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What’s the latest craze in China? Apparently marathons. In 2010 the Chinese Athletic Association held a total of 12 official running events; in 2014 there were 53, with marathons representing the majority, according to an article written by South China Morning Post. While China is often characterized as pushing economic and industrial boundaries, a recent surge in athletics proves there’s more than just machines grinding. Many Chinese cities are now hosting running races as a way to showcase their landmarks and increase revenue,  » Read more »

  If you believe the media, there is never a good time to travel to China. We hear repeatedly about China's lack of political freedom but rarely about China lifting 680 million people out of poverty over the last 30 years. What about the very real economic liberty that brings? Every spring, we hear about various flu's from China killing a small number of people. This is often spun by the local WHO office and the media as a major risk to the world's health,  » Read more »

Stone door houses, or shikumen, line long and narrow alleyways as if trying to contain some secret. Locals hang their laundry out of windows above the various cafes, art studios, and craft stores held inside the shikumen, as mesmerized shoppers shuffle between shops. The aromas of Indian food, Moroccan food, and Chinese food all fuse with the bohemian atmosphere that permeates this little slice of city life. This place is Taikang Lu. Originally providing inexpensive space for art galleries and media companies,  » Read more »

In recent years, tennis has emerged as one of the most prolific sports in China, on both a professional and amateur level.  This can be credited to the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the relatively new emergence of high ranked players throughout Asia, and China's investments in the grassroots of tennis. Only within the past 10 years have Chinese tennis players rose to prominence. The success of tennis stars like now-retired Li Na,  » Read more »