Round Table China

Many think of artificial intelligence as merely playing a supporting role, automating the routine and optimizing the everyday. But China's latest move rewrites that script entirely. Enter the "smart economy," a full-scale fusion of industrial might and machine intelligence. Here, AI doesn't assist. It drives. On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushan

China just unveiled an ambitious plan to shake up theater. It's probably not what you think. Forget dusty relics. This is ancient art meeting the algorithm, with vertical screen dramas, a youth surge, and serious momentum building. Can any of it turn traditional performance into the next big cultural wave? On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushan

For many young people, the nine-to-five job is no longer the only or preferred option. Flexible schedules, multiple income streams, and digital entrepreneurship are increasingly part of the career landscape. In China, this has fueled the rapid rise of new forms of employment, from delivery services to livestream commerce. As lawmakers and political advisers gather at the Two Sessions, the country...

International relations aren't just shaped at summits. The real exchanges happen in classrooms and everyday conversations. In this episode of Generation Global, Round Table's Yushan talks with three young scholars from the US, the UK, and Indonesia living in Beijing. They arrived with expectations, but their time in China has reshaped how they see the country.

Forget awkward dinner dates. In China, singles are finding love through laughter at stand-up comedy matchmaking shows. With improv icebreakers and instant audience feedback, dating has turned into a live performance. But is this booming trend about real connection, or just comic relief from modern dating anxiety? On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Xingyu

While university enrollment numbers are dipping, vocational schools are opening to bachelor's degree holders eager to learn hands-on trades. Some call it“upgrading to vocational college.”Others call it common sense. We explore why China's Gen Z is rethinking the value of another degree and what happens when the old formulas stop adding up. On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Xingyu

How can a country transform vast industries while maintaining economic momentum? And how do green ambitions translate into change for communities and households? In this episode of Generation Global, Round Table's Fei Fei brings together a Chinese expert and a UK scholar. From policy signals at the Two Sessions to international insights, they explore how China's green transition is understood at h...

Each week, we take a step back to re-examine three stories from the news cycle. Stories that, at first glance, appear to have no logical connection. Different sectors. Different stakes. No obvious overlap. And yet, beneath the surface, a single, unexpected thread ties them all together. On the show: Niu Honglin, Steve & Yushan

Healthcare systems around the world are grappling with a familiar challenge: delivering high-quality care while safeguarding the well-being of the medical workforce. During this year's Two Sessions, lawmakers and political advisers are actively debating how to address the long shifts, rising patient demand, and intense emotional pressure that are pushing medical professionals to a breaking point....

Welcome to Round Table new special series: Generation Global: Navigating a Changing World! In this debut episode, Steve and Yushun sit down with Ace Asim, a researcher and student focused on AI and ethics at Peking University, to explore how China's rapid technological advancement looks through the eyes of international youth.

Forget dusty storefronts. China's oldest brands are now crashing livestreams and racking up billions of views, making the "old-timers" cool again. But beneath the hype lies a brutal scramble for digital talent, a constant battle with the algorithm, and one lingering question about whether the magic survives when heritage chases trends. / Heart to Heart - please send your audio questions to roundta...

The Great Wall has survived centuries of wind and war. Now it also faces a new kind of challenge, not from nature, but from the millions who come to love it. This March, new regulations took effect in Beijing. Smarter technology. Tighter oversight. The question is whether these changes can save it from its own popularity. On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushan

For many older Chinese, a quality life now has a global dimension. Beyond material comfort lies a deeper desire for growth and self-discovery, leading more seniors to pursue education abroad. These are not vacations. They are immersive experiences where language and art become gateways to new cultures and to rediscovering themselves. On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushan

Think Chinese New Year ends when the fireworks stop? The real finale comes with the first full moon, during the Lantern Festival. On this night, lanterns illuminate the streets as families gather to honor centuries-old traditions. But technology is now crashing the party. Drones soar where paper lanterns once floated. So what happens when an ancient festival meets the modern world? On the show: St...

The Soapbox: Tigers' fasting programs / There is a razor thin line between connection and cringe. You know the feeling. You say something real. Too real. And suddenly your brain screams, "Why did I just say that?" But what if that awkward, exposed moment is actually the point (18:24)? On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushun

The holidays are done and the strategy is set. Chinese provinces have just released their game plans for the next five years. The focus? A full push into innovation, manufacturing, business environment and more . We map out where China is headed next. On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushun

Look closely, and a pattern begins to emerge from this week's stories. The pieces are all there, just not yet put together. But once they are, something surprising comes into focus. On the show: Niu Honglin, Steve & Yushan

For years, cities across China have invested in cultivating "night-time economies," including restaurants, retail, and entertainment. Now, a new dimension has emerged: education after dark. Evening classes are becoming an integral part of urban infrastructure, offering a diverse range of fun, hands-on courses including makeup artistry, magic tricks, and wardrobe organization. On the show: Niu Hong...

Remember when a red envelope felt like magic? Not for the cash inside, but for the luck it carried. Somewhere along the way, that magic got replaced by a calculator. With campaigns now capping the cash, can we save the hongbao from the 'monetary arms race'? / Decoding the picky eater (18:36). On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushun.

Forget the garage startup. Forget the big team. We are entering the age of the 'One-Person Unicorn.' Artificial intelligence has slashed the cost of building a business to nearly zero, turning solo dreamers into global competitors overnight. But here is the million-dollar question: When you stand alone, who catches you when you fall? On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushun.

In lecture halls once defined by PowerPoint slides and exam prep, a different kind of competition is unfolding. At several Chinese universities, the most sought-after electives are no longer traditional academic offerings, but hands-on courses in cooking, woodworking, beadwork, and car maintenance. / Is cucumber water the newest restaurant flex (16:14)? On the show: Niu Honglin, Steve & Yushun.

Another Chinese New Year celebration has just wrapped, but this year felt different. We saw robots trading folk dances for high-speed kung fu, AI assistants causing literal "bubble tea meltdowns" in the real world, and digital clones of celebrities showing up in kitchens where they definitely weren't invited. It was a week where the line between "festive tradition" and "Black Mirror episode" got a...

Once the fireworks fade and the tables clear, reality creeps back in. Your thoughts move at molasses speed, your energy flatlines, and that cozy holiday haze suddenly feels suspiciously like a coma. It's not just exhaustion. It's your body coming down from weeks dialed up to eleven, crash-landing straight into the office. On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushan

The fireworks have faded, the reunions have ended, and the last dumpling is a distant memory. Now the numbers are in. The receipts, the records, and the data that reveals what kind of holiday this year's Spring Festival really was. From tourism hauls to box office gold, we break down how China rang in its Year of the Horse. On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushan

Round Table presents the last of six stories from the new podcast, "Sage and Youth: Debating Zhuangzi's Tao." In this episode: a humble butcher survives chaos yet refuses honor. But why? When devotion meets power, what truly counts as merit? Zhuangzi's ancient tale sparks a modern debate: whether integrity lies in rejecting rewards or in acknowledging shared struggle. For more fascinating stories...