Feature Stories

We Come in Peace; Coz We Won a Safari!

What a lot of humans do not know is that Solitaritans move in small packs and have vegetarian diets. Most Solitaritans didn’t make it past the age of forty solar cycles before their body broke down in a process...

A Warm Welcome Awaits in Nanjing; Brave it if You Dare

August in Nanjing defies expectations: extreme heat replaces mild warmth, disrupting normalcy and comfort. Nanjing's summer is unbearably hot, surpassing other global hotspots with its intense, humid 38°C (feels like 48°C). Winter in Nanjing offers little relief, as indoor heating makes...

1990s China; Better, Worse or Different (as in “Way Different”)

On 22 June 1993, I flew first class to Shanghai, starting a 3-month contract to produce Western pop radio shows. My role was to sell coffee through radio programs, but I initially questioned if moving to China was a mistake. A...

Arriving Home; To Where? To Myself

Arrivals signify more than physical movement; they represent transformation, self-discovery, and entering new life phases. Growing up in China, I felt deeply rooted despite frequent moves, shaping my adaptability and sense of belonging. Moving to Germany at 10 caused cultural dissonance,...

Terror, KTV, Spiders, Baijiu; Up to My Old Tricks Again!

Arrived in China in 2012, trained in Beijing, then taught in Changsha, embracing its wild nightlife and challenges. Moved to Nanjing in 2013, experiencing its history, culture, and proximity to Shanghai, feeling more connected and stable. Returned to Nanjing in 2021...

How a Leap of Faith Rewrote My Life’s Map

Unexpected Journey: A fiery university essay led to a cultural exchange in China, sparking a decade-long adventure filled with discovery and adaptation. Cultural Immersion: From Beijing’s history to Chengdu’s spice, Xi’an’s ancient walls, and Shanghai’s modernity, China offered a blend...

The Fast Life of Candice

"I know a planet where there is a certain red-faced gentleman. He has never smelled a flower. He has never looked at a star. He has never loved anyone. He has never done anything in his life but add...

Surviving Fast Lives (by Someone who got the Hell Out!)

Nanjing, like most large Chinese cities, hits hard, fast, and relentless. Getting swallowed up in the rhythm of the city just... happens, almost any time you step outside your home. Life can feel like a marathon you didn't sign...

Latest News

Iranians in China become more Visible than Countable

These things often start, not with a statistic, but with a voice; Persian heard in a lift, a WeChat...

Why Chinese Men Can’t Quit; Smoking, Face and the State

China has 300 million smokers, nearly a third of the world's total. The imbalance between the sexes is stark:...

US Dept of Justice Says Nanjing Firm Hacked NASA, Senate & More

A sharp new cyber case has put a Nanjing company at the centre of a much wider political row....

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