Five centuries have passed since Father Matteo Ricci, the only westerner together with Marco Polo depicted at the Millennium Centre of Beijing, where the story of those men who contributed to China is recalled, arrived as the first Catholic missionary to the court of Emperor Wan Li, and came into contact with the complex and […]
“Sik zo faan mei aa?” (“have you already eaten today?”, 食咗飯未呀) is a common greeting, comparable to our “hey, how’s it going?”, in Hong Kong as in all of China (in Mandarin they say “chi fan le ma?, 吃饭了吗”, the version above is in Cantonese). Therefore it’s no surprise to learn, even in little everyday
Chinese culinary culture (饮食文化, yinshi wenhua) is an indispensable aspect of Chinese life. As Confucius said: “food is the very first necessity of man”. Not to mention that, in China, it’s around the lunch table that business takes place. Food and the language 吃了饭没有？(chi le fan mei you?), “Have you eaten?”, has always been one
Yangshuo is a smiling town in the north of Guangxi located about 60 kilometers from Guilin, on the banks of the Li River, near the confluence of the Yulong River. It is set among the world-unique karst formations that have led it to be inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. This characteristic has favored,
Today we’ll talk about “Programming”. I don’t mean what they do in companies like Google or Microsoft, but of what is done to reach a certain objective, to seek a better future or simply to simplify (perhaps) their lives. Programming past and future The title of this article is simple: “The importance of programming in
As we’ve discussed in a previous article (Why Native English is Worth its Weight in Gold in China), learning English is something of a priority for the Chinese. But, despite all the time, money, and effort, China just can’t seem to produce very many competent ESL speakers. The flip side is no different; Chinese is
Have you just started learning Chinese and have often heard about “Traditional Chinese” and “Simplified Chinese” and want to know what the difference is? Do you already know the language rather well and want to know more on this particular aspect of writing? Do you want to know how and when Chinese characters came to
Simplified Characters and Traditional Characters: Differences, History and Use Read More »
The Guide to X1 & X2 Visas for China – Index What is an X visa? What’s the difference between the X1 and X2 visas? What documents do I need to get a X1 and X2 visa? Where can I apply for an X1 or X2 visa? What’s the duration of the X1 and X2
Study Visas (X1 & X2) for China – The Complete Guide Read More »
In the heart of the city center, bordering with Ratchathewi, is the Pathum Wan district. This neighborhood covers the entire area that goes from the BTS stop called National Stadium, up until Ploen Chit, going down south to also include Si Lom and the metro stations from Lumphini as far as Hua Lamphong. The name
The Pathum Wan Neighborhood in Bangkok: The Complete Guide Read More »
Tours to Sichuan Tibetan Kham – Index Where is Sichuan Tibetan Kham? Top things to see and do in Sichuan Tibetan Kham Recommended Sichuan Tibetan Kham tours and itineraries Best time to travel to Sichuan Tibetan Kham How to reach the Western Sichuan Kham region Lodging and food in Sichuan Tibetan Kham Travel regulations to
Tours to Sichuan Tibetan Kham – Our Complete Guide Read More »
General information Chiang Rai, a city considered noble due to its past as the capital of the Kingdom of Lanna, is especially famous for its proximity to the golden triangle; an area on the Mekong River where the territories of Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar meet, forming a triangle. The golden triangle is widely known abroad
Travel to Chiang Rai, the city of the White Temple (Wat Rong Khun) Read More »
Shanghai is home to one of the best metro systems in the world, fulfilling the needs of the city dwellers facing rapid urbanization. Modeled after Hong Kong’s stellar MTR system, Shanghai’s metro network keeps expanding and improving. In the ramp up to the Beijing Olympics in 2008, massive infrastructure expansions were seen along China’s coastal
In the year 2011, I was in China for the first time. I remember that I was traveling with my best friend, and as he was passionate about coffee, he couldn’t hold out and ended up paying more than 40 Yuan for a black coffee at a Chinese hotel. One year later, in 2012, I
The Chinese word used to indicate the art that we call calligraphy is shūfǎ (书法); composed of shū (书) which means book, letter, document and by extension writing (even if the word for to write has its own character: xiě, 写), and of fǎ (法) which means law and/or rule. From a semantic analysis of
Need a shampoo? …You are on your way to the supermarket when you get splashed by a girl who is washing her hair on the sidewalk. Update: I’ve re-published this article with 18 new photos While I was exploring the maze represented by my external hard disk to find some photos for this article, I
Chinese culture is rich and boasts a very ancient history. A first step in getting to know this world better is to get into the narrative and discover the literary works. The theme of this article deals with the figure of fox spirits, of which you can also find a trace of in our time
IMG_3631 by laurenceshan Why Bother Visiting Jiangxi? Jiangxi boasts some of the most amazing lush vegetation and beautiful mountains of China, but with few exceptions, by lacking nationally famous historical sights and having been one of the poorer provinces for some time, it’s not a place much think of when choosing a place to visit.
Note: This article is a rant. And I wrote it in 2012. It was published in another website which, recently, went offline forever. Since the thoughts I shared are still (very) relevant to China and its society, we decided to publish it on SDC. Today I did something I’m not proud of. Fast backward to
“He was only trying to help” – Face Issues in China Read More »
Are you looking for a tour in Laos or Southeast Asia? Click here to find out more about the tours we recommend Laos is universally known as a safe country – even international standards such as the Peace Index list this country among the safest places in Southeast Asia. The population is hospitable and relaxed,
Surviving in Laos, useful information for a safe trip Read More »
Look, this is how you smile Click here to read the review of the best platforms to get your TEFL Certification Online This article was written by Adrian Fleur, the author of Market of Eden. Make sure to check out her blog if you wish to move to Thailand or you are just curious to
Teaching English in Thailand: My experience in a kindergarten Read More »
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