Round Table China

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 country that lost countless relics to foreign powers over the past two centuries? /For Travel China through film EP3, our picks today is "The Grandmaster". So where will this journey take us (18:10)? On the show: Steve, Yushan & Yushun

Several Chinese cities are rewriting their parking rules. Lower fees, shorter billing increments, free overnight and holiday parking. The goal is to free up spaces and ease costs for drivers. But will these changes actually work or just create new problems? On the show: Steve, Yushan & Yushun

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 that hands you a four-letter label and says, "this is basically you." It lives somewhere between "that's so true" and "is this a joke?" On the show: Niu Honglin, Steve & Yushun

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 International Film Festival leans into that impulse, turning films into invitations and the city itself into a kind of open-world experience. With many more highlights in store, moviegoers won't want to miss what awaits. For Travel China through film EP2, our picks today are "All the Good Eyes" and "Ky Nam Inn". On the show: Niu Honglin, Steve & Yushun

For the Beijing International Film Festival, Round Table presents a special series. Each episode pairs a film shortlisted for the Tiantan Award with a real destination woven into its story. Because a great film doesn't just move you. It transports you. Our first pick is "Crossing a Dawn." So where will this journey take us? On the show: Fei Fei, Steve Hatherly & Yangyang

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, from retirees to young professionals, are asking a different question. What if home didn't have to stay in one place? / Let's take a look at China's first ever barbecue university (15:36)! On the show: Niu Honglin, Yangyang & Yushun

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, digital performers with names, personalities, and social media followings. Some call them a powerful storytelling tool, while others see a threat to creativity and livelihoods. On the show: Niu Honglin, Yangyang & Yushun

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 70s. They are forming teams, winning competitions, and turning gaming into a new kind of retirement. This is not just a pastime. It is a new path for the silver economy (17:49). On the show: Steve, Yushun & Xingyu

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 many?" but "How good?" What are we searching for when a home must be more than just space, when it needs to be the foundation for a good life? On the show: Steve, Yushun & Xingyu

Everyone has heard the old belief. Real greatness demands sacrifice and struggle. The best among us only made it because somebody drove them hard, often brutally so. But fresh evidence is challenging that idea. Where is the line between pushing hard and causing real harm? On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushan

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 Consumer Products Expo in Hainan, part tech showcase and part future shopping cart. Beyond the gadgets lie green energy and smart logistics. So what do these trends say about China's market potential and Hainan's tourism goldmine? On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushan

The Full Circle：Working overtime, Hu Xue Gang, Shared farming. / Have you noticed mosquitoes showing up earlier this year? Maybe you brushed one away during a walk or heard that familiar buzzing sooner than expected. It might feel like a minor seasonal change — but scientists say it could be a sign of something bigger: longer transmission seasons, expanding insect habitats, and new challenges for disease prevention. So, should the early buzzing alarm us (15:06)? On the show: Niu Honglin, Fei Fei & Yushun

Governments around the world are all trying to answer a key question: How can digital commerce support the real economy — without replacing it? Well, in China, a new set of policy guidelines from several ministries is aiming to do just that. They want to improve global logistics, make better use of AI technology, lower barriers for exporters, and deepen the connection between e-commerce platforms and offline industries. On the show: Niu Honglin, Fei Fei & Yushun

Another "super league" is sweeping China's schools: the Class Super League. Sports contests are getting kids off screens and outdoors — but can a football match really teach a child more about failing better than a textbook ever could? / Do pets need 24/7 livestreams (18:43)? On the show: Niu Honglin, Fei Fei & Yushan

Imagine growing your own vegetables without leaving the city. In China, shared garden plots and "cloud farming" apps let people manage crops, harvest on weekends, or get fresh veggies delivered to their door. So how can technology really bring the countryside to city life? On the show: Niu Honglin, Fei Fei & Yushan

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 lesson, but as a conversation. Today, we unravel how young Chinese are turning ancestral traditions into vibrant conversations between past and present. On the show: Niu Honglin, Yushan & Yushun

Cities are packed with leisure spots—restaurants, malls, parks, nightlife districts. But lately, a surprising new venue has entered the chat: the city bus. Once the most ordinary piece of urban infrastructure, it's now being reinvented into a moving experience. Think hot pot dinners on wheels, karaoke buses, even pet-friendly rides. This humble form of public transport is turning into something far more social, creative, and entertaining than anyone ever expected. On the show: Niu Honglin, Yushan & Yushun

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 is vast. It aims to move care from unpaid family labor to a professional home based system. On the show: Fei Fei, Niu Honglin & Steve

Millions of parents across China stand outside schools in vests, directing traffic with no training, no authority, and no real choice. What began as voluntary has become mandatory. When schools shift responsibilities onto families, who is protecting whom, and how do we rebuild a system where helping doesn't cost trust or well being? On the show: Fei Fei, Niu Honglin & Steve

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 Qingming Festival, also known as Tomb-Sweeping Day. A central tradition of the occasion is just that—visiting gravesites to clean and tend to the tombs of those who have passed. Today, we'll explore these long-standing customs, and how they're evolving in modern times. On the show: Fei Fei, Niu Honglin & Steve

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 hours—and what would it take to stop? On the show: Fei Fei, Niu Honglin & Steve

Forget the teenage gamers—the newest power users are your grandparents. From chasing flash sales at midnight to becoming viral influencers, seniors are taking over the internet. But with that connection comes a new danger: digital addiction. We explore the rise of the silver netizen and the fight to make the web age-friendly. On the show: Steve, Yushan & Yangyang

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 hyper-digital world—but what does it actually look like? Today, we're exploring why a generation is choosing to slow down. / Is your water pump trying to kill you (13:12)? On the show: Steve, Yushan & Yangyang

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 longer just companions at home. But recently, some businesses have begun reversing course by tightening rules or removing pet-friendly labels altogether. On the show: Niu Honglin, Steve & Yushan

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‑stakes economic engine, triggering a massive mobilization of labor, capital, and live‑streamed commerce. Have you ever considered making your next trip tea‑themed? On the show: Niu Honglin, Steve & Yushan

When people traded wired headphones for their wireless cousins, the decision was driven by style and convenience. But when it comes to the mind, priorities have shifted. Now, many are rewinding time and plugging back in. / Are China's apples the best apples (13:02)? On the show: Steve, Yushun & Xingyu

The sound of students reading aloud at dawn has echoed through Chinese schools for generations. Not anymore. Schools are now scrapping those early morning sessions and letting kids sleep in. Supporters call it a win for rest and focus. Critics fear grades could suffer. Does earlier actually mean better? On the show: Steve, Yushun & Xingyu

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 comfort. A decision, coming from northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, to phase out eight-person dorms has caught netizens' attention. The move is not just in infrastructure but in how we view student well-being and the purpose of campus life. On the show: Niu Honglin, Steve & Yushun

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 words and never even knew the message existed. AI can now clone and spread voices at scale. If a machine can perfectly imitate your voice, do you still own it? On the show: Niu Honglin, Steve & Yushun

Remember those weekend marriage markets where parents posted résumés on park walls? They've gone digital. Now, anxious parents are swiping for sons- and daughters-in-law from the comfort of their living rooms. An old tradition, reinvented for the app era. On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushan

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, quietly making the planet warmer, but it doesn't have to be this way. In fact, this is one of the simplest fixes we've got. So why are we still so bad at it? On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushan

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 glance. Dig deeper, though, and something ties them together. On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushan

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 for the elderly to empowering them. So why is retiring at 60 fading fast? On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushan

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 numbers, the launches, and the breakthroughs. But in The Why, we reveal the bigger picture of why this story matters to us. On the show: Niu Honglin, Steve & Yushun

The Boao Forum for Asia, underway in Hainan, brings together governments, companies, and scholars to debate global challenges and test solutions. As the forum marks its 25th anniversary, discussions explore how economic growth, technological innovation, and environmental sustainability can move forward together. On the show: Niu Honglin, Steve & Yushun

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, luxury hotels are being converted into permanent homes for an aging generation. / Is F1 the fastest growing sport in China(21:43) ? On the show: Steve, Yushan & Yushun

Spring greens have taken over. Suddenly, your friends are experts on what's in season. Grocery runs feel like scavenger hunts, and vegetables have become the main event. So why are we obsessing over these bitter, fleeting leaves? Is it about taste? Health? Nostalgia? Or is it just the vibe? On the show: Steve, Yushan & Yushun

Parenting advice often focuses on grades, extracurriculars, or screen time. But new research drawing on data from over 50,000 teenagers across 15 countries suggests something simple may also matter: household chores. Researchers are exploring how families share responsibilities influences whether children bully their peers(16:21). / Can eating well be bad for you? On the show: Niu Honglin, Steve & Fei Fei

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 perspective, children navigate a world that isn't designed for them. But what happens when planners and communities begin to see the city from one meter high? On the show: Niu Honglin, Steve & Fei Fei

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 everything we know about the little monster's upcoming movie (16:53). On the show: Steve, Yushun & Xingyu

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 market that's rewriting the rules before they even walk in the door. The question is: how do you show up ready when nobody's quite sure what "ready" even means? On the show: Steve, Yushun & Xingyu

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-good movie. It's the real story of how one piece of candy sparked a cross-cultural moment no one saw coming (12:55). On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushun