Massive forest fire in Inner Mongolia – China society and culture news from May 3, 2017

The South China Morning Post reports that “more than 8,300 people are helping to fight a huge forest fire” in Daxing’anling Prefecture in Inner Mongolia, which “has spread to over 5,000 hectares.” It is the second large forest fire to hit the area this spring. Daxing’anling is the mostly wooded, mountainous area in the far northeast corner of Inner Mongolia, bordering Russia.

• Girls have had it tough in China for nearly 3,000 years / Quartz
• Writing China: Faith and love in a Shenzhen brothel / WSJ (paywall)
• The evolution of kung fu: From hired killers to soldiers, the mafia, and finally an esteemed sport / SCMP
• Marbury departure sparks angry fan backlash against Beijing Ducks / The Beijinger