ANCIENT HISTORY

Squawking Through History: Parrots in Chinese Literature and Verse

From “Prime Minister Parrot” to the “Green-Coated Messenger,” parrots have been feisty feathered friends for centuries in Chinese literature

SUBSCRIBER EXCLUSIVE
ARTS

Another Kind of Wheat | Poetry

A fresh poetry translation from Cang Bai on the humble wheat crop

SUBSCRIBER EXCLUSIVE
ARTS

Crabapple Blossoms | Poetry

Enjoy a poem on spring flowers and rains by university lecturer and writer Wang Ruiyuan

ARTS

Friend, Could You Write Up a Plan? | Poetry

A poem on future planning by Shanghai-based writer Sirongyun

ANCIENT HISTORY

Boozing With the Ancients

Ancient Chinese not only had a plethora of alcohol to choose from, but all sorts of games and rituals for drinking it

HISTORICAL FIGURES

The Pen and Sword

Four multi-talented poet-generals from Chinese history

ARTS, TRADITIONAL CULTURE

The Romance of Xu Zhimo

The modern poet who has sent millions of Chinese tourists to Cambridge

TECHNOLOGY

China’s Robot Poet

Release of book by Microsoft’s AI poet brings up questions about future of Chinese poetry

HISTORICAL FIGURES

Badass Ladies of Chinese History: The Poet Li Qingzhao

Reevaluating the legacy of one of China’s greatest female poets