The number of people in a Chinese family home is getting smaller, with single-person households on the rise.

The report was issued by the National Health and Family Planning Commission ahead of Thursday's International Day of Families.

What have changed?

Topic2 Survey asks what constitutes domestic violence62.5 percent of interviewees in a Guangzhou survey say they don't think beating children is a form of domestic violence.

How many of you have got beaten up by your parents or relatives? Do you consider it as domestic violence?

What does the survey say about domestic violence in China?

Topic3 Mainland tourists prefer Taiwan over Hong Kong?

An article published on The Wall Street Journal says that as Hong Kong begins to lose its appeal for some mainland tourists, Taiwan is rising in the ranks.

According to Taiwan's Tourism Bureau, the number of mainland tourists visiting the island over this month's Labor Day weekend holiday rose 33% on-year to nearly 32,000, while Hong Kong saw a 2% decrease to 388,070 visitors, the first drop in nine years.

Is HK losing popularity among mainland travellers while Taiwan is gaining popularity?

Topic4 "Rice theory" explains north-south China cultural differencesA study published last Friday by a group of psychologists in the journal Science finds that China's noodle-slurping northerners are more individualistic, show more "analytic thought" and divorce more frequently.

By contrast, rice-eating southerners show more hallmarks traditionally associated with East Asian culture, including more "holistic thought" and lower divorce rates.

Is there a character difference within China?

Topic5 Sphinx in ShijiazhuangIf you really want to see the famous Great Sphinx of Giza in Egypt and have no time to travel that far, you don't have to look that far.

A full-scale replica of the world renowned monument has been newly constructed at the Donggou village of Shijiazhuang, Hebei province.

What is it for?