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China

Chengdu has transformed, though it remains slower-paced than some other Chinese cities.

Three years in this city changed my life and my view of the world

When I arrived in Chengdu to teach English, I couldn’t speak Chinese. I’d never even tried Chinese food.

  • Brian Johnston
Supreme fried rice.

China’s culinary gift to the world is the No.1 truly global dish

What can you reliably find in pretty much any city or country town on the planet? China’s recipe for leftovers.

  • Ben Groundwater
The Bund by night.

This unlikely art deco hotspot is a must-visit in Asia

With its heritage-listed architecture and rich colonial history, the former British Concession on the bank of Shanghai’s Huangpu River is an open-air museum.

  • Jenny Hewett
The Adiyogi Shiva statue is 112 feet (34 metres) tall, an allusion to the 112 chakras of the body.

‘Arc de Trump’? The 20 most over-the-top buildings ever constructed

The US president’s proposed monument would join a long and rapidly growing list of structures we could probably do without.

  • Chris Moss
A lion dance in Beijing to celebrate the Lunar New Year.

Everything you need to know about Chinese New Year around the world

Crowds are immense and hotel and restaurant prices soar. If you want to plunge into the Year of the Horse festivities, here’s how to do it well.

  • Brian Johnston
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A feast for more than the eyes … Chongqing’s neon skyline.

Am I in The Matrix? Famously futuristic city is more than just neon

A train hurtles through a residential building; five-level motorways snake between mountainsides; communities are stacked vertically in an urban lasagne.

  • Tracey Spicer
Mapo Tofu.. loved the world over.

This Chinese dish has become a global icon without getting Westernised

Mapo tofu is a serious spicy, salty, numbing stew that has nevertheless traversed the globe in its fame and popularity.

  • Ben Groundwater
Cycling in Taiwan: an adventure made easier by friendly locals and excellent infrastructure.

An Asian cycling trip introduced me to the kindest people on Earth

In Taiwan people are not only absurdly kind but also way too casual about their kindness, like the guy who buys me a bottle of wine because it’s his birthday.

  • Paul Marshall
Business class seat on China Southern Airlines.

With minor tweaks, this business class could be one of the world’s best

The food and entertainment options could be better but this Chinese carrier, which is about to expand its Australian presence, is not far off the world’s best.

  • Christine Retschlag
Hotels in secondary cities like Chengdu are cheaper than Shanghai or Beijing.

Is China still cheap to visit? Yes, if you don’t make these mistakes

Prices have risen over the past few years and if you’re checking into big-name hotels or eating Western meals, then you’re in for a shock.

  • Brian Johnston