Deep Dive China Plus

When Team China struggles in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, the village super league in Rongjiang, Guizhou province in southwest China continues to prosper. Surrounded by farms and mountains, the grassroot tournament has become a national sensation for over a year. In this unique tournament, winners take home livestock instead of trophies. CGTN reporter Li Jingjing joins this episode to share the excitement of these amateur-level football games and how the league's fame has transformed many local lives.

The number of marathon events is growing rapidly in China, yet still cannot keep up with the even faster-growing number of runners. CGTN Radio reporter Jiang Tao explores the rising popularity and economic impact of marathons in China, the future prospects of this burgeoning sport, and whether it can sustain its rapid growth.

After restoring the habitat and population of wild Asian elephants, villagers in Xishuangbanna in South China have adapted to live peacefully with wildlife, sometimes even returning parts of their homeland to nature. Ahead of World Environment Day, CGTN Radio reporter Heyang recounts her safari journey to Xishuangbanna, Yunnan province, sharing her observations of local efforts to restore the environment and pursue harmony with nature.

In May, the US government quadrupled its import duties on Chinese EVs, but the question remains: is this measure sufficient for America to close the gap in the electric vehicle race? In this week’s episode, commentator and comedian Lee Camp offers his insights into the challenges hindering the development of the US EV industry.

A dark chapter in the history of Xizang, or Tibet, is still remembered. What kind of life did an overwhelming majority of local people have to endure under a near-slavery system? In this episode, CGTN reporter Mi Sutong shares the poignant stories of two serf families from the roof of the world.

Long before the Paris Olympics kicks off, groundwork for the mega sports event is already underway in the city of Yiwu in eastern China, also known as “the world’s supermarket”. In this episode, content creator Rafael Saavedra shares his travel experience in Yiwu, shedding light on how the seemingly insignificant trinkets not only influence major global events but also weave into the fabric of our day-to-day lives.