The big surprise

2012-06-03 08:02:26

In 1987, it took James Suckling 15 hours by train to travel from Beijing to the vineyards in the eastern province of Shandong. Now, the trip takes only a third of that time, thanks to high-speed rail.

Jim Boyce unravels the intriguing Chinese grapevine

2012-06-03 08:02:26

"If you picked No 7 as one of your top three wines," Jim Boyce says at a recent wine-tasting he hosted in Beijing, "it means you've had too much to drink."

For zoos, choices on life and death

2012-06-03 07:52:29

As the number of species at risk of extinction soars, zoos are increasingly being called upon to rescue and sustain animals, and not just for marquee breeds like pandas and rhinos but also for all manner of mammals, frogs, birds and insects.

Queen's diamond jubilee celebrations begins

2012-06-01 16:41:59

Queen's diamond jubilee celebrations begins.

How a simple story grows with multimedia

2012-06-01 14:52:07

Frankfurt StoryDrive China gathered experts to discuss how an interesting story can snowball to become a huge economic profit in the age of trans-media.

Royal stitch

2012-06-01 11:16:29

Artist presents British monarch with valuable piece of her Chinese heritage.

A blackout comedy that's a knockout film

2012-06-01 10:59:13

Hong Kong director Pang Ho-cheung, who's known for his urban romantic comedies, produced Lacuna, a tender version of The Hangover.

Good or great?

2012-06-01 09:35:46

The presence of James Cameron and a red-carpet ceremony generated great fanfare at the second annual Beijing International Film Festival.

Fake silicon bellies are pregnant with possibility

2012-05-29 15:02:12

It must have been a very fertile business mind that came up with the idea of selling fake silicon bellies to make the wearers appear pregnant.

It's no good pandering to errant foreigners

2012-05-29 14:30:42

She cried. Not the sad, slow weeping of disappointment or rejection but the strangled, scared, breathlessness of a victim of attack.

Raising voices of discontent

2012-05-29 09:50:06

A 'complaints choir' in Guangzhou has a harmonious solution to social concerns - singing about them - which has far-reaching implications.

In an alley in Kabul, the good times roll

2012-05-28 17:16:07

From outside, it is marked only by a simple sign over a door that reads "Strikers." Beyond the gate, a covered, sandbagged driveway leads well away from the public road - a precaution against bombers.