Archive for 'Culture'
Exploring the Central Axis of Beijing Posted by sasha on Aug 15, 2018
We all know that Beijing has a long history going back thousands of years, but just how did they design this city? Perhaps the most important element in the layout and design of Beijing is the city’s Central Axis (中轴线 – zhōng zhóu xiàn). Most of the essential buildings in the city were constructed along…
Dim Sum Posted by sasha on Aug 1, 2018
When it comes to must-try culinary experiences in China, dim sum (点心 – diǎn xīn) is very high on the list. The name of this dish can be translated as “touch the heart,” and a good meal of dim sum does just that. Dim sum is perhaps the best creation of Guangdong cuisine (广东菜 – guǎng dōng cài)…
Exploring South China – Fujian Posted by sasha on Jul 25, 2018
Our final stop on an epic South China adventure is Fujian province (福建省 – fú jiàn shěng). Here you can visit the coastal city of Xiamen (厦门 – xià mén) for a few days before heading out to explore the amazing tulou (土楼 – tǔ lóu) complexes. See highlights of both Xiamen and the tulou…
Visiting the Mutianyu Great Wall Posted by sasha on Jul 18, 2018
Pretty much everyone who comes to China hopes to see the Great Wall on their trip. Chairman Mao himself once famously said “You aren’t a real man until you’ve climbed the Great Wall” (不到长城非好汉 – bù dào cháng chéng fēi hǎo hàn). From Beijing, there are many different options for walking along one of the…
Exploring South China – Shenzhen and Guangzhou Posted by sasha on Jul 11, 2018
Two of the biggest and most interesting cities to visit in South China are Shenzhen (深圳 – shēn zhèn) and Guangzhou (广州 – guǎng zhōu). Both cities have a wealth of cultural and historical attractions, as well as some massive markets, impressive theme parks, and of course plenty of delicious food. Check out a little…
A Chinese Revolutionary Song Born from the Xingtai Earthquake Posted by Ayana on Jun 20, 2018
Xingtai (邢台Xíngtái) is a prefecture-level city in the south of Heibei province. Located only several hours of driving from Beijing, Xingtai is an old city with long history, dating back thousands of years ago. Unfortunately, it is also known as the first city in the short history of the People’s Republic of China to be…
Dragon Boat Festival History and Customs Posted by sasha on Jun 18, 2018
Today is the Dragon Boat Festival, which is known in Chinese as the Duanwu Festival (端午节 – duān wǔ jié). This holiday is celebrated every year on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month, and although it has only been an officially recognized public holiday in mainland China since 2008, it has been celebrated for thousands…