Archive for February, 2012
Shanghai (上海) Posted by sasha on Feb 29, 2012
You can get from Beijing to Shanghai in just 5 hours now with the high-speed railway. As such, we took a short trip there during the National Holiday (国庆节) in 2011, which is a busy but exciting time to travel. Check out the Yuyuan Gardens, the view of the Bund, and some delicious Shanghai dumplings…
Introduce Yourself in Chinese (Video) Posted by sasha on Feb 25, 2012
Last month I made a post about how to introduce yourself. In a follow-up to that, here’s a video you can use to follow along with my basic self-introduction. Use the video to practice making sentences about yourself, and before you know it you’ll be confidently introducing yourself to new friends in Chinese. 自我介绍 –…
Harbin – China’s Winter Wonderland Posted by sasha on Feb 24, 2012
Harbin (哈尔滨 – Hā ěr bīn) is the capital of Heilongjiang province (黑龙江省 – hēi lóng jiāng shěng), located in the area of China known as Dongbei (东北 – dōng běi), or the Northeast. The city’s name comes from a Manchu word meaning “a place for drying fishing nets.” A city with thousands of years…
Very Superstitious Posted by sasha on Feb 18, 2012
Every culture has its own unique superstitions (迷信 – mí xìn), and China is no different. Chinese culture is rich in beliefs, customs, and superstitions that vary greatly from those in the West. Let’s take a look at some of these, and how they will bring you either good luck or bad luck. Numbers In…
Yunnan (云南) Part Four – Kunming (昆明) Posted by sasha on Feb 16, 2012
After a few days of fun in Dali, we headed back to Kunming, the capital of Yunnan province. While this city is developing quickly along with the rest of China, it’s still quite easy to get lost in the countryside. We hiked up the Long Insect Mountain and spent the day roaming around cabbage patches…
China’s Next Leader: Xí Jìnpíng (习近平) Posted by Stephen on Feb 15, 2012
We all know that Hu Jintao is the man, and currently the highest ranking political leader in China. But who’s the man behind the man? After all, Hu Jintao is expected to step down and pass the torch this year. With China’s rise as a regional superpower and economic juggernaut, people want to know who’s behind…
Basketball (篮球) Posted by Stephen on Feb 13, 2012
Move over pingpong and say so long to soccer because China has turned into a nation obsessed with the sport of basketball. Walk outside to various parks and sports centers and you’ll notice grassy fields going unused and pingpong tables acting as dust collectors while every basketball court is filled with 5 on 5 half…