Archive for 'Culture'
Qufu (曲阜) – Confucius Temple (孔庙) Posted by sasha on Aug 18, 2012
Qufu is the hometown of one of China’s most famous historical figures – Confucius. The legendary poet, teacher, philosopher, and politician grew up here, and his influence is clear everywhere you look. Explore the temple that bears his name in this video. 曲阜 – qū fù Qufu 曲阜东站 – qū fù dōng zhàn Qufu…
Common Chinese Greetings Posted by sasha on Aug 15, 2012
Learning common greetings is a very important part of studying any language. Of course, there are more words and phrases than the equivalent of “hello” and “goodbye.” With this short video, you’ll learn how and when to use some of the most common greetings in Chinese. 你好 nǐ hǎo Hello nǐ –> ní…
My Hobbies (我的爱好) Posted by sasha on Aug 12, 2012
When making small talk, it’s very common to talk about your hobbies (爱好 – Ài hào). After all, talking about what you like to do in your free time is always more interesting than talking about what you have to do at work or school. To help you build your vocabulary and learn how to talk…
Mt. Tai (泰山) Posted by sasha on Aug 7, 2012
In Eastern China’s Shandong Province, you’ll find the most sacred of China’s 5 Great Mountains – Mt. Tai. According to Chinese legend, if you climb this mountain, you’ll live to be 100. Over the years, countless Emperors, poets, and scholars have visited this holy site, and tons of people make the pilgrimage here every day…
China’s Sacred Mountains – Five Great Mountains Posted by sasha on Aug 3, 2012
China is a huge country with a wide variety of landscapes and terrain – from the deserts of Xinjiang, to the grasslands of Inner Mongolia, the concrete jungle of Beijing, the beaches of Hainan, and the rice paddies of Guangxi, China just about has it all. Of course, there are also countless mountains scattered throughout…
Summer Olympics Posted by sasha on Jul 28, 2012
It’s time again for the Summer Olympics (夏季奥运会 – xià jì ào yùn huì), which means it’s been a whole four years since I came to Beijing and China hosted the games for the first time. How time flies! This year, of course, the games are being hosted by London (伦敦 – lún dūn). Many athletes (运动员 –…
Chengde (承德) – Summer Mountain Resort (避暑山庄) Posted by sasha on Jul 21, 2012
The highlight of Chengde is without a doubt the Summer Mountain Resort. This massive complex features four main areas: the palace, the lake, the plains, and the mountains. Built during the Qing Dynasty, it served as a summer retreat for the Emperor and his family, who would escape the brutal heat of Beijing to hunt…