Round Table China

Online literature has been a popular form of pastime for Chinese readers in the past two decades. It has also spawned new business models that are changing people's lives both in and outside of China. We talk about findings from a latest report on the development of online literature around the world (02:11). / Some female internet users are imitating typical behaviors of their male counterparts in the latest viral online challenge. Some of these videos are deplorable by any standard, while others range from ridiculous and annoying. What are men's reactions to this mock fest? Will the criticism from the female perspective help the society become a better place (28:24)? / How to better communicate with others (48:10)? On the show: Laiming, Fei Fei & Josh Cotterill

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, we look past the clichés to see what is new with this year's Gaokao (03:05). / Why are people so obsessed with pandas (28:45)? / What kind of body odor on humans are mosquitoes most attracted to (47:49)? We now have the answers. On the show: Laiming, Niu Honglin & Pearl

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 so hard to wean off plastic? Is it possible to win the fight (02:55)? / Fake internship certificates (31:07) / Motivational Monday (47:59)! On the show: Heyang, Laiming & Niu Honglin

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 martial art, novelist wins copyright lawsuit against fan fiction writer (29:33). / Round Table's Happy Place (49:39)! On the show: Heyang, Pearl & Josh Cotterill

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 curated content for minors on short video platforms (28:43) / Favorite songs from our childhood (41:46). On the show: Heyang, Yushun & Josh Cotterill

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 gang! Heart to Heart - please send your audio questions to [email protected] (28:16)! On the show: Heyang, Li Yi, Josh Cotterill, Laiming, Niu Honglin, Huang Shan, Fei Fei & Ding Heng

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 the field of astronomy to share his views on the profession (02:44). / Is scan-to-order here to stay (29:12)? / Netflix launches password crackdown amid sluggish growth (45:20). On the show: Heyang, Niu Honglin & Yushun

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). / Should university campuses be open to the public (28:04)? / Motivational Monday (48:15)! On the show: Heyang, Guo Yan, & Josh Cotterill

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 safety nets. What will the future of the gig economy look like, and how will flexible gig work fit into the puzzle (02:38)? / The homestay business is roaring back, but not without its challenges (28:46). / Round Table's Happy Place (47:27)! On the show: Heyang, Yushun & Josh Cotterill

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 food gains popularity overseas. (27:56)/ The drawback of being highly self-disciplined. (45:23) On the show: Heyang, Huang Shan & Josh Cotterill