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Top 10 Places in Beijing – Beihai/Houhai Posted by sasha on Oct 24, 2013
Our countdown of the Top 10 places in Beijing continues as we get closer and closer to #1. So far, we’ve explored the student haunt of the Wu, gotten artsy in 798, channeled our inner Chipster (Chinese hipster) in Gulou, and practiced tai chi in the local parks. Our next stop is all about the…
Labor Day in Dalian Posted by sasha on Oct 22, 2013
Our short video series about Dalian – a coastal city in northeast China – continues with a tour around some of the city’s many squares, a trip to the beach, and a stop in an art gallery housed in an old Russian building. 劳动节 – láo dòng jié Labor Day 五一 – wǔ yī 5/1…
Better Know an… Autonomous Region (Guangxi) Posted by sasha on Oct 15, 2013
Our long, strange trip around the Middle Kingdom continues, as we visit all of the provinces, municipalities, SARs, and autonomous regions that make up this massive country. Last time, we reviewed all of our progress so far and explored the fascinating land of Inner Mongolia. Today, we’re heading back down south to check out Guangxi…
How to Survive a Chinese Tour Group Posted by sasha on Oct 11, 2013
Getting stuck on a Chinese tour bus is probably one of the worst things you can do as a traveler. Unfortunately, it happened to us one day in Dalian. Learn how to survive this horrific experience. 不用，谢谢 – bú yòng, xiè xiè No thanks. 这是第一站，但是因为我们是外国人, 我们进不去. zhè shì dì yí zhàn, dàn shì yīn wèi…
20 Common Chinese Dishes Posted by sasha on Oct 9, 2013
If you’ve ever been in a real Chinese restaurant before (by that I mean one that’s actually in China), I’m sure you know that awkward feeling of not being able to understand anything on the menu. While plenty of restaurants in China fix their menus up with pictures and others translate the names of dishes…
China’s Ghost Cities Posted by sasha on Oct 6, 2013
We’ve all heard of Beijing and Shanghai – China’s massive mega-cities that are known around the world. Millions of Chinese people live in these metropolises, and even millions more would do just about anything in their power to join them. In short, more people want to live there than actually can; as a result, home…
National Day Golden Week Posted by sasha on Oct 4, 2013
Every year on October 1st, China celebrates its National Day (国庆节 – guó qìng jié). This holiday marks the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, which Chairman Mao proclaimed from Tiananmen Square. Along with the Spring Festival, this is a week-long holiday for most people. Actually, people call them both “Golden Weeks”…