It’s happened all over the world, and it’s happening in China too. As the country’s middle class swells in number–and its people discover the pleasures and disappointments of a life spent pursuing material comfort–there comes …
Read MoreChinese Web Users’ Funny and Disturbing Responses to Sandy’s Impact
In an interconnected world, it’s perhaps small surprise that many of China’s web users were well aware of hurricane Sandy’s fierce impact on American shores. Over the past 24 hours, thousands of Sandy-related comments have …
Read MoreAs Handover Looms, China Enters Extreme Lockdown
It’s a state of lockdown so extreme that it feels like war. With China’s change in leadership at the 18th National Party Congress just nine days away, “stability and security” has become the number-one issue …
Read MoreChina-U.S. Live Discussion: Postponed
Due to power outages for a number of participants relating to Hurricane Sandy, we will be forced to reschedule “China-U.S.: A live discussion on elections, energy and climate change” for a date in the near future. …
Read MoreChinese Blogging Superstar’s Strange But Effective Rant Against Over-Construction
We’ve seen this movie before, and so has the rest of China. On Saturday, October 27, Tea Leaf Nation reported that protests were heating up in the coastal city of Ningbo as locals expressed opposition …
Read MoreA Coded Message Between “Sea-Watcher” Pres. Obama and the Chinese State?
U.S. President Obama may be known as “Renegade” to his secret service details, but the code word for him on China’s social media is “Sea-Watcher” (观海). Some call him “O-Sea-Watcher” (奥观海), giving a nod to his …
Read MoreChinese Musicians Worry Elite Juilliard School Might Be Lost In Translation
In June of this year, The Juilliard School, an elite performing arts conservatory, announced plans to partner with governmental and educational entities in Tianjin, China, to explore the creation of an educational institute there. With …
Read MoreNIMBY Protest Watch: Tear Gas Used in Ningbo
Another month, another NIMBY protest in China. Following the similar protests in Shifang and Qidong earlier this year, people in the coastal city of Ningbo have taken to the streets to urge the local authorities to call off a controversial …
Read MoreSome Call NYT an Inadvertent ‘Puppet’ in Wake of Exposé on Chinese PM
On Thursday Oct 26 The New York Times published a 4,700 word article on corruption among the members of Wen Jiabao’s family, alleging that they amassed a fortune of $2.7 billion through shadowy business dealings. …
Read MoreBreaking New Ground: A Live, Interactive Online Discussion on U.S.-China Relations
Dialogue. Understanding. Connecting people from around the world to talk about meaningful subjects. That’s what Tea Leaf Nation is all about, and so we are thrilled to partner with the good folks at ChinaDialogue.net to …
Read MoreWhy Is It So Hard For Beijing to Un-Clog Its Traffic?
Beijing, a city of 20 million, is planning to take harsh measures against its notorious traffic jams. According to The Beijing News (@新京报), a local newspaper, the Beijing transportation bureau is reviving a radical scheme …
Read MoreBeijing and Shanghai Natives Unite to Defend Their Children’s Privilege
Beijingers and Shanghai’ers usually have zero love for each other, but lately some natives of China’s two top metropolises have presented a united front — against migrants from other parts of China. Beijingers usually refer …
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