IN BRIEF (Page 19)

Life Culture

Notes of harmony

The New York Philharmonic's bridge-building visit to Pyongyang in February struck many a chord among audiences, reminding them of "symphonic diplomacy".

Reaching across to the other side of light

The 1,000-plus Beijing crowd saw their guitar-wielding hero and let loose a roar of applause.

Helping to heal through music

The celebrated German violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter (pictured) will donate the fees from her Sunday concert in Shanghai to Sichuan earthquake disaster relief efforts through the German Red Cross.

Life Travel

Middle Kingdom's Motown

An old man sits on a small stool, with pencil in hand, quietly sketching his local surroundings. He isn't drawing the famous Yangtze River, which seems to attract other Wuhan artists. The local's focus is on one of his city's old foreign buildings, which add so much charm and character to Central China's most populous metropolis.

I am a Beijinger, I mean Beijinger

I was born and grew up in Beijing. But I am not considered a real Beijinger, at least by people around me. Although I have always argued that I am a native of the city, my confidence stands shattered by an online quiz on Beijing slang.

Wenchuan Quake

Putting others first

When the quake hit Sichuan on May 12, 58-year-old Zhou Zhongmin immediately got on the train to the province to volunteer his services to victims of the disaster.

Tangshan survivors head to Sichuan

More than a quarter of a century after China's 1976 Tangshan earthquake, a group of survivors are giving back by doing all they can to help victims of the May 12 earthquake in Sichuan.

Locals care for tourists

The tour bus was passing by Maoxian county, Sichuan, when the earthquake hit on May 12. After fierce shaking from the tremors, a man surnamed Jiang and his wife came out of the bus. They were shocked by what they saw.