Can't help falling in love

On May 13, Bob Dylan wrote to fans on his website about his April gig in Beijing: "If anybody wants to check with any of the concert-goers they will see that it was mostly young Chinese people that came."

Green shoots of hope

At every event held by Green Earth Volunteers, Wang Yongchen, 57, founder of the environmental organization, asks her participants to describe how the rivers have changed in their hometowns. The younger participants, often in their 20s or 30s, always come up with answers that the rivers are no longer the way they were. Most of them are either dark, smelly, or in some cases completely dried up. "That's why I care so much about the rivers in China. I'm always worried about where we will get water from if such trends continue," says Wang, a journalist-turned-environmentalist.

Time Line

1979: China publishes its first environmental protection law.

Building a cleaner future

China's environment - and the way people think about it - have been dramatically transformed over the past 30 years.

Time to take stock

Ensconced in my office in Brussels, I must admit I was a bit perplexed when asked to write a piece on the transformation of the environment and energy sectors over the past 30 years in China. Much as I hate to admit it, the first memories that come to my mind are not happy ones, but those tinged with sadness and bitterness.

On top of the culinary world

Atop the Rhone-Alps Pavilion and overlooking the Expo Garden there is a small slice of France for diners looking for an escape from the typical dining scene in Shanghai.

Information

The Executive Center

Bolton raring to go

A bad cold on tour five years ago gave American pop singer Michael Bolton his greatest regret in China - he couldn't give a great live concert.

What's on

Stage

Milestones: 1965

China sees an industrial and agricultural boom, a sign of full recovery from the economic failures of 1958 to 1961.

Milestones: 1966

Milestones: 1967