Pandas are popular again
Hello TWOC readers!
“DC’s newest celebearities are HERE!” the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., posted on X on Wednesday. Three-year-old giant pandas Bao Li and Qing Bao were welcomed by a motorcade upon landing Stateside on Tuesday morning. At a time of escalating competition and tension between China and the US, it's nice to occasionally be reminded that we can united in our shared appreciation for black-and-white bears.
If animals warm your heart, you won’t want to miss stories from our latest magazine issue, “Back to the Wild”—especially this one:
Can China’s Zoo Boom Ever Lead to Better Animal Welfare?
Here's what else we're highlighting this week:
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Primal Fear: Why China’s Children Are Becoming More Nature-Averse
Urbanization and screen addiction are creating a generation of children who lack awareness of the outdoors. With concerted effort, can they be saved? Read more
Box Office Blues: National Day Films Leave Audiences in the Dust
There was a time when the National Day holiday at the start of October marked a boon for the domestic box office. Those times have passed. Despite a promising opening, this year’s results were another round of disappointment. Read more
A Modern Look into Lin Yutang’s Timeless Classic
We celebrate the 129th birthday of modern Chinese writer Lin Yutang with a reflection on My Country and My People—his 1935 book full of insight into the roots of Chinese society. Read more
What We’re Watching
Like a Rolling Stone: A Stirring Meditation on Womanhood and Defiance
Based on the true story of Su Min, a woman who embarked on a solo drive across China at the age of 56 to escape an abusive marriage, China’s latest box office hit reflects on the quiet endurance of generations of women and questions whether leaving is the end—or just the first step toward reclaiming independence. Read more
Chinese You Need
With the government officially confirming a long-speculated decision to raise the country’s retirement age, young Chinese workers are turning to sarcasm to cope with the seemingly endless toil that lies ahead. Click through to learn some words and join the conversation.
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