Will everyone around the world be spending many years learning to speak, read and write Chinese soon? Methinks not. But more and more people will be acquiring the basic skills to communicate in Mandarin, and here's why...

Notes from a night on the town to catch up with the jazz and rock scenes, and with some old friends in those scenes

A stroll down a friendly neighborhood Shanghai lilong alleyway on a sunny New Year's Day restores one's faith in the city amidst the dark, cold winter days.