Lifestyle

Krista Kim | Women@WEF

Carol Yu, Co-Founder of Shenzhen Innox, shares about her work at the intersection of education and entrepreneurship. She speaks of the growing global possibilities for young entrepreneurs in China.

Art Basel has come to Hong Kong for its 11th year. We sat down with Hong Kong Director, Angelle Siyang-Le, to talk about bridging the east and west with art.

As CEO of Art Basel, Noah Horowitz guides one of the world’s great cultural movements. He speaks with James Chau in Hong Kong about significance of ideas and discovery.

Religion is not static, it is a dynamic thing that shapes our world. Scholar Brie Loskota shares her story with The China Current at The World Economic Forum.

Duozhuayu is a second-hand trading company that has over 10 million young users in China. Founder Wei Ying shares her story with The China Current at The World Economic Forum.

Sara Jane Ho | Women at WEF

In January, CUSEF invited students from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs—the first American college delegation to visit China in 2024. They spoke to The China Current, a digital storytelling platform, about the memories they take away from that trip.

In November 2023, China’s pandas left the National Zoo in Washington DC, headed for home.

About to star in a beautiful program at Hong Kong’s stunning City Hall on January 17, 2024, Ning Feng is a highly acclaimed violinist known for his captivating performances and virtuosic talent. Last year, Tasmin Little had the pleasure of witnessing the UK premiere of a glorious new violin concerto by Chinese composer Zhao Jiping. She asked Ning Feng to tell her about this piece and the experience of premiering an important new work.

December is one of the best months in Hong Kong, not only because of the moderate temperatures, but also the lights and decorations celebrating the birth of Christ.

Anyone who’s been to Hong Kong in the summer knows that it’s hot and humid. So steamy you could become human dim sum. Even winters are relatively mild. The reason behind this lies in one of China’s newly planned national parks.

Vanessa Garcia's China story started back when she was in college. She participated in a three-week faculty-led study abroad program that took them to various cities in China, including Beijing, Shenzhen, Xi’An, Guangzhou, and Hong Kong.

Vanessa Garcia's China story started back when she was in college. She participated in a three-week faculty-led study abroad program that took them to various cities in China, including Beijing, Shenzhen, Xi’An, Guangzhou, and Hong Kong.

Hangzhou, China, is commonly known for its fast-growing economy and as the location of where massive well-known companies like Alibaba Group and Geely Holding Group are headquartered. But this year, Hangzhou will also become the host city for the 19th Asian Games.

Samara Schuman, an aspiring international affairs professional, shares how she studied abroad in China for free, and describes what the experience was like.

The skyline view from one of the world’s largest natural harbors, Victoria Harbor in Hong Kong, is a wonder to behold, displaying the city’s towering skyscrapers, lush green hills, and a harbor filled with boats. And along this waterfront, a transformation is taking place, in efforts to maintain its cultural heritage while bringing new life to the district.

Samara Schuman shares her experience studying abroad in China and how it has shaped her life, career, and view of the world.

How the magnificence of the natural world inspired the creation of the now globally popular and beautiful miniature ornamental trees

As this week marks China’s Golden Week, in honor of the country’s Labor Day celebrations, it is one of the first holidays locals will be able to travel and reunite with loved ones with lessened restrictions.

Global health envoy Bernhard schwartländer first moved to China before the Beijing Olympics. He's living there again for the third time in some 15 years with his wife Andrea. He talked to our host James Chau about the experience of living in Beijing.

How one of classical music’s most celebrated composers used the inspiration of ancient Chinese poetry to write one of his greatest works.

For another year, the China Current is collaborating with Art Basel as the world's finest fair returns to Hong Kong at a time where the state of humanity is in question once again.

For a 10th year the world's leading galleries, collectors and institutions are in Hong Kong for Art Basel. The China Current continues its collaboration with this annual global event.

Ken Hom explains how Chinese cookery fits in with our lifestyle and how the comments and questions from the public inspired him to create ever more authentic dishes.

While World Cup fans cheered on their favorite teams recently, manufacturers in Yiwu, China rushed to make the merchandise and souvenirs they purchased in droves. On the eve of each World Cup, they produce 100,000 footballs within 50 days, and more than 2 million jerseys for the Cup alone. Take a look behind the scenes of one the world's busiest manufacturing moments of the past year.

Chef Ken Hom has touched the hearts of millions of people through his books and television programs. Now he speaks to Tasmin Little about Chinese cuisine as a gateway to community-building, and his concerns for global food security.

Taylor Fritz is leading the top players at the Hong Kong Tennis Challenge this Christmas. Our Host James Chau speaks to Philip Mok, President of the Hong Kong Tennis Association, about the tournament — and the global challenges sports can help solve.

One in five people in the world live in China, the most populous country in the world. But the UN estimates that India will soon have more people than any other on the planet.

If there is one place in China that inspires mystery, admiration, and dread more than any others, it's Kawagebo, the sacred warrior god mountain to Tibetans and the highest peak in Yunnan Province. No one has ever successfully climbed it or probably ever will. Kyle Obermann, Nature Contributor for the China Current, shares the story.

Six decades ago, the Hong Kong Museum of Art began a journey that has positioned its home city on the global cultural map. Our Host James Chau speaks with Dr Maria Mok, HKMoA’s Museum Director.

In eastern China, most known for its booming urban centers, a small but precipitous mountain enclave has yielded over 1,000 new species discoveries over the last century. Our Nature Contributor Kyle Obermann shares the story of Wuyishan National Park, one of China’s first five official national parks.

The summer isn’t over, but places in China are already experiencing record heat. Over 90 red alerts spread throughout China in one day in July, shutting down construction and outdoor activities. Our Nature Contributor Kyle Obermann shares the story.

There’s a strong relationship between music and nature in Chinese culture. Tasmin Little, well-known violinist and Culture Contributor for The China Current, looks at four pieces of music which demonstrate that special connection.

From school closures to programs shifting online, the last few years have altered international education. Just a few years ago, hundreds of thousands of students from Hong Kong were traveling to the United States to continue a portion of their education before entering the workforce. But the pandemic shifted so many of these young students’ plans. Our Host James Chau looks at the endurance of international education during unprecedented times.

China's sinkholes are like nowhere else on earth and hold a wide diversity of possible new species and habitats. With the discovery and exploration of a new sinkhole this year, questions remain on how to best study and protect these places into the future.

For almost a decade, Art Basel has positioned Hong Kong on the global map of contemporary art — and created a community that is second to none. Leading that movement is Adeline Ooi, who is bringing 130 galleries to this year's edition. She speaks with our Host James Chau as part of The China Current's collaboration with the world's most important art show.

With mountains, rivers, and waterfalls, Chinese artists have long enjoyed a close connection with the natural world that continues to fascinate them. Daphne King, Director of Alisan Fine Arts, speaks with our Host James Chau about how today's artists are finding a modern language for a historic form of painting. This interview is part of The China Current's collaboration with Art Basel.

For a third year, The China Current is collaborating with Art Basel on a special series of interviews. In this video, we feature Johnson Chang, one of Hong Kong's best-loved cultural figures. For 40 years, he has showcased Chinese classical and later contemporary works — long before their importance in the global art market. Our Host James Chau speaks with the Founder of Hanart TZ Gallery.

Audrey King's unlikely story as a Hong Kong Olympic skier has inspired people in her hometown and beyond. In this conversation with James Chau, she and her father discuss the focus, sacrifice, and passion that is necessary for a shot at success.

The slogan of the Beijing Olympics called on the world to unite. But what does it mean to the athletes who competed at these Winter Games? Our Host James Chau speaks to Hong Kong's Audrey King, alpine skier and 2022 Olympian.

Audrey King is a 19 year old student athlete, who's headed to Harvard in the fall. Born in Hong Kong, a subtropical city, she competed in the Beijing Olympics in downhill skiing. But how did she do it? Our Host James Chau speaks to Audrey.

For many years already, people in China could order food while opting out of receiving utensils and plastic packaging. China’s past has enlightened its future. And young people around the world are distinctly aware of what’s at stake. Our Nature Contributor, Kyle Obermann, shares about the rise of a greener generation.

For 25 years, American photographer David McIntyre lived and worked in China, where he and his wife adopted two children. Our Host James Chau spoke with him at the Beijing Olympics about sports and family.

David McIntyre has photographed nine Olympic and Paralympic Games. Through sports, his images capture human stories as they happen in real-time. Our Host James Chau spoke to him at Beijing 2022.

The International Olympic Committee has recognizes broadcaster Tracey Holmes with a women in sports award. As she waited for her plane home at the end of Beijing 2022, she spoke to our Host James Chau about a city she calls home.

Sports broadcaster Tracey Holmes grew up in the US and Australia — and lived in China where she worked on television. Returning for Beijing 2022, she recalls her Olympic experience at a time of a pandemic. She speaks to our Host James Chau.

The Winter Olympics and Paralympics are in the hearts of billions of sport-lovers. We speak to one of the people who make it all happen — Thomas Bach. Bach, a former Olympian, heads the International Olympic Committee. He spoke with our Host James Chau.

As competitors face nature in their bid for gold, many winter Olympics sports also present high risks to their participants. The exposure to mountains, steep slopes, and extreme weather are only a few of the dangers for athletes. In the run-up to the Beijing Olympics, a team of 40 physicians trained for over four years to aid injured Olympians. This story from our Host James Chau.

The big winner at the Beijing Olympics is Bing Dwen Dwen, the mascot encased in an astronaut’s outfit. Long lines have formed outside stores in Beijing, while factories are trying to keep up with demand. Our Host James Chau looks at the “ice panda” winning hearts everywhere.

Eileen Gu is the face of the Beijing Olympics, winning gold for China in the freestyle halfpipe before heading to Stanford University in the fall. Our host James Chau looks at her story, and the women in her family who made her a champion.

The Jamaican team has qualified for the four-man bobsleigh event for the first time since their debut in 1988, and the inspiration for the movie, 'Cool Runnings'. But also at these Beijing Winter Olympics, China is fielding its own bobsled — designed and crafted in China, as its athletes make their bid for sporting glory.

Meet the Beijing Olympics mascots — ‘Bing’ and 'Shuey.' Our Host James Chau shares the cultural significance of these characters, as well as a number of other Chinese elements woven into this year's Winter Olympic celebration.

The China Current presents a special series in honor of Beijing 2022, the Winter Olympics and Paralympics. In this video, our Host James Chau looks at the sport of curling, the materials and techniques that distinguish it from other events, and the teams competing for gold.

We've made a big shift to living digitally in this pandemic. But millions of people are missing out in low, middle, and high-income countries. We look at what's happening in China, which has struggled historically with poverty. We look at how rapid urbanization is changing opportunities, while people in the countryside are also catching up — and moving ahead. This story with our Host James Chau.

Through the pandemic, we have been interviewing people with a unique role in the international response including Mary Robinson, Chair of The Elders; Muhammad Yunus, Nobel Peace Laureate; and Dr Tedros, WHO Director-General. These conversations by James Chau of hope and purpose are collected in a book that documents the human lessons for everyone.

Beijing is the first city to host a summer and winter Olympics, we look at a town outside Beijing that is the location of the ski events. Until very recently, the people of Chongli lived in deep poverty. But the opening of a ski resort in 2008, an influx of tourism, and now the global focus of the Olympics, has transformed jobs and other opportunities. Our Host James Chau finds out more.

As 2022 begins, we look at simple ways we can be grateful in a complex and uncertain world. Our Host James Chau provides his Top 5 from Hong Kong.

Each November, thousands of tons of premium oranges are harvested in China's city of Ningbo. Known as 'Red Beauty' oranges, these popular and unique local fruits are renowned for their delicious taste and freshness. Our Host James Chau tells us more.

With 42% of the country made up of wilderness, China is one of the best places to see a brilliant array of fall foliage. Our Nature Contributor Kyle Obermann gives insider tips on some off-the-beaten-path destinations in China that are worth visiting this season.

In the 1800s, China was a mix of rebellion, monarchy, and commerce. John Thomson, a prolific Scottish traveler and photographer, ventured into Asia and documented the changes he witnessed in person. In time for the centenary of his birth, an exhibition on Thomson has returned to Scotland. Our Host James Chau looks at his legacy and the works that illuminated early understandings of China — its culture, architecture, and people.

Kyle Obermann is not your average nature photographer. Last year, he went viral for dancing to pop music on a mountaintop in China. As our Nature Contributor, Kyle shares his journey of finding joy while exploring and working in China’s great outdoors.

China’s spicy Sichuan-style flavors have become a staple across the globe. This iconic cuisine was developed in Sichuan — a fascinating region that embraces history, tradition, and bold flavors. Our Host James Chau explores the influence this transcends cultures.

The Olympics are a celebration of sports, ideals, and the human spirit. No one captures that more than Yang Qian, who won two gold medals at Tokyo 2020 including the very first to be awarded. The 21-year-old from a small village in China contemplated retiring after her mother fell seriously ill — but she chose to persevere. This is a story of hope and resilience.

Music has helped to heal us during the pandemic. Chinese concert pianist Wu Muye has played around the world, even at meetings of global leaders. The pianist and our Host James Chau reflect on the power of music to unite, especially during a time of global struggle.

Chinese concert pianist Wu Muye is known to have “golden fingers.” Born in China, Wu Muye began performing when he was just five years old. When he was fourteen, he moved to France to pursue music education. Today, Wu Muye is the only young, Chinese pianist who has ever received the Perfect Piano Performing Artist Medal by the French Ministry of Culture. Our Host James Chau speaks with the musician about his story, bridging China and France.

For the first time since the pandemic, the world gathers a major cultural event. Art Basel in Hong Kong is a truly hybrid fair with an audience that is physical and virtual. Local galleries are showing physically, but exhibitors from outside the city have flown in their works — while a new digital initiative called Art Basel Live offers online viewing rooms, virtual walkthroughs, and daily broadcasts. In this special interview, James Chau, Host of The China Current, speaks with Adeline Ooi, Director Asia of Art Basel. Watch and listen to this conversation on video and podcast.

Millions of people hit the roads, rails and skies, as the five-day Labor Day holiday in China offered the first major respite from the pandemic this year. With infections close to zero — and jabs numbering 275 million — a safe vacation was the priority. In Beijing alone, over one million visitors flocked to major tourist sites on the first day alone. Our Host James Chau discovers the stories behind these numbers.

China is well-known for its large population. But as China’s economy has taken off, its “baby boom” has slowed down. Millennial and Gen Z attitudes towards getting married and having children have changed. Lower birth rates and an aging population are raising the risks of a looming population crisis. Our Host James Chau explores the history of China’s population growth and why it’s now slowing down.

Some 3.8 billion people across the globe are considered part of the middle class — and its numbers are growing. The rise of the global middle class can be traced back to the 1950s. Today’s enormous middle class is shaping and leading global consumption and lifestyle trends. Our Host James Chau examines China’s middle class and how this population has influenced global culture and lifestyle.

Livestream video has taken the internet by storm. From teachers to celebrities, a massive surge of users in China has established livestreaming as its own industry, and is changing the landscape of e-commerce in China. As the pandemic continues, its prominence certainly won’t fade away anytime soon.

In North America and Europe, one-person-households make up at least 40% of all households. The world’s population is shifting towards singlehood, a development made under the rising pressures and expectations from work and school, not to mention a wide variety of increasing wealth disparities. Our Host James Chau takes a look into the growing trend of unmarried and single households and how this is shaping our idea of family and home.

In his holiday classic, Bing Crosby sang about his dream for a white, snowy Christmas— but an ocean away in Harbin, China, ice and snow is always guaranteed. Each year, the northeastern city of Harbin stages a massive, globally renowned festival of ice— using over 200,000 cubic meters of ice pulled from the Songhua River, to create a wonderland of ice sculptures. Our Host James Chau takes us on an up-close adventure into the art and design of sculpted frozen water.

Livestream video has taken the world by storm, and China is leading the charge. From teachers to celebrities, a massive surge of users in China has established livestreaming as its own industry. With the rise in online retailers and “key opinion leaders” livestreaming to sell and review products, this new industry is changing the landscape of e-commerce in China. As the pandemic continues, its prominence certainly won’t fade away anytime soon. Our Host James Chau explores the impact of the pandemic on e-commerce and the livestream business boom.

Lu Xinjian’s visual artistry uses megacities like Shanghai and Moscow as his canvas, a vision that has led to collaborations with top brands around the world. And his art stems from his childhood—growing up in China’s rural mountains, tending to livestock and playing in fields. Our Host James Chau meets with Xinjian to learn about his roots in China’s recent past, and how his story parallels the rise of China itself.

From local soccer matches to the Olympic Games, the pandemic has reshaped sports as we know them. Tokyo 2020 is scheduled to go ahead with live spectators next summer, while Beijing is set to host the 2022 Winter Olympics as planned. This means East Asia could see millions of visitors within a short period. Both host cities are working towards sustainability and safety for athletes, visitors, and locals alike. In this episode, our Host James Chau looks at how the international sport community is thinking through today’s challenges.

Anna Ning is a leading gallerist with a focus on 20th century Chinese artists such as Zao Wou-ki, San Yu, and Chen Yifei. She is also a mainstay of the annual Art Basel fair in Hong Kong—and this month, have been invited to participate in the inaugural 'Hong Kong Spotlight by Art Basel', a special event that celebrates one city and its art community. Our Host James Chau asks her about the role of culture in a pandemic, and how her childhood in Beijing impacts the way she views the world.

Alan Lo is a restaurateur and art collector whose interest in paintings began with his family's own collection of Chinese ink-on-paper works. In honor of 'Hong Kong Spotlight by Art Basel', a special event that celebrates one city and its art community, our Host James Chau speaks to Alan Lo about his personal story and his role as an Art Basel Global Patron. What is the future of art fairs and will the nature of collecting change in these unfamiliar times?

Art Basel brings people together at the major fairs it stages annually in Basel, Miami, and Hong Kong. But in these socially-distanced times, it has gone an important step further, creating 'Hong Kong Spotlight by Art Basel', a physical event that celebrates one city and its art community. In a special set of interviews, our Host James Chau speaks to collectors and galleries—and, in this episode, he interviews Art Basel's Director Asia, Adeline Ooi.

November 11th, also known as 11/11 or “Single’s Day”, is a Chinese e-commerce holiday that has bolstered local and rural vendors around the country. Single’s Day is the biggest online shopping day in the world—with sales much larger than even Black Friday. The holiday, which turns 10 years old this year, was originally created by e-commerce platform, TaoBao. Our Host James Chau explores how it’s contributing towards an end to poverty.

The pressures of modern life have made dating more difficult in our rapidly evolving world. Today’s high cost of living, matched with evolving dynamics of education to employment has led to a decrease in marriage, and an increase of single-person households in countries around the world. Our Host James Chau dives into the phenomenon of “singlehood”—and how technology, culture and tradition play a role in partnership.

Culture and art have a newfound significance in a world burdened with a pandemic, where we are living much of our lives in isolation or with restrictions. Two gallerists have opened The Saachi Yates Gallery on Cork Street in London, a street made famous for its history in nurturing and birthing artists and gallerists, like Francis Bacon and Peggy Guggenheim. Gallerists Aurthur Yates and Phoebe Saatchi Yates have claimed this historical spot in London, as they say, “with one foot in the past, and one in the future”– looking to reinvent gallerying in these uncertain times. Our Host James Chau speaks with them from London.

Li Delun is the father of classical music in China, creating the first professional orchestra from a few donated instruments after the Second World War, and later founding what became the world renowned Chinese National Symphony Orchestra. Our host James Chau speaks with his grandchildren in Toronto, to tell us what it was like growing up around a man of music in a unique time in history.

Many at home during quarantine have found a renewed sense of creativity. But two musicians in Toronto have taken that to a new level—celebrating Beethoven's 250th birthday by gathering musicians from the world's leading orchestras to perform the composer's Fifth Symphony. What makes this more special is that they use their grandfather's 1983 recording as the base track. Our host James Chau speaks to Kemin and Rosalind Zhang about this special concert.

Culture plays a unique role in bringing peace, tolerance, and understanding to a world that is often divided. History, art, film, and music are ways to connect with people across social and physical boundaries. And these connections are enhanced by today’s technology and social media. Our Host James Chau explores the impact of today's leading apps, celebrities interacting with their followers, and a rural Chinese vlogger with more 11 million YouTube subscribers.

From alternative milks to insect-based snacks, our supermarkets are changing amidst a global shift to sustainability. However, many are still not able to obtain the most basic of food supplies. Today, there remains a global food crisis, where 113 million people around the world suffer from extreme hunger. In this story, we dive into a world that is hungry for change and the innovations that could bring a new era of food.

Chinese dumplings are enjoyed everywhere, but a group of young Yale and Peking University graduates are now popularizing a lesser-known style of Chinese comfort food in the US. Yong Zhao and Chef Lucas Sin are the co-founder and culinary director of Junzi Kitchen, which boasts a menu of thoughtful, northern Chinese comfort foods, such as noodles and "bings," a thin, savory pancake often sold as a street snack. With multiple restaurants already across New Haven and New York, Junzi Kitchen highlights the versatility and nuance of Chinese food and artfully leverages the appeal of global food culture with fast-casual dining to make this lesser-known cuisine accessible to everyone. Join James in New York, where he tries out Junzi's new branch near Bryant Park!

Costco's first store in China has opened in Shanghai to enormous crowds, with three-hour waits for a parking spot and shoppers capped at 2,000 people per day. Videos of the first day’s deluge have gone viral on social media, as much for ...

Qingdao is a city unlike many others in China. It’s a major port and industrial center, and one of the most livable cities according to the Chinese Institute of City Competitiveness.

A new hit series is taking the Internet by storm – and it’s about life in China more than 1,000 years ago. ‘The Longest Day in Chang’an’ – similar in format to the U.S. show ‘24’ – breaks down one full day in the Tang Dynasty, complete with drama, intrigue, and mystery. With great acting and painstaking research, it’s bringing history back to life.

Tea is an intrinsic part of China’s history and culture. But today it is enjoying a modern renaissance among millennials and young people across the globe, thanks to new flavors, healthier ingredients, and innovative designs.

Shanghai needs very little introduction – but there’s so much to say. This city of over 26 million people is one of the most dynamic in the world: its cosmopolitan past is on display with the historical architecture along the Bund, while its innovative future is underpinned by the skyscrapers that stand on former farmlands in the financial center of Pudong. James Chau takes you inside "the city that belongs to everyone".

Ever worried about taking your medicine on time? One entrepreneur in China has an innovative solution. Nick Zeng is based in Shenzhen, where he's created a smart pill box that reminds you what medicine to take, at what time - and also reminds your family and caregivers via a mobile app. Inspired by his grandmother, who suffers from a chronic disease, Nick invented a device that not only solves her problem, but can be applied more widely in a world that is advancing - and ageing.

We thought this story was really powerful here at The China Current. Three hair stylists snip and cut each day at their salon in Wuhan. But being deaf and hard of hearing, they communicate with their customers, and with one another, by writing and using sign language. They now want to replicate their success for other people in their community so that they too can achieve their fullest life potential.

Bai Bin, an extreme runner from Guizhou in China, has just completed an epic 433-day journey running from the South Pole to the North Pole. Despite the snow, storms and seas, he refused to give up and successfully finished his 14-month expedition in the Arctic. This is a story of incredible athleticism – and finding hope even when hope appears to be lost.

Charles Stevens, a college student at the University of St Andrews, traveled along the Silk Road last year - the ancient route that has fascinated traders and travelers for centuries. Today, though, it has transformed into a modern journey full of opportunity and innovation that is charting a model for the global future. I sat down with Charles in Hong Kong, 60+ days after he left his home in London to begin his journey. It's an incredible real-life tale of adventure, business and infrastructure - but mostly, people.

The Beijing Expo 2019 is showcasing the world’s best-in-class flowers, plants, and landscapes as part of a 6-month, 500 hectare exhibition, the largest of its kind in history. Landscape designers hailing from Denmark to Japan are among those who have been invited to create special exhibits that represent their national cultures under the theme “Live Green, Live Better.”, along with a range of gardens that demonstrate the diversity of China’s natural landscapes. In total, more than 100 countries and international organizations are participating in the Expo. An estimated 16 million visitors will attend the park and take part in almost 2,500 different cultural events. Within the park, 50,000 trees have been preserved and 100,000 trees and shrubs planted to improve the condition of wetlands, purify water and provide a habitat for migratory birds.

A 200 year-old Swiss textile company finds inspiration from the snowy Forbidden City to historical motifs in Chinese design. Camilla Fischbacher talks to James Chau about her family's legendary brand, Christian Fischbacher, and how the melting pot of globalization is shaping contemporary design, fashion, art, and architecture across both the West and the East.

After 30 years as one of the world's greatest violinists, Tasmin Little recently announced her retirement. She speaks to James Chau about her incredible life, and how her musical talents led her to become one of the first people to enter China after it began opening its borders to the world.