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

VOICES & OPINION

voices-&-opinion

AI Isn’t Always Helping Chinese Office Workers Either

Introducing AI into the workplace is all about chasing efficiency. But the ways in which AI affects work — for better and worse — show that efficiency isn’t such a simple concept.

Chen Changwen

How AI Allows Us to Talk With Ancient Chinese People

AI software has made it possible to consistently analyze thousands of historical texts, allowing scientists to carefully map how people’s viewpoints changed between centuries and across regions.

Chen Yuqi

The Solar Pioneers Convincing Urban China to Go Green

China leads the world in solar power, but few city residents have installed panels on their roofs.

Feng Jing

Inside the Early Push to Revolutionize Marriage in China

In the 1950s, China’s fledgling government sought to upend centuries-old marriage practices and promote women’s rights. But what does it take to make a new culture of marriage the status quo?

Wu Jingjian

Looking Back at a Mascot of Future Optimism

Fifteen years ago, 73 million people visited the Shanghai Expo. Recently, the cartoon figure used to promote it has become an object of nostalgia.

Wang Zhanhei

What Sultan’s Game Reveals About Chinese Players

Since its release in March, Sultan’s Game has been taking Chinese players by storm. Yet amid the moral quandaries, chaotic evil choices, sex, and violence posed by the game, it is a microcosm of how traditional culture shapes the choices we make.

Chen Silin

The Precarious Rise of Female Comedians in China

On China’s biggest stand-up comedy shows, 2025 has been a breakout year for women. But it’s more a story of economics, not equality.

Teng Wei

Inside the Rise and Popularity of Sichuan Cuisine

From rare, refined delicacy to proletarian delight, Sichuanese cuisine made its way from China’s mountainous interior to countries around the world — beginning its delectable journey outward.

Zhou Songfang

100 Years Ago, Beijing’s Forbidden City Opened Its Doors

For centuries, the imperial palace at the heart of China’s capital was off-limits to commoners. When the Qing dynasty fell, that slowly began to change.

Xu Wanling

A 969-Year-Old Pagoda, Too Fragile to Climb, Gets a Fitting Facelift

China’s tallest and oldest timber structure pagoda is a marvel of Buddhist art and structural ingenuity. And while old age has limited its access, a new book full of vivid detail gives the public a better look than ever.