Yixi

A communication platform that shares knowledge, information and viewpoints through live talks and online videos.

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What is Yixi: Monthly Chinese Speech Gatherings

Official Website: https://yixi.tv/

In an era of fragmented information, if you are looking for a Chinese platform where you can quietly listen to a full speech and absorb new knowledge carefully, Yixi (yixi.tv) is a name you cannot miss. Founded in 2012, it hosts one live speech event per month on average, inviting guests from fields such as humanities and technology to the stage, allowing them to share their insights, experiences and visions for the future within a limited time.

Different from the fast-paced expression of short videos, Yixi follows a theatre-style speech route: audiences sit in the venue, and speakers speak at a gentle pace. These live contents are recorded and produced, then disseminated to the public in the form of online videos, so knowledge, information and viewpoints spread from the theatre to a wider audience.

What Does Yixi Talk About: Thematic Directions and Content Formats

The guest composition of Yixi is quite diverse, including scholars, writers, artists, frontline tech practitioners, as well as professionals and celebrities from various fields. The topics they cover are very broad:

• Humanities Direction: Topics such as history, art, social observations, helping audiences understand people and culture;
• Technology Direction: Popular explanations of cutting-edge technologies and scientific research, making hard-core knowledge audible and understandable;
• Personal Experiences: Speakers condense their personal stories into a speech, touching audiences’ hearts with real experiences.

In terms of format, Yixi is not limited to speeches. The platform provides various types of video content such as speeches, interviews, courses, etc. Audiences can either watch individual speeches, or extend their understanding of topics of interest through interviews and courses.

It is particularly worth mentioning the complete transcripts. Each session of Yixi comes with a full text transcription, which means audiences can not only “watch” but also “read”. If they miss a part while watching, they can refer to the text to review it, and there is a basis to cite viewpoints when needed. This is a very practical design for content understanding and secondary dissemination.

Why It Is Often Called “China’s Own TED”

When it comes to speech platforms, many people’s first reaction is TED, and Yixi is often described as “China’s own TED”. The two are indeed similar in form: both are theatre-style speeches, and both use online videos to spread influence. But the uniqueness of Yixi lies in its basis in the Chinese context, mostly telling the thoughts and stories in the Chinese-speaking world, with its own temperament from expression to topic selection.

Since the first event in August 2012, Yixi has persisted for over a decade. In these years when content platforms have experienced ups and downs, maintaining a monthly event rhythm is not easy. This continuous output has accumulated a group of loyal audiences, and gradually grown from individual speech events into a cultural phenomenon worthy of attention.

In addition to local speakers, Yixi’s stage has also gathered speakers and performing guests from around the world. Different language backgrounds, professional fields and life paths intersect in the same theatre, and the collision of ideas often brings audiences unexpected inspiration.

Watching Channels and Usage Tips

There are mainly two ways to access Yixi’s content: one is the official website yixi.tv, which collects the platform’s speech, interview and course videos, and is equipped with full transcripts; the other is platforms such as Bilibili, where Yixi’s related video content is also shared, convenient for users who are used to watching on Bilibili.

If you are contacting Yixi for the first time, you may refer to the following tips:

• Start with familiar fields. For example, people working in design can start with speeches related to art and aesthetics, which makes it easier to develop a viewing habit;
• Make good use of transcripts. Read carefully the speeches that resonate with you, and take notes of the viewpoints that touch you;
• Do not limit yourself to your professional scope. Listen appropriately to topics at the intersection of humanities and technology, which often brings unexpected perspectives;
• Follow the monthly update rhythm, and treat Yixi as a fixed “recharging” time, which is more systematic than scrolling through videos randomly.

Frequently Asked Questions About Yixi

How Often Does Yixi Hold Events?

Yixi holds one live speech event per month on average, and has basically maintained this rhythm since August 2012. Past sessions will be released on the official website in video form.

Are There Transcripts for Yixi’s Speeches?

Yes. Each session comes with full transcripts. Audiences can read along while watching videos, and it is also convenient to excerpt and disseminate valuable content.

What Is the Relationship Between Yixi and TED?

The two are mutually independent platforms. “China’s own TED” is more of an analogy to Yixi’s theatre-style speech format. In fact, Yixi focuses on humanities and technology content in the Chinese-speaking world, and has developed its own style and accumulation.

In Closing

Over a decade, Yixi has proven through one speech after another: earnest storytelling and attentive listening always have their place on the Chinese internet. Whether you want to understand the cutting-edge developments in a certain field, or listen to real stories from ordinary people’s perspectives, you may open yixi.tv, pick a topic of interest, set aside twenty minutes, and quietly listen to a worthwhile session.