Heady mix of love, death, rebirth

The Peony Pavilion is a 16th-century Chinese drama about love, death, and resurrection, and arguably the most famous of all Kunqu operas written by Tang Xianzu (1550-1616).

Cao's failed favorite gets operatic overhaul

Sunrise (Ri Chu), The Thunderstorm (Lei Yu) and The Family (Jia) are the most famous works of the late playwright Cao Yu (1910-1996), but Cao himself once said The Peking Man (Beijing Ren) is the one he was most satisfied with.

Heartstrings and enchantment from the Norwegian woods

A leafy trail winds through the Norwegian woods to a secluded section of grassland, which shimmers in the moonlight. On this patch of paradise, a piano and violin release haunting sounds. This romantic scene will be one of many staged in the Great Hall of the People on Friday by Secret Garden.

Forbidden dreams

Composer Guo Wenjing says the most challenging part he created for the original ballet The Peony Pavilion are the two pas de deux between the leading female role Du Liniang and her lover Liu Mengmei. One is the first scene in Act I in which the lovers embrace in the dream. The other is the last scene of the ballet in which the ghost of Du makes love with the living Liu.

China-South Africa Friendship

'Rainbow nation' offers tourism kaleidoscope

South Africa has long been a popular tourist destination, alluring visitors with an exotic blend of thundering African drums, wild animals roaming natural reserves, small tranquil towns and big modern cities.

Airborne adventures abound

The hot interior of South Africa offers thermals on which many paragliders have made record-breaking distance flights, particularly in the northern Cape.

Life Health

Are vitamins killing us?

LONDON: Every vitamin devotee everywhere will be outraged. Anyone who has ever pondered the life-enhancing claims on the seductive tubs of supplements lining the shelves of the pharmacists must be doing a double take. According to a group of scientists, some should come with a health warning: These supplements could shorten your life.

This taste enhancer is also good for health

On my first afternoon in China, I sat in a small shack around the Fourth East Ring Road of Beijing and devoured my first plate of jiaozi dumplings, smacking my lips from the combination of salty soy sauce and tangy vinegar as it mingled with the fragrant pork filling. Anyway, I've pretty much been sold on Chinese vinegar ever since.

Birds too take power naps to alert

HAMBURG, Germany: Just like busy executives who work 14-hour days, birds take "power naps" to keep their senses alert for predators, according to German researchers.

IN BRIEF (Page 19)