Justin Bergman
Go ape
With the dreaded Year of the Sheep coming to a close, it's time to celebrate its simian successor. The Year of the Monkey traditionally favours shrewd negotiators and bold action. Here's what's in store.
Gaining momentum
Monocle meets the new wave of diplomats from the Netherlands, Italy and Ethiopia making valuable connections in one of China’s fastest-growing cities, Chongqing.
Asia
Tackling pollution in China and rebuilding Nepal's schools after April's earthquake.
Asia
Seoul's new performing-arts centre, sustainable architecture in Shanghai and Japan's efforts to fill empty houses.
Built to plan
Building a vibrant metropolis from scratch is no easy feat. Here are three examples of planned cities from different periods of history that have successfully stood the test of time.
Asia
China and Kazakhstan compete to host the Winter Olympics and Jakarta gets an artistic makeover.
Business
The growing trend for temporary retail spaces, health food in China and the height of the Haitian fashion.
City break
On the edge of the Yangmingshan national park, the peaceful suburb of Beitou offers a reinvigorated model for living beyond the bustle of urban centres.
Asia
Elections to keep an eye on in Burma, Thailand and Japan, plus China’s ongoing strife in the South China Sea.
The ties that bind
Taiwan’s tussle with China for Pacific allies has calmed but its push for soft power continues. Monocle visits Taipei to see how there's more than money at the heart of good relations.
