FICTION

A Short Stay in the Woods | Fiction

“The arm was merely a piece of metal, but, having spent so much time with it, Song Zhen felt as if she had formed some mysterious connection with it.”

TRADITIONAL CULTURE

In a Digital Age, Young Chinese Women Are Turning to Nüshu, a Centuries-Old Script, to Reclaim Strength

Once a secret script shared among women in Jiangyong, Hunan, Nüshu now inspires young female creators to reimagine its origins, create new works, and carry its culture and spirit forward

ANCIENT HISTORY

Thespian Emperors, Mandatory Castration, and Deadly Poetry: Fascinating Facts About China’s Forgotten Age of Chaos

Step back 1,000 years into the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms, when political chaos produced a litany of historical curiosities

TECHNOLOGY

“Bumping” Into Adolescence: Kids’ Smartwatches and the Battleground Between Safety and Control

Children’s smartwatches have become big business in China, but do their safety features outweigh the potential risks to attention spans and social inclusion?

TRADITIONAL CULTURE

A Festival of Lights: How Lanterns Illuminate the Yuanxiao Festival Across China

From cyberpunk horse installations to “My Little Pony”-inspired lanterns, here’s a glimpse of how the Lantern Festival is lighting up every corner of the country

ANCIENT HISTORY

Power on a Paper: The Passport in Chinese History

Before the small, biometric-chipped booklet we now clutch when crossing borders, travel credentials in ancient China took many forms—from tokens and staffs to records inscribed on bamboo slips

TRADITIONAL CULTURE

Where Heroines Take the Reins

There’s no better way to celebrate the Year of the Horse than with Xiaxi’s all-female horse-themed parade

TRAVEL

Going North: How Russia Became the New Frontier for Young Chinese Travelers

Seeking adventure off the beaten path, young Chinese travelers are increasingly heading to Russia—only to encounter a range of logistical hurdles, cultural barriers, and in some cases, fatal accidents

CHINESE CHARACTERS

修: The Character That Builds and Repairs

From your appearance to your inner world, this is the character to mastering every new year

TRAVEL

5 Places to Experience Chinese New Year at Its Best

From the “birthplace” of Spring Festival to a town glowing with fish-shaped lanterns and parades, here are some ideas for your Chinese New Year getaway