Footprints

This year marks the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC). In this episode, we revisit the life and legacy of Huang Wenxiu, a young CPC member and grassroots official who devoted herself to helping lift a remote village out of poverty. In 2019, she lost her life in a flash flood at the age of 30. But her story did not end there. Today, in Baini Village, Baise City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, young officials like Chen Hongren are continuing the path she helped to shape.

Ai Aiguo, a master welder, has largely defined China's welding industry. For more than five decades, he has overcome hundreds of technical challenges and served major national projects, advancing China's manufacturing prowess.

In this episode, we explore the remarkable journey of Lu Hong, a businessman from Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, who has spent a lifetime defying expectations. Diagnosed with cerebral palsy as a child, Lu faced discrimination and repeated setbacks. Yet rather than letting those experiences define him, he forged his own path.

Faris Rebronja, a Serbian trader of daily goods based in north China’s Shanxi Province, sees himself as a bridge between Serbia and China. After years of living in China, the young businessman has gained not just market experience but a deeper understanding of the country. Optimistic about China’s future, he’s eager to seize more opportunities the world’s second-largest economy has to offer.

"Whenever we need help, we think of the 'Good Guys.'" On Gulangyu, the pedestrian-only UNESCO World Heritage island off the coast of Xiamen, east China's Fujian Province, a group of couriers has become far more than delivery workers. In their spare time, they become companions and helpers for those in need. At the heart of the team is Xiao Meibin, who has spent three decades navigating the island's winding alleys and steep stairways. Together, he and his fellow couriers have become known as the "Good Guys" of Gulangyu.

After a chance trip to China in 1998, engineer Ben Watson from the United States abandoned car design for teaching. Now in his 50s, he calls the northeast Chinese city of Harbin his second hometown, helping local university students navigate cultural differences with wisdom, humor and deep respect.

Join Footprints for an exclusive interview with American healing musician Andy Tubman. His music once awakened a friend from a coma and soothed many troubled, depressed hearts.

In this episode, we are going to learn about the ZXMOTO boss's entrepreneurial adventures in Chongqing, where, with the same grit and can-do spirit, he rolled out his high-performance motorcycles, which helped French rider Valentin Debise and ZXMOTO secure three race wins during the brand's debut WorldSSP season in the Superbike World Championship.

This March, Chinese homegrown motorcycle maker ZXMOTO made history on the racetrack, scoring a spectacular back-to-back double win with French rider Valentin Debise in the WorldSSP category at the Portuguese round of the Superbike World Championship. In this episode, we bring you the extraordinary personal journey of ZXMOTO founder Zhang Xue, a self-made entrepreneur whose journey goes beyond the grassroots success story—it's a powerful testament to chasing dreams, fueled by passion, resilience, and an unshakable can-do spirit.

In the aftermath of a devastating earthquake, even as lives are saved and homes begin to rise again, hidden wounds linger for many survivors long after the ground stops shaking. In Dingri County, Xigaze, in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, a group of psychological aid workers is helping people mend hearts marked by loss and fear. Through biting cold and thin air, across language barriers, and within Tibetan culture and faith, a quiet healing is underway here on the roof of the world.

For award-winning architect Xue Feng, success is measured in laughter. He designs with people, not just for them. His holistic approach weaves speed, sustainability and soul into every project, transforming ordinary places into vibrant stages for everyday life.

In populous first tier cities in China, visiting a doctor at major hospitals can sometimes be exhausting. One often has to maneuver through crowds to get around in big hospitals, where various medical functions are scattered in different corners of the premise. Long queues and not enough seats to rest on in waiting rooms just add to the fatigue. But architects for today's modern hospitals are innovatively addressing those pains, putting humans at the center of architectural design.

For more than two decades, a dedicated juvenile protection team within the Chongqing procuratorates has been working to safeguard the rights and futures of minors. What began as a small group of prosecutors has grown into a citywide network of 45 juvenile protection posts, supported by over 500 prosecutors and 1,600 volunteers. Together, they handle cases involving minors, provide support and guidance, and help young people find a path forward. In this episode, we meet the prosecutors on the front lines of juvenile protection.

​For 30 years, engineer Xue Zhifei has led China's tractor revolution. From power-shift to unmanned, his breakthroughs have broken foreign monopolies, achieved centimeter-level precision, and transformed Chinese farming.

Chinese paleontologist Ji Qiang proved that birds evolved from dinosaurs based on three fossil discoveries in the 1990s. Initially met with skepticism, his persistence finally led to international recognition and solved a long-standing evolutionary mystery.

Dr. Ruan Xiangyan introduced the emerging medical technique of ovarian tissue cryo-preservation and transplantation to China, giving female patients an option to preserve vital reproductive and endocrine functions. Hear her remarkable story on this episode of Footprints.

​NPC deputy Yang Baoxin, a cotton breeder for over three decades, has developed nearly 20 new cotton varieties, successfully battling a disease known as “cotton cancer” and boosting farmers’ income. From humble beginnings to national awards, he tirelessly bridges grassroots agricultural research with farmers' needs, embodying the perseverance and innovation at the heart of China's rural development.

For 14 years, Li Nannan has devoted her life to elderly care in Nantong, east China's Jiangsu Province. By day, she's a head nurse, tending to residents' medical and daily needs. Each spring, she walks into the Great Hall of the People in Beijing as a deputy to the National People's Congress. Bridging caregiving and policymaking, Li strives to push for reforms to improve the country's aging society.

Horses have long been a powerful and enduring motif in artistic expression across cultures and centuries. In the modern history of Chinese art, Xu Beihong stands as the most iconic master of horse painting. By seamlessly blending traditional Chinese brushwork with Western artistic techniques, his galloping horses came to embody freedom, resilience, and an indomitable fighting spirit. In this podcast, we take a closer look at Xu Beihong and his celebrated horse paintings.

In the plains of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region's Junggar Basin, a lost species gallops home. Once extinct in the wild, Przewalski's horses now reclaim the steppe, their wild hearts beating free. Decades of quiet dedication, tireless care, and unwavering hope have made this return possible.

In this episode, the hooves are replaced by horse-hair: the Morin Khuur speaks, sighs and gallops in the hands of the soloist Morin Khuur performer Chaoke Jiletu. You'll feel 180 nylon filaments tremble like prairie grass, and learn why the bow is called the instrument's "two legs." Just let the steppe gallop straight into your headphones.

In Beijing's Shunyi District, a nonprofit organization called HOPE (Horses Offering People Enrichment) is bringing children with special needs together with horses, and changing lives in the process. Founded in 2009 by American physical therapist Priscilla Lightsey, HOPE began as a personal mission and has grown into a community of dedicated staff members and hundreds of volunteers. This episode explores the power of healing on horseback.

For archaeologist Dong Ningning, horse bones are historical archives. Through scientific analysis, she interprets their clues to reconstruct the animal's profound impact on ancient Chinese transportation, language, social hierarchy and other aspects of lives and culture.

Dong Lina is the first visually impaired person in China to earn a master's degree in broadcasting. With quiet perseverance, she has charted an unconventional path, opening new possibilities for others like her to pursue their life goals.

Nestled in the mountains of southwest China's Guizhou Province, Zheng'an County has become the world's guitar capital – producing one out of every seven guitars around the globe. Amid the hum of factories and the rhythm of craftsmanship, a 25-year-old South Korean named Kim Jung-hun has found his place. As a sales manager for a South Korean guitar accessories company, Kim is embracing new opportunities in this guitar town.

Have you ever dreamed of cycling around the world? For most of us, that seems too challenging, too expensive, and too risky. But for Luo Mingning, aka Mowgli, dreams are meant to be chased. A bike mechanic originally from a small village in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, southwest China, Mowgli set off on a bamboo bicycle he had built himself. From April 2022 to November 2025, he spent four years cycling across the Americas, Africa, and Europe. Besides his own tenacity, he also was showered with kindness from friends and strangers along the way, solved many problems and discovered a world that was bigger, warmer, and more surprising than he had ever imagined.

Against all odds, researcher Zhao Zhihai pioneered the world's first hybrid foxtail millet, achieving a major agricultural breakthrough. His "Zhangzagu" varieties broke yield records and introduced herbicide resistance, transforming a subsistence crop into a high-yield, drought-tolerant solution for China and Africa.

When Shanghai police officer Jiang Jingwei was mistaken for a long-lost son, he made a decision that would change the life of a family 1,000 miles away. In 2003, in north China's Shanxi Province, an accident claimed Liang Qiaoying's eldest child and left her paralyzed, with the cognitive level of a young child. To protect her from the devastating truth, her husband, Xia Zhanhai, told her their son was away working in a city. Years later, Xia saw a man on TV who looked exactly like his lost son – Jiang – and reached out in desperation. Jiang agreed to step into that role, and that promise has lasted for 12 years, bringing hope and comfort to a family he had never met.

This July, Thomas Rabe, Chairman of the John Rabe Communication Center, was granted the Friendship Envoy Award at the second Orchid Awards in Beijing for promoting cultural understanding and friendship between China and Germany. Eighty-eight years ago, his grandfather John Rabe, a German businessman stationed in Nanjing in 1937, managed to shelter and save 250,000 Chinese civilians from atrocities committed by Japanese invading forces during one of the darkest moments in human history, known as the Nanjing Massacre. In this podcast, Thomas Rabe shares with us the Rabe family's special bonds with China which spans over a century and four generations.

Women hold up half the sky. This is a well-known saying in China. It's been three decades since China declared gender equality a basic national policy. So, what is the progress in social status of Chinese women today? In this podcast, we will find the answer from Guo Ye, Director of the Women’s Studies Institute of China, who has been actively involved in the promotion of gender equality and women empowerment.

​For more than a decade, Hu Zijing has championed Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in South Africa against all odds. His contributions have been both foundational and far-reaching: he played an instrumental role in launching South Africa’s first accredited university degree program in acupuncture and drafted the national regulations governing the dispensing of TCM medicines.

When Louis Koen first came to China in 2002, it wasn't part of a grand plan. As a teenager, he and his sister followed their mother from South Africa to Yinchuan in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, where she had taken a job teaching English. That move kick-started a journey of connection, discovery, and belonging that has lasted more than two decades. Today, Louis teaches English at Lanzhou University in Gansu Province and has built a life in northwest China with his Chinese wife and their two lovely daughters.

The ancient city of Kashi boasts a history of more than 2,000 years. Its rich history, distinctive architectural style and vibrant ethnic culture are trademarks of its charm. Sitting in the earthquake zone in China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the ancient city, whose old buildings were mainly adobe-structured, have undergone a major renovation in recent years, to improve its tremor resistance. Leading the effort was Wang Xiaodong, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering. In this podcast, he shares with us the story behind the ancient city’s remarkable rebirth.

​For over three decades, Jing Laihong has shaped China's water conservancy through innovative work on projects like the sediment-challenged Xiaolangdi Water Conservancy Project on the Yellow River. His engineering innovations in flood and sediment control prove that a lasting harmony between humanity and the power of nature can be achieved.

Nestled in the mountains of southwest China's Guizhou Province, Zheng'an County has become the world's guitar capital – producing one out of every seven guitars around the globe. Amid the hum of factories and the rhythm of craftsmanship, a 25-year-old South Korean named Kim Jung-hun has found his place. As a sales manager for a South Korean guitar accessories company, Kim is embracing new opportunities in this guitar town.

Join us for an insightful conversation with Dato' Abdul Majid Ahmad Khan, a veteran Malaysian diplomat who spent 12 years in China. From serving as Malaysian Ambassador to China (1998-2005) to his current role leading the Malaysia-China Friendship Association, Dato' Majid has dedicated decades to fostering mutual understanding and collaboration between the two nations.

Joshua Dominick, affectionately known as "Lao Tan" in Chinese, has spent more than two decades in Beijing. Originally from the U.S., Josh speaks fluent Chinese and has become a familiar face in the local community. In 2013, he founded Krankin' Thru China, an organization dedicated to empowering individuals with disabilities to engage in outdoor sports across the country.

For Luo Dingjun, traveling between Taiwan and the Chinese mainland has become second nature. Born and raised in Taipei, the 37-year-old has built a life in Shenyang, a vibrant city in northeast China's Liaoning Province. As the founder of the WeChat Official Account "Cross-Strait Youths," Luo has spent over a decade fostering connections and understanding between people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

Known as the world's capital of small commodities, Yiwu in eastern China attracts hundreds of thousands of sellers and buyers from home and abroad every day. Harold Mori, a young Peruvian man, is one of them. In this podcast, Mori shares his story of how he started his trading business from scratch right here in Yiwu.

She came to China to study but ended up building a home, a thriving career and so much more. Meet Nguyen Thi Lan, a Vietnamese entrepreneur who has spent over a decade in Chongqing, southwest China. From navigating student life to launching two successful businesses, she has embraced the energy of this dynamic "Mountain City." Now, as the leader of the Vietnamese Association in Chongqing-Sichuan, she's helping fellow Vietnamese expats find their place in this vibrant community.

A healer by day, a warrior by night – can these two worlds coexist? For Shi Ming, they don't just coexist – they collide. The 30-year-old is both a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioner and an MMA fighter. In November 2024, she stunned the world with a crushing head kick at the Road to UFC finals, sending the crowd into a frenzy. What drives her to both heal and conquer? How does she balance these two lives?

On the tranquil shores of Lugu Lake in southwestern China live the Mosuo people, an ethnic group known for their matrilineal traditions. Right by the lake, in a village called Daluoshui in Lijiang, Yunnan Province, stands a modest yet remarkable museum dedicated to preserving this vibrant culture. Founded by two locals in the late 1990s, the Mosuo Folk Museum struggled for years to survive until a young outsider arrived to make a difference…

Zafar Uddin Mahmood, former Special Assistant to the Prime Minister of Pakistan and President of the Pakistan-based initiative Understanding China Forum, first came to China in the 1970s and spent decades here as a diplomat. Having personally witnessed China’s reform and opening-up from the late 1970s onward, he offers his perspective on why understanding China matters not only to Pakistan but also to the wider world.

​Li Qiuyi is a leading railway engineer whose innovative work has been instrumental in shaping China's world-class high-speed rail network. He has overcome great technical barriers, such as designing seamless points on bridges, enabling trains to maintain high speeds safely and smoothly. Today, Li continues to pioneer intelligent and sustainable rail technologies, driving China's rail industry into the future.

In this episode, researchers reveal the true colors of the Terracotta Warriors―the underground army of China's first emperor, Qin Shihuang.

​Veteran electrician Zhang Dong has advanced power maintenance in China, developing live-line tools that prevent blackouts during repairs. His robotic innovations and training programs save hundreds of outage hours annually. Honored as a national model worker, he proves that electricity service can and should never stop.

​In this episode of "Friendship in War Fires", we honor Tang Duo, a Chinese aviation pioneer who fought in World War II as a Soviet attack pilot before shaping China’s Air Force education. His daring combat missions and postwar legacy reveal a life of service, heroism and resilience.

​In this episode of "Friendship in War Fires", we honor Grigori Kulishenko, a Soviet pilot who dedicated his life to defending China against Japanese aggression during World War II. His heroism has been deeply cherished by the Chinese people since the moment he made the ultimate sacrifice in a fierce battle against Japanese forces.

In this episode of "Friendship in War Fires" series, we uncover the extraordinary story of Qian Xiuling – a Chinese-Belgian scientist who saved nearly 100 lives in Nazi-occupied Belgium during World War II. Her actions created an astonishing bridge between wartime China and Europe, proving courage knows no borders.

Young Kazakhstani Ruslan Tulenov is the first non-Chinese Global Media Officer for Trade and Investment Promotion in China’s tropical island province of Hainan. He is affectionately known across China as the “Panda Man” or the “Panda Hero.” In this podcast, Ruslan takes us behind the scenes of how he became one of the most famous foreign faces in Hainan. How did he earn those endearing monikers and how has he been sharing the island’s story with the world?

In this episode of "Friendship in War Fires" series, we honor the extraordinary courage of Minnie Vautrin – an American educator who risked her life to protect over 10,000 women and children during one of history's darkest chapters in Nanjing. Her harrowing diary entries provide an unflinching record of the Nanjing Massacre – a testament to both the cruelty of war and the resilience of humanity.

For 14 grueling years (1931-1945), the Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army stood as China's northernmost force of resistance against Japanese aggression. Deep in the forests of Jilin Province, their first guerrilla base was set up in a remote area called Hongshilazi. Spanning 32 square kilometers, this battlefield has become an active archaeological site, revealing more than 3,300 ruins and 900 artifacts. In this episode, we follow Meng Qingxu, the lead archaeologist behind the dig, as he reveals how the past is being pieced together.

More than 460 million metric tons of plastic are produced every year, and around 20 million tons end up polluting our environment. It’s in our oceans, our soil, even the air we breathe. But what if that waste could become more than just pollution? In Pakistan, Dr. Waqas Ahmed Khan is transforming discarded plastic into sustainable eco-bricks, and in the process, reshaping how communities think about waste.

This July, Thomas Rabe, Chairman of the John Rabe Communication Center, was granted the Friendship Envoy Award at the second Orchid Awards in Beijing for promoting cultural understanding and friendship between China and Germany. Eighty-eight years ago, his grandfather John Rabe, a German businessman stationed in Nanjing in 1937, managed to shelter and save 250,000 Chinese civilians from atrocities committed by Japanese invading forces during one of the darkest moments in human history, known as the Nanjing Massacre. In this podcast, Thomas Rabe shares with us the Rabe family’s special bonds with China which spans over a century and four generations.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931–1945) and the World Anti-Fascist War. In Nanjing, a city forever etched in history by the horrors of the Nanjing Massacre, memorials and museums stand as solemn reminders of a painful past. Among them is a private museum founded by an ordinary citizen – Wu Xianbin. Through his personal collection and unwavering commitment, Wu has built a space of remembrance, reflection, and resilience.

​For decades, tower crane operator Wang Chao has overcome one challenge after another with innovative solutions—developing a lightening protection system for rocky terrain and establishing a critical 3-meter braking standard to prevent collisions. His exceptional skills and uncompromising commitment to safety has ensured the success of numerous major construction projects, earning him recognition as one of Beijing’s elite “Great Craftsmen”.

Professor Jiao Nianzhi is a pioneering Chinese marine scientist. He developed the revolutionary Microbial Carbon Pump theory, explaining how marine microbes capture and help store carbon dioxide. His work bridges scientific discovery with sustainable development, offering nature-based approaches to climate challenges.

For Egyptian Hany Sobhy Makary Guirguis Hanna, coming to China was totally accidental. But staying here for ten years has definitely been a deliberate choice for him. So, what’s it like when an Egyptian ventures to the Middle Kingdom? And what happens when he tries to follow in the footsteps of his ancestors and grow his trade business in China?

In this podcast, we meet Anyu Agga, an independent fashion designer of Yi ethnicity who has risen to fame from the grassroots of the deep mountains.

Vikash Kumar Singh is an Indian expatriate who currently teaches Hindi, Indian culture, history and literature at Beijing Foreign Studies University. With 18 years of residence in China, Vikash speaks fluent Chinese and is dedicated to fostering Sino-Indian cultural exchanges through teaching and literary translation. In this episode, we delve into Vikash's remarkable journey and insights.

In this episode, we explore the journey of Evandro Menezes de Carvalho, a Brazilian scholar and professor of international law with a deep passion for China studies. Since his first visit to China in 2013, Evandro has immersed himself in research and teaching, building bridges between China and Brazil. In recognition of his unwavering commitment to fostering cross-cultural dialogue, he was awarded the prestigious Chinese Government Friendship Award in 2023.

​For more than three decades, educator Li Xuemei has transformed from a struggling Chinese immigrant to award-winning cultural ambassador through her promotion of Chinese language and culture in Italy. Her innovative educational model and study programs promise to reshape cultural understanding between the East and the West.

Martial arts master Wang Deqing has spent decades promoting Shaolin Kung Fu in Hungary. His work, blending combat, the tea ceremony and etiquette, has made Shaolin Kung Fu a living bridge between people with different cultural backgrounds.

Meet Annie and Leo Schur Chen – French-Chinese siblings who have fallen deeply in love with kung fu. Born and raised in China, the 11- and 9-year-olds have spent the past three years immersed in the world of Chinese martial arts. Today, they're not only mastering complex techniques but also competing on the global stage. Through every punch and kick, these young martial artists are forging a powerful connection with Chinese culture.

In this episode, we follow the journey of Pietro De Laurentis – an Italian Sinologist whose deep passion for Chinese calligraphy has turned him into a bridge between East and West. From his first trip to China in 1998 to his current role of teaching Chinese calligraphy history at the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts, Pietro has spent more than two decades immersed in the rhythms of Chinese culture. Along the way, he's wandered through ancient stele forests, unraveled the mysteries of thousand-year-old scripts, and helped bring Chinese calligraphy to global academic prominence.

Natalya from Kazakhstan has made her home—and launched her startup—in Zibo, a city in China’s Shandong province. A confident and ambitious young woman, Natalya shares her entrepreneurial journey and explains why living in China feels like a natural choice for her.

Yellow, scarlet, purple, and green—under the heat of a blowtorch, slender rods of glass melt and transform into dazzling works of art. With what seem like effortless pulls, twists, and rolls, a pair of skillful hands breathes life into vibrant creations. In this podcast, we meet Sun Fengjun, a colored glaze artist whose magical hands and enduring passion for flame fire have allowed him to preserve and innovate in this traditional art.

Meet Guillaume Bog, better known as Guibog – or to Chinese people, Gui Da Ye (Uncle Ghost). A Frenchman who has spent two decades in Beijing, Guibog lives a life powered by code and creativity. By day, he's a programmer; by night, a robot maker and an upcycler. From scrap circuit boards and mechanical odds and ends, he conjures up quirky, whirring sound machines that are as unpredictable as they are mesmerizing.

In southwestern China’s Sichuan province, there is an ancient town called Qingshen. The Minjiang River flows through the city, and a sea of bamboo forests covers the nearby hills and mountains in lush green. In this podcast, we go southwest to this ancient town and see how the local people have revitalized their villages by protecting and making good use of their bamboo forest resources.

The origins of agriculture continue to be one of archaeology's great mysteries. Chinese archaeologist Jiang Leping may hold a crucial piece of the puzzle, thanks to his groundbreaking discoveries at an archaeological site in Zhejiang Province, east China. This prehistoric settlement, known as Shangshan, dates back 10,000 years and is recognized for being home to the earliest cultivated rice in the world.

In this episode, we dive into the musical journey of Anastasia Fridman, a violinist from the Netherlands who fell in love with the traditional Chinese string instrument – the erhu. Her passion led her to the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, where she immersed herself in the world of traditional Chinese repertoire. Through the fusion of Eastern and Western sounds, Anastasia strives to build musical bridges across cultures.

A healer by day, a warrior by night – can these two worlds coexist? For Shi Ming, they don't just coexist – they collide. The 30-year-old is both a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioner and an MMA fighter. In November 2024, she stunned the world with a crushing head kick at the Road to UFC finals, sending the crowd into a frenzy. What drives her to both heal and conquer? How does she balance these two lives?

​Agri-scientist Liao Hong has promoted eco-friendly tea farming in the Wuyi Mountains in southeast China’s Fujian Province by intercropping tea with soybeans and rapeseed. Humble in character and daring in research, this “hoe-wielding” woman reshapes agricultural science through her groundbreaking discovery of aluminum’s role in tea root growth.

China’s southwestern Yunnan province is famous for its mild climate, beautiful landscape, and diverse ethnic culture. Its close proximity to Southeast Asian countries makes this province a hot destination for overseas students from those nations. In this podcast, we get to know a Cambodian student, Phorng Sreyphoung, who is studying medicine in Kunming, the provincial capital, to learn how she finds her life in China.

She came to China to study but ended up building a home, a thriving career and so much more. Meet Nguyen Thi Lan, a Vietnamese entrepreneur who has spent over a decade in Chongqing, southwest China. From navigating student life to launching two successful businesses, she has embraced the energy of this dynamic "Mountain City." Now, as the leader of the Vietnamese Association in Chongqing-Sichuan, she's helping fellow Vietnamese expats find their place in this vibrant community.

Join us for an insightful conversation with Dato' Abdul Majid Ahmad Khan, a veteran Malaysian diplomat who spent 12 years in China. From serving as Malaysian Ambassador to China (1998-2005) to his current role leading the Malaysia-China Friendship Association, Dato' Majid has dedicated decades to fostering mutual understanding and collaboration between the two nations. What was his experience in China like? How did his diplomatic journey evolve into a lifelong mission to strengthen people-to-people bonds? What's his vision for the next chapter of China-Malaysia cooperation?

Indian businessman Dev Raturi runs a thriving restaurant chain in China. With over a decade of experience in the challenging business landscape, he credits his success to China's favorable business environment and the support of the local people. In this episode of Makin’ It in China, Raturi recounts his inspiring journey from a waiter to a successful restaurant owner.

​Mostak Ahamed Galib, a 42-year-old from Bangladesh, has spent over 20 years in China, studying its remarkable development as a student and scholar. Drawing on his personal experience and insights, he aims to help other developing nations learn from China’s growth strategies.

It's that time of year again – China's most important political event, the Two Sessions, is in the spotlight. Journalists from around the world are gathering in Beijing to cover China's economy, legislation, and policies, offering diverse perspectives on the country's development. Last year, Leota Marc Membrere from Samoa, a young journalist with Savali Newspaper, traveled thousands of miles to the Great Hall of the People for the event. How did this experience shape his understanding of China? What's his personal China story?

​Tungamirai Eric Mupona, hailing from Zimbabwe, is a doctoral student specializing in international affairs and global governance at Zhejiang University. The 26-year-old first arrived in China in 2017 as an undergraduate student of applied physics. But over time, his interests shifted from the physical sciences to a deeper exploration of societal dynamics. In this edition of Footprints, he shares with us his observations of China’s development, particularly the annual top political meetings known in China as “Lianghui” or the “Two Sessions”.

While athletes are competing at the 9th Asian Winter Games in China’s Northeastern city of Harbin, in a terrain park a thousand miles away, 6-year-old Snowflake is enjoying skiing and polishing her snowboarding tricks. In this edition of Footprints, we get the feel for the passion for winter sports among China’s younger generations.

The festive spirit fills the air in Harbin – the host city of the ninth Asian Winter Games. Nestled in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Harbin is beautifully adorned with vibrant decorations, and the Games' mascots, Binbin and Nini, have won many people's hearts. These figures, along with a series of visual elements for the Games, were crafted by a design team from the Academy of Arts & Design at Tsinghua University, led by Professor Chen Lei. In this episode, we explore the mastermind behind the Games' visual identity.

Happy Chinese New Year! Minutes ago, the Chinese bade farewell to the Year of the Dragon and ushered in the Year of the Snake. As is the custom, the whole country celebrated the arrival of Chinese New Year with family gatherings, carefully prepared family dinners, and enjoyed the Spring Festival Gala. At the gala, an aspirational song performed by a girl choir from deep in the Daliangshan Mountainous region, and their happy faces, melted the hearts of many. Join Footprints as we meet members of the Niuniu Choir and learn the stories of these brave little girls.

​A translator, university teacher, linguist, jazz musician, crosstalk performer—David Moser has taken on various roles in his exploration of his life, professions and cultures. But these various roles originate from his passion and dedication to bridge Chinese and U.S. cultures. In this edition of Footprints, we talk to this multi-talented man to delve into his experience in China and his journey as an expert in the Chinese language and culture.

For Luo Dingjun, traveling between Taiwan and the Chinese mainland has become second nature. Born and raised in Taipei, the 37-year-old has built a life in Shenyang, a vibrant city in northeast China's Liaoning Province. As the founder of the WeChat Official Account "Cross-Strait Youths," Luo has spent over a decade fostering connections and understanding between people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

​Han Zhen and Zhou Liya, both born in the 1980s, are known as the "twin stars of the dance world". Over the past decade, the two choreographers have worked together and created six dance pieces, incorporating traditional Chinese culture into the art form. What are some of their most popular works? And why are they so appealing? Join us for this edition of Footprints to find out.

For Chinese gamers, Black Myth: Wukong, an action role-playing game has proven that it deserves all the hype and expectations. It not only created sales records for domestically made console games, but also claimed multiple international awards at the end of the year. In this edition of footprints, let’s take a closer look at the legendary monkey Wukong, who has made the year 2024 “Year of the Monkey” for numerous gamers. We will also unveil the pilgrimage of the Black Myth: Wukong creators and how they helped Wukong fight his way to the altar of one of the best acclaimed game awards.

Stretching 7.8 kilometers from north to south through the heart of Beijing, the Central Axis is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. But this recognition didn't happen overnight. It took 12 years. Leading the effort was Lyu Zhou, director of the National Heritage Center at Tsinghua University, who was in charge of the compilation of the application documents. What makes the Central Axis so special? Why does it matter in today's world? Join us to discover the story behind this cultural treasure and its lasting significance.

Harald Brüning, a seasoned journalist with four decades of experience in Macao, has witnessed firsthand the city's historical transformation. As Macao celebrates the 25th anniversary of its return to China, Brüning shares his personal journey and insights into the past, present, and future of this vibrant city.

In 1942, during the Second World War, a Japanese ship called the Lisbon Maru was sunk in the East China Sea. Hundreds of British prisoners of war onboard perished, while over 380 others were rescued by nearby Chinese fishermen. For decades, the tragedy remained largely forgotten until the release of the documentary movie “The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru” in September 2024. The driving force behind the documentary was Fang Li, a Chinese geophysicist and filmmaker, who spent eight years uncovering this little-known chapter of history. What drove him to dedicate so many years to this quest? What challenges did he face along the way and what untold stories emerged in his pursuit of the truth?

Wang Meichun, a Gen Z entrepreneur from Taiwan, is currently running a camp site in Xiangshan County, Ningbo, Zhejiang Province. Since 2000, three generations of her family have made their home and built careers in the Chinese mainland. With her parents' support, Wang seeks to create a space in the coastal village where visitors can relax and connect. She also hopes to build a camp site that serves as a bridge, fostering meaningful connections between people across the Strait.

​As the world faces challenges to preserve biodiversity, individuals like Guo Geng, a zookeeper from Beijing, emerge as beacons of hope. For about three decades, Guo has dedicated himself to advocating for wildlife and raising public awareness about animal protection through writing books and giving engaging lectures.

As climate negotiators convene in Baku, Azerbaijan for COP29, the United Nations Climate Change Conference, to discuss the most urgent climate change issues, we turn our attention to a group of researchers who are working to safeguard the Earth’s precious black soil land. We meet Hou Hongxing and his fellow researchers who have spent years in the field in Northeast China, monitoring the evolving conditions of the region’s black soil and exploring ways to retain its fertility.

In this episode of the Makin' It in China series, we explore the journey of Evandro Menezes de Carvalho, a Brazilian scholar and professor of international law with a deep passion for China studies. Since his first visit to China in 2013, Evandro has immersed himself in research and teaching, building bridges between China and Brazil. In recognition of his commitment to fostering cross-cultural dialogue, he was awarded the prestigious Chinese Government Friendship Award in 2023. Join us as he shares the story of his experiences and the special bond he has developed with China over the past decade.

Known as the world's capital of small commodities, Yiwu in eastern China attracts hundreds of thousands of sellers and buyers from home and abroad every day. In this episode of our Makin' it in China series, Harold Mori, a young Peruvian man, shares his story of how he started his trading business from scratch right here in Yiwu.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Brazil. In this edition of the Makin’ It in China series, we welcome Vitor Moura, a young Brazilian entrepreneur who has spent nearly a decade in China. As the founder of Lantau and the marketing director at Bracham, Vitor is committed to enhancing cross-border trade between these two nations. Join our conversation with Vitor as he shares his journey and insights.

For Egyptian Hany Sobhy Makary Guirguis Hanna, coming to China was totally accidental. But staying here for ten years has definitely been a deliberate choice for him. So, what’s it like when an Egyptian ventures to the Middle Kingdom? And what happens when he tries to follow in the footsteps of his ancestors and grow his trade business in China? Join Footprints for the business adventures of Hany Sobhy, in our latest episode of Makin’ it in China series.

In this episode of the Makin' It in China series, we delve into the journey of Ehsan Doostmohammadi, an Iranian researcher at Southwest University in Chongqing, southwest China. With a profound passion for traditional Chinese medicine and culture, Ehsan is dedicated to translating classic Chinese texts into Persian, opening the door for Iranian readers to engage with Chinese heritage. Join us as we explore Ehsan's experiences and insights as a Sinologist.

Joshua Dominick, affectionately known as "Lao Tan" in Chinese, has spent more than two decades in Beijing. Originally from the U.S., Josh speaks fluent Chinese and has become a familiar face in the local community. A decade ago, he founded Krankin' Thru China, an organization dedicated to empowering individuals with disabilities to engage in outdoor sports across the country. In this episode of the Makin' It in China series, we explore Josh's inspiring journey and uncover the meaningful impact he is making in a foreign land.