What can best represent today's China? Its people. From movers and shakers to the grassroots, we invite you to trace the footprints of the Chinese people from every walk of life, including modern farmers, traditional craftspeople or tech tycoons. With Footprints, you’ll feel the pulse of the 1.4 billion Chinese people and find inspiration in their incredible life stories. Updated weekly.
Latest episodes
-
29 min
Samuel Denby: Feeling at home in Qingdao
What can a community worker's daily routine reveal about a city? Samuel Denby, who lives in Qingdao, shares his experiences in China and explores how micro urban management shapes…
-
10 min
City governance from the inside with Daniel Dumbrill
Five kids, two cities, one microbrewery. Daniel Dumbrill's 18-year China journey reveals a government system that actually serves its people – and a hotline that proves it, even wh…
-
26 min
Fernando Munoz Bernal: The number "12345" makes life different
What is 12345? It's a government hotline that actually delivers. It listens, responds and solves real problems—for locals and foreigners alike. One Colombian expat in China calls i…
-
20 min
12345: A bridge to solutions
A bridge to solutions. That's what Beijing's 12345 hotline has become for its roughly 20 million residents. Handling millions of calls each year, the hotline tackles problems both…
-
31 min
A city that listens: An Australian vlogger's life in Chengdu
From Australia to Chengdu, Andre's journey in China has been a tale of discovery, connection, and breaking stereotypes. In this episode, we sit down with Australian vlogger Andre L…
-
23 min
'It just runs': An American's life in Hangzhou
How do technology and public services shape our everyday lives? In this episode, we sit down with Scott Pruett, an American who moved to China 18 years ago and has spent the past s…
-
26 min
Francis Stonier: Falling in love with Chongqing
American expat Francis Stonier has called Chongqing, China, home for nearly a decade. He first captured widespread public attention in 2022, when devastating wildfires broke out on…
-
22 min
The legacy of Jiao Yulu
In central China's Henan Province lies the small county of Lankao. Today it is a well-known production center for traditional Chinese musical instruments. Historically, however, La…
-
20 min
The unfinished journey
This year marks the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC). In this episode, we revisit the life and legacy of Huang Wenxiu, a young CPC member and…
-
27 min
Ai Aiguo: China's master welder
Ai Aiguo, a master welder, has largely defined China's welding industry. For more than five decades, he has overcome hundreds of technical challenges and served major national proj…
-
26 min
Lu Hong: A life without limits
In this episode, we explore the remarkable journey of Lu Hong, a businessman from Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, who has spent a lifetime defying expectations. Diagnosed wi…
-
13 min
Encore: A Serbian trader seizing opportunities in China
Faris Rebronja, a Serbian trader of daily goods based in north China’s Shanxi Province, sees himself as a bridge between Serbia and China. After years of living in China, the young…
-
21 min
The "Good Guys" of Gulangyu
"Whenever we need help, we think of the 'Good Guys.'" On Gulangyu, the pedestrian-only UNESCO World Heritage island off the coast of Xiamen, east China's Fujian Province, a group o…
-
19 min
From cars to classrooms: One American's love affair with China
After a chance trip to China in 1998, engineer Ben Watson from the United States abandoned car design for teaching. Now in his 50s, he calls the northeast Chinese city of Harbin hi…
-
26 min
Andy Tubman: Melody weaves and heart heals
Join Footprints for an exclusive interview with American healing musician Andy Tubman. His music once awakened a friend from a coma and soothed many troubled, depressed hearts.
-
17 min
Zhang Xue: The unstoppable (Episode II)
In this episode, we are going to learn about the ZXMOTO boss's entrepreneurial adventures in Chongqing, where, with the same grit and can-do spirit, he rolled out his high-performa…
-
17 min
Zhang Xue: The unstoppable (Episode I)
This March, Chinese homegrown motorcycle maker ZXMOTO made history on the racetrack, scoring a spectacular back-to-back double win with French rider Valentin Debise in the WorldSSP…
-
28 min
Heart menders: After the quake
In the aftermath of a devastating earthquake, even as lives are saved and homes begin to rise again, hidden wounds linger for many survivors long after the ground stops shaking. In…
-
26 min
The architect of smiles: How Xue Feng crafts joy into concrete and steel
For award-winning architect Xue Feng, success is measured in laughter. He designs with people, not just for them. His holistic approach weaves speed, sustainability and soul into e…
-
26 min
Meng Jianmin: Design with humans at the center
In populous first tier cities in China, visiting a doctor at major hospitals can sometimes be exhausting. One often has to maneuver through crowds to get around in big hospitals, w…