Life Travel

Close encounters

It was said that the first foreign visitors to Yongding County, in southwestern Fujian Province, were CIA agents who were spying on some "suspicious Chinese missile bases" in the 1960s.

'Guest people' become hosts

The Hakka are a subgroup of the Han, who live predominantly in the provinces of Guangdong, Jiangxi and Fujian. Their ancestors are thought to have arrived from northern or central China centuries ago.

Homage to Wenbi

We arrived in Tengchong after a 50-minute flight from Kunming, capital of Yunnan Province, to the city of Baoshan, and a four-hour drive on winding mountain paths.

Take a punt on Chengdu: you can't lose

The capital of Southwest China's Sichuan Province, Chengdu is a perfect place for "losers". The old saying warns, "Don't visit Sichuan when you are still young."

Life Health

Toupee or not toupee

BERLIN: First the forehead gets higher, then a spot at the back of the head clears - hair loss is for many men the worst thing they could possibly suffer as they get older.

Monks' diets strike the right balance

ATHENS: Living like a monk may have health benefits, including lowered risk of cancer, according to a recent study into one of the world's most isolated monastic communities.

French frown on fast food but Brits, Americans are loving it

LONDON: Britons are the world's biggest fans of fast food, just ahead of Americans, while the famously gastronomic French are the least attracted to quick meals, according to a study published last week.

IN BRIEF (Page 19)

Every Rose has its thorn

In Tian Qinxin's blog, she quotes Ang Lee discussing his award-winning film Lust, Caution. "It's a thankless job to adapt Eileen Chang's novel," the Oscar-winning director says.

A new era dawns

The night was almost over as thousands of fans waved their hands in the air while joining Cui Jian in a sing-along with his classic Rock'n'roll on the New Long March.