Sixth Tone

Shanghai Sessions: Four Notes From a City in Swing In jazz-age Shanghai, a Black trumpeter, a Filipino bandleader, and a group of Chinese dreamers remade the sound of a city — and gave birth to Chinese pop.

This is the story of the misfits, migrants, and mavericks who improvised a musical revolution.

The Music Teacher Who Rewrote the Rules of Chinese Pop Reviled by elites, adored by the masses, Li Jinhui turned Shanghai’s din into China’s first pop music.

In early 20th-century Shanghai, jazz was made by composers, performers, and bandleaders from across Asia and beyond. This is the first article in a four-part series tracing how that sound took shape, and who made it matter.

The MingKwai Experiment: Typing Chinese Before Computers Unveiled in 1947, the MingKwai typewriter was the product of a Chinese novelist’s yearslong obsession to build a machine that tackled the problem of typing Chinese decades before personal computers ar...

Unveiled in 1947, the MingKwai typewriter was the product of a Chinese novelist’s yearslong obsession to build a machine that tackled the problem of typing Chinese decades before personal computers arrived.

China Begins Clinical Trials of Its First Acne Vaccine The recombinant, protein-based vaccine is one of only a handful of acne vaccines worldwide promising alternative treatment.

A Chinese-developed acne vaccine has entered domestic clinical trials for the first time, marking a national milestone in efforts to treat one of the world’s most common skin conditions.

Why Young Chinese Think the World Is a ‘Ragtag Troupe’

A 2025 buzzword speaks to how many in China have grown disenchanted by once highly respected companies and institutions.

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The Buzzword Capturing Chinese Gen Z’s Individualism In a break with older generations, young Chinese are opting for self-love without first imposing hardships on themselves.

In a break with older generations, young Chinese are opting for self-love without first imposing hardships on themselves.

How a Bullied Teenager Built China’s Unlikeliest Music Festival You and Me, a free experimental music festival in Beijing, grew from one teenager’s search for refuge. Now it faces demolition, debt, and an uncertain future.

You and Me, a free experimental music festival in Beijing, grew from one teenager’s search for refuge. Now it faces demolition, debt, and an uncertain future.

China Bans Retractable EV Door Handles Over Safety Concerns Safety concerns after fatal crashes have prompted rules requiring doors to open without electricity.

China will ban retractable car handles beginning Jan. 1, 2027, amid growing safety concerns that electrically powered designs can prevent passengers from escaping or being rescued after mishaps.

Act Your Age? Chinese Dramas Thrust Preschoolers Into Adult Roles With children central to many ultrashort dramas, young actors are enduring grueling schedules to shoot scripts far beyond their understanding.

As ultrashort dramas boom in popularity in China, writers are reliant on storylines that require the use of preschool performers. The work is fast-paced, with children sometimes having to endure long days of filming and handle scripts that involve adult themes far beyond their comprehension.

A Coffee of Exile and Memory Comes Home to Hainan Created by Hainanese migrants in Southeast Asia, the brew returned with re-migrants in the 1950s. Now, a new generation is pushing it into the future.

Created by Hainanese migrants in Southeast Asia, the brew returned with re-migrants in the 1950s. Now, a new generation is pushing it into the future.

Chinese cinemagoers are increasingly discerning. They prefer high-quality movies over holiday blockbusters, and pick films that appeal to their demographic.

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“Society is constantly changing, and so are people, but ‘change’ does not solely mean ‘progress.’”

After leaving education at 16 to work in factories, Zhang Sai is turning factory life into literature and documenting the people and pressures of China’s vast factory workforce.

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A Coffee of Exile and Memory Comes Home to Hainan Created by Hainanese migrants in Southeast Asia, the brew returned with re-migrants in the 1950s. Now, a new generation is pushing it into the future.

Created by Hainanese migrants in Southeast Asia, the brew returned with re-migrants in the 1950s. Now, a new generation is pushing it into the future.

How China Unlocked a West African Mine to Reshape the Global Iron Ore Trade Against all odds, Guinea’s $20 billion Simandou megaproject, including a 600-km railway, a new Atlantic port, multiple tunnels and bridges, and a twin set of mines, stunned the global mining world.

Against all odds, Guinea’s $20 billion Simandou megaproject, including a 600-km railway, a new Atlantic port, multiple tunnels and bridges, and a twin set of mines, stunned the global mining world.

The Women Who Translated Chinese Cuisine Into American Chinese food became a popular American dinner because of the pioneering work of two women who, in the middle of the 20th century, set out to teach the flavors of home to their new country.

Chinese food became a popular American dinner because of the pioneering work of two women who, in the middle of the 20th century, set out to teach the flavors of home to their new country.

Minding Nemo: Vlogger Finds Fatal Flaws at China’s Aquariums A social media influencer touring aquatic attractions nationwide is exposing the perilous problems he finds in water quality, staff training, and erroneous signage.

A social media influencer touring aquatic attractions nationwide is exposing the perilous problems he finds in water quality, staff training, and erroneous signage.

Has a Lawsuit Sidelined a Chinese Soccer Prodigy? A contract dispute between an exclusive soccer academy and the family of a rising star has thrown a spotlight on China’s youth development system.

A contract dispute between an exclusive soccer academy and the family of a rising star has thrown a spotlight on China’s youth development system.

How Inherited Time Impacts the Lives of Young Chinese Through her research, the sociologist Xu Lingling has discovered how those from rural and lower-class backgrounds are at a disadvantage for getting ahead — because of how much more time it takes them ...

Through her research, the sociologist Xu Lingling has discovered how those from rural and lower-class backgrounds are at a disadvantage for getting ahead — because of how much more time it takes them to catch up.

The Chinese College Student Who Took on Annoying Elevator Ads A college junior in Shanghai used a “universal key” to shut down elevator ad screens to protest their intrusive noise, going viral online after netizens applauded the move.

A college junior in Shanghai used a “universal key” to shut down elevator ad screens to protest their intrusive noise, going viral online after netizens applauded the move.

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.

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.

The ‘Training Loan’ Scam Trapping Young Chinese in Debt An online job scam boasting flexible hours and high salaries has targeted fresh graduates, demanding thousands of yuan for training modules and jobs that fall far short of expectations.

An online job scam boasting flexible hours and high salaries has targeted fresh graduates, demanding thousands of yuan for training modules and jobs that fall far short of expectations.

Eighth China International Import Expo Kicks Off in Shanghai Thousands of companies from around the world attended the event, where China pledged to expand world access to its market and showcased hundreds of new products and technologies.

Thousands of companies from around the world attended the event, where China pledged to expand world access to its market and showcased hundreds of new products and technologies.

Marathon organizers and runners across China face abrupt cancellations and new curbs, as officials rush to rein in a sport that expanded faster than it could be managed.

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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 t...

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.

Audrey Hepburn’s Son Wins Lawsuit Against Chinese Restaurant A Chinese court has ruled that a Suzhou-based Audrey Hepburn-themed chain violated personality rights by using the late actress’s image and name on signage, in restaurants, and on promotional material...

The court ordered the restaurant to cease use of Hepburn’s image, full name, issue a public apology, and pay 200,000 yuan ($27,600) in compensation.

Fast, Cheap, Stolen: The Plagiarism Behind China’s Short Drama Boom As studios rush to feed China’s short-drama craze, web novel writers say their work is being taken, rewritten, and sold without consent or credit.

As studios rush to feed China’s short-drama craze, web novel writers say their work is being taken, rewritten, and sold without consent or credit.

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.

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.

‘Huge Lesson’: A Beijing Farmer Learns to Live in Climate Extremes As climate extremes grow across China, one farmer’s flooded fields outside Beijing show how quickly the country’s weather, and way of life, are being rewritten.

As climate extremes grow across China, one farmer’s flooded fields outside Beijing show how quickly the country’s weather, and way of life, are being rewritten.

The Architect Saving China’s ‘Ugly’ Buildings, One Photo at a Time For two years, Liu Yujia has crossed China on foot and by bike, photographing the tiled towers, tinted-glass hotels, and industrial relics of a disappearing urban era, once often dismissed as “ugly.”

For two years, Liu Yujia has crossed China on foot and by bike, photographing the tiled towers, tinted-glass hotels, and industrial relics of a disappearing urban era, once often dismissed as “ugly.”

All That and Dim Sum: Canton Moves to Regulate Morning Tea The southern city of Guangzhou has drafted a policy regulating the labeling of dim sum dishes in an effort to preserve authenticity, freshness, and cultural heritage.

Guangzhou, the capital of China’s southern Guangdong province, has drafted a policy requiring dim sum restaurants to label dishes as made using “traditional” or “non-traditional” methods and set up a talent-training system to protect the region’s culinary craft.