Inkstone

Xuan paper, or traditional rice paper, is widely used in Chinese painting and calligraphy.  The paper has a history of more than 1,000 years. It originated from Xuancheng City in the eastern province of Anhui. The manufacturing process goes through over 100 stages, and it takes at least one year to make.  The Cao family has been making Xuan paper since the Song Dynasty (960-1279). The craft has been passed down the generations.  Check out the gallery to see how the paper is made.

Authorities in a southern Chinese city have suspended plans to build a crematorium following two days of clashes between riot police and residents in scenes that drew comparisons to the continuing unrest in Hong Kong. The clashes in Wenlou, which is about 60 miles north of Hong Kong, began on Thursday when hundreds of locals tried to march on the town’s government offices in protest against plans to build a crematorium on land they believed had been set aside for a park. But police intervened, firing tear gas and using batons to fend off the crowds. Dozens of people were injured and as many as 100 were detained, witnesses said. Authorities in Huazhou, Guangdong province, issued a notice late

“City of Darkness” is an exhibition exploring the long gone Walled City of Kowloon in Hong Kong as photographed by Greg Girard and Ian Lambot. Lambot and Girard set about photographing the Walled City shortly before its demolition in 1994 due to a deep fascination with the site. Nearly 30 years on from the Walled City’s demolition, this project offers a unique insight into the remarkable community, home to an estimated 50,000 people at its peak, and by far the most densely populated neighborhood the world had ever known.

Hundreds of thousands of people in Taipei took to the streets over the weekend to support gay rights in the first pride parade in Taiwan since it became the first place in Asia to legalize same-sex unions. Crowds of people waved rainbow flags and rode on flamboyant floats from City Hall for the 3.5 mile walk, whose theme this year was: “Together, make Taiwan better.”

A bubble tea exhibit has opened in Singapore, where boba lovers can dive into a pit of 10,000 plastic boba.  There's also a scent wall where visitors can sniff and try out several different types of tea.

An overpass collapsed onto busy traffic in Wuxi city in east China’s Jiangsu province on October 10. Reports say that three vehicles were trapped and three people died.

Pork is a Chinese national staple. But as African swine fever has ravaged hog farms, the average price of pork has almost doubled. The government has responded by releasing pork reserves to the markets and offering subsidies to some farmers hit by the nationwide epidemic.  Some farmers, however, are still feeling the pain.

Hong Kong’s iconic “ding ding” trams, named for the sounds they make, have trundled through the streets since 1904. The 115-year-old system is a living symbol of the city’s rich history. In these pictures from the South China Morning Post’s archives, we look at how both the trams and everything around them have changed over the decades.

Known for his showmanship, Alibaba co-founder Jack Ma sang a pop ballad at the company’s 20th-anniversary party on September 10. Alibaba owns Inkstone. The event was part of Ma’s goodbye to the company as he stepped down as executive chairman. His successor, Daniel Zhang, joined the performance.  

American seafood chain Red Lobster is expecting China to become its biggest overseas market.  Chief Executive Officer Kim Lopdrup said China will eventually be a larger market for the casual dining chain than Canada and Japan.  “We do have some aggressive growth plans, but it all comes down to finding the right sites with appropriate rents,” Lopdrup was quoted as saying in a report by Bloomberg.  “China is very likely to be our largest international market likely by a pretty wide margin over time.” Red Lobster, famous for its cheddar biscuits and Ultimate Feast platter, currently only has two locations in China.  It opened its first branch in Shanghai in December last year. In July this yea