Editor’Letter

Call it Confucian tradition, or just competitiveness—but education seems a constant theme in analyses of modern China, and things are no different at TWOC. Whether it’s reforming the inequalities and abuses in the vocational school sector, or building inclusive campuses for students with disabilities, or even teaching parents how to better manage unruly children, many of our past issues’ cover stories and features have dealt with all the forms education takes in modern China.

But learning doesn’t stop at the classroom, and as the country experiments with various reforms to its formal education system, there are voices in society calling for better public education for matters with huge social repercussions: on sex, death, and aesthetic values. Our cover story this issue looks at the state of the public’s understanding of these issues, and efforts both from the formal education system and grassroots actors to remove the social taboo surrounding sex and death, and spark artistic creativity among both children and adults (or just reduce the number of oddly designed buildings and statues).Maybe, though, you feel that weird architecture is a quintessential image representing China—or perhaps you want to put your own aesthetic skills to the test, showcasing some beauty to our readers and a panel of experienced editors and photographers? In this issue, we announce the launch of our “Most China” photography contest, inviting you to submit single photos or photo series that represent China’s “mosts.” Winners will have their work published in the magazine, as well as receive prizes and opportunities to become long-term collaborators helping us build more quality photojournalism content. Turn to Page 16 for details about the contest as well as a sneak peek at the works of Huang Ruide, a freelance photographer whose shots of folk culture inspired this contest.

Elsewhere in the issue, we turn our concerns for the first time away from earthly cultures and look at (potential) off-planet civilizations. Our deputy managing editor Sam Davies goes inside the world of China’s amateur “UFO hunters,” as well as sci-fi writers they’ve inspired, and qualified scientists seriously seeking extraterrestrial life, for a wholly original and riveting look on why they still believe. We also find out why young Chinese have seemingly lost their taste for sugar, get up-close with graffiti writers who’ve acquired an unexpected clientele—the government—and look into why there are seemingly no good female characters in domestic movies and TV series. All this, and more, inside.