All events listed here are manually curated for readers of What’s on Weibo, with a focus on Chinese (digital) culture, language, society, history, and broader China insights. Many of these events are hosted around the world.
✉️ If you want to add an event, send me a message at manya[@]whatsonweibo.com
On Saturday, July 26, the Chinese Historical Society of America will host a book talk with author and scholar Laureen Hom. She will discuss her new book, The Power of Chinatown: Searching for Spatial Justice in Los Angeles, which draws on over four years of research into the political, social, and spatial dynamics of Los Angeles Chinatown.
A discussion hosted by Asia Society Northern California will explore recent U.S. economic policy shifts and their implications for relations with China. Featuring academic and policy experts, the session will address trade, geopolitical strategy, and the broader impact on bilateral economic ties.
Join the California Alumni Association Chinese Chapter for a timely conversation on the history of US-China relations and how diplomatic shifts over the past two centuries have shaped Chinese American identity and lived experience.
🌏 Malaysia, China, and the Region in a Pivotal Year 🗓️ Wednesday, 30 July 2025 📍 Lowy Institute, Sydney 🇦🇺 & Online ⏰ 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM AEST 🎥 In-person & Livestreamed Event As Malaysia chairs ASEAN in 2025, the country finds itself at the heart of critical geopolitical shifts in the Indo-Pacific. Prime […]
This Mandarin-language book talk at the Museum of Chinese in America explores the legacy of the Cultural Revolution through 红黑时代 (Children of the Revolution: The Red and The Black) by novelist 之光 (Zhi Guang). Featuring a panel of writers and scholars, the event examines how diasporic literature confronts historical trauma and the complexities of migration, memory, and identity.
⚠️ Note: This event will be conducted entirely in Mandarin Chinese.
In this keynote event, economist Lael Brainard — former Director of the White House National Economic Council and Vice Chair of the Federal Reserve — reflects on the evolution of U.S. economic strategy toward China. Drawing on her direct experience in top policy positions, Brainard will offer insights into what has worked, what hasn’t, and what the future may hold for U.S.–China economic relations.
Author Paul French dives into the forgotten China chapter of Wallis Simpson’s life, revealing how her 1920s journey across Shanghai, Beijing, and Hong Kong helped shape the woman who would change British royal history forever.
Barbara Demick explores the legacy of China's one-child policy through a deeply personal tale of twin sisters divided by state control and reunited against the odds.
What did African dance mean to Mao-era China? This talk by Prof. Emily Wilcox explores how touring African dance ensembles shaped Chinese perceptions of Africa and became powerful tools of cultural diplomacy in the 1960s. Hosted at the University of Sydney.
Join translator Annelise Finegan and author Paul French in London on August 13 for a discussion of My Sister’s Red Shirt by Tie Ning—an iconic reform-era novella newly released in English. Part of Women in Translation Month.
This webinar explores how bureaucratic networks—rather than electoral incentives—shape clean energy development in China. Based on new personnel and project data, Zeren Li sheds light on how internal favoritism can steer renewable energy rollouts, offering a fresh lens on energy politics and governance in authoritarian regimes.
🤝 Chinese Business and Social Networking at Lucy Wong Fitzrovia 📅 Date: Tuesday, 19 August 2025 🕒 Time: 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM GMT+1 📍 Location: Lucy Wong, 33–34 Rathbone Place, London W1T 1JN, United Kingdom 🇬🇧 🌐 Organizer: The Chinese Business and Social Network (CBSN) 🏷️ Description: An evening of business networking and socialising […]
In celebration of Women in Translation Month, Veranda Books will host a conversation featuring translators Annelise Finegan and Nicky Harman, moderated by editor and cultural journalist Georgia De Chamberet of BookBlast.
Award-winning historian Paul French uncovers the untold story of Wallis Simpson’s transformative year in 1920s China. Drawing on new research, Her Lotus Year traces how her time in Shanghai and beyond shaped the woman who would later captivate a king and cause a royal scandal. A richly textured glimpse into fashion, politics, and myth-making in Republican-era China.
An in-person evening at the Chinese Historical Society of America highlights the enduring cultural significance of mahjong 🀄. Author Nicole Wong discusses her new book Mahjong: House Rules from Across the Asian Diaspora, which explores gameplay, family traditions, and the role mahjong has played in Chinese American communities.
