Round Table China
Episodes
When a child teaches grown-ups how to love
22 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 D...
Tree parenting 101
22 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
How AI is redefining the teacher
21 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
AI is already inside classrooms across China, personalizing homework, grading essays, and tracking student data. None of that is new. But what about t...
Technology's promise, humanity's price
21 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Read, then roam
20 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 a...
Beijing's robot race: fun or future?
20 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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...
It's time for looted art to come home
17 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 coun...
Can cheaper parking fix congestion?
17 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Several Chinese cities are rewriting their parking rules. Lower fees, shorter billing increments, free overnight and holiday parking. The goal is to f...
SBTI: The "unhinged" personality test
16 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 tha...
Inside the 16th Beijing International Film Festival
16 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Bonus Ep: Travel China through film
15 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
For the Beijing International Film Festival, Round Table presents a special series. Each episode pairs a film shortlisted for the Tiantan Award with a...
The rise of living anywhere
15 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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, f...
Navigating the AI actor controversy
15 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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, d...
Encore: Is your grandma a gamer?
14 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 7...
Encore: What makes a house a good house?
14 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
China built the world's largest housing market by chasing one thing: more. But the finish line has moved. The urgent new question is no longer "How ma...
Does greatness require suffering?
13 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Everyone has heard the old belief. Real greatness demands sacrifice and struggle. The best among us only made it because somebody drove them hard, oft...
The 6th China International Consumer Products Expo
13 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Imagine AI glasses that translate 89 languages, a robot picking tea leaves, and a flying car all under one roof. That is the 6th China International C...
Are you seeing more mosquitoes earlier this year?
10 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The Full Circle：Working overtime, Hu Xue Gang, Shared farming. / Have you noticed mosquitoes showing up earlier this year? Maybe you brushed one awa...
China's next phase of E-commerce
10 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Governments around the world are all trying to answer a key question: How can digital commerce support the real economy — without replacing it? Well...
From classrooms to kickoffs
09 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Another "super league" is sweeping China's schools: the Class Super League. Sports contests are getting kids off screens and outdoors — but can a fo...
Grow from your smartphone
09 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Imagine growing your own vegetables without leaving the city. In China, shared garden plots and "cloud farming" apps let people manage crops, harvest ...
China Finds Ep. 2: When ancient grief met modern relief
08 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to our special segment, China Finds! This is where we take a cultural moment from China and unpack the story behind it—not as a history less...
The unexpected rise of "City Busing"
08 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Cities are packed with leisure spots—restaurants, malls, parks, nightlife districts. But lately, a surprising new venue has entered the chat: the ci...
The 0.3% social insurance solution
07 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
China is rolling out what some call its "sixth social insurance": long-term care insurance. The cost is just 0.3 percent of income, but the ambition i...
The parental school volunteering trap
07 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Millions of parents across China stand outside schools in vests, directing traffic with no training, no authority, and no real choice. What began as v...
The new Qingming: From ancient rituals to eco-burials
06 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
It was a day of remembrance, when people across China honor their departed loved ones in different ways. Over the weekend, the country marked another ...
Why can't China stop working overtime?
06 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In 2025, China averaged 49 hours a week. Laws exist. Awareness exists. So why nothing changing? Today we ask: who actually benefits from your long hou...
Are you a "vintage human"?
03 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Move over, Gen Z trends. The latest identity young people are claiming for themselves is "old-school human." It's a deliberate step back from the hype...
Silver screens: Navigating the digital frontier with China's 161 million seniors
03 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Forget the teenage gamers—the newest power users are your grandparents. From chasing flash sales at midnight to becoming viral influencers, seniors ...
Have pets lost their welcome mat?
02 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Over the past decade, the rise of pet-friendly cafés, restaurants, and shopping malls has reflected a broader change in urban culture. Pets are no lo...
Steep your next adventure in tea!
02 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
For centuries, tea was a staple, the quiet ceremonial background note to Chinese life. But in 2026, the spring harvest has transformed into a high‑s...
Are headphones going back to the jack?
01 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
When people traded wired headphones for their wireless cousins, the decision was driven by style and convenience. But when it comes to the mind, prior...
China's schools ditch morning reading
01 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The sound of students reading aloud at dawn has echoed through Chinese schools for generations. Not anymore. Schools are now scrapping those early mor...
Say goodbye to the eight-person dorm
31 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
For many graduates, dorm life memories are tied to shared rooms, late night talks, and constant noise. But today's students expect more privacy and co...
AI is stealing your voice
31 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
You hear a voice online promoting something, and the tone, the rhythm, and the emotion all feel completely real. But that person never recorded those ...
The Soapbox: China's digital marriage market
30 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Remember those weekend marriage markets where parents posted résumés on park walls? They've gone digital. Now, anxious parents are swiping for sons-...
Zero waste starts on your plate
30 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The biggest climate solution isn't some new invention. It's something we're already throwing away. Millions of tons of food go to waste every year, qu...
The Full Circle: Spring recruitment, child-friendly society, spring greens
27 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Three stories with no obvious connection. That is the easy way out. So instead, we picked three segments from this week that seem unrelated at first g...
The ever-changing world of retirement
27 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Retirement isn't what it used to be. Shanghai has launched a sweeping plan to reintegrate seniors into the workforce, shifting the focus from caring f...
The Why: Tokens
26 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to The Why, our new tech-focused segment. We take one story and go beyond the surface. In tech reporting, the spotlight is usually on the numb...
Boao Forum for Asia 2026
26 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The Boao Forum for Asia, underway in Hainan, brings together governments, companies, and scholars to debate global challenges and test solutions. As t...
Five-star living for an aging generation
25 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Imagine checking into a five-star hotel and never leaving. No short-term stays. No eventual move to a care facility when you need help. Across China, ...
Did you catch spring green fever?
25 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Spring greens have taken over. Suddenly, your friends are experts on what's in season. Grocery runs feel like scavenger hunts, and vegetables have bec...
Do chores make kids nicer?
24 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Parenting advice often focuses on grades, extracurriculars, or screen time. But new research drawing on data from over 50,000 teenagers across 15 coun...
What makes a city kid-friendly?
24 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Picture a morning commute from a very different height. At just one meter tall, the world looks unfamiliar. When cities are built from an adult perspe...
Labubu goes to Hollywood
23 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
THE SOAPBOX: If you exercise for less than 30 minutes, it's basically useless? / The Labubu craze has officially taken over Hollywood. We tell you eve...
AI dominates 2026 spring recruitment
23 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
It's spring job fair season, and the crowd isn't flocking to the usual names. AI is stealing the show. So what does that leave students with? A job ma...
How a candy connected the world
20 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The Full Circle: Ganji, book covers, city pollen / A crumpled wrapper. A hotel clerk's request. A kindness relay across continents. This isn't a feel-...
Petals, profit, and a prosperous path
20 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Spring in China isn't just pretty anymore. It's big business. We dig into the high-stakes economics behind the petals. How do these fleeting flowers t...
China Finds: A zoo before zoos were zoos
19 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
There's a lot happening beneath the surface, literally. New sites are emerging, long-studied relics are revealing fresh secrets, and the questions we'...
We need to talk about these trees
19 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Spring has arrived, and so have your allergies. That yellow dust covering everything looks like nature's confetti and the trees themselves might be th...
Pindou: the offline hobby sweeping China
18 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In offices and bedrooms across China, a new kind of downtime has taken hold. People are hunched over trays of tiny plastic beads, arranging them one b...
The great wall of wildlife coexistence
18 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Brown bears are breaking into homes. Wild boars are stopping subway trains. In 2026, the wild isn't staying in the wild anymore. China's conservation ...
Don't like the movie? Here's your refund
17 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What if you could walk out of a bad movie 20 minutes in and get your money back? A theater in Hangzhou is trying exactly that, and China's film indust...
The return of open-air shopping
17 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Young people in China are walking away from their screens and heading to the market. We explore the revival of Ganji and why an old-fashioned way of s...
The Soapbox: Fast food's new AI is listening to you
16 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A major fast food chain is putting artificial intelligence in its employees' ears. Burger King is testing AI-powered headsets that do more than take o...
From premium malls to pre-owned treasures
16 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Step into a Chinese mall today and you might be surprised. Crowds are back, but many younger shoppers are opting for a different retail experience. Th...
The Full Circle: Degree rethinking, comedic dating, theatrical arts
13 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Different stories, different angles, no obvious reason they belong together. But hang tight, there's a link hiding in plain sight. Beneath the surface...
The OpenClaw craze
13 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A digital crustacean is scuttling across China's internet, and the race is on to catch it. Known as the “lobster,” OpenClaw is an open-source AI a...
When an economy runs on AI
12 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Many think of artificial intelligence as merely playing a supporting role, automating the routine and optimizing the everyday. But China's latest move...
Curtains up on China's new era of theater
12 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
China just unveiled an ambitious plan to shake up theater. It's probably not what you think. Forget dusty relics. This is ancient art meeting the algo...
Redefining the 9-to-5
11 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
For many young people, the nine-to-five job is no longer the only or preferred option. Flexible schedules, multiple income streams, and digital entrep...
Generation Global: Navigating a Changing World, Ep. 3
11 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
International relations aren't just shaped at summits. The real exchanges happen in classrooms and everyday conversations. In this episode of Generati...
When love takes the stage
10 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Forget awkward dinner dates. In China, singles are finding love through laughter at stand-up comedy matchmaking shows. With improv icebreakers and ins...
The great degree rethinking
10 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
While university enrollment numbers are dipping, vocational schools are opening to bachelor's degree holders eager to learn hands-on trades. Some call...
Generation Global: Navigating a Changing World, Ep. 2
09 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
How can a country transform vast industries while maintaining economic momentum? And how do green ambitions translate into change for communities and ...
Can we fix doctor burnout?
06 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Healthcare systems around the world are grappling with a familiar challenge: delivering high-quality care while safeguarding the well-being of the med...
The Full Circle: First meetings, silver-haired students，time-honored brands
06 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Each week, we take a step back to re-examine three stories from the news cycle. Stories that, at first glance, appear to have no logical connection. D...
Generation Global: Navigating a Changing World, Ep. 1
05 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to RoundTable new special series: Generation Global: Navigating a Changing World! In this debut episode, Steve and Yushun sit down with Ace As...
Tradition's tricky digital rebirth
04 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Forget dusty storefronts. China's oldest brands are now crashing livestreams and racking up billions of views, making the "old-timers" cool again. But...
Beijing's new plan to save the Great Wall
04 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The Great Wall has survived centuries of wind and war. Now it also faces a new kind of challenge, not from nature, but from the millions who come to l...
Lifelong learning takes China's retirees overseas
03 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
For many older Chinese, a quality life now has a global dimension. Beyond material comfort lies a deeper desire for growth and self-discovery, leading...
The glowing evolution of the Lantern Festival
03 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Think Chinese New Year ends when the fireworks stop? The real finale comes with the first full moon, during the Lantern Festival. On this night, lante...
Did I say too much or not enough?
02 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The Soapbox: Tigers' fasting programs / There is a razor thin line between connection and cringe. You know the feeling. You say something real. Too re...
Inside China's five-year provincial playbook
02 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The holidays are done and the strategy is set. Chinese provinces have just released their game plans for the next five years. The focus? A full push i...
The Full Circle: Red envelopes, hands-on classes, one-person companies
27 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Look closely, and a pattern begins to emerge from this week's stories. The pieces are all there, just not yet put together. But once they are, somethi...
The too cool night schools
27 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
For years, cities across China have invested in cultivating "night-time economies," including restaurants, retail, and entertainment. Now, a new dimen...
The trouble with red envelopes
26 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Remember when a red envelope felt like magic? Not for the cash inside, but for the luck it carried. Somewhere along the way, that magic got replaced b...
One person. One laptop. One company.
26 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Forget the garage startup. Forget the big team. We are entering the age of the 'One-Person Unicorn.' Artificial intelligence has slashed the cost of b...
When campus stir-fries eclipse spreadsheets
25 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In lecture halls once defined by PowerPoint slides and exam prep, a different kind of competition is unfolding. At several Chinese universities, the m...
The AI powered Spring Festival
25 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Another Chinese New Year celebration has just wrapped, but this year felt different. We saw robots trading folk dances for high-speed kung fu, AI assi...
Is post-Chinese New Year syndrome a thing?
24 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Once the fireworks fade and the tables clear, reality creeps back in. Your thoughts move at molasses speed, your energy flatlines, and that cozy holid...
The numbers behind the Chinese New Year
24 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The fireworks have faded, the reunions have ended, and the last dumpling is a distant memory. Now the numbers are in. The receipts, the records, and t...
Should loyalty be paid?
23 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Round Table presents the last of six stories from the new podcast, "Sage and Youth: Debating Zhuangzi's Tao." In this episode: a humble butcher surviv...
Year of the Horse Drama Ep.3: The unexpected guest
23 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
As a change of pace, the Round Table team is bringing horse stories to life! But this time, we've swapped a story from the past for a story from... th...
The secret of effortless skill
20 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Round Table presents the fifth of six stories from the new podcast, "Sage and Youth: Debating Zhuangzi's Tao." In this episode: is true expertise abou...
Year of the Horse Drama Ep.2: Bo Le and the thousand-li horse
20 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
As a change of pace, the Round Table team is back in the saddle with another horse drama! Grab your headphones and enjoy the second installment: Bo Le...
Can success be copied?
19 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Round Table presents the fourth of six stories from the new podcast, "Sage and Youth: Debating Zhuangzi's Tao." In this episode: when does inspiration...
Year of the Horse Drama Ep.1: The quest for the heavenly horse
19 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
For a change of pace, the Round Table team is setting aside our regular debates. This time, we're acting out a horse story as our own little audio dra...
The quest for the heavenly horse
19 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
For a change of pace, the Round Table team is setting aside our regular debates. This time, we're acting out a horse story as our own little audio dra...
Freedom or power?
18 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Round Table presents the third of six stories from the new podcast, "Sage and Youth: Debating Zhuangzi's Tao." In this episode: is true freedom found ...
Spring Festival fun: firecrackers to livestreams
18 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Festivals reveal a society's values. In China, few moments do so like Spring Festival, especially from the second day onward, when private rituals bec...
Hire the best or the purest?
17 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Round Table presents the second of six stories from the new podcast, "Sage and Youth: Debating Zhuangzi's Tao." In this episode: is greatness measured...
The evolution of Chinese New Year's Eve rituals
17 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The final night of the year carries unusual weight. For centuries, China's ritual has been quiet but deeply symbolic: staying awake together as the ol...
Encountering Zhuangzi for the first time
16 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Round Table presents the first of six stories from the new podcast, Sage and Youth: Debating Zhuangzi's Tao. Two thousand years ago, Zhuangzi question...
The great migration: then and now
16 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Across history, three rhythms define Spring Festival: the journey home, the way people gather, and the form celebration takes. In this series, Round T...
The one-billion-watch broadcast
13 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Forget New Year's Eve in Times Square. The real spectacle unfolds across China, where one broadcast commands a billion viewers. The Spring Festival Ga...
How China is redesigning its digital welcome mat
13 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
China continues to roll out the welcome mat with visa-free travel, but once visitors arrive, they often hit a digital wall. Foreign credit cards can s...
The two-hour school day: efficiency or isolation?
12 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A new American private school has replaced the teacher at the front of the classroom with a personal chatbot for every child. The model swaps the stan...
Urban stayers cash in on Spring Festival
12 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
While the nation powers down for Spring Festival, some workers are powering up. They are skipping the family banquet to deliver yours, guard the templ...