A weekly roundup of news and analysis to help you follow key developments in China and the Chinese church.
Which Hot Pot Personality Are You? (June 2, 2025, The Beijinger) One of the greatest things to come out of China is hot pot; that’s an undisputed truth. Here are some of the different types of people you are highly likely to find at a hot pot table.
Exploring Shadow Puppetry: A Timeless Chinese Art (May 26, 2025, The Beijinger Blog) Originating more than two thousand years ago, shadow puppetry is considered one of China's oldest performing arts. Its beginnings can be traced to the Western Han dynasty, flourishing during the Tang dynasty, and reaching its peak in the Qing dynasty.
AI Joins Primary Schools (May 19, 2025, China Media Project) On May 13, China’s Ministry of Education released guidelines for integrating AI into the earliest stages of child education.
How Beijing’s “Academic Bars” Are Helping to Democratize Knowledge (May 7, 2025, World of Chinese) Over the last year, academic bars have exploded in popularity across Beijing and other major Chinese cities.
Lost and Found: The Unexpected Journey of the MingKwai Typewriter (May 2, 2025, Made In China Journal) The keys on the typewriter are all in Chinese, Felix noted, and the model does not appear to have ever been sold in the United States.
Chongqing, the World’s Largest City - In Pictures (April 27, 2025, The Guardian) The megacity of 34 million people in central China is the emblem of the fastest urban revolution on the planet.
China Closed Christian Bookstores. Digital Publishing Grew in the Vacuum. (April 21, 2025, Christianity Today) Although online Christian publishers risk getting shut down and struggle to make a profit, they believe these books are vital in growing China’s churches, so they plan to continue adapting as policies change.
The Tradition of Chinese Kites: A Cultural Legacy in the Sky (April 15, 2025, The Beijinger Blog) Kites have long been a significant part of Chinese culture and are a tradition that dates back over 2,000 years.
Three Ways to Become a Taoist Deity (April 8, 2025, Sixth Tone) Rather, it’s just another example of the complex nature of Taoist divinity, which can be attained via religious ceremony, imperial decree, or simple mass acclamation.
Young, Tired, and Still Trying: China’s Next Generation Rethinks Success (March 31, 2025, Sixth Tone) Writer Peter Hessler and anthropologist Xiang Biao on the changing lives of young Chinese, the meaning of hard work, and why parents should cut their kids some slack.
Using Apps in China Feels Like a Different World (March 19, 2025, National Committee on U.S.-China Relations) China's internet is largely closed to the outside world, so platforms are specifically designed for Chinese user needs.
Changsha’s Star Turn: How a Historic City Became China’s “Capital of Entertainment” (March 14, 2025, The World of Chinese) The capital city of Hunan province in central China has become an unexpected travel destination over the last decade…