Marco Polo, The First Western Traveler Recorded Ancient China?
By Cédric Rischitelli “I have not told half of what I saw and did,” were Marco Polo’s final words on his deathbed, according to the Dominican monk, Jacopo d’Acqui. In human history, few travellers are as renowned and venerated as the Venetian merchant, Marco Polo. Born in 1254, he reputedly spent a great part of […]
As China’s Economy Slows, Labor Protests Pick Up
By Evie Steele WASHINGTON —Labor protests in China have increased rapidly since August of last year, according to rights groups, especially in the lead-up to Lunar New Year, which began late last week. Labor protests more than tripled in the fourth quarter of 2023 compared with the same period in 2022, according to data collected […]
Ole Shut-Eyes, The Sandman (Video)
Adapted from Hans Christian Andersen THERE is nobody in all the world who can tell so many stories as Ole Shut-Eyes, the Sandman. Evenings when the children are sitting around the table or on their little footstools just as good as possible, Ole, the Sandman, comes and suddenly the children all feel very sleepy and […]
China’s VPN Usage Nearly Doubles Amid Internet Censorship
By Evie Steele WASHINGTON —Last year, VPN usage in China nearly doubled, according to data from IT education news outlet Techopedia, this despite the country’s strict regime of internet controls of everything from overseas websites to online games. China’s “Great Firewall” is one of the world’s most comprehensive internet censorship regimes, preventing citizens from accessing […]
The Crusades Rooms in Versailles
The depiction of the crusades appeared quite early in the king’s Versailles project, and was Louis-Philippe’s tribute to the Legitimist nobility, above all. These works were placed on the garden level in the central pavilion of the North Wing, the Noailles Pavilion, renamed the “King’s Pavilion”. A Political Intent This project was above all Louis-Philippe’s […]
Storm In a Teacup: A Visual History of Tea (II)
by Anne Wallentine Tea at home In England, tea began as a high-status symbol and became an endearing, popular ritual that united people even as its varied serving methods and venues codified class distinctions. When she married Charles II in 1662, Catherine of Braganza was said to have brought a taste for tea to England, […]
Year of the Dragon: Paint the Dragon, Dot the Eyes
In traditional Chinese culture, the dragon is a sacred creature. It is generally believed that the dragon is one of the divine creatures in the heavenly realm, responsible for controlling the rain, lakes and seas, and other waters. Therefore, in Chinese folklore, there are stories about the Dragon King of the Four Seas, as well […]
Storm in a Teacup: A Visual History of Tea (I)
by Anne Wallentine To dunk or not to dunk, that is the question. Tea is quite a conundrum: it is an uplifting social drink that has caused all manner of chaos,from devastating colonial exploitation to mere ‘violent disputes’ over its brewing methods, as George Orwell wrote. Tea fuelled centuries of imperial expansion, exploitation and industrialisation. […]
New Amazon TV Series Filmed in Hong Kong but Unavailable There
By Gao Feng HONG KONG —Frustrated Hong Kong residents say they have been unable to watch the online TV series Expats, starring Hollywood star Nicole Kidman, which was launched globally on Amazon Prime Video late last week and focuses on the former British colony. The six-part show, directed by Chinese-born American filmmaker Lulu Wang, is […]
IMF Predicts China Economy Slowing Over Next Four Years
By Evie Steele WASHINGTON —The International Monetary Fund says China’s economic decline is likely to continue over the next four years as the world’s second largest economy deals with a range of challenges from a rapidly aging population, higher unemployment and a property crisis. In a report released on Friday, the global financial policy body […]