Two stories out of China are making headlines: one celebrating architectural achievement, the other highlighting an unexpected culinary trend. First, the prestigious Pritzker Prize has been awarded to Chinese architect Liu Jiakun. Then, a funeral home in China has become an unlikely hotspot for food enthusiasts.
Liu Jiakun Honored with Pritzker Prize
Liu Jiakun has been named the recipient of the 2025 Pritzker Prize, architecture's highest honor. The jury lauded Liu's deep respect for culture, history, and nature, noting his ability to blend classic Chinese architectural elements with modern design to create spaces that are both comforting and familiar. Liu's work often incorporates elements of Chinese heritage, creating a unique and humanistic approach to architecture.
The Pritzker Prize recognizes architects whose built work demonstrates a combination of talent, vision, and commitment, producing consistent and significant contributions to humanity and the built environment through the art of architecture. Liu Jiakun's work certainly embodies these qualities.
The jury further stated that Liu's work shows a "reverence for culture, history and nature, chronicling time and comforting users with familiarity through modern interpretations of classic Chinese architecture." This recognition underscores the importance of preserving cultural legacies and creating spaces that resonate with the people who use them.
Noodles to Die For? Funeral Home Becomes Culinary Sensation
In a bizarre twist, a Chinese funeral home has become an unexpected culinary destination. Word has spread that the dining hall, typically reserved for the bereaved, serves exceptionally delicious noodles. This revelation has led some adventurous gourmets to go to extreme lengths to sample the food, with some even pretending that someone had died just to gain access to the coveted noodles.
The details surrounding this unusual trend are scarce, but the story highlights the lengths to which people will go for a unique culinary experience. Whether the funeral home is capitalizing on the demand or if it remains a service solely for the bereaved is unclear.
"It's a testament to the power of word-of-mouth and the allure of the unknown," says one anonymous food blogger. "People are always searching for the next big thing, and sometimes it's found in the most unexpected places."
It remains to be seen if this "noodle tourism" will continue, but for now, the funeral home is enjoying its newfound, albeit unconventional, fame.
Scandalous Affair Rocks Academia
Adding another layer to news from China, a separate scandal involving a PhD student and a professor, nicknamed "Piggy," has come to light. An ex-boyfriend exposed the affair through a slideshow of salacious online chat records, revealing the shocking details of the relationship. This event has sparked outrage and discussion about ethics in academia and the potential abuse of power dynamics.
The ex-boyfriend, reportedly "disgusted" by the discovery, gathered the evidence from online chats, describing his "mind going blank" upon realizing the extent of the affair. The incident underscores the complexities and challenges faced within academic environments and the potential for personal relationships to become entangled with professional roles.