Round Table China

By China Plus

Society & Culture

What's Round Table China about?

"Round Table" is the premier discussion show that debates the hottest topics making headlines in China and around the world. As the most popular English language podcast from China, it not only keeps you informed, but goes deeper into the factors shaping the behavior of 1.4 billion people.
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LAST EPISODE

Gaokao kicks off in China

06.06.2023

Nearly 13 million high school graduates will attend China's national college entrance examination this week. For the examinees, their performance in the next few days will determine where they will end up in the next four years and beyond. Today, ...

Round Table China episodes:

06.06.2023 Gaokao kicks off in China Nearly 13 million high school graduates will attend China's national college entrance examination this week. For the examinees, their performance in the next few days will determine where they will end up in the next four years and beyond. Today, ...
06.05.2023 A discussion of plastic pollution on World Environment Day World Environment Day is observed on June 5 every year and is the United Nations' principal vehicle for encouraging awareness and action for the protection of our environment. Center to this year's campaign is 'Beat Plastic Pollution'. Why is it ...
06.02.2023 Catering consumption rises to another level Catering consumption is rising to another level. A recent report found that the development of catering business has undergone a K shaped recovery. What are the new trends in the catering and restaurant sector (02:30)? / Late renowned wuxia, or ...
06.01.2023 Why is animation loved by both kids and adults? Happy International Children's Day! We have a special show for all the kids out there, big and small. We discuss why both kids and adults love animation. What makes great animation engaging for more than one generation (02:32)? / Specially ...
05.31.2023 Heart to Heart, your questions answered! Live music performances have been huge in May. What explains the magic of live music (02:52)? / We also bring you a selection of Heart to Heart questions from our listeners, and of course the answers from the Round Table ...
05.30.2023 National Science and Technology Workers' Day May 30th marks China's National Science and Technology Workers' Day. We want to lend our voice to the chorus of appreciation for the many and varied contributions of our nation's scientists and technology workers. We also ask a scientist in ...
05.29.2023 Tourism, e-commerce and smart agriculture in Xinjiang see new opportunities We are entering the peak season of the year to visit Xinjiang. Its extraordinary scenery, historic relics and charming culture are all great attractions for visitors. We discuss tourism, e-commerce and smart agriculture in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (02:36). / ...
05.26.2023 Gig economy continues to grow worldwide Since the pandemic, more people have turned to gig work to fill the gaps, and the nature of the industry has been evolving. The demands of the 21st century gig economy face the dilemma between preserving flexibility and providing stronger ...
05.25.2023 More large donations from alumni go to universities in east China Large sums of donations from alumni have gone to more universities in east China, than any other parts of the country. We discuss giving back to your Alma Mater, and how generous donations are spent and managed? (01:40) / Chinese ...
05.24.2023 More single Chinese women buy apartments before marriage Single ladies have become a force to be reckoned with in residential real estate. How to explain the fact that more single women in China are entering homeownership prior to marriage? (00:55) / National standard on parcel waybills to protect ...
05.23.2023 China passes law to protect Qinghai-Xizang Plateau ecosystem Round Table’s special program marks the 72nd anniversary of the peaceful liberation of Xizang, or Tibet. We take a look at a new law on the protection of the fragile ecosystem on the Qinghai-Xizang plateau. Why is the new law ...
05.22.2023 Men flex their muscles in consumption Chinese men are spending more in untraditional retail sectors previously NOT associated with males, such as beauty care, childcare and pet care. Has male-oriented marketing finally started to pay off? Or have societal changes been influencing what they buy? (01:05) ...
05.19.2023 ‘520’ RT Love & Relationship Special May 20th is homophonic to “I love you” in Chinese! This is a day to say out loud you have feelings for that special someone! Our listeners have participated in a RT Love Survey which reflects your views on love, ...
05.18.2023 China witnesses the fastest growth of museums in the past decade May 18 marks International Museum Day. The past 10 years have become the fastest development period for museums in China, with doubled number of museums, exhibitions and visitors. Museums have also become social venues. Why have museums become a good ...
05.17.2023 Building career ladders for couriers? China’s booming courier and delivery sector has been built with hard work of millions of delivery drivers in the country. Consumers benefit from the relatively affordable and speedy service, especially compared to international standards. But most courier and delivery men ...
05.16.2023 Scrambling to find a job with a bachelor's degree Graduating with a bachelor's degree might have become the most awkward in the current job market. Does a college degree still hold so-called "purchasing power" on the job market (01:56)? / Repost company content on personal social media should not ...
05.15.2023 How high speed railway changes our lives A young man's quest to scale China's five greatest mountains in five days led to some unexpected discoveries. Now internet users all over China are talking about the country's network of high-speed railways, which, among other things, has enabled the ...
05.12.2023 Global shortages of nurses According to the latest report from the International Council of Nurses, a shortage of nurses across the world is now a global health emergency. On International Nurses Day, we celebrate the hard work of nurses & acknowledge the challenges of ...
05.11.2023 Making tech truly friendly for seniors Older adults who grew up in the pre-digital age may feel quite intimidated by all the new digital technology. In China, they are finding more help in navigating the wired world. We discuss how to optimize technology usage for an ...
05.10.2023 Music festivals make their way into smaller cities The music festival scene has been around for a long time in the world. The influx of younger generations into the music industry and their desire to experience something different since COVID contributed to its popularity over the past Labor ...
05.09.2023 Will new energy vehicles sell without license privilege? The rise of new energy vehicles in China has been bolstered by preferential policies, from tax credits to government subsidies. Such privileges are, of course, not enjoyed by traditional gas cars. Should traditional fossil-fuel cars and EVs have equal treatments ...
05.08.2023 Report suggests China ranks second in cost of raising children Raising children are costly business. A report suggests that raising kids in China ranks the second most expensive in the world. Does this claim hold water? We break it down for you, the price of parenthood (01:54). / Why are ...
05.05.2023 Single and childless, who's to decide when to pull the plug? On one's deathbed, whether and when to pull the plug probably depend in larger part on the practices and culture of end-of-life care in a country, rather than individual needs or wishes. We discuss the slightly grim topic: single and ...
05.04.2023 RoundTable x ChatGPT China's Youth Day falls on May 4th and it's a day dedicated to the youths of the country. Considering that young people will be living in a world where Artificial Intelligence and technology are deeply intertwined in almost everything they ...
05.03.2023 Return to big cities after COVID? A recent report says folks who once left big cities during the pandemic are now moving back. As the world braces for an uncertain post-pandemic economy, is the big city lifestyle still appealing (01:27)? / Heart to Heart - please ...
05.02.2023 Why are young people traveling 'special forces style'? Have you ever thought seriously about how to get the most out of your travels? Some young people in China have found a very effective way. They are traveling special force style. What does it mean (01:53)? / Is graffiti ...
05.01.2023 Talking about labor on Labor Day International Workers' Day is a public holiday in China, and the working population get 5 days of rest and leisure. We take a look at how work, household skills and the hardworking spirit, are taught in school. What significance lies ...
04.28.2023 Young people living in 'speed up' mode Life can move fast for some of us. It feels as if we are constantly breaking the speed limit and trying to rush things. A recent report found that many young people feel like they are living life at double ...
04.27.2023 To stay or to quit, a struggle for pediatricians in China A shortage of pediatricians is a big problem across China. As media reports suggest, challenging work intensity, greater medical risk and comparatively low salaries are some of the reasons to scare away future pediatricians. As the demand for pediatric resources ...
04.26.2023 Have Chinese audience lost their interest in imported films? The first Slam Dunk movie finally hit Chinese cinemas, and has already set records for the animation genre. Fans have been waiting for 28 years since the Japanese manga and anime series concluded, and they are giving it a rousing ...
04.25.2023 China's 'King of Fairy Tales' gives up fight of IP rights China's "King of Fairy Tales" recently called it quits over intellectual property protection of his work. This came after a decades-long haul of filing law suits over hundreds of copyright disputes. We discuss the good, the bad and the ugly ...
04.24.2023 More people buy books online It was just the World Reading Day on April 23 and here we have an update on the reading habits of Chinese people. Let's find out who has been reading what (01:28). / How to get rid of "the shame ...
04.21.2023 Elephants and Bees: A Story That Has To Be Told Asian elephants are the largest land mammals on the continent. They are icons of their land and gardeners of the ecosystems. Global population of Asian elephants is on the decline, their natural habitat has shrunken due to human activity amongst ...
04.20.2023 'Daigou' trade finds new opportunities in smaller cities "Daigou" or surrogate shopping is back in vogue in China. Since people living in smaller cities don't have access to wholesale retailers' huge brick-and-mortar stores, and some consumers are unwilling to pay for the membership, new opportunities are emerging for ...
04.19.2023 The old looking after the even older? What will the future of elderly care look like in China? Given that home-based care is still preferred by the majority of senior citizens and traditional family values persist to some extent, we could be heading into an era where ...
04.18.2023 How to provide toddlers with better daycare services? China is collecting opinions from the general public regarding a new rule for small, family-based daycare services. How to provide more and better daycare services, as demand rises (02:06)? / A young man in Shanghai brought back the image of ...
04.17.2023 Can modified drugs fill tomorrow's prescription? The hefty cost of developing new drugs remains a challenge in health care. Could modified drugs alleviate some of that financial burden (01:52)? / What's behind the frequent sandstorms (28:02)? / Man receives refund from cinema because he didn't enjoy ...
04.14.2023 Village school offers slower pace education for stressed out urban families Recently, a village elementary school in Zhejiang province stole the limelight, as it offers a new paradigm of education that speaks to burnt-out urban parents and students. What is it like to study in this village school? And why has ...
04.13.2023 The third China International Consumer Products Expo kicks off The third China International Consumer Products Expo has kicked off in Hainan Province. We take a look at some highlights from this year's Expo (01:17). / Heart to Heart - please send your audio questions to [email protected] (27:26) / Gym ...
04.12.2023 A mom's battle against campus bullying A mom stands up to school bullying when her son became a victim. Her action sheds light on the prevention of violence on campus (02:14). / When facial recognition is misused or abused (27:44) / Young renters prefer rooms with ...
04.11.2023 Guangdong explores flexible jobs for stay-at-home moms Employers in Guangdong Province have set up job postings that are “mother-oriented” which are flexible jobs with flexible working hours. We discuss how these jobs could be a win-win for all stakeholders involved (01:52). / Does setting standards help the ...
04.10.2023 About one sixth of global adults affected by infertility Recent data suggests that one in six people in the world experience infertility in their lifetime. The WHO calls it “a worldwide problem.” We discuss why addressing infertility is important (01:17)? / Alleged overtime row provokes discussion (27:47). / Stay ...
04.07.2023 Hospital offers free accommodation and kitchen to families of patients When our loved one is sick or hospitalized, we want to devote as much time and attention to them as we can. But insurance doesn’t always cover related expenses. On top of that, if a patient had to go for ...
04.06.2023 Will consumer awareness be enough to curb excessive packaging? Excessive packaging of consumer products still runs rampant, despite repeated calls to protect the environment. The good news is that 80 percent of consumers are against over packaging as shown in a recent survey. Will complaints from consumers be powerful ...
04.05.2023 Will there be a widespread shift in burial customs? Qingming Festival, also known as Tomb-Sweeping Day, is observed on April 5th this year. In recent years, people have carried out tomb-sweeping activities in a greener way, while eco-friendly burial and funeral practices are gradually gaining traction in China. When ...
04.04.2023 Who will farm in the future? Most farmers in China are getting old and young people aren’t crazy about staying in the countryside and going into agriculture. So who will farm and grow food in the future? How can the country secure its food supply and ...
04.03.2023 Street vendors back in China's big cities, but not without requirements Street vendors have always been part of the scene in smaller cities and towns, and now they will be back in major cities as well, but not without the proper license. Street vendors make up a vital part of local ...
03.31.2023 Why female CPR manikins matter? CPR improves survival rates from out-of-hospital cardiac arrests, yet CPR rates remain low. Unfortunately for women, stats show fewer females receive this life-saving procedure in public than men, which means women have a lower chance of survival from out-of-hospital cardiac ...
03.30.2023 Mental well-being of college students causing concerns A recent survey confirmed that a significant number of college students are having trouble maintaining their mental wellbeing. When demand for therapy far outpaces supply, what can be done to support these students on campus (02:16)? / Struggling bus operators ...
03.29.2023 Students expelled after image-based sexual abuse of female classmates Two male university students were expelled for fabricating photos of female contacts and distributing pornographic content. We discuss how we can combat image-based sexual abuse and revenge porn (01:33). / What’s wrong with keeping exotic pets (28:04)? / Box lunches ...

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