China Stories

Properly deployed, subways could greatly improve the quality of life in China’s cities and help the country meet its ambitious climate goals. So why are officials pumping the brakes? Read the article by Liu Daizong: https://www.sixthtone.com/news/1008813/de-platformed-china-rethinks-its-subway-addiction Narrated by Sarah Kutulakos. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Pri...

China’s market for human growth hormone surges, benefiting GeneScience and Anke Biotechnology as foreign suppliers rush in. Read the article by Zhao Jinzhao, Chen Xi, Xiang Kai, Gui Yixuan and Denise Jia: https://www.caixinglobal.com/2021-11-01/cover-story-how-drugmakers-feed-on-chinese-parents-anxiety-over-childrens-height-101794229.html Narrated by Heather Heather Mowbray. See Privacy Policy at...

On October 22, 1978, Deng Xiaoping arrived in Japan seeking help to bring China back to normalcy. His visit helped change the world. Read the article by John Darwin Van Fleet: https://supchina.com/2021/10/21/mr-deng-goes-to-tokyo/ Narrated by John Darwin Van Fleet. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

In China, overt depictions of same-sex relationships are banned from mainstream media platforms. But there’s one space where these stories are allowed to be told. Read the article by Jin Zhao: https://supchina.com/2021/11/04/the-wild-wonderful-queer-world-of-chinese-radio-dramas/ Narrated by Kaiser Kuo. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19....

Miner-poet Chen Nianxi tells the harrowing story of his years working as a blaster underground. Read the article: https://www.theworldofchinese.com/2021/10/i-sacrificed-16-years-to-the-mines/ Narrated by Elyse Ribbons. Translated by Nathaniel J. Gan. This story was originally told in Chinese on the Story FM podcast. It has been translated and republished by The World of Chinese with permission. Se...

Norman Bethune was a polarizing figure during his lifetime, but for his medical contributions to China between 1937 and 1939, he was bestowed hero status. For decades afterwards, it's likely no other foreigner enjoyed such a universally positive image. Read the article by James Carter: https://supchina.com/2021/11/03/norman-bethunes-last-surgery/ Narrated by John D. Van Fleet. See Privacy Policy a...

Beijing is mulling a national pilot program to give platform workers occupational injury insurance as court judgments now rarely favor those who don’t have a formal labor relationship with the companies they work for. Read the article by Feng Huamei, Yang Yuqi and Wang Xintong: https://www.caixinglobal.com/2021-10-26/in-depth-why-chinas-injured-gig-workers-often-lose-out-in-court-101791844.html Na...

Long discussed levy on property owners looks set to be launched. Read the article: https://www.weekinchina.com/2021/10/xi-calls-for-flat-tax/ Narrated by Sylvia Franke. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Insiders say it's not (quite) so soon for EV maker XPeng's flying dreams. Read the article by Zeyi Yang: https://www.protocol.com/china/xpeng-evtol-china-flying-cars Narrated by Kaiser Kuo. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Legal experts spent years pressuring Chinese prosecutors to lower pretrial detention rates for criminal suspects, with only limited success. Then the pandemic hit. Read the article by Shao Cong: https://www.sixthtone.com/news/1008812/in-china%2C-covid-19-had-an-unlikely-side-effect-bail-reform Narrated by Sarah Kutulakos. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notic...

Without understanding the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC), it is impossible to understand modern day Xinjiang. Read the article by Katrina Northrop: https://www.thewirechina.com/2021/10/31/the-corps-of-xinjiang/ Narrated by Kaiser Kuo. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

We look back to a case of treason during the early Qing that gives insights into the importance of history and the nature of autocratic power. Read the article by James Carter: https://supchina.com/2021/10/27/treason-in-the-early-qing-and-the-curious-consequences/ Narrated by John Darwin Van Fleet. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/p...

Between 2018 and 2019, more than 150 tower running races were held in China. Called "vertical marathoning" in Chinese, the sport of sprinting up skyscrapers has burgeoned in this country of tall buildings. Read the article by Olli Dieckmann: https://supchina.com/2021/10/14/tower-running-finds-a-foothold-in-china/ Narrated by Cliff Larsen. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Califor...

Volunteer civilian rescue teams join in Henan flood rescues after proliferating across China inspired by the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake. Read the article by Tang Ailin, Zhu Tianyi and Denise Jia: https://www.caixinglobal.com/2021-10-25/cover-story-blue-sky-please-send-help-101790928.html Narrated by Heather Mowbray. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privac...

The new top man at the world's most valuable liquor company means business. Read the article by Shen Xinyue, Sun Yanran and Kelsey Cheng: https://www.caixinglobal.com/2021-10-19/in-depth-the-volatile-cocktail-stirring-up-chinas-baijiu-market-101788732.html Narrated by Sylvia Franke. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy...

China’s space station edges nearer completion. Read the article: https://www.weekinchina.com/2021/10/celestial-cheer/ Narrated by Elyse Ribbons. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Nearly 2,000 immovable artifacts — including 177 nationally protected sites — have suffered damage from the extreme weather that began early this month in Shanxi. Read the article by Yi Yingzi, Sun Liangzi, Zhang Ruixue and Cai Xuejiao: https://www.caixinglobal.com/2021-10-13/cultural-relics-are-the-latest-casualty-of-north-chinas-torrential-rain-101786141.html Narrated by Heather Mowbray. See Pri...

Is investing in China worth the risks? For Ray Dalio, who has spent 40 years nurturing his Beijing connections, the answer is easy. Read the article by Brent Crane: https://www.thewirechina.com/2021/10/24/the-china-bull/ Narrated by Kaiser Kuo. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

‘Development models’ debated as Lenovo barred from STAR Market IPO. Read the article: https://www.weekinchina.com/2021/10/the-new-litmus-test/ Narrated by Sylvia Franke. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Millions of overseas fans are reading translated Chinese web novels, making them the country's most successful cultural export. Read the article by Zeyi Yang: https://www.protocol.com/china/chinese-web-novels-china Narrated by Kaiser Kuo. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

In 2013, around three forms of local Chinese opera was estimated to be dying out every two years, leaving just over 300 forms as of 2017. Can grassroots troupes find new performers and bring audiences back into the seats? Read the article by Alex Colville: https://www.theworldofchinese.com/2021/10/the-uncertain-future-of-grassroots-chinese-opera/ Narrated by Cliff Larsen. See Privacy Policy at htt...

Li “The Lipstick King” Jiaqi has risen to become China’s most powerful livestreamer. Now, he’s jumping on a new trend: an upsurge in Chinese patriotism. Read the article by Wang Lianzhang and Fan Yiying: https://www.sixthtone.com/news/1008694/for-a-top-influencer%2C-this-years-hottest-shade-is-china-red# Narrated by Anthony Tao. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privac...

As China aims to create 60 national parks by 2035, what will happen to the 12 million human residents inside protected areas? Read the article by Tina Xu: https://www.theworldofchinese.com/2021/08/the-myth-of-the-chinese-wilderness/ Narrated by Cliff Larsen. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Private elementary and middle schools told to stop enrolling new students in grades one and seven as Beijing looks to overhaul public education. Read the article by Huang Huizhao, Zhou Xinda and Cai Xuejiao: https://www.caixinglobal.com/2021-10-08/in-depth-one-citys-crack-at-education-reform-leaves-15000-students-hunting-for-a-school-101784139.html Narrated by Sylvia Franke. See Privacy Policy at...

Cleantech giant Envision now powers 200 GW of renewables around the world. Read the article: https://www.weekinchina.com/2021/10/wind-in-its-sails/ Narrated by Kaiser Kuo. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .