Bicycles, environment and the budget

The energy-saving office of public agencies under the Shandong Provincial government purchased 100 bicycles and distributed them to its 24 subordinates for official use. The office requested its employees use bikes for public services within three kilometers and prohibited the use of automobiles.

Should Chinese milk standards depend on national conditions?

“The China dairy industry’s new standards are the lowest in the world,” said Wang Dingmian, president of Guangzhou Dairy Industry Association at the Southern Pasteurized Milk Development Forum on June 20, reviving a debate about the dairy industry’s domestic standards.

The Smurfs are back in town

The lovable, blue-skinned cartoon characters are making a huge comeback thanks to the new 3D movie scheduled to premiere in Chinese theaters this August. Smurf fans looking to recapture their childhood can also look forward to a re-mastered version of the 272-episode animated TV series in Chinese.

Web war never ends – People’s Daily grabs for share of the search market

It seemed the battle was over: Google abandoned China and Baidu reigned supreme at the top of the Chinese Web search market. But on the Web, the battle is never over.

Engine of growth – Beijing-Shanghai high-speed to boost local economy

There are supporters and opponents, as well as countless questions about safety, profitability, speed, threat to airlines and corruption surrounding the launch of the new Shanghai-Beijing high-speed train.

App developers aim for success

John Zheng is dressed in a white shirt and blue jeans. He sits in Sanlitun Village Square banging out a message on his iPad: “Obama ain’t the only one who wants change.”

Road to revival – World artists fight to save opera

It has been a rough decade for classic arts. Countries around the world are slashing their budgets and few people are willing to spend for a night at the opera. But theaters everywhere seem determined to drag old arts into the new millennium by rediscovering ancient stories and creating new works.

95 percent of drugs trafficked by foreigners

In the last three years, 94 of the 98 drug trafficking cases investigated by the Beijing Municipal People’s Procuratorate have involved foreigners, the Procuratorate’s second branch announced Sunday.

Nadamu Fair to open next month in Inner Mongolia

Nadamu Fair, an Inner Mongolian pageant, opens next month in Xilin Gol League, the autonomous region’s “Capital of Horses.” The five-day event, which begins August 6, is a comprehensive celebration of Mongolian sports, culture and art. It will include a trade fair and tourism and sightseeing opportunities.

Students ride nude despite police warning

A naked ride planned for June 25 by Guangzhou University students ran afoul of the law in the wee hours of June 24.