Move over, Blackjack! A new card craze is taking off in China: Guandan! This Chinese card game is all about teamwork, strategy, and a whole lot of social lubrication! We take a look at how it's redefining social gaming with its blend of tradition and excitement, offering players a fun experience that goes beyond the cards. / Round Table's Happy Place (14:30)! On the show: Heyang, Xingyu & Josh Cotterill

Why is Guandan gaining popularity?

Round Table is a premier English radio/podcast show, straight from Beijing.  Hear what's buzzing on the Internet and the main streets, see the latest lifestyle trends, and feel the pulse of life in China, Round Table is your golden ticket. With dynamic cultural exchanges between hosts from diverse backgrounds, we take you on a journey deep into modern China. We invite you to join our conversation! Shoot us an email or a voice memo at ezfmroundtable@foxmail.com. Let the fun begin!

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Dear listeners, get ready for an encore as we revisit some of our favorite episodes from the year! We can find on the market these days potato chips developed supposedly by some institutes or academies of agricultural sciences. Are these really healthier and tastier than the regular brand-name chips from the supermarket? / Let's take a look at some counter-intuitive ways that may help you better recover from work and New Year celebrations (17:20). On the show: Laiming, Niu Honglin & Steve Hatherly

Encore: A novel bite of agricultural-university snacks

Dear listeners, get ready for an encore as we revisit some of our favorite episodes from the year! In the height of winter, the Weiming Lake ice rink on the campus of Peking University is open to all skating enthusiasts. With spring, the cherry blossoms of Wuhan University attract millions of visitors both locally and from across the country. There are a lot of pros and cons for universities to open their campuses to the general public, and is there a right or wrong answer to the question: should university campuses stay open? On the show: Laiming, Niu Honglin & Steve Hatherly

Encore: How open should campuses be to the public?

Dear listeners, get ready for an encore as we revisit some of our favorite episodes from the year! The digital economy has created many jobs previously unheard of. In fact, many of us outsiders to the industry still don't know the ins and outs of these new professions in streaming, ecommerce and Multi-Channel Networks, or MCNs. / Static can be a clingy nuisance in our lives, especially in the dry winter season. Should we bother to do something about it (20:37)? On the show: Laiming, Niu Honglin & Brandon Yates

Encore: Digital economy creates new jobs!

Dear listeners, get ready for an encore as we revisit some of our favorite episodes from the year! Zero-waste lifestyle came to people's attention a few years ago when online influencers showed us how to minimize waste. Their methodology, although rather extreme in some people's opinion, has proven that zero-waste is possible at the individual level. Meanwhile, on a wider scale, a growing number of Chinese cities and rural areas are trying to overcome even more challenges to reduce waste. On the show: Laiming, Niu Honglin & Brandon Yates

Encore: Are you living in a zero-waste city?

May 1st is International Workers' Day, a special day to honor workers worldwide. We applaud your hard work and celebrate your contribution to the society and economy. Today, we take a deep dive into the ever-evolving landscape of employment, spotlighting the surge of new occupations making waves in China. And better yet, we are going to do that with a game! / Round Table's Happy Place (40:49)! "Contestants" on the show: Heyang, Yushun & Li Qiuyuan

Why is Guandan gaining popularity?

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