Thomas Yau

There are signs of progress on development of a Covid-19 vaccine being tested by Chinese company Fosun Pharma in collaboration with German’s BioNTech, according to Guo Guangchang, chairman of Fosun International. Guo said the vaccine being developed is an mRNA jab, which is faster and cheaper to produce than traditional vaccines.

In 1937, during the closing phase of the Battle of Shanghai, Chinese troops made a last stand against invading Japanese forces at Sihang Warehouse. Decades later, the site is flooded with tourists each year who place Chinese flags, wine, and even cigarettes in honor of the fallen soldiers.

China has long been a testing ground for the world’s architects to try out new ideas. From the “bottle opener” in Shanghai to the “big trousers” in Beijing, the country is no stranger to unorthodox building design. The latest structures to draw attention are two new buildings in the country’s Yangtze River Delta.

Shanghai Disneyland has reopened to visitors last week after a four-month shutdown because of the Covid-19 pandemic, but things haven’t fully returned to normal just yet.

China’s central province of Hubei, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak, has implemented tough travel restrictions. The new rules imposed on February 16, 2020, apply to the province’s entire population of 58 million and restricts all people from leaving their residential communities or villages. Hubei has seen the majority of the over 1,800 deaths worldwide from Covid-19, the illness caused by the new coronavirus.

Since 2015, China has been engaged in a “toilet revolution” to clean up much-lamented public loos around the nation. Now the battle for better bathrooms is entering a new phase in places like Hangzhou. The capital of the eastern province of Zhejiang recently introduced a “smart” toilet, that turns answering nature’s call into a unique, relaxing and even pleasant experience.

Downtown Hong Kong descended into chaos on Sunday as anti-government demonstrations entered their 17th straight week. Violent clashes took place two days before the People’s Republic of China marks 70 years since its founding. More protests are expected before and during the anniversary.

For the first time in 12 weekends of anti-government protests in Hong Kong, a police officer fired a warning shot during clashes with demonstrators on Sunday. Earlier in the day, police also deployed water cannons for the first time, threatening to use them in order to disperse hundreds of protesters who had occupied a road following a march.

Hacking at each other armed with swords and shields in full medieval armor may seem like a job for stunt actors. But in China, dozens of enthusiasts are suiting up for exhausting bouts in the hope of finding international success in medieval combat. Watch the video above.

Cherry trees are blossoming around Shanghai, charming park visitors as the eastern Chinese metropolis welcomes the arrival of spring. Check out our video, above, for more.