Internet users in China are watching the protests in France with a mix of geopolitical cynicism, domestic pride and sadness at the damage to French landmarks.
The protests started in September, when students and teachers in southeastern Paris rallied against deteriorating school conditions. Those specific grievances quickly escalated into nationwide protests at the rising cost of living and declining public services.
What began as peaceful marches has since dissolved into violence, with rioters looting hundreds of shops and setting fire to vehicles and historic landmarks, including the 143-year-old town hall in the city of Limoges.
Multiple public buildings across cities including Paris, Marseilles and Bordeaux were also targeted.