Diamond is Tiffany's best friend

A big yellow diamond is the talk of the town in Beijing.

IN BRIEF (Page 22)

The scourge of bombastic bloggers

A few days ago, Wang Mudi, a television host in Guangdong province, accompanied his girlfriend to the hospital. The nurse did an extremely sloppy job putting her on a drip. It took her four attempts to properly inject the needle. All the while she was carrying on a casual conversation with a colleague.

Museum catches up with technology

In an exhibition hall of the Nanjing Municipal Museum, Wang Xiaoqi is squatting down with her cellphone while scanning the barcode of a porcelain vase.

Heritage on a plate

China has a rich food culture, with many dishes nationally famous and part of the country's intangible cultural heritage. However, none of them has made it on UNESCO's list. Industry experts have been preparing material about Chinese cooking techniques and traditional banquets, hoping to make a breakthrough application next year.

Vinexpo set for record May show in Hong Kong

Tipple Talk | Mike Peters

Noodles a foodie's bright spot in Nanjing

Long before we left on the high-speed train, friends were telling us exactly where and what to eat in Nanjing. Their advice came tinged with passion and nostalgia as they eagerly shared favorite foods and places to dine.

Le Meridien launches the Three 'C's

Branding a hotel in a competitive market such as China is a challenge, and it needs wit and wisdom to think up unique selling points that will persuade guests to come.

Banyan Tree takes root in Tianjin

James Bond - who often checks into a premium hotel spa for a massage after trouncing yet another super villain - might not have been surprised by the Banyan Tree Tianjin, but I was. Arriving at my room, I found an elegant folder on the bed with a "bath menu".

Hotel roundup

Celebrity guest

Back to the musical future

A lot has sure changed since 1979. Tie-dye and bell-bottoms are largely a novelty now, but they were all the rage when the Boston Symphony Orchestra last played a concert in China 35 years ago. Even the iconic Zhongshan suits that dotted the streets in China several decades ago have taken a backseat to more contemporary fashion. But the BSO's Larry Wolf still remembers the fad's heyday well. "I was 31 on the first trip to China," Wolf says in an interview. "I tried to be a tourist and it was all extremely interesting. I remember the streets, a sea of bicycles and the blue Mao jackets that were just everywhere."

Rock 'n' roll diplomacy for Beijing's Carsick Cars

When it comes to major events that celebrate Chinese culture, organizers tend to go with the obvious: Terracotta Warriors? Check. Shaolin monks? Check. Ubiquitous red decorations? Check.