The curious rise of the fake landmark - and why it could be the future of travel

What do a giant superhero, a misplaced sphinx and remote monastery and movie all have in common?


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To follow up the previous post with my own specific interest-area, what are people's favorite ethnographies of Chinese cultures?

(I'm currently reading Susan Brownell's Beijing's Games: What the Olympics Mean to China for a class. It's very readable, and interesting even to someone who is more than tired of hearing, reading, and talking about the ( Read more... )

Unlike its iconic American counterpart, the Oreo sold in China is frequently long, thin, four-layered and coated in chocolate. But both kinds of cookies have one important thing in common: They are now best sellers ( Read more... )

Charles Q. Choi Special to LiveScience LiveScience.com ( Read more... )

By RANDOLPH E. SCHMID, AP Science Writer ( Read more... )

A Chinese woman who was forced to have an abortion despite being nine months pregnant is suing the authorities for their actions ( Read more... )

THE MOON IN FOLKLORE -
Importance of the Full Moon in CulturesThe moon has played a predominant role in many societies throughout history. Some of the oldest references come from ancient Sumer. Here, the moon god Nanna or Nammar ruled as the supreme deity of measurement and calendar calculations. The artificial mountain known as the Ziggurat was ( Read more... )

(This makes me think of a reason often attributed to the rise of McDonald's around the world -- they have clean bathrooms.)

BEIJING (Reuters) - Food stalls attached to Beijing's public toilets will be removed in good time for next year's Olympics, state media said Saturday ( Read more... )

Forget Louis Vuitton handbags or Prada suits - the latest must-have accessory for China’s wealthy elite comes not from the chic designer stores of Shanghai or Beijing but from the plains of Tibet. The Tibetan mastiff, a rare, ancient and now extravagantly expensive breed of dog, has captivated those seeking to display their new-found affluence in a ( Read more... )

From next month, Tibetan living Buddhas will have to apply for reincarnation to the Chinese Government ( Read more... )