A weekly roundup of news and analysis to help you follow key developments in China and the Chinese church.
In China, AI Is No Longer Optional for Some Kids. It’s Part of the Curriculum (January 27, 2026, NPR News) Starting in the fall, every student in elementary and middle school in Beijing, and several other districts, began learning about AI.
Who Are the Churches That China Is Persecuting? (January 19, 2026, Domino Theory) On the night of December 14, over 1,000 police officers surrounded Yayang Church in Wenzhou, Zhejiang. At 3 a.m. they burst into the church “with extreme violence.”
Podcast - China’s Church Divided (January 8, 2026, Pekingology) Paul unpacks the Communist Party's views on religion, how the Catholic Church navigated the turbulent politics of 1980s China, and why the Vatican has renewed a controversial deal with Beijing.
From Icy to an Ice Icon: How Harbin Became a Winter Wonderland (January 2, 2026, The World of Chinese) When much of China retreats indoors during the winter, the northeastern city of Harbin does just the opposite.
From Hakka Tulous to Blue Ocean Views: A Glimpse into 2025 Church Dedications Across China (December 28, 2025, China Christian Daily) For the Christian community in China, the year 2025 saw a diverse array of new church dedications.
From 'Ping Guo' to Peace: How a Pun Created a Christmas Custom (December 22, 2025, China Christian Daily) For Christians and churches worldwide, Christmas is a season of celebration and a crucial time for evangelism. While methods vary globally—from cantatas to charity drives—churches in China have adopted a unique medium to share the gospel: the "Peace Apple."
The Chinese Christian Behind 2,000 Hymns (December 11, 2025, Christianity Today) Lü’s vocation as a hymn writer might seem surprising, as she never received any formal music training and learned how to write Chinese characters from a dictionary while shepherding sheep in a field.
The Fire of the Century (December 9, 2025, Made In China Journal) On the second day of the fire at Wang Fuk Court, flames continued to sporadically flare up in the smouldering units, reigniting blazes across the buildings.
Preparing Our Hearts (December 1, 2025, ChinaSource) We’re grateful to once again offer an Advent calendar—inviting believers around the world to join together in asking for God’s mercy and giving thanks for his blessings on Chinese Christians.
The Great Reckoning (October 16, 2025, The Ideas Letter) “China isn’t just an analytical problem,” he said. It is “the master key to understanding modernity.”
A Chinese Coffee Shop Called Itself People’s Cafe. That Name Got it Roasted (November 9, 2025, CNN) A Chinese coffee chain has apologized and changed its name after state media roasted it for misusing a word revered by the nation’s communist government.
A Town in Northeast China Has Shrunk by a Third Since 2010. Here’s One Family’s Story (October 30, 2025, NPR) Lin Xin's story highlights the fast-unfolding demographic shifts happening in China, where the population is shrinking and aging.