# Asia

We had hoped he would live to be 100 and set a record as the first centenarian in the village. But fate did not grant our wishes, and he himself was unwilling to cooperate.

After more than a decade of absence, returning to China was an eye-opener that ultimately had me feeling more in awe of the country than not. This wasn't always the case.

My grandpa is somewhat of a celebrity in his village. Not because he won a Nobel Prize or published an artistic masterpiece, but because he is one of the oldest living victim-survivors of the deadly Second Sino-Japanese War in the 1940s that claimed his left leg.

The dancers invited onto the Gala stage are world-class athletes. They represent not only their personal blood, sweat, and tears to have made it this far but also national pride in disseminating thousands of years of traditional Chinese dance.

Japan is famous for elegant and delectable cuisine and desserts that have people drooling at the mouth for their intricate and kawaii designs, chewy texture, and flavourful bites. It's culinary heaven for foodies. Here are the best places I personally ate at in my five days in Tokyo.

teamLAB has been around since 2001 as a collective of so-called "technologists," blending and blurring the lines between traditional art, projections, architecture, science, and technology. Most importantly, they curate experiences.

Tokyo was both everything I'd expected and nothing like what I'd expected. From the perspective of an ethnically Chinese first-time traveller, here's what I noticed in five days, and my personal tips and tricks.

For foreigners without family on the mainland or who don't speak a lick of Mandarin, I've compiled this list of the most important apps you need to travel – and live! – in China (and a few bonuses as well).