Lacome's Vitabolic Yuex (above), HR's Force C Premium Eye Care (below)

• The gift of beautiful singing
  Placido Domingo, a tragic hero on the opera stage, who once cherished the dream of becoming a movie star, turns out to be a tranquil optimist most content with family life
• Expat honoured with green card(NORIO Hata was surprised when he learned he had been awarded the "permanent residence right" (Chinese green card) by the Shanghai government.)
  'When I was in high school, we had a course in the 'Analects of Confucius.' I had the dream of going to China one day... The analects said "Peace is vital,"which reminds me all the time that co-operation with the staff and solidarity are the essence of the success...'
• Expat honoured with green card(THERE are many things about China that William Keller enjoys, but the most important thing to this newly named "permanent resident" is the friendship he has received.)
  'I try to understand things from the angle of local partners, clients and government. This is the only way it works, and it is the most difficult part of my job. I will strive to combine the essence of both East and from West to communicate better with people here.'
• In command of the sky
  by Maggie Lu
• From fish lips to your lips
  TRADITIONAL ingre dients of hot pot are beef and lamb, but the speciality and staple of Tan Fish Head Hot Pot is the head of silver carp.
• Red, white and Bordeaux
  France has the most diverse array of wines in the world and will take some explaining.
• Spicy Fish from Sichuan
  Art and ambience bring warmth to winter meal
• Shanghai Renjia a culinary mix
  WHEN the temperature drops sharply in winter, we need to eat a hot dinner to warm up. But where to go is a problem. Ordinary Chinese restaurants are too cold, but hot pots are too crowded and noisy.

• New shopping area
  ORIENT Meisha, located at 98 Huaihai Zhonglu, opens more than 10,000 sqm of shopping area to the public in the new year. Sources with Shanghai Orient Meisha Store Ltd said that the company plans to open 10 department stores in the country in the next three to five years.
• A pair of brilliant eyes
  'Healthy skin will make eyes the highlight in the face

• Computer may land you in trouble
  Practical tips offered
• FOOD CURE
  DOCTORS suggest that computer operators eat more fresh vegetables, fruits and other foods full of vitamin A, B1, C and E, which can counteract the harm caused by long computer use.
• Briefs(Health,Jan.11,2000)
  

• Winter China tour refreshing your body and soul
  SAY goodbye to Shanghai's cement jungle, it's time to stretch your body. There is nothing better than to go on a tour. This time, why not go by yourself instead of with a large group? Just by yourself, ski along the passage to the snow-covered mountain, smell the fresh air in the Tibetan plateau and pick a piece of evergreen leaf in the south island. Susan Xu recommends 10 attractions of different tastes. With appreciation to Travelling Scope, which provides the photos of these places.
• Sensory feast
  Chaozhou and Shantou in South China's Guangdong Province are a heaven to gastronomes. Tourists can feast on both the beautiful scenes and delicious food.
• Chasing the sun
  Perhaps you would rather travel to a warm place in the south. What about Nanxi River, in Yongjia County of Wenzhou city of East China's Zhejiang Province. The place features over 30 ancient villages and crystal clear rivers.
• Culture of Tibet
  To enjoy the Tibetan scene, it is not necessary for you to travel to that distant autonomous region. Many Tibetans live in the south of Gansu Province, where you can have a Tibetan New Year or visit the dozens of Tibetan temples.
• Natural beauties
  A common saying in China is that the most beautiful women in the country are all born in Yangzhou of East China' Jiangsu Province and Mizhi in North China's Shaanxi Province. So the route to Mizhi is recommended with men in mind, especially those interested in photographing. Of course, women are also welcome to visit the birthplace of Chinese beauty. Apart from enjoying the countryside scene, keep a close eye of your man.
• Ruili scenery
  Ruili, located in western Yunnan Province of Southwest China, is a good place to visit. Its average temperature is about 10 degrees in January. Two days are enough to tour around Ruili, which is a small city with a lot of Buddhists, with their southern style temples that look a little like those in Thailand. Foguang Temple and Puti Temple are the two most famous. It is better to tour the city in a taxi, because you can travel to every corner of the city for 5 yuan. From Shanghai to Ruili, you must fly to Kunming, and take a second flight to Luxi. There are two airlines from Kunming to Luxi every day, costing about 540 yuan ($65). Then take a bus from Luxi to Ruili.
• Island getaway
  Further south, you arrive in South China's Hainan Province. This year, the island is red-hot for tourists. Its warm weather attracts people running away from the cold northern winter.
• Suburban Beijing
  Almost everyone knows how to travel to Beijing. But here is a new idea you probably never thought of - a tour to the suburb area of Beijing. Longqing Gorge is the first choice especially in winter.
• Ski Changbai
  Changbai Mountain in Northeast China's Jilin Province is a heaven for skiers. There are over 10 ski slopes in Changbai area, including the most well-known Xiao Tianchi and Wenquan (thermal spring).
• Stay at home
  If you have only one day free, you can find plenty of interesting places in Shanghai. Zhujiajiao in Qingpu District are ideal for exploring. Every half an hour there is a bus from People's Square to Zhujiajiao. After an hour, you are in the so-called Shanghai's Garden.
• China unchanged
  Another good place to enjoy ancient villages is Wuyi County in East China's Zhejiang Province.

• Seizing the DAY
  Brazil is fighting to leave the status as 'country of future' behind. Analysts say the growing global clout of the world's ninth largest economy is no coincidence but a result of a coming together of supportive elements: a strong economy, roaring foreign investment, stable politics and a desire to be heard on the world stage.
• Bucharest stray dogs win friends
  STRAY dogs have their friends in Bucharest even though the Ro-manian capital has perhaps the worst plague of mutts in the world.
• Virginity testing revival sweeps South Africa
  THOUSANDS of girls in South Africa are queuing up each month to prove that they are virgins, reviving an African tradition seen by many as the answer to the scourge of AIDS.

• events
  
• stage
  
• 'A Doll's House'gets new look
  Norwegian classic travels to China of 1930s
• Art mirrors 80-year career
  A SHOW of 40 works by Liu Kang is being staged at the Liu Haisu Art Gallery until January 20.
• Glory of the grotto
  ONE night in the early 1900s, Wang Yuanlu, a Taoist priest was reading a book in his study in a shabby temple near a mountain in Gansu Province, a passage for caravans linking China and the West in ancient times.