Life Culture

Hope amid devastation

After having braved days of landslides and aftershocks, Cheng Weidong finally reached Luobu village. He paused outside its makeshift shelters, unable to think of a suitable question to ask the Qiang minority friends he had made just five months earlier.

Preserve Qiang culture

The Qiang is one of China's oldest ethnic minorities, the character qiang appeared on jiaguwen (hieroglyphs inscribed on bone and tortoises shells) 3,000 years ago.

Life Expat

Hooked on the hippest craze

The tip of Fatma Sule Sahin's toe gently brushes the floor as she performs one of the oldest dances in history. The darbuka drum creates an unmistakable aura of Middle Eastern mysticism as the 22-year-old sways sensuously to the rhythm of the music. Her fluid movements are beautifully alluring and enchanting.

Your say

Pools of knowledge

Pay taxes on your cell? How Swede it is

Innovation comes naturally to the people of Sweden.

Life Travel

Rebuild a scenic route on tourism

A 1,000-km semi-circular scenic route has evolved from the northeast and northwest paths leading to the Jiuzhaigou World Heritage site from Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province.

Listening to loudness adds up in time

Noise-related deafness can happen suddenly, over time or years later. Someone who finds their hearing is a bit muffled when they come out of a concert might be OK the next morning - but that might be a sign of problems to come. Some people go to a concert and do not recover.

Various beans in cuisine offer healthy protein

In my home country we are typically unadventurous when it comes to beans. Baked beans (tinned beans in tomato sauce), which I despise, seem to rule the roost. In China, however, a broad array of beans incorporated into all aspects of dining - from drinks and soups, to main courses and desserts - is available.

Life Health