Articles that cut to the core of contemporary China. In-depth, informed, and carefully crafted, every piece is carried by the voices of the story’s participants.

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DeepTones

Flying Solo: The Rise of China’s One-Person Companies

Thanks to AI, a new form of solo entrepreneurship has taken root, granting individuals the ability to perform tasks that once required many workers.

Li Xin

Before WeChat, There Were Qiaopi Writers

For decades, families relied on letter writers like Jiang Mingdian to stay connected with relatives abroad. At 77, he may be one of the last still working.

Chen Yiru

‘Unbelievably Accurate’: The Niche Dating Apps Sweeping China’s Colleges

China’s students are embracing highly exclusive “campus dating apps” that only match university classmates. But are they really the antidote to swipe fatigue?

Fan Yiying

Han Minge

Room Service: Meet China’s Real Estate Agents for Senior Care Homes

With an aging population and large percentage of adults who grew up as only children, families are finding themselves at a loss for how to choose adequate nursing homes. Enter senior care managers.

Flex Appeal: A Shy Influencer’s Abs Leave China Thirsty for More

As rural content booms online, Lin Yangduo has gone viral promoting village tourism and local products with a formula that makes him deeply uncomfortable.

He Qitong

As Stability Fades, Young Chinese Women Rethink What Money Can Buy

For a generation losing faith in any single career path, money has become a tool for managing risk, claiming autonomy, and building a life on their own terms.

Cai Yineng

1 in 2,000: The Long Odds of Becoming a Pro Gamer in China

China became the world’s largest esports market in less than a decade. Now, as clubs cut back and the old pipeline tightens, breaking through is harder than ever.

After Years of Endless Choice, China’s Shoppers Now Want Trust

As shoppers grow more cautious, China’s retailers are reworking stores, staff, and supply chains around new demands for quality, service, and experience.

Pushed Out as Demand Falls, China’s Obstetricians Start Over

A decade of declining births is shrinking maternity wards, reshaping hospitals, and forcing obstetricians to adapt, retrain, or leave the profession altogether.

Jiang Xinyi

China’s Next Megaprojects Are Built for Big Science

Data shows how China’s infrastructure drive is beginning to include new scientific instruments built to explore the frontiers of physics, astronomy, and energy.