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Literature & books

A girl, a secret fish and a lost golden shoe: an original retelling of the Chinese tale recorded by Duan Chengshi in the ninth century.

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One object at the Met has inscriptions that do not sit neatly together. That makes it more interesting.

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Places & Regions

Nanjing’s Book Bars put reading beside an old city wall. It is a different way to meet a place.

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Language & Meaning

A short Tang poem can hold sound, form and hints that English cannot copy all at once.

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One sealed chamber near Dunhuang held books and pictures that crossed languages and centuries.

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Language & Meaning

Some compact expressions carry a history that will not fit into a literal translation.

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Everyday China

One Shanghai neighbourhood library set up a bright science-fiction-themed reading space for young people.

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