13 of the best podcasts on China to listen to now

Whether you want to learn more about China’s tech sector, its opaque policy making apparatus or what the country’s Gen Z youth are into, there’s a podcast for it. Here are our pick of the top shows to get into now

According to a survey conducted in 2020, the number of listeners of podcasts, audiobooks and other audio shows is now estimated to be around 542 million – and that’s just in China. Across the globe, podcasts have become one of the most convenient ways to take in new information, and is increasingly one of the most creative too. Here are 13 podcasts on China you should be listening to now to understand the country better.

Business

Tech Buzz China: Co-hosted by the bilingual and bicultural Rui Ma and Ying Lu, Tech Buzz China is a biweekly technology podcast that is all about China’s innovations. They share and discuss the most important tech news from China every week, and include commentary from investors, industry experts, and entrepreneurs.

The Sinica Podcast: The flagship show of the Sinica Podcast Network founded in 2010 and hosted by Kaiser Kuo and Jeremy Goldkorn offers a frank and engaging weekly discussion on business, technology, politics, and culture in China with a range of experts such as former National Security Council China director Ryan Hass or Pulitzer Prize winning writer Ian Johnson.

Chinese Whispers (The Spectator): A fortnightly podcast, hosted by Cindy Yu, offering an in-depth look into Chinese politics, society, history and much more.

EU-China Podcast: Bringing you interviews with experts and practitioners directly involved in EU-China relations, this show delivers concise and straight-to-the-point briefs on the top EU-China news making headlines.

China Biz Roundup: This podcast by Caixing Global, China’s top independent news outlet specialising in economics, business and financial news, offers a short, 15-minute daily update for investors, business leaders, policymakers and anyone interested in the latest from the country.

China Talk: A weekly show exploring China’s economy and tech scene, hosted by Jordan Schneider and published on Lawfare. Guests include a wide range of policy analysts, business professionals, journalists, and academics.

China Business Brief: CBBC’s very own podcast that offers a fresh perspective on issues and developments affecting anyone doing business in or with China, the world’s second-largest economy.

Technology

China Tech Investor: This is one for tech and startup enthusiasts. Co-hosted by contributor Elliott Zaagman and investor James Hull, each episode brings in a different specialist to talk about the emerging trends, offer business advice, and general news within the tech sphere.

Culture

Middle Earth: China’s Cultural Industry: Hosted by Aladin Farré, Cao Liuying, Karin Chien, and Jenny Wu, this podcast provides a unique perspective on the low-budget films and art-house movies coming out of China.

Bottled in China: Hosted by Emilie Steckenborn, this podcast looks at China’s Food & Drink scene through conversations with KOLs, brewers, and restaurant owners in the F&B sector.

NuVoices – Hosted by Chenni Xu, Cindy Gao and Joanna Chi, NüVoices explores and narrates the role of women in academia, media and the arts, as well as addressing issues of abuse of power and international and domestic politics.

Ta For Ta: The title of this podcast means “her for her” and is a biweekly show capturing the narratives of women from Greater China. Hosted by Juliana Batista, and produced by SupChina on the Sinica Podcast Network, listeners hear from invited guests who share their insights and experiences ranging from navigating cultural divides in the business sector, to female empowerment.

Environment:

Environment China: This is a bilingual podcast under the Beijing Energy Network. The show features interviews and conversations with advocates, entrepreneurs and experts working in the environmental field in China.

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