This CCP App Teaches Party Doctrine and Quizzes You

By Ryan Gandolfo, February 15, 2019

Tap That App is a monthly segment where we feature an app our editors think is cool.

China’s hottest new app doesn’t involve short video clips of everyday shenanigans or a limitless supply of potential suitors at the swipe of your finger. Instead, the most popular app in China is all about, well, China.

Xuexi Qiangguo, translated to ‘Study the Powerful Nation,’ is a one-stop shop to learn about President Xi Jinping’s political doctrine, Xi Jinping Thought, and stay up-to-date on new initiatives the Central Government is working on at home and abroad. This country-first app was developed by the Central Propaganda Department in January and has already become the most downloaded software on Apple’s China App Store, according to South China Morning Post. One tiny thing worth noting: Communist party members have reportedly been strongly encouraged to download the app to increase their knowledge of the party (meaning literally, tap that app).

But calling Xuexi Qiangguo just a news platform would be an undersell. According to Tech Crunch, the app is supported by Alibaba’s newly developed communication suite, called Dingtalk, which allows users to sign into Xuexi Qiangguo and chat directly through the government app. Users may also get tested on related content within the app to earn ‘study points.’ (It’s still unclear what these points can be used for).

The app is available for anyone with a China-based smartphone and a Chinese phone number. One minor drawback for expats without a firm grasp on Mandarin, there is not an English version (at least that we could find, anyway).

The app’s homepage offers the latest party news and follows a similar layout to Jinri Toutiao. Screengrab via 学习强国

Does the app appear a little excessive? We’ll leave that for you to decide. But one thing is for sure, the app already has more users than most countries’ populations.

Interested in downloading the government super-app? Type ‘Xuexi Qiangguo’ or ‘学习强国’ into your app store to download. Can’t find it? Hop on the app’s website xuexi.cn and scan the QR code on the right-hand side of the homepage.

For more Tap that App, click here.

[Cover image by Ryan Gandolfo/That’s]