Beijing Calling

"Hello and it's Li Yuan here, bringing you the latest from China's contemporary music scene!

In this week's show, we meet Xu Wei, a nationally renowned pop-rock musician here in China. He just released his seventh album and in today's show, he reveals the creation of the new songs and his philosophy on life and music.

Join me and take a listen!"

For us Chinese people, no matter where we live, be it the North Pole or smack on the Equator, there are certain things that we simply must have, maybe not right away if they are not readily available, but these items will slowly creep back into our lives.

What are they and why are they so essential?

Here is a sneaky peek:

Plastic basins. As ugly as they look, these are part of our lives. You will find them in our bathrooms, not just one or two, but a whole stack of various appalling colors. The butcher knives with a flat cutting edge. Yep, don't mess with a Chinese cook, our knives can hack anything to pieces, slice right through the bone like feathers. The electrical heating blankets. When winter comes around, most people living in Southern China will choose these babies over their spouses in bed, not joking at all.

Click "Play" and let us show you the rest!

For us Chinese people, no matter where we live, be it the North Pole or smack on the Equator, there are certain things that we simply must have, maybe not right away if they are not readily available, but these items will slowly creep back into our lives.

What are they and why are they so essential?

Here is a sneaky peek:

Plastic basins. As ugly as they look, these are part of our lives. You will find them in our bathrooms, not just one or two, but a whole stack of various appalling colors. The butcher knives with a flat cutting edge. Yep, don't mess with a Chinese cook, our knives can hack anything to pieces, slice right through the bone like feathers. The electrical heating blankets. When winter comes around, most people living in Southern China will choose these babies over their spouses in bed, not joking at all.

Click "Play" and let us show you the rest!

For most of us, red is red, the color of passion and blood. But when women and beauty are involved, matters are never as simple as "just red".

There are diva, chili, retro, berry and burgundy, to name just a few from thousands of varieties of lipstick shades worldwide.

Yes, thousands!

And even that is not fine enough for a nation with a history of over 5,000 years.

New colors have burst onto the scene straight from the Palace Museum, inside the City that was once Forbidden.

These "reds" for lipsticks are named after traditional Chinese porcelain and embroideries especially designed for Asian beauties.

Have I piqued your interest?

Well, too bad! These hot items have already been sold out.

Click "Play" and find out more!

Li Yuan brings us the latest from China's independent music scene. In this week's show, we meet Chang Jing, a prolific Gu Zheng player and composer. She talked with Li about her work, and shared her thoughts on music. Let's take a listen!

Haiyang worked in the sports industry for 5 years. He is currently on the organizing committee for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games. Listen to the discussion between Haiyang and Mohan to find out how participation in sports has changed in China over the years.

Li Yuan brings us the latest from China's independent music scene. In this week's show we meet Punx, a techno musician who co-founded the Beijing-based indie label Prajnasonic. He will share with us some of China's cutting-edge electronic music. Let's take a listen!

If you ever come to China and get to stay a while among the locals, there are things you are bound to hear. Spirit of ancient ancestors lingering in the attic? The benefits of eating thousand-year eggs? Glorifying introductions of not-yet-married daughters and sons? Yes, maybe, but not really.

It's "Shang Huo", "Up" and "Heat". Grannies say it to show their love. Moms say it to assert their control. Coworkers say it to show their concern. It floats everywhere in the Chinese atmosphere. So what's this omnipotent and ubiquitous "Shang Huo" business?

Listen and find out, wink wink~

If you ever come to China and get to stay a while among the locals, there are things you are bound to hear. Spirit of ancient ancestors lingering in the attic? The benefits of eating thousand-year eggs? Glorifying introductions of not-yet-married daughters and sons? Yes, maybe, but not really.

It's "Shang Huo", "Up" and "Heat". Grannies say it to show their love. Moms say it to assert their control. Coworkers say it to show their concern. It floats everywhere in the Chinese atmosphere. So what's this omnipotent and ubiquitous "Shang Huo" business?

Listen and find out, wink wink~

Christmas might be more of a commercial event than a spiritual one in China, but it's still a time when people gather with friends and exchange presents. In this episode, Mohan and Shenting talk about how Chinese youngsters celebrate Western festivals like Christmas, Valentines' Day, and Thanksgiving.