Sinobabble

Why are so many cultural heritage sites in China fake? Why is the architecture all the same? And why does no one care that all these old towns were built in the past 20 years? Let's take a deep dive into the history of the cultural heritage industry in China, the role of the CCP party-state, the agency of local actors, and try and figure out why Chinese tourists love fake reconstructions of mini European villages in the middle of their megacities. *Diary of the visit to Furong was in 2022 not 2002!! #China #culturalheritage #unesco #culturalrevolution #chinesehistory #chinatourism Chapters (00:00) Introduction (03:45) Attitudes to cultural heritage around the world (06:45) The destruction of China's cultural heritage (11:11) Reasons for rebuilding China's cultural heritage sites (12:38) Defining authenticity (17:00) Examples of Disney-fied heritage sites (40:25) What tourists want (44:45) Does authenticity matter? Support the Show. Sign up for Buzzsprout to launch your podcasting journey: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=162442 Subscribe to the Sinobabble Newsletter: https://sinobabble.substack.com/ Support Sinobabble on Buy me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Sinobabblepod

Hi everyone, I’m really excited to announce that I will be hosting my first ever livestream this Friday 10th May over on Youtube. This is just a casual event, where you guys can ask me any questions you want, we can discuss current affairs and China news, and we can brainstorm future episode ideas as a collective. The stream will be at 10pm BST. You can join us at this link on Friday - I’m really looking forward to chatting with everyone! See you soon, Edi Support the Show. Sign up for Buzzsprout to launch your podcasting journey: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=162442 Subscribe to the Sinobabble Newsletter: https://sinobabble.substack.com/ Support Sinobabble on Buy me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Sinobabblepod

There’s a lot of outrage currently about China’s attempts to grow its EV market, at the expense of the US economy. But the truth is that the Chinese EV market wouldn't be where it is today without the generous funding it received (and continues to receive) from the US, Western governments, and multinational companies looking to cash in on the next big thing. So let's talk about the ways in which China's EV industry is funded by the US, both directly and indirectly, partly with the help of your pension fund. Chapters (00:00) Introduction (03:15) Timeline of China's EV industry (12:20) The threat of Chinese made EVs (15:00) #1: The West was happy with China’s EV development (when it benefited them) (20:40) #2: China's EV market was funded with US FDI and investor capital (28:45) #3: China's investment scene is better than Silicon Valley (39:30) The West as get rich quick scheme Buy me a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sinobabblepod Support the Show. Sign up for Buzzsprout to launch your podcasting journey: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=162442 Subscribe to the Sinobabble Newsletter: https://sinobabble.substack.com/ Support Sinobabble on Buy me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Sinobabblepod

"Safeguarding National Security Bill", also known as Article 23 of the Basic Law of Hong Kong, was passed in March to no public opposition. I read through the whole bill and discussed how it may be used to transgress human rights and common sense in Hong Kong. I also discuss the history of recent protests in Hong Kong, and how they paved the way for Beijing to get its way and increase its control over its people Chapters (00:00) Introduction to Article 23 (03:15) Background: protests and new legislation 2019 - 2021 (13:07) Going through Article 23 (16:00) Part 2: Treason (18:45) Part 3: Sedition (22:55) Part 4: Espionage (26:55) Part 5: Sabotage (27:27) Part 6: External Interference (31:15) Part 7: Enforcement (36:08) Foreign commentary Buy me a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sinobabblepod Links to everything: https://linktree.com/sinobabble Support the Show. Sign up for Buzzsprout to launch your podcasting journey: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=162442 Subscribe to the Sinobabble Newsletter: https://sinobabble.substack.com/ Support Sinobabble on Buy me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Sinobabblepod

In the face of economic turbulence, China's youth are struggling to find jobs that are suited to their skills and can give them the life that they want and were promised. While China's government strives to alleviate youth unemployment, societal and cultural factors pose significant challenges. China's young people are reacting in unpredictable ways - finding alternate ways to get jobs, taking time out to become full time kids, or forging their own paths altogether. Chapters 00:00 Background: Employment in China vs the West 03:50 Reasons for youth unemployment in China 08:55 Crazy job requirements 11:30 Chinese gov helps youth find jobs 17:20 Caveat about youth unemployment 18:37 Chinese social culture and jobs 27:18 Young people's response to joblessness Support the Show. Sign up for Buzzsprout to launch your podcasting journey: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=162442 Subscribe to the Sinobabble Newsletter: https://sinobabble.substack.com/ Support Sinobabble on Buy me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Sinobabblepod

The newer and nimbler players in Chinese e-commerce are pushing buttons in the West. Rock-bottom prices, fast fulfilment and addictive interfaces are pushed to their limits to take China's dopamine economy global. What's going on, where does AI fit in the picture and what can we do to take on these new standards of consumption? Support the Show. Sign up for Buzzsprout to launch your podcasting journey: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=162442 Subscribe to the Sinobabble Newsletter: https://sinobabble.substack.com/ Support Sinobabble on Buy me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Sinobabblepod

Yoghurt bowls. Lululemon leggings. Ugg slippers. More young Chinese women embrace what they identify as the "white woman aesthetic" as an antidote to the pressures of high maintenance beauty standards and material achievement. As more Chinese women question the grind and settle for less, is the "white woman aesthetic" really an innocent social media fad or a deeper awakening of class consciousness? Chapters 3:15: Introduction to the "White Woman aesthetic" 12:00 Chinese middle class anxiety 14:31 Defining the Chinese middle class 21:05 Morality and responsibility of the Chinese middle class 27:32 Limitations of the Chinese middle class 37:08 Conclusions Support the Show. Sign up for Buzzsprout to launch your podcasting journey: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=162442 Subscribe to the Sinobabble Newsletter: https://sinobabble.substack.com/ Support Sinobabble on Buy me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Sinobabblepod