James Liang · Full chronicle and history

At 12:58 PM, Caixin published a long signed article by James Liang titled "A Century of Chinese Population History," with the author still identified as the Executive Chairman of Trip.com Group.

In September 2026, demographer Liang Jianzhang's team released the "China Centennial Historical Population Report," estimating that China's births in 2025 fell to 7.92 million, only one quarter of the 1963 peak.

The X account "Luo Xiang" posted a claim that the Ctrip boss tried to flee and was caught.

A post appeared on X claiming that Trip.com boss Liang Jianzhang was caught while crossing the border into Vietnam via a back road from Pingxiang, Guangxi, with his entire family. After verification, this news is false.

Around August 20, rumors circulated online that Ctrip's Liang Jianzhang had fled, which were likewise linked to the new entry-exit regulations taking effect on September 15, but the matter eventually fizzled out.