Explore every episode of the podcast China Stories
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| [The China Project] China launches its youngest-ever astronauts into space | 08 Nov 2023 | 00:06:34 | |
Three new astronauts are heading to China’s Tiangong space station, which is about to get even bigger in the coming years. Click here to read the article by Nadya Yeh. Narrated by Yingyun Zhang. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. | |||
| [Caixin Global] The struggle facing big-box supermarkets in China | 08 Nov 2023 | 00:08:08 | |
Carrefour’s shrinking presence is emblematic of broader gloom that has befallen the country’s supermarket operators that are competing with e-commerce platforms and smaller stores. Click here to read the article by Ding Yi and Sun Yanran. Narrated by Sarah Kutulakos. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. | |||
| [The China Project] A young Deng Xiaoping in France | 23 Oct 2023 | 00:09:51 | |
In the early years of the Chinese republic, progressives looked west for political inspiration. This was how Deng Xiaoping — who would eventually lead China — came to be in France in the 1920s. He and his peers did indeed find inspiration abroad — just not the kind that his bourgeois sponsors anticipated. Click here to read the article by James Carter. Narrated by Kaiser Kuo. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. | |||
| [Sixth Tone] Russia hoped for a Chinese tourist boom in 2023. It’s still waiting. | 09 Jun 2023 | 00:14:34 | |
In Russia, many believed that China’s exit from “zero-COVID” restrictions would provide a shot in the arm to the country’s flatlining inbound tourism sector. Those hopes are now fading. Click here to read the article by Li Pasha. Narrated by Cliff Larsen. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. | |||
| [The World of Chinese] Unnatural selection | 05 Feb 2021 | 00:16:35 | |
When China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) released a list of 192 genetically modified (GM) food strains awaiting biosafety certification in December last year, the reaction was predictably hostile. “Reject GM food!” read a comment on microblog platform Weibo, with nearly 5,000 “likes.” “GMO agriculture in China must be totally prohibited!” read another. And finally, “Ban GM crops from entering China’s territory! We must be healthy! We love our land!” Read the article by Sam Davies: https://www.theworldofchinese.com/2020/05/unnatural-selection/ Narrated by Kaiser Kuo. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. | |||
| [Caixin Global] China needs to get serious about the growing abuse of laughing gas, experts say | 28 Jan 2021 | 00:07:40 | |
Chinese experts have called on the country to step up control of the production and sale of nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, amid signs that an increasing number of people are recreationally abusing the common industrial and medical substance. Read the article by Fang Zuwang and Matthew Walsh: https://www.caixinglobal.com/2020-12-21/in-depth-china-needs-to-get-serious-about-the-growing-abuse-of-laughing-gas-experts-say-101641604.html Narrated by Elyse Ribbons. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. | |||
| [Sixth Tone] How a woman’s can’t-stand-it-anymore road trip inspired China | 28 Jan 2021 | 00:35:30 | |
Su Min never thought that one day she would feel this free. She had finally reclaimed the white Volkswagen Polo she’d bought with the money she’d earned working at the supermarket for two years. There was no need to worry about her husband snatching the car keys, nor having to deal with a co-pilot bombarding her with directions as she drove. She could even eat whatever she felt like — in the past, she always had to cater to her husband’s bland palate. Now she was heartily adding chili peppers to the pot until beads of sweat covered her nose. Read the story by Yin Shenglin: https://www.sixthtone.com/news/1006624/how-a-womans-cant-stand-it-anymore-road-trip-inspired-china Narrated by Ada Shen. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. | |||
| [The Wire China] The crypto kid | 28 Jan 2021 | 00:20:29 | |
How DLive, a platform owned by a Chinese cryptocurrency entrepreneur named Justin Sun, became the home for Capitol rioters. Read the story by Eli Binder and Katrina Northrop: https://www.thewirechina.com/2021/01/24/the-crypto-kid/ Narrated by Kaiser Kuo. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. | |||
| [Caixin Global] What China's naturalized athletes reveal about its immigration policy | 27 Jan 2021 | 00:15:40 | |
Wearing a crimson jersey featuring No. 25 alongside a Chinese flag, soccer player Nico Yennaris, or Li Ke as he is known in China, sang the national anthem. When he was 20, Yennaris had declared that were he not a professional athlete, he’d be a singer. These days, besides listening to Beyoncé, Drake and Miley Cyrus, he also had a recently downloaded copy of “March of the Volunteers,” the Chinese national anthem, on his phone. Yennaris had been studying it in-between practices, waiting for this exact moment. Read the article by Lin Zizhen, Dave Yin, and Xiang Siqi: https://www.caixinglobal.com/2019-09-25/in-depth-what-chinas-naturalized-athletes-reveal-about-its-immigration-policy-101466045.html Narrated by Kaiser Kuo. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. | |||
| [Sixth Tone] China wants a baby boom. Its parents aren’t interested. | 27 Jan 2021 | 00:11:19 | |
It’s been five years since China ended the one-child policy. Yet many couples still prefer not to have a second baby. Read the article by Wang Lianzhang: https://www.sixthtone.com/news/1006334/china-wants-a-baby-boom.-its-parents-arent-interested. Narrated by Elyse Ribbons. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. | |||
| [SupChina] Ghosts of Communists past | 25 Jan 2021 | 00:11:44 | |
Litmus tests for U.S. citizenship based on Communist Party membership are a throwback to the 1950s. They still don't make sense. Read the article by Tianyu M. Fang: https://supchina.com/2021/01/19/ghosts-of-communists-past/ Narrated by Kaiser Kuo. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. | |||
| [The World of Chinese] Why are sad frogs invading China’s streets? | 06 Jun 2023 | 00:11:12 | |
An invasion of people in frog costumes has taken China’s internet by storm—and posed a challenge to urban management. Click here to read the article by Huang Shichan. Narrated by Cliff Larsen. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. | |||
| [Rest of World] Chinese internet trolls are adopting American racism to taunt Black users | 06 Jun 2023 | 00:06:04 | |
Users are harassing Black creators with profile pictures of white police officers. Click here to read the article by Viola Zhou. Narrated by Sarah Kutulakos. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. | |||
| [Sixth Tone] In China, Women Are Defying ‘Beauty Duty’ — With a Bold Haircut | 06 Jun 2023 | 00:12:19 | |
Buzz cuts are on the rise in a country where long hair is revered. Some women do it to reject the status quo, while others simply find it practical. Click here to read the article by Li Wei and Ni Dandan. Narrated by Elyse Ribbons. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. | |||
| [Caixin Global] Chinese Fast Fashion Platforms Could Be Next U.S. Target | 06 Jun 2023 | 00:15:13 | |
Chinese Fast Fashion Platforms Could Be Next U.S. Target - A scathing report from an advisory body to the U.S. Congress has industry insiders expecting firms like Temu and Shein to face regulatory pressure. Click here to read the article by Sun Yanran, Bao Hongyun and Mo Yelin. Narrated by Mina Greb. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. | |||
| [The China Project] Are Hollywood films losing appeal for Chinese audiences? | 02 Jun 2023 | 00:12:59 | |
After years of strict management on cinematic imports and a pandemic-induced disruption, China’s film sector is reopening to the world again. But while the regulatory environment is working in its favor, Hollywood seems to be struggling to satisfy Chinese audiences. Click here to read the article by Zhao Yuanyuan. Narrated by Cliff Larsen. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. | |||
| [Sixth Tone] The astronomer who calmed China’s UFO craze | 02 Jun 2023 | 00:18:01 | |
When sightings of celestial phenomena surged in China in the 80s, researcher Liu Yan’s letters helped keep people’s feet on the ground. Click here to read the article by Shanghai Observer. Reported by Chen Shuyi. Narrated by Cliff Larsen. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. | |||
| [The China Project] What really happened at the Battle of Luding Bridge? | 31 May 2023 | 00:08:13 | |
The Battle of Luding Bridge is part of the founding lore of the Chinese Communist Party. People outside China first learned of the incident through the writings of American journalist Edgar Snow — but the battle was far less cinematic than Snow (and others) led the public to believe. Click here to read the article by James Carter. Narrated by Kaiser Kuo. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. | |||
| [The World of Chinese] ChatGPT Gold Rush: How AI Business (and Crime) Is Taking Shape in China | 30 May 2023 | 00:08:33 | |
ChatGPT and Chinese alternatives like Baidu’s Ernie have entrepreneurs harnessing AI for profit, while lawmakers are reigning in nascent ChatGPT and AI crime. Click here to read the article by Wang Jiawei. Narrated by Sarah Kutulakos. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. | |||
| [Sixth Tone] In China, panda superfans want more than just bear necessities | 30 May 2023 | 00:07:36 | |
Panda fans have grown beyond sharing adorable videos. Their intense passion and online influence can even impact park management and policy. Click here to read the article by Wu Peiyue. Narrated by Kim Dalrymple. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. | |||
| [The World of Chinese] Prepared to fail: Cafeterias and restaurants face backlash for pre-made meals | 20 Oct 2023 | 00:16:59 | |
A school canteen scandal has Chinese consumers rethinking their growing demand for pre-prepared and ready-to-eat meals. Click here to read the article by Tan Yunfei. Narrated by Cliff Larsen. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. | |||
| [The World of Chinese] Barbe-queue forever: How social media hype changed Zibo | 30 May 2023 | 00:14:09 | |
An online craze for Zibo’s barbecue has brought a deluge of tourists to the previously unheralded city, but does it change locals’ lives for better or worse? Click here to read the article by Roman Kierst. Narrated by Mina Greb. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. | |||
| [The China Project] Emotional storytelling and modernized folktales power a new era of Chinese animation | 26 May 2023 | 00:13:13 | |
From exploring personal subjects to reimagining ancient stories in a contemporary context, a new generation of Chinese creatives are elevating the world of animation beyond its legacy. Click here to read the article by Feng Jiayun. Narrated by Elyse Ribbons. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. | |||
| [Rest of World] Chinese streaming platforms and chill? | 26 May 2023 | 00:09:31 | |
Chinese streaming services put Netflix and Disney+ dominance in danger. Click here to read the article by William Yuen Yee. Narrated by Cliff Larsen. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. | |||
| [The China Project] Lonely Planet: Imperial China, by Xu Xiake | 26 May 2023 | 00:06:17 | |
Xu Xiake was China's first, most popular, and most prolific travel writer. He visited 16 modern provinces over more than three decades, and the observations he left behind, from the scientific to the mundane, provide us with a comprehensive guide to 17th-century China. Click here to read the article by James Carter. Narrated by Kaiser Kuo. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. | |||
| [Sixth Tone] Young Chinese love everything about Sweden. Except living there. | 23 May 2023 | 00:11:57 | |
Young Chinese are moving to Sweden in record numbers, seeking better labor conditions and a more tolerant society. Many are underwhelmed by what they find. Click here to read the article by Chang Minxiao and Fan Yiying. Narrated by Elyse Ribbons. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. | |||
| [Caixin Global] Grim year for China’s bankers and brokers as pays slashed | 23 May 2023 | 00:10:28 | |
Average compensation at many securities firms fell roughly 20%, with remuneration squeezed for top executives at many banks, Caixin’s analysis shows. Click here to read the article by Yue Yue, Liu Ran, Wang Juanjuan, Wu Yujian and Qing Na. Narrated by Sarah Kutulakos. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. | |||
| [Caixin Global] Scandal-ridden chinese soccer gets in foul trouble again | 23 May 2023 | 00:15:14 | |
Since November, at least a dozen high-ranking CFA officials or senior club executives have been caught up in the clampdown, amid persistent misconduct involving match-fixing and gambling. Click here to read the article by Qin Jianhang and Kelly Wang. Narrated by Mina Greb. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. | |||
| [The China Project] After a half-century, does panda diplomacy still work? | 19 May 2023 | 00:10:58 | |
Last week, Ya Ya the panda returned to Shanghai after spending 20 years in Memphis. Her arrival marked the end of a drawn-out saga that turned political, renewing an old question of whether panda diplomacy remains necessary. Click here to read the article by Yi Liu. Narrated by Cliff Larsen. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. | |||
| [The China Project] Beijing LGBT Center shutters after 15 years, citing uncontrollable factors | 19 May 2023 | 00:11:57 | |
“I don't think the Center crossed a line, but rather the line crossed them.” Click here to read the article by Zhao Yuanyuan. Narrated by Mina Greb. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. | |||
| [The China Project] What atrocity looks like: John Magee’s Rape of Nanking footage | 18 May 2023 | 00:08:23 | |
A Life magazine cover in 1938 sought to rally American public support for the war in the Pacific. The images inside that front cover were much more horrifying, revealing war atrocities committed in Nanjing. Click here to read the article by James Carter. Narrated by Kaiser Kuo. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. | |||
| [Rest of World] Why thousands of young Chinese people use a pink dinosaur as their alias | 20 Oct 2023 | 00:05:25 | |
Users adopt the alias “momo” as a way to speak more freely, evade harassment, and protect personal privacy on Douban and Xiaohongshu. Click here to read the article by Caiwei Chen. Narrated by Elyse Ribbons. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. | |||
| [The World of Chinese] Growing pains: What’s behind China’s obsession with height? | 16 May 2023 | 00:10:49 | |
Faced with still-rampant height discrimination in society, Chinese parents go to great lengths to make their kids tall. Click here to read the article by Hatty Liu. Narrated by Sarah Kutulakos. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. | |||
| [The World of Chinese] Last bus home: Are China’s coach services doomed? | 12 May 2023 | 00:17:17 | |
With an aging ridership and canceled routes, China’s intercity buses struggle to survive. Click here to read the article by Tan Yunfei. Narrated by Kaiser Kuo. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. | |||
| [Sixth Tone] Words of the working class: Poems from everyday China | 12 May 2023 | 00:19:17 | |
From fields to vegetable farms to steel mills, ordinary workers across China document everyday mundanities in extraordinary verse. Click here to read the article by Zhu Lingyu. Narrated by Anthony Tao. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. | |||
| [Rest of World] How China’s hottest social media app turned Düsseldorf into a foodie destination | 12 May 2023 | 00:08:37 | |
The trendiest food city in Europe isn’t Paris or London. It’s Düsseldorf — thanks to Xiaohongshu. Click here to read the article by Krish Raghav, Yan Cong and Carwyn Morris. Narrated by Elyse Ribbons. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. | |||
| [Sixth Tone] The lost art of chrysanthemum cultivation | 12 May 2023 | 00:08:27 | |
Yu Jiangang’s hometown used to be a “sea of flowers.” What was lost when the sea dried up? Click here to read the article by Yu Jiangang. Narrated by Cliff Larsen. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. | |||
| [The China Project] Battle of Tunmen: The first clash between China and Europe | 10 May 2023 | 00:08:21 | |
An age-old story of diplomatic misunderstanding and technology transference. Click here to read the article by James Carter. Narrated by Kaiser Kuo. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. | |||
| [Sixth Tone] AI is starting to replace humans in China’s creative sector | 09 May 2023 | 00:07:22 | |
While some employees are worried about the latest competition, others feel machines cannot entirely replace human minds. Click here to read the article by Ye Zhanhang. Narrated by Sarah Kutulakos. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. | |||
| [The World of Chinese] Online mindfulness courses are booming in China, but do they actually work? | 05 May 2023 | 00:15:10 | |
As meditation and mindfulness apps continue to surge in popularity, consumers struggle to get their money’s worth. Click here to read the article by Liu Sha. Narrated by Cliff Larsen. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. | |||
| [Sixth Tone] China’s latest cynical buzzword is a cry for help | 05 May 2023 | 00:07:34 | |
“Kong Yiji literature” is often seen as a sign of disillusionment. But the willingness to criticize is cause for hope, not despair. Click here to read the article by Cao Dongbo. Narrated by Elyse Ribbons. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. | |||
| [The China Project] The Peking Express: A train heist for the ages | 03 May 2023 | 00:08:32 | |
China's greatest train hijacking, by a band of outlaws calling themselves the Autonomous Army, changed the Republic of China. Click here to read the article by James Carter. Narrated by Kaiser Kuo. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. | |||
| [Caixin Global] China struggles to wean itself off bear bile farming | 17 Oct 2023 | 00:13:43 | |
Amid growing concerns about the suffering that extraction causes the animals, the government has supported research into synthetic substitutes, but regulations are hampering the registration of alternatives to what some have dubbed ‘medicinal gold.’ Click here to read the article by Yang Yuqi and Kelly Wang. Narrated by Yingyun Zhang. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. | |||
| [Rest of World] AI is already taking video game illustrators’ jobs in China | 02 May 2023 | 00:09:57 | |
“AI is developing at a speed way beyond our imagination. Two people could potentially do the work that used to be done by 10.” Click here to read the article by Viola Zhou. Narrated by Sarah Kutulakos. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. | |||
| [Caixin Global] China’s EV battery boom goes bust | 02 May 2023 | 00:13:57 | |
The rush to build up capacity as vehicle sales surged over the last few years has led to an overhang that resulted in production and job cuts, as well as falling prices. Lu Yutong, Qu Yunxu and Bonnie Cao. Narrated by Sylvia Franke. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. | |||
| [Rest of World] How Temu topped the U.S. app charts by turning shopping into a game | 02 May 2023 | 00:10:19 | |
E-commerce giant PDD Holdings' U.S. app hooks customers with referral giveaways. Click here to read the article by Viola Zhou. Narrated by Mina Greb. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. | |||
| [The China Project] Sanmao and her ‘Stories of the Sahara’ | 28 Apr 2023 | 00:13:57 | |
Celebrating one of Taiwan's greatest writers. Click here to read the article by Neocha. Narrated by Cliff Larsen. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. | |||
| [The China Project] Remembering the Yellow Flower Mound Uprising against the Qing | 27 Apr 2023 | 00:08:34 | |
The Yellow Flower Mound Uprising, also known as the Second Guangzhou Uprising, may have failed, but its legacy is now celebrated in mainstream Chinese culture. Here's how it happened. Click here to read the article by James Carter. Narrated by Kaiser Kuo. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. | |||
| [Sixth Tone] China is trying to boost fertility. Can its sperm banks keep up? | 25 Apr 2023 | 00:10:24 | |
Although sometimes talked about as a solution to the country’s falling birth rate, the country’s assisted reproductive technology facilities, including sperm banks, aren’t ready for prime time. Click here to read the article by Ayo Wahlberg. Narrated by Cliff Larsen. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. | |||
| [The World of Chinese] A year after my father’s death, I finally made it home to mourn | 25 Apr 2023 | 00:08:57 | |
Stories of two post-Covid homecomings to mourn loved ones and sweep the tombs on Qingming Festival. Click here to read the article by Wang Lin. Narrated by Elyse Ribbons. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. | |||