Round Table China

Cities are packed with leisure spots—restaurants, malls, parks, nightlife districts. But lately, a surprising new venue has entered the chat: the city bus. Once the most ordinary piece of urban infrastructure, it's now being reinvented into a moving experience. Think hot pot dinners on wheels, karaoke buses, even pet-friendly rides. This humble form of public transport is turning into something far more social, creative, and entertaining than anyone ever expected. On the show: Niu Honglin, Yushan & Yushun

Millions of parents across China stand outside schools in vests, directing traffic with no training, no authority, and no real choice. What began as voluntary has become mandatory. When schools shift responsibilities onto families, who is protecting whom, and how do we rebuild a system where helping doesn't cost trust or well being? On the show: Fei Fei, Niu Honglin & Steve

China is rolling out what some call its "sixth social insurance": long-term care insurance. The cost is just 0.3 percent of income, but the ambition is vast. It aims to move care from unpaid family labor to a professional home based system. On the show: Fei Fei, Niu Honglin & Steve

In 2025, China averaged 49 hours a week. Laws exist. Awareness exists. So why nothing changing? Today we ask: who actually benefits from your long hours—and what would it take to stop? On the show: Fei Fei, Niu Honglin & Steve

It was a day of remembrance, when people across China honor their departed loved ones in different ways. Over the weekend, the country marked another Qingming Festival, also known as Tomb-Sweeping Day. A central tradition of the occasion is just that—visiting gravesites to clean and tend to the tombs of those who have passed. Today, we'll explore these long-standing customs, and how they're evolving in modern times. On the show: Fei Fei, Niu Honglin & Steve

Move over, Gen Z trends. The latest identity young people are claiming for themselves is "old-school human." It's a deliberate step back from the hyper-digital world—but what does it actually look like? Today, we're exploring why a generation is choosing to slow down. / Is your water pump trying to kill you (13:12)? On the show: Steve, Yushan & Yangyang

Forget the teenage gamers—the newest power users are your grandparents. From chasing flash sales at midnight to becoming viral influencers, seniors are taking over the internet. But with that connection comes a new danger: digital addiction. We explore the rise of the silver netizen and the fight to make the web age-friendly. On the show: Steve, Yushan & Yangyang

Over the past decade, the rise of pet-friendly cafés, restaurants, and shopping malls has reflected a broader change in urban culture. Pets are no longer just companions at home. But recently, some businesses have begun reversing course by tightening rules or removing pet-friendly labels altogether. On the show: Niu Honglin, Steve & Yushan

For centuries, tea was a staple, the quiet ceremonial background note to Chinese life. But in 2026, the spring harvest has transformed into a high‑stakes economic engine, triggering a massive mobilization of labor, capital, and live‑streamed commerce. Have you ever considered making your next trip tea‑themed? On the show: Niu Honglin, Steve & Yushan

When people traded wired headphones for their wireless cousins, the decision was driven by style and convenience. But when it comes to the mind, priorities have shifted. Now, many are rewinding time and plugging back in. / Are China's apples the best apples (13:02)? On the show: Steve, Yushun & Xingyu

The sound of students reading aloud at dawn has echoed through Chinese schools for generations. Not anymore. Schools are now scrapping those early morning sessions and letting kids sleep in. Supporters call it a win for rest and focus. Critics fear grades could suffer. Does earlier actually mean better? On the show: Steve, Yushun & Xingyu

For many graduates, dorm life memories are tied to shared rooms, late night talks, and constant noise. But today's students expect more privacy and comfort. A decision, coming from northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, to phase out eight-person dorms has caught netizens' attention. The move is not just in infrastructure but in how we view student well-being and the purpose of campus life. On the show: Niu Honglin, Steve & Yushun

You hear a voice online promoting something, and the tone, the rhythm, and the emotion all feel completely real. But that person never recorded those words and never even knew the message existed. AI can now clone and spread voices at scale. If a machine can perfectly imitate your voice, do you still own it? On the show: Niu Honglin, Steve & Yushun

Remember those weekend marriage markets where parents posted résumés on park walls? They've gone digital. Now, anxious parents are swiping for sons- and daughters-in-law from the comfort of their living rooms. An old tradition, reinvented for the app era. On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushan

The biggest climate solution isn't some new invention. It's something we're already throwing away. Millions of tons of food go to waste every year, quietly making the planet warmer, but it doesn't have to be this way. In fact, this is one of the simplest fixes we've got. So why are we still so bad at it? On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushan

Three stories with no obvious connection. That is the easy way out. So instead, we picked three segments from this week that seem unrelated at first glance. Dig deeper, though, and something ties them together. On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushan

Retirement isn't what it used to be. Shanghai has launched a sweeping plan to reintegrate seniors into the workforce, shifting the focus from caring for the elderly to empowering them. So why is retiring at 60 fading fast? On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushan

Welcome to The Why, our new tech-focused segment. We take one story and go beyond the surface. In tech reporting, the spotlight is usually on the numbers, the launches, and the breakthroughs. But in The Why, we reveal the bigger picture of why this story matters to us. On the show: Niu Honglin, Steve & Yushun

The Boao Forum for Asia, underway in Hainan, brings together governments, companies, and scholars to debate global challenges and test solutions. As the forum marks its 25th anniversary, discussions explore how economic growth, technological innovation, and environmental sustainability can move forward together. On the show: Niu Honglin, Steve & Yushun

Imagine checking into a five-star hotel and never leaving. No short-term stays. No eventual move to a care facility when you need help. Across China, luxury hotels are being converted into permanent homes for an aging generation. / Is F1 the fastest growing sport in China(21:43) ? On the show: Steve, Yushan & Yushun