What books to read?

While members of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference discussed changing reading habits at the two sessions in March, some of them also gave their book recommendations.

IN BRIEF (Page 22)

Giant panda scales Chengdu mall

Lawrence Argent is known for his giant public installations - a red rabbit leaping through an airport and a blue bear peeping into a convention center.

When shop sells 'art derivatives'

First-time visitors to Uupp may wonder if it is an art gallery or a home-decor store. Paintings and sculptures are on display, together with lamps, mirrors, tables, chairs, glasses, cups, books, towels and sunglasses.

Pervasive sense of inadequacy

Soap operas from South Korea have been popular in China for two decades now. So, it is not the first time domestic fare has paled in comparison. But this time, the one-two punch from The Heirs and My Love From the Star really hurts, ahem, our self-respect-to the point that it turned into a topic for chatter at the annual two sessions where policy-makers and top advisers usually discuss less fluffy issues.

Game mash-up fails to hit the mark

When two of the best franchises of video games and geekdom merge, greatness is the expected outcome. However, sadly for Shin Gundam Musou, that is not the case.

Twist of fortune

In cosmopolitan Shanghai, finding a restaurant that caters to nostalgic expat stomachs may not seem difficult. But how about those who grew up with Chinatown cuisine packed in takeout boxes with disposable chopsticks and fortune cookie?

Rustic French dining right at home in NOHO

Having lived in Hong Kong for more than two decades, it no longer surprises me when restaurants open and close within a short time period-some within months of opening. With sky-high rents and rising labor and ingredient costs, it is not easy for small businesses to run profitably. However, there are a few restaurants that have been around for a number of years-for good reason.

Spanish wines take great leap forward in China

Grape-wine consumption in China plateaued in 2013 after spectacular growth between 2008 and 2012, but you won't be hearing Spanish wine producers singing the blues. Spanish wine is up, up, up-the country has passed the United States, Italy and Chile since 2008 in export volume to China, moving into third place in 2012, according to a recently released study by Vinexpo and International Wine and Spirit Research. That's about 200 percent growth in the past year, and 517 percent since 2008. Spain shipped 3.27 million 9-liter cases to China in 2012, trailing only Australia (4.48 million) and France (15.46 million).

A global gathering of GMs

Every now and then, we need our passions revived and energy recharged and there is no better way to do this than to hunker down and talk shop for a few days with your peers in a beautiful city.

Hotel roundup

Appointments

Best foot forward in temple area

If you want to be nearer to Beijing's ancient architectural icons, you could not do better than staying at the New World Beijing Hotel, the first five-star hotel in Chongwenmen.