Archive by Author
Computer games (电脑游戏) Posted by Stephen on Feb 23, 2011
Walk into an internet cafe or 网吧 (wǎng ba) anywhere in China and what do you find? Throngs of Chinese people (mostly male) fervently and ferociously clicking away on their mice (plural?) as they heavy-handidly mash upon their keyboards–yelling and screaming a cacophony of insults and swears that echo and reverberate throughout a dimly lit, cigarette smoke-filled room. Sure, you…
Qin Shi Huang (秦始皇), The First Emperor Posted by Stephen on Feb 22, 2011
As China continues its rise as a world power, we are reminded of the history of China’s rise and unification some two-thousand plus years ago. After all, China didn’t get to be the “middle kingdom” just by luck. Quite the opposite. China emerged as a powerful, unified nation due to a series of intra-state conflicts…
Worth a Thousand Words: 798 Art District, Beijing (七九八艺术区,北京) Posted by Stephen on Feb 17, 2011
When living in a major metropolitan city in China it’s often difficult finding the true pulse of the people. In Beijing, identity is difficult to locate because so much society is in flux. Amongst the rapid call for development, people are neglecting or missing altogether the issues that are relevant to Chinese culture. Everything…
Year of the Rabbit (今年兔) Posted by Stephen on Feb 6, 2011
Enter The Rabbit: With the passing of the Chinese New Year festivities, we usher in The Year of the Rabbit or 今年兔 (jīn nián tù) in 2011. The Rabbit (兔子 or tù zi) is the fourth animal in the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac. After 12 years of waiting, the elusive rabbit has emerged from his burrow…
Red Envelopes 红包 (hóng bāo) Posted by Stephen on Feb 4, 2011
The Red Envelope or 红包 (hóng bāo) is a monetary gift which is given during holidays or special occasions, especially during the Lunar New Year and Spring Festival. The red color of the envelope symbolizes good luck and is supposed to ward off evil spirits. During the Lunar New Year, red envelopes are typically given…
Happy New Year！ (新年快乐） Posted by Stephen on Feb 3, 2011
Hey everyone, Happy New Years or 新年快乐 (xīn nián kuài lè)! It’s around this time of year that everyone in China celebrates the Lunar New Year. It’s a happy time, where the daily grind of China life is placed on the back burner for mutual enjoyment and celebration. People wish each other prosperity and…
Hu’s the man? (胡锦涛是谁） Posted by Stephen on Jan 28, 2011
Who’s the man leading the world largest country and a rising super power? Hu. No, I’m asking “who is the man?”. Hu is! But that’s what I’m asking….Who? Yes. Eat your heart out Abbot and Costello. All jokes aside, many people are now trying to figure out who Hu really is. Known as a…