Cupping (拔罐) Posted by Stephen on Jan 19, 2012
Cupping or 拔罐 (báguànr) is a type of Chinese massage that consists of attaching several hollowed-out glass “cups” to the body. These cups work to massage soft tissue, by pulling and stretching the skin. This occurs through a vacuuming process in which these cups literally adhere to the persons body, “sucking” skin up into the…
Chinese Herbal Medicine (中药) Posted by Stephen on Jan 17, 2012
A cornerstone to Chinese traditional medicine is herbal medicine or 中药 (Zhōng yào). Chinese herbal medicines are made from plants, herbs, and occasionally from the organ meats of a wide range of exotic (and strange) animalia. Medicines are typically constructed from ingredients found in the natural world, and are mixed in accordance Traditional Medicine Theory to stimulate…
Beijing (北京) Posted by sasha on Jan 17, 2012
The capital city of China, Beijing has a history dating back thousands of years. Every day, hordes of tourists flock to this ancient city to visit its many landmarks. Take a short video tour of Beijing in this video. 北京是中国的首都 – běi jīng shì zhōng guó de shǒu dū Beijing is China’s capital 天安门广场 –…
Acupuncture (针灸) Posted by Stephen on Jan 15, 2012
Acupuncture or 针灸 (zhēnjiǔ) is one of the the most popular forms of Chinese Traditional Medicine in the mainland, and is well recognized and practiced abroad (even by Western doctors). Acupuncture treats patients by the insertion and manipulation of needles in the body, in an attempt to balance the body’s qi. Acupuncture proponents claim that…
Yunnan – Part Three Posted by sasha on Jan 14, 2012
For our last day in Dali, we took the cable car up to the top of Mt. Cangshan, where we hiked along the Cloud Traveler’s Path, admiring the beautiful scenery. Afterwards, we enjoyed a delicious vegetarian meal, and then we made our way back to Kunming. 大理古城 – dà lǐ gǔ chéng Dali Ancient City…
Feng Shui (风水) Posted by Stephen on Jan 13, 2012
Feng Shui or 风水 (fēng shuǐ) is an ancient Chinese system of aesthetics believed to use the laws of both Heaven (astronomy) and Earth (geography) to help improve one’s life by receiving positive “qi” (气). Also known as geomancy, this style of Feng Shui is done by reordering and moving furniture, room orientation and even wall/window/door locations to…
Qigong (气功) Posted by Stephen on Jan 10, 2012
I’ve been told that it is best to make decisions over the space of seven breaths. It helps, mostly because it allows you to slow down and fully weigh your options. However, it wasn’t until I started practicing tai chi (太极拳) and kung fu (功夫) that I learned the true value of controlled breathing and…