"In much of our literature, China is now described as a rising country. No Chinese thinks of China as a rising country. In 18 of the last 20 centuries, China was the most powerful country in the world. And then there was the aberration, in the Chinese mind and experience, of the 19th and early 20th centuries in which China did not catch up with the Industrial Revolution, and was temporarily weak. But in the Chinese mind -- and I am reluctant to speak with so many Chinese in the audience here -- but as I understand it, in the Chinese mind, they do not think they are a rising country. The Chinese think they are reclaiming the place that has historically been China's. And they are returning to this place." more ›

It seems like it's not just the Global Times' editors that have a surprising sense of humor. Recently appearing on the front page of China Daily was this editorial satirizing China's food safety problems in light of Ministry warnings over radiation from the Fukushima plant. more ›

Hans Rosling, Professor of International Health at Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden speaks to Thomas Crampton about the rise of China and how the world has not quite come around to understanding its magnitude and significance. An excellent communicator and engaging speaker who's great at putting figures into perspective. If you're interested to hear more, watch him debunking third-world myths in this presentation he gave at TED. more ›

In an effort to cut down noise pollution, Shanghai officials are turning to what they know best, the Future. On the Nanpu and Lupu Bridges, a new form of state-of-the-art asphalt will be used in hopes of eliminating unendurable decibal levels in the city’s noisiest areas. In some areas of the city, nighttime decibal levels have already reached over 100 (around the same noise level as a chainsaw); scientists claim that anything over 60 is dangerous to hearing. more ›