Nayuki sign
MODERN HISTORY

Two-Way Communication: How China Adopted Japanese Terms to Discuss Modernity

In the early 20th century, debate raged in China over whether to accept a deluge of Japanese loanwords

8730744930135180974
TRAVEL

Secrets of the Steppe: A Road Trip Through China’s Northern Borderland

A journey through Inner Mongolia’s grassland reveals the enduring pulse of nomadic life

comic illustration
BOOKS

Over Drawn: ​The Dilemmas Facing China’s Booming Online Comics

China’s wildly popular online comics struggle to reproduce the magic of the 1990s

porcelain
GALLERY

Healing Strokes: A Gen Z Artist Explores Personal Pain and Historical Trauma

Sonia Jia explores trauma and the still-raw legacy of Japanese occupation on canvas

Signs of the times
SOCIETY

Signs of the Times: Why Chinese Sign Language Users Struggle to Understand Each Other

China has 20 million sign language users, but regional varieties and misguided policies mean they still struggle to communicate

VCG11485445163.jpg
SOCIETY

Hidden in Plain Sight: China’s Visually Impaired Still Struggle to be Seen

A lack of braille signage and braille education continue to present barriers for China’s visually impaired

P1-by-二小洞.jpeg
LIFE

My baby was born with a rare disease—should I let him die?

A father from Shandong recounts living with a child with a congenital illness

VCG111292212603-Cover Image.jpg
TRAVEL

2021: A Mars Camp Odyssey

As China’s space program sets its sights on the Red Planet, a barren desert in Qinghai is becoming an oasis for simulated space travel

AllInaDaysWork.1200.jpg
LIVING IN CHINA

All In a Day’s Wok

China’s iconic cooking vessel is forged in a symphony of fire and steam