The eastern city of Hangzhou has sparked widespread controversy by banning residents in its downtown area from walking their dogs during the day. Under the city’s Restraining Dog Raising Rules, owners of small ornamental dogs in designated “key restraining” areas may walk their pets only between 7pm and 7am. Large dogs cannot be taken outdoors at any time. The rules stipulate that dog owners must keep their pets on a leash and clean up their excrement immediately. Violators face fines of 200 to...

Like people elsewhere in the world, Chinese people often have nicknames in addition to their official names. Some of these may surprise people from other cultures because they sound humble or even unflattering. Chinese parents have traditionally given their children humble, sometimes vulgar, nicknames – occasionally using animal names such as “Dog” or “Pig.” The practice dates back to ancient times. Parents believed that the humbler a nickname sounded, the better, as it might help ensure their...