2014 captured in words that really matter

Former NBA star Yao Ming takes an ice bucket challenge in Beijing. ZOU HONG/CHINA DAILY

7. Ice Bucket Challenges

This has significantly changed the way we raise money for charity work. Before the popularity of the Ice Bucket Challenge, normally we would raise money from enterprises in a more traditional way. Now we have a successful case of raising money from ordinary people through a social media platform. Charity is no longer limited to rich people and enterprises.

－Deng Guosheng, director of Tsinghua University's NGO Research Center

8. Corruption by low-level officials

This not only reflects the determination of the central authorities to clean up the government but also reflects the desire of the public to bring the anti-corruption campaign down to local level. We must admit that the corruption of local governments and officials is as serious as higher levels. The behavior of local officials can directly affect the public's trust and faith in the ruling party.

－Zhu Lijia, professor of public administration at the Chinese Academy of Governance

9. E-hongbao (cash-stuffed red envelope)

E-hongbao became popular during Spring Festival when users of WeChat started sending money to their friends. It is a very successful example of marketing, and also a mobile payment innovation. Before E-hongbao, mobile payments just transplanted offline payments to mobile devices. But E-hongbao is a new and unique way to pay using mobile devices. More and more people began to know about mobile payments after this.

－Li Ye, a mobile payment analyst with Analysys International