Archive for 'Culture'
From Jiankou Great Wall to Mutianyu Posted by sasha on May 15, 2011
In the outskirts of Beijing, it’s possible to hike from the old, wild Great Wall to the newer, tourist friendly section. Starting out at Jiankou (剪口), you can see how the Wall was when it was built hundreds of years ago. After a few hours of hiking on the rugged terrain, you arrive at Mutianyu…
Pingyao Ancient City – Part Two Posted by sasha on May 5, 2011
For our second day in Pingyao, we had a nice balance of learning and fun, thanks to the multitude of museums and temples scattered throughout the city and the various games and shops that surround them. Join me on this video journey to see the City God temple, a Taoist temple the Confucius temple, and…
Pingyao Ancient City – Part One Posted by sasha on Apr 29, 2011
Located in central Shanxi province, Pingyao is an ancient Chinese city that was once at the forefront of the Chinese economy during both the Ming and Qing dynasties. Thanks to its status as a UNESCO World Heritage site, this ancient city has retained much of its traditional look and feel. Surrounded by the old city…
China’s Summer of Music Posted by sasha on Apr 27, 2011
As I mentioned in my last post, the music festival season is upon us here in the Middle Kingdom. This weekend, which will be a long one thanks to the May Day holiday, will see not one, not two, but THREE separate music festivals going on in Beijing alone. In addition to the trifecta of…
Music Festival Season Kicks off in China Posted by sasha on Apr 20, 2011
Ever wondered what it’s like to go to a camping music festival in the grasslands of China? Well, wonder no more! These days, weekend long music festivals are becoming more and more common in China. In Beijing alone, over the May Day (五一) holiday, there are three festivals. Each summer, more and more festivals pop…
Smoke ’em Because We know You Got ’em: Cigarettes (抽烟) Posted by Stephen on Apr 18, 2011
Smoking cigarettes or 抽烟 (chōu yān) may be China’s favorite past-time. No matter where you go, be it inside restaurants, hospitals, at weddings or inside a cab, everyone is ripping cigarettes. More than half the male population of China smokes, and seeing how the cheapest cigarettes in China cost a mere 5 kuai 块，it’s not…
Camping on the Great Wall Posted by sasha on Apr 16, 2011
With the arrival of spring, Beijingers can finally come out of hibernation and enjoy the great outdoors. The long, cold, dry winter is finally gone, and there are just a few short weeks of moderate weather before the intense heat of summer hits. This short window of opportunity between freezing and sweating needs to be…