Shanghai Schools’ Approach Pushes Students to Top of Tests

Discipline helps explain why the city’s students outperformed those from about 65 other countries.

Revolution Isn’t a Party, but It Draws Tourists

Tourist attractions in Yan’an try to evoke the glory days of the Chinese Communist Party, and are profiting handsomely from “red tourism.”

STAYING POWER: Mao and the Maoists

Three new books — Patrick Wright’s “Passport to Peking” (Oxford; $34.95), Frank Dikötter’s “Mao’s Great Famine” (Walker & Co.; $30), and Timothy Cheek’s anthology “A Critical Introduction to Mao” (Cambridge; $27.99) — attest to the difficulty of definitively fixing Mao’s image, a project that amounts to writing a history of China’s present.

Finding the Facts About Mao’s Victims

Ian Johnson speaks with Yang Jisheng, author of Tombstone (Mubei), a groundbreaking new book on the Great Famine (1958–1961), which, though imprecisely known in the West, ranks as one of worst human disasters in history.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao begins Pakistan visit

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has arrived in Pakistan at the start of a three-day visit to boost trade and investment.

In India, Chinese Leader Pushes Trade

Prime Minister Wen Jiabao of China and Indian officials set ambitious economic targets, but made little progress on tough geopolitical differences.

As China Rolls Ahead, Fear Follows

Some economists worry that inflation, government debt and asset bubbles could stall China next year.

Puppet Masters Try to Bring Art Out of the Shadows

Feeling spurned, the owners and curators of a Beijing shadow puppet museum want to take their collection to the United States.

Winner’s Chair Remains Empty at Nobel Event

Over China’s loud objections, the Nobel Committee honored the imprisoned dissident Liu Xiaobo in his absence.

19 Countries to Skip Nobel Ceremony, While China Offers Its Own Prize

The number of countries declining to attend the Nobel ceremony on Friday has tripled; China schedules its own prize for Thursday.

Top Test Scores From Shanghai Stun Educators

Shanghai students outscored counterparts in dozens of other countries in China’s debut in global standardized testing.

Putting the Chinese in ‘Made in China’

The graphic artist Liu Zhizhi is in the forefront of a new generation of designers who are trying to define a visual language for contemporary China.

Opinion: Ancient Neighbors, Current Antagonists

The animosity between China and Japan belies centuries of affinity.

China Police Confine Prominent Artist

The artist Ai Weiwei was placed under house arrest on Friday in Beijing.

The Rise of the Tao

China is in the grips of a religious revival. But can the country handle the return of its most venerable faith?

The China Boom

A wave of Chinese undergraduates is choosing American colleges. Culture shock? Beer pong, anyone?

China Urges Europeans to Snub Nobel Ceremony

The Nobel award to a Chinese dissident is emerging as an early test of China’s newfound diplomatic clout.

China’s Fast Rise Leads Neighbors to Join Forces

China’s military expansion and assertive trade policies have set off jitters across Asia, prompting many of its neighbors to build alliances.

Europe’s Plagues Came From China, Study Finds

The waves of plague that twice devastated Europe and changed the course of history had their origins in China, a team of medical geneticists reported.

Needing Students, Maine School Hunts in China

A Maine high school hopes to solve its financial woes by persuading Chinese students to pay $27,000 a year there.

Pierced Fans, Stiff Cadres and Hip Rock

A shift in official sentiment has led to an explosion of music festivals across China.

The Most ‘Chinese’ Chinese Character?

Culled from an initial pool of 374 characters suggested by an unidentified committee of historians and linguists, the most Chinese of Chinese ideograms was identified as 和 (pronounced ‘huh’ and typically Romanized as ‘he’)—the character for an indistinct concept often (though clumsily) translated as “peace” or “togetherness.”

Ex-Chinese Officials Join in Call for Press Freedom

An unusually blunt letter, signed by retired Communist Party officials, says that government control of the press violate China’s Constitution.

A full translation of the letter can be found here.

Beijing Calls Nobel Insult To People Of China

China continued its vilification campaign against the award of the peace prize to a dissident by canceling another meeting with Norwegian officials.

Taiwanese pride suffers under Ma: poll

A majority of Taiwanese said they did not feel more proud to be a citizen of the Republic of China (ROC) after President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) took office in May 2008, a poll released by the Taiwan Thinktank ahead of Double Ten National Day showed yesterday.

China Emerges as a Scapegoat in Campaign Advertisements

With many Americans anxious over economic decline, Democrats and Republicans are blaming one another for allowing the export of jobs.

China, Angered by Peace Prize, Blocks Celebration

Police stopped a celebration Friday for the jailed Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo, who won the Nobel Peace Prize.

Nobel Peace Prize Given to Jailed Chinese Dissident

In awarding the prize to the imprisoned pro-democracy advocate Liu Xiaobo, the Nobel Committee delivered a stinging rebuke of China’s growing intolerance for domestic dissent.

Hollywood Hopes To Cash In On Chinese Remakes

"Musical Youth" doesn't have quite the same ring as "High School Musical." But that was the title of the Chinese version of the hit U.S. film, and it signaled a new stage in Hollywood's attempts to get in on the fastest-growing film market in the world.

Bill Gates, Warren Buffet prod Chinese millionaires for charity

At a private dinner in a lavish setting in China, billionaires Bill Gates and Warren Buffet tried to convince newly rich Chinese people to give away more money.

Migrant ‘Villages’ Within a City Ignite Debate

Some migrants welcome gated communities as a way to fight crime, but critics see them as a sign of barriers facing rural migrants.

Hong Kong marks anniversary of People's Republic

Hong Kong marked the 61st anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China with a 23-minute firework display.

Chinese Writers Give a Warmer Take on U.S. Democracy

While Americans fret about rapid Chinese economic growth, in China, something else is happening: deeper understanding of democracy is producing greater admiration, in some quarters.

China steps up efforts to tempt returnees and stem 'brain drain'

Thousands of Chinese go abroad every year to study science, engineering and other fields and many never return home — not because they want to emigrate but because their still-developing economy lacks jobs to match their advanced skills.

China launches Chang'e 2 probe into earth-moon orbit

CHANG'E 2, China's second unmanned moon probe, has entered the earth-moon transfer orbit as it separated from the carrier rocket, the control center said today.

Sony Hopes for a Blockbuster as ‘Dr. Oz’ Format Goes to China

Sony Pictures Television is expected to announce a deal on Wednesday to export the format of “The Dr. Oz Show” to Chinese television.

Opinion: Too Many Hamburgers?

On a visit to China, Thomas L. Friedman gets a good look at how the Chinese view Americans.

A System Afraid of Its Own History

China's relationship to its own history remains mired in cover-ups and silences, and a look at how school textbooks present the 60 years since the People's Republic was established reveals the problem.

Chinese Experiment Seeks Secrets To Happiness

Last year, a book called China Is Unhappy topped the best-seller lists in the Middle Kingdom. It was a nationalistic screed arguing that China should stop debasing itself and stand up to its critics. But is China really unhappy? And how can it become happier?

Resentment Simmers in Western Chinese Region

Since riots between the Han and Uighur groups in 2009, the Chinese authorities have arrested hundreds and tried to soothe frayed nerves. But the push has done little to repair distrust.

China’s Growth Leads to Problems Down the Road

A nation on a building binge has plans to unclog the highways, but it may take years.

Beijing Opera, a Historical Treasure in Fragile Condition

Fans of the Beijing Opera Academy of China fear that it could fall victim to modernization as the economy surges, but the government is helping support the art form.

China's Deficit in American Studies

China faces a worrisome imbalance of intellectual trade with the United States. Contrary to conventional wisdom, Chinese know less about the United States than Americans know about China.

Uighur Intellectual Who Won’t Back Down in China

Ilham Tohti’s advocacy for China’s Muslim Uighurs has landed him on the government’s list of citizens who warrant near-constant surveillance.

Reviving ‘The Peony Pavilion’ With Modern Shading

A Chinese opera troupe’s condensed version of “The Peony Pavilion,” staged in a Shanghai garden, tries to breathe new life into a traditional art form in danger of disappearing.

China's fight against disposable chopsticks

To keep up with demand, 100 acres of trees need to be felled every 24 hours. But efforts to restrain the use of disposable wooden chopsticks face many obstacles.

Chinese Hospitals Are Battlegrounds of Discontent

In 2006, patients or their relatives attacked more than 5,500 medical workers, reflecting wide discontent with China’s public health care system.

Booming Demand for TV on the Internet in China

Young people in China are starting to favor Internet video over TV, in part as a way to make an end run around government regulators.

China’s Censors Rein in a ‘Vulgar’ Reality TV Show

Officials issued a directive faulting a popular dating show for promoting materialism and talking openly about sex.

Joan Hinton, Physicist Who Chose China Over Atom Bomb, Is Dead at 88

Ms. Hinton worked on the Manhattan Project, which developed the atom bomb, but spent most of her life as a committed Maoist working on dairy farms in China.

Sea Salt Latte: Is 85C The Next Coffee Craze?

A coffee company from Taiwan hopes to teach Americans to love squid-ink buns and iced sea salt lattes.

Socialism Studies (just for fun)

Aasif Mandvi exposes the communist threat as Hacienda Heights introduces a Chinese language program to middle school kids.

China Tries to Put Best Foot Forward With Shanghai World Expo

As part of his series from China, Ray Suarez reports on the ongoing 2010 Shanghai Expo, where the large and decadent Chinese pavilion captures the country in transition.

For China's Growing Middle Class, Expanding Waistlines Pose Problem

In the second in his series of reports from China on global health issues, Ray Suarez reports on the dramatic increase in obesity as the country's growing class of educated and well-paid consumers adopt some Western-style shopping and eating habits.

China Faces Growing Health Crisis from Prevalent Tobacco Use

In the first of three global health reports from China, Ray Suarez examines the work of anti-tobacco advocates in China, where the government -- which is a huge producer of tobacco products -- has done little to quash the deadly smoking epidemic.

China Bans Court Evidence Gained Through Torture

China issued the legal guidelines after a number of cases involving false confessions, most recently one involving a farmer who was wrongly imprisoned for 10 years.

Chinese Supercomputer Is Ranked World’s Second-Fastest, Challenging U.S. Dominance

The Dawning Nebulae computer has achieved a sustained speed of 1.27 petaflops — the equivalent of one thousand trillion mathematical operations a second.

China’s Premier Discusses School Attacks

Prime Minister Wen Jiabao offered the first public comment by a Chinese leader since the latest attack.

Hong Kong Issues Warning as Air Pollution Sets Record

Pollution reached the worst levels since 1995, setting off an official government warning Monday to avoid outdoor activities and physical exertion.

Google Shuts China Site in Dispute Over Censorship

Google said it would close its Web site based in mainland China and direct users to an uncensored version based in Hong Kong.

Academic Paper in China Sets Off Alarms in U.S.

A paper imagining a cyberattack and a power failure in the U.S. has highlighted an atmosphere charged with hostility between the U.S. and China over cybersecurity.

Opinion: The Problem Is Not China

The United States must recognize that its economic problems come from within. China cannot fix America's mess.

For 13th Time, Critic of China’s Government Is Barred From Leaving Country

Liao Yiwu, a prominent author and critic of the government, was detained as he prepared to fly to a literary festival in Germany, activists said.

New Scrutiny on Censorship Issues for U.S. Companies in China

Now that Google has thrown down the gauntlet, American companies may find arguments about the need to obey local laws do not offer blanket protection from questions about conduct.

China Names Its Own Lama to Top Body of Advisers

A teenage religious figure, whose legitimacy is a matter of dispute, has been appointed to the country’s top advisory body, state media announced.

Chinese Editorials Assail a Government System

In a country with a press tightly managed by the state, the appearance of the editorials in more than a dozen publications was noteworthy.

China’s Han Flock to Theme Parks Featuring Minorities

The ethnic theme playgrounds showcase features of ethnic minorities but also enforce the narrative that they are part of greater China.

A photo of the sign that used to read "Racist Park" referenced in this article can be found here.

Ma’s ‘two nations’ comment a mistake: PO

President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) would not address the two sides of Taiwan Strait as “two nations” in describing cross-strait relations, the Presidential Office said yesterday.

Dalai Lama's Remarks After White House Meeting

Dalai Lama: "Don't ask silly questions!"

Dalai Lama Visit Fuels Friction Between China, U.S.

Chinese officials openly criticized President Obama's decision to meet with exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, on Thursday. Beijing warned that U.S. recognition of Tibet as an independent state would further strain Sino-U.S. relations. Jeffrey Brown speaks to two experts about recent tension between the nations.

Obama Meets Dalai Lama, and China Is Quick to Protest

The meeting at the White House with the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader on Thursday was low-key, but raised the hackles of China nonetheless.

China: Gay Pageant Contestant Wins a Prize

A 25-year-old Muslim man from China was the third runner-up in the Worldwide Mr. Gay pageant, which ended Sunday in Oslo.

Opinion: The Tension Is Overstated

What lies ahead should be familiar to China watchers: After the huffing and puffing is over, Beijing and Washington will start repairing the damage.

Wanted: Rental Boyfriend for Lunar New Year

To quell parental nagging, many Chinese singletons are hiring strangers to act the part of boyfriends and girlfriends during their holiday home visit.

China at Odds With Future in Internet Fight

Many in China, especially university students, view the possible loss of Google’s maps, translation software and access to scholarly papers with real distress.

Hackers Said to Breach Gmail Accounts in China

Users discovered that their e-mail accounts were compromised after Google said last week that hackers had tried to attack its security infrastructure.

China Restores Text Messaging in Xinjiang

The Chinese government continued to ease a six-month-old communications blackout on the northwest region of Xinjiang.

Chinese Gay Pageant Is Shut Down

The contestants were prepping backstage and the judges were settling in, but the first Mr. Gay China pageant was not meant to be.

Follow the Law, China Tells Internet Companies

The officials’ remarks suggested that China was unlikely to give ground on Google’s demands to ease censorship.

After Google’s Stand on China, U.S. Treads Lightly

The difficulty of proving that the Chinese government was behind a cyberattack has frozen the U.S. response.

For Google, a Threat to China With Little Revenue at Stake

Analysts say that staying in China would be risky for Google, and the economic pain of leaving would most likely not be felt for years.

Far-Ranging Support for Google’s China Move

Human rights and business groups are among those cheering the move to stop cooperating with censors.

Google Would Abandon a Lucrative Market

Twenty or so other companies that may also have been attacked, are now in the difficult position of deciding whether to follow Google.

Google, Citing Attack, Threatens to Exit China

The move, coming after assaults from hackers on its computer systems, would be a highly unusual rebuke of China by a large and respected company.

Large Oil Spill Reported in China

The spill has heavily polluted a tributary of the Yellow River, and threatens to reach one of the country's longest and most important sources of water.

Hong Kong Protesters Seek Democracy

Thousands of Hong Kong residents marched to the Chinese government’s liaison office demanding that Beijing grant full democracy to the semiautonomous financial hub.