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

How an Army of Elderly Influencers Took Over China’s Instagram

The pandemic led to a surge in the number of Chinese seniors using a range of mobile apps. Now, retirees are migrating onto an unexpected platform: the lifestyle app Xiaohongshu.

Fan Yiying

Hong Kong-Shenzhen Border: Back to Business, But Not as Usual

Three years of strict border restrictions disrupted the lives of thousands who depend on commuting between the two cities. More than a month after the border fully reopened, travel is still gradually returning to normal.

Ni Dandan

Li Wei

As Tourism Bounces Back, China’s Travel Bloggers Ride the Rebound

Most had no place to go while restrictions were in place. But as China looks past the pandemic, travel influencers, on whom many increasingly depend to make decisions, may hold the key to a quick revival.

Wang Lianzhang

The Forgotten History of Hong Kong’s Tigers

It has been several decades since a tiger was last spotted in Hong Kong. But big cats were far more common in the city — and for far longer — than most realize, a new book claims.

Faye Bradley

China’s Tourism Rebound Faces a Roadblock: A Lack of Travel Agents

Millions of Chinese tourists are ready to start traveling overseas again. But the travel industry isn’t ready for them.

In a Chinese Factory Town, Migrants ‘Lie Flat’ for a Better Deal

As China moves on from the pandemic, garment factories in Guangdong province are desperate to return to business as usual. Migrant workers, not so much.

Wu Peiyue

A Chinese Village Bet Its Future on Tourism. Then, COVID Hit.

Hebian was one of many Chinese villages that escaped poverty by transforming into a tourist resort. But when the pandemic struck, the village was forced to reinvent itself once again.

Li Pasha

After 3 Years of Lockdowns, a Chinese Border City Struggles to Rebuild

Ruili faced some of China’s strictest virus-control measures during the height of the pandemic. Now, local people are gradually picking up the pieces.

China’s Maternity Hotels Offer New Moms a Break — From Their In-Laws

Maternity hotels have found success by tapping into the Chinese tradition for mothers to “sit the month” after giving birth. But they also offer young moms another benefit: an escape from unwanted parenting advice.

In China’s COVID Battle, Medical Students Bear a Punishing Burden

As COVID surged in China last December, hospitals drafted in medical students to prop up understaffed wards. Many were unprepared for what awaited them.