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
Apr 6, 2026 • 29min
The new Qingming: From ancient rituals to eco-burials
They trace Qingming’s ancient roots and links to the Cold Food Festival. The conversation covers tomb-sweeping rituals, regional variations and online memorials. New rules on funerals, eco-burial incentives and subsidies get examined. Generational tensions over virtual versus physical remembrance come up. The festival’s role as spring outing, travel peak and food traditions is also highlighted.
10 snips
Apr 6, 2026 • 24min
Why can't China stop working overtime?
A deep look at why Chinese workers average nearly 49 hours a week despite laws. The conversation digs into legal loopholes, invisible overtime via phones, and industry differences like tech and medicine. They explore health risks tied to long hours and whether performance metrics or managerial culture drive presenteeism. Generational attitudes and potential legal and managerial fixes are also discussed.
7 snips
Apr 3, 2026 • 31min
Silver screens: Navigating the digital frontier with China's 161 million seniors
Seniors are becoming prolific online creators and even entrepreneurs, turning hobbies into income. The conversation covers midnight scrolling, viral silver influencers, and family members helping with tech. They talk about growing risks like digital addiction, tipping binges, AI scams, and large-scale fraud. The show explores policy, community training, and platform tweaks to make the web safer for older users.
Apr 3, 2026 • 20min
Are you a "vintage human"?
A look at the new
18 snips
Apr 2, 2026 • 24min
Have pets lost their welcome mat?
Conversation about the rise and retreat of pet-friendly policies in urban businesses. Different perspectives on owners, non-owners, and business decisions are explored. Practical issues like leash rules, cleanliness, vaccination checks, space limits, and redesign costs are discussed. Creative solutions such as pet zones, timed access, and themed pet events are highlighted.
10 snips
Apr 2, 2026 • 29min
Steep your next adventure in tea!
Steve Hatherly, an English-speaking conversational co-host who brings outsider travel perspectives, guides listeners through tea-themed adventures. The conversation covers spring tea’s economic surge and why spring picks taste superior. They tour tea tourism, hands-on plantation visits, and how tradition meets robots, plus youthful trends reshaping tea culture.
14 snips
Apr 1, 2026 • 19min
Are headphones going back to the jack?
A lively chat about the comeback of wired headphones: why plugs are trending again, Gen Z nostalgia, and practical perks like sound quality and no battery worry. Then a shift to Chinese apples: a pastry-like variety winning hearts in France, terroir and modern farming that boosted yields, and breeding breakthroughs spreading orchards across diverse regions.
24 snips
Apr 1, 2026 • 33min
China's schools ditch morning reading
Students no longer chant morning readings as many schools push back start times to prioritize sleep. The hosts trace the tradition’s history, loud competitive rituals, and recent cancellations in cities like Chengdu and Nanjing. They examine ministry guidance, sleep science claims, divided parent reactions, teacher alternatives for morning time, and experiments offering voluntary or flexible arrangements.
20 snips
Mar 31, 2026 • 17min
Say goodbye to the eight-person dorm
A lively look at phasing out eight-person dorms in northeast China and what that says about changing student expectations. Stories about crowded rooms, late-night talks and extreme roommate situations. Discussion of policy moves, costs and who pays for upgrades. Ideas for repurposing old dorms and improving campus facilities like AC and hot water.
18 snips
Mar 31, 2026 • 36min
AI is stealing your voice
AI now clones voices from seconds of audio, mimicking tone, rhythm and pauses. Voice actors and studios in China are pushing back with lawsuits and public condemnation. Courts are starting to recognize identifiable synthetic voices as infringing personality rights. Platforms, licensing marketplaces and contractual protections are all debated as ways to prevent fraud and market harm.
