Whilst we hate to call anyone ugly, you’ll know what we mean when you see the photos below for before and after an amazing transformation with make-up. Girls, this probably won’t surprise you but the change will probably always surprise us.

See all photos for the Transformation from Ugly Duckling to Beauty

Technorati Tags: beauty, beauty tranformation, China, make-up

Cute as they are, these pandas are devious as hell. One rolls over and distracts the keeper whilst another escapes out the back door, only for his accomplice to follow him!

Via Marilyn_Res

Technorati Tags: China, pandas, zoo

Here’s some funny CCTV footage of students from a Chinese university elevator dubbed with sound effects. Sponsored by Hewlett Packard? Who cares, its funny!

Via ChinaSmack

Technorati Tags: CCTV, China, elevator footage, humour

I hope this young female chef’s cooking is as good as her knife twirling. You seriously don’t wanna mess with her down a dark alley. Watch the video below to see her quick-fingered twirling action…

Via CNN

Technorati Tags: China, cuisine, knife twirling

The NY Public Library has scans of an 1804 book from China that shows 22 engravings depicting punishment methods. The vintage illustration is lovely even though the subject matter isn’t.

You get the gruesome methods such as lime being used to burn eyes and fingers being tortured as well as the hamstringing above.

There’s also the close confinement punishment, which might drive the prisoner mad, but at least they keep their bits intact.

Then there’s the slightly comical ear-twisting, though sure, the person being inflicted probably wouldn’t find it so funny.

See all 22 on the NYPL Digital Gallery

Via BoingBoing

Technorati Tags: China, China torture, culture, NY Public Library, punishment methods

Viewing photos of pollution won’t be everyone’s idea of a good time, but Lu Guang from the People’s Republic of China, who was a factory worker, won a $30,000 prize for his documentary project, “Pollution in China“.

He won the prize on the 14th October at the 30th annual awards ceremony of the W. Eugene Smith Memorial Fund which took place at the Asia Society in New York City.

His gritty images of the grimy reality that people face in China are sobering, thought provoking and heart rending. They’re accompanied by captions that add further understanding to what viewers see.

Click on the link below to find out Lu Guang’s story and to read and see more of his photos on ChinaHush. Be warned that some images and text may be distressing.

Amazing Pictures, Pollution in China

Via 1rick on Twitter

Technorati Tags: China, Lu Guang, photography, Pollution in China

Zhu Li from China has some amazing, conceptual fantasy artwork. His pieces explore standard fantasy character fare such as warriors, sorcerors and others, though its not surprising to find an eastern touch to his work.

The Design Inspiration feature more of his work together with a short interview with Zhu Li.

Read more

Technorati Tags: arts, China, concept art, fantasy art

The website Beijing Made Easy gives a brief though definitive-sounding guide to toilets in China. Though not the most riveting of texts, the guide is surely a must in your preparations if visiting the country for the first time.

Though we’re not strangers to squat toilets in the far east, the mention of pigs for “recycle” in countryside toilets put us off pork.

Read more in the guide to Chinese toilets

Technorati Tags: China, Chinese toilets, toilet guide, toilets

Associated Press photographer Elizabeth Dalziel, who is based in Beijing, has been documenting the people, places and events in China for the past several years. The Big Picture showcases a series of her photos.

China, as seen by Elizabeth Dalziel on The Big Picture

Technorati Tags: Beijing, China, photography, Elizabeth Dalziel

Chinese illustrator and comic artist Xiao Bai has a superb portrait illustration style as shown in the following samples.

She has studied traditional Chinese painting since a young age and also works as a tattoo artist – with many of her female portraits brandishing tattoos.

Via LostAtEMinor

Technorati Tags: China, comic artist, comics, illustration, Xiao Bai