Face value

Chinese cultural characteristics are a key factor for Westerners doing business in China.

Global etiquette gaining ground

Relationships hold the key for effective interaction

Respect is a language that is universal

Confucius works at the next cubicle

A business culture with Chinese characteristics

Being polite, the Chinese way

Show me a country's etiquette, and I will show you its mind

Gifts and the weighty matter of goose feathers

Giving is not as simple as it sounds

Return to family roots leaves employers with a headache

Tough times expected for employers as local govts plan wage hikes

IN BRIEF

One town's indomitable spirit

More than half the population of remote Maotai produces the legendary national liquor of China.

Status hard to swallow

Spirit master is toast of the town

Shipbuilders all at sea

Banding together

Staking its claim in Asia

Quotable

IN BRIEF

War of words set for showdown

A fight between Titans of the written word has broken out as a best-selling author launches a legal battle against a wildly popular micro-blogger known for exposing academic fraud.

Guess work

The good old days

On high ground

Mountain attractions take Chinese beauty to new heights.

Beijing moon trek

French photographer uses Traditional doors to capture the spirit of the capital.

Dual track

Battle of words over the future of poetry

It may mark a turning point for China's traditional publishing houses that they have no plans to publish the works of last year's winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature, Swedish poet Tomas Transtromer, despite having printed the collections of previous laureates.

Diplomatic Pouch

Diplomatic Pouch

Conferences & Meetings

Top of the line

BRIC layer proud of his work

Economist sees future and leaves mark on language.