urban China

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China Wants Scooters to Slow Down. Will It Work?

Contributions from individuals with unique perspectives to share. Hear from everyone, from experts and commentators to those whose voices are often marginalized.

VOICES & OPINION

New rules cap the maximum speed of scooters nationwide, but the focus on riders over drivers may not be entirely fair, says Shanghai urbanist Liu Yuanju.

Liu Yuanju

Inside the School Teaching Parents How to Parent

Translations, cross-publications, and collaborative projects from Sixth Tone’s external partners. 

SIXTH TONE ×

A controversial private education company in eastern China is offering courses on “smart parenting,” but are its students seeing results?

White Night Workshop

Stone Cold Craze: Why China’s Gen Z Is Falling for Pet Rocks

Timely reports on issues and events from across China. Drawing on a vast range of sources, these succinct articles provide insights into the significance of each issue in a wider context.

NEWS

Pet rock sales have surged on e-commerce platforms, with most buyers being young women born after 1995.

Fan Yiying

Guo Yishun

In Chinese Megacities, ‘Ultra-Long Commutes’ Are on the Rise

A growing number of people in China’s largest cities are traveling over 90 minutes each way for work, a new report has found.

Jiang Xinyi

Mind’s Eye Blind: A Shanghai Clinic Treats a Disorder None Can See

Articles that cut to the core of contemporary China. In-depth, informed, and carefully crafted, every piece is carried by the voices of the story’s participants.

FEATURES

China’s first clinic for aphantasia and spatial disorders aims to help children with these rare conditions. However, anxious parents focused on math struggles have sparked debate over the clinic’s approach.

The Chinese Trading in Their Jobs for Bikes

Amid changing attitudes toward career breaks, unemployed young people in Shanghai are increasingly riding bikes as a way to relax and reconnect.

He Qitong

Speed, Stress, Surveillance: The Human Toll of China’s Beverage Boom

Facing relentless demands and tight deadlines, workers in China’s beverage industry endure harsh conditions, leading to burnout, clashes with customers, and sparking widespread online debate.

Ding Rui

Yin  Ziyuan 

China’s Gen Z Finds an Unlikely New Hero: A Sad, Tired Brit

Jack Forsdike documented his ordeal working for one of China’s tech giants — and became a symbol of the industry’s grueling labor practices.

Dominic  Morgan

In Chengdu, Women Learn to Rewire a Trade Built for Men

Designed exclusively for women, a new course offers classes ranging from home appliance cleaning to electrician training that covers both theory and hands-on techniques. The response has been overwhelming, with classes filling up fast.

Did Chinese Public Transport Firms Miss the Bus on New Energy?

Privately operated bus companies are struggling under a mountain of debt. It didn’t have to be this way.

Liu Daizong

China’s MBTI Obsession Has Gone Too Far, Academics Say

The 1940s-era personality test has become a ubiquitous part of daily life in China. But the belief that “MBTI is destiny” among employers and young people is having unintended consequences, a new paper argues.

Dong Ziqing

From ‘Hire Me’ to Better Call Tang, the Quirky World of Metro Ads

To diversify declining revenue streams, one city metro launched a personalized ad service earlier this year, allowing individuals to purchase ad space for messages ranging from birthday greetings and job searches to marriage proposals and quirky jokes.

In Shanghai’s Lounge Lawn, Stressed-Out Office Workers Kick Back

Visual stories that get up close and personal with contemporary China. A mix of short videos, documentaries, photography, and data visualization.

MULTIMEDIA

A 30-meter lawn sloped like a lawn chair has become a popular spot for relaxation among the city’s office workers.

Wu Huiyuan 

‘Office Farmers’ Grow Fruit Plants for Novelty and Stress Relief

Mundane desktop plants are slowly being replaced by edible, decorative, and conversation-starting “work pals” like bananas and pineapples.

Li Xin

Ding Xiaoyan

The Ups and Downs of Owning Pet Birds in Urban China

While birds offer an affordable pet choice, their vulnerability to illness and the lack of specialized veterinary care, particularly beyond major urban centers, present significant hurdles.

Can City Walks Fix What Ails Chinese Urbanism?

Urbanists were calling for more walkable cities before it was cool. Now they want to leverage the city walk boom to make their vision a reality.

Cai Yineng

Out of Key: Why China is Stepping Back From Piano Lessons

The keyboard used to reign supreme in music lessons for the young. But costs and shifting cultural interests have led more students to embrace traditional Chinese instruments like the 'pipa' and bamboo flute.

Chu Jing Her

Men’s Cosmetics and Flowers Lead Douyin’s Women’s Day Sales Boom

China’s short video giant reported a 54% increase in beauty and skincare product sales, while flower orders surged by over 200%.

Yang Caini

Scents of Self: Why Young Chinese are Obsessed with Fragrances

The fragrance industry in China is on the upswing as younger consumers embrace scents for self-expression and comfort.

To Boost Career, Young Chinese Focus on ‘Emotional Intelligence’

In a tough job market, acquiring self-confidence and social skills can give workers a competitive edge.