"Welcome to the season finale of Beijing Calling and we're taking you somewhere really special! If you were to bring one stuffed animal for a young friend back home from China, what would it be? Let me take a wild guess and say: a panda? There is no better place to get that toy than from the Giant Panda Breeding Center in Chengdu city of Southwest China and that's where we're heading today. Will they let you bring home a real baby panda? Well...let's see what Shenting and Mohan have to say about...
Apr 01, 2019•11 min
Mirror Mirror on the Wall Who is the wisest one of all? Is it the King? Is it the Queen? Is it the fair lady who is writing this thing? Close, but no! For a lot of Chinese people, the answer is very likely to be: my Grandmother! Grandmas are packed with decades with wisdom and bosoms full of love! What are the words of wisdom that Chinese Grandmas try to pass down to their much-pampered grandchildren? Join us and have a listen!
Apr 01, 2019•15 min
Mirror Mirror on the Wall Who is the wisest one of all? Is it the King? Is it the Queen? Is it the fair lady who is writing this thing? Close, but no! For a lot of Chinese people, the answer is very likely to be: my Grandmother! Grandmas are packed with decades with wisdom and bosoms full of love! What are the words of wisdom that Chinese Grandmas try to pass down to their much-pampered grandchildren? Join us and have a listen!
Apr 01, 2019•14 min
Li Yuan brings you the latest from China's contemporary music scene. In this week's show, we listen to two new singles just released by alternative band FAZI from the historic city Xi'An, and hear the band's lead vocalist Liu Peng introducing their latest work. Let's take a listen!
Mar 31, 2019•11 min
Just two decades ago, pets were still rather rare in China when people were busy just managing their children, but nowadays, more and more people, even young adults who have just learned to take care of themselves, are becoming pet owners. The pet industry has been growing rapidly, with dogs and cats being the most popular choices. What other animals are favored by the Chinese people? Lizards’? Turtles? Snails? (Whisper: A panda would be nice, but only in my dreams...) Mohan and Shen Ting will t...
Mar 05, 2019•15 min
People from China have quite different standards than people from the West when it comes to defining beauty. A recent advertisement from Zara featuring a Chinese model with freckles triggered rage from some people on social media, who saw it as an affront to Chinese women.
Mar 05, 2019•6 min
Many single young men and women were facing challenge going home during the Spring Festival holidays, for their pushy parents may keep asking when they're going to get married. Now the holiday is over, are they out of this kind of trouble? Apparently not. Marriage markets will once again be active.
Mar 01, 2019•6 min
"There are many symbols of good luck around the world. Some are very well known, such as four-leaf clovers in Ireland; dream catchers in Native American culture; the North Star for sailors and a pot of gold for...well say, you and me? What are considered lucky in the Chinese culture? Will people's eyes light up if you give them, let's say, a live turtle for present? What fruit is the most appropriate for birthdays for the elderly? Click ""Play"" and find out!"
Mar 01, 2019•15 min
"There are many symbols of good luck around the world. Some are very well known, such as four-leaf clovers in Ireland; dream catchers in Native American culture; the North Star for sailors and a pot of gold for...well say, you and me? What are considered lucky in the Chinese culture? Will people's eyes light up if you give them, let's say, a live turtle for present? What fruit is the most appropriate for birthdays for the elderly? Click ""Play"" and find out!"
Mar 01, 2019•12 min
Li Yuan brings you the latest from China's contemporary music scene. In this week's show, we have a romantic duo by Li Quan and Dutch jazz singer Laura Fygi, specially released on ST. Valentine's Day. Let's take a listen!
Mar 01, 2019•7 min
If there a time NOT suitable for traveling to China? Yes, there sure is! No one wants you here during the month-long Spring Festival celebration, no matter how handsome, beautiful and nice you are. Just stay away! We don't want to find you crushed, crumpled, flattened, or squashed, trying to find your footing among the millions, wait, maybe billions of travelers on the move at the train stations, airports, bus stops... Oh wait! We shouldn't worry. You won't be able to get tickets to go anywhere ...
Feb 20, 2019•11 min
China is in the midst of the post-Spring Festival travel rush.While people planning to catch public transport home battle to find a ticket, people who are driving are facing a struggle of their own: trying to fit all their gifts from their families into their trunk!
Feb 20, 2019•6 min
When you've finally taken down your holiday lights and put away your Christmas tree, the Chinese people are getting ready to roll up their sleeves to prepare for the most important festival of the year-the Chinese Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year. But it's not as simple as putting out some milk and cookies for Santa and wrapping up presents to put under the tree, there is a series of activities that lead to the last night of the winter and the first day of the spring. And by then you've ...
Feb 20, 2019•18 min
Li Yuan brings you the latest from China's contemporary music scene. In this week's show, we meet Haowei Guo, record producer and film composer who just finished the score composing of the animation White Snake. He talked about the creation of the the film's original music, and shared his understanding of music. Let's take a listen!
Feb 20, 2019•10 min
With the Chinese Zodiac Year of the Pig fast approaching, Peppa Pig has once again captured the public's attention in China, thanks to a video released online to promote the new Peppa Pig film that will hit the screens in China during the Spring Festival holiday. The video, called "What Is Peppa?", tells the story of a grandfather living in a small rural village trying to work out what "Peppa" means, so he can give his grandson a New Year gift to remember.
Jan 30, 2019•6 min
When jazz music meets Chinese traditions, what do we expect to hear? In this episode of Beijing Calling, we have pianist Jiang shan presenting her latest 2 singles that blend two different cultural roots together.
Jan 27, 2019•14 min
Seriously, are you a Pig? You are if you were born in 2007, 1995, 1983, 1959, 1947, 1935, 1923, 1911 or 1899 (and what's your secret for longevity?) Don't be sad if you are, I'm only talking about the Zodiac sign and the Chinese consider the sign of the Pig to be prosperous and lucky. I mean, a lifetime of rolling in the mud and basking in the sun without ever worrying about where the next meal will come from sounds mighty desirable for the toiling masses. The Zodiac signs have a ubiquitous pres...
Jan 25, 2019•15 min
"Today we are going to talk about some words that you will hear from nowhere else. These are slang, phrases, buzzwords that have emerged in the past year from online and offline. They have become part of everyday talk, popular especially among the younger generations in China. The first five we're sharing in this episode are: soul gaze, Buddha-like, official announcement, cheesy pick-up lines, and prankish. Do they mean what you think they mean? Tune in and find out!"
Jan 25, 2019•10 min
Three Moms and three kids make a video that gets millions of hits! Yeah, that rhymes! Four generations living under one roof might sound two to three generations too much to you, but for centuries in China, it's been a symbol of heavenly bliss. Though no longer common in today's China it's still looked upon with fondness and warmth. Recently, a series of videos with this theme have been garnering the hits overseas. One child, her parents, then the grandparents and then the great grandparents com...
Jan 24, 2019•5 min
"Today we are going to talk about some words that you will hear from nowhere else. These are slang, phrases, buzzwords that have emerged in the past year from online and offline. They have become part of everyday talk, popular especially among the younger generations in China. The first five we're sharing in this episode are: soul gaze, Buddha-like, official announcement, cheesy pick-up lines, and prankish. Do they mean what you think they mean? Tune in and find out!"
Jan 24, 2019•13 min
"Hello and it's Li Yuan here, bringing you the latest from China's contemporary music scene! In this week's show, we meet Xu Wei, a nationally renowned pop-rock musician here in China. He just released his seventh album and in today's show, he reveals the creation of the new songs and his philosophy on life and music. Join me and take a listen!"
Jan 24, 2019•13 min
For us Chinese people, no matter where we live, be it the North Pole or smack on the Equator, there are certain things that we simply must have, maybe not right away if they are not readily available, but these items will slowly creep back into our lives. What are they and why are they so essential? Here is a sneaky peek: Plastic basins. As ugly as they look, these are part of our lives. You will find them in our bathrooms, not just one or two, but a whole stack of various appalling colors. The ...
Jan 15, 2019•19 min
For us Chinese people, no matter where we live, be it the North Pole or smack on the Equator, there are certain things that we simply must have, maybe not right away if they are not readily available, but these items will slowly creep back into our lives. What are they and why are they so essential? Here is a sneaky peek: Plastic basins. As ugly as they look, these are part of our lives. You will find them in our bathrooms, not just one or two, but a whole stack of various appalling colors. The ...
Jan 11, 2019•17 min
For most of us, red is red, the color of passion and blood. But when women and beauty are involved, matters are never as simple as "just red". There are diva, chili, retro, berry and burgundy, to name just a few from thousands of varieties of lipstick shades worldwide. Yes, thousands! And even that is not fine enough for a nation with a history of over 5,000 years. New colors have burst onto the scene straight from the Palace Museum, inside the City that was once Forbidden. These "reds" for lips...
Jan 10, 2019•7 min
Li Yuan brings us the latest from China's independent music scene. In this week's show, we meet Chang Jing, a prolific Gu Zheng player and composer. She talked with Li about her work, and shared her thoughts on music. Let's take a listen!
Jan 10, 2019•13 min
Haiyang worked in the sports industry for 5 years. He is currently on the organizing committee for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games. Listen to the discussion between Haiyang and Mohan to find out how participation in sports has changed in China over the years.
Jan 10, 2019•12 min
Li Yuan brings us the latest from China's independent music scene. In this week's show we meet Punx, a techno musician who co-founded the Beijing-based indie label Prajnasonic. He will share with us some of China's cutting-edge electronic music. Let's take a listen!
Jan 10, 2019•13 min
If you ever come to China and get to stay a while among the locals, there are things you are bound to hear. Spirit of ancient ancestors lingering in the attic? The benefits of eating thousand-year eggs? Glorifying introductions of not-yet-married daughters and sons? Yes, maybe, but not really. It's "Shang Huo", "Up" and "Heat". Grannies say it to show their love. Moms say it to assert their control. Coworkers say it to show their concern. It floats everywhere in the Chinese atmosphere. So what's...
Jan 10, 2019•16 min
If you ever come to China and get to stay a while among the locals, there are things you are bound to hear. Spirit of ancient ancestors lingering in the attic? The benefits of eating thousand-year eggs? Glorifying introductions of not-yet-married daughters and sons? Yes, maybe, but not really. It's "Shang Huo", "Up" and "Heat". Grannies say it to show their love. Moms say it to assert their control. Coworkers say it to show their concern. It floats everywhere in the Chinese atmosphere. So what's...
Jan 10, 2019•15 min
Christmas might be more of a commercial event than a spiritual one in China, but it's still a time when people gather with friends and exchange presents. In this episode, Mohan and Shenting talk about how Chinese youngsters celebrate Western festivals like Christmas, Valentines' Day, and Thanksgiving.
Jan 10, 2019•14 min
