How did ancient China protect the environment...

Why has the snake, often feared, been revered in Chinese culture and become one of the 12 zodiac animals? How is it portrayed in artifacts, and what does it symbolize in China compared to other cultures? In this episode, we explore the serpent's evolving meanings in Chinese civil ...  Show more

Like the finest wines, the best inspiration for poetry is brewed and vivified, if served in the right vessel. In this episode, we present a phoenix-headed tricolor ceramic wine vessel from the Tang Dynasty, some 1200 years ago. In what ways did it influence the development of Chi ...  Show more

Say one thing about Mao's communist China, they could kill some sparrows. Learn why and how in today's episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 

For decades, China was the go-to for low-cost manufacturing, but now it's a global leader in advanced industries. How did China leapfrog the competition, and what does this mean for the global economy? We explore the rapid rise of Chinese industry and its implications for the fut ...  Show more

In May 1980 China allowed capitalist activity for the first time since the Communist Revolution, in four designated cities known as the Special Economic Zones. The most successful was Shenzhen, which grew from a mainly rural area specialising in pigs and lychees to one of China's ...  Show more

How did we get the set of Chinese words we have today? John and Jared talk about how the Chinese language has evolved, adapted, innovated, and borrowed to create the language it is today.