transport

Chilean Cherries: Why Prices in China Plunge Every Winter

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

SIXTH TONE ×

As the season rolls on, imported Chilean cherries get much cheaper — and the reason is no real mystery.

The Paper

China’s ‘Old Man’s Joy’ Cars Test the Limits of Road Safety

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

Low-speed vehicles once aimed at older adults are now widely used across China, prompting calls for stricter safety regulation.

Li Xin

China Bans Retractable EV Door Handles Over Safety Concerns

Safety concerns after fatal crashes have prompted rules requiring doors to open without electricity.

Chen Yiru

Airport Controversy Sparks Accessibility Conversation in China

A well-known disabled Taiwanese singer called out airport staff online for the difficulty he had boarding a plane while using a wheelchair, leading to a national discussion on public accessibility.

As Rain Hits Holiday Travel, China Braces for Record Return Rush

More than 2.4 billion trips are expected this year, with transport officials expanding lanes and services to manage one of the busiest travel weeks on record.

He Qitong

China’s New Bet to Spur Urban Spending: Pet-Friendly Buses

To invigorate pet-related markets, some Chinese cities have launched animal-friendly public transportation services — but their economic viability remains unclear.

The Last Stop Club: The Young Chinese Giving Buses a Proper Goodbye

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 niche community of bus enthusiasts is documenting final rides, recording engine sounds, and preserving memories of a transit era disappearing under a rapid shift to EVs.

Jiang Xinyi

Lights Out: Foshan’s Metro Cuts Power to Slash Operating Costs

Low ridership has pushed the city’s metro to scale back air conditioning, lights, escalators, and service hours in a bid to cut costs.

Bus Stops Here: Shanghai Lets Riders Design Their Own Routes

A new crowd-sourced transit platform allows riders to propose, vote on, and activate new bus lines in as little as three days.

New Ride-Hailing Apps Bring Motorcycles to China’s Small Cities

Motorcycle ride-hailing services offer cheap, quick rides in smaller Chinese cities, but questions remain around safety rules and oversight.

Fan Yiying

Chinese EV Makers Face Their Biggest Sales Challenge Yet: Winter

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

VOICES & OPINION

EV adoption has lagged in China’s frigid northeast. But new technologies are starting to change that.

Liu Yuanju

Auto Shanghai: Carmakers Push Past EVs With Flying Cars, Robots

Amid rising competition, Chinese carmakers are tapping EV supply chains to branch into futuristic tech.

China Tells Carmakers: No More Misleading ‘Self-Driving’ Claims

New rules aim to curb inflated promises, with officials urging firms to distinguish marketing spin from the reality of current systems.

China’s High-Speed Trains Make Room for Cats and Dogs — Sort Of

For years, pet owners asked to bring animals on high-speed trains. Now, China’s high-speed network is giving it a careful try.

Wu Yufei

A New Look: Can China’s EV Boom Rescue Its Design Industry?

China’s carmakers are spending wildly on dealerships, accessories, and branding. For designers still reeling from the real estate crash, it’s been an unexpected lifeline.

Cai Yineng

Fare Play: China Targets Ride-Hailing Drivers Using Fraud Software

Authorities investigate drivers using illicit software to inflate fares, fake locations, and bypass ride-hailing platform rules.

The Big Switch

China is producing EVs at an unprecedented scale, reshaping industries, economies, and daily life. Sixth Tone unpacks what’s working, what’s breaking down, and what’s next in a race that’s upending the global auto market.

Sixth Tone

The Missing Link in China’s EV Boom: Who Will Fix Them?

EVs now make up more than half of new car sales in China. But a shortage of skilled repair technicians threatens to slow the momentum.

Ding Rui

China’s EVs Are Smart, Green, and Cheap — Until They Aren’t

For millions of Chinese EV owners, early promises of affordability, convenience, and cutting-edge tech are now tested by aging batteries, replacement costs, and warranties.

The Chinese City Betting Everything on Tiny Cars

In Liuzhou, compact EVs reshaped the city’s economy, daily life, and identity. Now, it offers a blueprint for small cities looking to ride China’s electric wave.