CHINESE CHARACTERS
On the Character: 借
Here’s a character to borrow in hard times—but don’t forget to give it back
SOCIETY
Debt in the Water
Local governments are taking out loans to fuel construction sprees in China’s countryside
SOCIETY
It Takes a Village
Held fast by thousands of years of social bonds, interpersonal lending still flourishes in China’s countryside
SOCIETY
Young and in Debt
With temptations to consume but little financial savvy, young Chinese fall prey to online lending platforms
NEWS
When Diplomacy Is Lost in Translation
Diplomatic translation is never easy, but the task is all the more challenging when established protocols begin to fray
FILM
Seeking Truths
A discussion with Chinese-Malaysian filmmaker Lau Kek Huat on identity and truths in documentaries
BOOKS
Sojourners in Peking
Paul French's new book "Destination Peking" dives deep into the characters of Republic-era Beijing
FOOD
Searching for China's Rarest Fruits
Fruit hunter Yang Xiaoyang has sampled 1,000 weird and wonderful species in his journeys across China and Southeast Asia
