Sampan Newspaper

Sampan is a newspaper located in Chinatown, Boston, Massachusetts, and it stands out as New England's only bilingual publication in Chinese and English. Established in 1972 by volunteers from the Asian American Civic Association, previously known as the Chinese American Civic Association, Sampan proudly claims the title of "Boston's oldest bilingual Chinese-English newspaper since 1972." The paper serves the Greater Boston area, focusing on news relevant to Chinatown as well as the broader Asian American community. The term "sampan" refers to a flat-bottomed wooden boat traditionally used in parts of Southeast Asia for fishing, transport, and even as homes. This name symbolizes the newspaper's mission to deliver news to the Chinese community in both languages, ensuring that both Chinese speakers and those who speak only English can stay informed about local events and issues.

Local, Asian

English

Newspaper

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Global

#2848258

United States

#732804

News and Media

#16054

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Articles

Emily Feng on Political Crackdowns, the ‘Chained’ Woman and Dissidents

2 weeks ago | sampan.org | Christopher John Stephens

In the previous issue of Sampan, we presented the first half of a two part interview with NPR reporter and author Emily Feng, who recently published her book, Let Only Red Flowers Bloom: Identity and Belonging in Xi Jinping’s China. The book explores who we are as reflected by our political surroundings and as defined by our cultural baggage in its collection of stories about people in China. In the first half, we discussed “Document Nine,” an initiative set forth by Pres.
Review: Omar El Akkad’s ‘One Day’ Puts West’s Hypocrisy on Full Display

2 weeks ago | sampan.org | Christopher John Stephens

It would be trivial to start any discussion of the genocide in Gaza, now 19-months old and counting, looking at how the consequences of campus protests and journalistic free speech have decimated both the fourth estate — the media —and academia. Look toward statistics of over 53,000 killed and 100,000 wounded by Israeli forces, and nearly 2,000 killed since the breaching of a ceasefire. Palestinian forces reportedly killed 1,195 people, including 815 civilians in their initial invasion of Israel.
May 23, 2025 - Sampan

2 weeks ago | sampan.org | Christopher John Stephens

In the previous issue of Sampan, we presented the first half of a two part interview with NPR reporter and author Emily Feng, who recently published her book, Let Only Red Flowers Bloom: Identity and Belonging in Xi Jinping’s China. The book explores who we are as reflected by our political surroundings and as defined by our cultural baggage in its collection of stories about people in China. In the first half, we discussed “Document Nine,” an initiative set forth […]
On a High Note: Boston String Academy Tunes Into Youth Talent

2 weeks ago | sampan.org | Esther Wang

When sisters Marielisa and Mariesther Alvarez grew up in Venezuela, they were part of El Sistema, the National System for Youth Orchestras and Choirs. But when they came to Boston, they soon discovered a similar program was lacking.
May 21, 2025 - Sampan

2 weeks ago | sampan.org | Esther Wang

When sisters Marielisa and Mariesther Alvarez grew up in Venezuela, they were part of El Sistema, the National System for Youth Orchestras and Choirs. But when they came to Boston, they soon discovered a similar program was lacking. “When we came to Boston to do our studies at the Boston Conservatory, we realized that even though it is a culturally rich city, there was the need for a program where creating musical excellence was a communal effort — a program […]
A Force of Nature

4 weeks ago | sampan.org | Esther Wang

Vivien Li has not only witnessed the growth of the environmental movement in the United States since the 1970s, she’s participated in and helped shape it right here in Boston. As a waterfront and climate expert, Li has been involved in the cleaning of the Boston Harbor and the creation of more than 40 miles of public walkways and parks alongside it. She also advocated for the tidying of beaches from Boston to Quincy so they’re fit for swimming.
Emily Feng on ‘Eerie Parallels’ Between the State of U.S., China Politics

4 weeks ago | sampan.org | Christopher John Stephens

Identity is a slippery, deceitful condition to define, even amongst ourselves. Look at your reflection on a Monday and you’re decisively one thing. Come Tuesday, that same image will provide different results.
REVIEW: ‘White Poverty’ Exposes Myths of Race, Class and Democracy

1 month ago | sampan.org | Christopher John Stephens

The triple threat Venn Diagram bubbles of race, class, and social identity have conspired to define us as a nation since our founding. As we sit on the eve of our Bisesquicentennial in 2026, Americans are more divided and disturbed than ever before. Who are we? What have we become? Is this the legacy we really want to leave behind for our children? The much discussed (but never fully owned) “Project 2025” has planted seeds and borne fruit in the first quarter of this year.
Facing the Scars That Never Heal in Lu Xinhua’s Novel, ‘Wu Lou’

2 months ago | sampan.org | Christopher John Stephens

Writer Lu Xinhua was just 24-years old in 1978 when he published his breakthrough short story, “The Scar.” Written while a freshman at Fudan University, “The Scar” examined the traumatic legacy of the Cultural Revolution and the decisive, imperious rule of the Gang of Four. In the wake of Mao’s death, China found itself at a crossroads.
‘Cracking’ the Code

2 months ago | sampan.org | Esther Wang

The peanut allergy is one of the most common food allergies in the world, and yet there is still much that we don’t understand about it. This puzzle is precisely what researcher Jing-Ke Weng, a professor of chemistry and bioengineering at Northeastern University, is aiming to solve.