Europe's highest rooms with a view

MERAN, Switzerland: At 3,000 m above sea level, the air in the Alps is low on oxygen and in winter much colder than below in the valleys.

Life Travel

Special Supplement: Shanghai to Hangzhou in a blink

SHANGHAI: Qiao, 25, who works for a consulting firm in Shanghai, is pleased that he can now leave his car at home and hop into a high-speed train and be in Hangzhou in time for a morning meeting.

Paying respects to a boy emperor

Few people link history with Shenzhen, in South China's Guangdong Province, a city founded in 1979, where almost all of the buildings are new. There is one place in Shenzhen, however, that seems far removed from the modernity and bustle of the city - the tomb of Shaodi, or Zhao Bing, the last emperor of the Song Dynasty (960-1279).

Special Supplement

A cultural bridge to the world

More than 600 years ago, Zheng He made seven voyages to the western oceans in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) to promote Chinese culture and trade with foreign countries.

A snapshot of the artist

Liu Linghua is one of the most famous artists in the Chinese mainland today who specializes in oil paintings. In 1984, he studied in the engraving department at Xi'an Academy of Fine Arts and he has focused his study on oil painting since 1998.

Renowned artist unveils classy collection

Liu Linghua, a well-known painter with a growing worldwide reputation, unveiled a special painting album to more than 200 guests in Hong Kong yesterday, including local government officials and other artists.

Life Culture

Book looks at designer's eggcellent adventure

Does the National Center for the Performing Arts (previously known as the National Grand Theater) look like a "duck egg" or "jellyfish"? Its French architect lays down his idea. "As time passes by, I like people to refer it as an 'egg' more," says Paul Andreu in his newly-released Chinese language book The National Grand Theater.

Stars set to shine over three enchanting nights

The headline acts in the opening season of the National Center for the Performing Arts (NCPA) are world class. Valery Gergiev will conduct the Kirov-Mariinsky Theater of St Petersburg, Lorin Maazel heads up the New York Philharmonic and Kurt Masur leads the London Philharmonic. However, Chinese artists will have the honor of formally raising the curtain of the China's largest stage.

Chord of the rings

Doodling has always made Giorgos Koumentakis feel relaxed. "I feel nervous when I am talking and become the center of a conversation," Koumentakis says while scribbling on a bit of paper. The music director of the Athens Olympics opening and closing ceremonies says this habit has helped produce good results.