Journey to the East

Craftsmanship of making sandy objects blends art and history

Inheritor of Yingjing sandy objects Zeng Qinghong put sandy objects into a kiln in Liuhe township of Yingjing county, Southwest China’s Sichuan province, May 4, 2014. The craftsmanship of making sandy objects in Yingjing county has a history of more than 2,000 years and it has been listed as China’s national intangible cultural heritage.

Sinabung eruption by night, Karo, North Sumatra, Indonesia.

Image by:Jenkeh Photography

Various Textiles from the Cleveland Museum of Art’s Textile Gallery

The 5 Coolest Beijing Metro Stations 

Beijing is expanding  at lightening pace on a daily basis, and so does the subway network.  Until relatively recently, it was a transport system with very few lines, simple and comfortable. But now the stations are becoming ever more ornate and complex, and not only cleaner and more convenient but more arresting visually too. Sometimes you can even catch yourself actually enjoying their beauty, yes beauty, on the commute to work.  So here is our top list of Beijing’s coolest metro stations.

The painting of the palace complex in Mandalay. On the left is the Royal Palace. The building in the middle is one of two parliament buildings (Hluttaw). Far right is the royal drum tower, the royal mint, and the tomb of Mindon and other royals.