China’s thousands of years of history are filled with countless stories of human growth, culture, and civilization, and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Liangzhu aims to preserve one such story of historical significance. The remains of the 5,000-year-old city contain traces of complex societal hierarchy, primitive technology, and unique artifacts that show the ways people lived millennia ago. In its place now stands modern-day Hangzhou, an innovation hub that is home to some of the world’s leading tech giants. This meeting point between the past, present, and future provides an important lens to view human civilization—and the ancient ruins of Liangzhu are a reminder of where that journey began.

The China Current has a commitment to the global future, and as such we are very proud to partner with One Young World, the global forum for young leaders. Our Host Hanes Chau went to London, to its annual summit, to meet Nana Xu, an artist and filmmaker who uses culture as a gathering point for people, ideas, and purpose.

Low Touch Economy | The Novel Outbreak There’s been a sharp uptick in take-out and food delivery, indoor spaces have emptied, and businesses are reshaping how customers and employees interact. This is the beginning of what many are calling a “low-touch economy”. Driven by safety measures to combat the spread of the virus, businesses around the world, from hotels to restaurants and retailers, have had to restructure under the pandemic or shut down altogether. Our Contributing Editor Laura de Belgique dives into what a low-touch economy will mean for the world.