In my youth, I knew about all the classic novelists, such as Charles Dickens, Thomas Hardy, D.H. Laurence, Jane Austin, Victor hugo, just to name a few. Yet, somehow, I admit now to going through life without ever actually reading one of their original works, cover to cover. Brute honesty drives me to say it … Continue reading Mandarin Tips – Classic Novels
Funnily enough, senior figures of the China-US Association of Chongqing have been Wechat contacts for a number of years. In the non too distant past, they even hosted a masked ball in my apartment complex reception venue. Yet, despite us having brushed shoulders on occaisions so long, Saturday evening will be the day I finally … Continue reading The China-US Association
Here is the second installment of my international marriage posts. I began yesterday by describing my own personal experiences, along with some cultural tips I believe anyone considering marriage to a Chinese woman should consider. Like I said, the vast majority of international marriages involve Chinese women, yet there is a sizeable number of couples … Continue reading An ‘Overseas Daughter-in-Law’ in China
I have a double header of international marriage in Chongqing for you. The first today is from my own perspective, the experiences of an Englishman married to a Chongqing lady, which should generalise well enough for males from western countries. Though international marriages in Chongqing involve foreign men and Chinese women, as is the case … Continue reading Marriage to a Chongqing Lady
I have always been a keen proponent of independent travel throughout my years in China, the reasons for which are two-fold. On a personal level, I love the freedom to choose my own route, schedule, mode of transport, accommodation, where to explore, or whether to simply kick back and relax. From a pragmatic viewpoint, there … Continue reading Tour Group Experiences
Luan-pi-chai 乱劈柴 means something along the lines of 'Hap-hazardly chop firewood,' and is a simple but insanely fun drinking game that locals in Chongqing love to play over social gatherings, especially hotpot. First let me explain some background of the name luan-pi-chai. Later, I'll explain its connection to the social game in this post. Chopping … Continue reading Interaction – Playing ‘Luanpichai’
Hotpot is the most famous delicacy associated with Chongqing nationwide. No matter where you travel in China, you will almost certainly find a 'Chongqing Huoguo (Fire wok) 重庆火锅' restaurant in town. There are countless avenues for us to explore with hotpot; the history, key ingredients, utensils, varieties, specialties, brands, social culture, homemade versions, entertainment, games, … Continue reading Fun with Hotpot Menus
So far in my blog, I've already covered two Mandarin language resources that helped me through that tricky beginner's stage, and within a full year of my arrival in Chongqing. Just in case you haven't read them, they are the Mandarin pop VCDs and Crazy English Reader magazine. Another resource that taught me muchaimed at … Continue reading Mandarin Tips – Communicating in Chinese TV Show
Staying on the theme of exhibitions, another grand scale project in the LiangJiang New North Zone is the Garden Expo. While the International Conference and Exhibition Centre is a gigantic indoor arena that can host events of all magnitudes, the Garden Expo is a vast park where you can look for the many individual garden … Continue reading Chongqing Garden Expo Park
According to the Chinese lunar calendar, tomorrow will be the fifteenth day of the eight month, signifying the mid-point of autumn under a full moon. Along with the Spring Festival, the rite of mid-autumn has been a sacred date on the calendar since ancient times in China. To this day, the traditions of 'Zhong-qiu-jie中秋节' continue … Continue reading Mid-Autumn Festivities
For many years, Chongqing Television has run a program with several episodes a week called 'Fog City Night Tales,' or Wuduyehua雾都夜话. Chinese people nationwide know Chongqing as both 'Mountain City' and 'Fog City.' Indeed, the low elevation of Sichuan, locked in on all sides by mountain ranges, plus the humidity from its extensive waterways, often … Continue reading Fog City Night Tales
I know what you're probably thinking, but hear me out. Believe me, my singing career was over long before it even began, but that never stopped me using Chinese music video CDs as an amazing way to overcome those initial linguistic hurdles. Times have certainly changed. During my first years in Chongqing, there was practically … Continue reading Mandarin Tips – Karaoke VCDs
One day around 2004, well before the advent of smart phones and internet speeds exceeding snail pace, Shapingba District, my first vaunt in Chongqing, abounded with shopfronts, kiosks, and makeshift stalls offering pulications to all mainstream tastes. Keen to find better resources for learning Chinese, the eye-catching glossy cover of Crazy English Reader疯狂英语阅读版 caught my … Continue reading Mandarin Tips – Crazy English Reader
