China Guide Blog
577 articles · Page 16 of 37
The Liao and Jin Dynasties: How Khitan and Jurchen Nomads Ruled Half of China for 300 Years
The Liao (916–1125) and Jin (1115–1234) dynasties are the chapters of Chinese history most textbooks skip — yet these nomadic empires governed northern China, built Beijing, and rewrote the rules of empire.
China's 'East Data West Computing' Corridor: The Renewable-Powered Backbone Powering the Country's AI Ambitions
Explaining China's 'East Data West Computing' (东数西算, East Data West Computing) national project: 8 computing hubs and 10 clusters moving data-intensive workloads to western provinces rich in renewable energy, building the low-carbon backbone for China's AI and digital-economy push in 2026.
China's Elderly Care Robot Boom: How 300 Million Seniors and a Falling Birth Rate Are Driving the World's Largest Care Technology Market
China has 300 million people over 60. Its birth rate has fallen to 1.09. The country is now building the world's largest elderly care robot industry—from wheelchair helpers to AI companions—and the stakes could not be higher.
China's Strong Foundation Plan (Qiangji): How 39 Elite Universities Are Grooming the Next Generation of STEM Talent
Explaining China's 'Strong Foundation Plan' (强基计划, Qiangji): the 2020 admissions reform letting 39 top universities recruit students specifically for basic disciplines — math, physics, chemistry, biology, and computer science — with tailored cultivation tracks aimed at strategic STEM talent.
China's Most Underrated UNESCO Heritage Sites: 15 Places Beyond the Great Wall That Will Change How You See China
Skip the crowds at the Great Wall and Terracotta Army. These 15 underrated UNESCO World Heritage Sites in China reveal a side of Chinese civilization most tourists never see.
China's Blind-Box Boom: How Pop Mart and Labubu Turned Designer Toys into a $10 Billion Obsession
Inside China's blind-box (盲盒) and designer-toy craze: how Pop Mart built a multi-billion-dollar business around surprise mechanics, why the elf-like Labubu became a global phenomenon, and what the data says about Gen Z consumer culture in 2026.
How to Become a Licensed Foreign Teacher in China's Public Schools (2026): The Complete Honest Guide
Teaching English in China's public schools is more regulated than ever. Here's exactly what the 2026 licensing requirements are, how to get your work visa, what to actually expect from the classroom, and why the program is changing.
The Imperial Examination (Keju): How 1,300 Years of Meritocracy Forged China and Inspired the Modern World
A deep history of China's imperial examination system (科举, keju): the world's first large-scale meritocratic civil-service test, running from the Sui dynasty to 1905. How it selected officials by exam, reshaped Chinese society, and influenced modern bureaucracies worldwide.
Why Do Chinese People Collect Art? The Psychology of Jade, Calligraphy, and the Modern Chinese Art Market
From imperial jade collections to billion-dollar contemporary art auctions in Hong Kong, Chinese collecting culture runs deeper than wealth. Here's what drives it—and why it matters to anyone trying to understand Chinese civilization.
Why the Song Dynasty Almost Had an Industrial Revolution (And Why It Didn't)
The Song dynasty (960–1279) had coal-powered iron production, printing presses, gunpowder weapons, and compass navigation centuries before Europe. So why did China miss the industrial revolution? The answer challenges everything we think we know about economic history.
Wudang Mountains Travel Guide 2026: Taoist Sacred Peak and the Birthplace of Tai Chi
A practical 2026 travel guide to the Wudang Mountains in Hubei: the UNESCO Taoist holy mountain where Zhang Sanfeng is said to have founded Tai Chi. Covers how to get there, the Golden Summit, the Ancient Building Complex, costs, best season, and hiking routes.
Changbai Mountain and Wild Northeast China: The 2026 Borderland Travel Guide
Beyond Harbin, China's Northeast (Dongbei) is exploding as a travel frontier: Changbai Mountain's Heaven Lake, Yanji's Korean-Chinese food scene, winter rime, and the Tumen-Hunchun borderlands where China meets North Korea and Russia.
China's Data Economy in 2026: The Regulatory Experiments Reshaping How Business Gets Done
China is running a network of data economy pilot zones—Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, and others—where experimental regulations are creating a parallel legal framework for data trading, cross-border data flows, and AI training. What foreign businesses need to know.
China's Postgraduate Entrance Exam (Kaoyan): Inside the World's Largest Grad-School Gauntlet
Each December, millions of Chinese graduates sit the kaoyan (考研), the national postgraduate entrance exam. We explain the numbers, the structure, and why a master's degree has become a national obsession.
China's Overnight Sleeper Trains: A Foreigner's Honest Guide to Sleeping Your Way Across the Country
Not every journey in China needs a flight. China's overnight sleeper trains offer scenic routes, real beds, and a uniquely Chinese travel experience that most foreigners never discover.
China's Private Economy Promotion Law 2026: What the New Statute Means for Business
In 2026 China enacted its first foundational law dedicated to the private sector. We break down why it happened now, the numbers behind the private economy, and what the provisions actually change.