Round Table China

For decades, rest followed a simple rhythm: work hard all week, recover on the weekend. But that old pattern no longer fits how people actually live and work. Now a quiet new behavior is emerging. Young professionals are subtly reclaiming a few hours in the middle of the week, carving out rest where none officially exists. / Viral diets: Shortcut or risk (17:24)? On the show: Niu Honglin, Steve &...

At a time when many parts of the world are raising trade barriers, one major economy is moving in the opposite direction. China's decision to remove tariffs on imports from 53 African countries is making a clear statement about openness, partnership, and the future of global supply chains. On the show: Niu Honglin, Steve & Gao Junya

One partner here, the other there. Different cities for some. Separate homes in the same crowded metro for others. And strangely, they all say the distance keeps them together. Is planned weekend intimacy the future of love, or just a slow goodbye? / Would you give up your lunch break to go home early (14:02)? On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushan

One of the biggest auto shows in history is happening right now in Beijing, with nearly 1,500 vehicles and over 180 world premieres. But this isn't just about shiny new models. China is rewriting the rules of the road, from next generation batteries to smarter assisted driving. So what are the biggest trends coming out of Beijing, and how will they reshape the cars you drive? On the show: Steve, F...

On this week's edition of The Soapbox, a young woman in southern China has stirred up controversy. She posted about taking a five hour nap at her company in protest of what she calls a low salary. Online, she received very little support. On the show: Steve, Yushan & Yushun

At the Sixth Asian Beach Games in Sanya, the wind and waves become part of the game, where every move looks effortlessly shaped by the sea. But how does an entire city transform into the main stage? This is where sport meets the shoreline, and the result is anything but ordinary. On the show: Steve, Yushan & Yushun

To close our World Book Day series, Round Table invites you into two richly different worlds: Lu Min's "Dinner for Six" and Di An's "Dear Fengmi", read by authors themselves.

National Reading Week has come and gone. According to a fresh report, China's online literature scene isn't just bigger than ever; it's a genuine economic force. / Also today, we wrap up our distinguished Chinese author series with its fifth and final guest, writer Ren He. He shares a book that deeply resonates with him: "I Clean Up Garbage in a Wasteland World." (10:54) On the show: Steve, Yushun...

AI can already book your hotel and order your food. Now it's coming for your ride. In China, platforms are turning ride-hailing into a single sentence. You say what you need, like a smooth trip, a stop along the way, or a car that fits a child or a pet, and AI handles the rest. On the show: Steve, Yushun & Yushan.

A stranger shatters a car window not to steal, but to save. He grabs an AED from the back seat and uses it to rescue a life. If a single device works that fast, and a stranger risked everything to get it, why don't we all have one? On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushun

April 23 is World Book Day. Across China, a week-long celebration of reading has been taking place. And more specifically in Nanchang, the Fifth National Reading Conference has turned books into something more: experiences that blend history, poetry, and cutting-edge technology. / Book recommendation from Chinese writer Lu Min (19:59) On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushun

Writer Di An wrote the books that defined your teenage years. Now she's writing for the adult you've become. In this third episode of our World Book Day series, we talk about "Dear Fengmi," a novel about a single mom, a twice-divorced man, and a little girl named Honey who asks why ice cream melts. / Does diamond still mean love for eternity to you (14:22)? On the show: Niu Honglin, Steve & Yushan

For decades, environmental action has been built on a simple idea: plant more trees. But in many places, especially cities, space is limited, and the real challenge is no longer just planting. It is maintaining what already exists. That shift has sparked a new approach. Instead of planting a tree, you adopt one! On the show: Niu Honglin, Steve & Yushan

For World Reading Day, Round Table meets Chinese sci-fi writer Chen Qiufan. He introduces his new book “Ocean Break”: a green utopia island in the Indian Ocean, built by global elites and powered by AI. But beneath the perfect surface lie sacrificed lives, buried histories, and a dangerous faith in technology. Part 2 of our 5-part series on Chinese authors. On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushan

AI is already inside classrooms across China, personalizing homework, grading essays, and tracking student data. None of that is new. But what about the teachers? They are being retrained and redefined, asked to evolve from knowledge providers into ethical guides for a digital world. On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushan

April 23 is World Book Day, and this week on Round Table, we're taking part in the celebration. Today we launch a special five-part series featuring acclaimed Chinese writers, each sharing a book that changed their perspective. The first features Qi Jinnian with her book "Wandering the Hengduan Mountains". / The Soapbox: Shenzhen, the city saying NO to its people (10:20). On the show: Steve, Fei F...

Robots just ran a half marathon in Beijing. They weren't just moving. They were competing, stumbling, and pushing through like real racers. So is this a fun spectacle, or a serious glimpse into where technology is taking us? And when humans and machines share the same track... who are we really cheering for? On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushun

France just made it easier to return looted artifacts from the colonial era. Sacred objects. Royal treasures. So what does that mean for China, a country that lost countless relics to foreign powers over the past two centuries? /For Travel China through film EP3, our picks today is "The Grandmaster". So where will this journey take us (18:10)? On the show: Steve, Yushan & Yushun

Several Chinese cities are rewriting their parking rules. Lower fees, shorter billing increments, free overnight and holiday parking. The goal is to free up spaces and ease costs for drivers. But will these changes actually work or just create new problems? On the show: Steve, Yushan & Yushun

What started as a tongue-in-cheek tool to help a friend suddenly went viral. Enter the SBTI Test: a fast, funny, wildly shareable personality quiz that hands you a four-letter label and says, "this is basically you." It lives somewhere between "that's so true" and "is this a joke?" On the show: Niu Honglin, Steve & Yushun

Have you ever watched a film and immediately thought,“I want to go there"? Maybe it's a city, a street, or even just a feeling. This year's Beijing International Film Festival leans into that impulse, turning films into invitations and the city itself into a kind of open-world experience. With many more highlights in store, moviegoers won't want to miss what awaits. For Travel China through film E...

For the Beijing International Film Festival, Round Table presents a special series. Each episode pairs a film shortlisted for the Tiantan Award with a real destination woven into its story. Because a great film doesn't just move you. It transports you. Our first pick is "Crossing a Dawn." So where will this journey take us? On the show: Fei Fei, Steve Hatherly & Yangyang

For many people, growing up once seemed simple: find a stable job, buy a house, and settle down. But today, that mentality is changing. More people, from retirees to young professionals, are asking a different question. What if home didn't have to stay in one place? / Let's take a look at China's first ever barbecue university (15:36)! On the show: Niu Honglin, Yangyang & Yushun

AI has already transformed industries from finance to medicine, logistics to law, and now it's coming for acting. Meet the next generation of stars, digital performers with names, personalities, and social media followings. Some call them a powerful storytelling tool, while others see a threat to creativity and livelihoods. On the show: Niu Honglin, Yangyang & Yushun

The Soapbox: The "Admin Night" trend / We think of e-sports as a young person's game. But in China, the fastest-growing players are in their 60s and 70s. They are forming teams, winning competitions, and turning gaming into a new kind of retirement. This is not just a pastime. It is a new path for the silver economy (17:49). On the show: Steve, Yushun & Xingyu