Wǒ Men Podcast: Collector’s Edition

Folks in China love their antiques, and unsurprisingly the antique collector industry has long fascinated the Chinese public.

During the Cultural Revolution, many priceless artifacts and antiques were destroyed as inconvenient legacies of an old system. But now, antiques are making a comeback. Chinese consumers who in the 1980s and 1990s once rushed to embrace foreign products and brands as trendy status symbols are now starting to develop an appreciation for China’s rich heritage and artistic traditions.

In this episode, we talk to a collector of Chinese antiquities, Mr Zang Nuo (pictured above, right), who is our guide into the world of the Chinese collectors. We visited Mr Zang’s home, and he shared with us not only his collection of carvings and textiles but also his observations and insights into why the antique trade is booming in China and why people today are more interested than ever in the country’s past.

Have thoughts or feedback to share? Want to join the discussion? Write to Yajun and Jingjing at [email protected].