China Stories

Despite the dangers and exorbitant cost, Chinese climbing enthusiasts have joined a global craze for conquering the Earth’s highest mountain. Click here to read the article by Zheng Yiwen. 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 .

Nearly 30 years after it hosted “China’s Woodstock,” a small central Chinese city is still home to a music culture that rocks in its own way. Click here to read the article by Liao Xinzhong. Translated by Ana Padilla Fornieles. 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 .

During the pandemic, millions around the world adopted cats and dogs to keep them company during lockdown. That produced a bonanza for a small factory town in eastern China. Click here to read the article by Fan Yiying. 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 .

The founder of the Ming dynasty established fiefdoms for all 26 of his sons, who were known as "princes." From the very beginning, they posed a threat to the imperial seat in Beijing. Zhu Chenhao, the fifth generation to hold the title "Prince of Ning," made that threat very real in 1519. Click here to read the article by James Carter. Narrated by Kaiser Kuo. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.co...

In this collection of nine interconnected short stories, characters are constantly moving without really going anywhere. Click here to read the article by William McCormack. 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 .

From migrant workers seeking refuge to budget-conscious tourists, public sleeping in China reveals a fascinating tapestry of urban social dynamics. Click here to read the article by Zheng Yiwen and Hatty Liu. 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 .

The emperor, as “son of heaven,” was meant to mediate between the natural and the supernatural. When dragons were becoming visible to regular folk, as they were in the Yuan and Ming, the supernatural was bypassing its usual channels — a dangerous deviation. Click here to read the article by James Carter. Narrated by Kaiser Kuo. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy...

Months after “zero-Covid” policies disappeared around China, many colleges and universities still have yet to lift campus entry restrictions. Click here to read the article by Rebecca Wang. Narrated by Mina Greb. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Pass-rate policy and longstanding concerns about the quality of vocational schools are raising the stakes for students taking China’s high school entrance exam. Click here to read the article by Li Xin. 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 .

Following the death of a young influencer, experts are raising serious concerns regarding the safety, effectiveness, and long-term impact of such camps. Click here to read the article by Yang Caini. Narrated by Mina Greb. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

U.S. Tensions Could Sap Chinese EV-Battery Makers’ Global Ambitions - World leader CATL and its peers face policy headwinds in the West that could benefit South Korean, Japanese rivals. Click here to read the article by An Limin, Chen Lixiong and Mo Yelin. Narrated by Cliff Larsen. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-no...

"With you in charge, I am at ease," Mao Zedong wrote in a note to his successor, Hua Guofeng. Mao's trust was misplaced. Click here to read the article by James Carter. 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 .

Multinational pharmaceutical firms are changing strategies and selling business lines, as a government bulk-buying program favors cheaper, local products. Click here to read the article by Tang Hanyu and Kelly Wang. 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 .

China’s millennials are seeking cheap thrills and get-rich-quick solutions amid a tough economy. That’s leading many to embrace an institution long considered hopelessly uncool: the country’s state-run lotteries. Click here to read the article by Wang Lianzhang. Narrated by Mina Greb. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-...

Shortly before publishing his groundbreaking 1939 study of rural China, sociologist Fei Xiaotong wrote a novel about life in his hometown. What can it tell us about his later work? Click here to read the article by Sun Jing. Narrated by Sarah Kutulakos. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

China Grapples with Hangover From Consumer Lending Boom - The banking regulator has expanded a pilot program for disposal of nonperforming personal loans, allowing hundreds of financial institutions to offload their bad debt. Click here to read the article by Zhang Yuzhe and Jill Yang. Narrated by Cliff Larsen. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https:...

Only twice has a Nobel peace laureate died in state custody. The first time was in 1938, when German pacifist Carl von Ossietzky died in Berlin of mistreatment at the hands of his Nazi captors. The second was in the summer of 2017. Click here to read the article by James Carter. Narrated by Kaiser Kuo. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.c...

A group of Tianya’s former employees and loyal fans are trying to revive the once high-flying discussion forum, but raising funds and attention is proving difficult to do. Click here to read the article by Li Xin. 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 .

Female bartenders in China share the reality of navigating their male-dominated profession. Click here to read the article by Xiaoqian Zhu. Narrated by Mina Greb. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Chinese Firms Flock to Saudi Arabia in Middle East Gold Rush - Companies from Alibaba and Tencent to startups, especially those focused on AI, cloud, fintech and e-commerce, are finding growing opportunities in the kingdom. Click here to read the article by Zhai Shaohui and JZhang. Narrated by Kim Dalrymple. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://a...

Careless practices and low media literacy have put both participants and filmmakers at risk when making documentaries. Click here to read the article by Amarsanaa Battulga. 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 .

Yellow River flooding has killed and displaced millions over the centuries. But in June 1938, the river's levees were intentionally breached, leaving half a million civilians dead — another reminder of the impossible choices that defined much of World War II. Click here to read the article by James Carter. Narrated by Kaiser Kuo. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Priva...

How Smart Cars Are Upending the Auto Supply Chain - EVs and self-driving cars shift the focus of vehicle-making from nuts and bolts to integrated circuits and complex computer systems. Click here to read the article by Yu Cong, Liu Peilin, Qu Yunxu and Bonnie Cao. Narrated by Sarah Kutulakos. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy...

In 2021, China made reducing the academic pressure on students a top policy priority. But anxiety disorders in schools are still a severe problem — and appear to be affecting more children at younger ages. Click here to read the article by Ni Dandan. Narrated by Mina Greb. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info...

Even with orders down from before the pandemic and manufacturing departing for nations with lower labor costs, the country’s most prominent trade expo retains its appeal. Click here to read the article by Wang Jing, Qi Zhanning, Fu Wendi and Denise Jia. Narrated by Sylvia Franke. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/...