Fabulous short haircut becomes popular in Beijing

Breezing into a party recently with a new short haircut and feeling fabulous (an automatic outcome of spending a slightly exorbitant sum at an international stylist of which there are few in Beijing), I was met with approval from my Western friends and a few unexpected gasps from my Chinese mates. Excusing myself to the bathroom to see what exactly may have been behind the not-soprepared- for s...

Chinese fans watch Jacko film in Beijing

Due to time-zone difference, Chinese audiences were lucky enough to be among the first in the world to watch a tribute film, Michael Jackson's THIS IS IT, featuring rare behind-the-scenes footage of his last rehearsals for his planned London concerts.Many fans who watched the film said it felt like they were at a concert instead of inside a movie theater. There were tears, but no sadness. Every...

Chinese students' rich life in China

Most students going to a Chinese university share very a similar experience when it comes to accommodations: a dorm room crammed with anywhere between four to eight, no air conditioning and lights out after 11 pm. There's no need to mention the bathrooms. But there are some students missing out on the joys of communal living, watching from afar in the quiet, private comfort of their own apartm...

A foreigner's experience in Chinese KTV

There were times, many many years ago, that come 2am or so on a Saturday evening, I would, encouraged by a beverage or two, join some of my equally inebriated friends in a rendition of Abba's Dancing Queen on a make-shift stage during karaoke hour. The performance resembled a squawking group of would-be teenage rock-stars sharing a dodgy microphone, belting out the disco tune at the top of our l...

How to be a successful woman

These 10 habits of highly successful women range from maintaining your hormonal balance to letting go of the past -- and they will positively affect your mind, body, and soul. Taking action is a crucial habit of successful women…and so is dreaming! Don't let go of your passions. 1. Maintain your hormonal balance。Are you moody, exhausted, irritable, or sad? Check your hormones. If they're out o...

World-renowned pianist plays in Beijing

The Beijing audience sat spellbound Tuesday night as world-renowned pianist Gary Graffman presented a sublime recital of works by Russian composers including Alexander Nikolayevich Scriabin, Felix Blumenfeld and Leopold Godowsky, at the Forbidden City Concert Hall. The choice of Graffman's repertoire was unusual in that it included pieces played entirely by the left hand scored by Leon Kirchner...

A black hero in Guangzhou

GUANGZHOU: A Good Samaritan who helped haul six people from a wreckage after an auto accident here recently is also helping to save the reputation of foreigners in this southern city. A Guangzhou foundation wants to honor the mysterious stranger after he dragged the six from beneath a deluge of cement bags but it has so far been unable to find him.  The man, who is black, is believed to be...

How to achieve happiness

Happiness can't be achieved by repeating the same affirmation over and over. Try smiling while being laid-off. Or conjuring positive thoughts after receiving a cancer diagnosis. Or finding the bright side of a Wall Street meltdown. Do you consider such scenarios not only perverse but also unmoored from the human experience of life's disappointments and tragedies? So does author Barbara Ehrenr...

Making pets lucrative

These three savvy entrepreneurs saw opportunity in the pet craze and are running million dollar businesses. The pet products industry is big business. Last year, for example, chain store PetSmart boasted sales of $5 billion. The industry as a whole is worth a whopping $45 billion, according to the American Pet Products Association (APPA), a trade group. This is an increase of 164% since 1994. ...

What Do Chinese Brides Need?

For someone who comes from a country where arranged marriages and dowries have long since disappeared, China can sometimes offer a rather confronting picture. A couple of months ago, whilst sharing a drink with a friend, I inquired after his girlfriend. His answer bewildered me at first: She was out on a date with a young man whom her parents wanted her to marry. The scenario was definitely one ...