National Geographic's May issue has just hit the net and is dedicated to China. Along with the requisite gallery of incredible photographs, there is also a series of articles focusing on social and economic forces that are shaping and affecting China. Although the subject of China’s middle class has been covered many times before, Lesile T. Chang’s article Gilded Age, Gilded Cage is well worth a read and there is also an article by the always excellent Peter Hessler.

Other articles look at Tibet, environmental degradation and the Yellow River, life in Guizhou and China’s new architecture. All worth checking out.