Urbanism
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Asia
Why English-style village shops are popping up in rural China and how the hutongs of Beijing may be given a reprieve. Plus, the latest figures on who is living the longest.
50 things to improve your life
Our 2009 global round-up of the people, pursuits, places and pets to improve the way you live, work, rest, commute and communicate.
Constant and noble
Young creatives have set up shop in higgledy-piggledy Turnacibasi Sokak. It’s also a pleasant place to buy antiques, vintage records, homeware and reclaimed furniture or enjoy a steam and massage at the hamam.
Yes we Khan
Rich in raw materials and oil reserves, Mongolia finds its neighbour China is a key customer. The capital, Ulan Bator, is flourishing, but the country must still overcome poverty and corruption to prosper.
Great Sheikhs
Abu Dhabi is built on oil but the city is morphing into a technology and culture superpower. Who are the visionaries on the ground turning dreams into bricks and mortar?
Friends in the north
At the tip of North Africa, a short hop from Sicily, the city of Tunis is enjoying its time in the sun, benefiting from an influx of foreign business and investment.
Tasmanian angel
Hobart, Tasmania, is the nearest inhabited landmass to Antarctica, drawing scientists to the frontline of environmental research. Adventurous tourists and food pioneers are also transforming the island’s once bleak fortunes.
Villa de Leyva
This small colonial town offers great opportunities for overseas buyers thanks to the ease and low cost of purchasing property. It is an enclave of painters, writers and drop-outs, who have flocked here.
Paradise regained
Born from socialist ideals, the appeal of the kibbutzim has faded over the years. To survive, they’ve become profit-making cooperatives, attracting Israelis back with a higher standard of living.
Observation
In London, a lack of innovative architecture stems not just from developers but from building regulators crushing creativity. On the eve of our Quality of Life Survey, Tyler Brûlé offers some solutions.
