Contributions from individuals with unique perspectives to share. Hear from everyone, from experts and commentators to those whose voices are often marginalized.

VOICES & OPINION

BroadTones

The Many Lives of Chaoshan

Once known mainly for its merchants and overseas networks, Chaoshan is back in the spotlight. This series examines how the region’s past and present offer insights into modern China.

Cai Yiwen

From Chaoshan, Into the Stars

Chaoshan culture embraces new experiences, while remaining rooted in tradition. What would this mean on an intergalactic scale?

Chen Qiufan

The Chinese Clan Networks Behind the World’s Biggest Electronics Market

In Shenzhen’s Huaqiangbei, family networks, overseas connections, and decades of migration helped merchants from Chaoshan establish a commanding presence in the world’s largest electronics market.

Wang Chao

The Chinese Resignation Letter That Caused a CEO-Toppling Storm

When a product manager at Alibaba’s workplace communication app DingTalk complained about relentless “involutionary” competition, Chinese workers across the country recognized her frustrations.

Cai Yineng

The Chinese Story Behind Chaoshan’s Big Screen Moment

Once pushed to the margins, Chaoshan culture has become a symbol of China’s changing relationship with regional identity, tradition, and belonging.

Xu Zhenhua

How Chaoshan Business Was Built on Morals, Not Contracts

Trust, not laws, underpinned century-old networks for remittances from overseas Chinese workers. Its legacy still informs China’s business culture today.

Wang Yujiao

Deep in the Mountains of Yunnan, China’s Best Ham Stays Hidden

The artisanal process behind Nuodeng ham, which depends on brine wells that have long been a source of salt far from the sea, resists marketization.

Wang Huimin

The Lexicon of Revolution: Tracing the Origins and Global Journey of China’s ‘Long March’

The Long March is a foundational epic in modern China. But what goes into a name that will stand the test of time?

Hugo Tseng

Beyond Dubai’s Bling, Chinese Students See a Future

Drawn by affordable international schooling rather than glitz, Chinese students in the UAE are quietly rethinking how they see education, work, and future opportunities.

Xu Man

When It Comes to Football, a Huge Population Doesn’t Help

A demographic theory argues that, contrary to what you might think, having many millions of people might make it harder to find 11 world-beating football players.