The evolving US-China tariff war, now at a fever pitch. Recent news tells that Trump’s strategy is to rally allies against China.

It would be interesting to see who will side with the US, how credible Trump’s promises are, and what a new globalization without the US might look like.

Ne Zha 2 is brilliant. I really enjoyed it when it was finally showing in Hong Kong. It has some unexpected twists and turns, especially for people like me who are familiar with the traditional version of the story.

The achievement of this movie is remarkable. No wonder it has rallied Chinese people around the world.

Two major events just happened this month. One is China’s Two Sessions (lianghui), and the other is Trump’s speech to Congress.

The links between these two events and their implications are hard to miss. It seems that we can’t find a better topic to discuss.

The year of snake has taken us to a new office space, just a short distance from where we were before. After all, snakes represent potential, wisdom, opportunity and renewal!

For a small company like MSL Master, there isn’t much to move. So the move was quickly finished. Now I’m settling into a new space, writing this notice with a sense of appreciation for both the past and the present.

AI is here to stay. Robots are here to stay. Did you watch the dancing robots in China’s New Year Gala? That was amazing.

One thing is sure. Our lives will be changed forever. As of all changes, some are good and some are bad; or some people will benefit but some others will get hurt; or some have long term benefits but short term damages and vice versa.

A while back, I read something about the Movius Line (more info here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Movius_Line). I was so fascinated about this line and its profound implications. 

It was the recent buzz about DeepSeek, a China AI startup, that reminded me of this line.

The year of snake is coming!

Chinese zodiac or horoscope always offers a fascinating lens through which to view personality traits, life predictions, and cultural traditions. Unlike the Western zodiac, which is based on constellations, the Chinese horoscope is structured around a twelve-year cycle, each year represented by an animal sign from the Chinese zodiac.

A banana duck taped on the wall was sold for USD 6.2 million as an artwork, then it was eaten (without the duck tape).

People were baffled. It defied all our assumptions about art. I think it perfectly reflected our current time.

I remember the days around 2010s when the air was heavily polluted in China. Things have changed greatly in China. A problem that was estimated to last for 50 years no longer commands headlines.

There are several measures implemented to improve China’s environment. If you’re interested, come and join the discussion and practice speaking Mandarin Chinese.

Recently, Sebastien Fiset and Jess Frenette, the founders of a Canadian drinks brand Bobba were accused of cultural appropriation for offering their own version of bubble tea. The reason? They were not Chinese and the packaging did not make any reference to bubble tea’s Taiwanese origin.

I hope they only regard this as a temporary setback and will eventually bring bubble tea to Canadians, because their “culture appropriation” is the best kind.

The political landscape in the United States is about to change. 

After a historic comeback in the 2024 election, Trump is set to begin his second term as President. This unprecedented return has sparked a myriad of discussions and debates across the entire world.

Let’s also join in and at the same time practice speaking Mandarin Chinese.

The fourth book in the series, Easy-to-Read Chinese Short Stories, Book 4, is now available! Year after year, Chinese Writing Contest participants have demonstrated that the creative space is indeed boundless.

Today, let’s celebrate the talent and imagination of these Chinese language learners from diverse backgrounds, and also read what this year’s three winners said about writing.

Chinese Writing Contest 2024 is coming to an end. It has been fantastic to read so many interesting entries!

Thank everyone for your support. Without you, this event wouldn’t have had a chance. And you made it exciting. Thank you all very much.

Voting for Chinese Writing Contest 2024 has ended. Results are coming out soon. I think it is good chance to say a few words about winning and losing.

There will be the top three winners. And for anyone whose writing is included in the Easy-to-Read Chinese Short Stories series, he or she is a winner. 

Although I really want to say that, in this Contest, there are no losers. But, since not all participants’ submissions will be included in this year’s book, someone may feel that way.

Not too long ago, western media was full of opinions and stories that were saying China’s influence in the world was waning, as if China was bordering irrelevance. But today, everywhere you look, it is China, China, and China.

Let’s join the club, also take a look at China's geopolitical influence and international relations that have become central topics.