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…
The Coast with the Most: Income Inequality (收入不平等) Posted by Stephen on Apr 13, 2011
Much like inflation, housing speculation and unemployment, income inequality is becoming a hot topic issue in China, stoking nationalist sentiment and prompting social movements and protests. For a supposed communist nation (although we know better), such a divide in wealth foments anger and fosters reactionary sentiment. As income inequality grows, so does the 800 pound…
Making Chinese Dumplings (饺子) Posted by sasha on Apr 11, 2011
If you’ve been to China, chances are you’ve munched on one of the many varieties of dumpings, or 饺子, that are eaten all over the country. Whether you get them boiled, fried, or steamed, they are all incredibly delicious. Having lived in China for around two years total now, and having eaten hundreds upon hundreds…
History of the PRC – Part Seventeen Posted by sasha on Apr 7, 2011
After the New Fourth Army Incident, things were not looking good for China in the Second Sino-Japanese War. The tension between the Nationalists and the Communists of China was escalating, and it became clear that the two sides could not put aside their hatred for each other to cooperate against the Japanese. It was apparent…
April Fools Day! (愚人节) Posted by Stephen on Apr 1, 2011
Happy April Fools Day, everyone! April Fools’ Day or 愚人节 (yú rén jié) is celebrated in different countries around the world on the April 1st of every year. Sometimes referred to as All Fools’ Day, April 1st is not a national holiday, but is widely recognized and celebrated as a day where many people play…
Chinese Medicine pt. 1: Introduction (中医) Posted by Stephen on Mar 27, 2011
Chinese traditional medicine or 中医 (Zhōng yī) is a broad range of mostly preventative health practices that include various forms of herbal medicine, acupuncture, massage and dietary therapy. Unlike western medicine, which is founded upon observable research and deductive reasoning, Chinese medicine takes the long view–quite literally. Chinese medicine works because it has been tried and tested for…