Yanhuang Chunqiu

Yanhuang Chunqiu, sometimes translated as China Through the Ages, is a monthly journal in the People's Republic of China which was historically commonly identified as liberal and reformist. It was started in 1991, with the support of Xiao Ke, a liberal general of the Chinese People's Liberation Army. Du Daozheng served as the founding director of the publisher.

The journal was previously regarded as one of the most influential liberal journals in China, issuing some 200,000 copies per month. It paused its operations in 2016, however, due to the crackdown from Xi Jinping's administration–even though Xi Zhongxun, the father of Xi Jinping, had publicly supported the publisher. Following the pause, a new management team with pro-Xi editors was introduced, and continued to make publications.

Founding
In 1990, Xiao Ke, a liberal General of the Chinese People's Liberation Army and standing member of the Central Advisory Commission, began to organize the launch of a history journal together with other officials. In March 1991, the credentials for publication were approved, and in April all personnel of the publisher started to work in Beijing.

On July 1, 1991, the Yanhuang Chunqiu journal made its first issue. Du Daozheng served as the founding director of the publisher. In early 1992, after Deng Xiaoping's southern tour, Yanhuang Chunqiu began to publish articles in support of the Reforms and Opening-up program. In 2001, Xi Zhongxun, a leading reformist and father of Xi Jinping, publicly supported and praised the journal.

Political interference
In July 2010, Yanhuang Chunqiu published a memoir by retired Politburo member Yang Rudai praising Zhao Ziyang. It marked a rare break of the long-standing taboo in China against mentioning the former leader since he was ousted after the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989.

In January 2013, Yanhuang Chunqiu website was temporarily shutdown by the Chinese government after it published an editorial urging the implementation of constitutional rights.

In July 2015, founding publisher Du Daozheng, had taken up the role of editor-in-chief, when Yang Jisheng was forced to resign. In connection with his resignation, Yang published two letters: the first explained the reasons for his resignation to the members of Yanhuang Chunqiu and its readers; the second was sent to the General Administration of Press and Publication and criticized intensified government restrictions on topics the journal was permitted to cover.

In 2016, China's media regulator, the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television declared 37 recent news items in breach of political guidelines.

Suspension of publication
Long considered influential among liberals and reformists, in July 2016, the entire editorial team resigned following the sacking of long-time publisher Du Daozheng and demotion of chief editor Xu Qingquan, by order of the Chinese National Academy of Arts, amid intensifying pressure from the authorities to soften its editorial stance. The magazine had been founded in 1991 by reform-minded party veterans, including the efforts of General Xiao Ke, and had a circulation of around 200,000.

The July 2016 restrictions led the magazine’s editorial staff to announce that the magazine could no longer be published, as the academy had unilaterally abandoned an agreement allowing its publication within defined bounds. They further revealed that academy staff had seized control of the Yanhuang Chunqiu website at the magazine's offices. The China Digital Times, a United States-based website focused on censorship in China, reported that as an attempt to resist this change, some senior staff attempted to withhold financial records, office keys, and the journal's official seal, as an attempt to prevent those affiliated with the academy from using them. Nevertheless it appeared that publication would continue, under staff from the academy including Jia Leilei, its former vice-president.

After he was dismissed, Du announced that the publication had been suspended, and said the closure resembled methods used in the Cultural Revolution.

Post-suspension
After it had been suspended, a new management team with pro-Xi editors was introduced, and continued to make publications. Wang Yanjun, the journal's former deputy editor, called the first edition after the changes "fake" and "diametrically opposite to the spirit of our magazine". A writer for the China Digital Times called the changes "a hostile takeover", and added the journal, once a "maverick", had been "neutered".

As of May 2024, Yanhuang Chunqiu continues to release new publications, with Jia Leilei serving as editor-in-chief.