Honest fiction

The group of unlicensed coalmine owners besieged Li Yang, with their guns goring against his body. "What are you doing here?" they demanded. They thought he was a journalist seeking to reveal their illegal mining in North China's Shanxi Province.

Rhyme time with hawkers proves big fun

Street peddlers are often the target of harassment in China. I once wrote a column condemning the urban management officers who crack down on their hawking with no regard for their right to subsist on a meager but hard-earned income.

Our Brando's moment in the Sun

Jiang Wen, named by Time Magazine as China's Marlon Brando, says his third directorial work - The Sun Also Rises (Taiyang Zhaochang Shengqi), is not a story he could describe in words.

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Movie

Life Expat

Global Village

Starbucks beans 'plain awful'

Finding the right ingredients to pursue a career of passion

Committed foodie Perri Dong has carved his niche from living at the cutting-edge of culinary culture. The classically trained chef left the United States in 2001, and is now a Shanghai-based food, wine and beverage consultant whose opinion is widely sought as the last word on the local gastronomical scene.

It's no laughing matter

Consider the following situation: A Chinese friend convinces you to address his motoring club and spin yarns about your wild adventures driving abroad. You have some great stories, and great pictures to go with them. "Don't worry about the language," your friend says. "I'll translate."

West not necessarily best for overseas degrees, says Mario

If Mario Ignacio Artaza sounds like a motivational speaker, it's probably because he's anxious to promote an attractive commodity: the country of Chile.

Life Pulse

My China debrief in 10 seconds or less

Since my friends and family can't visit China themselves, I try to bring China to them - at least, all of the country I can cram into two suitcases.

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Music