Audio, Contemporary China
Jeremiah Jenne
What happens after a Barbarian walks away from ...

On the latest episode of Barbarians at the Gate, David Moser and I discuss new directions. We reflect on our COVID-era episodes, discuss the current situation on academic exchanges in China with cautious optimism, and outline future plans for the pod.

What happens after a Barbarian walks away from the Gate?
Beijing, Contemporary China, Audio
Jeremiah Jenne
Exile from Expat-Ville

David and Jeremiah speak with Mike Wester about running @thebeijinger, organizing the “Safe and Sane” communities during the pandemic, and the future of expats in Beijing. Also, Jeremiah surprises David and Mike with an announcement.

Exile from Expat-Ville
Book Reviews, History, Travel
Jeremiah Jenne
Marco Polo: Travel writer? Fraud? Sexpat?

‘The Travels of Marco Polo’ is often held up as the earliest Western account of China and Asia. What’s actually inside the covers might surprise you.

Marco Polo: Travel writer? Fraud? Sexpat?
Audio, Travel
Jeremiah Jenne
Art with Altitude: A Conversation with Artist, ...

On this episode of Barbarians at the Gate, we talk to artist, educator, and social entrepreneur Kristel Ouwehand of Snowland Art

Art with Altitude: A Conversation with Artist, Educator, and Social Entrepreneur Kristel Ouwenhand
Audio, History
Jeremiah Jenne
History Wars: The PRC pushes back against ...

David and I discuss what's going on with the Qing history project, a controversy about Genghis Khan in France, and how PRC continues punching back against potentially problematic pasts.

History Wars: The PRC pushes back against unsanctioned views of the past
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Excellent Ming-Era Architecture and Artifacts on Display at Re-Opened Zhihua Temple

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Excellent Ming-Era Architecture and Artifacts on Display at Re-Opened Zhihua Temple

Zhihua Temple, one of the best-preserved repositories of Ming-era architecture and artifacts in the city, has reopened after extensive renovations.

New Year Special: A Look Back at China’s Purloined Pekingese

New Year Special: A Look Back at China’s Purloined Pekingese

Bronze animal statues weren’t the only thing looted from the Old Summer Palace when it was put to the torch by British and French troops at the conclusion of the Arrow War in 1860; the imperial kennel was robbed as well

When Ulysses S. Grant met General Li

When Ulysses S. Grant met General Li

Grant’s was a life lived in many acts: Soldier. Drunk. Failed businessman. Drunk. General. Drunk. President. Failed Businessman again. Tomb. He was also the first US president to visit China.

Beijing to Improve Over 900km of Bike Lanes, Expand Urban Rail

Beijing to Improve Over 900km of Bike Lanes, Expand Urban Rail

While some commuters will no doubt rejoice at the increased number of bike lanes and sidewalks, the true test of the municipal government's commitment to green transportation will come from whether restrictions on automobiles and other motorized vehicles using spaces set aside for cyclists and pedestrians are enforced. 

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The Party Struggles to Keep Control of its Own History

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The Party Struggles to Keep Control of its Own History

A series of controversial social media posts claim the Party is censoring the past to preserve its legitimacy in the present. Why is the Cultural Revolution such a sensitive topic these days?

Donald Trump and Xi Jinping in 2018: Evan Osnos, American Decline, and the Country of Cats

Donald Trump and Xi Jinping in 2018: Evan Osnos, American Decline, and the Country of Cats

China advances, America retreats. What's really happening in the dance between Xi Jinping and Donald Trump?

The Question of “Chinese Influence”

The Question of “Chinese Influence”

In writing about China, should we be careful not to conflate the Party with the people?

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2017 Year in Review: Beijing's Changing Urban Landscape and a Few Predictions for the Coming Year

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2017 Year in Review: Beijing's Changing Urban Landscape and a Few Predictions for the Coming Year

2017 was a year of change for Beijing, but then again what year since 1421 hasn’t been a year of change for the city?

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Dangerous Benevolence

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Dangerous Benevolence

The Beijing municipal government threatening organizations that assist displaced migrants is bad policy, but official ambivalence toward private charity dates back at least to the imperial era

The Woman who Built an Empire

The Woman who Built an Empire

A review of Alice Poon's historical novel The Green Phoenix, a love triangle set during the time of the Ming-Qing transition

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Imperial-Era Tombs Discovered on Site of New Beijing Mega-Airport

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Imperial-Era Tombs Discovered on Site of New Beijing Mega-Airport

Workers building Beijing’s mega-airport of the future have stumbled over a bit of the city’s past.

Massacre and Memory: 80 Years Later, the Battle over Nanjing Rages On

Massacre and Memory: 80 Years Later, the Battle over Nanjing Rages On

The Nanjing Massacre is a poignant example of how history and memory can become contested battlegrounds, even decades later