Dangerous Delicacies: Inside Yunnan’s Wild Mushroom Obsession
Discover how eating wild mushrooms can be both a delicious and dangerous experience, why Chinese mountains are getting huge escalators installed, and a look back at our 20th anniversary event
Hello TWOC readers!
In China’s ecologically rich southwestern province of Yunnan, mushrooms have become a seasonal favorite, drawing food lovers from across the country—and even foreign politicians, like former UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and former US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. But mushroom season also brings hallucinatory misadventures that can turn perilous.
TWOC reporter Anson Zong-Liscum traveled to Yunnan to find out why such a dangerous—and potentially deadly—food still has people traveling hundreds of miles each summer.
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Dangerous Delicacies: Inside Yunnan’s Wild Mushroom Obsession
Every year, the local food safety office sends residents a text warning that “mushrooms may be delicious, but do not try wild and unfamiliar varieties.” Yet for many veteran mushroom hunters, the message serves less as a warning than as an official signal that the province’s lush, dense forests are ripe for foraging. Read More
Peak Convenience: The Rise of Painless Hiking
From cable cars to mountain escalators, China’s scenic areas are catering to tourists who want nature, relaxation, and good views without breaking a sweat. Read more
The Ghosts of Xuanwu Gate: A Bloody Coup and a Rewritten History
Fourteen hundred years ago this month, fratricidal bloodshed paved the way for one of China’s greatest emperors to ascend the throne. Yet what really happened remains a mystery. Read more
Event Recap
Last Saturday, The World of Chinese magazine celebrated its 20th anniversary, bringing together the team, longtime readers, and friends at Beijing’s Shixi Teahouse for an afternoon filled with shared memories, anecdotes, and fun.
The editorial team has also put together a collection of the magazine’s highlights from each year. This exhibition is a trip down memory lane, celebrating the stories, people, and moments that have shaped the magazine’s journey so far. It also offers a reminder of how rapidly society has changed—and how those changes have shaped all of our lives.
The celebration kicked off with a panel tracing TWOC’s two-decade journey as an English-language magazine in China, featuring the magazine’s former deputy publisher, Chu Dandan; managing editor, Liu Jue; and longtime contributor, Jesse Young.
Established in 2006, The World of Chinese began as a magazine designed to help readers learn the Chinese language and explore Chinese culture. Over time, as China and its connection with the world continued to evolve, so did the publication. It expanded beyond language learning to tell deeper stories about Chinese society, culture, and everyday life, covering social changes, youth trends, technology, and the people shaping contemporary China.
On the magazine’s 20th birthday, we are especially grateful to all the writers, photographers, editors, designers, and partners who have shared their passion and creativity with The World of Chinese.
We are also deeply thankful to our readers around the world, whose curiosity and support have inspired us to keep exploring, questioning, and sharing meaningful stories about China. Stay tuned for the next chapter and many more stories to come! Click here for more from our event recap.
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