transport

The Motor Cities Behind China’s EV Empire

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

China’s push to dominate the EV market starts in factory towns deep in the countryside, where assembly lines run day and night and life is tethered to nonstop production.

Jiang Xinyi

Wu Huiyuan 

The Foot Soldiers Steering China’s EV Ambitions Abroad

China exported more than a million EVs in 2024. But between a price war at home and trade tensions abroad, the industry’s future depends on a handful of expat sellers.

Li Xin

China Wants Scooters to Slow Down. Will It Work?

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

VOICES & OPINION

New rules cap the maximum speed of scooters nationwide, but the focus on riders over drivers may not be entirely fair, says Shanghai urbanist Liu Yuanju.

Liu Yuanju

China Intervenes to Prop Up Struggling Local Bus Services

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

As some bus companies teeter on the brink of insolvency, the central government has ordered local authorities to find the money to keep services operational.

Did Chinese Public Transport Firms Miss the Bus on New Energy?

Privately operated bus companies are struggling under a mountain of debt. It didn’t have to be this way.

Liu Daizong

In Wuhan, Robotaxis Put China’s Self-Driving Ambitions to the Test

With government support and backing from tech giants, robotaxis are rapidly integrating into daily life in China. But the rollout is sparking a nationwide debate.

Ye Zhanhang

Wang Jingyang

Steering Through Shanghai: A Taxi Driver’s Perspective

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

SIXTH TONE ×

​​An outsider’s perspective reveals the hidden facets of Shanghai’s taxi culture.

Li Enjie

Shanghai’s Forgotten Ferries: A Commuter’s Tale

Despite modernization, Shanghai’s ferries continue to connect diverse lives across the Huangpu River.

SHer Life

Guangdong Highway Disaster: Authorities Probe Cause, Toll Now 48

The Meizhou-Dabu Expressway in southern China collapsed on the first day of this year’s five-day Labor Day holiday. The mishap has been attributed to recent heavy rainfall and complex geological conditions.

Fan Yiying

Xiaomi Enters China’s EV Race, Targets Tesla With Lower Pricing

The smartphone and consumer electronic giant’s entry into an already crowded EV market is likely to increase competition and drive industry-wide efforts to reduce costs.

Cold Snap: China’s North Feels the Chill, South to Soon Follow Suit

At the Tuerhong Township station in the northwestern Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, the temperature plummeted to minus 52 degrees Celsius, its lowest since 1960.

He Qitong

Icy Roads and Snowstorms Freeze China’s Holiday Travel Rush

Across central China, severe winter weather has caused disruptions to Spring Festival travel, leading to traffic jams, highway closures, and stranded travelers.

Designated High-Speed Train Compartment for Children Excites Netizens 

Weary Chinese travelers have long complained about rowdy children on high-speed trains.

Yang Caini

Spring Festival Travelers Fret as Extreme Weather Arrives

Some are bringing forward their travel plans to reduce the risk of cancellations and disruptions.

Twilight on the Mekong

Chinese cargo shippers once dominated Southeast Asia’s rivers. Can they find their way back?

Chen Xiaoxu

For China’s Plus-Size Women, Going Out Is a Daily Struggle 

In October, a video of a plus-size woman struggling to fit in a train seat went viral, highlighting the challenges for plus-size people to navigate spaces designed for those with slimmer physiques.

Zhu Junxi

Students, Migrant Workers to Get Early Train Ticket Access This Spring Festival 

A new preferential ticket booking channel makes it more likely for students and migrant workers to secure train tickets home for family reunions this Spring Festival.

Citing Safety, Beijing Bans Unregistered Electric Scooters 

In 2022 alone, the city reported 131 traffic accidents caused by low-speed electric three- and four-wheeled vehicles, leading to 138 deaths. Police say substandard parts, missing safety features, and fire-prone batteries increase scooter risks.

Court Rules Against Man Falsely Accused of Upskirting on Metro 

Chinese authorities have rolled out several campaigns to tackle sexual harassment on metro systems, but several incidents involving false accusations have made it a lightning rod issue online.

Eye on Climate Goals, China Names 15 Cities as New Energy Hubs

Over the next three years, the government aims to add more than 600,000 new energy vehicles across these pilot cities, which include Beijing, Shenzhen, and Chongqing.