5 d. ago Japan’s ‘genius’ chimpanzee Ai, who mastered Chinese characters, dies at 49

Ai, a “genius” chimpanzee who could recognise more than 100 Chinese characters and the English alphabet, has died aged 49, Japanese researchers said. Ai, which means love in Japanese, took part in studies on perception, learning and memory that advanced our understanding of primate intelligence, the Centre for the Evolutionary Origins of Human Behaviour at Kyoto University said in a statement. She died on Friday from multiple organ failure and ailments related to old age, the school said. Aside...

Events

1 week ago US ‘kill line’ shocks Chinese social media as economic woes shatter illusions

A series of social media posts highlighting the economic insecurity facing ordinary Americans has triggered an intense debate in China about social problems in the United States and shattered some long-held perceptions. Many of the posts from influencers described the vulnerabilities as a “kill line”, a term used by Chinese video gamers to describe the health threshold below which a character can be instantly defeated. The term has now been repurposed to describe a financial and social tipping...

Events

2 w. ago US poet laureate Arthur Sze on slowing down to translate poetry across cultures

When Arthur Sze translates classical Tang dynasty poetry into English, he writes Chinese characters by hand, slowing himself to the pace of brush strokes and gaps. This deliberate resistance to speed is central to the craft of the US’ 25th poet laureate, and to his belief that poetry must be treated with care if it is to cross borders with depth intact. Sze only translates poems he loves, noting that he’s done just 75 translations over a five-decade-long career. “I don’t work on assignment. I...

Politics

2 w. ago Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era receives high recognition from intl community: 2025 Global Survey on Impression and Understanding of China

Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era receives high recognition from intl community: 2025 Global Survey on Impression and Understanding of China  Global Times

Politics

3 w. ago Soon you may be able to type a new Chinese character: the gender

Soon you may be able to type a new Chinese character: the gender-neutral pronoun  CNN

Politics

3 w. ago China actress Mao Xiaotong abandoned by dad, rejects his cash demands after becoming famous

Award-winning Chinese actress Mao Xiaotong may be famous for her sweet and cute appearance, but she has a tough streak that has seen her walk away from toxic relationships with her father and ex-boyfriend. Mao, 37, has won multiple awards including the Magnolia Award for Best Supporting Actress and the Huading Award for Best Actress in Contemporary Drama. She is widely recognised for playing independent and innocent female characters in Chinese television dramas, such as Nothing but Thirty and...

Culture