Leading the way out of today's labyrinth

Ancient Greek labyrinths were complex structures, from which there was almost no escape. Yet according to legend, Theseus and Ariadne managed to find a way out using a simple thread.

Do Westerners get Lust, Caution?

Director Ang Lee is no stranger to controversy, and his latest release, the spicy spy flick, Lust, Caution, has sparked debate among expats riled by claims that the subtleties of its plot are inaccessible to Westerners.

Life Expat

Nation's future hopes soar as high as Mount Kilimanjaro

Tanzania's ambassador to China, H.E. Omar R. Mapuri, believes the two nations have a surprising amount in common.

Out of Africa

Tanzanian musicians Emmanuel Mnguto and Daniel Mgunga say it's tough getting by in China without being able to speak Mandarin.

Getting there

Yabuli is located about 200 km to the east of Harbin and about 120 km to the west of Mudanjiang. Four trains depart from Harbin to Yabuli daily, from 7:07 am (N11) until 5:55 pm (4041). Daily trains returning to Harbin from Yabuli begin running at 7:07 am (N28), and the last train leaves at 5:02 pm (K266). The trip takes about three hours each way.

Nanshan compares with best of rest

The first time I looked down a ski run in China, I thought to myself: "This is not what I'm here for." I did not expect to hit the slopes for at least a year and had left my snowboard at home in Singapore.

Life Travel

Love thy neighbor in this talky town

Many colleagues envy me before the Spring Festival, for it takes only one hour's train ride from Beijing to get back to my hometown, Tianjin.

Skiing the sights

As China's largest ski resort, the training center for the country's Olympic team and host of the Third Asian Games in 1996, Yabuli Ski Resort ups the ante on downhill winter sports.

Life Health

The skinny on star diets

LONDON: Jennifer Lopez sniffs grapefruit oil, Cindy Crawford sips vinegar, Sharon Stone stockpiles the humble prune and Owen Wilson never misses his daily double dose of asparagus and parsley. The diet secrets of America's A-list celebrities have been winkled out of their doctors, nutritionists and trainers and put under the microscope by two authors.