Choosing a Chinese Name Posted by sasha on Aug 16, 2017

If you’re planning on traveling extensively in China or living there, it’s a good idea to choose a Chinese name. English is not widely spoken in China, and people there often have a hard time pronouncing English names. There are a few routes you can go when choosing a Chinese name. We’ll take a look…
Chengdu Day One Video Posted by sasha on Aug 14, 2017

There’s a lot you can do with your 72-hour visa-free visit to Chengdu! Our first day in one of China’s biggest cities includes a stroll around Tianfu Square, some mouth-numbing Sichuan food, a leisurely afternoon in People’s Park, and a evening on the Wide and Narrow Alleys. Check it out in our Chengdu Day One…
72 Hours in Chengdu (Part One) Posted by sasha on Aug 10, 2017

While traveling in China can be an incredible experience, getting a visa is not. Thankfully, several Chinese cities now offer 72-hour visa-free visits. With three full days to explore, there’s plenty you can do. We’ve already taken a look at what you can do with a visa-free trip to Beijing and Kunming. Next up, we’re…
A Guide to Buying Clothes in Chinese Posted by sasha on Aug 8, 2017

Shopping for anything can be difficult in a foreign language. This is especially true when visiting giant clothing markets in China. Everyone is competing for your attention (and your RMB), you have to bargain hard, and you’d better do so in Chinese! Once you get your language skills up to a decent enough level, shopping…
How to use the Chinese conjunction word 即使 Posted by Ayana on Aug 7, 2017

Learning a new language isn’t an easy task. There are different sounds to utter, thousands of new words to remember, and a new alphabet to decipher. Every language bears its own difficulties, and so does Chinese: new syllables, characters instead of an alphabet, and precise pronunciation of four tones. But Chinese also has its advantages…
At the Beach in Chinese Posted by sasha on Aug 3, 2017

We’re in the dog days of summer at the moment. It’s so hot outside you could even fry an egg on the sidewalk. What better way to beat the heat than a trip to the beach (沙滩 – shā tān)? Let’s learn some beach related vocabulary and take a look at a few popular destinations…
15 Chinese Words Using Lao Posted by sasha on Aug 1, 2017

There are thousands upon thousands of Chinese characters. While it’s certainly a Herculean task to learn them all, there are a few hundred you can focus your energy on that are very common and important. One such character is 老 (lǎo). Not only does this mean “old” or “elderly,” but it also refers to being “skilled”…