environment

China’s Latest Viral Product Is a Bunch of Hot Air

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

Another canned air product has gone viral in the country, reigniting debate as to whether such items are a playful novelty or a brazen scam.

Chen Yiru

Himalayan Lake Burst Kills 9, Disrupts China-Nepal Trade Route

The sudden drainage of a supraglacial lake in the Himalayas swept away key infrastructure and has raised concerns about the ongoing effects of climate change in the region.

Jiang Xinyi

Do China’s Waste Incinerators Have Enough to Burn?

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

SIXTH TONE ×

Waste-to-energy incineration projects are allowing major cities to shift away from landfills, but those based in counties are struggling to meet capacity.

The Paper

China’s Mushroom Foraging Craze Is Wrecking Its Forests

A boom in organized mushroom foraging tours is threatening the biodiversity in some of China’s most nature-rich environments.

Li Xin

Yang  Xinrui 

Central China Battered by Rainfall, With More Still to Come

Heavy rainfall nearing 7 meters in some areas since June 18 has caused rivers to rise and displaced tens of thousands of residents.

Ding Rui

Shell Game: In China, a $14K Reward for a Turtle That May Be Extinct

The campaign drew hundreds of photos from the public — blurry shots, lookalike species, even copies pulled from the internet. None showed the real thing.

He Qitong

Let it Go? China Curbs Ritual Releases of Sick, Invasive Wildlife

New rules aim to enhance ecological protection by curbing the undocumented release of wildlife — a common religious practice in some parts of the country.

Fan Yiying

Green Cities in Focus as Shanghai Hosts International Forum

The four-day event brings together leaders from Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas to deepen city-level cooperation on climate and innovation.

Sixth Tone

Cold Fix: Inside China’s Audacious Effort to Save a Dying Glacier

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

With blankets, snow machines, and limited funding, a small team of scientists is testing a desperate plan to slow the collapse of one of China’s most vulnerable glaciers.

In China’s Tea Heartland, Workers Pick Through Climate Whiplash

Across the country’s premier tea region, a punishing chain of drought, frost, hail, heat, and snow wiped out crops, leaving workers and growers struggling to salvage what little the season had left to give.

Through the Cracks: Unveiling the Truth in Silence

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

MULTIMEDIA

A new exhibit from award-winning photographer Chen Jie highlights tragedy and hope from his 30-year career.

Qian Yi  

Toxic Leak in Hunan Traced to a Former Cement Plant

The leak’s source surprised local officials — and points to the need for new regulations, experts say.

March Brings Record Highs, Sudden Lows to China

Shanghai recorded its hottest March day in 90 years Tuesday. Then came a cold snap.

In Climate Push, China Expands Carbon Market to Big Polluters

Steel, cement, and aluminum sectors added to emissions trading system, raising coverage from 40% to over 60% of China’s emissions.

Fade to Black: What Lies Beneath China’s Lake of Legends

Nearly 2,000 meters above sea level, a lake in southwestern China is drawing a steady stream of divers. Its pull: challenging diving conditions and the tales of China’s own Atlantis hidden below.

Li Pasha

China Counts Over 1,000 Snow Leopards in Largest Ever Survey

The survey highlights the significance of Qinghai province’s Sanjiangyuan region for snow leopard conservation and underscores growing climate change concerns.

Let It Burn: Why China Is Looking the Other Way on Farm Fires

After years of strict bans to curb pollution, China is reversing its zero-tolerance stance on crop burning, allowing controlled fires as officials navigate rural challenges and enforcement limits.

‘Red Ghost’ Algae Swarms China’s Coast, Threatening Marine Life

Residents in southern China report algae blanketing beaches as experts warn of increasing pollution, health hazards, and risks to fisheries.

China Puts E-Bike Makers on the Hook for Battery Recycling

Amid rising safety and pollution risks, regulators want e-bike manufacturers to shoulder the costs of battery collection.