Places & Regions
Why are some lakes so blue?
Jiuzhaigou's clear, mineral-rich waters can appear blue, green and other colours. The photographs are striking; the ecosystem matters too.
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Places & Regions
Can rocks look like a city?
Wulingyuan's sandstone pillars can look like towers. They are geology, not buildings, and there are thousands of them.
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Places & Regions
Fossils that kept more than bones
Fossils from Chengjiang in Yunnan preserve details that are usually lost, giving scientists a rare view of ancient marine animals.
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Places & Regions
Why are there lakes in a desert?
The Badain Jaran Desert contains lakes between giant dunes. “Desert” turns out to be a description with room for surprises.
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Places & Regions
Can a desert sing?
In the Badain Jaran Desert, sand can produce a low sound when it moves. The landscape has a soundtrack as well as a view.
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Chinese food
A French pastry with a Shanghai address
Shanghai's butterfly cracker began with a French pastry idea and became a local bakery favourite.
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Chinese food
Can three ingredients make a favourite?
Shanghai's scallion oil noodles show what happens when a very short ingredient list is handled with care.
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Chinese food
What makes beef noodles worth watching?
A pan of beef chow fun moves fast. The chef is trying to keep the noodles tender while giving some edges colour.
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Chinese food
Soup for dessert
Guangzhou's sweet soups can be warm or cool and change with the season. Dessert need not come on a plate.
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Chinese food
Why does a claypot announce dinner?
In Guangzhou, a sizzling claypot dish tells you it is coming before you have even seen inside.
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Chinese food
Can noodles get their bounce from bamboo?
Guangzhou's jook-sing noodles have a springy texture linked to an unusual way of working the dough.
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Chinese food
Is dim sum a single dish?
In Guangzhou, morning tea can mean choosing from a table of small dishes. The question is not just what to eat, but what to share.
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