China Stories
1,008 episodes - English - Latest episode: 6 months ago - ★★★★★ - 50 ratingsChina Stories from the Sinica Network on The China Project brings you audio narration of the best articles and op-eds appearing in Sixth Tone, Caixin Global, Week in China, The World of Chinese, and of course The China Project. Subscribe to the podcast and you can listen to features on the go, with narrators who won’t butcher the pronunciation of Chinese names and words.
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Episodes
[The China Project] High-level talks between China and Japan, but no results
April 07, 2023 20:46 - 6 minutes - 6.38 MBChina and Japan are talking again, but relations will probably deteriorate over Beijing’s growing military presence in disputed territories, Tokyo’s crackdown on advanced chipmaking gear, and a detained Japanese businessman. Click here to read the article by Nadya Yeh. 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] The Tiananmen protests officially called a ‘revolutionary movement’
April 06, 2023 20:29 - 9 minutes - 8.98 MBWhen a million people converged on Tiananmen Square on April 4-5, 1976, to mourn Zhou Enlai, authorities used violence to disperse the gathering. Two years later, the central government reassessed the events of those days. 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 China Project] The RESTRICT Act could unite TikTok, Tucker Carlson, and Shein
April 04, 2023 19:41 - 9 minutes - 8.99 MBNew proposed legislation in the U.S. Congress could stop foreign tech companies from operating in the U.S. Everyone’s talking about TikTok — but the implications for Chinese companies are much broader. Not even Tucker Carlson likes it. Click here to read the article by Eduardo Jaramillo. 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] ‘An imperial railway failure’: France’s disastrous colonization project on the China-Vietnam border
March 31, 2023 19:54 - 8 minutes - 7.97 MBAs many as 100,000 laborers died in the construction of the Kunming–Haiphong railway, which opened on April 1, 1910. The cost was not worth it. 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] Core of Guangzhou’s textile industry is being shattered
March 31, 2023 19:53 - 10 minutes - 9.22 MBThe city is relocating parts of Zhongda market, a decades-old fabric trading and manufacturing hub, 100 kilometers away. But not everyone is on board. Click here to read the article by Wang Jing and Kelsey Cheng. 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] Fertile ground: Sperm banks in China struggle to meet growing demand
March 31, 2023 19:51 - 14 minutes - 13.7 MBDemand for sperm banks is rising, but young men struggle to meet tough technical and societal standards to donate. Click here to read the article by Wang Jiawei. 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] Young Chinese ask: Does this life spark joy?
March 28, 2023 20:02 - 7 minutes - 7.12 MBIn growing online communities devoted to minimalism, young Chinese swap tricks for scoring bargains or cutting down on unnecessary purchases. But the real motivation is regaining a sense of control in an uncertain world. Click here to read the article by Shao Wenjun. 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] Same-sex couples from China are getting married in Utah over Zoom
March 28, 2023 20:01 - 9 minutes - 8.87 MBUtah County introduced weddings over Zoom during the pandemic, unintentionally providing a valuable service for China's LGBTQ+ community. Click here to read the article by Viola Zhou. 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.
[Sixth Tone] Hong Kong’s ‘daigou’ trade is back. But this time, it has reversed.
March 28, 2023 19:59 - 8 minutes - 7.39 MBFor years, Chinese “daigou” made money by bringing hard-to-find luxury products from Hong Kong to the mainland. Now, as the city’s borders reopen, they are ferrying goods in the other direction. Click here to read the article by Wu Peiyue. 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.
[The World of Chinese] Remembering the deadliest bridge on the Yunnan-Vietnam railway
March 24, 2023 21:00 - 13 minutes - 12.3 MBA spectacular 115-year-old railway bridge in Yunnan province stands as a reminder of the Chinese workers who died in its construction. Click here to read the article by Anson Zong-Liscum. 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] ‘Canton Coup’ and what could have been for the KMT
March 23, 2023 01:56 - 8 minutes - 8.01 MBIn the spring of 1926, Nationalists and Communists in China were in a tenuous alliance. While this "First United Front" technically endured until a year later, the beginning of its unraveling can be traced back to a little-remembered event in history, when a warship arrived outside Chiang Kai-shek's office... 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/pr...
[The World of Chinese] The shady world of Chinese online reviews
March 21, 2023 21:46 - 13 minutes - 12.3 MBWelcome to the world of Chinese consumer reviews, where fakes lurk round every corner and a “water army” can torpedo e-commerce businesses. Click here to read the article by Ji Jingjing. 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] The tortuous history of modern Chinese feminism
March 21, 2023 21:11 - 16 minutes - 15.6 MBA brief history of modern Chinese feminism: From anti-foot-binding marches, to the viral sexual harassment cases, and the struggle for reproductive rights. Click here to read the article by Hatty Liu and Anita He. 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.
[Sixth Tone] China’s first deaf lawyer beat the odds. Now, she’s giving back.
March 21, 2023 21:10 - 10 minutes - 9.33 MBThere still isn’t a system in place for Tan Ting to argue in court so she works on spreading legal awareness among the deaf. In China, that’s equally important. Click here to read the article by Ye Zhanhang. 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] My three years of the pig
March 17, 2023 21:06 - 7 minutes - 6.74 MBThe author, a rural development expert, reflects on spending the pandemic setting up a free-range pig farm in a remote Yunnan village. Click here to read the article by Yang Xingfeng. 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] What Li Yining taught China about economic reform
March 17, 2023 21:05 - 23 minutes - 22 MBThe legacy of the renowned academic Li Yining who passed away last month will live on in through his ground-breaking theories and efforts to use private capital to revamp how Chinese enterprises were structured in the post-reform era. Click here to read the article by Yu Hairong. 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] New House committee on China: Concerns and caution, but not all doom and gloom
March 17, 2023 21:01 - 7 minutes - 7.11 MBThe first meeting of a new House committee on China on February 28 signaled that Washington is serious about figuring out the future of the U.S.-China relationship. Click here to read the article by Robert Rust. 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] Sanmen Bay Affair: The only European power shut out of Qing China
March 15, 2023 23:21 - 7 minutes - 6.88 MBAll the great European powers (plus the U.S.) got a slice of China in the late-19th century. All but Italy, that is. 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] A Chinese village bet its future on tourism. Then, COVID hit.
March 14, 2023 20:54 - 17 minutes - 16.2 MBHebian was one of many Chinese villages that escaped poverty by transforming into a tourist resort. But when the pandemic struck, the village was forced to reinvent itself once again. Click here to read the article by Li Pasha. Narrated by Ryan Cunningham. 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] Around the island in 25 days
March 10, 2023 20:23 - 19 minutes - 18.2 MBA once-in-a-lifetime pilgrimage around Taiwan by motorbike. Click here to read the article by Mads Vesterager Nielsen. 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.
[Sixth Tone] Meet the editor pushing to turn the page on women’s literature
March 10, 2023 20:22 - 7 minutes - 6.64 MBFor Ren Fei, publishing books about, for, and by women is more an instinctive act rather than a deliberate one. Click here to read the article by Yang Caini. 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] Japanese, German carmakers lose ground in China after falling behind on EVs
March 10, 2023 20:20 - 14 minutes - 13.3 MBThe likes of Nissan and VW have lost market share as Chinese competitors capitalized on their early jump into the EV segment. Click here to read the article by Guo Yingzhe and Yu Cong. 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] Remote freedom: The cost of utopia for China’s fledgling digital nomads
March 07, 2023 20:48 - 16 minutes - 14.8 MBCovid-19 has transformed China’s remote work culture, but who can afford this lifestyle and how does it impact local communities? Click here to read the article by Sam Davies & Elise Mak. Narrated by Ryan Cunningham. 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] She drew millions of TikTok followers by selling a fantasy of rural China. Then politics intervened
March 07, 2023 20:46 - 11 minutes - 10.3 MBFans from the U.S. to Bangladesh find escape in Li Ziqi's idyllic videos. But behind the camera, she's just another player in China’s platform economy. Click here to read the article by Yi-Ling Liu. 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.
[Sixth Tone] China’s tourism rebound faces a roadblock: A lack of travel agents
March 03, 2023 20:39 - 10 minutes - 9.57 MBMillions of Chinese tourists are ready to start traveling overseas again. But the travel industry isn’t ready for them. Click here to read the article by Ni Dandan. 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] The sad reign of Manchukuo’s only emperor
March 03, 2023 20:34 - 7 minutes - 7.03 MBWithin his country, "the last emperor" of China was one of the most hated figures of his time. But for most of his life, Puyi had no agency, used as a pawn in competing agendas. 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] Who’s profiting off China’s bride prices?
March 03, 2023 20:33 - 6 minutes - 5.86 MBThe practice defies easy categorization. Click here to read the article by Li Yongping. 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] Heartbroken gamers mourn World of Warcraft’s shutdown in China
February 28, 2023 21:15 - 8 minutes - 8.21 MB3 million players — some of whom made their living on WoW — are now without their beloved pastime. Click here to read the article by Caiwei Chen. 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] The grown-up lives of China’s ‘bad kids’
February 28, 2023 21:14 - 21 minutes - 19.3 MBExcluded and stigmatized, some young migrants look for fun and recognition off campus. Click here to read the article by Xiang Xin. 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] Why medical students in China are faking their way to a doctor’s license
February 28, 2023 21:13 - 12 minutes - 11.4 MBAs physicians-to-be struggle to find the hands-on experience required to take the licensing exam, they are turning to agencies that provide forged qualifications. Click here to read the article by Zhou Xinda and Wang Xintong. 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.
[Sixth Tone] After yet another Liu Cixin adaptation, what’s next for Chinese sci-fi?
February 28, 2023 21:12 - 9 minutes - 8.79 MBLiu’s signature brand of “hard sci-fi” continues to dominate, but a new generation of authors is putting a more traditional spin on the genre. Click here to read the article by Emily Xueni Jin. Narrated by Ryan Cunningham. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
[Caixin Global] One year into Russia-Ukraine war and still no end in sight
February 28, 2023 21:11 - 17 minutes - 15.9 MBThe war has sparked an energy crisis in Europe, driven up global inflation and triggered a world-wide grain shortage. Click here to read the article by Lu Chen, Jing Yuhan and Denise Jia. 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.
[Caixin Global] The questions hanging over ant group
February 24, 2023 21:16 - 7 minutes - 7.07 MBMarket watchers wonder when the fintech giant will be able to revive its IPO plans and what it will have to give up to get a financial holding company license — one of the last items on its restructuring to-do list. Click here to read the article by Liu Ran and Kelsey Cheng. 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] Post-pandemic, can China’s Winter Olympic town thrive again?
February 24, 2023 21:15 - 12 minutes - 11 MBA year on from the Winter Olympic Games, has Zhangjiakou bounced back from the pandemic and lived up to its promise as China’s ski capital? Click here to read the article by Shao Yefan. 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] Tea total: Is China’s new social media-fueled tea craze more than just a fad?
February 24, 2023 21:14 - 16 minutes - 14.9 MBOnce shunned by Chinese youth as old-fashioned and overly formal, tea-drinking is becoming cool again. Click here to read the article by Tan Yunfei. 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.
[The China Project] The ‘Empress of China’ and the beginning of U.S.-China trade
February 22, 2023 23:42 - 7 minutes - 6.84 MBOn a wintry day in 1784, a schooner docked in New York set sail for Guangzhou. This journey halfway around the globe would take half a year; it marked the beginning of the largest trading relationship that the world has ever known. 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] Anyone seen the son of heaven?
February 21, 2023 21:03 - 8 minutes - 7.51 MBLost: One Emperor. If found, you can keep him. Click here to read the article by Jeremiah Jenne. 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.
[The China Project] The relocated couriers who risked their health in COVID-ravaged Beijing
February 21, 2023 20:54 - 10 minutes - 9.7 MBWhen a rapid spread of COVID-19 engulfed Beijing and caused severe delays in package delivery, an army of couriers from other cities were relocated to alleviate the problem. Their bravery has led to a national conversation about privilege and the role of essential workers. Click here to read the article by Yucheng Tang. 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.
[Sixth Tone] China’s booming new toy market: Hyperrealistic ‘military lego’
February 21, 2023 20:52 - 9 minutes - 8.76 MBLego has found huge success in recent years by tapping into popular movie franchises like “Star Wars.” Its Chinese rivals are turning to a very different source of inspiration: the People’s Liberation Army. Click here to read the article by Wu Peiyue and Zhang Liting. Narrated by Ryan Cunningham. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
[Caixin Global] Why soccer hasn’t graduated in China
February 17, 2023 21:07 - 9 minutes - 8.91 MBThe country has spent more than a decade pouring billions of dollars into youth soccer, but amid lax oversight and a society that prizes higher education, the sport is struggling to move beyond the campus. Click here to read the article by Wang Bowen and Kelly Wang. Narrated by Ryan Cunningham. 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] Australia and New Zealand hint at stronger economic ties with China
February 17, 2023 21:03 - 7 minutes - 6.98 MBChina is the largest trading partner to Australia and New Zealand, and that’s clearly top of mind for the leaders of both countries, despite pressure from their Western security allies to get tough on Beijing. Click here to read the article by Nadya Yeh. 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] Chinese students hoping to study abroad return to a changed world
February 17, 2023 21:02 - 9 minutes - 8.74 MBCandidates from China face more competitive admissions overseas and an altered job market after graduation. Click here to read the article by Fan Qiaojia, Han Wenrong and Cai Xuejiao. 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] The Battle of Red Cliffs and the blurring of fact and fiction
February 16, 2023 01:30 - 7 minutes - 7.32 MBIt's hard to know exactly what happened at the Battle of Red Cliffs some 1,800 years ago. But what is agreed upon is that this monumental battle changed Chinese history — and achieved a mythical status that still endures. 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’s economy appears headed for uneven rebound
February 14, 2023 20:42 - 15 minutes - 14.3 MBSurge in spending around Lunar New Year holiday is fueling optimism tempered by more sober outlooks for some sectors. Yu Hairong, Cheng Siwei, Fan Qianchan, Wang Liwei and Han Wei. 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.
[Sixth Tone] Looking for love in China? Get into esports.
February 14, 2023 20:41 - 9 minutes - 8.89 MBChina has seen a steep decline in the number of young people willing to get married in recent years. But one surprising group bucks the trend: esports fans. Fan Yiying and Fan Shuying. 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 birth of pinyin
February 10, 2023 22:13 - 8 minutes - 7.97 MBOn February 11, 1958, the People's Republic of China introduced a new system for rendering the Chinese language, using not characters but the Latin alphabet. The move was revolutionary. 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] Transforming China’s search-and-rescue sector, one dog at a time
February 10, 2023 22:04 - 38 minutes - 35 MBFollow a father-son duo who trained some of China’s first internationally certified search-and-rescue dogs, and dream of having a dog for every city. Click here to read the article by Story FM. Translated by Ana Padilla Fornieles. 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] Wild ride to Xanadu
February 10, 2023 22:03 - 20 minutes - 19.2 MBSeeking the lost northern capital of the Mongol Yuan dynasty. Click here to read the article by Mads Vesterager Nielsen. 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.
[Sixth Tone] The hunt for China’s ugliest building
February 10, 2023 22:02 - 7 minutes - 7.13 MBFor 13 years, the “China’s Ugliest Buildings” poll has documented the misfires and gambles that defined the country’s urban building spree. What can the results teach us about taste in architecture? Click here to read the article by You Xudong. 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] How China’s favorite fantasy realm faded into the background
February 07, 2023 21:07 - 9 minutes - 8.31 MBFrom “Water Margin” to “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” it was the setting of some of China’s best-loved works of fiction and fantasy. But does anyone still care about the “jianghu”? Click here to read the article by Cai Yiwen. Narrated by Ryan Cunningham. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.