Round Table China

August 8 is National Fitness Day in China, but for millions of people here, staying active has already become a daily habit, from sunrise park goers to late-night gyms, from cycling clubs to square dancing and smart fitness apps. So what actually turns exercise from a chore into something you stick with for life? We explore the habits, mindsets, and unexpected motivations that keep people moving l...

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China's high speed rail network is the largest in the world, and it is faster and more connected than ever. When parents started asking if they could hand off their children to station staff the way they do with flight attendants, the railway gave a firm answer: no. The decision seemed simple, but the reasoning behind it offers a clear look at how China runs its railways and who it holds responsib...

In a country with over a billion internet users, a single rumor can outrun the truth before breakfast. Words travel at the speed of a share button, some shared with good intent, others carrying the power to destroy. Now China is drafting its first dedicated anti-cyberbullying law, attempting to draw a clear line between a heated debate and a digital mob. On the show: Fei Fei, Steve & Yushun

The way young people build relationships looks nothing like it used to. A new trend called "Soulmanyships" is replacing the old model of one person meeting every emotional need. Today's generation is spreading their connections across friends, family, and even AI companions. Is this shift creating loneliness or a more honest way to connect? / Heart to Heart - please send your emails audio question...

Vacations used to mean crowded monuments and a camera roll full of proof you'd been somewhere. This summer, however, travelers are ditching the bucket list for deeper experiences like music festivals, traditional village stays, and hands-on cultural activities that leave a lasting impression. Why is tourism shifting from sightseeing to genuine connection, and how are cities and rural communities a...

A new survey asked young Chinese migrants what makes a city finally feel like home. The answers had less to do with money or apartments and more to do with something simpler: human connection. But for millions leaving home for school and work, building those bonds is often the hardest part. So what makes some places easier to call home than others? / A dead appliance. A knock on the door. For mill...

A new survey asked young Chinese migrants what makes a city finally feel like home. The answers had less to do with money or apartments and more to do with something simpler: human connection. But for millions leaving home for school and work, building those bonds is often the hardest part. So what makes some places easier to call home than others? / A dead appliance. A knock on the door. For mill...

Two Chinese mathematicians just won math's highest honor in the same ceremony, a first for China. One was a prodigy since childhood. The other found math by accident in a small town. Together they cracked problems that stumped the world for generations, including one unsolved for over a century. Two opposite paths led to the same summit on one historic night. On the show: Steve, Yushan & Yushu...

That greenish-gray spot on your garlic isn't just an annoying kitchen moment, it's a warning sign. This year, erratic weather in China, source of most of the world's garlic, threw the entire growing cycle off balance, and the results are showing up in kitchens everywhere. We dig into what a single moldy clove reveals about a changing planet, and what it means for the food on all our plates. On the...

We tend to look for great art in quiet libraries and university halls. But the literary world just got turned upside down by a man who spends his days weaving through traffic. At 56 years young, a food delivery rider has won one of China's most prestigious literary awards. Not in spite of his job, but because of it. On the show: Steve, Yushan & Yushun

It is summertime, and the box office is heating up. Theaters are packed with everything from big-budget spectacles to quiet dramas and domestic hits sitting right alongside international blockbusters. Audiences are voting with their wallets, and the results are not quite what anyone expected. On the show: Steve, Yushan & Yushun

Hello listeners, no new episode of Round Table in your feed today. We're pausing briefly because we're cooking up something special behind the scenes, and we can't wait to share it with you soon! We'll be back on schedule tomorrow. In the meantime, feel free to revisit our past episodes. Thanks for your patience, and see you tomorrow!

We have all asked AI for a recommendation, to polish an email, or to diagnose a strange symptom. It is useful and fast, and lately it has become our first stop for answers. Then a story broke out of China about a journalist with a press card and an AI that got it dangerously wrong. Have we stopped questioning the machine? / Vinyl is alive and kicking (16:20)! On the show: Steve, Yushan & Yushu...

For over a thousand years, one Chinese city transformed clay into treasures so coveted that kings demanded them, empires tried to copy them, and the material itself became synonymous with the nation that made it. Now, that extraordinary legacy has earned Jingdezhen a spot on UNESCO's World Heritage List. On the show: Steve, Yushan & Yushun

We plan trips around monuments, museums, and must-see sights, and they're incredible for a reason. But years later, what actually sticks? A new report on young Chinese travelers suggests that human connections matter more than a museum ticket. They're choosing destinations not just by what's on the postcard, but by how welcome they feel. / What if your TV could follow you from room to room? That's...

We plan trips around monuments, museums, and must-see sights, and they're incredible for a reason. But years later, what actually sticks? A new report on young Chinese travelers suggests that human connections matter more than a museum ticket. They're choosing destinations not just by what's on the postcard, but by how welcome they feel. / What if your TV could follow you from room to room? That's...

China's buffet restaurants used to be the pinnacle of dining out. Then they lost their shine and nearly disappeared from the dining scene. But now they are making a surprising comeback, this time in shopping malls with much lower price tags. So what changed, and have diners' expectations changed along with the price? On the show: Fei Fei, Steve & Xingyu

For years, China's delivery riders have been trapped in a cruel dynamic. Their apps track every second, but algorithms have no idea when riders are stuck at red lights. Late penalties pile up for delays completely out of their control. Now Suzhou is integrating traffic signal data with delivery platforms, so the countdown pauses when riders wait at intersections. Will this change be enough to alle...

Hello listeners, no new episode of Round Table in your feed today. We're pausing briefly because we're cooking up something special behind the scenes, and we can't wait to share it with you soon! We'll be back on schedule tomorrow. In the meantime, feel free to revisit our past episodes. Thanks for your patience, and see you tomorrow!

Binge-watching once reigned supreme. Entire seasons consumed before the weekend was through. But the landscape is shifting. Streamers are pacing releases, audiences are scrolling past, and that "next episode" prompt no longer guarantees instant gratification. Was the binge a revolution or a fleeting moment? On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushan

Every summer, heaps of university students trade campus life for rural communities, arriving with laptops, lesson plans, and big ideas. They teach children, sell produce online, and lend a hand wherever they're needed. But the brochures leave something out. The real story isn't just what they bring to the countryside. It's what they bring back. On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushan

It's 5 AM. You've finally dozed off after a night of beeping monitors and creaky gurneys, only to be shaken awake for vitals. Infuriating? Or lifesaving? Patients are furious, but medics stand by their protocols. Because in a hospital, rest and recovery don't always play nice. / Watch out for Sanfu in summer (13:24)! On the show: Steve, Yushan & Xingyu

Robots filling prescriptions. AI assistants planning your day. Machines accelerating scientific discovery. This year's World Artificial Intelligence Conference offered a glimpse into a future arriving faster than many expected. As AI becomes more capable, the challenge is no longer just building smarter machines. It's building the trust, safeguards and governance to keep pace. On the show: Steve,...

Walk into a milk tea shop these days, and you may leave carrying more than just a drink. Crisps, cakes, and even surprise snack packs now line the shelves alongside the bubble tea. Chinese brands are transforming a quick sip into a full?fledged shopping experience. It is affordable, convenient, and rapidly becoming the norm! / Are personality tests picking the best hires (09:14)? On the show: Stev...