Round Table China

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 &...

Tipping culture - a Western tradition that's long divided opinions - is now being put to the Chinese test. As heated online debates reveal, this imported practice is facing its toughest critics yet in a market accustomed to service-first hospitality. / Posting ennui: going silent in a loud feed (17:28). On the show: Steve Hatherly, Niu Honglin & Yushun

Renting in China's booming cities has faced hurdles—but a major shift is coming. This September, sweeping new rental regulations take effect, impacting tenants, landlords, and the broader market. So what's changing—and how will this reshape the rental landscape? On the show: Steve Hatherly, Niu Honglin & Yushun

Habits run on autopilot—but invisible habits? They operate deeper, hidden in the subconscious, silently steering our choices without us even noticing. These unseen routines sculpt our days, our decisions, even our identities. So what happens when we drag them into the light and rewrite them? / Motivational Monday (19:51)! On the show: Heyang, Steve Hatherly & Yushun

How many online orders have you made this year? One? Ten? Lost count? Well, here's a staggering stat: China has already shipped over 100 billion parcels in 2025—and it's only July. That's roughly 6,000 packages loaded up and are on their way to doorsteps across the country. The scale is mind-blowing. So how did the delivery industry get this fast, this smart, and this massive? On the show: Heyang,...

A character at a tourism spot is way more than meets the eye. These non-player characters (NPCs) mean a lot to the companies they represent, and a lot to the people who enjoy them as well. / Round Table's Happy Place (15:51)! On the show: Steve Hatherly, Yunqi & Yushan

While children today face growing health challenges—from near-sightedness to obesity—a powerful solution is emerging: personalized "exercise prescriptions" and community-wide efforts to get kids moving. By combining medical expertise with fun, tailored activities, doctors and educators are turning the tide on sedentary lifestyles, proving small changes can yield lifelong health benefits. On the sh...

Menopause is a natural yet demanding transition that millions of women navigate while working, parenting, and maintaining their lives. Behind the silence lie debilitating hot flashes, sleepless nights, and emotional turbulence—too often endured alone in a society that dismisses this phase. For women supporting families and careers, these symptoms threaten livelihoods. It's time to normalize conver...

Old neighborhoods are getting a fresh start—smoother streets, pocket parks around the corner, smart lights lining the blocks, and new gathering spots for everyone. This isn't about demolition, but thoughtful upgrades that keep the soul of these places intact. Across the country, cities are finding ways to modernize without erasing their past. The real magic happens when technology and community co...

Forget 'you are what you eat.' The real game-changer? How you eat it. Science says tweaking just one thing about your meals—no willpower required—could dial up your focus, steady your mood, and keep your blood sugar in check. There is a downside though. It may make eating a little annoying. / AI pet short dramas (16:07). On the show: Steve Hatherly, Niu Honglin & Yushun

China's food delivery wars flooded the market with unsustainable discounts—until regulators stepped in. Behind the deals, tactics crossed lines. Now, as the frenzy fades, the real question is how to make sure platforms keep prices low without sacrificing fair competition. On the show: Steve Hatherly, Niu Honglin & Yushun

We've all heard the saying: "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade." But what if those lemons suddenly cost a fortune? We uncover the reasons behind soaring citrus prices—and the surprising new drink trend that's about to dominate your summer. / Thinking beyond Good vs. Bad (15:41). On the show: Heyang, Steve Hatherly & Yushun

In China, vocational education has long been seen as a second-choice path, overshadowed by the prestige of university degrees. But times are changing. Some top students are now skipping university for technical training—once unthinkable. As policies shift, job prospects and perceptions evolve, the value of skilled work is being redefined. Could this be the start of an era where ability outweighs c...

We've all seen it—a friend raves about a hotpot spot, an influencer hypes a 'must-have' product, or a vlogger casually drops a gadget recommendation. But when does a personal post become a hidden ad? Should WeChat Moments or livestream plugs count as commercial advertising? The real challenge: where should regulators draw the line? / Motivational Monday (20:44)! On the show: Heyang, Steve Hatherly...

This summer isn't just hot—it's hottest. While some blast the AC and call it survival, others are floating their way to victory with 'loser rafting': no skill, no speed, just a lazy river and a determination to do absolutely nothing. Turns out, in a scorching season, the smartest way to win is to not even try. Tune in for a refreshing take on how a nation learns to live, adapt, and float through e...

To all the hardworking professionals out there - you've earned that vacation time, fair and square. Yet when the moment comes, do you take it without guilt? In the U.S., where hustle culture runs deep, vacation guilt is all too common. So why does taking time off evoke a sense of guilt? / Little dots on smartphone outsmart motion sickness (24:50) / Round Table's Happy Place (30:11)! On the show: H...

International Moon Day, established by the UN in 2021, honors humanity's collective lunar exploration—from early spacefaring nations to China's historic far-side missions. How will today's moonshots shape the future of science, technology，and maybe even life beyond Earth? On the show: Heyang, Steve Hatherly & Gao Junya

Fast, fun, and space-smart—ping pong is winning over a new wave of casual players, especially busy urban professionals. From after-work classes to quick matches between meetings, table tennis is becoming the workout of choice for city dwellers across China. / Is "F" the best seat on a high-speed train (18:28)? On the show: Heyang, Steve Hatherly & Guo Yan