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In Wuhan, A Race to Study a 3,500-Year-Old City Between Seasons

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

At Panlongcheng, archaeologists race against seasonal rains and hostile soil to recover a 3,500-year-old city that reshaped understanding of early Chinese civilization, knowing much of it may remain forever underwater.

The Lost Art of Chinese Purple

SPECIAL PROJECTS

The nearly 3,000-year-old synthetic pigment’s invention has long been a mystery. Now, archaeologists think they’ve finally cracked the code.

When Beijing Was China’s Most International City 

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

Q & A

A newly translated book explores how international residents have shaped and recorded life in China’s ancient capital for hundreds of years.

Copy Right: The Painstaking Method and Magic of Mastering a Replica

Across the country, museums are commissioning recreations of ancient artifacts. But beyond simple replicas, these efforts aim to revive the techniques and craftsmanship that shaped China’s cultural legacy.

China’s Glass Whisperer

Zhang Minghui blew his chance to attend one of China’s top universities. Now, he’s building experimental devices for the country’s space program.

The Secrets of the Shang

Sometimes called the “holy land” of Chinese archaeology, Yinxu remains a mystery even today.

A Century Later, China’s First Female Architect Gets Her Due

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

MULTIMEDIA

After a nearly 100-year wait, one of China’s best-known architects finally has her degree.

The Scholar Bringing Marco Polo Back to China

Historian Rong Xinjiang has spent the past 13 years trying to produce the definitive Chinese edition of “The Travels of Marco Polo.”

He Was China’s Greatest Concert Pianist. Then He Lost a Decade to Depression.

Before Lang Lang, Kong Xiangdong wowed audiences with his interpretations of Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff. Now, he has a new mission: raising awareness about mental health issues.

The Cross-Dressing, Eye-Rolling Star Sending Up China’s Office Culture

The antics of “Sister Cynthia” — the world’s most reliable HR manager — offer the country’s frustrated office workers a much-needed catharsis.

A New History of the Chinese Zodiac 

Horses, pigs, goats, and oxen all played crucial, if largely forgotten, roles in the development of early Chinese civilization. Now, a leading zooarchaeologist is trying to piece that history back together, one bone at a time.

The Historian Rewriting China’s Understanding of the World

Qian Chengdan is one of China’s best-known historians. In a new book, he and his team attempt to produce a comprehensive Marxist history of the world.

Witches and ‘Poisonous Cats’: A Scholar’s Search for Society’s Scapegoats

Wang Mingke has spent his life studying marginalized communities in China’s far west. That work has helped him better understand everything from anti-Asian hate to social media polarization.

The Terra-Cotta Army’s Secret Weapon

The ghostly army of China’s first emperor is known for its thousands of clay foot soldiers. But new excavations are revealing that the force was far more diverse — and tactically sophisticated — than previously assumed.

How China’s Silk Road Ambitions Are Reshaping the World of Archaeology

Until a decade ago, Chinese archaeologists had never conducted major excavations overseas. Now, as China pours funding into Silk Road research, they are quietly transforming our understanding of the ancient world.

China’s Tech Firms Are Slashing Staff. Creators Are First in Line.

When China’s tech companies torpedoed the traditional media industry, thousands of journalists and other creators jumped ship. Now, the startups that hired them are sinking, too.

Disabled Man in Chinese Countryside Inspires Disillusioned Youth

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

A viral video of a 66-year-old man’s life story of him overcoming the odds has left millions of viewers reflecting.

Acclaimed Chinese Lyricist Qiao Yu Dies at 94 

“My Motherland” and “Unforgettable Tonight” are among the songwriter’s most well-known works.

New Sanxingdui Relics Offer More Clues of Ancient Civilization 

Nearly 13,000 artifacts have been excavated from the site in southwestern China so far.

The Mysterious Ancient City That’s Rewriting Chinese History

The discovery of a 3,000-year-old civilization at Sanxingdui raised profound questions about China’s ancient past. Now, researchers believe they’re finally close to finding some answers.