Chris Lee

Chopsticks & Confessions with Christopher Li

Society EN ↓ 30 episodes

A storytelling podcast about real Chinese culture, 90s childhood life, and the secrets behind how Chinese people think, act, and communicate. Christopher Li is a Chinese journalist, news anchor, and award-winning TV show host. He has traveled across China and the world, interviewing people, explaining cultures, and telling stories that reveal what’s behind the headlines. With sharp observation, deep cultural understanding, and a talent for turning complex ideas into engaging storytelling, he’s here to bring you the China most foreigners never get to see.

Author

Chris Lee

Episodes

When Gifts Attack: The Wild Rules of Chinese Present-Giving 17.12.2025 9:53

Ever wondered why a simple gift in China can turn into a full-blown drama? In this episode of Chopsticks & Confessions , I’m diving into the chaotic, hilarious, and sometimes baffling world of Chinese gift-giving. From red envelopes (hongbao) that mysteriously vanish, to apples that spark office rivalries, and gifts that are secretly taboo—this episode has it all. Join me, Christopher Li, as I...

Little Fresh Meat 10.12.2025 17:09

Ever wondered what it’s like to be a PE-hating dance lead, or why Chinese men carrying their partners’ handbags is a quiet revolution? On this episode of Chopsticks & Confessions, Chris unpacks the messy, surprising evolution of masculinity and feminism in modern China—from Confucian gender rules to TikTok’s “little fresh meat” trend, from “leftover women” redefining success to the tiny acts o...

Look at the Neighbor’s Kid 03.12.2025 9:32

What if your seat in class was a ranking, your exam scores were posted for the whole school to see, and a wooden stick was the punishment for getting a question wrong? Welcome to Chinese education—where competition isn’t a choice, it’s a way of life. On Chopsticks & Confessions, Christopher Li dives into the wild, weird, and sometimes brutal world of his school days: from Gaokao’s life-alterin...

Leftover Woman And Gold-digging Man 26.11.2025 13:43

Ever heard of a marriage built on no house, no car, not even a radio—just 3 months of blind dates? Or why a 1970s bicycle was the "Tesla of its time" for Chinese grooms? On this episode of "Chopsticks and Confessions," we’re spilling the tea on Chinese marriage: the iconic "Four Big Things" that defined generations, the pressure to marry before 30 (or be called "...

Don't Lose Face 19.11.2025 14:47

Have you ever wondered what it was really like to grow up in China before smartphones, before globalization fully kicked in, and before bubble tea became a global identity? Welcome — because you’re about to find out from someone who lived every second of it. I’m Christopher Li , a kid of the 90s who grew up through exam anxiety, endless noodles, parent-teacher meetings that felt like public trials...