A steamy sampling of Chinese art

Once categorized as a "melting pot", the United States has in recent years seen the rise of a competing analogy: "the salad bowl", a mix of ingredients and toppings that don't so much as melt together as mix for a blend of distinct flavors.

Getting them at a young age

Zhao Yilun is skillful in using his Sony Xperia smartphone, taking and editing photos, downloading music and videos, playing games as well as using various other applications.

Charity woes to drive social welfare reform

Although the tragedy of a recent fatal private orphanage fire still aches in China's memory and doubts remain as to the credibility of some government-run charities, analysts have said that this will push forward reform in China's social welfare system.

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Cloud of slower growth has green lining

Now that the country can tolerate slower growth and has completed its once-a-decade leadership shuffle, China has an opportunity to promote a greener development.

Oceans key to national ecological strategy

When former Chinese President Hu Jintao announced a plan to build a more beautiful China, caring for the nation's 3 million square kilometers of marine territory was no small part.

Bayer celebrates 150 years of 'better life' through science

While celebrating the company's 150th anniversary this year, leaders of German industrial giant Bayer Group said they are proud of its innovative products that have helped improve people's lives.

Lessons in taking good care

Marjorie Yang can still remember the shock she had when finding out that the most expensive medicine in a public health center at a small town in Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region was ice. "This means that the people living there almost had no medicine at all, which is beyond imagination," she said.

Leung raises spending on poor as economy picks up

Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying increased spending on the poor and elderly in his government's first budget, offering a growth boost to an economy burdened with record housing costs.

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Concern for needy students

The German Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai recently donated 200,000 yuan ($32,103) to support the education of needy Chinese students.

Growing taste for more detail on what we eat

As well as raising more complaints on food safety, the Chinese are becoming increasingly concerned about what they eat after a series of food safety scandals.