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LATEST NEWS

LATEST NEWS

 

Re: Chinese Dining Etiquette (Article)

Thanks so much for this article. I have 11 Chinese students studying Hospitality and English at my college, Miami Dade College. We're going to read this article and contrast it with American dining etiquette. I learned a lot from your article. I lived in San Francisco for 6 years and I am a proud chopstick user!...

 

Re: This Could Happen To You! Laundry Etiquette In China

We had a good laugh! We definitely have to agree with you that cultural norms are not explicit, and it then is up to you to find out how things are done. Which, of course, gives you some really good stories, and adds to what you gain from your travel to another country....

 

Rivers of China - Explore China at Its Best

It is perhaps no surprise that a nation that spans almost 10 million square kilometers has some of the longest and most impressive rivers in the world. The Yangtze River, stretching 6,380 kilometers across much of the country, is both the longest in China and in Asia, and ranks third longest in the world after the Nile and the Amazon. It has been harnessed for massive irrigation and power projects but is a constant flood risk. It feeds three major lakes, including Taiyu and Poiyang, and countless smaller tributaries that reach out into the Chinese countryside. Type in 'maps rivers of China' on any search engine and you will find many detailed maps of the Yangtze, showing its influence upon the economy, agriculture and environment of China. One of the largest of China's 1,500 rivers, The He...

 

Facts on the Great Wall - Setting the Record Straight on China's Great Wall

The Great Wall of China is one of the most recognizable monuments in the world. However, there are several misconceptions on the facts about the Great Wall of China, whose name actually refers to two separate constructions. The Original Great Wall, and Today's Great Wall Wall-building around settlements for protection was common practice in China for more than 3,000 years. From 403-221 BC, which was known as the Warring States period, territories fought for control of the area of modern-day China. Qin Shihuangdi, the first emperor of China, emerged victorious and created a unified China in 221 BC. He then built the original Great Wall to fortify China's northern border from invading tribes. Virtually nothing remains of Shihuangdi's Great Wall today. It lay in ruins well before the 15th and...

 

Learn Chinese in China Or Taiwan?

Is it better to learn Chinese in China or Taiwan? With global interest in China and their language at an all time high many people are wanting to learn how to speak Mandarin to learn more about Chinese culture and to open up business opportunities. One of the best ways to learn Chinese is to go abroad to study. While most students immediately think of going to learn in China, there are some pretty good reasons to consider learning in Taiwan that this article will examine. Schools and Teacher Quality Taiwan currently wins hands down on this point. Schools in Taiwan has been teaching Mandarin to foreigners for over 50 years while China has only recently opened up to foreigners again. Some of the language programs at the universities in Taiwan are very well established and the teachers in Tai...

 

How the Chinese Moon Festival is Celebrated in China

The Chinese Moon Festival is a favorite holiday among the Chinese. It is the opportune time to give thanks for the year's blessings and to re-kindle ties with family. The Chinese Moon Festival is celebrated every 15th night of the 8th in the Chinese lunar calendar. In this year's Western calendar (2008), it is celebrated on September 14. The Chinese believe that this is the night when the full moon is at its fullest and brightest. For the Chinese, the moon symbolizes prosperity and longevity. Its round shape also symbolizes the complete family circle. Chinese Moon Festival Food Mooncakes are distributed to business networks and relatives a week or two before the Chinese Moon Festival to re-affirm ties. Traditional recipes use fruit, seed, bean paste and meat as filling. Egg yolks are also ...

 

Travelling to China Tips

You are not specifically required to have any vaccinations for your travel to China but travel doctors recommend your routine immunization be up-to-date for: Tetanus-diphtheria (DPT), measles/Mumps/Rubella (MMR), Varicella (Chickenpox). Moreover, if you are arriving in China from a Yellow-Fever-affected area, you are specifically required to have proper vaccinations. Some other immunizations recommended depending on your age and the area you are going to visit, are: Hepatitis A & B, Typhoid, Japanese Encephalitis and Rabies. Travel doctors also advise you to see your physician especially one whose expertise is travel medicine about a month before your trip to China. You are also advised to visit a travel doctor if you are going to stay in China for a period of longer than 3 months. Certain...

 

Travel Visa For China - A Few Things Your Should Know

A Visa is considered among the many requirements that are needed for international travel. Only if an application is made followed by the issuing of a Visa to a said country will a person be allowed to enter the target country. A Visa has different categories meant for the many different purposes of entry. This can be as or even more perplexing compared to that of a passport. As with all other international Visas, a Travel Visa for China has many guidelines that have to be followed when application is made before it can be issued. Different countries of the world have their own different organizations for the issuance of Visas. In general, the organizations for issuing passport and Visas are the same one in a country. Some of the known different organizations that issue Visas are Ministrie...

 

Historical Places - The Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China happens to be one of the greatest wonders of the world. It winds through grasslands, mountains and deserts for roughly 6,500 km (over four thousand miles). There are several key facts about great wall that bear bringing to mind: * History: The Great Wall was erected as a defense structure by the states of Yan, Zhao and Qin. The Wall was extended several times, and later went through much repair and upkeep. The Wall didn't become the 'Great Wall' until under the Qin Dynasty, when the walls were joined together for protection against the Hans from the north. * Construction: The walls were constructed by stamping earth and gravel between board frames. The work was employed by sheer manpower - locals, prisoners and soldiers all worked together to raise the W all, to pro...

 

Famous Places in China Throughout History

A whole panoply of attractions span the entirety of this enormous, ancient and diverse nation. China is packed with monuments and artefacts that predate those in most of Europe, Australia and the USA. Despite political upheavals like the Cultural Revolution, such iconic structures as the Great Wall and Potala Palace remain. More than 2,000 years old, the Great Wall is the best-known and most awe-inspiring sight. It stretches 6,400 km (4,000 miles) across large parts of the country, with its most popular section in Badaling County, Beijing, amidst a beautiful mountain range. It is a myth that the Wall can be seen from the moon, as no astronaut has ever reported this as being possible. One of the other more famous places in China is the Forbidden City in Beijing, an assemblage of grand palac...

 

Re: Just to warn non- native speakers who intends to work in china!!!

Bad advice, unless of course you are comfortable with going to a foreign country and breaking the laws of said country without consideration of the consequences. Yes, definitely, put up some ads that illustrate clearly that you're a law breaker and make sure you include your address and phone number so that they can easily find you. This post by regor carmelos and any other posts that encourage you to break the laws in China should be ignored. There are proper channels to go through if you are a non native teacher of English and want to teach in China. There are necessary qualifications which include credentials. If you don't have such qualifications and/or credentials, why would you consider working here anyway? If you do have such qualifications and/or credentials................welcome!...

 

Re: Just to warn non- native speakers who intends to work in china!!!

the best way to do is go to china with a long term visa. rent a small room. then make an ad or distribute some flier ads for home english tutorial at only U$7.00/ per hour. you will earn better like me. chinese people find it too expensive to be taught by a native speaker....

 

Re: Why Do Chinese Girls Want To Marry Western Men?

I don't know why Chinese girls want to marry western guys, I hope it’s not all about money, I am from Chicago seeking a Chinese wife now... Thru CB, I am 49 and I'm seeking a girl in her 40's-50's not 21. So I hope you are all correct in thinking that they all just want to be cared for because I'm hoping for the same. I once dated a Chinese girl here in the states, she was younger and all she wanted to do is have **x, Surely I did not complain and was happy to accommodate her needs :-), But I was definitely seeking a more mature and traditional girl. Bill Chicago, IL...

 

Obtaining a China Visa - New Changes to the China Visa Application

Thanks to the Chinese Embassy, tourists and business people can go to China will less hassle, and they may even be able to go back more than once. Several changes have been made that relax the requirements needed to complete a China visa application. This opens a world of opportunity to those looking to enter into business in the country and to those simply looking to enjoy the countryside and culture. Business Applications Prior to the 2008 Olympic Games, everyone was left scrambling to collect all of the necessary paperwork needed for their China visa application and that included many of the world's business people. Called an F Visa, anyone doing business in the country was required to have a Visa Notification Form and was next to impossible for some to obtain. Numerous pieces of identi...

 

How to Identify the Reputable Recruiters and the Illegitimate Recruiters in China

The best way to find employment as a teacher in China is to directly answer ads from schools that advertise on reputable and well-established websites that cater to foreign teachers, such as the ESL Teachers Board. Another way of finding employment as an English teacher in China is to use the services of a recruiter. Although this can work to your advantage, it is absolutely imperative that you first ascertain that you are dealing with a reputable recruiter. This article will address what you need to know before deciding to work with a recruiter or recruitment agency. For starters, there is no such thing as an “official” recruitment agency in China. There is both a business and recruitment license required for agencies to legally recruit foreign experts but there is no agency in China that...

 

5 Tips to Live Like True Native Beijingers

1. Food - Douzhir, Jiao Quan, and Mung Tofu Douzhir (Fermented Bean Drink) is probably the most notorious traditional Beijing food. It is the single most important and easiest factor to determine if you are a real Beijinger. If you can bear the smell and drink it up without twitching your nose, you are half way to success. Made from mung beans, Douzhir has a history of almost 2,500 years. Most Beijingers have Douzhir as breakfast, accompanied with traditional snacks. Douzhir is no doubt healthy. Rich in Protein, Vitamin C, Coarse Fibre, and Sugar, it helps to reduce blood pressure and improve your appetite. It is said that if you hold your breath and try 2 bowls, you'll become addicted to it. Jiao Quan (Deepfried Snack) is a must have when drinking Douzhir. Made from flour, salt, alkali, a...

 

Zhang Qianqian - Female Rock Singer in Beijing

Zhang Qianqian, rock singer, writer, visual artist, and underground film actress, is one of the most gifted but unrecognized contemporary artist in modern China. The charming, sensitive, social inept, sometimes crazy and out of control female artist is one of the most beautiful and lonely souls, and the most contradictive and explosive mind I've known. Her first published sound recording "Patio" created quite a buzz during the early years of Chinese Rock n' Roll in the 90's, during which time I was in high school. Unfortunately she failed to continue cooperate with Red Star Records (the company that published "Patio" in a mix album) for her inability to deal with complex interpersonal relations. Her first and only solo album "Out of Body" was published in 2002, which established her status...

 

Great Wall of China Facts - Trivia and Information

The Great Wall of China is one of the most famous structures in all of the world. It is one of the most visited sites in all of China for tourists and is one of the seven wonders of the world. It has its share of fans those who spread rumors about it being seen from the moon. This articles attempts to provide accurate information about this well known structure and the many things about the Great Wall of China that make it so great. The Great Wall of China, above all, is a very long structure. It is a whopping 6,400 kilometers long. This length stretches up much of China. Also, the great wall was started around 7 BC but was finally completed by Ming in around the 1400s. It took nearly two milennia to see the completion of the wall. However, this statement is rather disingenuous because the...

 

Great Wall of China - China's Most Memorable Landmark

The Great Wall of China is one of China's most memorable landmarks. It is engrained in Chinese culture and has a lasting impression on the people. It is one of the foundations of Chinese culture. Many citizens can name some other integral parts of Chinese culture like their food, history and such. The Great Wall lands on this list as among the top of the cultural items. The Wall was first constructed around 7 B.C. and can be traced back to some of the earliest recordings of history. It was first constructed by the feudal lords of China to protect each territory from its respective enemies and opponents. Thus, the wall can be traced to some of the earliest recordings of Chinese life as the feudal lords. The Great Wall can then be traced back to times when the China was becoming unified and ...

 

Finding Fine Things in China

The Climate and Clothing It is good to travel to China in the fall that goes from September to November. The temperature is going to be comfortable and go between 50 and 72 degrees. You may find a chance of rain in there somewhere but otherwise it is great. You may want to stay away from the "four Furnaces" of China during the summer and these are going to be Chongging, When, Nanchang, and Tianjing. China also has four seasons and they are going to be spring in March and May, summer from June to August, autumn in September to November and winter in January to February. You should be sure that you are bringing the right type of clothes with you for each season. Summer is going to be the rainy time in China and you will need to bring a raincoat with you. You should not use an umbrella becaus...

 

Beware of scam - Li Gong Da Xue easy money for a meeting

Hey everyone, since my publication of ads for work I have been requested for several shady deals here in thebeijinger. SO i want to post this out for =eople to beware scammers out there. Anyways, from the start this guy sounded a bit strange, but I just assumed his =nglish wasn't very good so he couldn't communicate well. Here's the =tory: I just recently posted an ad on here looking for work and got a call from = "professor" of ligong da xue telling me they have some sort =eeting and they want foreigners there, and because I was looking for part-time =ork as an actor this would be good. (which means to me they are looking for =ctors?) First he said he worked for the university, then he said that the meeting is =or the Olympics and put up by the Olympics. And I would have to be on for 5 =i...

 

Nightlife in Hong Kong

As well as providing exceptional shopping, Hong Kong is also an often sought after travel destination because of its vibrant nightlife. Hong Kong embraces everything from the ritziest floor shows with top local and international talent, down to alley way restaurant dining and karaoke bars. Hong Kong caters for all tastes and desires. The most popular forms of nightlife activities frequently include restaurants, karaoke bars, discos, dance clubs and the cinema. In Hong Kong the party never stops and anything goes. Many nightclubs and bars are open 24 hours and as the third largest producer of movies, you can be sure to find a film to satisfy your needs. The nightclubs you encounter are uniquely different than those encountered in western cultures. Many nightclubs provide not only entertainm...

 

Re: Owen Buckland and Sarah Cove

I will agree that Sarah's post is full of errors; Mine may very well be as well. But trust me in saying that a lot of people who are complaining about scams have yet to actually state why it's a scam. Because you don't like his buisness practices? Big deal... Were you paid on time? Did you get everything the contract stated? Did you want to go to a different school? They let you choose your location AND if you're not happy with it you can go to a different school at any time. It says in the contract that if you break it you pay a fee...maybe that one "fred" guy wasted his money doing something stupid and was forced to go home without getting his payment or travel expenses... If so, why are you angry? Were you expecting a magical paid vacation full of blah blah blah? You were hired to do a ...

 

Welcome to Shanghai!

Shanghai has been called the "Paris of the East" and the "Queen of the Orient." Rich with history, Shanghai first opened its door to foreigners for trade in the 1840's. The resulting international community contributed to Shanghai's unique character, architecture, fashion and food. The Japanese invasion of 1937 forced most of the foreigners to flee the city and it would be 50 years before international influences would return to this alluring metropolis. Today Shanghai is China's most cosmopolitan city and is regarded as the economic powerhouse of mainland China. Shanghai will be hosting the World Trade Expo in 2010, which will showcase famous landmarks such as the Pearl Tower, the world's tallest hotel and the world's longest arch bridge. Initially, most newcomers are struck by the city's...

 

Live in China - Teach English

One of the best ways to travel abroad for a year or more is to teach English there. Foreigners are usually offered a competitive salary relative to native employees, and some might even live more comfortably in a foreign country, like China, than in the US. With the salary offered by one English teaching organization in China, English First, teachers can afford weekly massages and facials. The salaries depend on local costs and your teaching experience. All that is required is a Bachelor's degree, the ability to speak English, and a TEFL certificate. If you do not have a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certificate or equivalent, it is not that difficult to get one. There is an online course as well as TEFL schools. It usually takes about a month to acquire a TEFL certificate....

 

Working (Z) Visa in China - What You Need to Know

BEFORE LEAVING YOUR COUNTRY Before leaving your country, you need to apply for and obtain a visa, which when added to your passport will allow you entrance into China. To work legally in China, you need the following: *Z-visa (aka working visa) *Foreign Expert/Work Certificate *Residence permit The other three types of visas are the tourist (L) visa, the business (F) visa, and the student (X) visa. Z-VISA The Z-visa allows you to come into China with the intention to work. It is a single-entry visa that is valid for 30 days after arriving in China. In order to be approved for a Z-visa, you will need the following: * Letter of invitation from your employer *Work permit that your employer obtains on your behalf *Medical check (in some cases) China only issues Z-visas to those they consider t...

 

The History of Chinese Cuisine

In China, food and its preparation has been developed so highly that it has reached the status of an art form. Rich and poor, the Chinese people consider that delicious and nutritious food is a basic necessity. There is an old Chinese saying “Food is the first necessity of the people”. This art has been cultivated and refined over hundreds of years. Legend has it that the culture of Chinese cuisine originated in the 15th century BC during the Shang dynasty and was originally introduced by Yi Yin, it’s first Prime Minister. The two dominant philosophies of Chinese culture both had extreme influences on the political and economic history of the country but it is less well known that they also influenced the development of the culinary arts. Confucius emphasised the artistic and social aspect...

 

Rats Tale (Rat Year)

February 7, 2008 begins the new Year of the Rat. There are many rat stories in China, and the "rats marrying off daughter" is one of the most popular. Here goes the story: When the rats' daughter reaches the age of marriage, they tell her to select the most powerful to be her husband. After careful consideration, the rat daughter decides that the sun is most powerful. She asks the sun to marry her. The Sun says, "Dark Cloud can block sunrays. He is more powerful. You'll be better off marring Dark Cloud." The rat daughter proposes to Dark Cloud. Dark Cloud says, "Wind can blow me away. He is more powerful. You'll be better off marring Wind." The rat daughter proposes to Wind. Wind says, "Wall can stop me. He is more powerful. You'll be better off marring Wall." The rat daughter proposes to ...

 

How Do You Say Yes Or No in Chinese?

Many beginning learners of the Chinese language want to know how to say yes or no in Chinese. Most believe that there should be exact equivalents to the English yes or no (understandably so, since most languages DO have matching words for these affirmative and the negative responses.) Unfortunately, saying yes or no in Chinese is actually a little more difficult than just learning a single word that is the equivalent to the English yes or no. First, you need to understand the situation when a yes or no response is necessary -- and that is: when someone asks you a closed-ended question. A closed-ended question is a question that can only be answered with a yes or a no. For example: Do you like China? or Do you have an older brother? Using these two closed-ended questions as examples, let's ...

 

Living in China

I don't really live in China. Not really. Shanghai, although it is of course in China, is a bit like a bubble. The rules here are a little different; the standard of living, generally speaking, is higher and as a result a wide range of people from all over the world choose to make Shanghai their home. This brings advantages and disadvantages, which I will discuss in a later article. Let me start here by giving a little background to how I arrived at this booming international city. It had long been my dream to travel to Asia, with the hope that I could enjoy a few years of peaceful travel and meditation. In 2003 I finally got myself sufficiently organised to save the money I thought I would need for three years of travel in South East Asia. I travelled to Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and ...

Province of Guangzhou

GUANGZHOU , once known to the Western world as Canton , leaves many people with the unfavourable impression that China dwells in relentless chaos and that the city is simply a bad caricature of Hong Kong. Guangzhou is indeed very much modern China pushed to the limits: the traffic and pollution are horrendous, bridges and crumbling flyovers which seemed ludicrously over-ambitious when built in the mid-1980s now groan under the weight of vehicles and shelter the homeless during wet weather, and the city seems not so much to be booming as blowing apart at the seams. Buffeted by the crowds, travellers tend to stay only long enough to tackle a couple of temples and museums before organizing a ticket out, hoping that the rest of the country will prove less overwhelming.

Solidly geared to business rather than tourism, it may seem in any case that Guangzhou has little to offer the casual visitor. In purely practical terms, however, while the city is expensive compared with some parts of China, it's considerably cheaper than Hong Kong - particularly in regard to shopping and onward travel . Airfares into China from Guangzhou are about half what you'd pay south of the border, allowing big savings even after you factor in transport from Hong Kong and a night's accommodation. You'll also find that, having mastered the initial shock, Guangzhou is a city you can learn to enjoy. Compared with Beijing's bureaucratic aloofness or the image-conscious populace of Shanghai, the city's inhabitants are immediately upfront, and pleasantly indifferent to foreign faces after two thousand years of contact with the outside world. They're also compulsively garrulous, turning Guangzhou's two famous obsessions - eating and business - into social occasions, and filling streets, restaurants and buildings with the alternately guttural and musical sounds of Yuehua , the rhythmic Cantonese language. Guangzhou has also traditionally been the first place where foreign influences have seeped into the country, often through returning Overseas Chinese, and this is where to watch for the latest fashions and to see how China will interpret alien styles. The sounds of techno, Canto-pop, and punk fill the night-clubs here, not karaoke and Chinese folk tunes, and youths in leather and blue-tinted, wraparound sunglasses ride Japanese Harley-Davidson clones. Although the city lacks any great sights, you can easily ditch its Western veneer by wandering into the maze of flagstoned back lanes, in search of monuments and busy markets hidden away from casual observers.

The City
Depending on your mood, Guangzhou can be compulsively energetic or disturbingly intense - either way, not somewhere to come for peace and relaxation. Commerce is its lifeblood, a religion inspiring everybody from train station pickpockets to company directors and, with this in mind, it's one of the most vibrant cities in China. At times there doesn't seem to be enough room for all the wheeling and dealing: markets completely block alleyways, and the need to set up shop wherever there's space has caused some strange bedfellows - where else would you find a store selling mining drills and laser theodolites sandwiched between a florist and a nightclub? Yet there's another, more community-orientated side to the city, rarely farther away than the nearest alley. With a fair sense of direction, the best way to get to grips with Guangzhou is to make your way around on foot, taking every available back lane. It can be a real surprise after the main streets to come across older residential districts with their flagstones, tiny collectors' markets, laundry strung on lines between buildings, and homes screened away behind wooden doors with heavy swing gates