Christie's looks for realistic returns

The global economic slowdown and "selective demand" are pushing Christie's to seek more realistic prices for their collections, directors of the auction house said on Sunday.

A bazaar of ideas

Mark Dunhill compares Chinese artist Qi Baishi (1864-1957) to French artist Henri Matisse (1869-1954).

An Austrian shares his passion for the clarinet in Beijing

Andreas Ottensamer, the principal clarinetist of the Berlin Philharmonic, just had a hectic 48 hours in China.

Depeche Mode to hit the road next year

Readying a new album and stadium tour for next year, Depeche Mode feels free. The group, which helped bring electronic music into the mainstream with a flurry of hits, finally is setting its own pace.

Journeys toward prosperity

Guizhou province's undulating topography has long sculpted its fight against poverty into an uphill battle in every sense - but the very mountains that had blocked prosperity are today generating it through tourism.

Road-tripping Senegal: Experience Africa's west coast by car

From dizzying Dakar to vibrant Saint-Louis, Senegal pulsates with rich culture, history and charm.

Homes built with bricks, mortar and something else

Today more than ever in China possessing a home is central to getting married and starting a family. In fact, the issue of buying a house can often either make or break a marriage.

21 cities introduce new regulations to curb property speculation

China's latest measures to regulate its housing market should rein in speculative house purchases, contain bubble risks and stabilize the market. A total of 21 Chinese cities have made recent changes to market rules, including higher down payments and restricting purchases.

Breezing into the big league

It is never easy to gain a foothold in the world of luxury fashion. But Giada, a young Italian luxury brand, is showing how it can be done in an "effortless" way.

She's using business skills to craft a successful brand

Most designers think design first and business later. Not Yu Ge.

IN BRIEF (Page 18)

Royal treatment

"Can you cook breakfast?" That's the question Korean mothers routinely ask before marrying off their sons to the future daughter-in-law - a subtle yardstick for judging the girl's wife hood.