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.

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DeepTones

Copy Right: The Painstaking Method and Magic of Mastering a Replica

Across the country, museums are commissioning recreations of ancient artifacts. But beyond simple replicas, these efforts aim to revive the techniques and craftsmanship that shaped China’s cultural legacy.

Wu Haiyun

Factory Reset: A New Generation Races to Save China’s Family Businesses

Across China, family-run factories are passing to a new generation on an unprecedented scale. Can they overcome e-commerce challenges, rising costs, and family pressures to reshape their businesses for the future?

He Qitong

Gridlocked: When Jellyfish Brought a China Power Plant to Its Knees

The unexpected surge of jellyfish overwhelmed cooling systems, forcing workers to work around the clock to clear blockages and avert shutdowns — a crisis affecting coastal infrastructure worldwide.

Jiang Xinyi

Luo Yahan

China’s Glass Whisperer

Zhang Minghui blew his chance to attend one of China’s top universities. Now, he’s building experimental devices for the country’s space program.

Signs of Unity: Can China’s Deaf Community Find a Common Language?

While many deaf people in China want a standard sign language, there has also been resistance.

Li Xin

Her Dog Was Poisoned. Now She’s Fighting to Reform Pet Laws in China.

After her dog was poisoned, Li Yihan’s pursuit of justice has become a landmark legal battle, one that could bring significant changes to China’s approach to pet protection laws.

Ding Rui

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

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.

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.

Yin  Ziyuan 

‘Flying Cars’ Are Part of China’s New Economic Growth Plan

China is targeting a new economic growth driver by opening up the skies to drones and helicopters.

Li Miaoran

In Shanghai’s Prisons, Inmates Find Solace and Skill in Textile Art

In Shanghai’s Nanhui Prison, an unusual tapestry embroidery program offers inmates new skills, improves mental health, and provides a path to rehabilitation.