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Video: Window cleaner keeps Shenzhen towers shining

Liu Yingping from Chongqing came to Shenzhen, Guangdong province, 10 years ago to work as a window cleaner. In the past decade, he has cleaned about 4,000 buildings, including the Ping An International Finance Center, the city's tallest tower. Visit our website to view his story.

Biz: Capital named best tourist city on the mainland

Beijing holds first place as this year's best tourist city on the Chinese mainland, according to a list issued by two websites. Beijing is followed by Chongqing and Shanghai. The list is based on five factors: the number of visitors, income made from tourism, relevant facilities, tourism's contribution to the local economy and traffic conditions.

Entertainment: Despicable Me 3 becomes a box office hit

Starting in supporting roles in the Hollywood blockbuster Despicable Me, the Minions managed to become one of today's most popular cultural icons. And they have once again swept the world with their latest performance. Since the premiere of Despicable Me 3 on the Chinese mainland on July 7, the movie has made 922 million yuan ($137 million) at the box office. The power of those little creatures is not limited to the virtual world. They are providing celebrity endorsements for famous companies both at home and abroad. From food to transportation, clothing to cosmetics, they seem to be everywhere.

Education: More Russian schools offer Mandarin course

More Russians are learning Mandarin, according to a survey by Yaroslavl National Normal University in Russia. It said 56,000 people are now enrolled in Mandarin programs, up form 17,000 in 2007. Only 18 universities offered Mandarin lessons in 1997. Now 179 schools offer the course.

Heritage: Museum posts photos of leaf-shaped relics

The Palace Museum in Beijing has shared a range of photos featuring its collection of leaf-shaped relics in celebration of summer. Visit our website for the objects in the shape of leaves commonly used in ancient times.

Culture: Movie sparks new interest in ancient tea pets

The three-dimensional animated movie Tea Pets premiered in China on July 21. The film received 7.3 points out of 10 on Douban, a media review site. Tea pets first appeared in study rooms of ancient Chinese people as a decoration. From the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), they found their way onto tea trays. When pouring boiled tea on them, some can change color, while others even spray water, adding a little fun to tea drinking. Visit our website for more about tea pets.

Buzzword: Hypochondria

Hypochondria refers to an excessive preoccupation with one's health, usually focusing on some particular symptom, as cardiac or gastric problems. Hypochondriacs become unduly alarmed about any physical or psychological symptoms they detect, no matter how minor the symptom may be, and are convinced that they have, or are about to be diagnosed with, a serious illness.