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Barbara Demick

Millions of Chinese living in caves

Last updated Tuesday, March 20, 2012 - 5:13pm

YANAN, China -- Like many peasants from the outskirts of Yanan, China, Ren Shouhua was born in a cave and lived there until he got a job in the city and moved into a concrete-block house.

His progression made sense as he strove to improve his life. But there's a twist: the 46-year-old Ren plans to move back to a cave when he retires.

Caves, China, Poverty, Homeless, International Read more Comments

Hollywood stars in China have to learn the political lines

Barbara Demick Los Angeles Times

Last updated Sunday, February 19, 2012 - 10:45pm

BEIJING -- The Chinese Communist Party sent a pointed message to Christian Bale recently: You will not work in this town again.

The movie star's attempt to visit a prominent Chinese dissident under house arrest ended in a televised scuffle with plainclothes police and a chiding from authorities in December.

China, Chinese dissident, Politics, Celebrities Read more Comments

Does a bear poop in the studio?

Barbara Demick, Los Angeles Times

Last updated Thursday, December 23, 2010 - 7:03pm

ZHENGZHOU, China -- To some discerning eyes, the statue is a satire of classical aesthetics that judge beauty by Western standards. To others, the use of natural, recyclable materials shows the artist's commitment to the environment.

And then there was this observation, posted on the artist's blog.

"Disgusting, disgusting, disgusting!!!"

The artwork in question is a copy of the classical Greek statue Venus de Milo, made out of raw material supplied by China's most beloved mammals.

Features, Go!, Art Read more Comments

Nobel Peace Prize winners call for release of dissident Chinese writer

Barbara Demick, Los Angeles Times

Last updated Monday, October 25, 2010 - 3:55pm

BEIJING -- Increasing the pressure on China, a star-studded group of Nobel peace laureates have signed an open letter calling for the world's leading economies to lobby Chinese President Hu Jintao for the release of dissident writer Liu Xiaobo, recipient of this year's award.

Chinese dissident, International Read more Comments

Tibetan students' protests reach Beijing

Barbara Demick, Los Angeles Times

Last updated Friday, October 22, 2010 - 2:10pm

BEIJING -- Protests by Tibetan students over plans to elevate Chinese to the main language of instruction in western China schools spread Friday to Beijing, where students at a minority university staged a rare public demonstration.

Tibet protests, International Read more Comments

Chinese premier calls for reform spark excitement, skepticism

Barbara Demick, Los Angeles Times

Last updated Friday, October 15, 2010 - 3:05pm

BEIJING -- Soft-spoken, bespectacled and so benign that his nickname is "Grandpa," Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has emerged in recent weeks as the lone champion within the top ranks of the Communist Party for political reform.

World, International Read more Comments

Big names on letter calling for China to end censorship

Barbara Demick, Los Angeles Times

Last updated Wednesday, October 13, 2010 - 1:31pm

BEIJING -- A former secretary to Mao Zedong as well as an ex-publisher of the People's Daily are among retired Communist Party heavyweights who have published a toughly worded open letter calling on the Chinese government to abolish censorship.

Censorship, China, International Read more Comments