Duck learns new tricks

Fine-dining restaurant The Red Chamber and chef Yuan Chaoying, a Peking roast duck master, have teamed up for a new take on this traditional delicacy in China's capital. Every duck is glazed in a dark date-red color, and is presented on a hot stone plate to preserve the aroma and texture in precise slices. The pancakes used to wrap the duck are transparent but still have substance, and a tasty and healthy salad is also studded with duck meat. Apart from the traditional sauce, the restaurant provides five new sauces, including yogurt, black-pepper and plum dippings.

Ready for the next stage 

The smell of speed

Andy Green talks to Chinese fans about Bloodhound SSC, a supersonic car, with which he aims to best his own world record. Sun Yuanqing reports.

Web help for going under the knife

It is human nature to want to look your best, but for 36-year-old Jin Xing, it's a career.

Stones classic Sticky Fingers ready for re-release

Keith Richards doesn't keep a list of the Top 10 Rolling Stones albums. But he's happy to place Sticky Fingers, being re-released in a deluxe edition next week, near the very top.

Nostalgia fuels cool cat's success

Chinese in their 30s have delivered a surprise box-office success to Japanese animation Stand By Me Doraemon. Xu Fan reports.

China's inside track on Hollywood

The first television show to give Chinese audiences an inside look at Hollywood screened its first episode on Channel 6 of China Central Television last week.

Dano, Cusack hit the right notes in Love & Mercy

Brian Wilson's life is too big for a movie. The story of the brilliant and troubled co-founder of The Beach Boys barely lends itself to a coherent linear narrative, let alone a single film. Thankfully Love & Mercy doesn't attempt to cover it all, or even most of it.

Shaking the box office

Earthquake film starring Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson packs Chinese theaters despite mixed reviews from critics, Xu Fan reports.

Online fantasy to hit the big screen with fan support

Alibaba Pictures is the latest online platform to make a bid for the big screen, announcing it plans to turn a popular Internet novel into a movie with the help of fans.

Filmmakers tiptoe into brave new world of virtual reality

Virtual reality is creeping into our world.

Young readers do things by the book

At the China Children Book Expo, you would have been amazed to see the variety of children's books on sale and the eager young readers picking out their favorites.