Focus
A cut above
2012-09-28 10:34
An ankle-length dress with suspenders and prominent prints of teapots in different colors and shapes on display in the window of a store called Chictopia. Streams of women visiting Nanluoguxiang, one of Beijing's traditional alleyways, stop to stare at the dress and discuss its bold and arresting design.
His masters' voice
2012-09-28 10:34
He has worked for murderers and for heads of state - Now interpreter sheds light on his encounters.
Cultural connection
2012-09-21 13:30
Today Shi Yang Shi looks out of place. The tall, happy extrovert looks as if he would be better placed in the landscape of his childhood, in the valley where the Yellow River flows. But he is in Milan, in the most laidback of locations, the Municipal Gardens. He is a rarity here: a professional Chinese actor working in Italy.
Port city's new berth
2012-09-21 13:30
One of Cathy Berx's favorite quotes is one she picked up in Shanghai a couple of years ago: "From provincial to universal." Berx, governor of the Belgian province of Antwerp, says the quote encapsulates her view on how to govern.
A brush with fame
2012-09-14 09:49
A New Zealander is helping hairdressers bring touches of London, Paris and New York to the hairdos of Beijing.
Going polo
2012-09-14 09:49
Polo, a sport strongly associated with royalty and the super rich, is enjoying a surge of popularity in China.
A dog's best friend
2012-09-07 10:29
When Lu Xun was 8 years old, he suffered from a recurring nightmare. In his home village in Shijiazhuang, Hebei province, a pig was being led to slaughter.
Food for thought, thought for food
2012-09-07 10:29
Two Britons are trying to answer the demand among expatriates in China for hard-to-get books and household items.
Unconventional spirituality
2012-08-31 10:46
Tenzin Dorje's iPad skin is red, the same color as his chougu or traditional Buddhist garb. His tablet contains Buddhist music, hip-hop and other English-language songs. Dorje is better known in Lhasa as the Sixth Balok Rinpoche.
Understanding talent
2012-08-31 10:46
Arts organizer makes light work of increasing serious cross-cultural ties.
Familiar footprints
2012-08-31 10:46
In July 1972 a young Dane studying psychology in Copenhagen traveled with his class to China on a one-month visit. At the time, such visits were rare.
Drinking in success
2012-08-24 09:18
Dwitching from financier to wine-bar proprietor and swapping France for China proved to be hugely beneficial for Olivier Six.
A Spring in the tale
2012-08-24 09:18
The acclaimed writer David Mitchell says he had no idea that his books were popular in China - until he saw that his events were well attended by readers.
Screen searching
2012-08-17 11:14
Chinese films have captured an audience in Britain, but one filmmaker says it is still too small and could do with better fare to reach wider circle.
Gourmet central
2012-08-17 11:14
The latest celebrity chef to make his mark on the Beijing dining scene is one of the most renowned names in the industry, a three-star Michelin recipient who presides over the kitchen of the famed Meurice hotel in Paris. Yannick Alleno's new operation S.T.A.Y., located in the Shangri-La hotel, is proving to be a popular spot with the Chinese capital's growing band of gourmands. Although Alleno is famed for his fine-dining cuisine - the Meurice restaurant in Paris is one of the poshest and priciest spots in a city with a wealth of upmarket options - S.T.A.Y. is a less formal operation, with the emphasis on quality food served in a casual atmosphere.
Mediterranean move
2012-08-10 10:47
Mihalis Boutaris has grand plans for China that involve starting a vineyard from scratch ... and introducing people to the finer wines of his home country.
Cooking up pure tastes
2012-08-10 10:47
His father wanted him to be a carpenter, but Christian Hoffmannn found that he was much happier in the kitchen putting together dishes.
Love on two wheels
2012-08-10 10:47
A Chinese girl, who dreams of wild adventures around the world, is suddenly swept off her feet by a handsome foreign traveler.
Harmony broker
2012-08-03 11:12
Just as many Western companies got it wrong when they started doing business in China, Chinese companies are making similar mistakes when dealing with African governments and enterprises, Lionel Vairon says. Understanding cultural differences is the most important thing when developing business relationships across continents, the French diplomat-turned-consultant says. It is a diplomatic art that Vairon's life and background make him especially suited for.
Sound investments
2012-08-03 11:12
It's Zoomin' Night at the XP club, a time for experimenting with new sounds and music. An intense young man is pulverizing a snare drum while letting rip with primal roars and piercing electronic feedback. A girl on bass guitar keeps a rhythm of sorts going as a dozen spectators gather around. Among them and visibly appreciating the sound pictures and energy being created is 54-year-old Michael Pettis, a respected international economist and finance professor. It is his club and he is looking forward to the main act later in the evening. They are called Cradle Death.
E-paper
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