politics

On The Table at Two Sessions, Employment, Cross-Border Trade

Timely reports on issues and events from across China. Drawing on a vast range of sources, these succinct articles provide insights into the significance of each issue in a wider context.

NEWS

China’s top political meeting of the year, which will set the tone for the government’s economic and political agenda, begins this weekend.

Sixth Tone

How the Lights Went Off in China’s Hydropower Capital

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

VOICES & OPINION

The southwestern province of Sichuan’s massive hydropower industry powers homes and businesses as far away as Shanghai. But even renewables aren’t immune to the challenges of climate change.

Yuan Jiahai

Did China Experience a ‘Resource Curse’? It Depends on Who You Ask.

Mine bosses made a fortune from China’s mineral resource boom. For local workers and residents, the benefits were far less clear.

Jing Vivian Zhan

Filling in the Blank Spaces of China’s Constitution

The framers of China’s constitution didn’t specify a division of powers between central and local governments — a choice whose ramifications are still being felt today.

Cai Yineng

What the Railway Lobby Reveals About China’s Political System

China has spent trillions on railway construction over the past two decades, and local governments have pulled out all the stops to ensure they get their share.

Ma Xiao

China’s Climate Goals Are Ambitious. Are Its Provinces Up to the Task?

China’s provinces each have their own reasons why they can’t kick their coal reliance.

Yuan Ye

Meet the Chinese Left’s Master of Anti-Imperialist Memes

The vlogger Little John Khan made a name for himself telling tall tales about the history of “small countries.” Now, as young Chinese drift leftward, he’s taking his channel in a more overtly anti-imperialist direction.

Kong Degang

Best Behaviors: Breaking Down China’s ‘Moral Models’

Visual stories that get up close and personal with contemporary China. A mix of short videos, documentaries, photography, and data visualization.

MULTIMEDIA

Sixth Tone analyzed 483 national-level “moral models” from the past 14 years to learn what — and who — the country deems award-worthy.

Luo Yahan

The Snake in China’s Literary Garden

From maneater to star-crossed lover, Lady White Snake has become one of Chinese literature’s most versatile — and unlikely — heroines. The one thing she is not, however, is docile.

Liu Qing

To Improve Governance, China Ups Control Over Its Grassroots

Taking lessons from how villages and neighborhoods managed the pandemic, the government is drawing them closer to their superiors.

The Millennial Cadres Running China’s Neighborhoods

Translations, cross-publications, and collaborative projects from Sixth Tone’s external partners. 

SIXTH TONE ×

Highly educated and professional, the new generation of low-level officials is stressed out and frustrated about their limited career prospects.

Wang Defu

The Overseas Schools Training China’s Next Generation of Leaders

From the Andes to Harvard, the CPC sends thousands of cadres abroad each year to learn from the best teachers in the world.

Zhou Kai

For Your Consideration: Motions Proposed at China’s ‘Two Sessions’

During the past week’s political meetings in Beijing, delegates talked about banning surrogacy, awarding more compensation to domestic violence survivors, and instituting shared parental leave, among other topics.

Cai Xuejiao

Zhang Chaoyan

Heavy Smog Hits Beijing During ‘Two Sessions’

City authorities have advised residents to wear masks and avoid unnecessary travel during the current haze, expected to last through Monday.

China’s Leaders See Rosy Economic Outlook for 2021

After weathering the coronavirus last year, the country has set a 6% growth target and plans to add over 11 million jobs in cities.

Weibo Influencer Banned, Detained for Slandering Galwan Valley Martyrs

The user known as La Bi Xiaoqiu had also questioned the officially reported number of casualties from last year’s deadly border skirmish.

The Decades-Old Move That Got the CCP Through the COVID-19 Crisis

The CCP has always claimed to represent the entire nation, but it was the decision some 20 years ago to ease entrance barriers that helped make promise a reality.

Dairy Company Fined $45,000 Over ‘Incorrect’ Map of China

Shanghai’s market regulator announced the fine Sunday without mentioning the specific affront to China’s territorial integrity.

In Datong, a Crumbling Legacy of China’s Most Extreme Urban Makeover

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.

FEATURES

A decade on, the grandiose plan to restore the dusty coal town to its former glory has officially been called into question.

Su Jiede

Modern ‘Ai’: Love and Socialism in Republican China

Although the Chinese term “universal love” is most often linked to Christianity, early 20th century political leaders like Sun Yat-sen imbued it with a decidedly radical meaning.