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Hit New Film Offers a Striking Portrait of Beijing’s Migrant Villages

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

Liang Junjian’s award-winning new documentary “Bitter Sweet Ballad” has shocked viewers with its portrayal of the lives of migrant children in Beijing.

How China’s Greatest Ever Film Was Rescued From Oblivion

Fei Mu’s 1948 masterpiece “Spring in a Small Town” was condemned to obscurity for decades after its release. But 75 years later, it has finally won recognition as the best Chinese film ever made and is receiving a new wave of attention.

In Hong Kong, a New Film Mourns a Fading Icon: the City’s Neon Signs

For decades, Hong Kong has been synonymous with its gleaming neon street signs. But these icons of the city’s past are now rapidly disappearing — as the hit new film “A Light Never Goes Out” explores.

Zhou Guanyu: How China’s First F1 Driver Proved His Doubters Wrong

The 23-year-old has had to deal with enormous pressure since becoming China’s first Formula One driver this year. But he appears to be gaining momentum heading into the final race of his debut season.

Song Yadong: The Man Fighting to Make UFC History

Song Yadong is on a mission to become China’s first male champion in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. But first, he faces his toughest test yet.

‘Wild Ball’: A Compelling Journey Into Chinese Basketball’s Wild West

Li Hongquan’s hit new documentary follows American journeyman Lee Benson as he’s sucked into the bizarre world of “wild ball” — China’s gritty rural basketball scene.

How China Is Nurturing a New Generation of Future UFC Stars

For years, the Ultimate Fighting Championship has been working to tap into China’s vast pool of fighting talent. Now, those efforts are starting to pay off with a vengeance.

‘Return to Dust’: The Chinese Film Pushing Realism to New Extremes

Filmmaker Li Ruijun was determined to capture the essence of life in a remote Chinese village. So he made his cast live on a farm in Gansu province — for a year.

Zhang Weili Wows UFC — and China — With Stunning Knockout Victory

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 Chinese fighter won her much-hyped rematch against Joanna Jedrejczyk in dramatic style, before telling the crowd: “I’m coming back.”

China’s Top UFC Star Prepares for the Fight of Her Life

After two bruising defeats, Zhang Weili returns to the octagon for a highly anticipated rematch against Joanna Jedrejczyk on Sunday. The stakes could not be higher — both for her and the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Review: Inside China’s Venus de Milo Industry

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

MULTIMEDIA

A new documentary by Beijing-based director Sean Wang follows a luxury stone from Greece to Guangdong and back again.

China’s Favorite Foreign Movie Is a Yugoslav War Film From 1972

“Walter Defends Sarajevo” was one of a tiny selection of foreign movies screened in China during the Cultural Revolution. Fifty years later, it’s still adored by millions.

The Hit New Film Pushing Chinese Sci-Fi Into Unexplored Territory

Kong Dashan’s award-winning feature “Journey to the West” is generating huge buzz in China — and showing there is more to Chinese sci-fi than Liu Cixin.

Will the Next ‘Squid Game’ Be Made in China?

Korean dramas stole the headlines in 2021. But China is also quietly emerging as a global TV powerhouse — and the U.S. streaming giants are starting to take notice.

How the World’s Oldest Artwork Was Uncovered in Tibet

Your questions, answered. In-depth interviews with the minds and makers shaping today’s China.

Q & A

Dr. David Dian Zhang discusses his groundbreaking discovery of a 200,000-year-old set of human handprints on the Tibetan Plateau — and how it could reshape our understanding of humanity’s ancient past.

How a Hard-Hitting Baseball Film Scored a Surprise Home Run in China

Director Xu Huijing discusses the making of his curveball documentary about a baseball club for migrant children in Beijing, which has become an unexpected hit with Chinese critics and viewers alike.

From Inner Mongolia, a Stark Vision of Our Environmental Sins

In her new film “Anima,” Chinese director Cao Jinling revisits her homelands to deliver a very personal warning of how humanity’s imbalance with nature stands to imperil us all.

Hidden Dragon: The Man Who Helped Chinese Film Go Global

Italian film industry veteran Marco Mueller has played a pivotal role in bringing Chinese cinema to a global audience over the past 50 years.

The UFC Stars Kicking Chinese Martial Arts Into a New Era

The breakout success of Chinese fighters in the Ultimate Fighting Championship is shaking up the country’s martial arts scene.