Sixth Tone China Writing Contest Award Ceremony Scheduled

Tune in August 28 at 8 p.m., Beijing time, for the winners and comments from our judges.

The awards ceremony for Sixth Tone’s China Writing Contest will be held via livestream on Aug. 28, 8 p.m. Beijing time.

The ceremony can be watched via Zoom, and will be simulcast through Sixth Tone’s YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and WeChat. To register for the livestream, please click here.

The Sixth Tone China Writing Contest was themed “Generations.” It debuted last October as a way to invite readers and writers to engage with China’s burgeoning nonfiction writing scene.

The prize winners were selected by a prestigious panel of judges and reflect the diversity of contemporary China and Chinese lives around the world.

At the ceremony, our judges will share their thoughts on the contest and the winning submissions. They include British food writer Fuchsia Dunlop, American journalism professor Howard W. French, American writer Peter Hessler, Chinese writer Qian Jianan, Dutch researcher Tabitha Speelman, Chinese editor Wu Qi, Chinese anthropologist Xiang Biao, and Chinese documentary filmmaker Zhou Yijun.

The event will be hosted by Sixth Tone’s own Dominic Morgan.

The list of finalists can be found below.

Long pieces (over 1,500 words):

Anonymous for Thirteen Years in Singapore – by Duan Wenxin, translated by Wang Jiyuan

Moxa, Receipt, Money, and Generations – by Dong Weiran

Qingdao German Past – by Ye Charlotte Ming

The Art of Butchering – by Qin Guibing

The Family House – by Lexa W. Lee

The Posthumous Child – by Zhou Shuxuan

The Rise and Fall of a Doll Brothel – by Zhang Y. Q.

The Twenty-Sixth Floor – by Zhang Yashu

Will Manhattan’s Chinatown Lose Its Barbershops? – by Xiong Yang

Short pieces (under 1,500 words):

A Family of Multigenerational Immigrants – by Tianru Wang

Almost Family – by Alessandro Ceschi

Coming a Long Way: A Pocket-Size Memoir Made in China and Suriname – by Eric Karwofodi

On a Loop – Rock, Paper, Scissors: Truth. Or Dare? – by Li Yijuan

Our Unuttered Love – by Zhang Yuer

The Sweet Earth – by Qingqing Jessica Xi

For more information on the contest, and to see past events, including panels and interviews with our judges, please click read more.