Wang Family Ancestral Hall, part of Ai Weiwei's new exhibition in Beijing. Photo courtesy of Galleria Continua.  Imperial Tours has compiled a roundup of what’s happening and what’s new in China luxury travel this summer. Art & Culture Ai Weiwei’s first solo exhibition in China titled ‘Ai Weiwei’ is currently on show in the 798 art district in Beijing.  Ai Weiwei has brought an ancient ancestral temple from southern China and reconstructed it in two neighboring galleries –  » Read more »

  Now is an excellent time to consider Shanghai or Beijing for your next business meeting, event or incentive. These two cities offer world-class hotels, spacious meeting/dining facilities and fantastic leisure pursuits at a fraction of the price found in other international destinations. Take the Peninsula Shanghai for example. On a price per square foot basis, this award-winning hotel comes in at just under a fifth of the cost of the Peninsula Paris.  » Read more »

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 »

What’s the latest craze in China? Apparently marathons. In 2010 the Chinese Athletic Association held a total of 12 official running events; in 2014 there were 53, with marathons representing the majority, according to an article written by South China Morning Post. While China is often characterized as pushing economic and industrial boundaries, a recent surge in athletics proves there’s more than just machines grinding. Many Chinese cities are now hosting running races as a way to showcase their landmarks and increase revenue,  » Read more »

Stone door houses, or shikumen, line long and narrow alleyways as if trying to contain some secret. Locals hang their laundry out of windows above the various cafes, art studios, and craft stores held inside the shikumen, as mesmerized shoppers shuffle between shops. The aromas of Indian food, Moroccan food, and Chinese food all fuse with the bohemian atmosphere that permeates this little slice of city life. This place is Taikang Lu. Originally providing inexpensive space for art galleries and media companies,  » Read more »