Tag Archives: fireworks
A Very Chinese Chinese New Year Posted by sasha on Feb 25, 2015
After a 6-year hiatus from celebrating the Spring Festival in China, I decided to keep it local this year and take a short trip through southeast Yunnan’s Honghe Prefecture in favor of a beach vacation. Check out some highlights from our trip through this stunning part of China, home to many Hani and Yi people…
Why Spring Festival Sucks Posted by sasha on Feb 19, 2015
It’s that time of year again – fireworks are going off everywhere, auspicious couplets are hanging outside of doors, children are counting up their lucky money, and millions of people are moving around the country to see their loved ones. Ah yes, it’s Spring Festival (春节 – chūn jié) in China once more. It’s both…
Fireworks 烟火 (yàn huǒ) Posted by Stephen on Jul 5, 2011
Fireworks or 烟火 (yàn huǒ) are a Chinese invention and are synonymous with celebrations in Chinese culture. The earliest documentation of fireworks dates back to 7th century China where they were first used to frighten away evil spirits with their loud sound (鞭炮/鞭砲 biān pào) and to pray for happiness and prosperity. For any big holiday…
Lantern Festival (元宵节) Posted by sasha on Feb 17, 2011
Having just returned to Beijing last night after a month in Thailand and Laos, I made it back just in time for the final day of Spring Festival revelry – the Lantern Festival (元宵节 – yuán xiāo jié). As I type this post, a constant stream of fireworks and firecrackers are being set off right…
The Shanghai Expo (中国2010年上海世界博览会): “Shanghai’s Moment in the Sun” Posted by Stephen on May 3, 2010
As the dazzling displays of fireworks, interpretive performances and welling nationalist pride of the 2008 Beijing Olympics fade from international memory, another pro-China, six-month event (the largest and most expensive of it’s kind) has just begun this weekend in Shanghai, China (上海 Shàng hǎi). The Shanghai World Expo or 中国2010年上海世界博览会 (Zhōngguó Èrlíngyīlíng Nián Shànghǎi Shìjìe…