Crematorium owner prepares final journey of animals with love and affection
Among all cremated animals in Beijing, 10 percent will be laid to rest by Feng Gong, who runs a pet crematorium in suburban Beijing.
Spreading the word on Tourette's
When Jiang Yunsheng got a WeChat message from a stranger in Australia saying he wanted help from him, he had not expected that his efforts in fighting discrimination against Tourette syndrome could have such a wide impact.
Young artist keeps her focus despite overnight stardom
Wang Hua, a waitress-turned-painter, has always dreamed of getting her family out of poverty. But when she finally gained recognition and an offer of 200,000 yuan ($29,000) for one of her works, she rejected it.
Beijinger undergoes sex change after seven decades of frustration
At the age of 72, Xin Yue decided that it was time to realize a lifelong dream: to become a woman.
77-year-old Jew reflects on migrant crisis in Europe
Born on 26 October 1939 in Shanghai into a Jewish family, Sonja Muhlberger is what she would call an “ex-Shanghailander.”
Teenager fights for women's rights through micro movie
At the age of 18, Sang Ni, a senior student at a Beijing high school, shot the feminist micro-movie Fengzhongliu, which translates to “Willow in the Wind.” The film has just been released online and tells the story of a girl who pursues her dream of becoming a painter against her father's disapproval.
Veteran NPC deputy shrugs off controversy in efforts to alleviate poverty
No one in China has managed to break her record as the “living fossil” of the National People's Congress (NPC), the country's top legislature. The 88-year-old Shen Jilan from North China's Shanxi Province has been elected as a deputy to the NPC for 12 consecutive times since 1954.
Wal-mart cashier leads fight against reform she sees unfair
At a plenary staff meeting in the supermarket where Liang Yinying works as a cashier, she was the first to question a reform to working hours.
Nobel laureate courts controversy over decision to come back to China
World-renowned physicist and Nobel laureate Yang Zhenning has recently come under the spotlight again.
Filmmaker goes against odds to document story of 'comfort women'
“The world is so beautiful. I want to live and see this world.” When documentary maker Guo Ke heard these words from Wei Shaolan, a woman forced into sex slavery by Japanese soldiers during their invasion of China, he was barely able to comprehend it.
Agriculture professor spreads techniques and hope to poor farmers in China and Africa
For the past two decades, Li Xiaoyun, a professor at the China Agricultural University (CAU), has devoted himself to eliminating poverty in China's rural areas. As he turns 55 years old, he shows no sign of stopping and has even expanded his reach to Africa.
Ex-soldier travels China promoting the Lei Feng spirit
“Follow Lei Feng's example, never forget the philosophy of hard work and plain living!”
The loudspeaker in Liu Jianguang's minivan, covered with posters of Lei Feng, red flags and the flags of the Communist Party of China (CPC), blares out the slogan as he travels from Hele village to his next stop, Ganquan village in Chongzhou, Sichuan Province.
American musician Kirk Kenney plugs in to traditional music in China
When Kirk Kenney, co-founder of folk band Mountain High, was a teenager, China wasn't even a blip on his radar. He grew up in a sheltered suburb of St. Petersburg, Florida, spending most of his time watching television.
Last week, he played two packed shows at the National Center of the Performing Arts in Beijing, speaking to the crowd in fluent Chinese, and joyfully performed traditional music with some of the most talented folk musicians in China.
Taiwanese actress' welcoming comments on Liaoning put her under scrutiny
It is no longer a strange thing in China for political and entertainment news to mix. The most recent example of this occurred when Taiwanese singer and actress Liu Le-yan, known in Taiwan for her voluptuous figure, made controversial comments on the Chinese mainland's aircraft carrier Liaoning, which passed through the Taiwan Straits last Wednesday.
Farmer spends years suing factory for daughter's death allegedly caused by pollution
A farmer from the Dachang Hui Autonomous County in Langfang, Hebei Province, he has travelled frequently in the past decade between his home and the capital, lodging complaints and filing lawsuits in a bid to uncover the truth about his daughter, who died from leukemia in June 2007 at the age of 17.
Celebrity stalker finds herself under the spotlight
For years, Gong Yuwen, an ordinary-looking 18-year-old high-school dropout, spent most of her days camped at the Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport, stalking and taking photos of the celebrities who passed through.
Gong enjoyed an exciting life as a full-time fan, until she herself was one day thrown into the spotlight when this story of a die-hard fan at Hongqiao airport, a dropout and jobless girl living off her grandparents went viral on the Internet. Now nicknamed “Hongqiao Diva” by the media, she had to deal with the unexpected fame, criticism, and people who want to profit from her notoriety.
One man's African journey from Mao-era teacher to millionaire entrepreneur
Today, the man who taught English for the revolution has carved out a business empire in Nigeria and become a millionaire who owns a chain of hotels, restaurants and factories in the West African country. He became Nigeria's first foreign “chieftain,” is known locally by his English name Jacob Wood and believes that US-style democracy is no way forward for Africa. We spoke to 68-year-old Hu Jieguo about his adventurous life.
Adventurer returns after selling everything and traveling the world
Four years ago, Chen was still a homeowner. To make the trip possible, he sold his apartment for about 8 million yuan ($1.15 million). The apartment, located in the CBD area on the Third Ring Road in Beijing, is now valued at about 21 million yuan.