Urban Hiking: Celebrate National Day With Historical Rambles Through Beijing’s Concrete Jungle

Urban Hiking: Celebrate National Day With Historical Rambles Through Beijing’s Concrete Jungle

Beijing is not known for being especially pedestrian-friendly, but that doesn’t mean there is a shortage of historical strolls on which to stretch your legs and broaden your knowledge of our fair city.

Still Want to See the Sights? Five Tips to Beat the Crowds in Beijing During Next Week's October Holiday

Still Want to See the Sights? Five Tips to Beat the Crowds in Beijing During Next Week's October Holiday

Over 700 million tourists are going to be on the move starting Sunday, and Beijing will be one of the most popular destinations, Caixin reported this week. So how can one enjoy the sites and avoid the crowds?

An Ode to Beijing's Urban Renewal, With Apologies to Bruce Springsteen

An Ode to Beijing's Urban Renewal, With Apologies to Bruce Springsteen

Everything gets chai’d that’s a fact
But maybe somethings get
chai’d which won’t come back
Brick up your hutong right, make your street look pretty
And meet me tonight, in China’s capital city

Lipton's Ceylon: The Legacy of a Tea Tycoon's Sri Lankan Empire

Lipton's Ceylon: The Legacy of a Tea Tycoon's Sri Lankan Empire

The tea fields of central Sri Lanka are a long way from Scotland, but both share a rugged beauty, sometimes obscured with mist, at once giving way to views which sweep down into deep, green valleys.

Little wonder then that a Glaswegian grocery magnate would choose this spot – central Sri Lanka’s Dambatenne – upon which to build his empire of tea.

Famous Scroll Painting Among Treasures to Be Displayed at the Forbidden City This Month

Famous Scroll Painting Among Treasures to Be Displayed at the Forbidden City This Month

One of China’s most famous and seldom seen works of art will go on display at the Forbidden City today (September 15) until December 14.

Musical Dynasties: A Band-by-Band Guide to Chinese History

Musical Dynasties: A Band-by-Band Guide to Chinese History

Which Chinese dynasty is most like the Sex Pistols? Which rap crew could have soundtracked the Khans? The rogue historian weighs in…

This day in history: The Tianjing Incident, or “Why it’s never a good idea to make all of your subordinates kings”

This day in history: The Tianjing Incident, or “Why it’s never a good idea to make all of your subordinates kings”

A tale of a lunatic populist figurehead given to delusions of grandeur and hallucinations of his messianic nature (sound familiar?)

New Fronts in the Battle Over Scholarship and Ideology in China

New Fronts in the Battle Over Scholarship and Ideology in China

Angry academics rarely make the news, but this particular tempest quickly exploded the tea cup

Historic Courtyards and Residences That Could (or Should) Be Opened to the Public

Historic Courtyards and Residences That Could (or Should) Be Opened to the Public

Have you ever walked down a hutong past a grand gate and stopped to wonder just what was hidden behind those high brick walls?

Historic Courtyards and Residences That Could (or Should) Be Opened to the Public

Historic Courtyards and Residences That Could (or Should) Be Opened to the Public

Have you ever walked down a hutong past a grand gate and stopped to wonder just what was hidden behind those high brick walls?

Military Ghosts of Modern China

Military Ghosts of Modern China

The Republic of China Military Academy, better known as the Whampoa Military Academy, only spent six terms on Changzhou Island, but those six terms between 1924 and 1927 were a crucible from which some of China’s most influential 20th-century political and military leaders emerged.

Kowtow and get out: How I was almost ejected from the Forbidden City

Kowtow and get out: How I was almost ejected from the Forbidden City

Demonstrating an imperial ritual for your guests is a good way to get 86'd from The Forbidden City. It almost happened to me.