Articles by Kyle Muntz

The Slam: The Chinese wrestler who created a nation of wrestlers

China had zero wrestlers, zero rings and zero clue. Then one man called The Slam built a whole wrestling scene from scratch. Two decades later, his students run the show — and he’s still in the ring. Shanghai-based writer Kyle Muntz takes us into the world of Chinese pro wrestling.

Kyle Muntz

21 Nov 2025

A spice of laughter: Inside the world of English stand-up comedy in Shanghai

English stand-up comedy in China is finding fans among a growing number of young Chinese, observes Shanghai-based writer Kyle Muntz. He speaks with Spicy Comedy’s Norah Yang and other comedians lighting up the Shanghai stand-up comedy scene.

Kyle Muntz

13 Jun 2025

Inside a traditional Sichuan family restaurant [Eye on Sichuan series]

While Sichuan cuisine has always been one of the more well-known cuisines in China, in recent times, fad foods like Zibo barbecue have taken some of the attention away. But one homestyle restaurant in Shanghai seeks to preserve the traditional tastes of Sichuan. As Shanghai-based writer Kyle Muntz finds out, Sichuan cuisine is less about the spice and more about the freshness of ingredients.

Kyle Muntz

02 Jun 2025

[Photos] Xie Xin: The superstar bringing Chinese contemporary dance to the world

Shanghai-based writer Kyle Muntz speaks with Xie Xin, a star choreographer in China’s contemporary dance world. He learns about dancers’ commitment to their passion and a dance form that could be called the live equivalent of abstract painting.

Kyle Muntz

14 Mar 2025

The expat bands transforming Shanghai’s independent music scene

It’s all about passion, says Shanghai-based writer Kyle Muntz, for Shanghai bands made up primarily of musicians born outside China. Acts like these are connecting with local audiences and sharing their love of rock, metal, electronica, jazz and much more.

Kyle Muntz

31 Jan 2025