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

VOICES & OPINION

Broad Tones

A Forgotten Book Gets a Fresh Look

Henri Doré spent his life collecting examples of Chinese folk art. Written off by many of his contemporaries, that collection has become an important window into the country’s past.

Zhang Xiaoyi

The Surprising Legacy of China’s Catchiest TV Theme Song

The 1980s adaptation of “Journey to the West” has an all-time great opening theme. So why did its composer fade into obscurity?

Cai Yineng

The Secrets of the Shang

Sometimes called the “holy land” of Chinese archaeology, Yinxu remains a mystery even today.

Wu Haiyun

How Free Shipping Became China’s Most Important Status Symbol

Residents along China’s prosperous coast don’t just enjoy better deals on packages — they get better customer service, too.

Qian Linliang

What’s Chinese for ‘Midwest Nice’?

Not everyone likes to be called “qin” — roughly equivalent to “dear” in English — so why do some online businesses insist on using it anyway?

For China’s Archaeologists, All Roads Lead to Yinxu

Even after nearly a hundred years of excavations, many of the ancient Shang dynasty capital’s secrets remain buried in the earth.

The Competitions Shaping China’s Startup Scene

Designed to promote startup culture, state-run entrepreneurship competitions don’t always select the winners you might expect.

Olivia Yijian Liu

The Women Living Alone — and Loving It — on Xiaohongshu

Vlogs about the single life are popular on the app, sometimes referred to as “China’s Instagram,” but are their stars as free as they seem?

Guo Jia

The Puzzling History of China’s Most Controversial Flavoring

Monosodium glutamate, better known as MSG, is a Japanese import that became as Chinese as Kung Pao chicken. But its spread was more historical accident than foreordained.

Liu Shuman

After Ye, What’s Next for International Artists in China?

Does the controversial rapper’s recent visit to the southern island of Hainan signal an open door for musicians?