As if we needed any reminders that being a journalist in China is tough, ESWN (possibly blocked now) has helpfully translated a Southern Weekend interview with Xie Chaoping, a Chinese author who was arrested after publishing a book accusing local authorities in Shaanxi province of embezzling funds meant for relocating residents around the Sanmenxia reservoir project. He was accused of "illegal trading," and was only finally released ten days ago. Of his experience in jail and being interrogated, Xie admits he's become more fragile, "I cry whenever I hear the words "steam bun." I cry whenever I think about my wife. I can never forget the look in my wife's eyes when she rushed out to see me being taken into the elevator. All the bitterness and sorrow of the world were there." more ›

When China's Southern Media Group's bid for U.S. magazine sale would've ever gone through ("the spiritual gap between them and American news organizations is larger than even the most sober Chinese media baron probably imagines"), one shouldn't dismiss the excellent journalism exhibited by the reporters of Southern Weekly, part of the Southern Media Group, who routinely break news in a country with an iron grasp of censorship. For some of the controversial Southern Weekly (aka Southern Weekend) stories we've covered, check here. more ›

The higher ups are apparently mad at Guangdong paper Southern Weekend, which managed to snag an exclusive interview with President Obama when he visited in November. Chief editor Xiang Xi was demoted to second-in-command and replaced by a new editor after the CCP's propaganda department complained, sources told Reuters. Unlike most world powers, the U.S. White House went directly to Southern Weekend, long known for its more "adventurous" reporting of misdeeds and injustices, rather than go to a more official outlet. When propaganda department officials learned of this sidestep, they restricted the interview and slashed the transcript before it went to press. Despite the briefness of what remained, other Chinese papers were told not to republish it. But Southern Weekend editors surrounded the finished piece with "conspicuously large fields of blank space," a passive protest against the censorship that had happened. Now it looks that Xiang Xi is paying for that sass. more ›

From Southern Weekend via the Bokee blogs we learned that the controversial Shanghai high school history textbooks—the very ones that were the subject of a New York Times article last year (Sept. 1, 2006)—have been banned. more ›

Remember the Shaanxi Temple Axe Murderer? You know, the one that killed eleven people aged 12-62 at a Taoist temple with an ax, dismembered them and fed some of their choice parts, including eyeballs, to the spotted dog that accompanied him? He was sentenced to death on October 19. For some good background on this man and his life, check out what ESWN had to say. more ›

Remember when you misbehaved and your parents threatened to beat you senseless, send you to boot camp, or send you to Michael Jackson's ranch? Well, as soon as we read this article (in Chinese), all those memories came flooding back. This article from Southern Weekend is about the "Marching School", which is basically a school run like a military boot camp. more ›

The English translations of the top 10 phrases used in Chinese newspapers in 2005 are: more ›

Yeah, yeah, we know it's a little late for 2005 lists. But our editor is off in the U.S. making life-altering decisions and we just found this list of the top 10 Chinese films of 2005 (in Chinese). Here is how it came out: more ›

From Reuters: more ›

Xinhua reports that Power Net Technology, a leading Chinese online gaming company, in cooperation with the Chinese Communist Youth League (CCYL) is developing a massive multi-player online role playing game (MMORPG) called Anti-Japan War Online, where players take the Chinese side in simulated battles from the 1937-1945 Japanese invasion of China. more ›

Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) recently decided to allow two Chinese regional papers, Shanghai's Xinmin Evening News (新民晚报 or Xin Min Wan Bao）and Guangzhou based Southern Metropolis (南方都市报 or Nan Fang Dou Shi Bao) to station journalists in Taiwan. more ›