Let’s face it, Linkin Park is to metal what China is to socialism; the four locals bands we interviewed for the Metalheadz story are way more horns in the air. What’s salient about the upcoming Linkin Park show, however, is that it’s the first big arena rock show China has ever seen (no, Wham in 1984 at the Worker's Stadium doesn’t count). A portal has opened, friends, and we can’t wait for the likes of Metallica and Guns ‘n’ Roses to come screaming through, riding guitars made of flaming skulls.

Linkin Park is one of the world’s most successful bands, but for music writer Caleb March the best part of covering the story for the National Edition was the chance to interview a half dozen people including four up and coming local metal bands. “It’s like a psychology study,” March says, “each person has their own ideas. It's when you try matching them up with other perspectives that things get interesting. Shanghai is in a historical transition period, and everyone coming here from other countries wants a piece of that history. My greatest pleasure is watching those people, both their successes and failures.”

"Talk about the perfect project,” says Erica Chen, the newest addition to the City Weekend editorial braintrust. Sent to discover everything there is to know about international schools in Beijing, the ISB alum jumped at the chance to pay a visit to her roots—until she saw the changes. “I’m so jealous, I can't even begin to explain,” she says. However, Chen notes that it’s not always the classes or facilities of a school that help students, but the connections. “ISB alums have a great network going. Throw out a name and someone is bound to come back with a phone number. Using people has never been easier.”

"I had to dig out my anorak and notebook and stand on the ends of platforms for this article,” exclaims Mark Andrews, who covered China's new high speed trains. "Many China residents rarely venture out of Beijing and Shanghai and when they do it’s via plane. "They don’t know what they're missing," Andrews says. "The new trains are revolutionizing travel in China and, unlike the airlines, they're not always late!” Andrews hopes that his article will encourage some people “to let the train take the strain” and get out and travel. However, he can’t help but feel some nostalgia for the train journeys he experienced on his first visit to China 13 years ago.