Crosstalk, Tianjin style

Watching crosstalk from a Tianjin teahouse may be the best way to learn about this art. Well-known anecdotes from history are mixed with current affairs. Listen carefully and you’re sure to catch jokes and puns that will induce uproarious laughter.

The ‘wild’ Great Wall of Qilianguan

The Ming Great Wall in Beijing, which extends from Mentougou in the west to Miyun and Pinggu in the northeast, can be divided into several sections according to their geographic differences.

Rustic spots for picnics and barbecues

Trees are turning green, flowers are blooming – it must be time to head outdoors to enjoy spring. There are few better places to spend a relaxing afternoon than in one of the city’s “countryside parks,” where visitors can hold barbecues and take pictures of blossoms.

Easter holiday on islands of paradise

Easter is approaching, and while for some that means time for scavenging for colored eggs and eating chocolates, for others the holiday is an important occasion to really celebrate.

Taking the long way to Tibet and back

The dream route for outdoor aficionados is the Sichuan-Tibet Line and Qinghai-Tibet Line, which offer splendid views and satisfy the hiker’s appetite for challenge.

National Art Museum free to the public

The National Art Museum of China in Beijing and the Shanghai Art Museum have been free to the public since early this month. The two museums are pioneers in a program to promote national art museums, public libraries and cultural centers around the country – all of which will be free to the public by the end of this year.

The blossoming of wintersweet

Wintersweet, as its name implies, is a winter flower, but in Beijing it blossoms unusually late: between February and March. In other words, now is the perfect time to catch these yellow flowers.

Escape to the wintry sea

Beidaihe, Qinhuangdao, a three-hour drive from Beijing, is typically visited by people during warmer months, but in recent years more people have begun visiting during the winter and early spring to avoid the crowds and catch the amazing sight of drifting ice blocks.

An ancient gathering in western Beijing

In Mentougou in western Beijing are two ancient villages – Qianjuntai and Zhuanghu – where rituals performed nearly a thousand years ago still exist.

Better late than never – Scenic spots beautified by snow

After more than 100 days without precipitation, Beijing saw its first snowfall last Wednesday and another one on Saturday. On Sunday, many people changed their schedules to visit parks and gardens to see Beijing in white.