As City Weekend predicted in our February issue, this is a dynamite year for music in China. And not only for rock: This April the famed French opera "Carmen," about a gypsy seductress, will be staged at the Shanghai Grand Theatre (pg. 20). International opera stars and the incomparable maestro Michel Plasson are sure to break your heart with this tragic tale. Also this month, Beijing and Shanghai residents have the chance to see The Roots in concert. Consistently pushing the boundaries of hip-hop, their live shows are among the best in the business and we're hyped they're coming. But with the arrival of The Roots, we found ourselves wondering if "real" hip-hop exists in China or is it all just a watered-down imitation from the West? Check out music writer Aric Queen's China hip-hop investigation on pg. 12. We'll be seeing you at The Roots.

"Peachy Catchy? Poobah Klangy? No matter how many times I would tell my editors or friends about this story I was working on—‘It’s Pecha Kucha!’ I'd say over and over again, ‘It’s not that hard to remember!’—none of them ever seemed to be quite capable of correctly pronouncing these two little words that describe one of the best things to ever happen to Beijing’s art and design community,” says Robby Powers about his Beijing Entertainment Guide feature on pg. E42. This ingenious presentation format / party / global sensation / networking get-together thing is sure to take 798 by storm and be a mainstay for years to come, reports Powers. “Now, if only people could get the name right … ‘Betcha Kitschy? Pervy Kitty?’”

"Shopping for a wedding dress in Suzhou was a classic experience,” says Alonso Dominguez, the latest addition to City Weekend’s Shanghai editorial team, about writing the travel feature for the Shanghai Entertainment Guide (pg. E55). “The face of the store clerks when I announced I wanted a made-to-measure wedding gown was absolutely priceless; it will never get old.” The piece is about a small, late trend within Shanghai brides—going to Suzhou for the day, to have their wedding dress made and delivered in less than 10 hours. Chinese being a weak spot for this editor, provided for an eclectic and odd, “however, endearing” situation.

"On my trip to Penang, I had the rare opportunity to visit the island's Turtle Research Center, located in the National Park. Though female green turtles can lay as many as 100 eggs at a time, the hatchling survival rate can be as low as 1 percent due to fishing, pollution, destruction of natural habitats and natural predators,” says freelance writer Wendy Mock about her recent trip to Malaysia (pg. 24). The beach by the center is reserved for the turtles and scientists monitor and work to protect the eggs and hatchlings. “The green turtles are just one of many endangered species found in the park. Penang is usually seen as a retreat for tourists, but it's great to see that it's a sanctuary for other creatures as well.”