

Peking Hotel with Liu He
Liu He
The Peking Hotel podcast and newsletter are digital publications in which Liu He interviews China specialists about their first-hand experiences and observations from decades past. Their stories are a reminder of what China used to be and what it is capable of becoming. pekinghotel.substack.com
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 18, 2026 • 1h 6min
Rerun: How A Faulty Map Led US Military To Bomb A Chinese Embassy — with Susan Shirk
Faulty data was likely to blame for the U.S. airstrike of an Iranian school. A similar mistake caused a crisis in U.S.-China relations 27 years ago, recounts research professor Susan Shirk.About Peking HotelThe Peking Hotel podcast and newsletter are digital publications in which Liu He interviews China specialists about their first-hand experiences and observations from decades past. The project grew out of Liu’s research at Hoover Institution collecting oral history of China experts living in the U.S. Their stories are a reminder of what China used to be and what it is capable of becoming. Get full access to Peking Hotel at pekinghotel.substack.com/subscribe

Mar 10, 2026 • 1h 4min
How Beijing Lost Hong Kong — with Mark Clifford, Jimmy Lai’s Biographer
Mark Clifford, journalist and biographer of the recently convicted pro-democracy businessman Jimmy Lai, talks about his journey from Hong Kong journalist to accidental activist.About Peking HotelThe Peking Hotel podcast and newsletter are digital publications in which Liu He interviews China specialists about their first-hand experiences and observations from decades past. The project grew out of Liu’s research at Hoover Institution collecting oral history of China experts living in the U.S. Their stories are a reminder of what China used to be and what it is capable of becoming.Podcast music Get full access to Peking Hotel at pekinghotel.substack.com/subscribe

Dec 1, 2025 • 52min
An Unfinished Business: A World AIDS Day Special with Joan Kaufman
Professor Joan Kaufman, a leading expert on HIV/AIDS and China, talks about her experiences in public health while working in China with the UN, the Ford Foundation, and in academia.This podcast episode is a collaboration with China Health Pulse.About Peking HotelThe Peking Hotel podcast and newsletter are digital publications in which Liu He interviews China specialists about their first-hand experiences and observations from decades past. The project grew out of Liu’s research at Hoover Institution collecting oral history of China experts living in the U.S. Their stories are a reminder of what China used to be and what it is capable of becoming. Get full access to Peking Hotel at pekinghotel.substack.com/subscribe

Nov 2, 2025 • 1h 6min
Decoding Beijing: How a CIA analyst tracked down Chinese politics in the '80s — with Alice Miller
Hoover Institution research fellow Dr. Alice Miller talks about how, as a CIA analyst, she could figure out political changes in China were afoot based on state media articles.About Peking HotelThe Peking Hotel podcast and newsletter are digital publications in which Liu He interviews China specialists about their first-hand experiences and observations from decades past. The project grew out of Liu’s research at Hoover Institution collecting oral history of China experts living in the U.S. Their stories are a reminder of what China used to be and what it is capable of becoming.Podcast music Hungarian Dance no. 5 Re-imagined, Guy Mintus, Johannes Brahms, Artlist Classics, Artlist Original Music Get full access to Peking Hotel at pekinghotel.substack.com/subscribe

Oct 19, 2025 • 58min
The Souls of China — with Ian Johnson
Author Ian Johnson talks about how he returned to China in 2009 to write his books ‘The Souls of China’ and ‘Sparks,’ which both deal with China's search for meaning.About Peking HotelThe Peking Hotel podcast and newsletter are digital publications in which Liu He interviews China specialists about their first-hand experiences and observations from decades past. The project grew out of Liu’s research at Hoover Institution collecting oral history of China experts living in the U.S. Their stories are a reminder of what China used to be and what it is capable of becoming.Podcast music Piano Sonata No. 1 in F Minor, Op. 2, Artlist Classics, Ludwig van Beethoven, Raviv Leibzirer, Artlist Original Music Get full access to Peking Hotel at pekinghotel.substack.com/subscribe

Aug 28, 2025 • 1h 11min
From Bull to Bear: the China Journey of a Wall Street Economist — with Stephen Roach
Stephen Roach talks about how, as the former chairman of Morgan Stanley Asia, h ehad the hear of many Asian political leaders. But as he became more pessimistic about the Chinese economy, China’s leadership became less interested in what he had to say.About Peking HotelThe Peking Hotel podcast and newsletter are digital publications in which Liu He interviews China specialists about their first-hand experiences and observations from decades past. The project grew out of Liu’s research at Hoover Institution collecting oral history of China experts living in the U.S. Their stories are a reminder of what China used to be and what it is capable of becoming.Podcast musicTommy H. Brandon, The Last Road Trip. Artlist Original Music.Tomer Lavie, Silky Secrets. Artlist Original Music.Roie Shpigler, Clarity. Artlist Original Music.PBS, American Experience: Police Tactics at the Dow Demonstration. 2017. Get full access to Peking Hotel at pekinghotel.substack.com/subscribe

Jul 24, 2025 • 56min
Jazzing Through An Era of Mutual Decay in US and China — with David Moser
Associate professor David Moser talks about how he has been a bridge between the U.S. and China. After so many decades, he’s disappointed in both countries. But China remains his “drug of choice.”Subscribe to our Substack newsletter at pekinghotel.substack.comPodcast music: Mélodie, Kobi Salomon, Artlist Classics, Edvard Grieg, Ezequiel Jait, Artlist Original MusicAbout Peking HotelThe Peking Hotel podcast and newsletter are digital publications in which Liu He interviews China specialists about their first-hand experiences and observations from decades past. The project grew out of Liu’s research at Hoover Institution collecting oral history of China experts living in the U.S. Their stories are a reminder of what China used to be and what it is capable of becoming. Get full access to Peking Hotel at pekinghotel.substack.com/subscribe

Jul 5, 2025 • 56min
When Four Foreigners Walked Onto the Chunwan Stage — with David Moser
What’s it like for a foreigner to perform Xiangsheng—China’s traditional crosstalk comedy—on the biggest stage in the Sinophone world, the CCTV Spring Festival Gala?In 1999, David Moser did just that. Now an Associate Professor at Beijing Capital Normal University, David had already spent a decade in China by then, studying Xiangsheng under Master Ding Guangquan, translating books, and helping seed China’s underground jazz scene.Yet, despite his intimidating list of talents, when you meet him, you can’t help but call him ‘Lao Mo’ (老莫). He’s a jolly, funny, dynamic friend to spend time with. I will say no more than that this is the most entertaining chat I’ve done for Peking Hotel. I hope you feel the same too.For quick navigation to the specific sections:* What is it like to perform Xiangsheng in front of a billion Chinese people?* A musician wanders into the Sinophone world through tongue-twisters and translation* Translating one of the first books on AI in China with half-baked Chinese* When Ancient Greek meets Ancient Chinese* Apprenticing under Ding Guangquan, a Xinagsheng MasterMusic: High Rollin, Stefano Mastronardi, Artlist Original MusicSubscribe to our Substack newsletter at pekinghotel.substack.comAbout Peking HotelThe Peking Hotel podcast and newsletter are digital publications in which Liu He interviews China specialists about their first-hand experiences and observations from decades past. The project grew out of Liu’s research at Hoover Institution collecting oral history of China experts living in the U.S. Their stories are a reminder of what China used to be and what it is capable of becoming.Get full access to Peking Hotel at pekinghotel.substack.com/subscribe Get full access to Peking Hotel at pekinghotel.substack.com/subscribe

May 29, 2025 • 47min
Mao vs Xi: politicking China’s environment — with Judith Shapiro
Prof. Judith Shapiro reflects on how the environment used to be a cause for which Chinese civil society was allowed to fight, until that too became sensitive.Host: Liu HeSubscribe to our Substack newsletter at pekinghotel.substack.comAbout Peking HotelThe Peking Hotel podcast and newsletter are digital publications in which Liu He interviews China specialists about their first-hand experiences and observations from decades past. The project grew out of Liu’s research at Hoover Institution collecting oral history of China experts living in the U.S. Their stories are a reminder of what China used to be and what it is capable of becoming. Get full access to Peking Hotel at pekinghotel.substack.com/subscribe

Apr 30, 2025 • 43min
When a Deng Xiaoping-Approved Marriage Spurred the Hunan Democracy Movement — with Judith Shapiro
Before her career switch to researching environmental politics, Prof. Judith Shapiro spent a whirlwind decade teaching, writing, and living in and about China as it awakened from the Mao era. Get full access to Peking Hotel at pekinghotel.substack.com/subscribe


