Archive for the year 2011
Dunhuang, Gobi Desert (戈壁滩) Posted by Stephen on Jun 10, 2011
The Gobi desert or 戈壁滩 (gēbìtān) is the largest desert in Asia, spanning some 1,600 kilometers across northern China and central Mongolia. Known for its extreme temperatures, blistering winds and historical location along the Silk Road, the Gobi desert is truly a sight to behold. The following photos were taken in and outside of the greater Dunhuang (敦煌) area, including the…
History of the PRC – Part Twenty Posted by sasha on Jun 8, 2011
With the surrender of the Japanese, a full-throttle Civil War once again raged in China. This final stage of the long, seemingly never ending war is known in Maindland China as the War of Liberation. On the side of Mao and the Communists was the Soviet Union under Stalin; on the side of Chiang and…
Learning Chinese with Pinyin Posted by sasha on Jun 6, 2011
For anyone raised on the ABCs and 1-2-3s, learning Chinese can seem to be a daunting task. During my first few weeks in Beijing, I would often stare in disbelief at newspapers, menus, and street signs while thinking to myself, “How am I ever going to understand this language?” Luckily for me, and other equally…
Duanwu Festival (端午节) Posted by sasha on Jun 3, 2011
The traditional Duanwu Festival (端午节 – duān wǔ jié) falls on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month, which is June 6 this year. Also commonly known as the Dragon Boat Festival (龙船节 – lóng chuán jié), this is one of the oldest Chinese holidays, dating back to 278 BC. Before we get into…
Photo Gallery: Forbidden Palace (故宫画廊) Posted by Stephen on Jun 2, 2011
Youtube slideshow of the Forbidden Palace (故宫): 360 degree view inside the the Forbidden Palace: Thumbnail Gallery: All photographs are courtesy of Stephen M. Fiedler, twitter: @seeitbelieveit Please contact for any use of these images.
Riding That Train (坐火车） Posted by Stephen on May 31, 2011
Trains or 火车 [huǒchē] (literally translating as “fire carts”) are a point of pride among the Chinese–and for good reason. They are a huge source of travel and transport for people and freight in China as highway and road development is still lagging outside of most urban centers. When you think about it, it makes…
Making Chinese Words Posted by sasha on May 31, 2011
While the thousands of Chinese characters can be scary at first, it’s helpful to know that once you know a few, you can easily start building your vocabulary. In this short video lesson, learn how to make words by combining two or three different characters.