How I Write How Dan Wang Became America’s Favorite China Expert
55 snips
Sep 24, 2025 
Dan Wang, a renowned writer and China analyst, shares insights on blending personal experiences with deep analysis in his writing. He reveals his unique method of crafting annual letters, discussing how to capture the essence of China through textured observations. Wang critiques traditional travel writing for its self-indulgence and emphasizes the value of detailed analysis over superficial impressions. He also reflects on the impact of AI on his processes and candidly critiques China's influencer culture, threading humor and profound insights throughout the conversation.
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Formal Power Vs Everyday Life
- China mixes rigid official messaging with informal, messy everyday life that often contradicts party optics.
- Dan Wang observes friction between top-down propaganda and ordinary people's lives as central to understanding China.
Texture Trumps Big Themes
- Zooming into sensory details reveals texture that broad geopolitical narratives miss.
- Dan uses food and regional snapshots to explain complex social and economic differences across China.
Write With Musical Cadence
- Cultivate cadence, repetition, and ornament to make prose musical and engaging.
- Emulate comic-opera pacing: vary sentence length and add small playful flourishes.
