the process through which articles are checked by censors to ensure they ‘on-message’ and do not run afoul of guidance issued by the CCP’s Publicity Department. (Figure 3)
Figure 3. The social network of the state and private entities related to the Social Observation Magazine from 2011 to 2012.
In 2012, SOCM and a company in which Jin holds a minority stake, Shanghai Observer Information Technology Co., Ltd (SOIT), launched Guancha Syndicate, Social Observer’s online platform.
Initially, Social Observer magazine provided the majority of Guancha’s content, while being published and edited by staff operating out of SASS headquarters on Huaihai Rd. (Figure 4)
Figure 4. The social network of the state and private entities related to Guancha (Guancha Syndicate) from 2012 to 2014.
The graphic below (Figure 5) illustrates the relationships between the private entities SOCM and SOIT and various state-owned institutions, including those that published Social Observer magazine.
The connections are important because, from 2014 onwards, Guancha Syndicate’s direct ties to Social Observer gradually unwind. The online portal begins ‘independent’ publication under a new model sourcing content from a network of non-journalist writers, including celebrities, students, scholars, and businessmen, which is the brainchild of Jin and his fellow Guancha co-founder, venture capitalist Eric Xun Li (李世默).
At this point, Jin himself is personally moderating the WeChat page of Professor Zhang Weiwei (張維為), a former SASS head who is regularly quoted by Chinese media on international relations in his role as director of the China Institute at Fudan University in Shanghai. He has also become CEO of SCIDSS. Meanwhile, both Zhang and Li are working as researchers for SOCM, while Li is Chairman of the Fudan University China Institute’s advisory committee, and Jin is a researcher for the same institution.
Later, SOIT itself assumes control of Zhang’s WeChat account, as well as that of another widely quoted figure, Ping Chen (陳平), Professor of Economics at the National School of Development at Peking University, and Senior Research Fellow at Center for New Political Economy at Fudan University.
Figure 5. The social network of the state and private entities related to Guancha (Guancha Syndicate) from 2014 to 2020.
In 2017, SOIT spun off a new unit, Shanghai DeYe Cultural Communication, which curates the Hu Xijin (胡錫進) Observatory WeChat account. Hu is the chief editor of the state-owned Global Times, a bilingual tabloid known for its vehement anti-Western views.
In addition to his various research and advisory roles, Li is the executive director of Chengwei Capital, which maintains strong ties to SOIT via its trading partners Jiang Shaoqing (蔣邵清) and Sha Ye (沙燁). (Figure 6)
Figure 6. Sha Ye is the executive director of the Chenwei Capital.
At the time of Guancha’s launch, both Li and Jiang held seats on SOIT’s board, but have since vacated their positions, while Sha maintains a 17.5% stake in the company. During his time on the board, Jiang was also a shareholder of “Beijing Huaxia Thinking Engineering Technology’’, otherwise known as April Media, from November 2010 to March 2014.
We highlight this association to establish the editorial direction of Guancha during its early days as a standalone web portal.
April Media is renowned for being the original proponent of the “Anti-CNN movement” launched in the wake of the 2008 Tibetan uprising. Founder, Rao Jin (饒謹), who initiated the “anti-CNN movement” in 2008, established the website as a repository for what he and fellow Chinese netizens identified as lies and distortions by Western media regarding the origins of the Tibet protests and the manner in which they were quashed.
Rao, who was 23 years old at the time, swiftly became an ambassador for the views of young Chinese people, and in 2020 was nominated as a “Beijing Youth Model” under a Communist Youth League initiative. (Figure 7–12)
Figure 7. Rao Jin, the general manager of the April Media, was awarded the Beijing Youth Model.
During Jiang’s time as a shareholder (Figure 8), April Media expanded to take on moderation of a host of WeChat pages authored by influencers, such as Jin Canrong (金燦榮), a professor and Associate Dean with the School of International Studies at Renmin University of China, Li Yi (李毅) and Sima Nan (司馬南). Needless to say, these high-profile commentators are united in their opposition to the West and their support for China’s new nationalism. (Figure 9)
Figure 8. Jiang Shaoqing was a shareholder of April Media.Figure 9. The social network of the Chengwei Capital, the April Media, and the patriotic key opinion leaders in China.
We hope that this analysis provides useful context for those seeking to understand the institutions and personalities behind Guancha Syndicate, and how their influence extends through online marketing companies to shape the voice of Chinese influencers. (Figure 10–12)
Figure 10. The screenshot of the account entities moderating WeChat pages of Zhang Weiwei, Ping Chen, and Hu Xijing.Figure 11. The screenshot of the account entities moderating WeChat pages of Li Yi and Canrong Jin.Figure 12. The screenshot of the account entities moderating WeChat pages of Sima Nan
The 10 Best Villas in La Guancha, Spain
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Excellent: 9+
Very good: 8+
Good: 7+
Fairly good: 6+
Our recommendations
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Karin House
La Guancha
Karin House in La Guancha provides accommodation with free WiFi, 39 km from Los Gigantes, 17 km from Botanical Gardens and 17 km from Taoro Park.
Ishai is a super host.Very helpful,chatty person.
Any question problem you have, he will respond whithin a minutes. Great, family atmosphere and cozy village.
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9.6
Superb
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Casita colgada “Can Lia”
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Featuring garden views, Casita colgada “Can Lia” provides accommodation with a balcony and a coffee machine, around 19 km from Botanical Gardens.
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9.7
Superb
14 reviews
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Casa Alsa
La Guancha
Featuring mountain views, Casa Alsa is located in La Guancha. It features a garden and an outdoor pool. It features a private pool.
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9.2
Excellent
33 reviews
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Casa Candelaria
La Guancha
Boasting a garden, an outdoor pool and sea views, CASA CANDELARIA is located in La Guancha. Private parking and free Wi-Fi are available on site.
Perfect location to discover north of the Tenerife, though might be hard to reach without a car. Beautiful, cozy house. Comfortable beds. Fully supplied kitchen. Awesome views. Great host, showed us everything.
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9.7
Superb
6 reviews
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Finca La Sorriba
La Guancha
Villa Finca La Sorriba is located just 2.8 km from Moreno Beach in La Guancha. It features a balcony, garden and outdoor pool. Guests can swim in their own pool.
This place was amazing! All drawbacks are acceptable since you have your own pool, a huge backyard and wonderful trees, 2 BBQ places and an mesmerizing view on the ocean and teide as well.
The owners were super nice and took care of everything
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9.2
Excellent
15 reviews
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Casa Carmela
org/PostalAddress”>La Guancha
Offering free WiFi and mountain views, Casa Carmela is located in La Guancha. Playa de Las Aguas Beach is 2.2 km away.
The location was easy to find, the hosts were very welcoming and friendly
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9.5
Excellent
35 reviews
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Finca Mar y Teide
La Guancha
Finca Mar y Teide is located in La Guancha. The windows offer mountain views. Playa de las Americas is 37 km away.
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8
Very good
6 reviews
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Casa Margarita
La Guancha
Featuring accommodation with a private pool, mountain view and a patio, Casa Margarita is located in La Guancha.
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10
Superb
3 reviews
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Casa Carmen
org/PostalAddress”>La Guancha
Offering an outdoor pool, CASA CARMEN is located in La Guancha. The windows offer mountain views. The house is 2.8 km from Moreno Beach.
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7.3
Good
3 reviews
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Casa Rustica El Charco
La Guancha
Boasting sea views, Casa Rústica El Charco offers accommodation with a terrace and a kettle, around 43 km from Los Gigantes.
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9. 5
Fabulous
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8.0
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9.2
Perfect
33 reviews for this villa
Breakfast offered
Karin House in La Guancha provides accommodation with free WiFi, 39 km from Los Gigantes, 17 km from Botanical Gardens and 17 km from Taoro Park.
Ishai is a super host.Very helpful,chatty person.
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From € 61.83 per night
9.6
Fabulous
19 reviews
Breakfast offered
Boasting a garden, an outdoor pool and sea views, CASA CANDELARIA is located in La Guancha. Private parking and free Wi-Fi are available on site.
Perfect location to discover north of the Tenerife, though might be hard to reach without a car.
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From € 73.17 per night
9.7
Fabulous
6 reviews
Breakfast offered
Villa Finca La Sorriba is located just 2.8 km from Moreno Beach in La Guancha. It features a balcony, garden and outdoor pool. Guests can swim in their own pool.
This place was amazing! All drawbacks are acceptable since you have your own pool, a huge backyard…
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From € 140.25 per night
9.2
Perfect
15 reviews
Breakfast offered
Boasting sea views, Casa Rústica El Charco offers accommodation with a terrace and a kettle, around 43 km from Los Gigantes.
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From € 48.33 per night
Breakfast offered
Boasting a garden and a terrace, Casa con piscina, Wifi y terraza con estupenda vistas a Oceano provides accommodation in La Guancha with free WiFi and garden views.
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From € 101 per night
Breakfast offered
Offering an outdoor swimming pool and garden view, Casa con Wifi, piscina con vistas directamente al Mar, rodeada de árboles limoneros is located in La Guancha, 39 km from Los Gigantes and 19 km from. ..
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From € 117.67 per night
Breakfast offered
Offering an outdoor pool, CASA CARMEN is located in La Guancha. The windows offer mountain views. The house is 2.8 km from Moreno Beach.
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From € 69.51 per night
7.3
Good
3 reviews
City center
Featuring accommodation with a private pool, mountain view and a patio, Casa Margarita is located in La Guancha.
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From € 224.40 per night
ten
Fabulous
3 reviews
City center
Featuring garden views, Casita colgada “Can Lia” provides accommodation with a balcony and a coffee machine, around 19km from Botanical Gardens.
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From € 150 per night
9.7
Fabulous
14 reviews
City center
Offering free WiFi and mountain views, Casa Carmela is located in La Guancha. Playa de Las Aguas Beach is 2.2 km away.
The location was easy to find, the hosts were very welcoming and friendly
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From € 264.33 per night
9.5
Fabulous
35 reviews
City center
Featuring mountain views, Casa Alsa is located in La Guancha. It features a garden and an outdoor pool. It features a private pool.
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From € 338.12 per night
9.2
Perfect
33 reviews
City center
Finca Mar y Teide is located in La Guancha. The windows offer mountain views. Playa de las Americas is 37 km away.
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From € 145.25 per night
8.0
Very well
6 reviews
City center
Boasting a garden and barbecue facilities, Casa Teresa offers accommodation in La Guancha with free WiFi and garden views.
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From € 219 per night
On average, a villa in La Guancha costs €328.59 per night (based on Booking.com prices).
These villas in La Guancha are highly rated by couples: Casita colgada “Can Lia”, Casa Carmela and Karin House.
Many families visiting La Guancha enjoyed staying at Finca La Sorriba, Casa Carmela and Casa Candelaria.
Casita colgada “Can Lia”, Casa Candelaria and Karin House are some of the popular villas in La Guancha.
Finca La Sorriba, Casa Carmela, and Casa Alsa in La Guancha have received great reviews for the views from their rooms.
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Villa in La Guancha is in high demand among foreigners. This is due to a number of reasons – affordable prices in La Guancha for Villa, favorable climatic conditions, location near the sea, as well as a large flow of tourists throughout the year. This means that the Villa in La Guancha will be in demand for rent both in the summer and in the winter season, because the Costa Blanca is characterized by 320 days a year. Many residents of northern Europe and other regions come here to spend the winter, so buying a Villa in La Guancha is beneficial not only from the point of view of owning a home for your own vacation, but also from the rental income.
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