A closer look at language, places and everyday life in China.
People’s Architecture Office offers a documented example in Beijing’s Dashilar area: the Courtyard House Plugin programme, developed in 2013–2015. Instead…
Read the storyThe music is not just a background added after the actors have finished telling the story. UNESCO describes its role in setting the pace, shaping the…
Read the storyThe landmarks make the plan less abstract. UNESCO’s listed property includes the Bell and Drum Towers, Jingshan, the Forbidden City and the Temple of…
Read the storyA sound often associated with Beijing speech can change how a familiar Mandarin word lands in your ear.
Read the storyA 23-metre dome, optical star projection and digital theatres give Beijing Planetarium several ways to explain the real sky.
Read the storyA Beijing summer market played with flavours people thought they knew. Trying one is optional; asking why it exists is half the fun.
Read the storyA Beijing cloisonné night market turns a museum-like craft into something you can encounter after dinner.
Read the storyA Beijing park opened cycling routes in 2026. The best route may be the one that gives you time to notice what is beside the path.
Read the storyA Beijing event included a robotics challenge for teenagers. The interesting part is not a perfect machine but how a team solves a problem together.
Read the storyBeijing's summer markets offer more than one idea of local food. The fun is choosing a route through the stalls, not pretending one snack represents a city.
Read the storyBeijing museums have turned collection themes into plush toys and keychains. A souvenir can be a starting question instead of a shopping list.
Read the storyBeijing's Olympic panda mascot returned in a Year-of-the-Horse version. A tiny souvenir opens a bigger question about how old favourites are redesigned.
Read the storyThere’s more to read.
A story you haven’t marked as read yet, chosen just for a little change of pace.
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