ANCIENT HISTORY

Clothed in Jade and Gold: The Ancient Dream of Immortality

Long believed to be a myth, Chinese jade burial suits symbolized ancient nobles’ pursuit of eternal life

MODERN HISTORY

Bullets of Revolution: A Brief History of Political Assassinations in China

A look back on China’s attempts to end imperial rule through political assassinations

ANCIENT HISTORY

Cold Fashion: How Ancient Chinese Kept Warm in Winter

From paper and straw to fur coats...this is what ancient Chinese wore to keep themselves warm in winter

ENTERTAINMENT

Do Chinese Kids Have Their Own Barbie?

The answer is, of course, yes!

HISTORICAL FIGURES

How a Patriotic Organization Evolved Into a Martial Arts Icon

Because of the popularity of films based on the martial artist’s life story, few can really distinguish the actual history of Huo Yuanjia from fictionalized adaptations

ANCIENT HISTORY, CHINESE CHARACTERS

Speaking Ill: How Ancient Chinese Talked About Sickness

From denoting various levels of illness to the “Gods of Plague,” 疒 is a radical you need to know in sickness or health

SUBSCRIBER EXCLUSIVE
ANCIENT HISTORY

The Relic Hunter: One Man’s Race to Save China’s Old Cultural Landscapes

Amateur conservationist Yang Fan has explored thousands of little-known historic sites in China, while trying to raise awareness for the need to protect these treasures before they disappear

TRAVEL

House of Mao: How Consumerism and Patriotism Collide in the Chairman’s Hometown

Shaoshan, Chairman Mao’s birthplace in Hunan province, has become a top tourist site where people burn incense to the revolutionary hero while selling T-shirts of his face

ANCIENT HISTORY

The Surprisingly Ancient Origins of Christmas in China

From Christians in the Tang dynasty to all-night parties in early 1900s Shanghai, the Western holiday has a longer history in China than most people think

ANCIENT HISTORY

Orphans’ Ordeals in Ancient China

How were children without parents treated in ancient history?