Round Table China

China and Egypt, two ancient civilizations, share deep cultural and historical roots. Today, a new generation is building on that foundation through culture, business, trade, and technology. Round Table's Yushan sat down with CGTN reporter Mèrna Al Nasser and Egyptian PhD student Sherif Abdelsamie. They share what it's like to live between these worlds, the unexpected ties they have uncovered, and the energy that sparks when ancient traditions meet a rapidly changing era.

Vinyl gets all the attention, but CDs are actually the ones growing faster, and it's not nostalgic collectors buying them. It's a generation that grew up streaming everything and never owned a CD player in their life. So what's pulling them toward plastic cases and liner notes? Is this a real comeback, or just a moment that fades as fast as it showed up? On the show: Steve, Yushan & Yushun

Forget the textbook. This fall, science class in China begins outside, where students are running real experiments, hitting real dead ends, and rethinking their approach when things do not go as planned. The goal is not landing on the right answer but learning to ask a good question in the first place. This is science treated as something you do, not something you memorize, grounded in the everyday. On the show: Steve, Yushan & Yushun

In Chinese, the cardinal directions are woven into everyday language in ways that often go unnoticed. Ordinary expressions carry traces of an older worldview, one that assigned meaning to every point on the horizon. These are not random quirks, but remnants of a way of thinking that has endured for centuries. / How does a nap right after work sound to you (18:07)? On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushan

A new divide is emerging in China between those who know how to use AI and those who don't. Office workers are adapting quickly, but what about the street vendor, the retiree, or someone who's never touched a computer? The answer comes from an unexpected place: night school. Community centers across the country are offering free or low-cost evening classes to make sure no one gets left behind. On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushan

A new study suggests that regular museum visits and theater outings could slow the biological aging process. The idea is enticing because it requires no prescriptions and no gym time. But researchers are still working to pinpoint the true cause. Is it the art itself that delivers the benefit, or is it the walking, the social connection, and the cognitive engagement that naturally accompany a night at the theater? On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushan

China's top Gaokao scorers are now choosing vocational undergraduate programs over elite universities, drawn by higher starting salaries and job security in an automated economy. The surge in popularity is a clear sign of changing perceptions, but the system must adapt to meet new challenges. On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushan

A two-month summer break sounds like freedom. But for many children in China, it comes with a new set of assignments: previewing lessons, completing workbooks, and preparing for the semester ahead. Parents see it as a way to get a head start, while experts warn that too much academic pressure can come at a cost. So how much preparation is helpful? On the show: Fei Fei, Steve & Yushun

Solo founders are leaving China's biggest cities for county towns, where the cost of living is a fraction of what they paid. AI has made location less relevant, and smaller counties are wroking to attract these one-person companies with real incentives and real-world testing grounds. Is this a smarter way to build a business, or a step backward? On the show: Fei Fei, Steve & Yushun

For years, a shouted slogan at one of China's most popular restaurant chains made a single chef a household name. Then this summer, it disappeared overnight. Across industries, thousands of so-called masters are suddenly losing their status as new national rules rewrite who gets to claim expertise. / China's biggest performing arts companies are trading the grand stage for the small screen. Traditionalists worry that something essential gets lost in the shift from theater to algorithm. Supporters see an opportunity to reach audiences who never would have bought a ticket. So what happens when centuries of performance tradition meet the cold logic of the feed (40:16)? On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushun

The obituaries for reading are written every week. Young people scroll past books, grades dip, professors mourn a lost age of deep thought. But the data refuses to cooperate with the gloom. In some corners of the world, reading is surging. Maybe the problem is not that reading is dying, but that we are looking for it in all the wrong places. On the show: Steve, Yushan & Yushun

At the World Humanoid Robot Games, machines run, dance, fight, and even play football. The spectacle is futuristic, but watching them compete is as awkward as it is impressive. For every graceful motion, there is a stumble, a missed grip, or a kick that goes nowhere. Each failure reveals exactly where the technology falls short, and that is precisely what makes these games valuable. On the show: Steve, Yushan & Yushun

A single word, a former boss, and a social media post that changed everything. What started as a personal grievance quickly turned into a legal fight, but the real story is not about the word itself. It is about who gets to use it, who takes offense, and why a generation that once mocked the old guard now finds itself sounding just like them. On the show: Steve, Yushan & Yushun

The ice cup market in China is heating up in more ways than one. As consumers develop a taste for clearer, slower melting ice in their iced coffee and other chilled beverages, a wave of new players has rushed in to meet the demand. At the same time, Chinese cooling products are finding their way into international markets, adding another layer of opportunity and pressure. What does it take to compete when the big players start locking down their supply chains, and how are smaller players fighting to survive? On the show: Steve, Yushan & Yushun

For years, a shouted slogan at one of China's most popular restaurant chains made a single chef a household name. Then this summer, it disappeared overnight. Across industries, thousands of so-called masters are suddenly losing their status as new national rules rewrite who gets to claim expertise. / China's biggest performing arts companies are trading the grand stage for the small screen. Traditionalists worry that something essential gets lost in the shift from theater to algorithm. Supporters see an opportunity to reach audiences who never would have bought a ticket. So what happens when centuries of performance tradition meet the cold logic of the feed (38:20)? On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushun

No new episode of Round Table in your feed today. We're pausing briefly because we're cooking up something special behind the scenes, and we can't wait to share it with you soon! We'll be back on schedule tomorrow. In the meantime, feel free to revisit our past episodes. See you tomorrow!

A working film set opens its doors to the public, and the result is more than just a quirky day out. Visitors suit up, follow a director's lead, and walk away with their own short film. It feels like a fun escape, but something deeper is happening behind the scenes. As AI produces content faster than ever, this immersive experience is offering a glimpse into where storytelling might be headed next. On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushan

It's Qixi season in China, and love is in the air in ways you might not expect. Couples are celebrating everywhere from city parks to cruise ships, while a new generation is finding connection through apps, algorithms, and a little bit of courage. The ancient legend behind Chinese Valentine's Day is rich with meaning, but today young people are writing their own love stories. On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushan

You ask your kid to help clean up and they look around like there's nothing to do. It's not attitude, but a glimpse into something researchers call cognitive labor, the invisible load of noticing what needs to be done before anyone asks. That same divide shows up between partners, often without anyone realizing it, yet there are practical ways to bring everyone onto the same page. On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushun

Step inside the hospital of the near future, where smart pumps track supplies, beds monitor movement, and AI helps flag risks before they escalate. These intelligent wards are becoming a reality across China, promising safer care and relief for overstretched staff. But as the technology scales, the real question is how far its benefits will reach and whether every hospital will get to share in the transformation. On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushun

How much time in nature is actually enough? The 20-5-3 framework claims to have the answer. It breaks down ideal outdoor time into daily, monthly, and yearly targets. The rule keeps reappearing across wellness articles and social feeds, but is there real science behind it? Where did this framework come from, what do researchers actually say, and can any formula truly measure our connection to the outdoors? On the show: Steve, Yushan & Yushun

Forget the Great Wall and the pandas. This summer, millions of travelers are flooding into China for something entirely different. Instead of ancient history, they're chasing the future. With over 22 million foreign arrivals already this year, tech tourism is rapidly rewriting the China travel checklist. On the show: Steve, Yushan & Yushun

What if the thing you toss without thinking outlasts you by four centuries? That is the tennis-ball problem. Millions of them, every year, destined for centuries in a landfill. But in Qingdao, they have found a fix. The solution came from 20,000 dead balls reborn as a court you can actually play on. This is the story of waste that won't wait 400 years to disappear. / A viral complaint is sweeping across China right now. Professors and employers are frustrated because their students and young hires cannot write a proper email. Subject lines are missing. Greetings are absent. Sign-offs are nowhere to be found. But these kids grew up on messaging apps, where speed always won and formality never mattered. So who is really out of touch here? Them, or the rest of us? (27:46) On the show: Steve, Yushan & Yushun

What if the thing you toss without thinking outlasts you by four centuries? That is the tennis-ball problem. Millions of them, every year, destined for centuries in a landfill. But in Qingdao, they have found a fix. The solution came from 20,000 dead balls reborn as a court you can actually play on. This is the story of waste that won't wait 400 years to disappear. / A viral complaint is sweeping across China right now. Professors and employers are frustrated because their students and young hires cannot write a proper email. Subject lines are missing. Greetings are absent. Sign-offs are nowhere to be found. But these kids grew up on messaging apps, where speed always won and formality never mattered. So who is really out of touch here? Them, or the rest of us? (33:11) On the show: Steve, Yushan & Yushun

Summer break arrives with a mountain of homework, but the work is not just for students. Parents across China find themselves tracking assignments, managing schedules, and pushing their kids to stay on pace. They say they just want their children to keep up. On the show: Fei Fei, Steve & Yushan

Paid annual leave is a legal right in China, yet many workers choose not to take it. The reasons are nuanced. Concerns about falling behind, disappointing a manager, or the weight of a culture that values presence over performance all play a part. Provincial governments are introducing new measures to encourage companies to let employees step away. On the show: Fei Fei, Steve & Yushan

No new episode of Round Table in your feed today. We're pausing briefly because we're cooking up something special behind the scenes, and we can't wait to share it with you soon! We'll be back on schedule tomorrow. In the meantime, feel free to revisit our past episodes. Thanks for your patience!

Shared bicycles took over China's streets years ago. Their electric cousins? Not so welcome. City officials kept them out over safety worries, parking chaos, and the belief that public transit already had short trips covered. That stance just cracked as Beijing revised its bike-share regulations to include e-bikes for the first time. On the show: Steve, Yushan & Yushun

China just introduced new national safety standards for autonomous vehicles. Under these rules, automakers are now required to maintain safety oversight throughout the entire lifecycle of the car, not just at launch. That shift changes who is responsible when things go wrong and redefines the future of driving. On the show: Steve, Yushan & Yushun

Across China, more and more people are leaving their cities behind for a few days or even an entire month, trading crowded streets and sweltering heat for mountain villages and northern retreats where summer feels mild and manageable. Local towns are adapting quickly, building longer-stay accommodations and outdoor experiences tailored to these new visitors. On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushun.

Powerful AI used to belong to a handful of tech giants, but that's no longer the case. Today, anyone can download, tinker with, and build on these models, and that shift is reshaping everything from how apps are made to who controls the technology in your daily life. Some call it progress, while others see it as a risk we're underestimating. On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushun.

A thousand years ago, scholars from across Asia made their way to China to study governance, science, and philosophy. Some even sat for the imperial exams alongside local students. That era eventually faded, and for decades, studying abroad meant one destination: the West. But that map is now being redrawn. So is China becoming a major study destination once again? / The internet's biggest user is no longer human. For the first time, bots generate more traffic. That doesn't mean the web is broken, but it does mean the rules have changed. Advertising, pricing, and even the way we search are all being rebuilt around software, not people. So if the internet was a car built to serve us, what happens when we are no longer the ones driving it (34:58)? On the show: Steve, Yushan & Yushun 

A thousand years ago, scholars from across Asia made their way to China to study governance, science, and philosophy. Some even sat for the imperial exams alongside local students. That era eventually faded, and for decades, studying abroad meant one destination: the West. But that map is now being redrawn. So is China becoming a major study destination once again? / The internet's biggest user is no longer human. For the first time, bots generate more traffic. That doesn't mean the web is broken, but it does mean the rules have changed. Advertising, pricing, and even the way we search are all being rebuilt around software, not people. So if the internet was a car built to serve us, what happens when we are no longer the ones driving it (34:58)? On the show: Steve, Yushan & Yushun

We all reach for the AC when temperatures soar past 35 degrees. But in one Chinese city, residents are trying something different. In Xuzhou, homes are being cooled with cold water pumped from an abandoned coal mine deep underground. No hot exhaust on the streets. No overworked power grid. Just a smart, low-carbon solution that could change how we think about staying cool in a warming world. On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushan

August 8 is National Fitness Day in China, but for millions of people here, staying active has already become a daily habit, from sunrise park goers to late-night gyms, from cycling clubs to square dancing and smart fitness apps. So what actually turns exercise from a chore into something you stick with for life? We explore the habits, mindsets, and unexpected motivations that keep people moving long after the new year's resolutions fade. On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushan

No new episode of Round Table in your feed today. We're pausing briefly because we're cooking up something special behind the scenes, and we can't wait to share it with you soon! We'll be back on schedule tomorrow. In the meantime, feel free to revisit our past episodes. Thanks for your patience, and see you tomorrow!

China's high speed rail network is the largest in the world, and it is faster and more connected than ever. When parents started asking if they could hand off their children to station staff the way they do with flight attendants, the railway gave a firm answer: no. The decision seemed simple, but the reasoning behind it offers a clear look at how China runs its railways and who it holds responsible for passenger safety. On the show: Fei Fei, Steve & Yushun

In a country with over a billion internet users, a single rumor can outrun the truth before breakfast. Words travel at the speed of a share button, some shared with good intent, others carrying the power to destroy. Now China is drafting its first dedicated anti-cyberbullying law, attempting to draw a clear line between a heated debate and a digital mob. On the show: Fei Fei, Steve & Yushun

The way young people build relationships looks nothing like it used to. A new trend called "Soulmanyships" is replacing the old model of one person meeting every emotional need. Today's generation is spreading their connections across friends, family, and even AI companions. Is this shift creating loneliness or a more honest way to connect? / Heart to Heart - please send your emails audio questions to roundtablepodcast@qq.com (11:56). On the show: Steve, Yushan & Yushun

Vacations used to mean crowded monuments and a camera roll full of proof you'd been somewhere. This summer, however, travelers are ditching the bucket list for deeper experiences like music festivals, traditional village stays, and hands-on cultural activities that leave a lasting impression. Why is tourism shifting from sightseeing to genuine connection, and how are cities and rural communities adapting to meet this new demand? On the show: Steve, Yushan & Yushun

A new survey asked young Chinese migrants what makes a city finally feel like home. The answers had less to do with money or apartments and more to do with something simpler: human connection. But for millions leaving home for school and work, building those bonds is often the hardest part. So what makes some places easier to call home than others? / A dead appliance. A knock on the door. For millions of people living alone in China, that moment can trigger more anxiety than the repair bill ever could. But when the person on the other side is a woman, something changes. All-female repair crews are quietly winning over customers across the country. Not because they fix things faster, but because they bring a sense of ease that starts before they even step inside (35:14). On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushan

A new survey asked young Chinese migrants what makes a city finally feel like home. The answers had less to do with money or apartments and more to do with something simpler: human connection. But for millions leaving home for school and work, building those bonds is often the hardest part. So what makes some places easier to call home than others? / A dead appliance. A knock on the door. For millions of people living alone in China, that moment can trigger more anxiety than the repair bill ever could. But when the person on the other side is a woman, something changes. All-female repair crews are quietly winning over customers across the country. Not because they fix things faster, but because they bring a sense of ease that starts before they even step inside. On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushan