Archive for 'Uncategorized'
25 Chinese Words and Phrases for Valentine’s Day Posted by sasha on Feb 12, 2015
Western holidays are becoming more and more popular in China with each passing year. In October, English schools, restaurants, and bars in big cities throw Halloween parties. Come December, “Jingle Bells” can be heard around every corner, and you may even see hundreds of Santas parading around Beijing. Even though China has its own holiday…
Go Take a (Beijing) Hike Posted by sasha on Feb 4, 2015
While Chinese mega-cities are known for their air pollution, ridiculous traffic jams, and crowded streets, there’s a whole other world awaiting you outside in the far reaches of huge municipalities such as Beijing. Nature lovers will be happy to hear that it’s not all concrete jungle and smoggy skies in the Chinese capital; there are…
Fujian Tulou Video Tour – Part Three Posted by sasha on Feb 2, 2015
On the last day of our tulou adventure, we visit the amazing Chuxi group. Hike to a scenic lookout and ponder how the CIA once confused these clan dwellings for missile silos. Then visit three stunning tulou structures, one of which has been converted to a museum. 最后一天 – zuì hòu yì tiān last day…
Taking a Chinese Taxi Posted by sasha on Jan 29, 2015
In the last post, I introduced some useful vocabulary for taking a taxi in China. As I mentioned, cab drivers are one of your best resources for practicing Chinese, and they can also give you great insights into Chinese culture and daily life. I’ve had many a conversation with Chinese cabbies over the year, and…
Chinese Taxi Cab Confessionals Posted by sasha on Jan 26, 2015
When people ask me where and how I learned to speak Chinese, I often reply by saying, “In Beijing taxis” (在北京出租车里面 – zài běi jīng chū zū chē lǐ miàn). Although I say it jokingly and it’s usually followed by laughter from the Chinese person, I’m actually quite serious. When I first started taking Chinese…
Fujian Tulou Video Tour – Part Two Posted by sasha on Jan 26, 2015
In Part Two of our tulou adventure, visit the Gaobei cluster – home to the most famous earthen building of them all. The “King of Tulou” is a massive structure with nearly 400 rooms that once housed up to 800 people. While this is by far the most touristy section of the tulou, it’s worth…
You Speak Chinese Very Well! Posted by sasha on Jan 22, 2015
Chinese is a difficult language to master, and nobody knows this more than the Chinese themselves. As such, people in China are often quite impressed to hear foreigners speaking their language, even at the most basic level. If I had a dollar for every time a Chinese person told me how great my Mandarin is…