Latest news with #metropolis
South China Morning Post
2 days ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
China's new economic frontiers
Suez Canal on rails? How this Chinese city wants to revolutionise global trade The metropolis is already a rail-powered gateway to foreign markets – now, it wants to go one step further.
South China Morning Post
4 days ago
- General
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong must treasure the natural assets that help make it special
Hong Kong is well-known as a busy and bustling metropolis, with crowded streets, congested roads and tightly-packed skyscrapers. The city's amazing biodiversity, including many endangered species, is not widely appreciated. But flora and fauna is an integral part of what makes Hong Kong special. The city boasts more than 50 types of land-based mammal, over 130 dragonfly species, and 240 kinds of butterfly. There are 580 bird species, 1,000 types of marine fish and 3,300 species of vascular plants. It is imperative that these assets are preserved and able to flourish. Sadly, many are under threat. A two-month public consultation on the updating of Hong Kong's Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan concluded this month. The plan, required by an international convention, was introduced in 2016. The review is a chance to make biodiversity a top priority for all sectors, public and private, and instil a love of nature in the community. Four action areas are highlighted in the document: nature conservation, mainstreaming, capacity building and collaborative partnering. But the most important part is the 10 questions posed to the public at the end. These are broad and open-ended, essentially asking what Hong Kong's vision should be for nature conservation and how to realise it. The government should be very receptive to submissions that can take the strategy to a new level. Think-tank Civic Exchange, in a compelling submission, argues that nature should be integrated into decision-making across public and private sectors, with Hong Kong making an active contribution to the world's efforts to reverse biodiversity loss, becoming a regional leader in the field. It advocates the establishment of a central hub for 'nature-based solutions'.
Daily Mail
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
She was the stunning star who captured the hearts of millions. Then her life spiraled out of control... and ended in heartbreaking tragedy
She flew into the hearts of global audiences and the annals of cinematic history as her nightgown–clad heroine soared over the skyline of metropolis alongside Christopher Reeve when Superman hit theaters in 1978. Actress Margot Kidder's Lois Lane – a mixture of journalistic feistiness and besotted comic book–girlfriend vulnerability – became instantly iconic and recognizable. She starred in four of the franchise's blockbusters, gracing the covers of countless magazines and making shoeless appearances for TV interviews as the world couldn't seem to get enough of the ethereal Canadian star.
South China Morning Post
04-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- South China Morning Post
Insiders' guide to Kunming: what to eat, drink and do in Yunnan capital
Standing 1,900 metres above sea level, the old city of Kunming has ballooned into a metropolis of almost 6 million, double what the population was 20 years ago. Nevertheless, Yunnan 's provincial capital maintains a small-town vibe when compared with other large Chinese cities. The Old Street, running west off central Zhengyi Street, through the Flower and Bird Market, is lined with gemstone vendors, textile stores and cafes. The city's main draws are the 'wine-glass-shaped buildings' – twin European-style, curved constructions of 1940s provenance – as well as the flower-festooned parks of Cuihu (Green Lake) and Lianhuachi (Lotus Lake). It was Yunnan 's unique natural riches that attracted 19th century botanists to search its hills for exotic flora, establishing the province in the global consciousness as a Shangri-La. And for Yunnan University teacher Joseph Paterson, who has lived in Kunming for 15 years, regional biodiversity translates into healthy eating. Herbivore heaven The Qiongzhu Temple, also known as the Bamboo Temple. Photo: Thomas Bird 'I know all the vegetarian places around town,' says the Briton, before explaining that Kunming's meat-free eateries are typically all-you-can-eat buffets that, he, warns, 'can get busy on auspicious Buddhist holidays, so check the date in advance'. 'Every time you eat out, there are 10 vegetables you've never heard of – and they're all delicious,' says Paterson. 'Plus there are yecai [wild herbs] and, in the summer mushroom season, you can eat fresh shiitake, that would be expensive in Japan, for next to nothing.' Paterson recommends Su Ji Xiang, located between Green Lake Park and Yuantong Temple – a pond-fringed Buddhist complex established more than a millennium ago, where, for 20 yuan (HK$22), one can feast on as many plants as one can digest.
