Send us a textDespite China's reputation for having difficulty selling cultural products due to local regulations and the audience's taste, some do manage to bridge the Chinese audience with international content. Where do such opportunities lie, and how has the Chinese audience evolved over the years?Featuring- Marion Bertagna: MB Projects - Founder & Director- Sun Wenxin (aka Yoyo): Global Concert OrganizerTo go further- Middle Earth episode #87 How local government & foundations sponsor culture in China- Middle Earth episode #77 Big in China: Bringing Foreign Creators Onto Chinese Platforms- Middle Earth episode #60 The Golden Age of China's Museums?- TWOC's article Can China’s Detective Novels Finally Make Crime Pay? by Jesse Young- International dancers mentioned : Rachid Ouramdane, Pina BauschMiddle Earth is made by China Compass Productions and hosted by Aladin Farré. If you have a China-themed cultural project, like shooting your next documentary, or are looking for a specific talent, please get in touch! Chinese speaker? Follow our Bilibili account 阿拉丁_说电影With thanks Li Muyuan for research, and Sean Calvo for music support.The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more.

Send us a textChina's first AAA game Black Myth: Wukong certainly caught the world's attention for its production value, commercial success, and controversies. How did the creative team pull that off, and why was this game considered the "perfect package"?Featuring- Daniel Ahmad: Niko Partners - Director of Research & Insights- Lundy Lan: Video Game Technical Artist- Jesse Young: Independent Researcher  To go further- Middle Earth trilogy about Chinese video games industry : #67 Creating Games for the West#70 China’s Indie Games#73 Chinese E-sports- Middle Earth episode #87 How local government & foundations sponsor culture in China- Middle Earth episode #79 Exploring Wuxia (think "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon")- TWOC's article Monkeying Around: Chinese Gamers on the ‘Black Myth’ Phenomenon by Jesse Young & Yang Tingting- Chinese Video games mentioned : The Perceiver, Lost Soul Aside, Phantom Blade Zero, Phantom Blade: Executioners, The Grass of Genesis, Code: To Jin Yong,Where Winds Meet, Zenless Zone Zero & Honor of Kings: WorldMiddle Earth is made by China Compass Productions and hosted by Aladin Farré. If you have a China-themed cultural project, like shooting your next documentary, or are looking for a specific talent, please get in touch! Chinese speaker? Follow our Bilibili account 阿拉丁_说电影With thanks Li Muyuan for research, and Sean Calvo for music support.The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more.

Send us a textLeaving Chinese Tier 1 cities that are often the heartbeat of cultural creation and where artists can find patreons, we met two creatives that leave in remote artists communities. Leveraging cheap rent and the artistic community around them, they offer a testimony to creatives' never ending resourcefulness.Featuring- Guo Xiadong : Film Producer (in Songzhuang - near Beijing)- Ryan LaBar : Artist (in Jingdezhen - Jiangxi province)To go further- Middle Earth episode #20 Making a Metropolis: Contemporary Chinese Architecture and Urban Planning - Middle Earth episode #86 Surviving the cutthroat world of e-commerce in China, with Dr Lin Zhang author of "The Labor of Reinvention" - TWOC's article What’s Next for China’s Once-Thriving Artist Communes? by Alex Colville- TWOC's article Bringing the Porcelain Capital of the World into the 21st Century by TIna XuMiddle Earth is made by China Compass Productions and hosted by Aladin Farré. If you have a China-themed cultural project, like shooting your next documentary, or are looking for a specific talent, please get in touch! Chinese speaker? Follow our Bilibili account 阿拉丁_说电影With thanks Ren Jiayin for production, and Sean Calvo for music support.The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more.

Send us a textAs any taxi driver in China would tell you, the country is safe on every level. But that must make "true crime" storytellers' lives difficult. Therefore, how can those entertainers of the dark world propose to Chinese audiences?Featuring- A Yi (阿乙) : Writer- Eric Changan : Content Creator- Wapi : Content Creator & WriterTo go further- Middle Earth episode #95 Chinese Web Novels: The Hidden Golden Goose?- Middle Earth episode #92 How writers, bookstore owners, and printers survive in China’s publishing industry - Middle Earth episode #50 Xiaohongshu : Marrying content and e-commerce - TWOC's article Can China’s Detective Novels Finally Make Crime Pay? by Jesse Young. - A Yi (阿乙)'s short novels are on TWOC- Wapi's media called 没药花园 (can be found on wechat, RED, Youtube, 小宇宙)- Eric Changan's bilibili account is called Eric长安万年Middle Earth is made by China Compass Productions and hosted by Aladin Farré. If you have a China-themed cultural project, like shooting your next documentary, or are looking for a specific talent, please get in touch! Chinese speaker? Follow our Bilibili account 阿拉丁_说电影With thanks to Sean Calvo for music support and Martin Lopez for poster picture.The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more.

Send us a textAfter 224 guests, 4,439 minutes of content and 1 pandemic we are shamelessly celebrating Midde Earth – China’s cultural industry Podcast 100th episode! In order to make it big I have summoned all my supportive friends living in Beijing and we are today at Chill Bar for a live event to have quick introspection about the show, and so much more.Featuring- Aladin Farré : Content Producer & Middle Earth Podcast Founder- Sara Huang  :  Scriptwriter and Translator - Sam Davies :  TWOC - Managing Editor As we reach 100 episodes I would like to thanks, in chronological order Steve Seidenberg, Li Muyuan, Brenden Gonsalves, Sean Calvo, Alex Colville, Hatty Liu, Dragos Cacio, all the team at TWOC, today’s guests and previous guests.It was a public event that could have been made possible without Wendy Xu, Hu Qifei, Wang Siqi and Roman KierstChinese speaker? Follow our Bilibili account 阿拉丁_说电影With thanks to Sean Calvo for music support and Zhang Jiayu for poster picture.The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more.

Send us a textAs AI is creeping into our lives and our work, no industries are left out of it and certainly not China's cultural industry. But do using AI tools to create content is an easy path and what are the ethical issues attached to such practices?Featuring- Fan : AI Startup - CTO- Erik Luo : Technical AI artist- Liang Chouwa : Documentary DirectorTo go further- Middle Earth episode #93 Invisible Summit: One Blind Person's Journey to 8,848 Meters - Middle Earth episode #84 Are NFTs welcome in China? (Part 3 - Chinese art collectors) - TWOC's article What Booming AI Revival Services Mean for China’s Relationship to Death by Shao Yefan- TWOC's article ChatGPT Gold Rush: How AI Business (and Crime) Is Taking Shape in China by Wang Jiawei- Liang Chouwa's documentary : My A.I. Lover | NYT Op-DocsQuiz's answer (no spoil !)- link to answer 1- link to answer 2Middle Earth is made by China Compass Productions and hosted by Aladin Farré. If you have a China-themed cultural project, like shooting your next documentary, or are looking for a specific talent, please get in touch! Chinese speaker? Follow our Bilibili account 阿拉丁_说电影With thanks to Sean Calvo for music support and Erik Luo for poster picture.The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more. The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, and more. Support the pod by buying a copy ;)Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Send us a textBefore Covid, WWE and UFC were key to push the envelope of MMA in China, now, independent promotion companies like Middle Kingdom Wrestling are left to pick up the momentum. Featuring- Adrian Gomez: Middle Kingdom Wrestling - FounderTo go further- Middle Earth episode  #65 China’s winter sports market : How to get 300 million snow enthusiasts?- Middle Earth episode #51 Pop Mart : How to Make an Addictive Toy (featuring Jiang Yaling)With thanks to Yang Yaling of Following the yuan for co-producing the episode and Middle Kingdom Wrestling for poster’s picture.Middle Earth is made by China Compass Productions and hosted by Aladin Farré. If you have a China-themed cultural project, like shooting your next documentary, or are looking for a specific talent, please get in touch! Chinese speaker? Follow our Bilibili account 阿拉丁_说电影The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more.

Send us a textWith a forecast revenue of 370 billion USD in 2024 market size, roughly three times the size of the US market and Europe, China's apparel market  is home to up and coming fashion brands as well as big brands buying up international competitors. What can insiders share from that industry? Featuring- Li Boyan: Fashion Photographer- Lucrezia Seu: Plush Consulting - Founder- CK Zhang : 张本赛含之 SAIANZI - FounderTo go further- Middle Earth episode #93 Invisible Summit: One Blind Person’s Journey to 8,848 Meters- Middle Earth episode #24 Dealing with the diaspora: Catering to Chinese clients abroad- Talking Shop, article by Emily Conrad for The World of Chinese Magazine- Turning the Tide, article by He Yingzi- Vintage Values, article by Hatty LiuMiddle Earth is made by China Compass Productions and hosted by Aladin Farré. If you have a China-themed cultural project like shooting your next film or look for a specific talent, please get in touch! Chinese speaker? Follow our Bilibili account 阿拉丁_说电影With thanks to Ren Jiayin for production assistant, Sean Calvo for music support and Lucrezia Seu for poster picture.The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more.

Send us a textPotentially succeeding where Quibi failed, several Chinese apps (DramaBox, Reelshort) alongside others (Pocket FM, Good Novel) are pushing for 1-minute episodes of micro-series. Often depicted as being of trashy quality, they do seem to attract some eyeballs. Yet, what are the creative conditions to produce such Fifty Shades-esque stories, and is the market where we think it is?Featuring- Jack Li: Scriptwriter- Anaïs Clément : Actress and Theatre Maker - Yang Tingting: TWOC - JournalistTo go further- Middle Earth episode #59 China micro-series’s boom- Middle Earth episode #08 How to Make a Movie in 14 Days- High Stakes in Short Takes: China’s Booming Micro-Drama Business, article by Yang Tingting- the international micro-series "The Double Life of My Billionaire Husband"- the chinese micro-series 《我在八零年代当后妈》Middle Earth is made by China Compass Productions and hosted by Aladin Farré. If you have a China-themed cultural project like shooting your next film or look for a specific talent, please get in touch! Chinese speaker? Follow our Bilibili account 阿拉丁_说电影With thanks to Sean Calvo for music support.The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more. The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, and more. Support the pod by buying a copy ;)Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Send us a textStarted as a grassroots movement in the early Chinese internet, web novels slowly became a powerhouse of China’s cultural industry by producing powerful IPs. How did this industry came to be?Featuring- Tage : Author - Wei Xiaoma : IP Licensing Manager- Yang Zeyi : Technology Reporter To go further- Middle Earth episode #92 How writers, bookstore owners, and printers survive in China’s publishing industry- Middle Earth episode #69 The Seducing Power of IPs- Middle Earth episode #90 Women in China’s Cultural Industries- Middle Earth episode #79 Exploring Wuxia (think "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon") - Bitter No More: How Young Chinese Became Obsessed With TCM, article by Shao Yefan- China is reinventing the way the world reads, article by Yang ZeyiMiddle Earth is made by China Compass Productions and hosted by Aladin Farré. If you have a China-themed cultural project like shooting your next film or look for a specific talent, please get in touch! Chinese speaker? Follow our Bilibili account 阿拉丁_说电影With thanks to Ren Jiayin for production assistant, Li Muyuan for voice over and Sean Calvo for music support.The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more. The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, and more. Support the pod by buying a copy ;)Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Send us a textWith a 800 billion yuan market size and 1/5 of the doctor’s workforce, TCM is a force to be reckoned with in China. How did the field keeps reinventing itself and why does Chinese youth gets more attracted by it?Featuring- Martin Eriksson : TCM doctor - ShaoYefan (邵叶凡) : TWOC - freelancer- Wu Yanmin : Ori-Bio - Co-founderTo go further- Middle Earth episode #82 Understanding China’s national park & scenic areas - Bitter No More: How Young Chinese Became Obsessed With TCM, article by Shao YefanMiddle Earth is made by China Compass Productions and hosted by Aladin Farré. If you have a China-themed cultural project like shooting your next film or look for a specific talent, please get in touch! Chinese speaker? Follow our Bilibili account 阿拉丁_说电影With thanks to Ren Jiayin for production assistant, Wu Daozhi for fact-checking, Kian2018 for picture illustration and Sean Calvo for music support.The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more. The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, and more. Support the pod by buying a copy ;)Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Send us a textNew documentary Invisible Summit 《看不见的顶峰》tells the epic story of how Zhang Hong became the first blind Asian person to climb the world’s tallest mountain. On this podcast, director Fan Lixin (LAST TRAIN HOME) discusses how he filmed Zhang’s extraordinary journey and what he learned during the making of the movie. Featuring- Fan Lixin (范立欣): Documentary Director- Liu Yuan (刘元): ProducerTo go further- Middle Earth episode #78 Revving Up China’s New Biker Culture - Middle Earth episode #72 Film Distribution: How to Succeed at China’s Box Office How to support the film?- Tell your friends living in China to buy a ticket for the week-end of the 27th of October- Find the film on 猫眼 app and click on 想看- And if you know an international TV commissioner that could be interested by the film, let's be in touch ;)Middle Earth is made by China Compass Productions and hosted by Aladin Farré. If you have a China-themed cultural project like shooting your next film or look for a specific talent, please get in touch! Chinese speaker? Follow our Bilibili account 阿拉丁_说电影With thanks to Sean Calvo for music support. The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more. The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, and more. Support the pod by buying a copy ;)Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Send us a textChina’s book market is the second largest in the world, with people reading around 6 billion books a year. But how easy is it for small publishers, bookstores, and writers to get a piece of this pie? And how are digital alternatives to physical books impacting writers and small businesses and writers? Featuring- Chen Qiufan (陈楸帆): Writer & Futurist- Liu Jue: TWOC – Managing editor- Li Suwan (李苏皖): Maziren Bookstore (码字人书店) - OwnerTo go further- Middle Earth episode #95 Chinese Web Novels: The Hidden Golden Goose? - Middle Earth episode #91 How to Publish a Magazine for 100 Issues- Middle Earth episode #25 How to publish a book in China- "The Dark Room Problem" short story written by Chen Qiufan (陈楸帆) and published by The World of Chinese Magazine- How China’s Small-Town Bookstores Innovate to Survive, article by by The World of Chinese Magazine- Bookish Dreams: The fantasy of owning an independent bookstore lingers for China’s idealists, article by by The World of Chinese MagazineMiddle Earth is made by China Compass Productions and hosted by Aladin Farré. If you have a China-themed cultural project like shooting your next documentary or look for a specific talent, please get in touch! Chinese speaker? Follow our Bilibili account 阿拉丁_说电影With thanks to Sean Calvo for music support. The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more. The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, and more. Support the pod by buying a copy ;)Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Send us a textNot sure if you could stand my broken Chinese, but I started a new show regarding China's latest box office called 票房指南 as a part of an ongoing effort to become a true 网红...The Middle Earth Podcast will return next week.LinksSubscribe to 票房指南 on podcast app 小宇宙 : LinkSubscribe to 票房指南 on social media Bilibili : Link原本担心这会是一部古装特效烂片，看过后却成为今年暑期的一大惊喜。 但是，《封神第一部》还有哪些地方可以改进？号称30亿预算的封神三部曲能实现盈利吗？涉及到的电影： 《阿修罗》2018年《指环王》2001-2003年《蜘蛛巢城》1957年《七武士》1954年

Send us a textIt's not every day that a magazine publishes its 100th issue—but Middle Earth's distributor, The World of Chinese, has reached this important milestone after 17 years of publication. We want to look at how an English-language magazine based in Beijing sustains itself and evolves into a multimedia platform (including podcasts) for human-centered stories from China.Featuring - Hatty Liu: TWOC - Former managing editor 2019-2023- Liu Jue: TWOC - co-managing editor- Doug Hughes: International education expertBuy your ticket for The World of Chinese's 100th issue event in Beijing on the 31th of August : https://yoopay.cn/event/89241330 Middle Earth is made by China Compass Productions and hosted by Aladin Farré. If you have a China-themed cultural project like shooting your next documentary or look for a specific talent, please get in touch! Chinese speaker? Follow our Bilibili account 阿拉丁_说电影With thanks to Sean Calvo for music support.The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more.

Send us a textWomen perform up to 50 percent of the jobs in China's cultural industries, but are they getting equal opportunities and compensation as men? In this episode, guests from the world of film, TV, visual arts, and journalism discuss the barriers female leaders and employees still face in their industries, and the benefits of more gender diversity in the workplace.Featuring - Li Muyuan : Gushi FM - Producer- Hatty Liu :  Journalist & Former TWOC Managing Editor - Luka Yang : Visual Artist & FilmmakerTo Go Further- "Women’s Work" article by The World of Chinese Magazine- "Getting Rights Wrong" article by The World of Chinese Magazine- "Hidden Harassment" article by The World of Chinese MagazineMiddle Earth is made by China Compass Productions and hosted by Aladin Farré.  If you have a China-themed cultural project, like shooting your next documentary or looking for a specific talent, please get in touch! Chinese speaker? Follow our Bilibili account 阿拉丁_说电影With thanks to Sean Calvo for music support.The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more. The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, and more. Support the pod by buying a copy ;)Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Send us a textToday I plug in a new show that I'm working on where we interviewed Georges Berne, a true master in the art of lighting design who worked on the Mona Lisa. Today, he reflects on his long career and shares his thoughts on his work.Winland Art PodcastArchitecture is solidified art, and art is the soul of architecture. Created by the Carte Blanche art team from in Beijing, Winland Art Podcast show focuses on the global art stage. In our show we discuss the challenges faced by those working in the art field with a focus on hot issues in the art world such as cross-cultural creation and China’s current art world scene.The Carte Blanche space was founded in 2019 and is located at Winland IFC, 7 Finance Street, Beijing.Subscribe to the Winland Art Podcast wherever you listen to your podcast or at : https://podcast.winlandcorp.comTo know moreWebsite: https://winlandcenter.com/en/here WeChat Account: 英蓝集团 WinlandInstagram: @WinlandCorpThe World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more.

Send us a textA billion internet users means a lot of followers for some content creators in China. But with ad revenue dropping China’s economy is slowing down, are tips and patrons a viable alternative for creators? Featuring- Lulu | 璐璐 : LHH Speak Easy ( 璐璐的英文小酒馆 ) - Founder- Luigi Liu :  BtoZ-Movie - Founder To go further- "Career Fans" article by The World of Chinese Magazine - Middle Earth episode #87 How local government & foundations sponsor culture in China - Middle Earth episode #50 Xiaohongshu : Marrying content and e-commerce - Middle Earth episode #29 Online KOL marketing in ChinaMiddle Earth is made by China Compass Productions and hosted by Aladin Farré. If you have a China-themed cultural project like shooting your next documentary or look for a specific talent, please get in touch! Chinese speaker? Follow our Bilibili account 阿拉丁_说电影With thanks to Sean Calvo for music support. The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more. The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, and more. Support the pod by buying a copy ;)Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Send us a textCulture is expensive, and China makes no exception to that. Without the support of public and private entities, many artists could not create anything or be overly commercial. After getting through the regulations hurdle, what kind of art are supported by the big companies and local governments? Featuring- Yilin Chen : Winland Group - Art Project Director - Elie Rosenberg : Impromptu - Co-Founder - He Xin : former real estate consultantTo go further- "Dream Factory" article by The World of Chinese Magazine - Middle Earth episode #36 Transforming a Chinese movie studio- Middle Earth episode #60 The Golden Age of China's Museums?- Middle Earth episode #82 Understanding China’s national park & scenic areas  Middle Earth is made by China Compass Productions and hosted by Aladin Farré. If you have a China-themed cultural project like shooting your next documentary or look for a specific talent, please get in touch! Chinese speaker? Follow our Bilibili account 阿拉丁_说电影With thanks to Ren Jiayin for production assistant,  Sean Calvo for music support, Eleven Labs for the AI voice and Leeluv for the poster picture. The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more. The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, and more. Support the pod by buying a copy ;)Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Send us a textFor a decade or more, rural Chinese have been setting up online stores in their homes, hoping to make a living through e-commerce rather than factory work or farming. But any easy money there was in online selling is beginning to dry up. Village neighbors have been pitted against each other in competition for customers, unscrupulous merchants copy products and images from competitors with impunity, while rural residents also struggle to keep up with evolving trends like livestreaming. For over 10 years Dr Lin Zhang followed several of these rural entrepreneurs and their families, culminating in her latest book The Labor of Reinvention - Entrepreneurship in the New Chinese Digital Economy.Featuring- Dr Lin Zhang : University of New Hampshire Professor, author of The Labor of Reinvention - Entrepreneurship in the New Chinese Digital EconomyWhere to buy the book -  The Labor of Reinvention, published by Columbia University Presshttps://cup.columbia.edu/book/the-labor-of-reinvention/9780231551298 To go further- Middle Earth episode #01 How to be internet famous in China (Part 1 of "China's internet and creation") - Middle Earth episode #29 Online KOL marketing in China Middle Earth is made by China Compass Productions and hosted by Aladin Farré. If you have a China-themed cultural project like shooting your next documentary or look for a specific talent, please get in touch! Chinese speaker? Follow our Bilibili account 阿拉丁_说电影With thanks to Sean Calvo for music support. 

Send us a textAs China becomes more assertive on the global stage with its diplomacy and state media, “patriotic KOLs” have appeared on domestic Chinese social media platforms, influencing the political opinions of their millions of fans. But how do KOLs craft their message to be successful, and who’s paying their bills?Featuring- Fang Kecheng : The Chinese University of Hong Kong - Assistant Professor- Miro Li : Double V. Consulting - Founder To go further- Middle Earth episode #50 Xiaohongshu : Marrying content and e-commerce- Nikkei Asia's article : China’s online nationalist army- 孤烟暮蝉 (Guyanmuchan ) on Weibo- 心医林霖 (xīnyīlínlín) on Bilibili- 周小平 (Zhou Xiaoping), WeChat ID : 平局- 占豪 (Zhan Hao), WeChat ID : 占豪- 北美留学生观察, WeChat ID : 北美留学生观察 Middle Earth is made by China Compass Productions and hosted by Aladin Farré. If you have a China-themed cultural project like shooting your next documentary or look for a specific talent, please get in touch! Chinese speaker? Follow our Bilibili account 阿拉丁_说电影With thanks to Wen Jiayin for production assistance, episode's picture by maono闪克 and Sean Calvo for music support. The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more. The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, and more. Support the pod by buying a copy ;)Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Send us a textNFTS are legal to be bought in China, but reselling them is an all other matters. Yet a local scene of buyers and artists keeps growing, while some lost a great amount of money as they were hoping for a quick return on investment. How does the scene keep growing while local regulations are put into place?Featuring - Ellwood Chen : Digital Artist & Pills Labs Founder - Rory Mencin : Curator & Art Critic- Reva : Crypto artistTo go further with Chinese art collectors - Middle Earth episode #80 Contemporary art in Greater China- Middle Earth episode #77 Antiques: China first cultural industryMiddle Earth is made by China Compass Productions and hosted by Aladin Farré. If you have a China-themed cultural project like shooting your next documentary or look for a specific talent, please get in touch! Chinese speaker? Follow our Bilibili account 阿拉丁_说电影With thanks to Wen Jiayin for production assistance, and Sean Calvo for music support. The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more. The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, and more. Support the pod by buying a copy ;)Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Send us a textWhile China struggles to export its cultural abroad, neighbors like Korea and Japan seem immune to this problem. Apart from local regulations in art, what are the issues creators from China face when trying to take their cultural products abroad, and what are some products that actually became hits? Featuring - Li Jianbin: Beijing Inmost Media - Senior BD Director- Alex Taggart: Outdustry - Head of International - Vivian Ying: Film International SalesTo go further- Middle Earth episode #67 Creating Games for the West- Middle Earth episode #26 China’s soft power in Africa Middle Earth is made by China Compass Productions and hosted by Aladin Farré. If you have a China-themed cultural project like shooting your next documentary or look for a specific talent, please get in touch! With thanks to Wen Jiayin for production assistance, Wendy Wei for illustration and Sean Calvo for music support. The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more.

Send us a textIn 2021, there were 2 billion visits to China’s outdoor tourism sites, such as nature reserves and natural scenic areas. How is this part of the tourism industry coping with a growing demand for outdoor experiences, and did that influence the creation of the country’s national park system? Featuring - Justin Culkin : A Trails - Business Development Director- Rose Niu 牛红卫 : Paulson Institute - Chief Conservation Officer - Yefren Nye : TWOC contributor & innovative Green Development Program communications specialist To go further - The Trails and Tribulations of China's Outdoors Boom article by Yefren Nye - Right to Roam article by Yefren Nye - The Myth of the Chinese Wilderness by Tina Xu (徐盈盈) - #55 Why is red tourism trending beyond the golden generation? By the Middle Earth Podcast - #60 The Golden Age of China's Museums? By the Middle Earth Podcast  Middle Earth is made by China Compass Productions and hosted by Aladin Farré. If you have a China-themed cultural project like shooting your next documentary or look for a specific talent, please get in touch! With thanks to Wen Jiayin for production assistance and Sean Calvo for music support. The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more. The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, and more. Support the pod by buying a copy ;)Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Send us a textAs the year 2023 starts, we review our top 3 stories from 2022 and make a few predictions for trends in China’s culture industries in 2023. Featuring - Aladin Farré : Founder of Middle Earth Podcast - Hatty Liu : Managing editor at TWOC - Jesse Appel, Sara Huang, Yang Yu, & Jingtong ZhuTo go further- our podcast top 3 stories of the year #79 Exploring Wuxia #67 Creating Games for the West #64 Gambling in China : How Covid-19 helped the industry grow - Peter Chan's interview about his movie LEAP (2020)- The article Land of Milk and Honey: The Story of China’s Most Profitable Milk Tea Brand by TWOC- The article Boom, Bluff, Bust by TWOC- Wuxia novels published on TWOC:  Restaurant of The Thousand Arms, Martial Tea and Night Moves, by author Hu Yuesheng (胡月生).Middle Earth is made by China Compass Productions and hosted by Aladin Farré. If you have a China-themed cultural project like shooting your next documentary or look for a specific talent, please get in touch! With thanks to Wen Jiayin for production assistance and Sean Calvo for music support. The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more. The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, and more. Support the pod by buying a copy ;)Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Send us a textGreater China is now the biggest art-market in the world, but thousands of galleries in the middle kingdom have closed up, while many artists are struggling to make a living. How are gallery curators, artists, and tech companies keeping up with this ultra-competitive art market? Featuring - Ashley Qin – YITIAO Art Director- Lin Zi – SANTO HALL Gallery curator - Sima Yuan – Artist To go further- The article Photo Shop: Art in the Age of the Influencer by TWOC- The article Zhao Xiaoli Blurs the Line Between Online Influencer and Artist by TWOC- Middle Earth episode 60 The Golden Age of China’s Museums?- Artists Wang Xingwei & Jia AiliMiddle Earth is made by China Compass Productions and hosted by Aladin Farré. If you have a China-themed cultural project like shooting your next documentary or look for a specific talent, please get in touch! With thanks to Wen Jiayin for production assistance and Sean Calvo for music support. The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more. The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, and more. Support the pod by buying a copy ;)Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Send us a textWuxia, martial arts stories about heroes and outlaws, used to be one of the most popular genres of literature in the Chinese-speaking world. After countless novels, films and video games, how are the people creating China’s “knight errant” stories modernizing the genre? Featuring - Gigi Chang: wuxia translator - Lai Jingping: Wuxiaworld founder and CEO - Felix Lou: former vice-managing director of Xiangshan Film Studio & Skywood Founder To go further- Wuxia novels published on TWOC:  Restaurant of The Thousand Arms, Martial Tea and Night Moves, by author Hu Yuesheng (胡月生).Middle Earth is made by China Compass Productions and hosted by Aladin Farré. If you have a China-themed cultural project like shooting your next documentary or look for a specific talent, please get in touch! With thanks to Wen Jiayin for production assistance and Sean Calvo for music support. The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more.

Send us a textAfter being ostracized for years, motorbike culture is slowly building momentum among Chinese youths. Between 2016 and 2019, the number of bike sales doubled, and since the pandemic especially, a lot of entrepreneurs are jumping on new business opportunities provided by people craving the open road. Featuring Steven Tsui :  BG Performance - CEO Zhang Shuren : Pansaki North Station - FounderLi Huaqi : Student & EntrepreneurMiddle Earth is distributed by The World of Chinese (www.theworldofchinese.com). Every two months, both in print and online, the team at TWOC takes a contemporary issue in Chinese society and culture and looks behind the headlines to share how it affects people on the ground. Middle Earth is made by China Compass Productions and hosted by Aladin Farré. If you have a China-themed cultural project like shooting your next documentary or look for a specific talent, please get in touch! With thanks to Wen Jiayin for production assistance, Sean Calvo for music support and Forrest Speyer for the translation.The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more. The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, and more. Support the pod by buying a copy ;)Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Send us a textWith over 1 billion internet users, China’s online video and music platforms are the place to be for every creator trying to grow their audience. What does it take for international talent to make it in this cutthroat market? Featuring Tinko Georgiev: Kanjian - VP of Int'l Business Raffi Kamalian: Collab Asia - Head of Greater ChinaMiddle Earth is distributed by The World of Chinese (www.theworldofchinese.com). Every two months, both in print and online, the team at TWOC takes a contemporary issue in Chinese society and culture and looks behind the headlines to share how it affects people on the ground. Middle Earth is made by China Compass Productions and hosted by Aladin Farré. If you have a China-themed cultural project like shooting your next documentary or look for a specific talent, please get in touch! With thanks to Sean Calvo for music support. The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more. The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, and more. Support the pod by buying a copy ;)Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Send us a textThanks to its rich history, China’s has plenty of artifacts that are being sold and exposed in museums. And there is a market for it, a huge one, where some pieces can be sold for several thousand yuan. How did that market evolve, and what are the dark corners of this industry? Featuring Isaac Duffy : Collector Sun Jiahui : Freelance writer Zhang Bo : Architect & Collector Middle Earth is made by China Compass Productions and hosted by Aladin Farré. If you have a China-themed cultural project like shooting your next documentary or look for a specific talent, please get in touch! With thanks to Wen Jiayin for production assistance, Stephan Lambadaris for the voice-over & Sean Calvo for music support.The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more. The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, and more. Support the pod by buying a copy ;)Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Send us a textAfter being underground for decades, the Chinese rap scene got a sudden boost in 2017 thanks to the reality show The Rap of China on the online streaming platform IQiyi. How has the scene evolved since then, and what lies ahead?  Featuring Dojo Shaolin: Producer & Dj JFever :  Hip pop artist Stanley Yang : Zhong TV – Founder Middle Earth is made by China Compass Productions and hosted by Aladin Farré. If you have a China-themed cultural project like shooting your next documentary or look for a specific talent, please get in touch! With thanks to Sean Calvo for music support. The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more. The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, and more. Support the pod by buying a copy ;)Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Send us a textC-Dramas have certainly changed over the years as the competitions grew fierce for eyeballs. Why did such changes happen, and what's the future for Chinese TV series industry? Featuring Sara Huang : Scriptwriter Jia Liu : TV Producer Middle Earth is distributed by The World of Chinese (www.theworldofchinese.com). Every two months, both in print and online, the team at TWOC takes a contemporary issue in Chinese society and culture and looks behind the headlines to share how it affects people on the ground.  Middle Earth is made by China Compass Productions and hosted by Aladin Farré. If you have a China-themed cultural project like shooting your next documentary or look for a specific talent, please get in touch! With thanks to Sean Calvo for music support. The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more.

Send us a textWith 400 million fans watching over 5000 professional team competing over many games, China’s e-sports industry is one of the most vivid area of China’s cultural industry. How come this industry keeps growing, and what are the recent issues that e-sports players and companies had to face?  Featuring - Josh Lee: Perfect World Esports & tournaments director - Zeng Wensen : Riot China Action Genre Publishing Lead - Lucy Zhu : BSC Esports Lecturer & Module Leader Middle Earth is distributed by The World of Chinese (www.theworldofchinese.com). Every two months, both in print and online, the team at TWOC takes a contemporary issue in Chinese society and culture and looks behind the headlines to share how it affects people on the ground.  Middle Earth is made by China Compass Productions and hosted by Aladin Farré. If you have a China-themed cultural project like shooting your next documentary or look for a specific talent, please get in touch! With thanks to Sean Calvo for music support.The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more. The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, and more. Support the pod by buying a copy ;)Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Send us a textChina has become the biggest film’s market in the world after Covid-19, with 82,000 screens, so distributing a movie in Chinese cinemas seems like it would be an easy task. But with dozens of films coming out each week, what are the tricks for film distributors to find their audience?  Featuring - Cai Yuchen : UEP Media film distributor - Fan Lixin : Director & InHope Pictures cofounder Middle Earth is distributed by The World of Chinese (www.theworldofchinese.com). Every two months, both in print and online, the team at TWOC takes a contemporary issue in Chinese society and culture and looks behind the headlines to share how it affects people on the ground.  Middle Earth is made by China Compass Productions and hosted by Aladin Farré. If you have a China-themed cultural project like shooting your next documentary or look for a specific talent, please get in touch! With thanks to Sean Calvo for music support and Chu Siyi for live translation. The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more. The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, and more. Support the pod by buying a copy ;)Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Send us a textMusic festivals have only been around for two decades in China, but have increased exponentially—even leading some to worry about a bubble—until the Covid-19 outbreak. Since then, how has the industry tried to make a comeback for Chinese music-lovers? Featuring - Eric de Fontenay - MusicDish 独立小炒 President- Yang Yu - Midi Festival Head of International Middle Earth is distributed by The World of Chinese (www.theworldofchinese.com). Every two months, both in print and online, the team at TWOC takes a contemporary issue in Chinese society and culture and looks behind the headlines to share how it affects people on the ground.  Middle Earth is made by China Compass Productions and hosted by Aladin Farré. If you have a China-themed cultural project like shooting your next documentary or look for a specific talent, please get in touch! With thanks to Sean Calvo for music support.The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more. The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, and more. Support the pod by buying a copy ;)Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Send us a textChina’s video game industry is huge, but most of the games are made for the mass market of online mobile players. But what about the niche market of indie games, often focused more on single player story or particular game mechanics? How do Chinese creators find their audience, and do they have an audience outside of China?  Featuring - Jin Yu : Wanba Studio Founder & Game Producer - Zog Zhu : Indie Games Publishing Manager Middle Earth is distributed by The World of Chinese (www.theworldofchinese.com). Every two months, both in print and online, the team at TWOC takes a contemporary issue in Chinese society and culture and looks behind the headlines to share how it affects people on the ground.  Middle Earth is made by China Compass Productions and hosted by Aladin Farré. If you have a China-themed cultural project like shooting your next documentary or look for a specific talent, please get in touch! With thanks to Sean Calvo for music support and Li Muyuan for live translation. The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more. The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, and more. Support the pod by buying a copy ;)Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Send us a textAs China’s cultural market becomes more and more competitive, some content producers are looking for the silver bullet to avoid failure: IP. What does IP mean in the Chinese market, and what’s the best way to create one?  Featuring - Kevin Feng : Stars Collective China Executive Officer - Li Danlei : Story FM Podcast Copyright Manager - Xu Xinyi : Bridging the Dragon Sales Coordinator  Middle Earth is distributed by The World of Chinese (www.theworldofchinese.com). Every two months, both in print and online, the team at TWOC takes a contemporary issue in Chinese society and culture and looks behind the headlines to share how it affects people on the ground.  Middle Earth is made by China Compass Productions and hosted by Aladin Farré. If you have a China-themed cultural project like shooting your next documentary or look for a specific talent, please get in touch! With thanks to Sean Calvo for music support and Chu Siyi for live translation. The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more. The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, and more. Support the pod by buying a copy ;)Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Send us a textChinese literature is generating an increasing amount of interest overseas. More and more books are getting translated, while Chinese authors are winning international prizes. Yet are the authors and stories being translated representative of what China’s general public is reading?  Featuring - Yan Ge : author - Daniel Li: production manager at ACA Publishing & Sinoist Books - Emily Xueni Jin : Translator & PhD candidate in East Asian Literature Middle Earth is distributed by The World of Chinese (www.theworldofchinese.com). Every two months, both in print and online, the team at TWOC takes a contemporary issue in Chinese society and culture and looks behind the headlines to share how it affects people on the ground.  Middle Earth is made by China Compass Productions and hosted by Aladin Farré. If you have a China-themed cultural project like shooting your next documentary or look for a specific talent, please get in touch! With thanks to Sean Calvo for music support and Hatty Liu for co-hosting The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more.

Send us a textIf China has some issues exporting its music & film, did you know that video games often meet success on the international market? What kind of games meet success abroad, what kind of strategy Chinese companies have to use, and what are the issues inherent to game localization?  Featuring - Chen Jia - Oasis Game COO - Joshua Ogden-Davis - Video Game Localizer - Stacey Lee - Video Game consultant  Middle Earth is distributed by The World of Chinese (www.theworldofchinese.com). Every two months, both in print and online, the team at TWOC takes a contemporary issue in Chinese society and culture and looks behind the headlines to share how it affects people on the ground.  Middle Earth is made by China Compass Productions and hosted by Aladin Farré. If you have a China-themed cultural project like shooting your next documentary or look for a specific talent, please get in touch! With thanks to Sean Calvo for music support and Chu Siyi for live translation. The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more. The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, and more. Support the pod by buying a copy ;)Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Send us a textASCENSION has been nominated for an Academy Award in the feature documentary category. The film  is a portrait of China’s industrial supply chain and its different social ladders.It is advised to watch the film before listening to this episode.This conversation  was originally produced by SupChina. Middle Earth is made by China Compass Productions and hosted by Aladin Farré. If you have a China-themed cultural project like shooting your next documentary or look for a specific talent, please get in touch! This show is part of the World of Chinese Magazine’s podcast network. Order your latest copy at www.theworldofchinese.com or follow them on Wechat (ID : Theworldofchinese). The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more.

Send us a text At the intersection of KOLs and metaverse lies the niche world of “virtual idols”—animated characters created for the purpose of becoming celebrities. Started in Japan in the 1980s, virtual idols have exploded in popularity in China, especially as Covid-19 continues to change the world of live entertainment: In 2021, the Chinese virtual idol industry was worth 6.2 billion renminbi (almost 1 billion US dollars), and animated star Luo Tianyi attracted over 2.7 million viewers in a Taobao livestream. So how do you build successful virtual idols in China, and will their popularity last in the real world?  Featuring - Elaine Yau - showbiz reporter - Inés Feng - Kunyue Shanghai VP - Peng Mengyu - Dreamland Maker Tech Branding director  Middle Earth is distributed by The World of Chinese (www.theworldofchinese.com). Every two months, both in print and online, the team at TWOC takes a contemporary issue in Chinese society and culture and looks behind the headlines to share how it affects people on the ground.  Middle Earth is made by China Compass Productions and hosted by Aladin Farré. If you have a China-themed cultural project like shooting your next documentary or look for a specific talent, please get in touch! With thanks to Sean Calvo for music support. The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more. The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, and more. Support the pod by buying a copy ;)Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Send us a textThe 2022 Winter Olympics is about to start in Beijing, with around 2900 athletes and possibly zero spectators, yet the country now boasts 300 million winter sports enthusiasts. How did China’s winter sports industry grow so fast, and does it differ from other nations? Featuring - Ban Tao: Eternal Star Ice & Snow Head of Branding - Liu Xia: Burton China Resort Business Manager  Middle Earth is distributed by The World of Chinese (www.theworldofchinese.com). Every two months, both in print and online, the team at TWOC takes a contemporary issue in Chinese society and culture, and looks behind the headlines at how it affects people on the ground.  Middle Earth is made by China Compass Productions and hosted by Aladin Farré. If you have a China-themed cultural project, like shooting your next documentary, or are looking for a specific talent, please get in touch! With thanks to Sean Calvo for music support and Chu Siyi for live translation. The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more. The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, and more. Support the pod by buying a copy ;)Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Send us a textFinishing our “Dark Series” on China’s guilty pleasures, we tackle gambling, one of the key forms of spending among Chinese tourists overseas.  Did Covid-19 kill the gambling industry, or is it coming back even stronger? Featuring - Alan Robles: Journalist - Ben Lee: Managing Partner at IGamiX - Sebastian Strangio:  Journalist & Author Middle Earth is distributed by The World of Chinese (www.theworldofchinese.com). Every two months, both in print and online, the team at TWOC takes a contemporary issue in Chinese society and culture and looks behind the headlines to share how it affects people on the ground.  Middle Earth is made by China Compass Productions and hosted by Aladin Farré. If you have a China-themed cultural project like shooting your next documentary or look for a specific talent, please get in touch! With thanks to Sean Calvo for music support. The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more. The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, and more. Support the pod by buying a copy ;)Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Send us a textIn this special episode, we review our top 5 stories from this past year, and make a few predictions for trends in China’s culture industries in 2022. Featuring - Aladin Farré : Founder of Middle Earth Podcast - Hatty Liu : Managing editor at TWOC - William Ace Rowles, Miro Li, Juan Tan, Jerry Kim & Elaine Yau Middle Earth is distributed by The World of Chinese (www.theworldofchinese.com). Every two months, both in print and online, the team at TWOC takes a contemporary issue in Chinese society and culture and looks behind the headlines to share how it affects people on the ground.  Middle Earth is made by China Compass Productions and hosted by Aladin Farré. If you have a China-themed cultural project like shooting your next documentary or look for a specific talent, please get in touch! With thanks to Sean Calvo for music support. The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more. The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, and more. Support the pod by buying a copy ;)Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Send us a text A mix between the boardgame Cluedo and LARP (live action role-playing), jubensha is the latest craze for over 10 million game enthusiasts in China. Played mostly by young white-collar workers, the industry has seen a massive influx of players and capital while entrepreneurs and scriptwriters want to offer the best experience for players. Where does this success come from and where is this industry heading? Featuring - D Qiuqiu: Partner and Jubensha’s market manager at G STone- Lu Mingfei : Jubensha store owner Middle Earth is distributed by The World of Chinese (www.theworldofchinese.com). Every two months, both in print and online, the team at TWOC takes a contemporary issue in Chinese society and culture and looks behind the headlines to share how it affects people on the ground.  Middle Earth is made by China Compass Productions and hosted by Aladin Farré.  If you have a China-themed cultural project like shooting your next documentary or look for a specific talent, please get in touch! With thanks to Sean Calvo for music support. The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more. The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, and more. Support the pod by buying a copy ;)Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Send us a textIllegal drug usage among China’s adult population is one of the lowest in the world: 0.16%. But has it always been like this since the Reform and Opening Up period? And did you know there are plantations that legally grow cannabis in China? Featuring - Mathias Boelinger: Journalist at DW - Dylan Levi King: Translator & Author Middle Earth is distributed by The World of Chinese (www.theworldofchinese.com). Every two months, both in print and online, the team at TWOC takes a contemporary issue in Chinese society and culture and looks behind the headlines to share how it affects people on the ground.  Middle Earth is made by China Compass Productions and hosted by Aladin Farré. If you have a China-themed cultural project like shooting your next documentary or look for a specific talent, please get in touch! With thanks to Sean Calvo for music support. The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more. The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, and more. Support the pod by buying a copy ;)Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Send us a textChina had just 25 museums in 1949, and around 350 at the start of the reform era in 1979. Since 2000, though, over 4,000 new museums have been built in the country on a wide range of subjects, such as the history of every province and county, or the silly-sounding “Watermelon Museum” in Beijing. In 2019, China saw 1.2 billion museum visits. What’s driving this museum-building boom, and how do you design a good museum? Featuring - Oranda HOU : Rockart Bund Museum partnership manager - YU Wanying : podcaster about museums (also guest on Middle Earth #16) - ZHUANG Yongwen : architect and urban designer Notes Middle Earth is distributed by The World of Chinese (www.theworldofchinese.com). Every two months, both in print and online, the team at TWOC takes a contemporary issue in Chinese society and culture and looks behind the headlines to share how it affects people on the ground.  Middle Earth is made by China Compass Productions and hosted by Aladin Farré. If you have a China-themed cultural project like shooting your next documentary or look for a specific talent, please get in touch! With thanks to Sean Calvo for music support. The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more. The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, and more. Support the pod by buying a copy ;)Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Send us a textShort-video app Quibi failed in just six months after launching in the US, so it’s too bad the company didn’t come to China, where hundreds of millions of people watch short drama series that bring you new twists every few seconds… all in vertical form. Why do Chinese audience love such high-speed storytelling and who are the people behind this new content format?  After all, as The World of Chinese found out in this article ; most people hold their phones vertically 94 percent of the time, and Chinese mobile content creators are beginning to take note. Featuring - Ivy YU : Associate Producer of "Love me Fearlessly" /《别怕，恋爱吧！》 - YU York : Commissioner for Kuaishou’s micro-series. Middle Earth is distributed by The World of Chinese (www.theworldofchinese.com). Every two months, both in print and online, the team at TWOC takes a contemporary issue in Chinese society and culture and looks behind the headlines to share how it affects people on the ground.  Middle Earth is made by China Compass Productions and hosted by Aladin Farré. If you have a China-themed cultural project like shooting your next documentary or look for a specific talent, please get in touch! Show Notes - The highest score for a micro-series on Douban is 另一半的我和你 - The most shared micro-series is 大唐小吃货 With thanks to Sean Calvo for music support. The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more. The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, and more. Support the pod by buying a copy ;)Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.