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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
World
Helen Davidson in Taipei

Addictive, absurdly cheap and controversial: the rise of China’s Temu app

Objects from the Temu website.
Objects from the Temu website. The rise of China’s newest e-commerce giant has experts around the world looking on with interest. Composite: Temu

A chicken-shaped lamp. A toilet paper holder in the shape of a smiling velociraptor. An apron that catches beard hair during shaving. The list of unusual products goes on.

Among the more everyday items are cleaning products, smartwatches, novelty T-shirts, knock-off sneakers and barbecue tools, but the common thread across all of them is that everything is incredibly, mindbogglingly cheap.

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