Standards spread, so does algae

In 1985, China issued its first standard for drinking water. In 2005, the Ministry of Construction supplemented this standard with another one for water supplies in cities.

The good, the bad and the ugly

Wuxi, a city in East China's Jiangsu Province that recently experienced a serious drinking water crisis, has two contradictory examples of water treatment. The bad example is the heavily polluted Taihu Lake; the good one is the Lihu Lake, an inland body of water connected with the Taihu Lake.

Enough to make you sick

Almost overnight, blue-green algae went from a little-known laboratory research topic to a national concern. The organism first bloomed last month, spoiling drinking water in Wuxi, East China's Jiangsu Province, creating a serious local health threat.

Our decisive dilemmas fly in the face of scientific logic

Hesitate, evaluate and decide - the seemingly simple process of making a choice may sometimes take just two or three seconds. But it is a more complicated job for our brains, as well as for the scientists who are interested in finding out how we arrive at a decision.

Life Culture

Birth of fantastic folk tradition

Flamenco is a 200-year-old folk dance from Southern Spain. It is individualistic, yet structured.

Leaping out of the pop star shadows

The Hong Kong Culture Series - Dance Collection introduces Beijing audiences to Hong Kong's modern dance world, an artistic form often overshadowed by its pop cultures.

View to a thrill

Cristina Hoyos, the Andalusian priestess of flamenco, speaks with passion. "You can't understand flamenco, it is something you feel." Now the 61-year-old legendary artist tours Beijing with the Ballet Flamenco de Andalucia and will make audiences feel the rhythmic and passionate flamenco through Viaje Al Sur (Voyage to the South).

Master storyteller has something to say

How many parents tell folk stories to their children before bedtime? Certainly not as many as decades ago. One possible reason may be that parents today know fewer folk tales than their fathers and grandfathers. Many also think these tales are superstitious and want to keep their children away from such "silly talk".

Life Expat

Chinese etiquette tips for business and socializing

Be on time.

Mind your manners

There's an old Chinese saying: Lishang Wanglai (Courtesy demands reciprocity). This is a basic rule for expats living anywhere in the world and is a sound way to build friendships. However "being nice" is only one of the myriad customs used in China's complex society, according to the International Business Center (IBC), a US-based non-profit organization.