The latest in the never-ending series of price-hikes/tax-related upsets for the public - a new mooncake tax! Mid-autumn festival is fast approaching, but this year when Beijing employees feast on mooncakes gifted from their employers, there will be a catch! The Beijing authorities have decided to impose a tax on the sweet pastry - which means employees will end coughing up some cash for their "free" treats. Authorities gave no reason for the move, but it is possibly an effort to reduce the insanely wasteful attitude taken towards the cakes. Over half the cost of mooncakes actually goes to the packaging, so if only Chinese could forego all that gaudy, velvet trim (even more tragic when crushed outside in a garbage heap one week later) costs of the cakes could really be much lower. more ›

Welcome to the latest episode of Chinese Soundbites, a podcast series brought to you by ChinesePod and Shanghaiist. Every week we'll be bringing you topics and words pulled straight from the headlines, in Mandarin Chinese. more ›