History, Travel
Jeremiah Jenne
Phoenicians and Fish Sauce on the Costa del Sol

Jeremiah heads to Malaga where he inexplicably becomes obsessed with the history of an ancient condiment

Phoenicians and Fish Sauce on the Costa del Sol
Book Reviews, History
Jeremiah Jenne
Reginald Johnston: Twilight in the Forbidden ...

A Scotsman’s memoir of tutoring Puyi, China’s “last emperor,” is more than just court gossip — it’s a tantalizing portrait of China’s imperial trappings.

Reginald Johnston: Twilight in the Forbidden City
Audio, Contemporary China, Beijing
Jeremiah Jenne
The Challenges of Foreign Reporting in China: ...

Jeremiah and David welcome Jane Perlez, former Beijing bureau chief for the New York Times. Jane reflects on shifts in media freedom and the challenges faced by reporters covering China. Her podcast series on U.S.-China relations, "Face Off," launches its second season this week.

The Challenges of Foreign Reporting in China: An In-Depth Discussion with Jane Perlez
Book Reviews, History
Jeremiah Jenne
Graham Peck: Two Kinds of Time

An American writer’s memoir of World War II China remains a timely diagnosis of the pathologies of U.S. foreign policy in the wake of the “loss” of China.

Graham Peck: Two Kinds of Time
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

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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Beijing's Mystery Canal: Centuries-Old Brook Reimagined in Qianmen Neighborhood

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Beijing's Mystery Canal: Centuries-Old Brook Reimagined in Qianmen Neighborhood

Last month, state media buzzed about the restoration of an ancient brook, a long-lost waterway transformed into a beautiful new park in Beijing. The trouble was, the brook didn’t seem to exist on any historical maps of the city. 

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Not Just for Tourists: How to Make the Most of Beijing's Scenic Spots

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Not Just for Tourists: How to Make the Most of Beijing's Scenic Spots

Beijing’s scenic spots are often dismissed as touristy by those of us who have called this city home for longer than, say, six months. This summer, however, you may want to pay them another visit bearing these alternative activities in mind.

The 5 People You Meet on the Beijing Metro

The 5 People You Meet on the Beijing Metro

Having spent quite a few commuting hours below ground of late, I’ve started to distinguish a taxonomy of my fellow passengers, including several species which I find it best to avoid

Slow Boats and Caravans: Great Explorers in Chinese History

Slow Boats and Caravans: Great Explorers in Chinese History

China was never closed to the world. The myth of Chinese civilization huddled behind the Great Wall, isolated and insular, is as much a product of Western imagination as any historical reality. For thousands of years, travelers, traders, scholars, and missionaries explored the overland routes and sea lanes connecting China with the rest of the world.

Will the Authorities Slow the Out-of-Control Roll of the Bike Sharing Revolution?

Will the Authorities Slow the Out-of-Control Roll of the Bike Sharing Revolution?

Bike sharing has been one of the best things to happen to Beijing in a long time, but like any disruptive new business model, it has its problems.

How to Order a Jiānbing in Mandarin

How to Order a Jiānbing in Mandarin

Ubiquitous. Delicious. Not entirely nutritious. You can find them on the street in Beijing and Brooklyn. They are a staple of both morning commuters and late night revelers, the apex snack, the Egg McMuffin of breakfast foods: The humble 煎饼 jiānbing.

How Does China’s Imperial Past Shape Its Foreign Policy Today?: A China File Conversation

How Does China’s Imperial Past Shape Its Foreign Policy Today?: A China File Conversation

Throughout most of history, China dominated Asia. Now, with China on the rise again, are Beijing’s leaders looking to establish a new hegemony by drawing on the playbook of the distant past? 

24 hours on the booze trail in Siem Reap

24 hours on the booze trail in Siem Reap

It’s 3:00 in the morning. You are sitting on a stool next to a drinks cart somewhere near “Pub Street” in Siem Reap. Beyond the reptilian core of your brainstem – the part devoted to maintaining respiration and sphincter function – you have a dim recollection of an appointment in three hours with Angkor Wat.

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