The magical woods where Aristotle lived with nymphs

Welcome to the land of the nymphs - the enchanted forests that clutch the ruins of Aristotle's School.

What it's like to be an American in France now

A couple recounts their experience in the country

Visiting Liverpool, but not to see the Beatles 

Southern refuge

A mix of clean air and warm weather has northerners flocking to Hainan

Diving in the Marshall Islands with tuna, turtles and wrecks

It was clear right away it was a tuna swimming past because of the distinctive bumps along its back that lead to its angular tail. And what a whopper. It was about the size of a small person, and seemed unbothered by me bobbing just a few feet away.

A winter respite - at lightning speed

If it is a short break and warmth you are after, there is a solution not far away

King Tut's golden mask attracts tourists after back on display

Eager foreign and local visitors once again were gathering around the gold and blue mask of legendary Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo after its restoration. "It is so exciting to see the mask here ... I came today just to have a close look at this breathtaking piece of art," says Kevin Tan, a Chinese tourist who was visiting Egypt for the first time.

Dressing the rich and famous

What do China's elite women want to wear? Few know more about this than Grace Chen, the couturier who has gathered a faithful following from among the most powerful and well-connected.

Pure luxury in wool and cashmere

Walking into the manufacturing facilities of Loro Piana's mill in Verrone, Italy, is like stepping into wild farmland in China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region - a place filled with bleating sheep and goats and the mixed smell of wet grass and humid soil permeating the air.

Winter warmers

It takes some bravery to mess with success.

Time to eat, drink and be merry

Say goodbye to 2015 at a restaurant table with friends or family. Here are just a few options where good food and plenty of bubbly await for the occasion - make reservations early, or check your own favorite restaurant to see what's on offer.

Finnish baking mom makes Christmas magic with gingerbread

Mila Harju, the HR manager at the Western Academy of Beijing, is better-known to the local community as the queen of Christmas gingerbread. She's been making the holiday sweet for a decade, generating more than 5,000 yuan ($780) this year for charity causes that improve living conditions for rural women and girls in China. Mike Peters catches up with the baking maven for the full story.