Archive for 'Uncategorized'
Yangshuo Photo Essay Posted by sasha on Mar 30, 2015
While I recently penned a blog post entitled “10 Reasons Why Yangshuo is Still Awesome” – which should have been enough to convince you that this scenic town in the autonomous region of Guangxi is still worth visiting – it’s true that a picture is worth a thousand words. For those who agree that seeing…
St. Patrick’s Day in China Posted by sasha on Mar 17, 2015
Ask 100 Chinese people on the street what holiday today is, and chances are maybe – and I mean maybe – one person will know about St. Patrick’s Day. This traditional Irish holiday is celebrated on March 17th in countries all around the world. While it’s true that it isn’t exactly celebrated or known in China, that…
Want vs. Need in Chinese Posted by sasha on Mar 12, 2015
As an English teacher, I’ve found myself teaching the difference between “want” and “need” very often. There’s a big difference between wanting and needing something, and there are also many ways to express these in English. Today I’m turning the tables as I teach you, our fabulous readers, how to talk about wants and needs…
The Movie Taking China By Storm: Under the Dome Posted by sasha on Mar 9, 2015
Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past week in China, you’ve heard about the new documentary that has taken the country by storm – “Under the Dome” (穹顶之下 – qióng dǐng zhī xià). Produced by former CCTV journalist Chai Jing (柴静) over the course of a year, this 103-minute long film takes an…
The Lantern Festival (元宵节) Posted by sasha on Mar 5, 2015
Today is the 15th and final day of the Spring Festival, called 元宵节 (yuán xiāo jié) in Chinese and the Lantern Festival in English. Check out some highlights from the Grand View Park in Kunming where elaborate lanterns are set up to celebrate this special day: 元宵节 – yuán xiāo jié Lantern Festival 春节 – chūn…
Cycling in Yangshuo Posted by sasha on Feb 23, 2015
Yangshuo has some of the best scenery in China, with stunning karst mountains and winding rivers. Get out of the touristy town and explore this beautiful place on two wheels.
Why Spring Festival Sucks Posted by sasha on Feb 19, 2015
It’s that time of year again – fireworks are going off everywhere, auspicious couplets are hanging outside of doors, children are counting up their lucky money, and millions of people are moving around the country to see their loved ones. Ah yes, it’s Spring Festival (春节 – chūn jié) in China once more. It’s both…