Would someone please hand this column to the next mother-in-law who blames her son's wife for giving birth to a girl instead of a boy. It's your son, grandma, who was responsible for determining the sex of the child.
People often gain their first impressions of the city's contemporary art scene from the 798 Art Zone.
On a bright, sunny day, I was taking a walk in the park that surrounds the Temple of Heaven complex.
You can go to the Qianmen area, but you can't go back. At least, not if your first visit was four or five years ago, or earlier. Not if you want to see again the glorious, chaotic warren of hutong that wound away on either side of the main street, Qianmen Dajie.
A friend who works in banking was unexpectedly dismissed not long ago. The job hunting that followed wasn't smooth. One month later, still without a new job, she could no longer afford the one-bedroom apartment she rented along the Third Ring Road. In the end she had to look for a roommate to share the rent.
Imagine a place where people give away things for free, or where you can put out a request for something you have always wanted but have no intention of shelling out cash for.
I can think of nothing more depressing than being trapped in Beijing's traffic. But, if I happen to be stuck alongside a taxi driver constantly offering opinions about local attractions and reflections on hot events, my depression is soon eased.
Vigorous rhythms and upbeat music blared out, filling the streets in the neighborhood. It was 4 pm, way too early for a nightclub to start business. As I wondered where it came from and looked around, an array of youngsters sprung into view.
One of the best scenes I've witnessed within Beijing consists of a young couple with their child, a small family strolling down the sidewalk in the evening as the day cools.
A love confession turned out to be the root of guilt for my friend, Jane.
Are you feeling the love, China? Because my home state of California is sending plenty your way this week. It's the pandas that create a sudden urge to come see what they love about China.
Don't it always seem to go/That you don't know what you got 'til it's gone/They paved paradise/And put up a parking lot - Joni Mitchell Big Yellow Taxi.