The Modern Family Issue

July, 2018

A family in harmony will prosper in everything” (家和万事兴) is a Chinese proverb (apparently). Our summer story is about the people we wish to prosper, but sometimes struggle to find harmony with—family. The media usually portrays the Chinese family as a rigid, conservative unit, complete with comic clichés: spoiled “little emperors,” fussy grandmothers, henpecked husbands.

 Of course, in reality, couples get divorced all the time, and some mothers raise their child alone, a uniquely difficult choice in China. Those facing the Confucian curse of growing old without heirs could adopt—but it’s bureaucratic nightmare that serves neither prospective parent nor child, something that was no different in imperial times.

 No wonder, then, that a growing number of couples choose to abandon baby-making and enjoying their double incomes “selfishly,” or even marry interracially. New graduates are also being wooed—by perks from cities like Xi’an or Wuhan to leave conventional first-tier lives, trading nightlife for better pay and housing, if not meal; TWOC takes a look at the deal (or lack thereof) with Chinese fast food, wonders why the Ming still matter, seeks the truth about Chinese chili sauce, investigates a drug war, and visit the heck out of Guangxi (but not Guilin). 

 COVER STORY | 封面故事 

Modern Family 

“家庭”的定义越来越宽泛，构成也越来越多样了：今天的“摩登家庭”有单亲妈妈、丁克夫妇、领养亲子、黄昏恋家庭，甚至是“形婚”，但他们也是平凡的普通人，有着各自的苦乐喜忧。能选择适合自己的生活方式也是社会进步的标志之一。

 FEATURES | 主题故事 

Shock of the New 

有人说，一线城市容不下肉体，三四线容不下灵魂；“新一线城市”的崛起是否意味着世外桃源的降临？

Quick Fix

在口味地域差异巨大的中国餐饮市场，中式快餐能够成为下一个肯德基、麦当劳吗？

One Belt, One Love 

娶个外国新娘回家？愿跨国婚恋多些真诚，少些套路

 GALLERY | 水墨丹青 

Sounds of A Century 

在辽宁旅顺的留声机博物馆内，收藏着一段属于老馆长王心伟的音乐历史

 TIME MACHINE | 时光机 

Ming Matters

明朝建立于650年前，可为什么我们今天还这么喜欢谈论它？

 JOURNEY TO THE BEST | 寻真之旅 

Hot and Saucy

逆袭的辣酱——从‘穷人的油盐’到令人上瘾的火辣

 SOCIAL CHINESE | 社交汉语 

Astro Babble

聊星座也是一种社交技巧

还有更多栏目，小说、艺术、语言……从国际视角欣赏中国文化，用地道英文讲述中国故事。有温情，有幽默，有新观点，有真态度……从封面到封底，精彩内容不间断！