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Love’s Labor

A bride works on her laptop during a marriage registration appointment on Qixi Festival, China’s traditional Valentine’s Day, in Shanghai, Aug. 19, 2026. Wu Huiyuan/Sixth Tone

In Practice 

Saving China’s Vanishing Fields of Knowledge

Researchers spend decades deciphering ancient texts and understanding bygone science. Now, their once-overlooked disciplines are becoming part of China’s national cultural strategy.

The Poorly Animated Cow Taking China’s Box Office by Storm

Chinese animated film “Niu Lai” has gone from being mocked for its crude animation to becoming an unexpected box-office hit. Fueled by online criticism, curiosity, and viral social media trends, the film’s earnings have surged past 25 million yuan.