Round Table China

While every nation builds railways, China has carved its network through some of the most formidable landscapes on Earth: relentless deserts, frozen plains, active earthquake zones, unstable plateaus, and mountains that defy straight lines. Now, having surpassed the monumental milestone of fifty thousand kilometers, it is time for a reality check on the past, present, and future of Chinese high-sp...

When we reviewed this year's programming, one pattern became unmistakable: nearly half of our stories were touched by technology. Not only because tech dominated the headlines, but because it permeated everything else. In industry, mobility, healthcare, and even outer space, 2025 was the year technology ceased to be a sector and became the very environment we inhabit. On the show: Niu Honglin, Ste...

It begins with a scratchy throat. Soon, your body aches and your head feels heavy, creating the familiar debate: is this just a cold or something more? Faced with crowded clinics and a packed schedule, you may notice online ads promising solutions, from at-home flu tests to treatments like a liquid mask. In 2025, the way we approach health decisions in China is changing. / Round Table's Happy Plac...

A city's values are revealed not in its slogans, but in its leftovers. Thrown away, food waste is invisible—an inconvenient truth discarded. Redistributed with care, it becomes a mirror, reflecting a society's commitment to dignity, responsibility, and shared life. While food banks globally patch fragile safety nets, places like Shenzhen are reimagining the model entirely, shifting food aid from a...

It's human nature to want to put a face to a voice, and that instinct is exactly what's fueling the move toward video podcasts. This isn't just a new format; it's deepening the connection between creators and their audience and opening up entirely new ways to tell stories. On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushun

China is drafting a law to protect Antarctica's environment, aligning with its international responsibilities under the Antarctic Treaty System and aiming to regulate activities on the continent to promote preservation and scientific cooperation. This proactive step reinforces China's commitment to sustainable governance and global ecological stewardship in one of Earth's most fragile and vital re...

A startling fact: reported rates of youth depression in China range from 4% to 41%. Why the huge gap? New research points to a fundamental flaw in the diagnostic tools themselves. This has major implications for treatment and policy. / The socks scandal: A 10-Minute guide (14:47). on the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushan

A health management regulation will take effect soon in the City of Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province. How can legal policies help improve people's health? Today we look at how new laws are turning lifestyle into legislation—from your waistline to your daily routine. On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushan

A new trend is emerging across Chinese cities, where young people explore abandoned factories, unfinished buildings, and closed hospitals. They document these journeys online under labels like“urban ruins exploration,” championing a distinct“ruins aesthetics.”However, this popular pursuit is not without real danger. It raises urgent questions about safety, the pressures driving the trend, and what...

What if we stopped grading students? This is no longer a hypothetical question. From primary schools in China to university classrooms in the United States, educators and policymakers are running a bold experiment. They are removing exams from the center of education to see what happens. If we change how we measure performance, will the real experience of learning finally improve? On the show: Niu...

Forget personal reading goals. This is about a national ambition. Imagine a government that sees its core job as clearing the path between you and a good book. This is the vision now driving China, transforming reading from a quiet hobby into a public project. We explore the reality of a society built for readers. / Motivational Monday (19:29). On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushun.

What if your car could legally say,“I'll take it from here?" China just crossed that threshold, issuing its first permits for conditional self-driving cars on public roads. But what does“conditional”actually mean for drivers—and what tough turns still lie ahead on the path to full autonomy? On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushun.

The distinctive scrape of skates carving ice now echoes in unexpected corners of China. From the tropical south to the northern heartland, a new generation is embracing hockey's grit and speed, recently celebrated in a historic championship sweep. This is a story of a sport on fast-forward: a nation attempting to skate the long journey from curious novelty to genuine contender in record time. / Ro...

In a small county in China, a quiet revolution is reshaping a global jewelry industry. In Zhecheng, central China's Henan Province, lab-grown diamonds are produced at a fraction of the traditional cost. This phenomenon is a clear signal of how China's formidable local economies are becoming pivotal drivers of global markets. What does this county-level prowess mean for the future of global manufac...

The global push for carbon reduction is reshaping supply chains in unexpected ways. As aviation looks for viable paths to decarbonize, attention has turned to materials that already exist in everyday life. Waste, once treated as an endpoint, is increasingly viewed as a starting point. Used cooking oil is being elevated into a prized raw material in China as sustainable aviation fuel. Are environme...

Hainan is making headlines these days, because of the island-wide special customs operations at Hainan Free Trade Port. Behind the policy language and tariff schedules, we ask a simpler question: how will this reform change people's daily life? For businesses, workers, investors, and residents, Hainan's customs transition is more than just about trade, but also cost, opportunities, mobility, and a...

The global erosion of oral traditions continues not for lack of value, but because modern life leaves little room for slow, spoken memory. As languages vanish and elders pass on, entire ways of understanding the world disappear with them. Yet, the revival of Yimakan, from near-extinction to international recognition, demonstrates a powerful alternative. It shows that cultural heritage can survive...

China's aging society is turning to an innovative solution. The Time Bank allows volunteers to earn care credits by helping others today, securing support for their own future needs. This model transforms neighborly help into a sustainable system. How is this modern mutual aid network redefining elder care? On the show: Niu Honglin, Steve & Fei Fei

When a global metropolis abandons de-icing agents, what happens? Beijing is finding out. To protect its environment, the city is swapping chemicals for manpower, trading spreaders for shovels. How can this modern capital handle winter the old-fashioned way? We examine the high-stakes experiment on Beijing's icy streets. / Is small talk dying (15:05)? On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushun

What if artificial intelligence could step out of the screen and into the real world? This is not just about smarter conversation. This is Embodied Intelligence. Imagine a robot that does not just calculate a chess move, but physically makes it. Not every smart robot qualifies, so what changes when AI gains a physical form? On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushun

For decades, countries have invested heavily in engineering education. Despite this, many still face a persistent problem where graduates are theoretically proficient but lack practical readiness. This gap between academic training and industrial application is not unique to any one nation. China, however, is pursuing a distinct approach through its coordinated national strategy, the Outstanding E...

For generations, the mercury thermometer has been a staple in Chinese households, its familiar ritual marking moments of care and concern. However, in accordance with the Minamata Convention and national environment and health policies, China is officially phasing out its production. On the show: Niu Honglin, Steve & Fei Fei

In most professions, experience is an asset. In academia, it is becoming a barrier. A system of intense competition and rigid quotas now uses age as a crude filter for efficiency, devaluing the very time required to build knowledge. This calculus forces a stark reassessment of the PhD's worth and what our universities truly value. / The anxiety of being left "on read" (18:24). On the show: Niu Hon...

It's been ten years since the landmark Paris Agreement, and its novel engine of national pledges and global transparency now faces a decisive test against record warming and a widening climate finance gap. The journey to this point reveals a story of unexpected turns and stubborn realities. On the show: Niu Honglin, Steve & Yushan

China's“strictest ever" e-bike safety standard is now the law of the land. Nearly 400 million rides are impacted. The mandate? Tougher frames, safer batteries—a complete upgrade for a new generation on two wheels. But what about the trusty bike in your garage? Will shops still service it? Will parts still exist? The transition has arrived. We break down exactly what it means for your daily ride an...