• How China has crept into my life

  People & Stories |

  In one of those startling feats of memory, I can vividly recall the first time I encountered China, in the shape of a plate of sauteed beef with bamboo shoots and water chestnuts. I was 17, had my first paycheck in my pocket, and was determined to sample what exotic delights provincial Oxford could offer, which, to be honest, wasn't much.

• Hello Huawei, Xiaomi, bye-bye big brands

  People & Stories |

  At the first staff meeting of the year, when everybody seemed to be stealing a glance at their cellphones now and then, I did a quick check on which was the most popular brand with my colleagues.

• Cartoon of Desperate Chinese Mom's Marriage Pleas Goes Viral

  People & Stories |

  A cartoon showing six things a Chinese mom says to her daughter to persuade her to get married has recently become a hit on social media, sparking discussion about singles and the pressures they face from their parents.

• Hot topic

  People & Stories |

  More than half of the respondents in a recent survey said the words and actions of Internet celebrities set a negative example for the young.

• Suzhou to scrap taxi franchise fees

  People & Stories |

  Amid outcries for reform of the taxi market, a tourist destination in Eastern China's Jiangsu province plans to abolish the monthly franchise fees charged to taxi drivers starting from March 1.

• Funeral reforms seek to save space

  People & Stories |

  Family members will be encouraged to share the same tombs, and ecologically friendly funerals will be promoted over the next five years in China, under a guideline jointly issued by central government departments designed to save land resources by stepping up funeral reforms.

• 40 kg drugs seized in S China drug factory bust

  People & Stories |

  NANNING - Police in South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region have uncovered a drug production and distribution ring, with six suspects detained and 40 kilograms of drugs seized.

• Overhauled SAT exam may pose hurdles for Chinese

  People & Stories |

  The newly overhauled SAT exam, which puts a heavier emphasis on reading comprehension, may affect the performance of Chinese students, who have traditionally excelled in the math part of the test and relied heavily on rote memorization and cramming.

• Marriage of 16-year-olds sparks debate on social media

  People & Stories |

  Photos of two 16-year-olds in a wedding gown and suit at what seems to be a wedding have triggered heated discussion on Chinese social media.

• Many workers looking to change jobs in new year

  People & Stories |

  The weeks after the Spring Festival holiday were expected to see a job-hopping frenzy among white-collar workers.