Brush up on history with Kingdom of Chu excursion

2011-04-11 15:18:42

Chu produced the tragic figure of Qu Yuan, poet extraordinaire and a failed statesman who drowned himself when his Cassandra-like warning went unheeded.

Sounds of the grasslands

2011-04-11 14:27:22

Zhang Quansheng, who spent his childhood living on the grasslands of Inner Mongolia autonomous region, loves Mongolian culture and has tried to bring matouqin, or the Mongolian horse-headed fiddle to world notice.

Wine Reviews:Time Rieslings occupied pride of place on the table

2011-04-11 14:17:56

Riesling is one of the world's classic white grape varieties. Yet, it has been ignored of late in favor of Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay.

Staying ahead of the market

2011-04-11 14:03:25

Hilton Shanghai is more than a landmark in the city's former French Concession. As the first international hotel to open in Shanghai more than 20 years ago, the hotel has a special connection to the city.

Asian art market sizzles

2011-04-07 12:06:01

Record purchases by Chinese collectors keeps market humming with activity and cash registers ringing.Prestigious auction houses Sotheby's and Christy's both recently released 2010 results, revealing blockbuster numbers despite a worldwide recession.

Many-splendored rice

2011-04-07 12:03:07

Five-color sticky rice, a traditional festival food for the Zhuang ethnic group in South China, gets its name because the rice is dyed with herbs that yield five colors: black, red, yellow, white and purple.

Wudang epiphany

2011-04-11 18:07:43

Wudang Mountains in Hubei province, known for their Taoist monasteries as well as spawning a martial arts style popular the world over, are worth days of exploration.

Steam locust flowers for a spring treat

2011-04-07 12:02:19

Steamed locust flower is a specialty in Henan province, eaten here for thousands of years. Locust flowers usually appear in April or May, and last about 10 to 15 days.

Day trip to water town

2011-04-07 12:00:36

Millennium-old Zhujiajiao just an hour from Shanghai offers a glimpse of ancient Yangtze Delta life.

Cherry blossoms a rite of spring

2011-04-07 11:56:52

Late March and early April is the time for cherry blossoms, when the white, pink and peachy petals make a powerful dance on a thousand trees in the gentle breezes of Gucun Park in Shanghai's Baoshan district.

Spring in a bowl

2011-04-06 16:22:08

Spring is definitely in the air and even the vegetables in the markets seem brighter and perkier. Pauline D. Loh has several suggestions on how best to enjoy it all.

Just like being in a movie

2011-04-01 19:16:41

The ancient towns and villages of eastern Zhejiang and its picturesque scenery have been the location of many films.