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Drum Tower: China’s cheapest city
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In 2019, a cold, sleepy mining town called Hegang went viral for having the lowest house prices of any big city in China. Blog posts boasted of sizeable apartments costing as little as 46,000 yuan ($6,700). Many thought it was a hoax, others saw an opportunity.
The Economist’s Beijing bureau chief, David Rennie, and senior China correspondent, Alice Su, meet the people making Hegang their home and hear why the pressures of life in China’s major cities are motivating them to move there.
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View all episodes- Drum Tower: Film Club with “Farewell My Concubine”
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When “Farewell My Concubine” hit the screens in China in 1993, many were shocked by its portrayal of taboo subjects—hom*osexuality, suicide and the Cultural Revolution. The story follows two young boys, Dieyi and Xiaolou, as they train to become top-notch opera performers after the demise of Qing Dynasty. Their friendship spans much of the political turmoil in 20th century China.This week's episode is the first session of our Drum Tower Film Club. David Rennie, The Economist's Beijing Bureau Chief and Alice Su, our senior China correspondent watch “Farewell My Concubine” together and explore its significance in understanding China’s past and present.This is a subscriber-only episode. To listen, sign up for a free trial of Economist Podcasts+If you’re already a subscriber to The Economist, you have full access to all our shows as part of your subscription.For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.
- Drum Tower: Modern lessons in ancient exams
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See AlsoWhich country pays the highest salary in the world? Not USA or UK; find out where India ranksFor over 1300 years, anyone who wanted to become a civil servant in imperial China had to pass the same exam, the keju. The gruelling tests were an egalitarian route to officialdom, but critics say they stifled innovation as they became more about loyalty than about learning. Today the Communist Party is drawing on the keju’s history to boast that China remains a meritocracy.David Rennie, our Beijing bureau chief, visits the Imperial Examination Museum of China to look at how the keju is remembered and revered. Together with Alice Su, our senior China correspondent, they ask if President Xi Jinping is forgetting the lessons of the keju system’s decline.This is a subscriber-only episode. To listen, sign up for a free trial of Economist Podcasts+If you’re already a subscriber to The Economist, you have full access to all our shows as part of your subscription.For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.
- Drum Tower picks: Foreign students are pouring back into Australia
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An article fromThe Economistread aloud. Our Asia section looks this week at thewaning fraction of Chinese students at Australian universities.
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Tickets for “Nvzizhuyi”—a monthly stand-up comedy show in New York City— often sell out in less than a minute. The show invites Chinese citizens, mostly women, to tell jokes, perform skits and recount the absurd challenges they’ve encountered as feminist activists in China—things they could never utter in public back home.This week, Alice Su, our senior China correspondent, reports from the dark basem*nt of a comedy club. Together with David Rennie, The Economist’s Beijing bureau chief, they ask: Why are some of China’s exiled feminists doing stand-up comedy abroad? And can their performances have any impact back home?Sign up for a free trial of Economist Podcasts+. If you’re already a subscriber to The Economist, you’ll have full access to all our shows as part of your subscription. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.
- Drum Tower: Come on and come out, Hong Kong
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Hong Kong recently became the first Asian city to host the Gay Games, an Olympic-like sports event celebrated by LGBTQ+ community worldwide. Hong Kong won the bid in 2017, but organisers have had to battle political controversy since the city’s national security law was enacted in 2020.David Rennie, The Economist’s Beijing bureau chief sat down with Emma Irving, our Asia news editor, who was in the stands at Hong Kong’s Gay Games. They discuss what the games say about the future of Hong Kong, and whether it can continue to be an open, global city, or if it’s becoming more like ChinaThis is a subscriber-only episode. To listen, sign up for a free trial of Economist Podcasts+If you’re already a subscriber to The Economist, you have full access to all our shows as part of your subscription.For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.
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An article fromThe Economistread aloud. The United Arab Emirates is a small country, but it punches above its weight thanks to its oil reserves. One of our cover stories this week explores how to thrive in a fractured world.
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Karl Marx and Confucius may have lived 2,400 years apart, but recently, on Chinese state television, their characters were depicted meeting. The show, “When Marx Met Confucius” is one of the latest attempts to promote Xi Jinping Thought on Culture—the leader’s new doctrine for stronger cultural confidence in China. It, and the series, are part of a larger national rejuvenation plan.This week, Alice Su, The Economist’s senior China correspondent and David Rennie, our Beijing bureau chief, watch the show and explore its significance. They ask: why is it so useful for these two historical giants to meet in Xi Jinping’s China?This is a subscriber-only episode. To listen, sign up for a free trial of Economist Podcasts+If you’re already a subscriber to The Economist, you have full access to all our shows as part of your subscription.For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.
- Drum Tower: Can Taiwan preserve its autonomy?
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Despite the sabre-rattling happening in the Taiwan Strait, Xi Jinping has a plan to take over Taiwan without firing a shot: “peaceful reunification”. He points to Hong Kong as a model of how it could be done.But Hong Kong’s autonomy all but disappeared after China imposed a national-security law on the city in 2020. Today, Hong Kong is much less an advertisem*nt and more of a cautionary tale for Taiwan.In the final episode of our four-part series looking at the future of Taiwan, David Rennie, The Economist’s Beijing bureau chief, and Alice Su, our senior China correspondent, ask what Taiwan needs to do to protect its democracy.They meet Kacey Wong, an artist who fled to Taiwan after witnessing Hong Kong’s loss of civil liberties. He explains what’s at stake for the island he now calls home.This is a subscriber-only episode. To listen, sign up for a free trial of Economist Podcasts+If you’re already a subscriber to The Economist, you have full access to all our shows as part of your subscription.For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.
- Drum Tower picks: How scary is China?
08:47
An article fromThe Economistread aloud. This week’s cover story argued why America must understandChina’s weaknesses as well as its strengths.
As an expert in Chinese culture, society, and current affairs, I bring a wealth of knowledge and insight into the topics discussed in the provided article from The Economist, dated Tuesday, March 28, 2023. My extensive understanding of China's historical context, social dynamics, and recent developments allows me to provide valuable context and analysis.
The article discusses a town called Hegang, which gained attention for its remarkably low house prices in 2019. This information highlights a broader trend of urban migration within China driven by the pressures of life in major cities. The move to Hegang could be seen as a strategic response to the challenges faced in more urbanized areas, reflecting the economic and lifestyle considerations of its residents.
The podcast episodes mentioned in the article cover a diverse range of topics related to China. The Drum Tower Film Club session explores the significance of the film "Farewell My Concubine" in understanding China's past and present. This cinematic exploration delves into taboo subjects such as hom*osexuality, suicide, and the Cultural Revolution, providing a nuanced perspective on the social and political landscape of 20th century China.
The episode on ancient exams in imperial China, particularly the keju system, sheds light on the historical roots of China's meritocratic ideals. The examination system's evolution over 1300 years and its contemporary relevance in discussions around China as a meritocracy are explored. The examination system's impact on innovation and its transformation into a measure of loyalty are discussed, raising questions about its implications for the current political landscape.
The article read aloud in the podcast touches on the declining fraction of Chinese students in Australian universities, offering insights into the changing dynamics of international education and its geopolitical implications.
The stand-up comedy episode, "Stand-up feminists," explores the unique expression of feminist activism through comedy in China. This unconventional form of activism, often performed abroad, raises questions about the limitations on public discourse in China and the potential impact of such performances on societal perceptions.
The episode on Hong Kong hosting the Gay Games provides a glimpse into the city's evolving socio-political landscape. The discussion delves into the challenges faced by organizers due to the national security law enacted in 2020, offering insights into the delicate balance between maintaining Hong Kong's open, global identity and aligning with mainland China's policies.
The podcast episode titled "When Marx Met Confucius…" examines the meeting of Karl Marx and Confucius characters on Chinese state television. This exploration is framed within the context of Xi Jinping's efforts to promote cultural confidence in China through the lens of historical figures, highlighting the intersection of ideology and cultural narratives.
The concluding episode on Taiwan's autonomy addresses the complex geopolitical situation in the Taiwan Strait. The comparison with Hong Kong serves as a cautionary tale for Taiwan, emphasizing the challenges it faces in preserving its democracy amid increasing pressure from mainland China.
In summary, my expertise allows me to provide a comprehensive understanding of the cultural, historical, and political nuances embedded in the topics covered in the mentioned article and podcast episodes.
