Round Table China
China Plus
Round Table is a premier English radio/podcast show, straight from Beijing.
Hear what's buzzing on the Internet and the main streets, see the latest lifestyle trends, and feel the pulse of life in China, Round Table is your golden ticket. With dynamic cultural exchanges between hosts from diverse backgrounds, we take you on a journey deep into modern China.
We invite you to join our conversation! Shoot us an email or a voice memo at roundtablepodcast@qq.com. Let the fun begin!
Hear what's buzzing on the Internet and the main streets, see the latest lifestyle trends, and feel the pulse of life in China, Round Table is your golden ticket. With dynamic cultural exchanges between hosts from diverse backgrounds, we take you on a journey deep into modern China.
We invite you to join our conversation! Shoot us an email or a voice memo at roundtablepodcast@qq.com. Let the fun begin!
Episodes
Mentioned books
19 snips
Mar 27, 2026 • 19min
The Full Circle: Spring recruitment, child-friendly society, spring greens
Campus hiring frenzy meets an AI skills baseline as spring recruitment heats up. Urban planners rethink child-friendly cities by designing from a kid’s perspective. Seasonal food culture spotlights the short, sweet window for spring greens.
15 snips
Mar 27, 2026 • 34min
The ever-changing world of retirement
A discussion of Shanghai’s plan to bring seniors back into the workforce and promote active aging. Practical job examples for older workers and rehiring retired professionals as mentors. How senior insights shape product design and community roles. Comparisons with other cities and countries and the politics of age-related labels.
9 snips
Mar 26, 2026 • 26min
The Why: Tokens
A new tech segment unpacks why tokens became central to AI, from the jump to 140 trillion units to what a token actually is. They explain how everyday interactions and uploads consume tokens and why that shapes pricing and business models. The conversation compares tokens to kilowatt hours and explores future demand, efficiency, limits, and equity around access to high-quality AI.
26 snips
Mar 26, 2026 • 27min
Boao Forum for Asia 2026
Discussion of Boao Forum’s 25th anniversary and its role in shaping Asia’s global influence. Exploration of Hainan’s free trade port and its zero-tariff, tax-preference experiments. Conversations about AI’s ethical and workforce implications and automation reshaping ports and shipping. Dive into marine biomanufacturing, blue pharmacy, and large-scale zero-carbon demonstrations.
25 snips
Mar 25, 2026 • 31min
Five-star living for an aging generation
Luxury hotels are being converted into permanent, hotel-style homes for seniors with chef menus, accessible rooms and concierge care. Hosts explore why oversupply and changing family preferences are driving conversions and which properties adapt best. They also discuss F1's surge in China, from massive Grand Prix attendance to citywide festival tactics that are turning casual viewers into fans.
20 snips
Mar 25, 2026 • 22min
Did you catch spring green fever?
A playful dive into why spring greens became a craze, from taste and nostalgia to seasonal vibes. They explore foraging wild mountain greens and Yunnan’s edible flowers. Learn how drones and wider cultivation moved fresh greens to markets and why short seasons make them special. Safety tips for preparation and what to do if accidental poisoning occurs.
19 snips
Mar 24, 2026 • 22min
Do chores make kids nicer?
New research links how families divide household tasks to teen social behavior and bullying. Discussion covers household types, parental involvement, and why disengaged homes see more aggression. Conversation explores how gendered chores shape boys' expectations and the role of fathers in teaching empathy. The show also examines orthorexia, social media diet trends, and the risks of rigid clean-eating habits.
23 snips
Mar 24, 2026 • 31min
What makes a city kid-friendly?
The conversation reframes cities from a one-meter perspective to reveal design gaps for children. They explore national guidelines and pilot programs shaping services like schooling, healthcare, transport and year-round play. Practical city examples and traffic design improvements are highlighted. Emotional safety, online protections, and involving children in design round out the topics.
7 snips
Mar 23, 2026 • 21min
Labubu goes to Hollywood
They debate the viral claim that workouts under 30 minutes are worthless and whether small efforts actually matter. They unpack how perfectionism and focus on results can block exercise and explore starting tiny habits for sustainability. Then they dive into the LaBubu craze, a Pop Mart-to-Hollywood film with CGI/live-action plans and creative talent attached.
10 snips
Mar 23, 2026 • 32min
AI dominates 2026 spring recruitment
Spring job fairs are being reshaped by a surge in AI roles and sky-high salaries. Big tech drives fierce competition while employers hunt for T-shaped candidates with AI fluency. Nontechnical skills like prompt writing and narrative fit into new hiring needs. Government incentives and rapid industry use-cases are rewriting recruitment mechanics and creating fresh evaluation challenges.
