urban China

urban-china

What Will It Take to Save China’s Bus Companies?

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

VOICES & OPINION

Even as local governments tighten their belts, many are pouring money into unprofitable and inefficient bus lines. Sooner or later, something has to give.

Wang Yuanyuan

The Hunt for China’s Ugliest Building

For 13 years, the “China’s Ugliest Buildings” poll has documented the misfires and gambles that defined the country’s urban building spree. What can the results teach us about taste in architecture?

You Xudong

Remembering a Golden Age: Shanghai at the Turn of the Century

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

SIXTH TONE ×

Photographer Xu Haifeng captures the melancholic optimism of China’s commercial hub in the 1990s and 2000s.

Xue Yongle

Why China Shouldn’t Let COVID Undo 40 Years of Urbanization

The explosive spread of the COVID-19 seems to be souring policymakers and experts on high-density urbanism, but what does the data say?

Lu Ming

After 3 Years of COVID, China’s Gen-Z Are Mourning Their Lost Future

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

For young Chinese, the pandemic hasn’t just brought years of lockdowns; it has fundamentally altered their expectations for the future — and their understanding of their place in society.

Fan Yiying

Chen Jiangyi

A Day in a Shanghai Park: Reading Yeats at the Marriage Market

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

MULTIMEDIA

Fu Beimeng

Lü Xiao

Pang Yuhong

Amid Outbreak, Guangzhou Workers Wait and Wonder

Workers in Guangzhou’s urban villages face days living on the streets as their residences restrict entry.

The World of Chinese

Meet the Slobbering Students of China’s Newest Training Schools

Urban dog-owners turn to training schools for help with their pets, but controversies persist about training methods and lack of regulation in the industry.

Shanghai Completes Its $5 Billion Transformation of the Suzhou Creek

Long considered an eyesore, the city’s central river has received a massive overhaul over the past 25 years. That project finally culminated with the launch of a new tourist cruise yesterday.

Wu Huiyuan 

Industrial Evolution: Turning Old Factories Into New Cultural Parks

Can heritage protection projects give new life to China’s abandoned factories?

In a Beautification Push, Shanghai Welcomes Artistic Signboards

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

The move aims to reflect the city’s diversity.

Ye Zhanhang

Zhengzhou Becomes First Big City to Scrap ‘Hukou’ Restrictions

The city is ending household registration for non-locals in an attempt to attract potential real estate buyers and talents.

Li Xin

The Cartoonist Capturing Life in Shanghai’s Parks

Artist Lam Nong has found inspiration in Shanghai’s public parks, which act as hubs for community life in the Chinese megacity.

Lam Nong

Chinese Cities Target Made-Up Street Names Attracting Influencers

Authorities say unapproved road signs cause confusion when giving directions and use inaccurate location names.

The Key to Reviving Urban Rivers? Recreation, Not Regulation

Long neglected, Beijing’s Liangma River has made a comeback over the past year, thanks in no small part to an uncharacteristically lax approach to urban management.

Liu Daizong

Inflation Hits China’s ‘Sharing Economy’ as Bills Come Due

Without VC money, Chinese bike rental survivors are seeking ways to make ends meet.

Shanghai Residents Ask: Should I Stay or Should I Go?

The lockdown forced many residents to reckon with their future in the city.

Tu Siqi

Let’s Have a Picnic Downstairs: Shanghai Neighbors Film Lockdown Life

When China’s Fix-Everything Hotline Breaks Down

The 12345 hotline promises a one-stop shop for government services, but its call centers are often staffed by private contractors with little power.

Hou Rui

Help Delayed Is Help Denied: The Fatal Flaw in China’s 911

A 120 dispatcher’s work protocol is simple but veterans point to systemic problems that plague response time.