ZGBriefs

ZGBriefs is for those who want and need to keep up on what is happening in China, but don’t have the time to monitor and track it all. We monitor more than 50 different news sources and curate the most relevant and interesting stories out of China each week. Topics include government, religion, society, economics, education, travel, and language, and books.

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ZGBriefs

ZGBriefs | December 5, 2024

Video: China’s Crisis of Faith and the Struggle Over Moral Authority (November 19, Asia Society, via YouTube) As the crisis of faith has raised alarms in Beijing and the country's leaders have cracked down on unsanctioned religious expression, a panel of experts discuss how the faithful have responded with resilience and determination. Speakers include Pulitzer Prize–winning author Ian Johnson, Duke Divinity School Professor Xi Lian, and Whitman College Assistant Professor Yuan Xiaobo.  

ZGBriefs

ZGBriefs | November 21, 2024

Video - A Pilgrimage to China’s Noodle Capitol (November 15, 2024, Saint Cavish) An obsession with Lanzhou's hand-pulled noodles takes me to the grave of the man who started it all.

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ZGBriefs | November 14, 2024

Guangzhou: “I Truly Love This City” (November 7, 2024, China Partnership) Guangzhou, a city of about 19 million, is one of the most important trade cities in China and the world. The city sits near the head of the Pearl River Delta, and for many years has been the means through which foreign influence first entered Mainland China. Guangzhou is famous for its Cantonese culture, and believers in the area say their city is comfortable, laid back, and simultaneously treasures its history while being an up-to-date and modern metropolis.

ZGBriefs

ZGBriefs | November 7, 2024

Meet Ms. Hu: She Built a Garden From Chongqing’s Discarded Past (October 30, 2024, Sixth Tone) A dinosaur’s head peers out from a tangle of wildflowers. Half a horse stands watch beside saplings and scattered blossoms. These fragments are part of Ms. Hu’s hidden garden in Chongqing’s Shibati scenic area—once the heart of commerce in this megacity in southwestern China. This unlikely garden, crafted from scraps and relics collected from the city’s streets, seems worlds apart from the surrounding construction site, where trucks and cranes relentlessly reshape this 1,000-year-old neighborhood.

ZGBriefs

ZGBriefs | October 31, 2024

The Viral Success of Chinese Village Basketball (October 29, 2024, Made in China Journal) As China’s economy struggles in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, young people have been leaving cities and returning to the countryside. In Southeast Guizhou Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, the CunBA (村BA), or Village Basketball Association, has offered some respite from the economic gloom. Teams compete in front of raucous crowds for prizes such as live cattle and goats.

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ZGBriefs | October 24, 2024

The Rise of Scripture Copying for Inner Peace Among Chinese Youth (October 18, 2024, ChinaSkinny) More young people today are turning to peaceful, health-focused activities like yoga, meditation, fishing, or spending a day at a spa with a buffet and various entertainment options to unwind. Once a niche hobby among middle-aged people, scripture copying has now transformed into a relaxation trend for the younger generation.

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ZGBriefs | October 17, 2024

Pets in China Are Earning “Snack Money” in Cafes as Their Owners Send Them to Work (October 14, 2024, CNN) Pet cafes are a big business in China. Visitors get to interact with the animals that roam the shop, allowing the venue owners to charge more for the experience. Customers visiting China’s cat and dog cafés usually pay an entrance fee, ranging from 30-60 yuan ($4-8.5) per person, or simply need to order something like a cup of coffee.

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ZGBriefs | October 10, 2024

The week-long holiday—which this year started on October 1, China’s National Day, and ended on Monday—is traditionally one of the country’s main travel periods involving billions of journeys inside and outside the country. This year’s holiday came as China’s economy is grappling with flagging growth and with consumer confidence lingering just above historic lows.

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ZGBriefs | October 3, 2024

To Scale Peaks, Chinese Hikers Are Hiring Personal Cheerleaders (September 29, 2024, Sixth Tone) The service is part of a broader trend across the country, where young Chinese are increasingly seeking dazi, or “companions,” to counteract feelings of isolation. This emerging market—which includes services like gaming buddies and online chatting partners—is expected to be worth over $7 billion by 2025.

ZGBriefs

ZGBriefs | September 26, 2024

China’s attitudes towards AI may be at a turning point, with officials not only pushing it up the list of priorities but also coming to terms with its existential capabilities. Matt Sheehan is a Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, specializing in China’s AI safety and governance. His latest paper highlights concerns within China’s government about regulating Artificial Intelligence.