Toy story animated by success

"In a hidden part of the forest, there's an ancient tribe called the Mumu. Among them stands a huge, ancient tree inside which lives another tribe - of mysterious small bugs."

Through the smog an opportunity

It should be the season of clear air in most cities in North China, but things seem to be changing: dreadful smog that once blanketed the skies predominantly in winter is now appearing in autumn.

Disney aims for new heights

At first glance, it has the look of a cutting-edge, high-tech exhibition. There's a digital showroom that positions viewers into a 3D experience, an electronic wristband that can be used as your admission pass, and a talking robot that looks like a fortune-teller.

Chinese rounding on Square Mile

China's rapidly maturing financial services industry has brought the country increasingly closer to the City of London, the Square Mile's lord mayor Roger Gifford says.

Crystal vision from the ashes

Chinese real estate giant ZhongRong Group has unveiled a radical plan to regenerate London's famous Crystal Palace Park, home to the grand Victorian glass structure that housed the Great Exhibition of 1851.

Long way ahead for reform

For many years, the former ministry of railways had a popular nickname - "tie lao da" or "railway boss" - for very good reasons. Founded on Oct 1, 1949, along with the People's Republic of China, the ministry was like an independent realm with its own colleges and judicial establishments all over the country.

The best way to see China

For many visitors arriving at Shanghai Pudong International Airport, riding the Maglev train provides a fun and interesting journey into the city. At speeds of more than 400 kilometers per hour, passengers can watch as the Maglev outraces the cars on the motorway below. In just over seven minutes, the train completes the 30 km trip to Longyang Road Station in the city's Pudong New Area. This was one of the earliest experiences of my first visit to China in January 2010.

Good company eases the pain

I grew up near Boston and studied in Nanjing before working in Beijing from 2010 to 2012. The experience of traveling by train without a seat from Xi'an to Beijing for 14 hours during last year's Spring Festival still feels as if it happened yesterday.

Zone opens doors to the world

The China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone, which officially opened on Sept 29, is widely expected to create an efficient market environment for domestic and foreign enterprises in a wide variety of businesses.

Quotable

"Governments should streamline approvals and delegate powers to lower levels. They should reduce their interference in the market, so that the market can maximize its role in resource allocation."

IN BRIEF (Page 18)

Zone 'reflects opening-up'

The China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone was officially launched on Sept 29 at a ceremony presided over by Shanghai Party chief Han Zheng and Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng.