Sixth Tone

“Society is constantly changing, and so are people, but ‘change’ does not solely mean ‘progress.’”

After leaving education at 16 to work in factories, Zhang Sai is turning factory life into literature and documenting the people and pressures of China’s vast factory workforce.

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A Coffee of Exile and Memory Comes Home to Hainan Created by Hainanese migrants in Southeast Asia, the brew returned with re-migrants in the 1950s. Now, a new generation is pushing it into the future.

Created by Hainanese migrants in Southeast Asia, the brew returned with re-migrants in the 1950s. Now, a new generation is pushing it into the future.

How China Unlocked a West African Mine to Reshape the Global Iron Ore Trade Against all odds, Guinea’s $20 billion Simandou megaproject, including a 600-km railway, a new Atlantic port, multiple tunnels and bridges, and a twin set of mines, stunned the global mining world.

Against all odds, Guinea’s $20 billion Simandou megaproject, including a 600-km railway, a new Atlantic port, multiple tunnels and bridges, and a twin set of mines, stunned the global mining world.

The Women Who Translated Chinese Cuisine Into American Chinese food became a popular American dinner because of the pioneering work of two women who, in the middle of the 20th century, set out to teach the flavors of home to their new country.

Chinese food became a popular American dinner because of the pioneering work of two women who, in the middle of the 20th century, set out to teach the flavors of home to their new country.

Minding Nemo: Vlogger Finds Fatal Flaws at China’s Aquariums A social media influencer touring aquatic attractions nationwide is exposing the perilous problems he finds in water quality, staff training, and erroneous signage.

A social media influencer touring aquatic attractions nationwide is exposing the perilous problems he finds in water quality, staff training, and erroneous signage.

Has a Lawsuit Sidelined a Chinese Soccer Prodigy? A contract dispute between an exclusive soccer academy and the family of a rising star has thrown a spotlight on China’s youth development system.

A contract dispute between an exclusive soccer academy and the family of a rising star has thrown a spotlight on China’s youth development system.

How Inherited Time Impacts the Lives of Young Chinese Through her research, the sociologist Xu Lingling has discovered how those from rural and lower-class backgrounds are at a disadvantage for getting ahead — because of how much more time it takes them ...

Through her research, the sociologist Xu Lingling has discovered how those from rural and lower-class backgrounds are at a disadvantage for getting ahead — because of how much more time it takes them to catch up.

The Chinese College Student Who Took on Annoying Elevator Ads A college junior in Shanghai used a “universal key” to shut down elevator ad screens to protest their intrusive noise, going viral online after netizens applauded the move.

A college junior in Shanghai used a “universal key” to shut down elevator ad screens to protest their intrusive noise, going viral online after netizens applauded the move.

How AI Allows Us to Talk With Ancient Chinese People AI software has made it possible to consistently analyze thousands of historical texts, allowing scientists to carefully map how people’s viewpoints changed between centuries and across regions.

AI software has made it possible to consistently analyze thousands of historical texts, allowing scientists to carefully map how people’s viewpoints changed between centuries and across regions.

The ‘Training Loan’ Scam Trapping Young Chinese in Debt An online job scam boasting flexible hours and high salaries has targeted fresh graduates, demanding thousands of yuan for training modules and jobs that fall far short of expectations.

An online job scam boasting flexible hours and high salaries has targeted fresh graduates, demanding thousands of yuan for training modules and jobs that fall far short of expectations.

Eighth China International Import Expo Kicks Off in Shanghai Thousands of companies from around the world attended the event, where China pledged to expand world access to its market and showcased hundreds of new products and technologies.

Thousands of companies from around the world attended the event, where China pledged to expand world access to its market and showcased hundreds of new products and technologies.

Marathon organizers and runners across China face abrupt cancellations and new curbs, as officials rush to rein in a sport that expanded faster than it could be managed.

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What Sultan’s Game Reveals About Chinese Players Since its release in March, Sultan’s Game has been taking Chinese players by storm. Yet amid the moral quandaries, chaotic evil choices, sex, and violence posed by the game, it is a microcosm of how t...

Since its release in March, Sultan’s Game has been taking Chinese players by storm. Yet amid the moral quandaries, chaotic evil choices, sex, and violence posed by the game, it is a microcosm of how traditional culture shapes the choices we make.

Audrey Hepburn’s Son Wins Lawsuit Against Chinese Restaurant A Chinese court has ruled that a Suzhou-based Audrey Hepburn-themed chain violated personality rights by using the late actress’s image and name on signage, in restaurants, and on promotional material...

The court ordered the restaurant to cease use of Hepburn’s image, full name, issue a public apology, and pay 200,000 yuan ($27,600) in compensation.

Fast, Cheap, Stolen: The Plagiarism Behind China’s Short Drama Boom As studios rush to feed China’s short-drama craze, web novel writers say their work is being taken, rewritten, and sold without consent or credit.

As studios rush to feed China’s short-drama craze, web novel writers say their work is being taken, rewritten, and sold without consent or credit.

The Precarious Rise of Female Comedians in China On China’s biggest stand-up comedy shows, 2025 has been a breakout year for women. But it’s more a story of economics, not equality.

On China’s biggest stand-up comedy shows, 2025 has been a breakout year for women. But it’s more a story of economics, not equality.

‘Huge Lesson’: A Beijing Farmer Learns to Live in Climate Extremes As climate extremes grow across China, one farmer’s flooded fields outside Beijing show how quickly the country’s weather, and way of life, are being rewritten.

As climate extremes grow across China, one farmer’s flooded fields outside Beijing show how quickly the country’s weather, and way of life, are being rewritten.

The Architect Saving China’s ‘Ugly’ Buildings, One Photo at a Time For two years, Liu Yujia has crossed China on foot and by bike, photographing the tiled towers, tinted-glass hotels, and industrial relics of a disappearing urban era, once often dismissed as “ugly.”

For two years, Liu Yujia has crossed China on foot and by bike, photographing the tiled towers, tinted-glass hotels, and industrial relics of a disappearing urban era, once often dismissed as “ugly.”

All That and Dim Sum: Canton Moves to Regulate Morning Tea The southern city of Guangzhou has drafted a policy regulating the labeling of dim sum dishes in an effort to preserve authenticity, freshness, and cultural heritage.

Guangzhou, the capital of China’s southern Guangdong province, has drafted a policy requiring dim sum restaurants to label dishes as made using “traditional” or “non-traditional” methods and set up a talent-training system to protect the region’s culinary craft.

The Historian Showing How Trade Shaped China’s Ties to the World From silk and porcelain to cotton and tea, Li Bozhong traces how centuries of exchange bound China to global markets long before modern globalization.

From silk and porcelain to cotton and tea, Li Bozhong traces how centuries of exchange bound China to global markets long before modern globalization.

In China’s New Livestream Factories, Bodies, Data, and Dreams Collide With idol reality shows off the air, group livestreams have filled the void, where dancers perform in rotating squads as viewers send gifts and even pay to control the show.

Across China’s short-video platforms, group livestreaming, or tuanbo, has become a nationwide obsession. The format has exploded in recent months, filling the gap left by China’s 2021 ban on idol survival shows. For many, it offers a second chance at stardom.

In her latest book, Professor He Guimei challenges the framework of “Chineseness” at its core, highlighting a need to frame it in terms of civilization, rather than nation, and to change how we talk about tradition when constructing ideas of the present.

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China’s ‘Worst Handwriting Group in History’ Rewrites Grief The online forum, which began as a way to bond over poor penmanship, has recently expanded into a place to seek solace and help in deciphering notes left by deceased relatives.

“Please help me recognize the last word my father left me.” “He’s wishing you a Happy New Year.”

“The Worst Handwriting Group in History,” which began as a way to bond over poor penmanship, has recently expanded into a place to seek solace and help in deciphering notes left by deceased relatives.

Crossing the Line? China’s ‘Fastest Nurse’ Runs Into Trouble Marathon star Zhang Shuihua promises to tread lightly after post-race comments about her hospital job spark a social media pile-on.

Marathon star Zhang Shuihua promises to tread lightly after post-race comments about her hospital job spark a social media pile-on.

Shanghai School Lunch Scandal Leads to Investigation, Reforms The lunches, supplied by catering company Green Express, were recalled after some schools had already served them, prompting outrage from parents and city-wide reform of school catering contracts.

The lunches, supplied by catering company Green Express, were recalled after some schools had already served them, prompting outrage from parents and city-wide reform of school catering contracts.

China’s Latest Reform Eases Property Purchases for Overseas Individuals A new policy allows overseas individuals to make immediate down payments on properties and scraps restrictions on the purchase of non-self-use residential property.

China has eased a long-standing “payment dilemma” for overseas individuals purchasing onshore properties, simplifying cross-border investment and financing procedures.

The Factory Workers Who Helped Build a Nation A photographer strives to protect the memory of China’s Third Front Movement and the families who dedicated their lives to it.

I am a third-generation of the Third Front Movement. There’s a saying that captures the experience of families like ours: “First we devote our youth, then we devote our whole lives — in the end, even the futures of our children and grandchildren are tied to the cause.”

Sponge gourd soup, a staple in Chinese home cooking, has unexpectedly gone viral online — not for its taste, but as a metaphor for the way parents often dismiss their children’s feelings, as well as gaslighting in familial relationships more generally.

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Massive Fireworks Display on Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Backfires The fireworks, designed by artist Cai Guoqiang and commissioned by outdoor brand Arc’teryx, caused outrage over environmental concerns, prompting apologies and an official investigation.

A fireworks display, designed by artist Cai Guoqiang and commissioned by outdoor brand Arc’teryx, caused outrage over environmental concerns, prompting apologies and an official investigation.

Street Smart: Why China’s 5-Star Hotels Are Now Cooking Curbside With banquet bookings on the decline and budgets tight, some luxury hotels are selling discounted takeout on the street, betting visibility will bring customers back inside.

With banquet bookings on the decline and budgets tight, some luxury hotels are selling discounted takeout on the street, betting visibility will bring customers back inside.