This week on Inside the China Room with Jiang Jiang, I’m joined by Rui Ma — founder of Tech Buzz China and longtime tech analyst— to unpack what’s really happening inside China’s fast-moving AI ecosystem.

Rui just wrapped up a packed trip to China in late July, leading a delegation of AI founders and investors from Silicon Valley, Europe, and India. They visited the 2025 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai, held private meetings with leading VCs, and met with a wide spectrum of companies — from tech giants like Baidu, Alibaba, and Tencent (BAT), to unicorns and startups less than a year old.

Since China's “DeepSeek moment” earlier this year, global curiosity about its AI scene has only grown. In this episode, Rui shares what she saw on the ground: how China is approaching embodied intelligence, what international investors found surprising, where China’s AI strengths and weaknesses lie, and why the “energy problem” in China's AI sector may already be solved.

We also discuss Rui’s upcoming deep tech trip to China this September, her thoughts on China’s AI talent pool, fundraising environment, education system, and which cities are emerging as the next big AI hubs in China.

Highlights

06:21 - Robotics, embodied intelligence, and cost-effectiveness

11:56 - Energy is considered a solved problem in China's AI sector

13:35 - Comparing the U.S. and Chinese AI ecosystems

14:55 - Labor models in China’s AI firms

18:25 – Fundraising situation for AI industry in China

20:46 – AI education in China

24:34 – Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou ... competition for AI hub heating in China

27:51 – The real headache for Chinese AI companies

30:35 – Rui’s next China trip: four cities, deeper tech

35:08 – Who’s more likely to lead the AI future: China or Silicon Valley?

Recommendation:

Rui: The Ministry for the Future, by Kim Stanley Robinson

JJ: “硅谷AI妈妈” account running by Rui on Xiaohongshu

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Also available on 小宇宙 Xiaoyuzhou FM for listeners in China.

This week on Inside the China Room with Jiang Jiang, I’m joined by Jianlin Zhong — a Shanghai-based investor and lifelong AAA gamer — to unpack the rise of Chinese AAA games and how titles like Black Myth: Wukong and WuChang: Fallen Feathers are reshaping global perceptions of China’s game industry.

Set in a dark fantasy world at the end of the Ming Dynasty, WuChang: Fallen Feathers is China’s latest Souls-like title. It topped Steam’s China preorder chart earlier this year and officially launched worldwide on July 24. But beyond gameplay, it’s part of a growing wave of single-player Chinese blockbusters aiming for global reach — a trend that began with the buzz around Black Myth: Wukong.

In this episode, Jianlin and I share our first impressions of Wuchang, explore its cultural depth, and discuss how Chinese studios are making their mark — not just at home, but globally. We also dive into the business side: how Jianlin evaluates studios and what the future might hold for China's AAA game scene.

Games we touch on

Doom · Dark Souls: Remastered · Cyberpunk 2077 · Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice · Elden Ring · Phantom Blade Zero · God of War · Death Stranding · It Takes Two · Outer Wilds · Kingdom Rush

Highlights

04:35 - Why China’s recent AAA surge matters to gamers like Jianlin

06:02 - First impressions of the new release Wuchang: Fallen Feathers

11:59 - Black Myth: Wukong — trailblazer for Chinese AAA titles

16:18 - Have Chinese AAA games caught up with classics like Sekiro and Elden Ring?

21:12 - How Chinese-themed AAA games engage players and even boost local tourism

26:13 - Jianlin’s philosophy for investing in game studios

31:40 - The next frontier for Chinese AAA titles going global

36:44 - Recommendations

About Jianlin Zhong

Jianlin has been in the banking and investment industry for over 10 years. He began his career at J.P. Morgan as an investment banking analyst, then moved to a major APAC-focused private equity firm. In 2024, he founded his own investment management business, making large stake private investment, including buyouts, in fast growing niche industry leaders. He focuses on new materials, data, and software segments that align with his investment thesis.

Recommendations

Jianlin: Outer Wilds, a 2019 action-adventure game developed by Mobius Digital and published by Annapurna Interactive.

JJ: Kingdom Rush, a 2011 tower defense game developed by Ironhide Game Studio and published by Armor Games.

Like the episode?

Follow Inside the China Room on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube. New episodes drop every two weeks. Share & rate us to help more listeners discover expert perspectives from inside China.

This week on Inside the China Room with Jiang Jiang, I’m joined by Chen Jun—better known as CJ—FIFA’s Football Development Manager for East Asia, to discuss a grassroots phenomenon that’s been capturing hearts across China this summer: the Su Super League.

The 2025 Jiangsu Football City League, dubbed with "Su Super League," -- made up of 13 city teams competing in the east China's Jiangsu province -- has become the most igniting sporting phenomenon in the country this summer. With no big name players and coaches, the amateur soccer league has captured the nation's imagination largely through the fierce passion from local participants and fans.

The Su Super League - like its Guizhou cousin, the Village Super League - are catching fire at a time when the national team continues to struggle. Just a month ago, China’s hopes for the 2026 FIFA World Cup came to an end after a 1-0 loss to Indonesia. It’s now been 25 years since the country last qualified for the tournament — back in 2002.

In this episode, CJ and I discussed what these grassroots leagues can tell us about the future of Chinese sports. We explored the differences on football culture in China and Europe, the challenges and opportunities China face in developing major team sports and the sustainability of amateur soccer leagues in China.

Before joining FIFA six years ago, CJ worked at the Chinese Football Association as an international relations officer — where we were colleagues. He’s also worked with the East Asian Football Federation and Manchester City Football Club.

Highlights:

03:58 - CJ’s journey: from Manchester City FC to the Chinese Football Association, and now FIFA

09:16 - Why an amateur football league captured headlines in China this summer？

13:44 - Football culture face-off: China vs. Europe

16:18 - The key to making football popular in China

21:12 - How FIFA supports football growth in China and East Asia

24:53 - Could the "Su Super League" rival China’s professional leagues?

32:06 - Team vs. individual sports: China's preference and future direction

34:15 - Prospects and challenges for amateur football leagues in China

38:28 - CJ’s recommended read: Mastery by Robert Greene

Recommendation:

CJ: Mastery, by Robert Greene

JJ: The Day of the Jackal (TV series)

You can also listen to Inside the China Room with Jiang Jiang on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube.

This episode is edited by Yifei Shi.

Note: All views expressed in this episode are solely those of the speakers and do not represent the views of any organizations they are currently affiliated with or have been affiliated with in the past.

This week on Inside the China Room with Jiang Jiang, I'm joined by Daniel A. Bell, vice president of the International Confucian Association and chair of Political Theory with the Faculty of Law at the University of Hong Kong.

On July 9 and 10, the 11th Nishan Forum on World Civilizations will be held in Qufu city in east China's Shandong Province. Qufu is renowned as the birthplace of Confucius and the historical heartland of Confucian culture. This year's forum explores the relationship among diverse civilizations and global modernization. Daniel will deliver a speech during the forum.

In this episode, Daniel and I explored the unique characteristics of Shandong that reflect the deep influence of Confucianism. We discussed how Confucian values continue to shape contemporary Chinese politics and society -- from expectations around the moral integrity of government officials to the emphasis on family values. We also delved into how different civilizations engage with one another, and how Confucianism influences the broader process of modernization. Daniel also shared with me his expectations for this year's Nishan Forum on World Civilizations, as well as the main themes of the speech he plans to deliver at the event.

Daniel's research area includes comparative political theory, Confucianism, and Legalism. From 2017 to 2022, Daniel served as Dean of the School of Political Science and Public Administration at Shandong University -- the first foreigner in the Chinese mainland's history to hold such a position. His book, The Dean of Shandong, published in 2023, chronicles his experiences as what he calls a "minor bureaucrat." Daniel has also taught at Beijing’s Tsinghua University for 13 years.

In 2018, Daniel was awarded the Huilin Prize and honored as a "Cultural Leader" by the World Economic Forum. In 2021, he was selected as the People’s Friendship Envoy of Shandong Province.

Highlights:

03:56 – Confucian traits of Shandong and Daniel’s teaching experience there

13:44 – How Confucian values shape politics and society in today’s China

16:00 – Comparing family values in China and the West

20:03 – Moral standards in China’s selection and evaluation of officials

25:52 – Xunzi and the creative dialogue between Confucianism and Islam

31:53 – How Confucianism contributed to modernization in East Asia

35:06 – Civilizational dialogues at the Nishan Forum

37:46 – Ritualized ice hockey in Daniel’s hometown — and its Confucian echoes

41:14 – How Daniel’s next book brings ancient Chinese thinkers into dialogue on today’s biggest questions

Recommendation:

Daniel: The ritualized ice hockey games in Canada

JJ: Why Ancient Chinese Political Thought Matters: Four Dialogues on China’s Past, Present, and Future, by Daniel A. Bell

You can also listen to Inside the China Room with Jiang Jiang on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

This episode is edited by Yifei Shi.

This week on Inside the China Room, Jiang Jiang (JJ) is joined by Bert Hofman, professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School at the National University of Singapore and the former World Bank's Chief Economist of East Asia and the Pacific Region, and Country Director for China.

The United States and China agreed on May 12 to drastically roll back tariffs on each other’s goods for an initial 90-day period, in a significant breakthrough that has de-escalated a punishing trade war and buoyed global markets.

In this episode, I invite Bert to share his views on China-U.S. trade relations, the impact of the tariff rollbacks, and what it all means for the future of global supply chain and multilateral institutions.

Bert is also the former director of the East Asian Institute of the National University Singapore (NUS). He is a Senior Fellow at MERICS in Germany, nonresident senior fellow at the Asia Society Policy Institute, and Member of the World Association for China Studies. Before joining NUS, he worked with the World Bank for 27 years, 22 of which in Asia, and 12 of which on China.

Bert's current interests include China’s future growth trajectory, technology, aging, and geopolitics and China-U.S. relations. He also runs a Substack newsletter called Bert's newsletter.

Highlights:

03:21 - What surprised — and didn’t — in the China-U.S. trade deal

06:13 - Tariff "pause" and transit trade

12:53 - How the trade war reshapes global supply chain strategy

17:14 - Trade talks and how countries strategize

19:51 - The uncertain path ahead for China-U.S. trade relations

27:33 - National security is becoming a growing global priority

29:40 - The future of multilateral institutions amid U.S. retreat

39:17 - Recommendation

Recommendation:

Zbig: The Life and Times of Brzezinski, America's Great Power Prophet, by Edward Luce

You can also listen to Inside the China Room with Jiang Jiang on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

This week on Inside the China Room, Jiang Jiang (JJ) is joined by Robert Wu, CEO of BigOne Lab, a leading alternative data and research firm in China. Robert is also the creator of two acclaimed China-focused newsletters, Baiguan and China Translated. Long-time listeners might remember Robert as the guest on our very first episode.

During this holiday season, I couldn't think of a better time to invite Robert back to the show. In this episode, we'll get his outlook on 2025 from the perspective of a CEO in China and a leading figure in the data industry. While we won't be able to cover everything, I hope what we discussed will resonate with you.

In this conversation, we dive into the market outlook for 2025, emerging trends in China's consumer market, the "all-in" mindset of CEOs, China's first centrally administered state-owned enterprise dedicated to data technology, the evolution of data as a strategic asset, the influence of China-U.S. relations on business strategies, and even a discussion about the TV series 我的阿勒泰 To the Wonder.

Highlights:

01:45 - Renewed interest in Chinese equities amid global market uncertainties

07:59 - How interest-based and value-based consumption will shape China's consumer market in 2025

12:16 - Lululemon's growth in China driven by shifting consumer priorities toward premium sportswear

15:57 - How "Founder Mode" shapes the way Chinese entrepreneurs lead their businesses

20:17 - China's new state-owned data enterprise to break down "data silos" and boost efficiency

27:20 - How China-U.S. relations in 2025 will influence business strategies

33:15 - Recommendation

Recommendation:

TV Series: 我的阿勒泰 To the Wonder, released this May on Chinese video platform iQIYI.COM

You can also listen to Inside the China Room with Jiang Jiang on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

This week on Inside the China Room, Jiang Jiang (JJ) welcomes Annie Song, a young Chinese film producer and art director of 林象文化 Jungle Vision, a Beijing-based start-up dedicated to curating independent film festivals in China.

In this episode, we explore how young independent Chinese filmmakers are seizing opportunities at film festivals and contributing to the rise of new genres in China, with a particular focus on the increasing popularity of socially themed films. We also delve into the evolving dynamics between the Chinese and American film industries, as well as the successes and challenges Chinese films face in reaching international audiences. Additionally, we discuss how innovative promotional strategies, such as short video platforms, are revolutionizing the way films connect with viewers.

Annie Song holds a BA in Film Studies from the University of California, Berkeley, and brings over eight years of experience to the film industry. She was recently honored with the Most Promising Filmmaker award at the 29th Busan International Film Festival, cementing her reputation as a rising star in the field.

Highlights:

06:22 - The unique traits of China’s emerging filmmakers

08:10 - Film festivals as a launchpad for young Chinese filmmakers

11:40 - Challenges shared by the Chinese and U.S. film industries

19:20 - Increasing popularity of socially themed films in China

24:04 - The re-release trend of classic films

26:22 - Chinese films going global

34:11 - Short video platforms transforming film promotion

39:00 - Annie’s plan and her insights on low-budget films

42:36 - Recommendation

Recommendation:

Movies: 好东西 Her Story by director 邵艺辉 Shao Yihui, set to release on November 22, 2024

You can also listen to Inside the China Room with Jiang Jiang on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Other Chinese films Annie Song and Jiang Jiang discussed in this episode:

宇宙探索编辑部 Journey to the West (2023)

流浪地球 The Wandering Earth (2020)

逆行人生 Upstream (2024)

我不是药神 Dying to Survive (2018)

爱情神话 B for Busy (2021)

英雄 Hero (2002）

卧虎藏龙 Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)

影 Shadow (2019)

满江红 River Red (2023)

This week on Inside the China Room, Jiang Jiang (JJ) welcomes Prof. Tang Xiaoyang 唐晓阳, a distinguished scholar from Tsinghua University who specializes in China-Africa relations, China's engagement in the developing countries, and global modernization.

In today's episode, we explore the current dynamics of China-Africa cooperation, with a special emphasis on the upcoming Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit in Beijing. We discuss changes in the trade product structures between China and Africa, the prospects for Chinese electric vehicles in Africa, the "debt trap" narrative, and how the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) synergizes with FOCAC. Additionally, we examine the geopolitical factors that are influencing the future of China-Africa relations.

Prof. Tang currently serves as the chair in the Department of International Relations at Tsinghua University and has a distinguished background that includes significant research on African agricultural development and China's role in shaping economic strategies across the continent. His academic journey is complemented by his practical experience, including consultancy roles with international organizations such as the World Bank and the United Nations. His deep understanding of both the theoretical and practical aspects of China-Africa cooperation has made him a sought-after voice in discussions on global development strategies.

Highlights:

07:12 - What to expect on the upcoming FOCAC Summit?

08:50 - Changes in China-Africa trade structure and the impact of global economic shifts

10:36 - Chinese electric vehicles in Africa

19:40 - New trend of investing in Africa and its business environment

28:00 - Geopolitical influence on the direction of China-Africa relations

40:15 - The "debt trap" narrative

42:20 - Prospects for future China-Africa cooperation

47:30 - Recommendation

You can also listen to Inside the China Room with Jiang Jiang on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Recommendations:

Books - Professor Tang Xiaoyang's recent book: Coevolutionary Pragmatism: Approaches and Impacts of China-Africa Economic Cooperation (available on Amazon)

This week on Inside the China Room, Jiang Jiang (JJ) welcomes Bob Chen, an investor working for Mangrove Capital 沣源资本, a China-based venture capital fund specializing in software and globalization-themed investments. 

In this episode, Bob discusses the central authorities' recent resolution on further deepening reforms comprehensively. He explores the challenges in China's development and the promising prospects of the new economic reform blueprint. As a former macro-economist, Bob identifies two favorable trends in the Chinese market -- reduced cost of mobility and an "anti-involution" mindset. He also shares observations on Chinese businesses expanding globally -- the primary focus of his investments, and offers insights into the growing trend of paying for knowledge online among Chinese people.

Bob also runs a popular WeChat blog, "嬉笑创客," and a subscription-based online community on "Knowledge Planet 知识星球," where he shares his insights on macro-economics, venture capital and China's domestic markets. His thoughts have been widely recognized, including a translation of his piece on the U.S.-China decoupling impact in a Baiguan newsletter, and he was a featured guest on Baiguan's podcast discussing Chinese companies' global market strategies.

Highlights:

05:30 - Three major themes of the resolution in Bob Chen’s view

08:45 - What priorities does the resolution outline for China's development in the next phase?

12:43 - Fiscal challenges of the local governments

14:23 - How will China's tax reform improve its distribution system?

20:25 - China's spending on R&D and the benefits of electric vehicle development

25:11 - "Anti-involution" mindset gains steam in the Chinese market

27:52 - Chinese businesses going global

36:34 - People's willingness to pay for knowledge in China -- "Knowledge Planet" as an example 

41:08 - Recommended travel destinations in China other than Beijing and Shanghai

You can also listen to Inside the China Room with Jiang Jiang on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

This week on Inside the China Room, Jiang Jiang (JJ) welcomes Yaling Jiang, the founder of Following the Yuan, a newsletter covering China's consumer market, and Aperture China, a research and strategy consultancy. The show kicks off with a review of the changes in China's 2023 consumer market and explores future trends, the key drivers behind these shift and the potential impacts on international brands doing business in China. While discussing the role of social media in shaping consumption behaviors, the show examines the shifts in how Chinese people process information before, during, and after the pandemic, shedding light on how international brands can adjust their marketing strategies. As many large consumer brands and luxury brands strategically enter lower-tier markets, Yaling and JJ also discusses the new opportunities in these markets.

This episode was recorded on Feb. 5.