environment

The Solar Pioneers Convincing Urban China to Go Green

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

VOICES & OPINION

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

Feng Jing

Late Bloomers: Climate Change Delays the Onset of Fall in China

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

Netizens have been avidly discussing the country’s new autumn timeframes on social media, with videos going viral of swallows in the suddenly frigid northeast trying to stay warm.

Jiang Xinyi

Winds of Change: China Unveils Vast Wind Power Goals for 2030

The country seeks to double its current wind capacity in the next five years, in line with its overall transition to renewable energies and a sustainable future.

Li Xin

Massive Fireworks Display on Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Backfires

The fireworks, designed by artist Cai Guoqiang and commissioned by outdoor brand Arc’teryx, caused outrage over environmental concerns, prompting apologies and an official investigation.

Toxic Acid Discarded in Public Lot Kills Woman in Hangzhou

After exposure to discarded hydrofluoric acid outside led to the woman’s tragic fatal poisoning, netizens have been left wondering about the reliability of the country’s toxic chemical management.

He Qitong

China’s Summer of Climate Whiplash Brings Heat, Floods, and Drought

This summer brought a climate reversal, with floods in the north, drought in the south and other extreme weather.

The Dugong, Mammal of Mermaid Lore, Returns to China’s Waters

Just two years after being declared extinct, the dugong has been sighted again in the South China Sea, a sign of progress in ecological restoration.

How China’s Urban Youth Became Obsessed With Birding

Driven by social media, more and more urbanites are taking up birdwatching, helping to increase ecological awareness and molding photography trends to their aesthetic preferences in the process.

Chen Zhenyang

Fan Yiying

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.