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Washington and Beijing may be facing the most tense and delicate moment in their bilateral relationship since the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown. The reported escape from house arrest of dissident lawyer Chen Guangcheng and his apparent flight to the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, while not yet officially confirmed, would greatly complicate the Obama administration's efforts to keep relations on an even keel in a year already fraught with bilateral irritants.

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China cracks down on websites allegedly spreading coup rumorsupdated: Mon Apr 02 2012 09:45:00

China's major microblogging sites have suspended comments sections after being "punished for allowing rumors to spread" of a coup attempt in Beijing, state-run media reported Saturday.

Heavy hand of China's censors fuels online frenzyupdated: Fri Mar 23 2012 03:34:00

Earlier this week, I got an email from a nephew who lives in Japan.

China's defence spending to rise 11.2%updated: Sun Mar 04 2012 08:03:00

China plans to boost its official defence budget by 11.2 per cent this year as Beijing is balancing the modernisation of its armed forces against the need to keep military spending in line with economic development.

Charges laid over illegal sale of human kidneys in China updated: Thu Mar 01 2012 02:59:00

A Beijing court has prosecuted more than a dozen people for organizing the illegal sale of 51 human kidneys worth about 10 million yuan (US$1.6 million) in one of China's biggest organ trafficking cases.

Tough times in the 'Wild East'updated: Wed Feb 15 2012 01:57:00

As European leaders come to China, a German expat tells how he made his fortune there. CNN's Stan Grant reports.

What's behind China's Tibetan unrest?updated: Tue Jan 31 2012 19:51:00

Beijing appears determined to contain the volatile situation in an ethnically Tibetan region of southwestern China by sending in thousands of extra security forces.

Beijing's New Year surprise: PM 2.5 readingsupdated: Fri Jan 27 2012 01:30:00

Beijing ushered in the Year of the Dragon with a bold move.

Taiwan's expats seen as key in presidential poll updated: Fri Jan 13 2012 21:25:00

As many as 200,000 people -- most of them mainland China-based Taiwanese - are expected to return to Taiwan this weekend for an election viewed as critical to the future of an economy that has boomed thanks to warmer ties with Beijing.

Taiwan votes: Why it mattersupdated: Fri Jan 13 2012 05:55:00

Jobs and money, national identity and political stability.

China to release stricter smog readings for Beijing updated: Wed Jan 11 2012 00:15:00

China has announced it will soon begin releasing information on Beijing's problematic air pollution in finer detail for the first time.

Smog cancels and delays flights in Beijingupdated: Tue Jan 10 2012 06:10:00

Thousands of passengers were stranded Tuesday morning after dozens of early morning flights were either canceled or delayed due to a thick, dark cloud of smog that rolled through the Chinese capital.

Chinese inflation cools to 4.2% updated: Thu Dec 08 2011 22:52:00

Chinese consumer inflation fell in November to 4.2 per cent from a year earlier, a steep decline from 5.5 per cent in October and well below the three year peak recorded in July.

Authorities cancel flights as haze shrouds Beijingupdated: Wed Dec 07 2011 07:09:00

Thick haze shrouding Beijing forced authorities to cancel flights and close expressways, state media reported Monday.

China air pollution: 'Slightly polluted' or 'hazardous'?updated: Mon Nov 21 2011 00:03:00

As I type this week's column, I look out of my office window and stare at a depressing sight. A heavy blanket of smog and dust hangs over the sky. Buildings nearby are barely visible. Air is barely breathable.

Ai Weiwei will not be silencedupdated: Tue Aug 30 2011 09:46:00

Weeks after muting his public criticisms, Ai Weiwei has broken his silence.

Dissident Chinese artist defiant in first interview since his releaseupdated: Wed Aug 10 2011 04:31:00

Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei pledged to continue fighting injustice in his first interview since his release from detention.

State media: 1 killed, 28 hurt in China subway escalator accidentupdated: Tue Jul 05 2011 05:43:00

Chinese officials have asked for a safety check of all subway stations after one person was killed and 28 injured Tuesday in an escalator accident at a Beijing subway stop, state media said.

Vietnamese live-fire drill irks Beijingupdated: Tue Jun 14 2011 09:49:00

China blames Vietnam for escalating tensions a day after the Vietnamese Navy held a live-fire drill in disputed waters.

Secret garden of Beijing's Forbidden City revealedupdated: Mon Jun 06 2011 05:52:00

When the last emperor of China fled Beijing's Forbidden City in 1924, the doors closed on one of its greatest treasures: the Qianlong Garden.

Deadly fire rips through a four-story Beijing buildingupdated: Mon Apr 25 2011 09:08:00

A deadly fire ripped through a four-story building in a southern suburb of Beijing early Monday, according to the state-run Xinhua news agency.

Fortune: In Beijing, "luxury" becomes a dirty wordupdated: Tue Apr 05 2011 13:23:00

Starting next week, mum's the word on luxury in Beijing.

Chinese people panic, hoard saltupdated: Fri Mar 18 2011 17:11:00

CNN's Eunice Yoon reports on China's response to Japan's nuclear crisis.

Chinese scramble to buy salt as radiation fears growupdated: Fri Mar 18 2011 17:11:00

Chinese shoppers in Beijing and Shanghai cleared salt from supermarket shelves Thursday amid fears of a potential radiation crisis from Japan's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.

As bloody anniversary nears, China touts 'stability,' growth in Tibetupdated: Sun Mar 06 2011 22:36:00

Days ahead of another anniversary of the bloody Tibetan uprising -- and six decades after Communists took over the region -- Chinese government officials stressed the need for "stability" in the disputed territory while promising "reform" and infrastructure upgrades.

Chinese official: Protests will 'never happen' in Beijingupdated: Sun Mar 06 2011 21:46:00

A Beijing official blamed attempts to spark protests in China on people "harboring illusions," saying citizens will not take to the streets because they want stability.

Beijing security detains journalistsupdated: Mon Feb 28 2011 07:48:00

CNN's Eunice Yoon describes journalists being beaten and detained, as Beijing clamps down on potential protests.

China floods Beijing with security before planned protestupdated: Mon Feb 28 2011 02:52:00

For the second weekend in a row, anonymous calls by organizers for a pro-democracy demonstration in Beijing were overshadowed by heavy security presence.

Rising inflation a top Chinese concernupdated: Fri Feb 18 2011 00:01:00

Celebrating the traditional Lantern Festival this week, many Beijing residents spent a lot of money dining out and setting off fireworks to mark the end of the Chinese Lunar New Year. "For the rich the money they spend is mere peanuts," says Mei Yana, a migrant from rural Henan province working as a restaurant waitress.

Traveling home for Chinese New Yearupdated: Fri Feb 04 2011 00:04:00

Multitudes of Chinese are traveling to their hometowns to celebrate the lunar new year. CNN's Stan Grant reports.

American, Chinese diplomats meet in Beijingupdated: Fri Jan 28 2011 01:34:00

Less than a week after Chinese President Hu Jintao visited Washington, senior diplomats from China and the United States sat down in Beijing Friday to follow up on the visit and discuss other issues.

Chinese leader: Beijing not seeking dominanceupdated: Thu Jan 20 2011 21:48:00

Chinese President Hu Jintao wrapped up his visit to the U.S. capital Thursday, telling an audience of American business leaders that Beijing is seeking closer ties and greater trust with the United States on a range of issues.

Long cars featured at Beijing Auto Showupdated: Mon Jan 03 2011 14:25:00

CNN's John Vause reports on the vehicles being launched at the Beijing Auto Show.

The inflation effectupdated: Sun Nov 21 2010 19:55:00

Rob Subbaraman of Nomura analyzes the markets' response to speculation on China's rate increase.

American injured in blast In Beijing, police sayupdated: Thu Oct 21 2010 10:00:00

An American was hurt in an explosion near a downtown Beijing subway station Thursday, Chinese media reported, quoting police.

Beijing's new nightlife sceneupdated: Mon Oct 18 2010 10:22:00

Two years after the Olympic games, Beijing continues to evolve at full tilt, with exciting new lounges, restaurants and hotels popping up across the sprawling metropolis.

Traffic chaos snarls former 'bicycle kingdom' of Beijingupdated: Thu Sep 23 2010 17:07:00

If Beijing keeps adding so many cars so quickly, its wide highways will turn into a sprawling parking lot.

China's massive traffic jamupdated: Thu Sep 23 2010 17:07:00

CNN's Nadia Bilchik reports on China's massive traffic jam, reportedly the longest in the world.

Sandstorm blankets Beijingupdated: Mon Mar 22 2010 12:16:00

Skies over Beijing turn orange as the Chinese capital is hit with a sandstorm.

Chinese consumers spendingupdated: Mon Jan 11 2010 11:53:00

CNN's Eunice Yoon reports on how consumerism in China is finally beginning to parallel ballooning production.

Heavy snow shuts down roads, hits flights in Beijingupdated: Sun Jan 03 2010 05:53:00

Heavy snow blanketed Beijing on Sunday, shutting roads, disrupting public transit, and delaying or canceling at least 200 flights, state media reported.

China's economic bubbleupdated: Wed Dec 30 2009 04:09:00

CNN's John Vause reports on the great big bubble in China's economy.

Chinese state media reveal secret, illegal jailsupdated: Mon Nov 30 2009 04:56:00

Secret, illegal "black jails" exist in China, a state-run weekly has confirmed, despite official denials otherwise.

Birth defects on the rise in Chinaupdated: Tue Sep 15 2009 11:41:00

The number of birth defects in China are on the rise and the rate has nearly doubled in the past decade in Beijing and several provinces, a state-run newspaper reported Tuesday.

Rio Tinto case raises fears of crackdownupdated: Wed Sep 02 2009 01:47:00

The arrest last month of four Shanghai-based Rio Tinto executives has raised fears of a crackdown by Beijing on foreign companies that would have been un­thinkable a few years ago.

Rio Tinto chargesupdated: Wed Sep 02 2009 01:47:00

Four employees of mining giant Rio Tinto officially charged. CNN's John Vause explains.

Fortune: Rio Tinto - China strikes backupdated: Mon Aug 24 2009 11:54:00

After officials in Beijing last month arrested four Rio Tinto executives for allegedly stealing secrets from Chinese steel companies, China took a brutal public relations beating internationally.

Buyi and the Beijing rock sceneupdated: Mon Aug 10 2009 01:18:00

CNN explores Beijing's underground music scene and the bands making the rest of the world sit up and listen.

Going undergroundupdated: Mon Aug 10 2009 01:18:00

Beijing's music scene is alive and kicking, where bands are experimenting with different sounds and influences.

Fortune: China's amazing new bullet trainupdated: Thu Aug 06 2009 10:06:00

When lunch break comes at the construction site between Shanghai and Suzhou in eastern China, Xi Tong-li and his fellow laborers bolt for some nearby trees and the merciful slivers of shade they provide. It's 95 degrees and humid -- a typically oppressive summer day in southeastern China -- but it's not just mad dogs and Englishmen who go out in the midday sun.

Opinion: The end of revolutionupdated: Wed Jun 03 2009 03:46:00

The political events in Beijing in the spring of 1989 culminated in the tragedy on Tiananmen Square on June 4th (the "1989 Beijing Event"). It was one of those historical events which, despite the lapse of time, refuse to free themselves of controversies. Two decades later, emotions still run high in many quarters of the world.

Zhang Xin: Building Beijingupdated: Tue Mar 17 2009 05:23:00

Zhang Xin is a billionaire property magnate, has been named one of the world's most powerful women and has played a large role in transforming Beijing's architectural landscape.

Transforming Beijingupdated: Tue Mar 17 2009 05:23:00

CNN's Anjali Rao catches up with the dynamic 43-year-old woman who's helping transform Beijing's skyline.

Dream trip: Conquer a Forbidden Cityupdated: Wed Mar 11 2009 08:11:00

Welcome to a secret world. For nearly 500 years, the Forbidden City's fortified walls and 170-foot-wide moat protected the Chinese imperial family from fires, invaders, and nosy Europeans.

Family in China set themselves on fire over disputeupdated: Mon Mar 09 2009 04:22:00

Three family members who set themselves on fire in Beijing last month were apparently protesting the demolition of their home and were demanding "too much" compensation, an official said.

SI.com: Cliff Corcoran: Pool A rankings, notable namesupdated: Fri Mar 06 2009 14:04:00

Location: Tokyo Dome, Tokyo, Japan

Three set themselves on fire in Beijingupdated: Wed Feb 25 2009 07:10:00

Three men set themselves on fire in a shopping area in downtown Beijing Wednesday, Chinese state-run media reported.

Beijing hotel burnsupdated: Thu Feb 12 2009 23:00:00

Fire engulfs a 40-story luxury hotel in Beijing. CNN's Emily Chang reports.

PR battle for Beijingupdated: Tue Feb 10 2009 23:52:00

As the Olympics draw near, Beijing might face a perfect storm of bad public relations. CNN's John Vause reports.

Beijing commuters feel the squeezeupdated: Tue Feb 10 2009 23:48:00

As Bus No. 37 pulled up at the Wangfujing stop near his office, Chris Tsao watched the line of waiting passengers quickly dissipate into a familiar scene of mild chaos as they pressed their way onto the standing-room-only bus.

The look of luxe in Beijingupdated: Tue Feb 10 2009 23:47:00

Enwei Lien's job title belies the unusual duties he has performed in the past few months.

An animal lover's Olympic nightmareupdated: Tue Feb 10 2009 23:36:00

Qin Xiaona used to visit the suburban Xiaotangshan Sanatorium in the summer to escape the scorching temperature in the city. Now she comes here to turn up the heat on a subject close to her heart.

Chinese broadcaster sorry for deadly hotel fireupdated: Tue Feb 10 2009 22:46:00

A Chinese television station has apologized for Monday's massive fire at an unoccupied luxury hotel that killed a firefighter and wounded seven other people.

Few jobs hopes for Beijing gradsupdated: Tue Feb 10 2009 01:05:00

Thousands attend a job fair in Beijing, but employment prospects continue to be thin on the ground, as CNN's John Vause reports.

Witness: Top of Beijing luxury hotel 'exploding'updated: Mon Feb 09 2009 22:03:00

A massive fire engulfed a newly constructed, unoccupied luxury hotel in central Beijing on Monday night as crowds watched a nearby fireworks display marking the end of Lunar New Year celebrations.

Fire engulfs Beijing hotelupdated: Mon Feb 09 2009 22:03:00

iReporter Cameron Hammond shot this video of fire engulfing the newly constructed Mandarin Oriental hotel in Beijing.

Beijing embraces Brave New World of buildingsupdated: Tue Jan 13 2009 11:43:00

China's new found wealth has seen an explosion in the number of new developments springing up in what is, arguably, the world's biggest building boom.

Planner: Olympics didn't drive Beijing changeupdated: Sat Nov 29 2008 21:46:00

Post-Olympics Beijing is a vastly changed landscape from the one that existed in 2001 when the city won the bid.

Time.com: Bernstein in Beijing: China's Classical Music Explosionupdated: Thu Nov 06 2008 18:00:00

With 50 million children studying a classical instrument, China is poised to become a world force in Western melodies

Chinese shoppers shocked by tainted food scandalupdated: Fri Oct 31 2008 13:47:00

Consumers in Beijing's malls and shops are shunning the milk and poultry sections -- for good reasons.

Time.com: China Investigates Eggs in New Food Scareupdated: Wed Oct 29 2008 15:15:00

Three more Chinese brands of eggs containing melamine were identified on Wednesday and leery consumers began avoiding the product

Time.com: Despite the Economic Crisis, China Stays Its Capitalist Courseupdated: Tue Oct 28 2008 01:00:00

Beijing's market reforms continue as policymakers search for lessons from the U.S. meltdown

Time.com: Markets Plunge Again in Asia, Europeupdated: Fri Oct 24 2008 09:00:00

As world leaders work on solutions to the financial meltdown, the problem keeps getting worse

Beijing's opening ceremonyupdated: Mon Oct 06 2008 02:19:00

CNN's Hugh Riminton speaks with artistic director Ric Birch about the opening ceremony for the Beijing Olympics.

Chinese Olympic gymnasts legit, federation findsupdated: Wed Oct 01 2008 12:03:00

The Chinese women's gymnastics team did not use underage competitors during this year's Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, the International Gymnastics Federation said Wednesday.

Time.com: Hong Kong Democrats Stay Afloatupdated: Mon Sep 08 2008 08:00:00

Hong Kong's pro-democratic parties kept most of their seats and their veto power in the city's Sept. 7 elections. When will democracy follow?

Time.com: London 2012: Tough Act to Follow updated: Tue Aug 26 2008 20:05:00

Brits are known for theater, pageantry, music and humor. But if stodgy politicians have their way, none of that may come through in the 2012 Olympics

Time.com: Chinese Activist Back to Beijingupdated: Tue Aug 26 2008 04:00:00

A Chinese human rights activist detained by police during the Olympic Games has returned to Beijing, a human rights group said Tuesday

Time.com: Underground Chinese Bishop Detainedupdated: Mon Aug 25 2008 15:00:00

Security agents detained an elderly bishop of an underground Catholic church in northern China hours before the closing of the Olympic Games, a U.S.-based group said Monday

Disappearing hutongsupdated: Mon Aug 25 2008 11:29:00

Mike Meyer, a resident of Beijing's Dashilar neighborhood, talks about an alley that faces demolition.

Beijing's past faces its futureupdated: Mon Aug 25 2008 11:29:00

As in Rome and Athens, ancient relics in Beijing stand in stark contrast to the highways, buildings and vehicles of the modern age. At Beijing's Jianguomen, the fortification-like Ancient Observatory -- dating from 1442 during the Ming Dynasty -- dodges the overpasses of the Second Ring Road while standing within steps of a subway station.

SI.com: Jon Wertheim: How the Olympics are hurting tennis, Federer-Serena friendship and moreupdated: Mon Aug 25 2008 11:19:00

Will you do an Olympics Mailbag? If no, then why? -- George, Auburn

SI.com: Jon Wertheim: Initial reactions to the U.S. Open drawupdated: Mon Aug 25 2008 10:56:00

Here are some initial musings and reactions to the U.S. Open draw, which was held Thursday morning.

SI.com: Grant Wahl: Chinese soccer fans able to laughupdated: Mon Aug 25 2008 10:49:00

We asked the Sports Illustrated writers who covered the Beijing Olympics to leave us with their indelible memory of the Games.

Cleaning up Beijingupdated: Mon Aug 25 2008 05:45:00

Chinese volunteers gathered in Tiananmen square on Monday to begin cleaning up after the Olympic Games.

SI.com: David Epstein: Track carves niche in Beijing legacyupdated: Mon Aug 25 2008 05:03:00

Running is a sport where relative success matters. A single group of striving runners can contain an individual for whom running at the pace of the pack is an act of utter laziness, and next to him or her, an individual for whom keeping up with that same pack is a heroic effort.

Remembering Beijingupdated: Mon Aug 25 2008 02:08:00

CNN's Larry Smith takes a look back at the 2008 Summer Olympics.

SI.com: Richard Deitsch: What I thought of my time in Beijingupdated: Mon Aug 25 2008 00:03:00

We asked the Sports Illustrated writers who covered the Beijing Olympics to leave us with their indelible memory of the Games.

SI.com: Mary Nicole Nazzaro: U.S. women find silver lining in tragedyupdated: Mon Aug 25 2008 00:00:00

BEIJING -- The U.S. women's volleyball team ended its improbable run to the gold-medal match on Saturday. It's a story that reaches far beyond the boundaries of a volleyball court, for it was done in the shadow of a senseless tragedy.

SI.com: M. Nicole Nazzaro: U.S. volleyball teams persevere in wake of tragedyupdated: Sun Aug 24 2008 22:21:00

We asked the Sports Illustrated writers who covered the Beijing Olympics to leave us with their indelible memory of the Games.

SI.com: S.L. Price: Something greater than gold medalupdated: Sun Aug 24 2008 21:24:00

We asked the Sports Illustrated writers who covered the Beijing Olympics to leave us with their indelible memory of the Games.

SI.com: Kelli Anderson: A taxi- cab breakthroughupdated: Sun Aug 24 2008 21:21:00

BEIJING -- My favorite memory from Beijing involved Michael Phelps breaking a barrier, but not in the way you might think.

SI.com: David Epstein: A realization in a Beijing hospitalupdated: Sun Aug 24 2008 21:18:00

We asked the Sports Illustrated writers who covered the Beijing Olympics to leave us with their indelible memory of the Games.

Time.com: The Lessons of the Beijing Olympicsupdated: Sun Aug 24 2008 12:00:00

As spectacular as the sports were, the Games in the end had become more of an extravaganza for the Chinese, with the rest of the world tagging along

SI.com: David Epstein: Rivalries highlight new look of trackupdated: Sun Aug 24 2008 01:50:00

BEIJING -- That's why they run the races, and throw the disks and jump the bars. So that, with the taste of gold on their tongues, Lolo Jones can heartbreakingly hit the ninth hurdle, and Sanya Richards can tie up with 80 meters to go in the 400. So that Tyson Gay can get knocked out in the semifinals and miss the baton in the 4x100, and so that Stephanie Brown Trafton, who finished third at the U.S. Olympic Trials, can use her first throw to win the first U.S. gold in women's discus in 76 years.

Beijing report - Day 14updated: Sat Aug 23 2008 05:45:00

CNN's Larry Smith has all the latest news from the Beijing Games.

SI.com: Richard Deitsch: What to watch today in Beijingupdated: Sat Aug 23 2008 01:13:00

The Redeem Team isn't the only basketball juggernaut in Beijing: The U.S. women have won 32 consecutive Olympic games and will be a heavy favorite in Saturday's gold-medal final (10 a.m. ET) against Australia (7-0), the team they defeated in the finals in both Sydney and Athens. Prior to dispatching Russia 67-52 in the semifinals, the U.S. had won its first six games by an average of 43 points.

Time.com: Beijing Unstiffens Brits' Upper Lipsupdated: Sat Aug 23 2008 00:00:00

The biggest gold medal haul since 1908, far beyond that of rivals Germany, France and Australia, gives the U.K. an unaccustomed glow

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