Beijing to Kunming By Train Posted by sasha on Jun 8, 2016
If you enjoy traveling by train, China is a country that should be high atop your list. While the US technically has a larger rail network than China, a majority of the lines are used for freight. When it comes to moving passengers around, China blows the US out of the water. China’s railways delivered nearly…
My Neighborhood in Chinese Posted by sasha on Jun 6, 2016
A great way to start building your vocabulary and practice talking about places and directions is to introduce your neighborhood (邻里 – lín lǐ) or community (社区 – shè qū; 小区 – xiǎo qū). If you live in a Chinese city, your neighborhood is most likely a very busy place, with all sorts of shops, businesses…
Real Chinese Food Recap Posted by sasha on Jun 2, 2016
Over the past few months, I’ve been introducing real Chinese food here on the blog. It should come as no surprise that the Panda Express or New Dynasty Buffet in your neighborhood isn’t exactly cooking up authentic Chinese cuisine, but rather a westernized version of it. Not everyone has the opportunity to actually travel to…
Music Genres in Chinese Posted by sasha on May 26, 2016
Music (音乐 – yīn yuè) is a huge part of my life. From playing cello, percussion, and guitar through my school years, to following my favorite bands around the country, to attending music festivals in the US, China, and Indonesia, music has always played an important role in my life. How about you? Do you…
Better Know a… Province (Hubei) Posted by sasha on May 25, 2016
We’ve already visited Hunan, so it’s only natural that our next stop be “North of the Lake,” as we head to Hubei (湖北 – hú běi). History The area that is today known as Hubei was home to Neolithic cultures, as evidenced by painted pottery that was excavated there. During the Spring and Autumn Period…
Top Beijing Attractions Posted by sasha on May 23, 2016
There’s lots to see and do in Beijing, as the Chinese capital is full of some of the most important and famous attractions in the entire country. History buffs, foodies, art aficionados, shopaholics, and party animals can all find something to do in the ‘Jing. While there’s enough to do in Beijing to keep you…
Chinese Astronomy Lesson Posted by sasha on May 19, 2016
While it may not be the most useful thing to study when learning a new language, astronomy (天文学 – tiān wén xué) is certainly an interesting topic. When it comes to Chinese, learning the names of the planets and other astronomy-related vocabulary can help you become familiar with common characters that are used in a variety…