Architecture
Culture
Building for family glory: Guangdong’s architecture of success
The Chen Academy in Guangzhou and Ruishi Lou in Kaiping county were built with sophisticated techniques from wealth earned or migrant funds sent home. Architecture professor Ho Puay Peng takes us on a tour of these fine examples of Lingnan architecture in ThinkChina’s Eye on Guangdong series.
Ho Puay Peng
31 Aug 2026
Economy
Can Singapore’s renovation firms weather the Chinese influx?
As Chinese renovation firms expand into Singapore amid a domestic property downturn, local companies face intensifying competition on price and scale while banking on quality, compliance and local expertise to stay ahead. Lianhe Zaobao journalist Ulrica Lin speaks to industry practitioners to find out more.
Ulrica Lin
14 Jul 2026
History
[Photos] A tale of two homelands: Fujian and Taiwan [Eye on Fujian series]
Fujian, a historic maritime gateway and strategic frontier in China, has played a defining role in China’s past. Taiwanese historic photo collector Hsu Chung-mao takes us on a pictorial journey that explores the rich history and culture of his ancestral homeland, while reflecting on his personal ties to the region.
Hsu Chung-mao
27 Mar 2026
Culture
Fuzhou: Where every street tells a story and every bite delights
Fuzhou is a city rich in history, connected to well-known figures throughout time. Yet today, it beautifully bridges past and present — preserving its historic architecture and beloved culinary traditions for all to experience. Former Lianhe Zaobao senior correspondent Chia Yei Yei takes us through this charming city.
Chia Yei Yei
03 Oct 2025
Culture
Glass towers, German villas and the ghosts of empire: This is Qingdao [Eye on Shandong series]
Once a German colony and now a vibrant Chinese coastal city, Qingdao blends red-roofed European villas with gleaming skyscrapers. Despite its rich history, stunning seascapes and iconic beer, it remains curiously overlooked by foreign visitors. Kennie Ting, author of The Great Port Cities of Asia: In History, gives us the highlights.
Kennie Ting
02 Oct 2025
Culture
Tsingtao beer is reinventing itself for a new generation [Eye on Shandong series]
Amid Qingdao’s quaint streets brimming with history and heritage, Tsingtao Brewery Co., Ltd. is taking the city’s proud beverage, Tsingtao beer, to greater heights. Distinguished Professor of Shandong University Edmund Li Sheng tells us more.
Edmund Li Sheng
30 Sep 2025
Culture
Chengdu, where the everyday becomes art [Eye on Sichuan series]
Chengdu is a metropolis interwoven with tradition and modernity, embodying the paradoxical yet balanced relationship between “nature” and “construction”. Sichuan academic Zhang Jinyao takes us on a walk along the picturesque ancient alleys and streets of Chengdu, exploring how the everyday has shaped the city’s life, art and architecture.
Zhang Jinyao
29 May 2025
Culture
[Photos] From the balcony: A writer’s love letter to Xiamen
In the seaside city of Xiamen, old and new — as well as Eastern, Western and Southeast Asian influences — coexist seamlessly. This coexistence manifests itself in Xiamen’s unique cuisine, culture and architecture, says writer Ng Kong Ling, who tells us more about what the vibrant city has to offer.
Ng Kong Ling
14 Mar 2025
Culture
Water towns of Jiangnan: An architectural perspective [Eye on JiangZheHu series]
Architecture professor Ho Puay Peng points out the unique charm of water towns in Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai — a testament to centuries of creative endeavours as many an artist or writer strolled past their waterways, seeking inspiration.
Ho Puay Peng
24 Jan 2025