SHAANXI PROVINCE, China -- Many cities in China epitomize the country’s economic prosperity and rich history. Shanghai’s skyscraper-lined Pudong district displays Western-style modernity, while Gulin’s picturesque mountain villages demonstrate its ancient beauty. But Xian in China’s northwest has withstood the test of time as the juncture where ancient and modern China intersect.Filled with tourist attractions boasting China’s cultural diversity, Xian has arguably withstood the test of time. Its

Global brand designer Bob van der Lee said South Korea’s public and private sectors have made tremendous progress in design over the years, but not yet in branding.Bob van der Lee (Total Identity)Korean companies are still focusing too much on branding their products around their features and qualities in an effort to boost sales, but not on developing stories behind those products, he said in an interview.They still need to work on creating their own unique identities and legacies that can appe

In this digital world, information is becoming increasingly easier to access. But not for all. Such accessibility still falls far short for people with disabilities. Young entrepreneur Kim Ju-yoon has turned to the issue of discrimination in information accessibility and decided to tackle it with the power of technology and design. His belief in the fair distribution of digital benefits led him to create smartwatches for the blind that are light, affordable and as appealing as other smartwatches

Doenjang jjigae is a stew made with fermented soybean paste. This recipe is a variation made with an assortment of seafood for a refreshing, flavorful stew. Any type of seafood can be added. The typical additions are clams, mussels, shrimp, squid and oysters. You can use any of these or a combination.　A trick you can use for doenjang jjigae is to use a small amount of vinegar at the end. It will brighten the doenjang taste, making the stew even more delicious. Nothing’s better on a cool day than

This is the fifth in a series of articles introducing key features at the upcoming Herald Design Forum 2015 to be held in Seoul on Nov. 10. -Ed. 　Design today seems to be the horse that is pulling the cart. No industry can survive without it anymore.From leaning on design as a strategic marketing tool to subtly expressing a company’s signature values, industrial design has been constantly evolving to where it stands now.Contemporary sofa “Platform for Viccarbe” by Arik Levy (Courtesy of the desi

Design is about more than aesthetics. Its role has expanded to diverse areas of life, helping people live efficiently, safely and comfortably. It has brought innovations in all aspects of life, from consumption of products, living environment and use of technology to how we work in organizations. “Design impacts everything around us. Design means adding creativity into every aspect of our lives, not just choosing the color and form of a product,” said Janne Kyttanen, a designer and pioneer of 3-

Travel writer Sohn Mi-na encourages going after love in life

Ride train, hike up Yeongnam AlpsWith the autumn season almost over, KORAIL is recommending tourists to visit Ulsan by train and hike through the beautiful scenery of Yeongnam Alps.Yeongnam Alps, which takes its name after the European Alps, consists of several mountains at over 1,000 meters above sea level stretching over 255 square kilometers.The mountainous region with many peaks reaches Miryang in South Gyeongsang Province and Ulsan. Its best hiking course is Baram-gil, or Wind Trail, surrou

Hotel Cappuccino opens in SeoulHotel Cappuccino in Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam, said it has officially opened for business this month. Occupying 18 floors above ground and three below, Hotel Cappuccino is an all-new urban lifestyle destination boasting 141 guest rooms and aspiring to become Korea’s first hotel to embody the concept of “Creating Shared Value.”Based on a simple, modern design concept, Hotel Cappuccino offers 141 guest rooms, three food and beverage outlets -- a cafe, restaurant and bar

South Korean police nabbed some 90 people and seized hundreds of stolen artifacts in a sweeping, nationwide investigation into the looting, forgery and smuggling of artifacts, the Gyeonggi Provincial Police Agency said. Not only investigators, but heritage experts and even retired looters joined hands in the search, which ran from August to October.   Looted artifacts seized by police in a recent investigation are on display at a police briefing Wednesday at the Gyeonggi Provincial Police Agency

 “10 Selected Topics from Korean Traditional Culture: Stories, Images and Lyrics”By Kim Suk-hyon(KoreaStory)　In “10 Selected Topics from Korean Traditional Culture: Stories, Images and Lyrics,” Kim Suk-hyon gives an overview of those things that have now become symbolic of Korea’s traditional culture -- the spicy fermented cabbage dish kimchi, the Korean alphabet Hangeul, the martial art taekwondo and the flowing hanbok gown -- explaining snippets of their history, current usage and references i

An art exhibition in will open Itaewon on Friday exploring LGBT life and other social issues in modern Korea. The show, by Heezy Yang, will include watercolors that echo traditional Korean style but depict homosexual couples, satirizing the claims of conservatives here, who have opposed gay events and gay rights in Korea, calling homosexuality a Western idea.“There are still a lot of people in Korea who think that there are no gays in Korea or who don’t have a good idea of what gay means. But th