This Month

This month in Shanghai TALK magazine, there's plenty of good stuff to go around. Here is a preview of what you can find both in print and, very shortly, online.

With China's anniversary just around the corner, TALK interviewed 60 year olds from around the country to find out what this birthday means to them. Living through every step of New China, they shared their insights about how the nation has changed in 60 years, and how their lives have altered in turn.

We also took on Gavin Menzies, author of 1421: The Year China Discovered the World and 1434: The Year a Magnificent Chinese Fleet Sailed to Italy and Ignited the Renaissance. Addressing criticisms about his contentious arguments, Menzies also revealed his latest theory -- which is bound to upset historians once again. In our feature, Menzies champions independent scholarship: "Keep an open mind. Do not seek popularity. Write what you think the evidence shows. Don’t write for your fellow historians. Don’t seek literary recognition. Don’t seek peer review."

We've also got an interview with the Bryan Brothers (the American tennis doubles team who will be going for another championship at Shanghai's ATP Tennis Masters 1000), and China's up-and-coming stand-up comedians, including Shanghainese sensation Zhou Libo.

Lots of southern flavour:  Travel to Cambodia with our cheat sheet -- a guide to the country's flourishing tourist destinations, as well as Cambodia's top temples. And if you can't be whisked to Asia's south, get a taste right here in Shanghai. Read this month's restaurant reviews on some of Shanghai's newest and most popular Hong Kong and Taiwanese eateries.

Lots in music and arts: This month we spoke to Shan Sa, author of The Girl Who Played Go, about her latest art projects and paintings that will be exhibited in Shanghai.

TALK also previews the JZ Festival, providing you with a look at what to expect in October's outdoor jazz bonanza. We also spoke with UK jazz-rap band Us3 and Shanghai's own Lions of Puxi. Their lead singer, Robichou Gauthier, tells us his recipe for making reggae in China: "I guess we need sea, sex and sun to play better music, but Shanghai also gives us a powerful inspiration, and helps us to grow in a different way. The lack of sun pushes us to consider our environment, adapt and find inspiration in the places others overlook. These Lions aren't going extinct!"

Lots of interesting names: We didn't make this up. Our interview subjects have some intriguing names, including Yu Er Rong (we checked twice and we are right about this one), Florian von Oppenheim (who sports a suit sensationally), and Natalie Wigle (it's pronounced "why-gull", not "wiggle", but we're sure she can dance).