Songpan's charm lingers and shines in modern times

Ernest Henry Wilson visited Songpan, an ancient city in Sichuan province, a few times beginning in 1903 to take back with him seeds to the United Kingdom.

The feast of the year

Weeks ahead of the Spring Festival every year, millions of Chinese migrant workers around China embark on the trip back to their home towns in order to partake in the family reunion dinner. The fact that they do so, regardless of how long and arduous the journey may be, says much about the significance of the occasion.

Festive family fare

Food has been an integral part of Chinese culture for centuries. Besides providing sustenance and nutrition, food is also associated with numerous other things, such as being an indicator of social status or wealth, a badge of one's identity as well as a means of fostering harmony and closer ties to family and friends.

Chinese New Year taboos in Shanghai

In Shanghai culture, tofu is a food that's usually offered to the friends and relatives of a deceased person during the wake and is hence regarded as an inauspicious thing to have on the dining table during the first 15 days of the Lunar New Year.

Classic performance

Dolce & Gabbana's latest fashion show at one of the world's top opera houses was dramatic. Chen Jie reports in Milan on all that jazz.

Star grazing

After new kudos from Michelin, T'ang Court's kitchen team has no time to rest on its laurels. Mike Peters explores why critics love this Cantonese gem in Hong Kong.

'Beijing girl' embraces romance of Bordeaux, wine culture

A few years ago, Feng Wei was 24 and had a good job with an international high-tech firm in China's capital. But suddenly one day, she felt something was missing.

From Paris with love

A Savior Of Fertility

Alfred Otto Mueck, 71, is helping a Beijing hospital develop a bank for ovarian-tissue preservation. Liu Xiangrui reports.

Portrait artist Yeo gives selfie new meaning

Known for his famous subjects, from politicians and royalty to Hollywood celebrities, portrait artist Jonathan Yeo explores different ways of looking at the same person in his latest work - a series of paintings of model and actress Cara Delevingne.

Lady Gaga to sing at Super Bowl, Grammys

Lady Gaga will perform at two of February's most-watched events as she sings the national anthem at the Super Bowl and leads a tribute to David Bowie at the Grammys.

High expectations

Will the sequel to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon follow in the footsteps of the epic feature? Xu Fan looks for answers.