Xi Jinping may remain popular but with a worsening economy, dangerous pollution levels and a newly unpredictable relationship with the US, how strong is the president’s grip on his country?
The historic city of Xi’an may be best known for its ancient walls and Terracotta Army but it’s becoming a global business hub too. Monocle takes a tour, visiting an industrial park where a high-speed railway is being…
Independent bookshops in China are operating with a new lease of life. We find a quiet corner in three of the best to find out how they keep customers coming back.
What happens when urban planning goes wrong? The answer is Dongguan, a metropolis hastily erected on the back of a 1980s economic boom. With poor transport and half-empty shopping centres, life is a struggle. But authori…
As part of a soft-power drive, the Chinese media is learning to talk a new language. Monocle visits the studio of CNC World, a recently launched 24-hour English-language news channel owned by the state-run agency Xinhua.
China’s booming economy has triggered a luxury-mall boom. Packed with the best brands, they lack just one thing: shoppers with money. While some companies have found success, many more could soon be packing up and heading…
All over Africa, Chinese labourers are hard at work building railways, roads and national stadiums. In return, the continent’s developing countries are selling their oil and iron ore to the Chinese. The figures are stagg…
In a year characterised by a chest-beating world leader with land-grabbing tendencies, what lessons can be taken from the 25th anniversary of the Berlin Wall’s collapse?
From New York to Istanbul, cities are investing in street furniture that expresses their heritage and makes them look like well thought out brands. The clever bit? Thanks to companies such as Wall in Germany, they can have…
Chinese contemporary artist Yue Minjun may command millions for his paintings overseas but at home he is dogged by a growing trade in cheap copies of his work. While Microsoft, Louis Vuitton and Hollywood studios have been…
Germany’s economic status exceeds its place in the world power order. With a touching lack of marketing sophistication and sturdy business values, Europe’s powerhouse has achieved soft power almost by accident.
Despite the pressures of new technology in its own ranks and a fast-developing Chinese navy sailing into view, the ‘USS George Washington’ continues to rule the Asia-Pacific seas. Monocle climbs aboard the American aircraft…
Under its post-war constitution, Japan is not allowed a navy, only a Self-Defence Force. Yet, today, the country has one of the largest, most sophisticated fleets in the world. Tensions with North Korea and China have also…