The South Korean government has asked China not to repatriate 35 North Korean refugees that were arrested in several cities last week. more ›

Shen Yang, winner of the 2007 BBC Cardiff Singer of the World award who is now currently based at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York, walked out of his solo concert last Friday at the Shanghai Grand Theatre because audience members would not stop chatting and taking pictures with their cell phones. more ›

It isn't everyday that we get to show you what fireworks can actually do to a building, so here you go. That's what the Dynasty Wanxin Hotel, the tallest building in Shenyang (and possibly the tallest in all of the northeast), looks like today after stray Chinese New Year fireworks gutted it last week. more ›

People, what did we just tell you about being careful with fireworks? A damper was put on new year celebrations in Shenyang after fireworks burnt down a 5-star hotel. The Dynasty Wanxin building complex, located on Qingnian Street of Heping District, was comprised of three towers -- the fire quickly engulfed Tower A and B and gutted them but left Tower C intact. It broke out just thirteen minutes after midnight at Tower B, the apartment section of the Dynasty Wanxin complex and quickly spread to the neighboring Tower A which housed their 5-star hotel. more ›

A mall in Shenyang has proved it is fully attuned to the plights of being a woman: A 'venting' store opened at a shopping centre in the city in March, kitted out with second-hand mobile phones and TV sets for angry customers to destroy. Patrons can also tear paper, throw plates and pound beanbags for one minute to release tension... And the entire store is girls only. more ›

Olympic soccer (football) preliminary play started yesterday, with the Chinese women's team beating Sweden 2-1 on goals from Xu Yuan and Han Duan. The men's team plays New Zealand tonight in Shenyang, and Shanghai Stadium will host games next week, beginning with men's Group A matches on Sunday. more ›

With all the bad press surrounding Steven Spielberg's Olympic boycott, Beijing seems to be scrambling to action to diffuse all the negative publicity by wooing a most unlikely target, the Pope. From Michael Sheridan of the Sunday Times (UK):

TEMPTED by the prize of a historic visit to China by Pope Benedict XVI, the nation’s leaders have authorised a renewed effort in confidential discussions with the Vatican to heal their rift and inaugurate diplomatic ties. more ›