Drum Tower

For centuries, most Chinese turned their back on the sea. But a boom in domestic tourism and the pandemic changed that. Now, whether they want the perfect seaside-selfie or to commune with nature, millions are heading to the beach for the very first time. Rosie Blau, The Economist’s international China correspondent, spends a day at Dameisha beach, on China’s southern tip, where she explores what China’s new beach culture reveals about the country today. Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to Economist Podcasts+For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.

The Economist’s editor-in-chief Zanny Minton Beddoes was recently in Beijing for the China Development Forum, an annual gathering where senior Chinese officials meet foreign business bosses.She joins our Beijing bureau chief David Rennie to assess Xi Jinping’s new plan to escape economic stagnation. Plus, what is the outlook for China’s relationship with America?Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.

The Communist Party wants to build a “civilised” China. Its latest attempt is a nationwide campaign that aims to insert the party, and its ideology, in every aspect of people’s lives.Alice Su, The Economist’s senior China correspondent and David Rennie, our Beijing bureau chief, examine this campaign and take you to a mass wedding organised by a New Era Civilisation Practice Centre. Together they ask: how does Xi Jinping’s latest civilisation campaign work? And what does it mean to the people who take part? Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.

On March 13th America’s House of Representatives passed a bill that could ban TikTok nationwide unless its Chinese owner, Bytedance, agrees to sell its stake. Alice Su, The Economist’s senior China correspondent, and David Rennie, our Beijing bureau chief, look at China’s side of the story. Joined by Don Weinland, our China business and finance editor, they ask: does Chinese ownership of TikTok really pose a threat to America?Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.

Xi Jinping likes to tell people in China that their country is not just a democracy, but a much higher-functioning democracy than those you’d find in the West. He coined a slogan, “whole-process people’s democracy” to refer to China’s style of democracy and he points to annual meetings like the National People’s Congress (NPC) as an example of how Chinese people participate.  James Miles, The Economist’s China writer-at-large, and Alice Su, our senior China correspondent, delve into this year’s NPC to ask: what is whole-process people’s democracy and does the Chinese public believe in it? Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.

An article from The Economist read aloud. This week our China section looks at how China is supercharging the green transition—while burning mountains of coal.