Footprints

As climate negotiators convene in Baku, Azerbaijan for COP29, the United Nations Climate Change Conference, to discuss the most urgent climate change issues, we turn our attention to a group of researchers who are working to safeguard the Earth’s precious black soil land. We meet Hou Hongxing and his fellow researchers who have spent years in the field in Northeast China, monitoring the evolving c...

In this episode of the Makin' It in China series, we explore the journey of Evandro Menezes de Carvalho, a Brazilian scholar and professor of international law with a deep passion for China studies. Since his first visit to China in 2013, Evandro has immersed himself in research and teaching, building bridges between China and Brazil. In recognition of his commitment to fostering cross-cultural di...

Known as the world's capital of small commodities, Yiwu in eastern China attracts hundreds of thousands of sellers and buyers from home and abroad every day. In this episode of our Makin' it in China series, Harold Mori, a young Peruvian man, shares his story of how he started his trading business from scratch right here in Yiwu.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Brazil. In this edition of the Makin’ It in China series, we welcome Vitor Moura, a young Brazilian entrepreneur who has spent nearly a decade in China. As the founder of Lantau and the marketing director at Bracham, Vitor is committed to enhancing cross-border trade between these two nations. Join our conversation with...

For Egyptian Hany Sobhy Makary Guirguis Hanna, coming to China was totally accidental. But staying here for ten years has definitely been a deliberate choice for him. So, what’s it like when an Egyptian ventures to the Middle Kingdom? And what happens when he tries to follow in the footsteps of his ancestors and grow his trade business in China? Join Footprints for the business adventures of Hany...

In this episode of our Makin' It in China series, we are joined by Neeraj Punhani, an Indian entrepreneur with over two decades of experience in the textile industry. Punhani has established his own company in Shaoxing, located in Zhejiang Province, east China. Join us as we explore his journey of working and living in China.

In this episode of the Makin' It in China series, we delve into the journey of Ehsan Doostmohammadi, an Iranian researcher at Southwest University in Chongqing, southwest China. With a profound passion for traditional Chinese medicine and culture, Ehsan is dedicated to translating classic Chinese texts into Persian, opening the door for Iranian readers to engage with Chinese heritage. Join us as w...

Joshua Dominick, affectionately known as "Lao Tan" in Chinese, has spent more than two decades in Beijing. Originally from the U.S., Josh speaks fluent Chinese and has become a familiar face in the local community. A decade ago, he founded Krankin' Thru China, an organization dedicated to empowering individuals with disabilities to engage in outdoor sports across the country. In this episode of th...

Taicang, a small city in Jiangsu Province, eastern China, is known for its deep connections with German enterprises. Home to over 500 German-invested companies, the city has grown to become a prime destination for German entrepreneurs. Among them, Erwin Gerber stands out with his thriving bakery. In this episode of the Makin' It in China series, we'll explore how Erwin has crafted his path to succ...

Meet Linda Painan, a female entrepreneur from Singapore, who has spent the last 28 years in Shanghai. As the chairperson of The Expatriate Center, a mother of three and a philanthropist, Linda's journey is a story of dedication and resilience. In this episode of our Makin' It in China series, we'll explore how Linda has fostered a sense of community for expatriates in Shanghai and uncover the pers...

​For French entrepreneur Benoit Auger, his romance with a Chinese lady started a life-long engagement with her country. In 2006, he moved to live in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou and began his business adventure in the clothes and fashion industry. How did Auger meet his sweetheart? Why did he choose to live and “make it in China”? Join this edition of Footprints to find out.

​Dr. Song Jianping and Dr. Li Mingqiang are among the many Chinese doctors who have gone on foreign aid missions fighting malaria worldwide over the past several decades. Using treatment solutions centered on the TCM drug artemisinin, the two have helped contain the deadly disease in countries like Cambodia, Comoros, and São Tomé and Príncipe.

For more than 40 years, Mei Jingtian, a voluntary ranger now in his 80s, has devoted himself to the preservation of the Great Wall in the northern mountainous suburbs of Beijing. His example has encouraged a new generation of career rangers, including his niece Liu Hongyan, to continue protecting this architectural wonder of the world.

In this episode of our Makin' It in China series, we tell the story of French basketball trainer Patrick Regulier with the Zhejiang Lions youth team. Regulier has been in China for 16 years and has turned his career from a player to a trainer. He has become a crucial part in the young players’ pursuit for a professional route ahead.

Never did he ever imagine that one day he would participate in the Olympic Games. "Yushuai, you did it." The moment Luan Yushuai opened the email from the Paris 2024 organizing committee confirming his qualification for the Mass Participation Marathon, his joy was beyond words. For the past seven years, Luan has been passionate about running while working as a deliveryman in Beijing. In this episo...

Frederic Moal is a French BMX racing coach in China. In charge of the Guizhou provincial team, he manages six young riders competing in various national competitions with his unique coaching methods. Affectionately known as Laofa, or the French papa, Moal has built a deep bond with his riders, who have almost become his family members. Hear Moal’s story and find out more about the team in this epi...

In this episode of our Makin' It in China series, we speak to Yaya Sanogo, a French professional footballer now playing at Chinese club Qingdao Red Lions. Sanogo became a household name when he joined the English Premier League side Arsenal when he was just 19 years old. Having played in Europe only, Sanogo decided to explore a new chapter by signing with a Chinese team in March, 2024. The decisio...

​Ma Dan is an experienced art and dance teacher from Wuhan in central China's Hubei Province. Between 2016 and 2022, she volunteered to teach music and dance in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. By forming the first Tibetan-styled cheerleading team and assisting students to succeed in college auditions for performing arts, her passion for teaching and mentoring has broadened the horizons...

Climate change, environmental pollution, acidification, and overfishing are greatly endangering coral reefs around the world. Without proper interventions, scientists say the Earth’s coral reefs could disappear before the next century. What can we do to conserve the world’s beautiful underwater "tropical rainforest"? In this podcast, we bring you a Chinese version of the Old Man and the Sea. We sh...

​Farrukh Pirumshoev is a young Tajik entrepreneur based in the northwest Chinese city of Xi’an, engaging in the international trade of cars between China and Central Asia. Trading about 30 cars each week, his company is thriving along with the growing Chinese economy and the increasing economic exchanges between China and Central Asian countries. In this episode of Makin’ It in China, we’ll find o...

In this episode of our Makin' It in China series, we delve into the inspiring story of Saulebek Kabylbekov, a Kazakh eye doctor who has illuminated the lives of thousands in northeast China. Since 1998, he has dedicated himself to treating over 250,000 patients at Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital in Heilongjiang Province. Meanwhile, his compassionate care extends beyond the hospital walls, reaching c...

Indian businessman Dev Raturi oversees a booming chain of restaurants in China. Having explored in the risky business world for more than a decade, Raturi attributes his success to China’s good business environment and the friendship and assistance he has received from the Chinese people. In this episode of Makin’ It in China, Raturi shares how he has turned from a waiter to a successful restauran...

Vikash Kumar Singh is an Indian expatriate who currently teaches Hindi, Indian culture, history and literature at Beijing Foreign Studies University. With 17 years of residence in China, Vikash speaks fluent Chinese and is dedicated to fostering Sino-Indian cultural exchanges through teaching and literary translation. In this episode of the Makin' It in China series, we delve into Vikash's remarka...

​In a mountainous region in east China’s Anhui Province, Fang Guoqiang stands out among people who have been working on the frontline to preserve the environment and achieve sustainable development. For more than two decades, he has promoted the idea and practice of green farming among his fellow villagers in the headwater region of the Xin’an River, a major waterway in east China. This green farm...

People to people exchanges are often great contributors to a better understanding between different countries and cultures. In this podcast, we’re going to hear the stories of people who have become bridge builders between different cultures and peoples. We’re going to meet three Europeans: Robert van Gulik, Dutch diplomat, writer and sinologist who wanted to bring the wisdom, the knowledge and th...