Category Archives: Wildlife, Nature and the Environment

A thousand miles in search of the finless porpoise

Posted on 2012-12-03 by Barry van Wyk

It is well-known that the Chinese river dolphin, also known as the Baiji, is functionally extinct, in other words: as good as gone forever. The freshwater finless porpoise (江豚), on the other hand, which like the Baiji also lives in China’s Yangtze … Continue reading →

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Why is the air quality in Ningbo so bad? A government official explains

Posted on 2012-11-22 by Barry van Wyk

Pollution in Ningbo has apparently been very bad of late, with ubiquitous fog, occasional dust storms and a gloomy dusk hanging over the city like a “layer of cotton yarn”. So the local Modern Express (现代快报) from Zhejiang province decided to try … Continue reading →

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Selfless teacher leaves career in the city for “dream job” teaching rural kids

Posted on 2012-11-20 by Barry van Wyk

When Peng Jun (彭军) graduated in 2011, he was all set for a career in the city and stepping up the ladder of social progress. Yet at a time when the norm is to seek to build your own fortune … Continue reading →

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Beijing Morning Post investigation reveals horrid state of pet dog market in the city

Posted on 2012-10-11 by Barry van Wyk

It has often happened in China that buying a dog can turn into a nightmarish experience. The same little puppy that looked so lively in the shop window would suddenly become sick beyond help and die. The front page of … Continue reading →

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‘Uncivilized tourists’ vandalize flowers at Sunflower Festival

Posted on 2012-10-09 by Barry van Wyk

Yesterday was the last day of the first ever Sunflower Festival, which attracted 200,000 visitors over 18 days to Pujiang (浦江) in Zhejiang province to appreciate these beautiful flowers. But as the front page of the Youth Daily from Shanghai laments today, when all the … Continue reading →

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Urban redevelopment: a city’s life and death

Posted on 2012-10-05 by Julien Leyre

This is the Thinking China Digest, a weekly roundup of recent essays and articles published on the Chinese web, with links to translations on the Marco Polo Project. This week’s digest is taking us through various aspects of China’s urbanization process. Zhang … Continue reading →

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The millionth tree planted in Inner Mongolia by Shanghai Roots and Shoots

Posted on 2012-09-12 by Jonah Kessel

In a country full of rumors, scandals and frequently negative news, its nice to see a positive item that doesn’t revolve around something bizarre happening. In my time in China, I’ve watched many NGOs attempt to make change in their … Continue reading →

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The tears of animals

Posted on 2012-08-03 by Julien Leyre

This is the 1510 Digest, a weekly roundup of recent essays and articles published in Chinese on My1510.cn, with links to translations on the Marco Polo Project. Pets are increasingly common in China, but how do Chinese people think of the relationship … Continue reading →

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Beijing rainstorms, a revelation for Chinese people

Posted on 2012-07-27 by Julien Leyre

This is the 1510 Digest, a weekly roundup of recent essays and articles published in Chinese on My1510.cn, with links to translations on the Marco Polo Project. After the recent floods in Beijing,1510 opened a special section to cover the topic; this … Continue reading →

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The Beijing deluge of 2012

Posted on 2012-07-23 by Jeremy Goldkorn

Xinhua reported on Monday morning that the death toll after torrential rains pounded Beijing on Saturday had climbed to 37. The report said that “Among the victims, 25 were drowned, six were killed in house collapses, one by lightening strike and five … Continue reading →

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