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Beijing: Past & Present
In the early 1400’s the city was named Beijing (“Northern Capital”) and became the official capital of China. Since the government’s economic reforms starting in the 1980’s the city has been transformed into a modern cultural centre. People say that the real culture of Beijing is “the culture of hutong” and “the culture of courtyard”. […]
MoreChinese Holidays & Festivals
The Chinese observe two sets of holidays, official and traditional. In addition, minority nationalities in China have their own unique celebrations. Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Macao also have their own official and traditional holidays The Chinese observe two sets of holidays, official and traditional. In addition, minority nationalities in China have their own unique celebrations. […]
MoreMandarin Language
Mandarin Chinese is the most widely spoken language in the world, and the language of the world’s most populous nation – China. Due to the rise of China’s economic clout, many people are interested in learning Mandarin. Language classes, textbooks, and digital resources (such as CD’s and websites) make Mandarin more accessible than ever before. […]
MoreMandarin Lessons
Learning a new language can be a daunting things. Our friends at China Radio International have made this animated video series to make learning Mandarin fun and easy How to say basic greetings Lesson 1 Video 1 Making acquaintances Lesson 2 Video 2 Where do you live Lesson 3 Video 3 Family Lesson 4 Video 4 […]
MoreBudget Beijing: Some Advice During Your Training Period And Beyond
It’s pretty easy really and it’ll make you an expert haggler. On arriving in Beijing and sending the obligatory “I’ve arrived, I’m alive” email to my friends and family in which I marvelled at the all the new and exciting things that I had seen so far, it seemed that the topic that had me […]
MoreEducation In China
Perhaps no country has constantly put such a high value on education as the Chinese. Education has played a vital role in China for well over 2000 years and perhaps no country has constantly put such a high value on education as the Chinese. The particular political system which was adopted in the Han dynasty […]
MoreChina Tour Scams
In major tourist areas like Tian’anmen Square, Wangfujing, Houhai etc some locals may approach you and start up a conversation with a story aimed at getting money out of you. These are some of the typical scams to look out for: Tea Ceremonies: You are at a famous tourist spot, when a very polite young […]
MoreChinese 酒 – Alcohol In China
Here are some good tips for those who want to get a business deal done over the dinner table. They might sound very simple, but it is considered important in the local culture. “Gan Bei!” like the English “Cheers!” can sometimes be the two most dreaded words in China. Often, business dinners and other social […]
MoreThe Great Race – Origins Of The Chinese Zodiac
We are all familiar with the Chinese Zodiac, but do you know the story from which the 12 animals originate? Celebrate the new year by reading the story of ‘The Great Race’ – a famous fable told to children across China every Chinese New Year! An ancient folk story tells that Cat (猫) and Rat […]
MoreHow To Make Chinese Friends
Making friends in a new country can be crazy and scary, especially if the language of that country is unfamiliar. Sometimes to make friends it requires a certain amount of creativity; you must be willing to put some work in and step outside of your comfort zone. Preparation is key. The more time you have […]
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