Round Table China
Episodes
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...
Frigid camping is sizzling hot!
11 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What does camping at -30°C mean to you? A test of survival? A daredevil's feat? Today, it's being reimagined as a sought-after winter retreat. Equipp...
Trucks, streams, and holiday delivery dreams
11 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Scenes of Chinese New Year shopping were once defined by crowded markets, ornate gift boxes, and last-minute grocery dashes. Now, the tableau is incre...
The marketing magic of telling people 'no'
10 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Traditional marketing tries hard to pull everyone in. But what if your most powerful move was to willingly lose a customer? It sounds counterintuitive...
The modern twist on a traditional holiday
10 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Robots are on vacuum duty, apps are delivering feasts, and AI is writing your greetings. The most traditional holiday of the year is being powered by ...
Say goodbye to the hidden door handle
09 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The Soapbox: The "no show" problem. / Hidden door handles signal sleek, electric futurism, but in an emergency, their design can become a deadly obsta...
Let the 2026 Winter Games begin!
09 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
China's Olympic story used to be defined by individual breakthroughs. Today, it's being engineered by systems. This new cycle is powered by strategic ...
Bathe, chill, eat, repeat
06 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The Full Circle: Senior gamers, airplane hospitals, tasteless tomatoes / The classic bathhouse has been reinvented. Today, sprawling 24-hour mega-comp...
Skiing where snow never falls
06 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In the warmth of southern China, winter means something different: it's a construction project. Venture into a mall to find a mountain of steel and ma...
Is your toothpaste lying to you?
05 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The promise is revolutionary: toothpaste that can regrow enamel and repair micro-cavities. Brands are turning bathroom shelves into dental clinics in ...
The new blueprint for a child-safe internet
05 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
For a generation, the digital world is the fabric of their childhood. But on March 1st, 2026, that world faces a state-mandated redesign. China is enf...
The tale of the tasteless tomato
04 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
You slice into a flawless tomato with glossy skin and bright red flesh, only for a letdown to follow. There is no sweetness, no acidity, just water an...
Airborne answer to healthcare gaps
04 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Around the world, specialized healthcare is often limited by geography. China is now testing a novel solution to close that gap. Instead of evacuating...
Your shopping receipt is now a paycheck
03 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Buying something and pocketing the receipt is a universal, forgettable ritual. But across China, that small slip of paper is being weaponized for the ...
How Beijing won back its sky
03 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
There was a time when a clear blue sky in Beijing felt like a fleeting miracle, a spectacle you had to capture before it vanished. Today, clean air is...
Is your grandma a gamer?
02 Feb 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...
What makes a house a good house?
02 Feb 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...
Knit happens: the stitching comeback
30 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The Full Circle: Wedding e-invites, microshifting, subway shopping / Knitting isn't just for your grandma anymore! Gen Z and Millennials have reclaime...
Is trying the new buying?
30 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What if the newest trend in shopping isn't buying, but trying? Free tastes, test drives, and no-questions-asked returns are reshaping malls into showr...
Can China pass the winter energy test?
29 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Winter is the ultimate stress test for our energy system. As temperatures plunge nationwide in China, the demand for electricity surges. From heating ...
When weather forecasts become financial forecasts
29 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Markets are seen as rational systems driven by data, while weather seems purely physical and unpredictable. China's meteorological authorities and the...
Step into the subway multiverse
28 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
When a public transit system must find new revenue, innovation follows. In China, subway operators are answering the call with a radical solution: tra...
Say goodbye to algorithmic price discrimination
28 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Loyalty can be expensive. For years, digital platforms have used your personal data to quietly test the limits of what you will pay. Now, a global cra...
Your next vacation is a micro-vacation
27 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
For many urban professionals, the classic long vacation is being replaced by the micro-vacation. The traditional getaway often requires intense planni...
Your time vs. the company clock
27 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A concept called micro-shifting is hailed as work's future, offering flexible, autonomous bursts championed by digital professionals. Yet for millions...
Beware the wedding e-invite!
26 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The Soapbox: Is Beijing deserving of its fashion critique? / You get a wedding invite. You click. They know. In China, digital invites are turning cur...
The business of social anxiety
26 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Digital life is rewiring our instincts. In China, eating alone is no longer seen as lonely. It's a curated luxury. From viral solo booths at fast food...
Discover your TCM body constitution
23 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever noticed how one friend seems to always be cold, while another overheats at the slightest effort? Or why a specific diet or routine works...
The Full Circle: Dead app, Chunyun, Chinese life
23 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Curious how the week's stories converge? We take three stories from our previous week of shows and reveal the one hidden thread that connects them all...
Davos through a youthful lens
23 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Every January, the Swiss town of Davos becomes the focal point for defining the world's priorities. As global leaders, CEOs, and policymakers gather t...
Are you living a Chinese life?
22 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Around the world, a surprising new lifestyle is catching on. It looks a lot like everyday life in China, and for good reason. From morning exercise ro...
Playtime is about to get safer
22 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
China's colossal toy industry is sprinting toward a high-tech, novelty-driven future, with AI companions and collectible blind boxes flying off shelve...
Chunyun: the world's largest migration
21 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Chunyun, the annual Spring Festival travel rush in China, is the world's largest human migration. Each year, it tests the absolute limits of the count...