Audio, History
Jeremiah Jenne
What can the end of the Ming Dynasty tell us ...

Trump's re-election disappointed many in the U.S. and abroad. To help them process, Jeremiah and David talk with literary translator and Pennsylvania voter Brendan O’Kane about Zhang Dai, the Ming-Qing transition, and living through an age of upheaval.

What can the end of the Ming Dynasty tell us about the election of Donald Trump and what comes next
Contemporary China, History, Audio
Jeremiah Jenne
Historical Battles: Rewriting China's Past to ...

Jeffrey Wasserstrom joins Barbarians at the Gate to discuss the legacy of the Hong Kong protests, Xi Jinping’s patriotic education law, and how Beijing’s control over historical narratives is reshaping academic engagement with China.

Historical Battles: Rewriting China's Past to Shape the Future
Audio, History
Jeremiah Jenne
Dan Snow's History Hit: The Creation of the ...

How China transitioned from imperial rule to Chinese Socialism and all about the key characters whose opposing visions for China's future created so much chaos along the way.

Dan Snow's History Hit: The Creation of the People's Republic of China
Book Reviews, History
Jeremiah Jenne
Philip Kuhn: Sorcery and Bureaucracy in Qing ...

A supernatural crisis pits an anxious autocrat against his own functionaries when a hunt for soul-stealing sorcerers turns into a political witch-hunt among 18th-century China’s “deep state.”

Philip Kuhn: Sorcery and Bureaucracy in Qing China
Audio, History, Travel
Jeremiah Jenne
Edge of Empire with author and journalist ...

In this episode of Barbarians at the Gates, Edward Wong of the New York Times joins David and me to discuss Ed's new book, At the Edge of Empire. We discuss frontiers, what the Qing Dynasty means for China, and the different generational perspectives on China's recent past.

Edge of Empire with author and journalist Edward Wong

Travel

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Excellent Ming-Era Architecture and Artifacts on Display at Re-Opened Zhihua Temple

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Excellent Ming-Era Architecture and Artifacts on Display at Re-Opened Zhihua Temple

Zhihua Temple, one of the best-preserved repositories of Ming-era architecture and artifacts in the city, has reopened after extensive renovations.

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Making the Forbidden City Fun for Kids: New Spaces, Exhibits, and Dragons Galore

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Making the Forbidden City Fun for Kids: New Spaces, Exhibits, and Dragons Galore

The Forbidden City can be a test of endurance for most people, not just those young folks with shorter legs and even shorter attention spans. Making a three-hour walk through an old palace appealing to younger visitors is all about how you approach your Forbidden City trip.

The Guangzhou Massacre of 889

The Guangzhou Massacre of 889

One of the good things about the annals of Chinese history is that it’s pretty easy to find an event which makes your horribly bad day seem like an afternoon shiatsu and steak. Such is the case with the Guangzhou Massacre of 889.

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Urban Hiking: Celebrate National Day With Historical Rambles Through Beijing’s Concrete Jungle

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Urban Hiking: Celebrate National Day With Historical Rambles Through Beijing’s Concrete Jungle

Beijing is not known for being especially pedestrian-friendly, but that doesn’t mean there is a shortage of historical strolls on which to stretch your legs and broaden your knowledge of our fair city.

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Still Want to See the Sights? Five Tips to Beat the Crowds in Beijing During Next Week's October Holiday

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Still Want to See the Sights? Five Tips to Beat the Crowds in Beijing During Next Week's October Holiday

Over 700 million tourists are going to be on the move starting Sunday, and Beijing will be one of the most popular destinations, Caixin reported this week. So how can one enjoy the sites and avoid the crowds?

Lipton's Ceylon: The Legacy of a Tea Tycoon's Sri Lankan Empire

Lipton's Ceylon: The Legacy of a Tea Tycoon's Sri Lankan Empire

The tea fields of central Sri Lanka are a long way from Scotland, but both share a rugged beauty, sometimes obscured with mist, at once giving way to views which sweep down into deep, green valleys.

Little wonder then that a Glaswegian grocery magnate would choose this spot – central Sri Lanka’s Dambatenne – upon which to build his empire of tea.

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Historic Courtyards and Residences That Could (or Should) Be Opened to the Public

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Historic Courtyards and Residences That Could (or Should) Be Opened to the Public

Have you ever walked down a hutong past a grand gate and stopped to wonder just what was hidden behind those high brick walls?

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Military Ghosts of Modern China

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Military Ghosts of Modern China

The Republic of China Military Academy, better known as the Whampoa Military Academy, only spent six terms on Changzhou Island, but those six terms between 1924 and 1927 were a crucible from which some of China’s most influential 20th-century political and military leaders emerged.

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Kowtow and get out: How I was almost ejected from the Forbidden City

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Kowtow and get out: How I was almost ejected from the Forbidden City

Demonstrating an imperial ritual for your guests is a good way to get 86'd from The Forbidden City. It almost happened to me.

Some rules cannot be broken

Some rules cannot be broken

 

Traveling to North Korea is a risky way to spend a vacation. It's a country where things can happen beyond the reach of anyone's help. Neither governments nor guides can you save you if you get into trouble. So why do people travel there?

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