光棍节 – Singles’ Day Today is 11 November. In Britain, it’s Remembrance Day, a solemn occasion to honour those who lost their lives in war. In China, the date has acquired a rather different meaning. It’s Singles’ Day, or Guanggun Jie (光棍节). The Chinese have a wonderful talent for inventing colourful expressions. Guanggun literally means… Continue reading 11 November, 2026 14:00

In Buenos Aires, my friend Diego asked why Argentina should have to choose between China and the United States. It can work with both, on its own terms. That conversation sparked my latest SCMP column. China can help countries in the Global South gain a greater say in world affairs. The test is whether Beijing… Continue reading China and the Global South

There Are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak: A Victim of Its Own Ambition I thoroughly enjoyed this extraordinary novel. There is so much to admire: its sweeping scope, dazzling imagination, rich historical and cultural knowledge, and sheer ambition. Moving across centuries and civilisations, from ancient Mesopotamia to Victorian London and the contemporary world,… Continue reading My review of There are rivers in the sky

Applying for a Tourist Visa: My Life Story, My Ex-Husband and Other National Security Threats While Democrats in the US are celebrating their election victories, I have my own little cause for celebration: I’ve been spared the bureaucratic nightmare of applying for a visa to Honduras! I’ve just decided to spend seven weeks travelling around… Continue reading Ridiculous visa requirements

Croydon and Autumn Crocuses I live in Croydon, not exactly London’s most enchanting borough. It’s hardly a place that springs to mind when you think of natural beauty or romance. Yet, believe it or not, its name may be associated with a beautiful flower! Croydon is an ancient place name dating back to Anglo-Saxon England.… Continue reading Croydon name origin

燚 Yesterday, I had lunch with a friend at a hot pot place called Dalong Yi 大龙燚, just north of China Town. The first two characters are common enough – big dragon. The last one is an uncommon one, pronounced yì (fourth tone), and means a blazing, intensely burning fire. There’s an interesting progression in… Continue reading 🔥

What a wonderful afternoon at King’s College London! I thoroughly enjoyed my conversation with my old friend Jeff Wasserstrom at today’s event, “Distorting Mirrors: Changing Images of the U.S. in China and of China in America.” We explored how Chinese and American perceptions of each other have changed over the decades, drawing on history, politics… Continue reading Distorting mirror

A Celebration of Contemporary Asian Art Last night, I attended the opening of FOCUS: Asian Contemporary Art at London’s Saatchi Gallery, an international art fair showcasing the creativity and diversity of contemporary Asian artists. The fair brings together artists and galleries from across Asia, presenting works that range from painting and sculpture to installations and… Continue reading Asian Art

Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the fairest of them all? Jeff and Lijia, of course—but perhaps that mirror needs checking! Join the distinguished sinologist Jeffrey Wasserstrom and me on **23 October, 1–2.30pm**, at **King’s College London**, for *Distorting Mirrors*, part of China Week. We’ll explore how China and America see—and misread—each other. I’ve shared… Continue reading China week event

An evening at London’s magnificent Royal Opera House, watching Mozart’s Don Giovanni. First performed in 1787, it tells the story of a charming but thoroughly unscrupulous seducer whose pursuit of pleasure catches up with him. There’s comedy, tragedy, dark humour and music so beautiful that you almost forget what a dreadful man he is. Almost.… Continue reading Opera