Former Houston Rockets center Yao Ming will study in the prestigious Shanghai Jiaotong University from October, his agent Zhang Mingji said here on Monday. Zhang said that Yao has not decided his major but the university will choose special teachers and give the super star lessons on a one-to-one basis.

It's all speculation at this point! Less than 24 hours after he announced his retirement, the Chinese media are going wild with rumors of what comes next. In a recent exclusive interview with Xinhua, when asked whether he'd consider going into business or politics like other retired athletes, Yao Ming responded: more ›

Make sure to tune in for the resolution and closure ceremony for Yao Ming's NBA career at 2pm today on CCTV-5. The press conference is being held at an undisclosed hotel in Pudong, with 300 reporters in attendance for the event. The program has the potential to be one of those work-stopping-gather-round-the-television moments that justifies having a TV in the first place. more ›

If there's ever a need for a Chinese neologism to express a frustrating state of affairs that doesn't meet expectations, we'd put forth Yao Ming's Left Foot (姚明左脚, as in '这个聚会太姚明左脚了') as our suggestion. The foot, who's status and health hundreds of millions of Chinese basketball devotees had clung to for years, will no longer be taking the shocks and pivots of a 7 foot 6 and 310 pound (141kg and 229cm) frame: Yao is reportedly retiring. The weight of an entire nation won't burden his metatarsals and phalanges anymore. more ›

The Chinese government's BFF, the Dalai Lama, has just made it public that he is going to retire from his political post as leader of the Tibetan government in exile. The announcement was given in India on the 52nd anniversary of his fleeing China. He assured the crowds, "My desire to devolve authority has nothing to do with a wish to shirk responsibility. It is to benefit Tibetans in the long run. It is not because I feel disheartened. I am committed to playing my part in the just cause of Tibet." more ›

One of the more prominent traits of being culturally Chinese are the strong family bonds that come with it... or so you'd think. A recent study of the elderly in Guangdong province proves otherwise. It appears that with the onset of modern life, the traditional practice of children supporting their parents is wearing away. more ›

• A blog has some beautiful portraits of the various ethnic groups that make their home in China. Above, the Va group, which are mostly found in Yunnan Province. [Wenxuecity]
• James Fallows rounds up reactions and experiences with the alleged age ban for foreign teachers (no people over 60 allowed!) [The Atlantic]
• Has Super Girl winner Li Yuchun really become a god? It seems like at least one university's students are in fact burning incense to her to try to raise their luck. [Go Chengdoo]

We've been hearing about the so-called hip hop grannies, but dang, actually watching them getting into their element left us pretty gob-smacked! We're sending this clip to mom because these ladies put up one helluva performance that would make Tina Turner blush... definitely the coolest grannies one could ever ask for! more ›