China is not a black box. While Xi Jinping’s consolidation of power has brought tighter control over dissent and leaks, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) now produces more routine political information than ever before. Of course, academic research, database access, and public commentary have all become significantly more constrained, but much open-source material on Chinese politics remains available.
Chinese internet users engage daily with a sprawling mix of propaganda feeds, commercial platforms, and semi-official accounts. The CCP now publishes a constant stream of information to retain control over its narrative in a country of 1.4 billion people as well as inform and instruct its almost 100 million members. These updates include meeting agendas, personnel changes, budget data, and implementation timelines. This flood of information is not background noise — it is the signal.
Information demands interpretation. China is as full of political junkies as the United States, if not more so, given the opaque and mysterious nature of how the country is governed. The growing availability of information has produced a growing ecosystem of political commentary, especially among Chinese living abroad. But even in the People’s Republic of China (PRC), state media journalists and dedicated netizens can use patterns in open-source data to reconstruct political timelines, verify policy priorities, and even predict future purges. According to an editor at the state-owned digital newspaper the Paper, “The information released by many official agencies is a giant ‘treasure trove,’ but the media has not unearthed nearly enough; more effort is required in this field.”
Many China watchers in the West know the importance of official sources like the People’s Daily or updates about personnel movements — the Decoding Chinese Politics product by the Center for China Analysis is one such example — but fewer follow or engage with the Chinese-language discourse on Chinese politics. This oversight is a missed opportunity for deepening our collective understanding of what might be happening behind the walls of Zhongnanhai. It also constrains the potential knowledge base about China among overseas policymakers, journalists, and businesses.
Below is a curated guide to some of the most insightful Chinese-language analysis of Chinese politics. It is not a guide to authoritative CCP publications but to other sources that interpret developments in elite politics and national policymaking. It highlights outlets and individuals who provide analysis, commentary, and context rather than simply echoing official narratives or indulging thinly sourced rumors. However, a handful of semi-official or state-affiliated sources are included because they highlight key developments and offer useful interpretations. Nor is it comprehensive; it focuses on X, podcasts, and the PRC media ecosystem, and even within these categories, it is impossible to include every worthwhile source. Future articles on “China Watching in Chinese” will cover different platforms for analysis and different types of sources on the platforms below.
This guide is intended as a starting point for China watchers who are less familiar with the Chinese-language discourse on Chinese politics. Suggestions for future coverage areas and more accounts to include are welcome. The sources below are listed in alphabetical order by their English names.
Ten X Accounts
The website X (formerly Twitter) is the largest global communications platform. Chinese-language political discourse has rapidly migrated to it, where a vibrant and evolving ecosystem is driven by three distinct cohorts.
First are the “Weibo finance refugees” — former influencers from China’s financial social media circles who, after being censored, turned to X to apply their analysis to market developments. Second is an emerging community of politics enthusiasts: highly engaged users, often with academic or policy backgrounds, who produce long-form threads, infographic timelines, and real-time analysis of CCP documents, Politburo meetings, and personnel shifts. Third are overseas open-source analysts, many from the Chinese diaspora, who specialize in tracking public appearances, document revisions, and traces of Chinese officials to reconstruct networks and infer elite political trends.
Unfortunately, the social media conversation on Chinese politics is rife with gossip, rumors, and personal attacks, but the accounts listed below offer solid takes, despite many of them being anonymous (to protect the safety of their authors, some of whom are in China). This list only includes active accounts that regularly post.
@CaoLei1 (曹山石)
With a background in finance, this account often shares early rumors about regulatory shifts and related personnel movements. While accuracy can vary, it reflects insider discussions in financial circles. Notably, it was among the first to report on the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection’s crackdown on the popular guandan card game.
@CinnabarOcean (云青天)
Known for a sharp analytical eye, this account was the first to report Premier Li Qiang’s downgrade in aircraft used for foreign visits (from a VIP plane to a chartered plane) — widely interpreted as a sign of the State Council’s declining autonomy. The account consistently offers high-quality, historically informed “tea-leaf reading,” such as this deep dive on Vice Premier He Lifeng’s career and influence.
@CNPoliWatch (中国人事观察)
This account is renowned for its meticulous analysis of elite personnel movements. By scrutinizing state media — especially the official Xinwen Lianbo nightly newscast — it identifies political signals from seating arrangements, clothing details, background changes, and more.
@FollowCnRules (中规中矩)
Believed to be operated by a veteran journalist on Chinese domestic politics, this account offers detailed and high-caliber analysis of personnel movements and bureaucratic dynamics via X and its affiliated YouTube channel.
@Guoguang_Wu (吴国光)
Guoguang Wu is a distinguished scholar of Chinese politics at Stanford University (and a senior fellow at the Center for China Analysis). He previously served as an editor at People’s Daily and as an aide to reformist leader Zhao Ziyang in the 1980s. This insider experience informs his incisive commentary on Chinese governance and politics.
@HankInBeijing
This go-to source for sharp, forward-looking analysis provides consistently insightful commentary on China’s tech policy, international organization roles, and key personnel developments.
@JosephWen___ (Joseph.W 約瑟)
Based in Taiwan, Joseph Wen is widely regarded as one of the top open-source intelligence resources on the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). He provides unmatched analysis through meticulous frame-by-frame reviews of China Central Television’s (CCTV’s) PLA coverage — with work so impactful that Chinese military outlets have reportedly altered visual details to obscure information.
@MacroMargin (宏观边际)
This account, run by a self-described “macro research analyst,” stands out for its rigorous, data-driven analysis of China’s economic policies, thorough cross-checking of official documents, and in-depth interpretation of CCP publications.
@MaoViews
Demonstrating remarkable foresight, this became the first Chinese-language source to allude to the 20th Party Congress Standing Committee lineup. It frequently debunks myths from English-language sources, underscoring its status as an exceptional observer of elite Chinese politics. This account is likely run by a senior journalist covering Chinese politics at a major news outlet.
@ZhongXinXi1 (鍾馨溪)
A notably active presence in the community of Chinese political junkies, this account is believed to operate anonymously from within mainland China. It frequently offers speculation about impending personnel movements and potential purges and sometimes interprets the significance of announced leadership reshuffles. Several of its forecasts have been validated by subsequent events, though many remain unconfirmed. Readers should therefore approach the account’s more speculative assertions with critical judgment, as reliability is not guaranteed.
Five Podcasts
Podcasts have become an increasingly important medium for commentary on Chinese politics, offering a flexible and accessible format for in-depth analysis that is often less constrained than traditional media. Within the mainland, carefully curated podcasts provide insights into local governance and bureaucratic life, often through anecdotal storytelling. Outside China, podcasts hosted by journalists, academics, and independent analysts have carved out a space for candid discussion of elite politics, policy debates, and international affairs — often drawing on both insider knowledge and open-source research.
Bumingbai 不明白播客
Hosted by veteran journalist Li Yuan (袁莉) of the New York Times, Bumingbai engages listeners with candid and insightful discussions on contemporary China. The podcast stands out for its frequent inclusion of preeminent academics and seasoned analysts who unpack complex political, economic, and social issues. Guests provide well-researched perspectives on topics ranging from elite politics and fiscal policy to social unrest, U.S.-China relations, and the lingering influence of historical events.
Dasheng Podcast 大声播客
Hosted by journalist Vivian Wu (吴薇), Dasheng Podcast features long-form interviews with leading Chinese intellectuals on the historical and institutional logic of Chinese politics. Recent standout episodes include in-depth conversations with historian Wu Si (吴思) on the imperial legacy of power and with economist Xu Chenggang (许成钢) on the CCP’s “institutional DNA.” The podcast offers a rare combination of historical depth and political analysis, with episodes that dissect elite politics, bureaucratic behavior, and China’s enduring institutional patterns.
Global Heartbeat 东谈西论
This current affairs podcast, a China-focused equivalent to “The Daily” by the New York Times run by Lianhe Zaobao (see below), features senior China reporters and guest experts on Chinese politics. It provides deeper analysis of personnel reshuffles and purges than the newspaper’s print version.
Qianliang Hutong 钱粮胡同
This podcast provides an insightful and accessible exploration of China’s financial politics. Hosted by two articulate finance professionals speaking in distinctive Beijing accents, the program examines the political economy of Chinese finance with clarity and wit. Using a unique stand-up comedy format, it delivers rigorous analysis with humor, making complex topics — such as the history of China’s financial reforms, state-enterprise relations, major business cases, and developments in international finance — both engaging and educational.
Within the System 体制内
This podcast offers an insider’s view into the realities of working within China’s vast bureaucracy. Each episode features candid conversations with current or former employees in state-sector roles, shedding light on the daily challenges, survival strategies, and career development paths of mid-to-low-level civil servants. Hosted by an anonymous individual believed to be a former civil servant, the podcast has gained widespread recognition as a source of practical career advice for recent college graduates preparing for China’s civil service examinations.
Ten Mainland Media and WeChat Sources
Even in a tightly censored environment, some domestic Chinese outlets excel at “reading between the lines” and surfacing politically meaningful information from official announcements. These often take the form of dedicated columns or WeChat public accounts that curate official readouts in a way that draws attention to the most significant information in government press releases. State media and government agencies also operate hundreds of WeChat accounts, some functioning as official or semi-official mouthpieces for particular departments, which are worth following for sector-specific insights.
Caixin Media 财新传媒
Caixin Media is a private Beijing-based company that is widely recognized for its in-depth investigative journalism, especially on financial and economic affairs. Its editorial latitude appears to benefit from some degree of official tolerance. Caixin gained industry acclaim for its 2013 anticorruption investigations, including in-depth reporting on the purge of Zhou Yongkang. Today, it continues to provide exclusive insights into policy and personnel movements in China’s financial regulatory and economic planning agencies. Notable columns include “Ups and Downs” (人事观察) on personnel movements and “What We’ve Heard About Finance” (金融我闻). While independent, Caixin operates within mainland China’s censorship regime and is subject to periodic restrictions — its survival reflects both editorial professionalism and political negotiation. It was founded in 2010 by renowned journalist and media entrepreneur Hu Shuli, who also established Caijing magazine in 1998.
Chang’an Street Insider 长安街知事
This is the flagship new media product of the Beijing Daily (北京日报). It has become a nationally recognized brand in current political news. In 2020, “Chang’an Street Insider” won first prize for Best News Column at the 30th China Journalism Awards.
Chaoyang Young Warrior 朝阳少侠
Operated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this account, while occasionally adopting a combative “wolf warrior” tone, offers commentary on international political affairs aimed at a mass domestic audience. Its direct and engaging narrative style makes its content particularly accessible.
Chatting About the Current Political Situation 聊时局
The People’s Daily is the official mouthpiece of the CCP’s Central Committee and therefore one of the most authoritative publications in China. But its WeChat column “Chatting About the Current Political Situation” offers additional insights into political discussions and personnel changes that are not authoritative in and of themselves but are likely to reflect the views of senior officials.
Economic Observer 经济观察报
The Economic Observer’s domestic politics and law team is highly respected for their coverage of governance, corruption, and legal issues. The publication consistently produces rigorous investigative reporting across public-interest areas such as the economy, rule of law, environment, and public health. Notably, its senior governance and law correspondent, Li Wei’ao (李微敖), regularly posts information on personnel movements and purges on his Weibo account. Its editorial work is subject to the broader constraints of China’s censored press environment, though it is often granted more leeway in reporting on business and regulatory topics. Originally founded by the Sanlian Group, a Shandong-based provincial conglomerate, as a Beijing-based publication to promote market reforms, its ownership was effectively acquired by real estate billionaire Lu Zhiqiang in 2010 before being transferred to the main state media corporation in Jinan in 2022.
Ninety Thousand Miles 九万里
A WeChat account run by the Ministry of State Security (MSS). Ninety Thousand Miles publishes op-eds on foreign policy and international affairs. Alongside the main MSS WeChat account, it provides rare insight into the ministry’s worldview and operations. In a recent post, the MSS acknowledged its role in establishing diplomatic ties with the United States during the 1960s — an unusually candid admission.
Niu Tan Qin 牛弹琴
Founded by Liu Hong (刘洪), deputy editor-in-chief at Xinhua News Agency, this account has gained significant recognition. In 2020, it received an “Influential Opinion Leader Support Award” from the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission, and several of its articles have been cited by Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokespersons. It occasionally shares new information about U.S.-China relations.
Political Affairs 政事儿
This channel, published by the Beijing News (新京报) and available online and as a WeChat public account, is known for its timely summaries and compilations of announcements related to leadership activities, high-level personnel moves, and policy developments. The Beijing News, launched in 2003, was one of China’s more liberal-leaning media outlets in the 2000s and 2010s, when it was run by the Guangming Daily and the Nanfang Daily. Yet its liberal reputation began to diminish as early as 2011, when it was transferred to the Propaganda Department of the Beijing municipal CCP authorities.
Political Knowledge 政知
Published by Beijing Youth Daily, this group of WeChat accounts specializes in dissecting political news, analyzing officials’ backgrounds, and clarifying the implications of new policies and appointments. The “Political Insights” (政知见) column focuses on centrally managed cadres at the deputy-ministerial level and above, “Political Circles” (政知圈) focuses on provincial and bureau-level officials, and “Political Awareness” (政知道) focuses on domestic and international politics. Beijing Youth Daily is managed by the Communist Youth League of Beijing, with editorial oversight from both central and local propaganda authorities.
Yuyuan Tantian 玉渊潭天
Launched by state broadcaster CCTV in 2019, this account specializes in reporting on trade issues, especially related to U.S.-China relations. It was reportedly the first outlet to confirm Beijing’s softening stance toward renewed trade talks with the United States in 2025.