China’s contemporary literature scene is going from strength to strength. In 2012, Mo Yan won the Nobel Prize for Literature, putting China firmly on the modern literary map. Literary festivals in Beijing and Shanghai now attract big international names as well as national writers.   Yet, as late as 1950, China’s literacy rate was only 20 percent. When the Communists came to power in 1949 they made raising the literacy rate one of their top priorities.  » Read more »

Taijiquan or taichi, a form of Chinese kung fu, is the embodiment of the Chinese philosophical belief that heaven is round. Practitioners of the martial art of taichi use round, circular movements of the arms and body to create the energy that is needed to defeat their opponents.  Dr. Hao, a taichi expert with a PhD in Traditional Chinese Sports, guides us through some basic taichi movements in the article ‘Taijiquan Movements and the Thought of Circle in Chinese Culture’.  » Read more »

Beating drums urge the rowers on as a multi-colored crowd cheers from the shore. The oarsmen stare straight ahead, sitting within boats with glowing eyes, willing themselves to win and therefore bring luck and good fortune to the cities they represent. Zongzi, or pyramid shaped sticky rice dumplings, are tossed into the water as the Dragon Boats fly to the finish line continuing an almost 2,000 year old tradition. June 20 marks this year’s annual Dragon Boat Festival,  » Read more »

  It’s wonderful when the Aman magic conjures up a gem. Amandayan, their new property, makes Lijiang. It does a wonderful job of interpreting the local architectural idiom to create a jewel of a 35 room hotel atop Lion Hill overlooking Lijiang old town, this destination’s most important cultural site. Whilst some guests might be disturbed in the evening by noise from the boisterous bars below until the official curfew of 11pm,  » Read more »

  To read about tipping in the other 49 countries, you can read the full article here.  » Read more »