Amid the glow of the harvest moon, the Mid-Autumn Festival offers more than lanterns and mooncakes—it invites pause, reflection, and the quiet companionship of tea. Celebrated annually on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, the festival is one of China’s most cherished traditions—a moment of reunion, thanksgiving, and lunar reverence. Though mooncakes are […]

In a world where tensions run high and differences often dominate headlines, the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI) offers a vision of connection, dialogue, and cooperation among nations. Rather than focusing on conflict, it emphasizes the richness of cultural diversity, the value of learning from one another, and the importance of working together to address common […]

Yan Lianke, one of China’s most acclaimed yet controversial novelists, says his idea of literary freedom depends on discipline, not defiance. “Freedom in writing, discipline in publishing,” he says — a phrase that reflects both artistic conviction and survival. At 67, Yan appears unfazed by the speculation surrounding him as a Nobel Prize contender. “Any […]

For decades, luxury has spoken with a European accent. Paris, Milan, and Geneva dictated what prestige looked like. But in Southeast Asia today, a new language of luxury is being written, and it does not need validation from the Rue Saint-Honoré. Southeast Asia’s luxury scene is entering a defining moment: the market is projected to […]

New York City marks its 400th anniversary this year—a time not only for celebration but for reflection on the stories that shaped it. Across the boroughs, commemorations honor both iconic milestones and the lives of communities too often left out of official histories. Among the most striking of these is at the Queens Museum, where […]

At the grand stone façade of the Manila Cathedral, a figure carved from travertine looks serenely upon the faithful. She is St. Rose of Lima, honored across the Americas as a beloved saint, canonized in the 17th century, and quietly remembered in the Philippines as its secondary patroness. “Her presence at the cathedral reminds faithful […]

This September, Lagen Island in Palawan’s Bacuit Bay unveils a sweeping transformation, marking a new era for one of the Philippines’ most beloved island sanctuaries. Long known for its raw beauty and quiet charm, the reimagined Lagen emerges as a 42-key private retreat where tropical forests meet towering limestone cliffs and the sea glimmers in […]

With a population barely topping 28,000, Arxan would seem an unlikely player in regional politics. Yet this remote city in Inner Mongolia has reinvented itself from a timber hub into a cross-border showcase for China’s soft power — leveraging eco-tourism, wellness culture, and reforestation diplomacy to deepen ties with neighboring Mongolia. The transformation began when […]

Every August, the Philippines celebrates Buwan ng Wika, a month-long observance promoting the Filipino language and the linguistic heritage of the nation. Schools and institutions nationwide mount festivals and exhibitions honoring the power of language in shaping national identity. At the heart of the celebration is Filipino—a language based on Tagalog, designated the national language […]

What began as a cherished keepsake in a family’s possession is now a revived cultural gem, brought back to the spotlight by two remarkable women. Former tourism secretary Gemma Cruz-Araneta and her grandniece, Hannah Maxine Cruz—direct descendants of Dr. Jose Rizal’s sister Maria Mercado—have taken to social media to reintroduce Sibylla Cumana, a fortune-telling parlor […]