sex & relationships

sex-&-relationships

Love in the Time of Algorithms: What Chatbot Romances Reveal About Connection

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

VOICES & OPINION

When OpenAI announced that it would retire its ChatGPT model GPT-4o, it sent shockwaves across the internet and an outpouring of grief. Yet the real question is: What void was 4o filling to begin with?

Gong Xin

China’s Surprise New Hit Is a Dating Show for Middle-Aged Singles

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

Since its December premier, ‘Forever by Your Side’ has exploded in popularity. Viewers say it’s changing how they see aging.

Fan Yiying

Han Minge

How Chinese Millennials Are Reimagining Weddings

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

SIXTH TONE ×

From mountaintop elopements to music festival photoshoots, young people in China are transforming weddings from family obligations into personal statements about values and autonomy.

Original (Jiefang Daily)

China Bans Online Guru Behind ‘Sexual Intelligence’ Courses

Zhou Yuan spent years teaching women about dating and maintaining relationships. But growing online criticism has now led to a social media ban for the influencer.

How a Plump Cartoon Seal Became a Love and Life Guru

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

MULTIMEDIA

Seal, the alter-ego of comic artist Wang XX, is helping fans — especially women — navigate work, love, consent, and what it means to practice “sealf-care.”

Ding Yining

Told ‘Too Fat’ at Home, Chinese Women Are ‘Too Thin’ Abroad

Chinese students dating in the U.K. stop worrying about looking fair-skinned, young, and skinny — only to face the Kardashian beauty standard instead.

Meng Tong

Shanghai Adult Expo: Hugging Robots, Talking Dolls, Toys That Learn

The annual event underscored the growing intersection of technology and intimacy, featuring interactive products that adapt to user preferences.

Love Without Labels: Chinese Revise the Rules on Relationships

More Chinese couples are opting for “situationships” over traditional intimate relationships as they put personal happiness ahead of commitment.

Zhou Hanchi

For Better and For Worse: How Love Lost Its Hold on China

Why pine for true love when the perfect partner is at your fingertips?

Cai Yiwen

What Does It Mean to ‘Love’ an AI?

The “robotization of love” has already begun. We may not be ready for the consequences.

Lin Bibo

How China Fell in Love With Woman-Centric ‘Otome’ Games

“Black Myth” garnered the headlines, but the “otome” industry made millions by wooing an underserved audience: female gamers.

Xu Jia

China’s Biggest Comic Has a New Gig: Love Guru

Li Dan wants his fans to live, laugh, and love — but only if they feel like it.

Wu Haiyun

The Big Snip: The Men Making Vasectomies Go Viral in China

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

In a society where reproductive responsibility has long fallen on women, a growing number of Chinese men are sharing their vasectomy stories online, sparking long overdue conversations about masculinity and contraception.

China’s New Hit Film is a Harsh Glimpse Into the Lives of ‘Aunties’

“Like a Rolling Stone” has won rave reviews for exploring the darkness behind the story of China’s “road-trip auntie,” Su Min.

Dominic  Morgan

Cracking the Love Code: The Struggles of AI Romance Apps

Developers of AI software in China have found it difficult to convert romance into revenues despite users’ desire to splash out on virtual lovers.

Hu Xiu

Are These Chinese Couples Really Turning Traditional Marriage on Its Head?

China’s “two-sided marriages” are about more than just matrimony.

Xiang Jiangnan

Chinese University Fires Professor Over Sexual Harassment Claims

A Beijing student has accused her Ph.D. supervisor of trying to coerce her into a sexual relationship, and Beijing police said they had started to investigate.

Ye Zhanhang

Can China Prevent Economic Abuse?

The signs of economic abuse aren’t always obvious, but that doesn’t make it any less traumatic.

Li Xiaomin

In Analysis: Lawsuit Sparks Debate on China’s Therapy Standards

A high-profile dispute between celebrity psychologist Li Songwei and a former client has led to discussion on the oversight for professional counselors in China.

The Paper

What’s Wrong With Traditional Weddings? Everything, Say Young Chinese.

Young couples are increasingly rejecting every aspect of traditional Chinese weddings — from lavish ceremonies to bridal hazing rituals.