Tea & Threads No. 1
Tracing Choreographies of Endurance in a Changing World
Weekend Reads: Where news, insights, and reflections on China and the wider world meet — beyond the headlines.
People ∞ Culture ∞ Economics ∞ History ∞ Politics ∞ Philosophy ∞ Art ∞ Environment
Tea & Threads offers a curated weekend blend of perspectives, news, ideas, and reflections that shed light on our shifting times — tracing the threads that shape China and the wider world, beyond headlines and noise.
The views expressed in articles, lectures, or podcasts published in Tea & Threads are those of the author, lecturer, or speaker, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of China21 Journal.
In a world of many loud voices, it is often wiser to listen, read or observe others than to always speak — for understanding and learning begins not with certainty, but with curiosity.
After all, as Su Shi (1037–1101, 蘇軾), also known as Su Dongpo, a poet, painter, calligrapher, and statesman of the Song dynasty, wrote in his poem “The View from Mount Lu” (題西林壁) nearly a thousand years ago:
不識廬山真面目， 只緣身在此山中。
“We cannot see the true face of Mount Lu, because we are standing within the mountain.”
In this week’s Tea & Threads, we explore how rhythm, balance, and endurance shape our times — from geopolitics to daily life. Former Singaporean foreign minister George Yeo reflects on the shifting gravitational pull of nations in “Investing in the Age of Geopolitics: Solving the Three-Body Problem,” urging perspective amid turbulence. Economist Alicia García-Herrero dissects China’s newly convened 15th Five-Year Plan, where strategy turns from speed to stamina in “Slow Burn: China’s 15th Five-Year Plan and the Art of Endurance.” And in Shanghai, Wu Huiyuan captures the quiet persistence of an older generation keeping time — and meaning — alive on the dance floor in “A Day in the Sanctuary of Rhythm.” Three stories, each tracing the choreography of endurance in a changing world.
Slow Burn: China’s 15th Five-Year Plan and the Art of Endurance
Alicia García-Herrero | October 24, 2025 | Singapore | ThinkChina
As the 15th Five-Year Plan session convened in Beijing this week, Alicia García-Herrero argues that China’s next blueprint (2026–2030) signals a shift in strategic posture. Rather than pursuing another rapid-fire economic “miracle,” the plan emphasizes endurance, control, and incremental transformation amid a more turbulent global environment. With priorities ranging from AI and green energy to advanced manufacturing and domestic capital circulation, Beijing appears focused on managing risks and sustaining momentum rather than chasing bold leaps. The piece invites readers to reconsider how China now measures success — not through headline growth, but through institutional resilience and strategic patience — and what that mindset means for the wider world.
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Investing in the Age of Geopolitics: Solving the Three-Body Problem
George Yeo & Mato Njavro | October 8, 2025 | Rovinj, Croatia | YouTube ZSEM (Zagreb School of Economics and Management)
In this insightful conversation held in the beautiful coastal town of Rovinj in Croatia on October 8, former Singaporean Foreign Minister George Yeo and Croatian investor Mato Njavro delve into the complexities of global investment in an era marked by geopolitical tensions. Drawing parallels to the “three-body problem” in physics, they explore how interconnected global forces — including U.S.-China relations, technological shifts, and changing economic power — create unpredictable and often turbulent investment landscapes. Their discussion offers practical insights for navigating these challenges and identifying opportunities in a rapidly changing world.
A Day in the Sanctuary of Rhythm
Wu Huiyuan | September 29, 2025 | Shanghai, China | Sixth Tone
In Shanghai’s storied “New Dream” ballroom dance hall, time seems to stand still as an older generation gathers three times a day to waltz, rumba, and disco their way into ritual and rhythm. The piece follows 84-year-old regular Huang Shenrong and other longtime dancers who view the hall not merely as a pastime, but as a lifeline of community, memory and movement. As China’s youth drift toward social-media-fueled trends, these classic dance halls are increasingly rare—but for their patrons, places like New Dream remain a sanctuary of continuity and connection.
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Weekend’s Poem
Homecoming on a Snowy Night
Homecoming on a Snowy Night
Formal Title: Lodging with the Master of Mount Hibiscus on a Snowy Night (逢雪宿芙蓉山主人)
By Liu Changqing (刘长卿, Tang dynasty, 709–785)
日暮苍山远，天寒白屋贫。柴门闻犬吠，风雪夜归人。
At dusk the green mountains fade into distance,
In the cold sky, a poor cottage stands alone.
From behind the brushwood gate comes the bark of dogs—
Through wind and snow, one makes his way home by night.This poem was translated and published by Jian Xu, a Beijing-based attorney with a love for classical Chinese wisdom on Chinese Wisdom Express, accompanied by contextual notes and an introduction to the poet.
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Enjoy your weekend !
Gordon Dumoulin - China21 Journal