Round Table China

Centuries of art history, billions of dollars, and one problem that may finally have a solution. Fingerprint of Things (FoT) technology now allows researchers to use microscopic bubble patterns and tangled paper fibers as natural ID cards for ancient objects. / Are you a future faker (14:58)? On the show: Steve, Yushan & Yushun

From lattes and cakes to bottled drinks and soft serve, matcha is everywhere right now, and China makes a huge percentage of the world's supply. Farmers are ditching old crops, factories can't keep up, and exports are exploding. Is this just another social media fad, or is matcha here to stay? On the show: Steve, Yushan & Yushun

Vegetable anxiety is trending. Young diners feel "anxious" if there isn't enough produce on the plate. That's a strange twist, because getting anyone to eat their leafy greens used to be the hard part. Somewhere along the way, the script flipped. So what changed? And what happens when a generation can no longer trust a meal that's missing the greens? / Heart to Heart - please send your audio questions to [email protected] (13:22). On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushun

You remember when the internet just handed everything over for free. Maps, music, random facts at three in the morning. Nobody asked who was really paying for it. Now AI is flipping the script. The same tools that save time and think alongside people are starting to ask for money. So was free always a trap? Or have we just never considered what it costs to pay for our own intelligence? On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushun

A mother wants to protect her child from bullying. So she files a complaint. Then another. Then she goes after a university professor. The problem? No one seems to agree with her bullying claim. When protecting your child becomes a crusade, who decides where to draw the line? On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Xingyu

AI chatbots, storytelling robots, and companion apps are entertaining, comforting, and teaching kids earlier than ever. But China's Ministry of Education is now pushing back. They want families to swap screens for playgrounds and apps for real play. In a world flooded with smart technology, how do we make sure our kids are still being kids? On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Xingyu

What do motorcycles, letters from overseas, and university campuses have in common? On the surface, nothing. But dig a little deeper, and nothing is truly separate. The Full Circle finds that connection. On the show: Steve, Yushan & Yushun

The UK just passed a radical ban: no tobacco for anyone born after 2008. Meanwhile, Chinese cities like Shenzhen and Hong Kong are using AI and other technologies to police public smoking, all in the name of clean air. Gen Z is becoming the first "nicotine free generation." But even if laws really can kill addiction, where do we draw the line between protecting health and policing choice? On the show: Steve, Yushan & Yushun

Think about something you held onto for too long. A job, a project, a goal that just wasn't working. We all love stories about people who never gave up, but staying with the wrong thing can drain years from your life. So how can we know when it's time to let go? On the show: Fei Fei, Steve & Yushun

AI doesn't just eat data. It devours power, water, and land. So what happens when you run out of all three? China answered by going underwater. Off Shanghai, one of the country's first commercial ocean-floor data centers has gone live. It is powered by offshore wind and cooled by the sea itself. Could it be a smart solution to the world's data center controversy? On the show: Fei Fei, Steve & Yushun

How did Chinese migrants send money and messages home before phones or banks existed? They did not click send. Instead, they handed cash and letters to couriers who crossed the sea on faith alone. It was not fast, but it somehow worked. We're talking about Qiaopi, a forgotten system that connected families when nothing else could. / Would you take a lot more money for a lot more loneliness (14:25)? On the show: Steve, Yushan & Xingyu

You share a room, you share the space, and you might even share the chores. But what happens when your roommate starts running a business from the top bunk? In China, some students are launching side hustles right from their dorms. But when does a side gig start to cross the line? On the show: Steve, Yushan & Xingyu

Tourists wander into lecture halls. Students grumble about lost seats. All because one university in China decided to open its campus to the public. Suddenly, a simple question becomes complicated: who actually gets to use a university? On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Niu Honglin.

There comes a moment when the person who taught you to tie your shoes asks you how to open an app. For many young people, that moment repeats itself. Teaching parents to use phones, avoid scams, and navigate apps has become part of family life. It's not just about technology. It's about patience, role reversal, and watching the people who raised you grow older. On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Niu Honglin.

Gen Z in the United States has taken up a new self-care hobby. For those who suffer from anxiety, people are packing small comfort bags to help them get through a tough moment. Smart planning, or a touch of self-indulgence? On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushan

Flood season is hitting harder than ever. This year, China isn't just waiting for disasters to happen. It's seeing them coming. Faster warnings. Smarter tech. Less guesswork. The fight against extreme weather is getting an upgrade. On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushan

Hotpot. A dish with dozens of regional forms across China alone. It has gotten so big that entire industries have grown up around the stove. Now we're seeing standards for everything from cooking methods to ingredients. Chongqing just released a fresh set, and we dig into what these new rules mean for the broth we all love. On the show: Fei Fei, Steve & Niu Honglin.

To some, Xizang is considered sacred, remote, untouched by modernity. A postcard frozen in time. But 75 years ago, peaceful liberation set in motion a transformation that shattered that image. Today, we're peeling back the labels and demystifying the region for what it really is. On the show: Fei Fei, Steve & Niu Honglin.

Zero celebrities. Zero big budget. Zero marketing push. And somehow, a tiny short drama named 'Enemy' exploded across Chinese social media in days. What happened? And with AI and the giants changing everything, what will people actually want to watch next? On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushun.

Motorcycles in China were once just cheap, utilitarian transport. But today? They represent freedom, adventure, and identity. So what changed? Championship bikes, a new generation of riders, and the engineering behind the roar. Welcome to China's motorcycle boom. On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushun.

Something new appeared at a major motorsport event in the Taklamakan Desert recently. It's a type of gasoline most drivers have never seen before: 103-grade fuel. When people online started talking, the questions got interesting fast. Should you be putting it in your car? On the show: Steve, Yushan & Yushun

Russian President Vladimir Putin is in Beijing for a state visit. Trade and education lead the headlines, but what is actually happening on the ground? Round Table's Fei Fei sat down with Pavel Kiparisov of the Russian-Chinese Guild of Commerce to find out what making deals looks like beyond the press releases. On the show: Steve, Yushan & Yushun

You order food and it crosses the city with no problem. Then it hits the building entrance and just stops. That's the old problem. But a new handoff system is smoothing out that final choke point, and how well it works could reshape delivery in crowded cities. On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushan

On weekends in Beijing, a few subway lines are trying something new: letting cyclists bring their bikes onboard. You ride to the station, take the train, and get off right near some of the city's best greenways and cycling trails. No driving, no hassle. Just an easy connection between transit and the outdoors. So how's it working so far? On the show: Steve, Fei Fei and Yushan

For decades, industrialization meant a trade-off: growth versus environmental damage. Today, China is exploring a different path—where development and nature reinforce each other. Known as ecological civilization, this vision is reshaping conservation and urban life. In this episode, we unpack what it means and how it connects to daily life, through a conversation with Wang Zhihe, Director of the Institute for Postmodern Development of China. On the show: Niu Honglin, Yushan & Yushun

May 18 is International Museum Day, and this year's theme is "Museums Uniting a Divided World." It reminds us that across time and place, we share universal bonds: love for family, and the pain of loss. In this segment of China Finds, we're zooming in on a recent exhibition at the National Museum of China, telling a story so personal and powerful, it resonates with people everywhere. On the show: Niu Honglin, Yushan & Yushun

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 orders. The devices coach workers on their performance, track inventory, and monitor customer conversations. The technology raises an uncomfortable question about whether this is helpful assistance or employee surveillance. On the show: Niu Honglin, Steve & Yushan

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

Are China and the United States shaping the same AI future, or diverging down different paths? Having worked in both ecosystems, Alex Lamb shares his perspective from Tsinghua University. Together with RoundTable's Yushun, they explore how AI tools and agents are transforming how students learn and code. From data bottlenecks to real-world robots, and a shifting job market, what skills will matter most and how can we stay future-ready?

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 (18:17)? On the show: Niu Honglin, Fei Fei & Yushan

We invited young musicians from China and the US to perform "Art Makes Us Better" together. As their melodies met, they shared stories and found a common beat. The music video is out now!

What do you do when words aren't enough, yet you still long to connect? For a group of students from Yale University, the answer was simple: sing. This March, the Whiffenpoofs set off on a tour across China, using music to bridge cultures and spark unexpected moments of connection. Round Table’s Yushan spoke with three members about their journey, the experiences that stayed with them, and the stories they have to tell.

Have you heard of "boyfriend photography"? We spend so much time teaching our partners about angles and lighting that we actually start to believe we've turned them into unpaid content creators. But then comes the moment of truth: snap and the photo is still blurry! So what's the problem here? On the show: Niu Honglin, Fei Fei & Yushun

You didn't press record, but there you are, in someone's livestream, their vlog or their viral clip. No permission asked. No warning given. So when does being in public mean giving up the rights to your own face? On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yangyang

Two ways to lose a virtual companion without saying goodbye. One, a software update rewrites their personality. Or the company goes bankrupt and pulls the plug. Users are holding digital funerals, calling themselves widows. These weren't just chatbots. They were "best friends", "mentors" or more. So who really controls your most intimate relationship, you or the company behind your partner? On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yangyang

What do an office worker, ten thousand livestream viewers, and a smart fishing rod have in common? They are all part of fishing's unexpected comeback in China. Only now, the anglers are getting younger and the gear is getting smarter. On the show: Fei Fei, Steve, & Yushan

Internships were once a golden ticket, but now they are a financial burden. Students work for free while paying rent in expensive cities, where experience has become a luxury good. So who gets left behind when opportunity itself has a price tag? On the show: Fei Fei, Steve, & Yushan

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 love it. Earlier this year, regulations to protect the Great Wall took effect in Beijing. Smarter technology. Tighter oversight. The question is whether these changes can save it from its own popularity. On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushan

Forget dusty storefronts. China's oldest brands are now crashing livestreams and racking up billions of views, making the "old-timers" cool again. But beneath the hype lies a brutal scramble for digital talent, a constant battle with the algorithm, and one lingering question about whether the magic survives when heritage chases trends. / Heart to Heart - please send your audio questions to [email protected] (17:17). On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushan

Have you ever left a comment about a product online, thinking, "They'll probably never see this"? Well, turns out, sometimes they do and sometimes they actually act on it. From product features to marketing campaigns, brands are paying closer attention than ever. Somewhere along the way, consumers stopped being just buyers and started becoming collaborators. But… do we always love that idea? / Was your most memorable childhood umbrella super cool, or did it make you cringe (18:22)? On the show: Niu Honglin, Fei Fei & Xingyu

If you were heading to college today, what would you study? Computer science? Finance? Engineering? Now imagine having to choose between things like agricultural robotics, low-altitude economy management, or even brain-computer interfaces. These aren't niche experiments. They're actual majors here in China. And they're part of a bigger shift in how universities are getting students ready for a rapidly changing world. On the show: Niu Honglin, Fei Fei & Xingyu

Have you heard of "boyfriend photography"? We spend so much time teaching our partners about angles and lighting that we actually start to believe we've turned them into unpaid content creators. But then comes the moment of truth: snap and the photo is still blurry! So what's the problem here? On the show: Niu Honglin, Fei Fei & Yushun

Every year, the May Day holiday gives us a little snapshot — how people travel, how they have fun, and how they spend in vacation mode. In 2026, the data tells us even more! Tourism isn't just about where you go anymore. It's about what you experience. From concerts and sports events to immersive performances, new kinds of cultural consumption are changing the game, reshaping how cities draw in visitors, and how travelers decide what's worth their time and money. On the show: Niu Honglin, Fei Fei & Yushun

What do you do when you don't speak the same language but still want to connect? For a group of students from Yale University, the answer was simple: you sing. This March, The Whiffenpoofs acappella choir set out on a tour across China. Round Table's Yushan talked to three members of the team about their journey, the experiences they had, and the stories they want to share.

You've just nailed an interview, and the offer is almost in your inbox. Then HR asks to call your former boss, your colleagues, maybe even your graduate advisor. Suddenly, it doesn't feel like you're just being hired. It feels like you're being investigated. So where's the line between a reasonable background check and an invasion of privacy? And if you say no, are you automatically out of the running? On the show: Niu Honglin, Fei Fei & Yushun

May 4th marks Youth Day in China, and to mark the occasion, Round Table's Yushun sat down with Alex Lamb, an AI professor at Tsinghua University. Their topic? How young people are engaging with AI these days.

Fashion shows are easy to picture. The runways of Paris and Milan. The world's most beautiful people in the world's most beautiful clothing. Well, villagers in China have kept the runway, but they've swapped couture for cauliflower. On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushan

Have you imagined your career in five years? This International Workers' Day, we examine human value in the age of automation. Who loses ground and who finds an unexpected path? The jobs that last might surprise you, because digital skills only go so far. The real advantage is something slower, messier, and deeply human. On the show: Fei Fei, Niu Honglin & Steve

What happens when a 24-year-old tech worker walks away from her desk job... and into a room where strangers ask her to wash them? On the International Workers' Day, we bring you "Bathing," a radio drama about the work nobody sees and the dignity everybody needs.

What if perfection is boring? A Chinese reality show is putting that question to the test live on air. No retouches. No second takes. Just glorious, awkward, unfiltered authenticity. When did we stop wanting perfection and start wanting someone who sounds exactly like the rest of us? / Awake at night? Don't check the time (13:50) On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushan