Round Table China

China's outdoor adventure boom is reshaping how people spend their free time, from weekend cycling groups and hiking trails to marathon runners chasing personal bests. That surge in demand is fueling a massive commercial opportunity across high-tech gear, tourism and sporting events. The industry now faces the challenge of sustaining growth while preserving the people, places and natural environments that make these activities possible. On the show: Steve, Yushan & Yushun

For many people, dogs are family members, not just pets. That makes it especially difficult when a city begins enforcing rules that could leave some dogs effectively confined to their homes. Hangzhou's regulations have led to discussion about fairness and practical solutions, with the goal of balancing the needs of residents, dog owners and the four-legged family members themselves. On the show: Steve, Yushan & Yushun

Hundreds of yuan for a desk buddy that won't lift a finger to help you sounds like a bad deal. No chores, no career advice, just the occasional funny noise. Yet an entire generation seems to think otherwise. China's booming market for AI companions is built on charm over brainpower, and the companies behind it are betting that connection matters more than capability. On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushan

Fresh watermelons in Chinese markets practically all year round are just the beginning. Behind that year-round produce sits a much larger experiment in connecting 1.4 billion consumers and producers into one seamless national market. As global businesses gather in Shanghai for the ninth CIIE this week, the focus turns to what a unified national market actually means on the ground and who stands to gain from it. On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushan

A morning routine becomes an optimized system, and a few favorite songs become a curated playlist. Social media in China and also elsewhere in the world has turned ordinary life into something to label, package, and present, and that playful habit of naming is exactly what makes internet slang so much fun to learn. On the show: Steve, Yushan & Yushun