Round Table China

By China PlusSociety & Culture

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Typical duration
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per episode

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Round Table China episodes

October 30 Drink big water, sleep big sleep: the internet's love of naming things
Every small habit now comes with a name. A morning routine becomes an optimized system, and a few favorite songs become a curated playlist. Social media in China and also elsewhere in the world has turned ordinary life into something to label, package, and present, and that playful habit of naming is exactly what makes internet slang so much fun to learn. On the show: Steve, Yushan & Yushun
22 min
October 29 China Finds: can tech revive ancient Liangzhu?
Liangzhu offers rare evidence of early state formation in China, and safeguarding a 5,000-year-old civilization means more than preserving artifacts. The next generation also needs to feel what life was like then, so experts are using drone light shows and virtual reality in creative and careful ways. The real challenge is protecting the past while making it discoverable. On the show: Steve, Fei Fei, Yushan.
18 min
October 29 Can AI read health reliably?
AI tools can review scans, faces, and even your tongues. In China, a machine can tell you what's wrong with your body in minutes after a quick scan of your tongue. But healthcare AI also raises real questions about its promises, its blind spots, and the moments when a screen could save someone or cause harm. On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushan.
35 min
October 28 IN VIDEO: Decoding China's viral buzzwords
From "Flash Step" to "no heartburn," catchphrases are taking China's internet by storm. People are copying the moves, sharing the jokes, and joining the fun. Let's unpack the buzzwords, explore the cultural references, and see what gets lost in translation. On the show: Fei Fei, Yushan & Yushun
23 min
October 28 IN VIDEO: Straight to senior high?
Zhongkao, China's high school entrance exam, is a milestone nearly every Chinese student must face. But now, some cities and counties are weighing a bold idea: let students move straight into senior high school. Could scrapping Zhongkao ease students' academic pressure? And are students, parents, and schools ready for such a big change? On the show: Fei Fei, Yushan & Yushun
38 min
October 27 No coffee, no seat? New café seating rules stir debate
A new café seating policy from Starbucks has reignited a debate here in China about what coffee shops are for. Are they simply places to buy coffee, or public-facing spaces where people can work, study, meet friends, or take a break? / Duolingo is now offering lessons in the Shanghai dialect (19:04). On the show: Fei Fei, Steve & Yushun
27 min
October 27 Are people taking long-distance buses again?
China's long-distance coach industry is staging a comeback, with electric buses, smarter route planning, and services tailored to traveler needs driving the revival. How is the humble coach finding new ways to win passengers back in a country where where high-speed rail and budget flights dominate? On the show: Fei Fei, Steve & Yushun
27 min
October 26 The Soapbox: when the college allowance gets cut
A freshman's allowance gets slashed mid-semester, setting off a small family negotiation over weekly payments, a trial period, and a bonus tied to exam results. What looks like a simple money dispute runs deeper, raising questions about dependence, trust, and whether college is where young people should learn to manage money or just spend it. On the show: Steve, Yushan & Yushun
23 min
October 26 Can computing cure disease faster?
What if we could understand disease and predict whether a treatment will work before spending years and billions of dollars testing it? China has made computational medicine a national priority, betting that AI, supercomputing, and massive biological data can transform drug discovery by 2030. Can computing truly lead us to better cures, and what doors does this emerging field open for the next generation of scientists? On the show: Steve, Yushan & Yushun
31 min
October 23 Shanshenbu and more: Decoding China's viral buzzwords
From "Flash Step" to "no heartburn," catchphrases are taking China's internet by storm. People are copying the moves, sharing the jokes, and joining the fun. But there's often more to these viral trends than meets the eye. Let's unpack the buzzwords, explore the cultural references, and see what gets lost in translation. On the show: Fei Fei, Yushan & Yushun
22 min