A storytelling podcast about real Chinese culture, 90s childhood life, and the secrets behind how Chinese people think, act, and communicate. Christopher Li is a Chinese journalist, news anchor, and award-winning TV show host. He has traveled across China and the world, interviewing people, explaining cultures, and telling stories that reveal what’s behind the headlines. With sharp observation, deep cultural understanding, and a talent for turning complex ideas into engaging storytelling, he’s here to bring you the China most foreigners never get to see.
Latest episodes
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11 min
Season Finale: Gaokao — A Milestone, Not an Ending
Welcome to our season finale! As Gaokao sweeps across China, we’re diving into one of the most meaningful traditions in Chinese youth life. We’ll share real heartwarming stories fr…
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12 min
From Chang’e Fairy To Real Astronauts: China’s Centuries-Long Journey To The Moon
Ever wondered why China is so fiercely determined to land humans on the Moon? It all traces back to 5,000 years of moon poems, Chang’e fairy tales and nationwide Mid-Autumn moon wo…
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11 min
Selling Faces For Profit? The Crazy Trend Behind AI Virtual Performers
Have you heard the shocking latest news blowing up all over social media? A major Chinese streaming platform is now launching a brand new platform that allows people to trade and l…
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8 min
What Did They Taste? Untold Stories From Trump’s China Welcoming Dinner
The recent high-profile visit to China has taken over global social media, drawing countless eyes from all around the world. Among all the remarkable moments from this journey, the…
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9 min
Inside China’s Iconic Annual 315 Expose Gala
Have you ever wished someone would expose every dishonest business cheating regular customers? China’s famous March 15 315 Gala does exactly that. Undercover reporters secretly inv…
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8 min
May Fourth: When Young People Shaped a Nation
Monday’s are usually everyone’s least favorite day — but this year, May 4th lands on a Monday, a quietly iconic and meaningful day across China: Youth Day. Most of the world has ne…
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11 min
Beyond Sci-Fi: What No One Told You About The Record-Breaking Robot Marathon
Ever scrolled past the viral clip of a Chinese humanoid robot finishing a half-marathon and outrunning the world’s fastest human athletes? What you didn’t see are the wild behind-t…
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8 min
Beijing’s Spring Curse: Why Every Year We Fight “Flying Cotton”
Beijing’s spring has a fluffy, frustrating secret: liu xu. On this episode of Chopsticks & Confessions, we’re diving into everything you need to know about these flying catkins—fro…
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9 min
From Weather Control to $30M Wins: The Wild Truth of Beijing’s 2008 Olympics
The 2008 Beijing Olympics weren’t just about gold medals and fireworks—they were full of behind-the-scenes drama and heartwarming surprises. On Chopsticks & Confessions, we’re brea…
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9 min
Beyond 996: How Neijuan Is Shaping Every Generation in China
Ever felt like the harder you work, the further you fall behind? That’s neijuan—and it’s taking over China. On this episode of Chopsticks & Confessions, we dive into how this zero-…
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14 min
Leftover Woman And Gold-digging Man (Re- Release)
Ever heard of a marriage built on no house, no car, not even a radio—just 3 months of blind dates? Or why a 1970s bicycle was the"Tesla of its time" for Chinese grooms? On this epi…
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17 min
Little Fresh Meat (Re-Release)
Ever wondered what it's like to be a PE-hating dance lead, or why Chinese men carrying their partners' handbags is a quiet revolution? On this episode of Chopsticks & Confessions,…
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16 min
Rosemead: A Fragile State of Mind (Re- Release)
What if the most terrifying thing about your child's mental illness wasn't the illness itself-but the shame of talking about it? What if you hid your own terminal cancer diagnosis…
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11 min
Am I beautiful yet?
What if the “perfect” beauty look could kill you? If you’ve binged Ryan Murphy’s wild new series The Beauty, you know exactly what I’m talking about—this show’s twisted take on our…
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14 min
Expired at 35: The Wild Age Rule of Working in (Re-Release)
What if one app controlled your job, your social life, your grocery runs, and even your subway rides? What if hitting 35 meant you're"too old" for half the jobs on the market? And…
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20 min
Big Horse Energy for 2026 (Re-Release)
Ever wondered why your Chinese friend panics at the sight of a wilting succulent? Or why they refuse to cut their hair until mid-February? Spoiler: it's not just "old people's nons…
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11 min
The Viral Gala Robots That Shocked the World… And Why It’s Just the Beginning
If you’ve scrolled TikTok lately, you’ve definitely seen it — robots doing kung fu at the Chinese Spring Festival Gala, backflipping, holding swords, and going viral worldwide.But…
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8 min
Chinese New Year Is Coming! Let’s Talk About How We Celebrate
Chinese New Year is right around the corner, and if you’ve ever wondered what this huge festival is really about, how we celebrate, and why we do all those little traditions — this…
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9 min
Uniform for All
Ever spent 12 years wearing the exact same shapeless, polyester outfit every single day — even through puberty, exams, crushes, and tears? If you grew up in China, you know exactly…
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14 min
Cheap on Boba, Rich on Joy
Ever earned a solid salary but hesitated to buy a $4 bubble tea, yet dropped $280 on a concert ticket without a second thought? That’s the reality of China’s Gen Z and millennial “…