Round Table China

Drawing the line on cyberbullying

SOAPBOX: Are young people bad at socializing?

"Soulmanyships" represent a shift in how modern generations construct their social circles, moving away from singular, all-encompassing friendships toward specialized support systems. Individuals now assign specific roles—such as hobby companions or professional confidants—to different people, and increasingly, to AI b...

Summer travel ditches the bucket list

What makes a city feel like home?

What makes a city feel like home?

Young people in China increasingly define a sense of belonging in new cities through stable housing, secure employment, and meaningful social connections rather than just physical space. Surveys indicate that cities like Chengdu, Shenzhen, and Hefei attract and retain talent by offering robust industrial ecosystems, af...

China's Fields Medal first

The Fields Medal, mathematics' most prestigious honor, recently recognized two Chinese mathematicians, Wang Hong and Deng Yu, for solving long-standing problems that had challenged the field for decades. Their achievements highlight the diverse pathways to genius: Deng Yu followed a traditional, fast-tracked trajectory...

Moldy garlic is trying to warn you

China Finds: poetry in motion

Wang Jibing, a 56-year-old food delivery rider, has redefined contemporary Chinese poetry by drawing inspiration from the daily grind of urban life. His award-winning collection, Low Flight, captures the essence of the working class, proving that profound art does not require a scholarly background. This phenomenon sig...

Summer cinema's surprising new favorites

Show schedule update!

The Soapbox: when AI lies

AI has quietly become a primary source for answers, yet this reliance often fosters confirmation bias and diminishes critical thinking. When users treat AI as an ultimate authority, they risk accepting confident but hallucinated information, as demonstrated by a recent incident where an AI falsely invalidated a legitim...

The clay that conquered the world

Jingdezhen’s recent designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site marks a historic milestone, recognizing the city as the world’s first industrial heritage site dedicated specifically to porcelain. For over a millennium, this "porcelain capital" has maintained a continuous tradition of ceramic production, blending natura...

IN VIDEO: What stays when the postcard fades?

Young Chinese travelers increasingly prioritize human connection and local convenience over traditional landmarks, as evidenced by a 2025 report showing an 80/100 satisfaction rate across 102 countries. This shift reflects a move toward seamless experiences, such as mobile payment accessibility and local hospitality, r...

What stays when the postcard fades?

Young Chinese travelers are shifting their focus from iconic landmarks to the quality of human connection and local convenience, as evidenced by a 2025 report showing an 80/100 satisfaction rate across 102 countries. This trend emphasizes seamless experiences, such as mobile payment integration and local signage, over ...

The big buffet comeback

Buffets in China are experiencing a significant resurgence, transitioning from the luxury, broad-menu models of the past to highly specialized, cost-efficient formats. While iconic brands like Golden Jaguar once defined the market, their decline around 2017 signaled a shift in consumer preferences and operational viabi...

The red light delivery revolution

Suzhou has launched a pilot program to alleviate the intense time pressure on food delivery riders by integrating traffic signal data with delivery apps. By pausing the delivery countdown when riders wait at red lights, the system aims to reduce dangerous traffic violations driven by algorithmic demands for speed. Prev...

Quick update

Are we done with binge watching?

The shift from traditional weekly television releases to the binge-watching model, popularized by shows like House of Cards, fundamentally altered storytelling structures and audience engagement. While binge-watching allowed for complex, long-form narratives, streaming platforms are now pivoting toward staggered releas...

City students, rural lessons

The "Three Going to the Countryside" program, established in 1997, mobilizes Chinese university students to provide technical, educational, and social support to rural communities. Originally a simple volunteering initiative, the program has evolved into a sophisticated, interdisciplinary exchange where students apply ...

Soapbox: The 5 AM hospital wake-up call debate

Hospital routines often create friction between patients seeking rest and medical staff prioritizing efficient, data-driven care. While early morning blood tests and ward rounds are perceived by patients as disruptive, they remain essential for timely diagnostic results and treatment decisions. Bridging this divide req...