Featured Article
The Gaokao Challenge: Can You Pass China’s Toughest Exam? (June 30, 2025, The World of Chinese)
Ever wondered how you’d fare on this grueling exam—or, if you’ve taken it before, whether you’ve still got it? We’ve rounded up some real questions from this year’s gaokao across multiple subjects to give you a taste of the challenge. Grab a pen, test your wits, and see how you stack up—answers (minus the essay ones) await at the end of each section.
Spotlight
Public Lecture: “Christian-Confucian Dialogue in the Contemporary World” (July 31, USCCA)
At 7:00PM ET on July 31, 2025, the USCCA’s speaker series, in collaboration with ChinaSource and China Academic Consortium, will host Dr. Stephanie Wong as speaker on the topic of “Christian-Confucian Dialogue in the Contemporary World.” Click here to sign up for this free public lecture, accessible via live video.
Government / Politics / Foreign Affairs
China’s Bet on Iran: What Now? (June 30, 2025, The Diplomat)
One can imagine the shock at No. 2 Chaoyangmen South Boulevard, Beijing, the home of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, upon hearing the news that in the early hours of June 22 Iranian time, the United States had attacked, in extraordinary fashion, the three key sites of Iran’s nuclear enrichment program.
Podcast – The Garbage Time of History: Is China Still Marxist? (June 25, 2025, The Little Red Podcast)
In the latest in our series on belief, we’re looking at China’s official belief system—Marxism. In recent years, netizens have argued China has entered the ‘garbage time’ of history, a phrase borrowed from the dying minutes of a basketball game, which now references a crisis of trust in the Communist Party and its official ideology.
Is Xi’s Grip Holding? (June 26, China Media Project)
In order to test the top leader’s presence in the most central authoritative official media on this question, we studied Xi’s headline appearances on the front page of the Chinese Communist Party’s official People’s Daily (人民日报) for both the second quarter of 2024 and the second quarter of 2025. We included counts for other members of the Politburo Standing Committee (PSC) in order to determine whether, if indeed there was a decline in visibility, other PSC members were receiving increased attention.
Religion
Changsha: Verses for the City (June 26, 2025, China Partnership)
In our family, we have always had a banner that has Joshua 24:15 on it. It says, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” That is my favorite verse. When my son was 5 or 6 years old, a calligraphy teacher gave us that banner as a gift. Ever since then, it has been hanging in our home. I hope that my son, and one day my grandson, will also serve. I want this to be part of our family legacy, for 50 or even a hundred years. From the time when I became a Christian, I’ve wanted my descendants to serve the Lord.
Theology in the Third Oceanic Age (June 27, 2025, Chinese Christian Voices)
Over the past several decades, the theological journey of the Chinese church has unfolded in three identifiable waves—each shaped by historical moments and institutional movements.
From Burnout to Balance: Veteran Pastors Seek Wholeness in Ministry (June 29, 2025, China Christian Daily)
They serve with meager pay. Many of whom have no income at all. They juggle side jobs to make ends meet and manage household responsibilities. Some are still pursuing further theological education. As they constantly work hard for years, many are now in poor health. What is more extraordinary is that they have not only offered up their own lives in service to the Lord but also encouraged their children to follow in their footsteps.
The End of Persecution (June 30, 2025, ChinaSource)
The persecution story may be unending, but neither is persecution the end of the story. Living in the tension between the imperative to act and the knowledge that one’s actions can only go so far requires leaning into the sorrow, engaging with the reality of the suffering and submitting by faith to God’s unknowable purposes in the lives of those who face persecution.
Bear Fruit with Patience: Persevere June 30, 2025, China Partnership)
In the Bible, patience is not a personal virtue which is cultivated in isolation. Instead, patience is a character trait formed in fellowship with other believers. Patience is formed through mutual encouragement and the influence of one life upon another.
Society / Life
Faith in Finance? China’s Temples Embrace Consumer Culture (June 26, 2025, Sixth Tone)
Across China, temples are quietly transforming into destinations for lifestyle consumption. Brand crossovers, cafés, vegetarian cuisine, and even venture capital activities now form what some call the “temple economy.” This blending of spirituality and commerce is reshaping not only the temple-goers’ experience but also the role these institutions play in society.
Deadline Nears for Taiwan’s Chinese Immigrants to Prove No China Household Registration (June 29, 2025, NPR)
The clock is ticking for roughly 12,000 Chinese immigrants in Taiwan, who have until Monday to prove they’ve given up their household registration in China. Failure to meet the deadline could mean losing residency rights, according to Taiwan’s government — and possible deportation.
The Spiritual Economy: Young Chinese Turn to Fortune Tellers as Anxiety About the Future Rises (June 30, 2025, The Guardian)
Pass my exams. Meet Mr Right. Get rich. Pinned to a board by the entrance of a dimly lit fortune telling bar in Fengtai, an urban district in the south of Beijing, handwritten notes reveal the inner worries of customers coming for cocktails with a side of spiritual salvation.
Economics / Trade / Business
Second Life: China’s Top Resale App Now Fuels Its Wildest Gig Market (June 27, 2025, Sixth Tone)
Launched by Alibaba in 2012 as “Taobao Secondhand” and rebranded as “Xianyu” or “Idle Fish” in 2014, the platform was originally built for casual peer-to-peer resale: old textbooks, worn-out kitchen appliances, clearance clothes. But as it scaled, users veered off-script, offering scalped concert tickets, access to members-only stores and VIP lounges, even fake documents for refund scams — all with little buyer protection.
‘Summer Davos’ Debate: Is China’s Yuan Ready to Challenge US Dollar Dominance? (June 27, 2025, South China Morning Post)
The dollar’s status is increasingly under threat due to the reluctance of other countries – especially China – to fully rely on the US currency, as well as the rise of digital currencies, stablecoins and alternative global payment systems, and economic mismanagement in Washington, Choyleva said.
Watch Out Starbucks: China’s Biggest Coffee Chain Opens Its First US Locations (June 30, 2025, CNN)
Luckin Coffee, the fast-growing chain that beat Starbucks at its own game in China, is entering the United States. Its first two US locations are opening Monday — both in New York City — marking an escalation in competition against Starbucks and other coffee chains, such as Dutch Bros., that have successfully built a loyal following in targeting Gen Z drinkers with TikTok-worthy drinks at affordable prices.
Science / Technology
Why is China building AI centres on the roof of the world? (June 28, 2025, South China Morning Post)
The facility, the first major hub of the “Eastern Data, Western Computing” project on the Tibetan Plateau, takes advantage of the region’s extreme environment to make massive artificial intelligence (AI) training tasks – amounting to millions of processing hours a year – radically more energy efficient.
A Bumbling Game of Robot Soccer was a Breakthrough for Embodied AI (June 29, 2025, NBC News)
Humanoid robots waddled, stumbled and occasionally face-planted their way through a 3-on-3 soccer tournament in Beijing on Saturday that looked more like the first day of little league than the rise of a robotic Lionel Messi. Pileups were frequent as players toppled over each other in slow-motion collisions, goals were left open, and defending appeared optional. Some robots hogged the ball, others struggled to stay upright, and two or three had to be loaded onto a stretcher and carried off the field.
Travel / Food
No-Fuss Food: The Rise of China’s Home-Cooking Influencers (June 30, 2025, Sixth Tone) First popularized by a handful of food influencers, this new culinary style, which emphasizes simplicity and practicality, has attracted a broad following among busy urban professionals who want to prepare wholesome meals without investing excessive time or effort in the kitchen.
The Real Travelers’ Summer Guide in China (June 2025, The World of Chinese)
From cities that blend history and modernity to off-the-beaten-path towns and hidden countryside, The World of Chinese is dedicated to showcasing the authentic China—its diverse regional cultures and its people—through in-depth travel writing. Embark on a wonderful summer journey across China with our collection of travel essays. Or better yet, grab one of our cultural guides, book a flight, and experience the country for yourself!
China’s Coffee Lovers Skip Urban Grind for a Rural Buzz, But Is Cafe Craze Sustainable? (July 1, 2025, South China Morning Post)
While tea has long been the drink of choice for Chinese people, a coffee culture has boomed and is now spreading to the countryside. Citing customs data, Xinhua said: “China’s net coffee imports increased by 130,800 tonnes from 2020-2024, representing 6.53-fold growth, with an average annual compound growth rate of 65.7 per cent.”
Language / Language Learning
8 Reasons to Learn to Write Chinese Characters by Hand (June 30, 2025, Hacking Chinese)
Does handwriting still have a place in modern Chinese learning? Let’s explore 8 popular arguments in favour of writing characters by hand, each critically examined to see which ones truly stand up to scrutiny.
Mandarin Monday: Essential Vocab To Survive the Beijing Summer (June 30, 2025, The Beijinger)
Summer (夏天 xiàtiān) in Beijing is nothing short of intense. But with the right gear, the right mindset, and the right Mandarin, you can make the most of these summer months. Whether you’re hitting the pool, having a picnic, or enjoying some rooftop drinks, here are some key phrases and vocabulary to help you keep your cool this season.
History / Culture
Translation of Chai Jing Interview with Chinese Civil War Survivor Gao Binghan, Part 2: “War Is Always a Tragedy, Something I Cannot Endorse.” (June 26, 2025, China Digital Times)
Amid recurrent China-Taiwan tensions and rising geopolitical instability, investigative journalist and documentary filmmaker Chai Jing has revisited and updated her iconic 2012 interview with Gao Binghan, a survivor of the Chinese Civil War who escaped with the Nationalists to Taiwan at the age of 13. Now 90 years old, Gao saw his family torn apart by civil war between the Communists and the Nationalists, and says he fears that the two sides’ successors are once again inching toward war.
Health / Environment
Flood-Hit China Expands Social Security Net as Extreme Rain Takes Toll (June 27, 2025, Reuters)
Since the start of the East Asia monsoon in early June, precipitation in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze has been up to two times higher than usual, officials from the China Meteorological Administration told reporters on Friday. In other parts of China, daily rainfall measured by 30 meteorological stations in provinces such as Hubei and Guizhou broke records for the month of June, they said.
Treated With Dignity: The Nurses Taking Care to Homebound Patients (July 1, 2025, Sixth Tone)
A look at the life of a Beijing health care professional who travels 200 kilometers a day helping elderly and disabled patients.
Arts Entertainment / Media
China Tightens Internet Controls with New Centralized Form of Virtual ID (June 20, 2025, CNN)
China has mastered the craft of policing the internet, operating one of the world’s most extensive online censorship and surveillance regimes. With mandatory identity checks on every online platform, it has become almost impossible for users to stay anonymous. But this rigidly moderated online environment is about to face even stricter controls with the introduction of a state-issued national internet ID.
China’s Go-Local Vision for Global Messaging (June 30 2025, China Media Project)
Since he came to power in late 2012, one of Xi Jinping’s core objectives internationally has been to stage a revolution in perceptions of China abroad — notching up victories in what he characterized early in his first term as a global “public opinion struggle” (舆论斗争).
Education
The Gaokao Challenge: Can You Pass China’s Toughest Exam? (June 30, 2025, The World of Chinese)
Ever wondered how you’d fare on this grueling exam—or, if you’ve taken it before, whether you’ve still got it? We’ve rounded up some real questions from this year’s gaokao across multiple subjects to give you a taste of the challenge. Grab a pen, test your wits, and see how you stack up—answers (minus the essay ones) await at the end of each section.
Pray for China
June 28 (Pray For China: A Walk Through History)
On June 28, 1845, Eliza Jane Gillett married Elijah C. Bridgman (裨治文). She arrived in Hong Kong earlier that year with the intention of serving there as a missionary teacher. Instead she married long-time missionary Bridgman, adopted two little Chinese girls, and moved to Shanghai in 1847. She founded two girls’ schools, the first in Shanghai where she lived until Elijah’s death in 1861, and the second in Beijing where she lived from 1864 until her own death in 1871. Pray for Christian educators in Shanghai and Beijing to walk with the Lord Jesus and follow in the footsteps of Mrs. Eliza Bridgman (裨治文夫人). Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. Colossians 2:6-7
Praying the Lord’s Prayer (June 24, 2025, ChinaSource)
Operation World (April 21, 2025, ChinaSource)
Pray for China (prayforchina.us)
Pray for China (China Partnership)
Prayer Walking as a Rhythm of Life (ChinaSource)