It's the final day of the Shanghai Lit Fest (March 21), and people are crammed into the Crystal Room to hear from Tash Aw, acclaimed author of The Harmony Silk Factory and Map of the Invisible World. We spoke of authors with multiple cultural identities earlier on, and Tash is another one - born in Taipei to Malaysian parents, he returned to Malaysia at the age of 3, then moved to England in his teens, where he's resided ever since. more ›

If I could make one claim about the success of the Shanghai Lit Fest, it would be this: we flock to it because the writers speak to our culturally schizophrenic hearts. Over the last three weeks, we've heard from Junot Díaz about 'the eternal quest for home'; Emily Perkins on exile, identity, and the invention of self; Tess Johnston on her 45 years working abroad for the Foreign Service; Alice Pung on migrants who remain voiceless in their new lands; and Fred Wah on bi-racialism and hybrid identities. Being caught between worlds and navigating multiple identities are issues many foreign residents in Shanghai can certainly relate to. more ›

Oh boy, what a weekend. Besides seeing off SILF and getting crazy with JUE, there's also a couple of Zuloo performances (both in Panto and improv forms) and an 8km run! more ›

Having earlier attended Tess Johnston's session, I return to Glamour Bar to hear from acclaimed Chinese author Su Tong (苏童). It's 5 p.m. and the floor is packed. People are reading from his works that have been translated into English, such as "My Life as Emperor," "Raise the Red Lantern" (also known as "the one that Zhang Yimou made into a movie"), and his 2009 Man Asia Literary Prize winner, "The Boat to Redemption." more ›

Glamour Bar is buzzing by the time I take my seat at 2:55 p.m. for Tess Johnston's Saturday session. Around me, people are talking about how excited they are to see Tess, wondering how Tess is, asking friends and acquaintances whether they've bought Tess's new book. People are referring to Tess in personal terms, like she is a dear old friend they are just meeting up with over afternoon tea. And it's no wonder it feels like everyone knows her: Tess Johnston is a Shanghai institution, a long-time resident of the city who needs no introduction for the crowds of fans gathered to hear her talk. more ›

The SILF sure knows how to speak to our sordid history lovin' hearts. This time, the juicy tidbits comes from Andrew Field, who gave chatted Saturday morning about his book, "Shanghai’s Dancing World: Cabaret Culture and Urban Politics, 1919-1954." more ›

As reported on Monday, renowned Australian author Robert Dessaix was denied a Chinese Visa to enter the country on the alleged grounds that he is HIV-positive…and, consequently, people are pissed. more ›

Though I was more than happy to hear that Paul French would once again get a chance to talk about Shanghai's sordid past (and that, despite the amount of time he had to prepare for it, it was "very entertaining") , it was disheartening to learn why Robert Dessaix, the author French subbed for at the Shanghai International Literary Festival this weekend, couldn't come - because somebody in the visa office didn't like how Dessaix was HIV-positive. more ›

Who knew Shanghai could be so educational. This week, you could learn about QQ International, 1930s gangster films, or even some slammin' Nordic poetry at the Shanghai Lit Fest, and end your week with Irish song, drink and dance. more ›

Every Friday, Weekendist brings you our picks of the best of what's coming in the next three days. more ›

While we're really excited over the upcoming Shanghai International Literary Festival that starts this Friday, disappointing news has come in - our favorite China travel writer Peter Hessler, who was due to make an appearance on the Festival's final day, is no longer attending. more ›

Sure the Shanghai International Literary Festival doesn't actually start until March, but books take quite a while to read (even if you're speed readers, like us). That's probably why the M Restaurant Group has wasted no time getting us the almost completely confirmed list of books and authors appearing at this years readings - stick your nose in any one of these 40+ tomes so you'll actually have something to discuss when one of your personal writing heroes (like say... Peter Hessler or Su Tong) come into town. more ›