Archive for November, 2013
Top 10 Places in Beijing – Qianmen to Jingshan Posted by sasha on Nov 29, 2013
We’re already half-way through our countdown of the Top 10 places in Beijing. Here’s a recap for those of you who’ve missed out: 10. Wudaokou – the student haunt of the Chinese capital. 9. 798 – a hip and trendy district full of art galleries and cafes. 8. Gulou – also known as the Drum…
Thanksgiving Day in Chinese Posted by sasha on Nov 28, 2013
Today is Thanksgiving in the USA, and I’m on the other side of the world in Vietnam. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little homesick, and as much as I love phở and Vietnamese food in general, I’m bummed to not be eating turkey with my family and watching my beloved Detroit…
Changabi Mountain (North Side) Posted by sasha on Nov 23, 2013
Take an epic train ride from Beijing all the way up to Changbai Mountain in Jilin province to admire the wondrous Heavenly Lake. Hike along through forests, along streams, and around waterfalls to experience some of China’s best natural beauty. 我们先坐火车从北京到沈阳北站 wǒ men xiān zuò huǒ chē cóng běi jīng dào shén yáng běi zhàn…
At the Market – Meat & Seafood Posted by sasha on Nov 20, 2013
Grocery shopping in a local market in China can be an intense experience – strange looking things, an array of funky smells, and packages covered in Chinese characters. For many foreigners living in cities like Beijing and Shanghai, this can prove to be too much. Rather than figure out how to do their shopping in…
Chairman Mao – Hundred Flowers and Anti-Rightist Movements Posted by sasha on Nov 18, 2013
In our last post about Chairman Mao, we talked about reforms during the early years of the PRC. From the get-go, Mao had big plans for the new China, as he announced major marriage and land reforms. He had launched China’s first Five Year Plan (1953-1958), which aimed to eliminate China’s dependence on the USSR…
Scenes From a Chinese Restaurant Posted by sasha on Nov 14, 2013
Explore a typical hole-in-the-wall, a mid-range, and a high-end restaurant in Beijing to see what REAL Chinese restaurants look like. Also, hit the streets for some amazing snacks across the country. 羊肉串儿 – yáng ròu chuàn er lamb kebabs 烤馕 － kǎo náng grilled naan bread 西红柿炒鸡蛋 – xī hóng shì chǎo jī dàn scrambled…
Singles’ Day in China Posted by sasha on Nov 11, 2013
Tomorrow is November 11, and it is Singles’ Day (光棍节 – guāng gùn jié) here in China. The name of the festival can roughly be translated as “bare branch” – a tree with no leaves representing a person with no better half. Celebrated on 11.11, the four ones represent those who are flying solo in…