China real estate agents turn to livestreaming for a leg up in a downturn

People relaxing by a lake near residential buildings in Hegang city in northeastern China's Heilongjiang province. As home sales tumble and prices tank even in coveted markets like Shanghai, all signs point to a faltering post-Covid rebound, forcing property agents and developers to get creative. While not a new phenomenon in China, the popularity of livestreaming is picking up, a rare bright spot in a struggling sector. — AFP

When the pandemic erupted and China halted the movement of people, real-estate agent Wang Shujuan saw an opportunity – give property seekers livestreamed sales videos of her latest homes direct to their phones.

Knowing she had to adapt, ‘Beauty Wang,’ as she’s known to her 73,000 followers, first took to selling houses on Douyin, China’s TikTok, in April 2020.