Round Table China

This summer, from the cool comfort of air conditioned cinemas to sun soaked outdoor adventures, from immersive eco tourism to thrilling theme park rides, China is alive with endless summer excitement. We uncover the trends redefining this season as a time for joy and new experiences. On the show: Heyang, Steve Hatherly & Yushan.

Move beyond gimmicks. The real ice cream revolution is happening where value meets quality. As consumers rethink indulgence, the market rewards those who master affordability without compromising taste. Who will thrive when customers want luxury for less? / Round Table's Happy Place (16:51)! On the show: Steve Hatherly, Niu Honglin & Yushun

China has staked its claim in the brain-tech revolution. New national guidelines mandate concrete BCI breakthroughs by 2027—faster neural chips, precision signal decoding, and seamless brain-machine fusion. No vague aspirations here—just measurable milestones. We analyze the real forces propelling China's neurotech leap forward. On the show: Steve Hatherly, Niu Honglin & Yushun

The fitness and supplement industries relentlessly push protein, with shakes, bars, and diets promising peak performance. But does this focus align with actual health needs? While protein supports muscle repair and growth, overconsumption may burden the kidneys, crowd out essential nutrients, and lead to unwanted weight gain. We separate fact from marketing fiction to help you determine your ideal...

China has a garbage problem, but not the one you might think. Overwhelmed landfills pushed cities to burn trash for energy, yet now some incinerators sit underfed. This unexpected shortage reveals surprising progress in waste reduction and recycling, forcing a rethink of how the nation handles its refuse. On the show: Heyang, Steve Hatherly & Fei Fei

From dog-eared paperbacks to immersive audiobooks and cutting-edge VR experiences, we've never had so many ways to 'read.' But as the formats multiply, so do the questions. Does the medium reshape the meaning? Does how we consume stories fundamentally change how we experience them? Or in the end, does the magic remain the same? / Test papers distributed on train to make noisy kids quiet (16:47). O...

They're tiny, mischievous, and conquering the globe—one mystery box at a time. These Chinese collectibles aren't just toys; they're a full-blown cultural phenomenon, sparking frenzies so intense, stores had to pull them from shelves. What's fueling this obsession? And why can't collectors resist? On the show: Steve Hatherly, Niu Honglin & Yushun

From synchronized leg sweeps to perfectly timed camera spins, Tuanbo, China's group livestream phenomenon, is taking the digital world by storm. Blending the precision of K-pop choreography with live entertainment, this trend is generating new careers across the industry, from dynamic on-screen performers to behind-the-scenes stylists, lighting technicians, and camera operators. This rapidly expan...

Robots tighten screws with flawless accuracy, pour coffee at just the right temperature, and crack jokes that feel unexpectedly human. Some even promise companionship that might ease a heavy heart. At the 2025 World Robot Conference in Beijing, these machines have stepped out of laboratory doors and into our homes, workplaces, and private moments. The debate has shifted: their capabilities are pro...

Remember the "she-cession" during the pandemic? Now the US risks a "she-exit" as return-to-office mandates collide with a childcare system in crisis. Meanwhile, China's numbers tell their own story. Women's workforce participation dropped after COVID and still hasn't recovered. Two countries, one troubling question. Are we seeing unique challenges, or just the same old barriers dressed up in new w...

Welcome to the World Games 2025 in Chengdu, capital of Sichuan Province! This vibrant southwest city, famed for its easygoing charm, is now the global stage for thrilling competition, green innovation, and futuristic tech. From groundbreaking sports to sustainable arenas, Chengdu delivers an unforgettable Games. On the show: Heyang, Steve Hatherly & Yushan

With the digital preservation of the Potala Palace, and the growing popularity of Xizang style carpets, incense and handmade paper among young consumers, Xizang has found ways to keep its timeless culture up-to-date and trendy. In this episode, we explore the part of Xizang where heritage meets creativity.

From smart ranching to vegetable greenhouses, from cold-chain logistics to cross-border trade… We take a look at Xizang's industrial transformation and see how the plateau is leaping into a new era of development.

Heart to Heart - please send your audio questions to roundtablepodcast@qq.com. / As China's family businesses prepare for a new generation to take the helm, successors face a sobering reality: companies grow, stall, or fall. With a shifting business climate, complex political relations, and economic uncertainty ahead, the pressure is on. Are they ready to steer through it all (11:36)? On the show:...

AI and pig farming sounds improbable. Yet in China, algorithms now track livestock from birth to market. Voice recognition, thermal scans and facial monitoring turn farms into data hubs. As demand for safe, sustainable meat grows, this technology is not just changing how pigs are raised, it's redefining livestock farming itself. On the show: Heyang, Steve Hatherly & Yushan

Shenzhen is breaking new ground by rolling out a policy which accepts failure as part of the research process, even when state funding is at stake. It pushes back against the old belief that only success matters, opening up space for bold ideas to take root. Could this policy redefine how innovation happens in China? On the show: Heyang, Steve Hatherly & Li Yi

Apprenticeships promise skills and opportunity—but in today's economy, where milk tea shops and factories alike rely on trainees, the line between education and exploitation is increasingly blurred. Are these programs building tomorrow's workforce, or just masking cheap labor? We also explore the role of apprenticeships in developing skilled labor. On the show: Heyang, Steve Hatherly & Li Yi

Social media gets blamed for teen mental health struggles, but now Australia's crackdown goes further—banning under-16s from major platforms, including the internet's biggest video hub. Is targeting video platforms alongside social media crossing a line? / Motivational Monday (20:02)! On the show: Heyang, Steve Hatherly & Yushan

Raising a child is never easy, and in China, the costs can deter young families. Now, for the first time, the national government is offering monthly subsidies for families with children aged 0 to 3 — a move aimed at easing the financial burden of raising kids. It's a major shift toward a more family-friendly society. But will cash alone ease the stress of parenthood? And can it actually turn the...

Shanghai holds the global title for the most office space. And yet, vacancy rates are high. So why is one of the world’s busiest cities pushing to renovate hundreds of office buildings? From old elevator systems to shifting urban priorities, this move prompts a fresh rethink of what office space means in the post-pandemic world. / Round Table's Happy Place (14:27)! On the show: Heyang, Steve Hathe...

A secret billionaire. A forbidden alpha. A CEO with a dark past. It sounds like tabloid gossip—yet this explosive mix is dominating smartphone screens worldwide. China's ultra-short dramas, packing high-stakes drama into just minutes per episode, have exploded into a billion-dollar global phenomenon. But what makes these fast-paced, bite-sized stories so irresistible? And why are they captivating...

How to stay safe from Chikungunya fever. / For years, artificial sweeteners promised a guilt-free way to indulge—sweetness without the calories. But what if they've been secretly sabotaging your appetite instead? We uncover the truth behind that seemingly "healthy" sip (07:11). / A brand new car, latest gadget, overseas trip—some Chinese parents are turning the survival of Gaokao into a high-stake...

What happens when a tech giant takes over your lunch? A leading e-commerce player has just opened its first fully automated takeout restaurant in Beijing—no chefs, no dining space, just robots whipping up fresh, fast meals. Could this be the next revolution in China's food delivery market? On the show: Heyang, Steve Hatherly & Yushan

Heart to Heart - please send your audio questions to roundtablepodcast@qq.com. / We love to say "no question is dumb"—but don't we secretly roll our eyes when someone asks the "obvious? " That knee-jerk impatience even has a name: dumbphobia. But what if it's not just annoyance? What if it's a bias? Let's unpack why "basic" questions trigger us… and why that says more about us than them (12:40). O...

We buy our parents smart speakers, health trackers, and delivery apps—hoping senior tech will simplify their lives. But soon, they stop using them. Not because they've lost interest, but because the tech feels too fast, too small, too alien. As the world grows older, maybe it's time to stop asking them to adapt—and start building tech that adapts to them. On the show: Heyang, Steve Hatherly &...