Curious Foodie: Why debating over a moon cake?
Eating moon cakes is an essential part of celebrating the traditional Mid-Autumn Festival in China. But did you know that these small pastries can sometimes trigger a heated debate?
Sep 16, 2021•7 min
A Thousand Whys
A Thousand Whys is tailor-made for curious minds about China and the Chinese culture.
This podcast offers fascinating facts about what this ancient civilization has to offer, covering a wide range of topics including history, philosophy, literature and arts, lifestyle, science, and the natural world.
Subscribe to learn "what are the Chinese ways and why", for free.
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Episodes
A Happy Hour invite from 9,000 years ago
A new study has found evidence of beer drinking dating back to about 9,000 years ago in southern China. Let's dive into the world of ancient drinkers who tried to enjoy Happy Hour in their own way.
Sep 09, 2021•6 min
Curious Foodie: Wanna try one of the most lavish Chinese feasts?
A total of 108 dishes in one single banquet… The Manchu-Han imperial feast is more than a symbol of luxury in ancient Chinese royal cuisine, but also a blend of ethnic culinary cultures.
Sep 01, 2021•5 min
Curious Foodie: Since when we started to have three meals a day?
Breakfast, lunch, dinner… many of us have been brought up with the habit of eating three meals a day. However, it might shock you that it wasn’t always the case.
Aug 25, 2021•6 min
Space Talk: Behind the ventures
To build up motivation for space explorers to venture into the unknown world, it definitely takes a lot of courage, ambition and perhaps more importantly, love. In this episode, let's talk about something that's worth pondering on behind all the great space ventures.
Aug 12, 2021•5 min
Space Talk: What are some fun things to do without gravity?
It’s been almost two months since the three Chinese taikonauts entered China’s space station and started their three-month stay. What do they do on their days off? What fun things can they do without gravity up there?
Aug 08, 2021•6 min
Space Talk: How was the lunar eclipse comprehended in ancient China?
Without scientific explanation, the darkening of the Moon may be a startling event. That is probably why lunar eclipses were once a source of mythology in ancient China. But were astronomers at the time able to explain this celestial phenomenon?
Aug 01, 2021•8 min
Space Talk: What life is REALLY like in the “Heavenly Palace” space station?
What is it like to live in a space station 24/7 for three months? Is it better or worse than living on earth? Here are the answers to satisfy your curiosity.
Jul 25, 2021•7 min
Space Talk: The Neil Armstrongs of ancient China
It would appear like people never tire of talking about space, the stars, and everything else over our heads. The ancients also had their own ambitions to explore the mysteries of outer space. Sometimes, our forebears could be far more adventurous than you could imagine.
Jul 18, 2021•8 min
Space Talk: A mouthwatering trail into space
Food obviously plays an essential part in supporting life on space stations. What do people in space eat? Can they enjoy a decent meal, as we do here on Earth?
Jul 11, 2021•11 min
Space Talk: Tiangong, Tianhe, Tianwen... What do they mean?
What was the inspiration behind exploring the universe, or more recently, the naming of China’s space station?
Jul 04, 2021•8 min
Curious Foodie: What a REAL Chinese breakfast is like
Ding! Check out a real Chinese breakfast menu!
Jun 30, 2021•7 min
Space Talk: Why are Chinese astronauts called taikonauts?
We all love to daydream our way into space. But some people have already ventured there in real life. That’s right: astronauts. With China dispatching three astronauts to its space station for the first time, the word “taikonaut” has gone viral. Why are Chinese astronauts called taikonauts?
Jun 27, 2021•7 min
Say hello to ‘Space Talk’
As the Shenzhou-12 astronauts became the first Chinese to enter a space station, ‘A Thousand Whys’ is proud to launch a new series “Space Talk”. Prepare yourselves for unprecedented space travel as we take you to explore new heights, as well as the ancient legends behind what we call outer space today.
Jun 24, 2021•50 sec
Curious Foodie: And China’s most duck-obsessed city is…
Peking duck obviously has made its name at home and abroad. Surprisingly however, the most duck-obsessed city in the country is not the Chinese capital. Disclaimer alert! Animal lovers be advised that this episode contains graphic content on eating duck.
Jun 23, 2021•6 min
Curious Foodie: Do century eggs take a century to make?
The century egg is probably one of the most misunderstood foods in Chinese cuisine. What is it? Does it really take a century to make? Why do Chinese people love this weird little black egg so much? Here come the answers.
Jun 16, 2021•6 min
Curious Foodie: What we eat for the Dragon Boat Festival?
In a few days’ time, we will enjoy a delicious treat called “zongzi”, or “sticky rice dumplings”, for the Dragon Boat Festival. Have you ever wondered why we are so obsessed with eating certain kinds of food at different times of the year?
Jun 09, 2021•6 min
Curious Foodie: Why do Chinese people love stinky tofu?
Surströmming, blue cheese, durian… It seems like the love for stinky food is somewhat shared among all cultures. Well, in China, there’s also a smelly but delicious food that we can’t seem able to say no to – stinky tofu!
Jun 03, 2021•6 min
Curious Foodie: Why could hot pot solve everything?
If you randomly ask any young person on the street in China, no matter the city, what their favorite food is, the answer you are most likely to get is hot pot!
May 26, 2021•7 min
Unsolved mysteries of Sanxingdui
Since the Sanxingdui site was first discovered almost a century ago, humans have never stopped exploration of this mysterious archaeological site. It seems that this enigmatic ancient civilization has a lot more stories to tell as well as mysteries for humans to uncover. Let’s check some of the still-unsolved puzzles and questions about Sanxingdui.
Mar 29, 2021•5 min
Did Sanxingdui really vanish?
Where did the people who once lived in Sanxingdui eventually end up? Why did the once-prosperous civilization seem to vanish into thin air?
Mar 29, 2021•6 min
The obsession with gold
The obsession with gold has been a human weakness since the moment our ancestors first glimpsed its luminous surface. Tune in to learn about the latest golden discoveries unearthed at the Sanxingdui site.
Mar 26, 2021•7 min
Aliens in ancient China?
Was Sanxingdui built by an alien civilization? While this might unfortunately just be far-fetched thinking, let’s look at some of the mysterious clues.
Mar 24, 2021•6 min
Who discovered Sanxingdui?
Everything you need to know about the discovery of Sanxingdui, one of the greatest and most mysterious archaeological findings in China.
Mar 22, 2021•7 min
Say hello to Sanxingdui
Aliens, buried artifacts, worship of God, a mysterious ancient kingdom, and a lost civilization… Sanxingdui is a combination of all these.
Mar 19, 2021•6 min
Unearthing the Three-Star Piles
When you binge watch dance and prank videos on TikTok or giggle at celebrity gossip news on Twitter, have you ever wondered what people did to kill time thousands of years ago?
Mar 17, 2021•57 sec
The past and present of temple fairs
If you want to experience a festive and traditional environment on the Spring Festival, a temple fair is probably your best bet. Whether you’re in the north or the south of the country, a temple fair is like a standard configuration to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year. To know more about the origin and development of these fairs, don’t miss this episode of A Thousand Whys.
Feb 11, 2021•6 min
Chunwan - a feast of entertainment and performances
When the Spring Festival arrives each year, people celebrate it with various traditions and folk customs, most of which have been handed down over generations. But there’s one that is quite contemporary, only in existence about 40 years or so – the Spring Festival Gala, or Chunwan in Chinese. A feast of entertainment and performances presented to the nation by China Central Television (CCTV), it has undoubtedly become an impressive cultural symbol for the celebration of the Spring Festival nowad...
Feb 11, 2021•6 min
What a meal of family reunion!
For every Chinese person, the dinner on Spring Festival Eve is probably the most important meal of the whole year. It is a tradition for people to return to their hometown, no matter what, to spend this occasion with the family.
Feb 11, 2021•7 min
The two sides of celebrating the Chinese New Year
On the occasion of the Chinese New Year, some people are excited to meet their family, longing for New Year Eve's dinner, enjoy the festive environment indoors and outdoors. However, there are some people who are troubled for certain reasons. Why?
Feb 11, 2021•6 min
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