The "hard discount" supermarket sector in China

No frills. No promos. No nonsense. Just rice, oil, and drinking water - cheaper than you ever thought possible. “Hard discount” supermarkets are rewriting China’s retail playbook. But how come shop owners get to keep the lights on while keeping prices low? On the show: Niu Honglin, Steve & Yangyang

If "body weight management" was once a private struggle, 2025 has made it a public dialogue. A social shift among young Chinese are quietly happening: the majority of GenZers still want to manage their weight, but motivations have evolved—from the gaze of others to self-discipline and health. Exercise dominates, social media provides accountability, and AI even lends emotional companionship. It's no longer about fitness, it's now about the psychology of modern youth. What does it mean when losing weight becomes a metaphor for regaining control in an unpredictable world? On the show: Niu Honglin, Steve & Yangyang

In late 2025, the most resonant piece of self-care advice in China didn't come from a lifestyle guru, but from an internet meme: 爱你老己 (Love yourself). A single, linguistically clever phrase blossomed into a cultural phenomenon. Its power was in repackaging the universal truth of self-love into something that felt intimate, shareable, and distinctly modern. This is the story of how language itself became a premier tool for wellness in the digital age. On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushan

As 2026 arrives, China pauses for a three-day national holiday, a dedicated celebration of new beginnings. Join us as we explore this cultural moment where tradition meets modernity, immersing you in the distinctive sounds, cherished flavors, and personal rituals of a nation taking a collective breath before stepping forward into the promise of the year ahead. On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushan

We've been painting a vivid, emotional portrait of 2025 through tags, words, and music. Yet every portrait needs a frame—and that frame is often economics. To explore it, Round Table recommends our colleagues' new podcast: XINQI Discovers China. Tune in with hosts Emma, Sear, and Steve.

The year 2025 has reached its final chapter, and it's time for all of us to say our goodbyes to the year. To mark this special year-end send-off, we're opening the doors wide for a final "Motivational Happy Place." We've gathered all of our guests, each ready to share a heartfelt, motivational message with our listeners to close out 2025 together. On the show: Steve, Niu Honglin, Yushan, Fei Fei, Laiming & Yushun

What was the sound of 2025? It wasn't a single hit song, but a collection of sounds that moved from the background to the center of youth culture. We trace the soundtrack of a year through the adrenaline of blockbuster scores, the quirky loops of unboxing videos, and the hyper-catchy jingles from the streets. These sounds created a shared rhythm of hype, comfort, and memory. Together, they forged the unofficial anthems that defined a generation's experience. On the show: Steve, Niu Honglin & Yushan

Ever get the feeling your headphones are listening more than you are? You might be onto something. While nearly 60 million wireless units shipped in China in just the first half of this year, the real story is a design revolution. Headphones are no longer just an accessory; they're being engineered to become a seamless, intelligent part of your daily rhythm. On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushun

Ready to crack the cultural code of 2025? This year's viral words were more than just slang. They were secret signals revealing our collective fears, our defining humor, and the obsessions we couldn't scroll past. We decode the language that truly defined the last twelve months and uncover why these specific terms captured a global moment. On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushun

While every nation builds railways, China has carved its network through some of the most formidable landscapes on Earth: relentless deserts, frozen plains, active earthquake zones, unstable plateaus, and mountains that defy straight lines. Now, having surpassed the monumental milestone of fifty thousand kilometers, it is time for a reality check on the past, present, and future of Chinese high-speed rail. On the show: Niu Honglin, Steve & Yushun