Round Table China

The Gaokao is over, but a new pressure has just begun. What to study? What to become? This year, Chinese universities are rewriting the rules with flexible tracks and unconventional majors. Their message is simple. Your major is not your destiny. So how do you pick a path in a job market that refuses to stand still? On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushan

Smart glasses promise to translate any language, recognize every face, and capture life hands-free, all without a phone in sight. But when a device can see, store, and remember everything you do, the line between helpful and invasive starts to blur. / Should you come down hard when a child lies (23:00)? On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushan

In early June 2026, a cruise slipped out of Shanghai. The Adora Magic City steamed into open water with no foreign dock in sight, then looped back to where it began. They call it a 'voyage to nowhere,' and travelers are booking. Why is this non-trip the most buzzed-about experiment in Chinese tourism? On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushan

If you have ever watched a drama and wondered why fans lose their minds over the opening credits, it all comes down to billing order. In China's entertainment industry, a name's position is everything. But new rules arriving this summer will standardize billing across all dramas. What does this mean for your favorite stars, and is the fight for top billing really over? On the show: Steve, Fei Fei...

Finding a place to live in a new city is supposed to be exciting. Then you start scrolling listings and realizing those perfect photos are probably from a decade ago. Renting in China has changed. Young renters want something their parents never expected. The market is shifting, hidden pitfalls catch first-timers off guard, and turning a lease into a home takes more than just signing. On the show:...

For years, "A" grades have been piling up like participation trophies. Now Harvard University is hitting the brakes. A strict 20 percent cap on top marks has students nervous and corporate recruiters thrilled. Why the sudden crackdown, and will other elite schools follow suit? / Does your fruit look different at home than in the market (22:41)? On the show: Steve, Yushan & Yangyang

June 19 marks this year's Dragon Boat Festival, one of China's oldest traditions. These days, it is about more than rice dumplings and boat races. The holiday now includes study tours, DIY herb bouquets, healthier takes on zongzi, and race events built around tourism. How can ancient celebrations evolve without losing their soul? On the show: Steve, Yushan & Yangyang

Open a music app in China and you might find a poet from a thousand years ago sitting alongside today's biggest pop stars. Ancient lyrics are being set to fresh new melodies, and young listeners are trading textbooks for playlists. This is how the past goes viral in the present. On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushan

China welcomed more than 150 million international visitors in 2025, and the usual postcard sights are only part of the story. Easier visa rules and a new wave of discovery driven by social media are flipping the old narrative on its head. From reimagined heritage sites to experiences that blend tradition with modern flair, the country is offering something fresh at every turn. On the show: Steve,...

Walk into a milk tea shop these days, and you may leave carrying more than just a drink. Crisps, cakes, and even surprise snack packs now line the shelves alongside the bubble tea. Chinese brands are transforming a quick sip into a full‑fledged shopping experience. It is affordable, convenient, and rapidly becoming the norm! / Are personality tests picking the best hires (09:14)? On the show: Stev...

Getting a child the right care sometimes meant a long trip to a big city hospital. Local clinics just did not inspire enough trust. But now, doctors are teaming up with artificial intelligence to give community physicians a powerful backup tool. This is not about replacing doctors. It is about giving them on‑demand access to an AI second opinion that never sleeps. On the show: Steve, Yushun & Xing...

We trust online reviews. We buy what influencers recommend. But what happens when those reviews are faked or secretly paid for? China just rolled out new rules targeting influencers who rig demos, hide sponsorships, and fabricate test results. The era of fake reviews may finally be ending. / What is a "mango pineapple" (21:35)? On the show: Fei Fei, Steve & Yushun

China's new policy allows you to share your health insurance wallet with parents, grandparents, siblings, and children across the country. One app and one tap create a national safety net for your entire family. That digital connection bridges the distance when the people you love live provinces away. On the show: Fei Fei, Steve & Yushun

There's a growing backlash against the throwaway culture most of us grew up with. Enter the Repair Café movement. Strangers sit down together, pull out their broken stuff, and actually fix it. They bring in toasters, sweaters, lamps, and anything else you can imagine. What started small has turned into a global wave of people who refuse to replace what they can repair. / The Soapbox:"Photo-Perfect...

The takeout bag that shows up at your door doesn't look or feel like it used to. Same goes for the straw, the container, and the little box holding your noodles. The guidelines for delivery packaging are getting stricter, which means everything from the materials to the design is being redesigned to be more efficient and better for the planet. So what exactly has changed, and how did we get here?...

Every four years, the World Cup takes over the planet. But behind the viral moments and dramatic goals lies a much bigger story. We're talking global brands, local businesses, wild tech experiments, and debates no one saw coming. This isn't just about football. It's about what the world's biggest event reveals about all of us, including the people who never watch a single game. On the show: Steve,...

The Shanghai International Film Festival is back and completely different this year, breaking records with over 4,100 submissions from 125 countries. But the real story is what happens off screen, from AI workshops and experimental film labs to walking tours through historic neighborhoods. So how is SIFF turning all of Shanghai into part of the show? On the show: Steve, Yushan & Yang Guang

What if your shortcut to a better body came with hidden costs? Luxury weight loss camps are booming, promising fast results and a summer transformation. But behind the glossy reviews, some facilities have been cited for safety violations. When does a health goal become a health risk? / Why is an apology so hard to get right (19:09)? On the show: Steve, Yushan & Yushun

As mosquito-borne diseases spread, Chinese cities are taking action. But a proposal coming from one company in the U.S. is another story. Releasing over 30 million bioengineered mosquitoes sounds extreme. Is it bold science or a step too far? On the show: Steve, Yushan & Yushun

Our ancestors built the Parthenon and the Forbidden City. We are scrolling screens. Turns out, both can coexist. In China and elsewhere in the world, brands are selling ancient philosophical ideas as lifestyle, and museums are turning temples into selfie backdrops. Are young people looking backward to move forward? On the show: Fei Fei, Steve & Yushun

China lifted nearly 100 million people out of poverty, a feat praised worldwide. But the real test begins now. How do you keep poverty from coming back? The country built a digital net that spots disaster before it strikes, tracking medical bills, income drops, and housing risks. But early warnings alone aren’t enough. The deeper challenge is building lives that are stable and worth staying for. O...

Do you still fold your own laundry? That might feel very 2025. In some cities across China, household robots are already working alongside human cleaners, handling repetitive tasks while people focus on more delicate work. The future of housework is arriving faster than you think! / China's internet finds its mascot: A tired opossum (15:18). On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushun

Between the down payment, the mortgage, and the repairs, owning a home is never as simple as getting the keys. The government is proposing broader use of housing provident fund. On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushun

The Gaokao is here. In 2026, with AI and smart classrooms reshaping education, what has become of this tradition? Forget the scores for a minute. What does this ritual actually reveal about hope, struggle, and coming of age in today's China? On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushan

Take a deep breath. Half the oxygen you just inhaled came from one place, the ocean. But right now, that invisible life support system is sending distress signals. Warmer waters. Emptying nets. Coastlines that no longer look familiar. This World Oceans Day, we explore what happens when the thing we've taken for granted begins to shift and how we can rise to meet that challenge. On the show: Steve,...