sixth-tone

Collage: China Sweats Through July Heatwave

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

MULTIMEDIA

With red alerts issued in several cities, experts warn extreme summer heat is becoming the new norm.

In Shanghai, a New Photo Exhibit Revisits the Flying Tigers Era

Photos and personal stories explore an alliance forged during World War II.

2025 Shanghai Int’l Film Fest Sees Record Premieres and Bigger Crowds

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 festival, now in its 27th year, features 400 movies as well as numerous promotions geared toward attracting out-of-town crowds and boosting tourism spending.

Second Act: How a 500-Year-Old Chinese Opera Returned to Modern Life

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

Q & A

Long dismissed as too slow for modern tastes, Kunqu opera is quietly being reinvented — with one performer bringing it into therapy sessions, elderly care, and daily life.

At Shanghai Forum, Cities Stress Local Solutions to Climate Threats

Officials from 26 cities shared how local infrastructure, politics, and priorities are shaping efforts to reduce emissions and adapt to climate change.

Shanghai’s Sister Cities Gather to Tackle Climate, Youth Development

City leaders from five continents gathered in Shanghai this week to strengthen ties and tackle shared challenges through the city’s expanding network of international partnerships.

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.

Young, Tired, and Still Trying: China’s Next Generation Rethinks Success

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

SIXTH TONE ×

Writer Peter Hessler and anthropologist Xiang Biao on the changing lives of young Chinese, the meaning of hard work, and why parents should cut their kids some slack.

Two Sessions: Labor Rights, Child Safety, AI Scams Among Key Debates

Proposals on these issues have sparked widespread debate on social media, with related hashtags drawing hundreds of millions of views online.

Tariffs to Climate: The Big Takeaways From China’s Two Sessions

Speaking at the opening of China’s top legislature Wednesday, Chinese Premier Li Qiang outlined plans to ramp up fiscal support, drive household spending, and stabilize key industries.

Collage: The Year of the Snake

The best art and installations celebrating the imminent arrival of the Year of the Snake.

The Big Switch

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

China is producing EVs at an unprecedented scale, reshaping industries, economies, and daily life. Sixth Tone unpacks what’s working, what’s breaking down, and what’s next in a race that’s upending the global auto market.

China’s 2024 in Photos

A selection of the year’s best photos by Sixth Tone’s visual editors.

City or Not City? The Buzzwords That Defined China’s 2024

Did you spend 2024 as a “beast of burden” or embracing your destiny as the “Greek god of sleep”? Unsure what we’re talking about altogether? Sixth Tone has you covered with the year’s top slang.

Chiung Yao, Iconic Author of Romance and Drama, Dies at 86

A prolific author and screenwriter, she shaped Chinese-language literature and cinema with her tales of love, loss, and forbidden relationships.

Collage: At China Expo, Trade Meets Tech 

Snapshots from the China International Import Expo (CIIE).

At CIIE, New Tech and Wellness Products Target China’s Elderly

This year’s expo highlights a wide array of health and wellness products for the elderly, from therapeutic treatments to smart devices.

Seeking New Markets, African Exporters Bet Big on China Expo

From shea butter from Ghana to pineapples from Benin to baobab flour from Mali, this year’s fair features agricultural exporters from several African countries.

Meet the Robots That Run, Mix Drinks, and Play Table Tennis

Sixth Tone takes a closer look at some of the standout robots from this year’s China International Import Expo.

At CIIE, China Vows Further Market Access, Global Partnership

Chinese Premier Li Qiang pledges gradual expansion of market access, says China stands ready to deploy further stimulus if needed.