In Beijing, redevelopment threatens last bathhouse

In his twilight years, Zhang Shan has simplified his daily schedule to the bare essentials: Wake up, eat breakfast, walk to Shuangxing Bathhouse and undress. The bathhouse, on the southern outskirts of the Chinese capital,…

Military ties move forward

The recent visit to China by US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Mike Mullen, will further improve bilateral military-to-military ties that have warmed considerably since President Hu Jintao’s state visit to the United…

Staying on Track

The past month in financial-land was dominated by two combustible fears: that Greece would default on its debts and plunge the euro zone into chaos; and that China would hit the brakes and bring much…

Beijing to expand efforts to curb property prices

China will expand its efforts to curb the growth in residential prices to smaller cities after limiting home purchases in Beijing and Shanghai, according to a summary of a State Council meeting chaired by Premier…

China’s auto industry caught in dilemma

The stunning growth of the world’s largest auto market over the past two years has created some serious problems: grid-lock, pollution and energy shortages. “China’s auto industry is caught in a dilemma in the wake…

New swimming stroke ‘invented’ in China

Gao Jinlong arrives for the interview by moped, typical transportation for the thrifty Shanghainese. Wearing glasses, striped blue shirt and black trousers, he looks a little chubby for an amateur swimmer. “I don’t swim anymore,”…

No hard landing for China

Predictions about a possible hard landing in China have cast a shadow over equity markets during the past few months. And with market gurus such as George Soros and Nouriel Roubini predicting that growth of…