Beijing’s altitude ranges widely, from high in the northwest to low in the southeast. It is surrounded by ountains to the west, north, and northeast, and the southeast is a plain that slowly inclines to the Bohai Sea. Most of the rivers that flow through the territory, the Yongding River, Chaobai River, and North Canal, originate from the mountains in the northwest, meander to the southeast, flow through the plains, and finally flow into the Bohai Sea.

Beijing’s climate is the typical warm, temperate, semi-humid climate, and it is hot and rainy in summer and cold and dry in winter, with a short spring and autumn.
“What says ‘Beijing’ to me in one word?”

1.BIG
Let’s take a look at travel in Europe. From France to Germany, for example, it might be an hour by bus – hop on another bus for an hour, and you’re in Poland. But Beijing?
Spend an hour on a bus on a typical morning commute and you may not even have left the city district you started in! The average Beijing office worker 52 miles every day by public transporation which, if you add up over the course of the year, is as if they’ve traveled once around the globe!

2. Inclusive
Beijing’s fame as a city with thousands of years of history and culture is not limited to local influence. When you step into the city you’ll find it has been shaped by wonderful combinations of ancient and modern, tradition and technology, East and West. Beijing’s culture of exclusivity extends to age, gender, wealth, race, nationality, and religious beliefs, meaning that people of all stripes coexist well in this city.

3. (The Great) Wall
Okay, okay, maybe it’s not one word, but how can you mention Beijing without mentioning the Great Wall? With its 2,000-year history, this amazing feat of human engineering and construction ranks first among the “new seven wonders” in the world, and with good reason: the Great Wall very literally shaped the course of China’s development.

例句：lì jù:
Example sentence:
Bú  dào  cháng  chéng  fēi  hǎo  hàn.
不    到      长       城      非    好    汉。
One who fails to reach the Great Wall is not a hero.

4. Imperial
Sure Beijing is the modern capital of China, but it’s position of import stretches back many years: the Imperial Palace was the seat of power in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Located in the center of Beijing, it is the pinnacle of China’s ancient palace architecture, and is crowned (no pun intended) as the largest imperial palace complex in the world.

5. Tiananmen
This symbol of the city whose name is a combination of the words “heaven” (天 tiān), “peace” (安 ān) and “gate” (门mén). It’s place in ancient and modern Chinese history cannot be understated, and make it a must-see for domestic and foreign tourists alike. Also, as should come as no surprise by now if you’ve made it this far in the article, Tiananmen Square is the largest city center square in the world.

6. Scholarship
There are really many (91!) universities in Beijing, of which the most well-known are Peking University, Tsinghua University, Renmin University of China, and Beijing Normal University, though there are many others that hundreds of thousands of students from around the country seek spots in every year.

例句：lì jù:
Example sentence:
Wǒ  xī  wàng  míng  nián  kě   yǐ  dào     běi   jīng  dà   xué   zuò  jiāo  huàn  shēng .
我    希   望       明     年    可    以   到      北     京     大   学     做     交    换      生。
I hope to be an exchange student at Peking University next year.

7. Go!
A bird flying over the streets of Beijing would see that, no matter the time of day, Beijing’s streets are ALWAYS busy. While of course there are the standard “rush hours” as with any metropolis, the number of people in the city means that someone is always on their way to somewhere to do something… never a moment’s rest!

例句：lì jù:
Example sentence:
Wǒ  xū  yào  jìn  kuài  shì  yìng  běi  jīng  de  kuài  jié  zòu  shēng  huó.
我   需   要   尽   快     适      应    北   京    的    快    节    奏    生     活。
I need to adapt to the fast pace of life in Beijing as soon as possible.

“Beijing in a word”? Oops, looks like that was a big ask, but I hope that this overview shows that no matter what you’re looking for – culture, education, technology, tranquility, history – you can find it in this amazing city. There truly is something for everyone. As people across the country sang during the 2008 Summer Olympics, “北京欢迎你 Běi jīng huān yíng nǐ”… Beijing welcomes you!

You May Want to Learn More :
“The Best Festivals You’ve Never Heard of”
“Learn Chinese from Chinese animation”
”A Day More Exciting Than Your Birthday”

1. Yorkshire Pudding Boat Race, Brawby, Yorkshire, England. It all started in 1999 when a bored man pondered the idea of sailing down the river in a giant Yorkshire pudding boat. Giant Yorkshire pudding boats are made from flour, water, and eggs. Now part of English folklore, Yorkshire Pudding Boats were said to have been originally baked to use as rescue boats in times of severe flooding. The recipe for one boat calls for 50 eggs, four bags of flour, 25 pints of milk, all beaten and baked, lined with industrial foam-filler and then finished with layers of yacht varnish to prevent them from going soggy. It might have you wondering if it become an Olympic sport any time soon. Don’t hold your breath.

2. Sterling Renaissance Festival operates in Sterling, New York, USA since 1976 and runs for seven consecutive weekends through July and August. It features music, comedy, and interactive theatre performances as well as the work of artisans and craftspeople. Although it is celebrated in Sterling, New York, the setting is the year 1585 in the fictional village. There is even a jousting field where full-contact jousting takes place, as well as displays of archery. In addition, patrons can ride the war-horses of the jousters! It is a great celebration of the Elizabethan era where you can relive the past and experience some of the cultures of ages past.

过节 guò jié festival, holiday

Example sentences:

rén  rén  dōu  xǐ  huān  guò  jié.
人    人    都    喜     欢    过   节。
Everyone likes festivals!

lǐ  xiān  shēng  zhǐ  yǒu  guò  jié  de  shí  hòu  cái  yǒu  shí  jiān  huí  jiā.
李   先     生     只    有   过   节    的   时    候   才   有     时    间   回   家。
Mr. Li only has time to go home during the holidays.

3. Donauinselfest in Vienna has long been home to musical geniuses, with luminaries such as Mozart being previous residents, but unless you happen to be Austrian, there’s a good chance you’ve never even heard of Donauinselfest, yet visitor numbers hit the 3 million mark over 3 days, making this one of the biggest music festivals on the planet. It’s a big deal. Held on an island in the middle of the Danube River, Donauinselfest boats upwards of 2,000 different performances over the course of the festival. The best part? Tickets are free!

庆祝 qìng zhù celebrate
Example sentences:

jīn  tiān  wǒ  men  yì    qǐ  qìng  zhù  tā  de  shēng  rì .
今   天    我    们    一    起    庆    祝   她  的    生    日。
Today we’re celebrating her birthday together.

wǒ  men   hé   bù   kāi   píng   xiāng   bīn   jiǔ   qìng   zhù   yí    xià    ne?
我    们      何    不    开     瓶     香       槟    酒     庆    祝     一    下    呢?
Why don’t we crack open a bottle of champagne to celebrate?

4. Boryeong Mud Festival (보령머드축제) takes place in Boryeong, South Korea. And just as it sounds, things get pretty dirty. The mud is taken from the Boryeong mud flats, and trucked to the Daecheon beach festival area, where it is used as the centerpiece of the ‘Mud Experience Land’. The mud is considered rich in minerals and used in some Korean brand cosmetics. Although the festival takes place over a period of around two weeks, it is most famous for its final weekend, which is popular with Korea’s western population. The final weekend of the festival is regularly the second weekend in July. You can expect everything from mud wrestling, mud sliding, mud swimming, mud fountains, mud pools, mud massage zones, and even a mud prison, all of which are guaranteed to have you looking like a muddy monstrosity within minutes.

5. Krampusnacht, in Germany and Austria
Every one knows Santa Clause, or as he’s called in Europe, Saint Nicholas. Of course he rewards children with sweets. But what happens to the naughty kids? They are punished, of course. That’s where Krampus come is. He is known for hitting disobedient children, giving them coal or even taking them away to his lair. He looks to be half-goat and half-demon In several countries, including Austria, Hungary, Slovenia, Germany and the Czech Republic, the night before the feast of St Nicholas is Krampusnacht. Many towns, particularly in Alpine regions, host parades of people dressed as Krampus in an event known as the Krampuslauf, or Krampus Run. Hide your kiddies! Or if they deserve it, don’t.

游行 yóu  xíng Parade, procession, demonstration

Example sentences:

rén  men  chuān  zhe  gǔ  zhuāng  cān  jiā  yóu  xíng.
人   们       穿      着     古       装     参     加    游     行。
People wore historical costumes for the parade.

mǎ  xì  tuán  de  yǎn  yuán  men  hé  nà  xiē  dòng  wù  yán  zhe  zhǔ  jiē   yóu   xíng.
马   戏   团   的   演      员    们     和    那    些   动    物    沿    着   主   街     游     行。
The circus performers and animals paraded down Main Street.

While most of the world is still postponing these evens, you should definitely put them on your calendar for the future. You never know what you might learn by traveling to a new location because there’s something special about traveling to experience new festivals. The atmosphere is different, the people are interesting, the destination somehow feels more alive, more energetic, more worth all of the hastles of getting to a place out of your comfort zone. And believe me, some of these will transport you far from it. What festival are you looking forward to the most?

You May Want to Learn More :
“5 Chinese Foods That Are an Acquired Taste”
“Different Manners (and Mannerisms) from Around the World”
”Tour the World of Chinese Drinking Culture”

Sichuan cuisine, for example, is well-known for its generous incorporation of a variety of peppers that cause the eater’s body to have many different reactions, from salivating, to euphoria, to sweating, to having an overwhelming craving for ice cream… but what is actually going on here? Why are peppers so popular? Is often eating spicy food harmful?

1. The Spread of the Pepper
Despite pepper’s prominence in Chinese cuisine, it actually came to the Asian continent from the Americas via Europe. On one of Columbus’s return voyages from America, his crew brought peppers with them; with the later Portuguese exploration of the East, peppers arrived in Asia and appeared in India, Japan, China, and other places in turn.

Nowadays, pepper is an absolute must-have in Chinese culinary arts, more important even than star anise and cinnamon. Additionally, widening its range of uses and thousands of flavor combinations have truly become an artform in themselves, Guizhou’s Laoganma chili sauce is now sold in stores around the world.

2.Why do people love something that makes them feel so bad?
Interestingly, regional levels of consumption vis-à-vis chili peppers in China often correlate to the climate and geography. One common line of thinking holds that mountainous, high-altitude areas, while friendly to growing these fiery little berries, are not ideal for the human body; traditional Chinese medicine requires everything to be balanced and aligned in the body, so a buildup of “cold” and “wet” in the body needs to be dealt with. And what better way than to eat something that makes you forget all about your internal elemental imbalances!

Just kidding, the theory is more that pepper enables to body to rid itself of the dampness and cold by opening up the body’s pores and amping up the heart rate, a result that probably sounds familiar to you if you have ever chomped down on a piece of hǔ pí là jiāo (虎皮辣椒)… more on that, later.

From a neurochemical perspective, capsaicin, the compound that causes sweating, dilation of blood vessels, and more fun reactions, causes the brain to interpret what’s happening as a kind of “burning”, and in turn the brain secretes endorphins to make you feel warm and fuzzy (as opposed to hot and itchy). Even after the feeling of the spicy food has dissipated, the endorphins’ residual effects continue to create feelings of general happiness.

Of course, if someone suffers from certain conditions like stomach ulcers or acid reflux they may want to consult a health professional before embarking on a spicy food-filled odyssey, but for the majority of the population spicy food can be enjoyed responsibly!

3.Just how much of a “hot head” are you?

We know, this is what you REALLY came to see, where you were looking forward to testing out just how much of a spicy expert you are. Here are 8 classic spicy Chinese dishes from different regions of the country… see how many you’ve tried, and let us know which pictures and descriptions have you salivating (tears of excitement or tears from a spiced tongue are both acceptable reactions, too).

là zǐ jī 辣子鸡 Fried Spicy Chicken

Fried spicy chicken is a very popular dish, and great for sharing! It’s usually made from chicken, green onion, dried chilis, Chinese prickly ash (“Sichuan peppercorn”), salt, pepper, and MSG.

hǔ pí là jiāo 虎皮辣椒 Pan-Seared Green Chili Pepper

This dish is exactly what it sounds like “Tiger Skin Chili Pepper” is popularly found in Sichuan cuisine and, in addition to its obvious spicy profile, also boasts flavors that are sour and sweet, crisp, and refreshing.

shuǐ zhǔ niú ròu 水煮牛肉 Sliced Beef in Hot Chili Oil

Of COURSE we’re going to mention this one! This spicy boiled beef is a classic Sichuanese choice and, when prepared well, is a true crowd pleaser since there’s something for everyone in that pot: beef, bean sprouts, duck blood, broth, lettuce or other vegetables, and rice noodles.

xiāng là xiā 香辣虾 Spicy Prawns

Spicy prawns – the name says it all! These are prepared by cooking shrimp in a chili-based, fragrant sauce that will have you reaching for another shellfish in spite of the fact that you’ll be convinced your tongue is literally on fire.

duò jiāo yú tóu 剁椒鱼头 Steamed Fish Head with Diced Pickled Hot Peppers

The diced and pickled hot peppers are a specialty of Hunan and Jiangxi cuisine, and their addition to the tender and umami-filled meat found in the head of the fish make for a unique eating experience that is a must-have for anyone visiting the provinces!

gān biān yóu yú 干煸鱿鱼 Dry Fried Squid

Making this salty, spicy seafood-y dish is easy! All you have to do is take off all the unnecessary parts of the squid, cut the meat into strips, stir fry them with some chili peppers (okay, and maybe some other savory ingredients), and voila! You have yourself some curly little snacks.

là jiāo chǎo ròu 辣椒炒肉 Stir Fried Pork with Chili Peppers

It may sound simple, but having only thin slices of pork and chili peppers (mostly green, a few red) as the main ingredients means that you have to know what you’re doing to really coax the flavor out of each of them. If you do it right, there’s a perfect balance of spice, oil, and salt on top of a crisp texture.

má pó dòu fu 麻婆豆腐 Mapo Tofu

The “hometown hero” of the list, of course mapo tofu is on the list. It’s probably the most representative dish of Sichuanese food inside and outside of China. There’s something about the tender tofu, perfectly-fried ground pork, and bubbling chili oil that has people always reaching for “just one more bite”.

zài  wǒ  de  jiā  xiāng ，là  jiāo  shì  rén  men  fàn  zhuō  shɑng  bù  kě  quē  shǎo  de  yí  dào  cài.
在  我   的   家    乡，    辣  椒    是   人    们     饭     桌     上      不   可   缺   少    的  一    道   菜。
In my hometown, pepper is an indispensable dish on people’s table.

wǒ  zhǐ  néng   jiē  shòu  shí  wù  lǐ  fàng  shǎo  liàng  de   là  jiāo.
我   只     能     接    受   食    物    里     放    少    量    的    辣   椒。
I’m only okay with a small amount of chili pepper in the food.

jīn  tiān  wǒ  men  cháng  shì  pēng  rèn   là   zǐ    jī.
今  天    我    们       尝       试     烹     饪    辣  子  鸡。
Today we’re trying to cook fried spicy chicken.

You May Want to Learn More :
“Why Are Most Chinese People Used to Bathing at Night Instead of in The Morning? ”
“The Chinese Boat with a Dragon’s Heartbeat”
”Other Chinese Expressions for “Embarrassment””

One area in particular, bathing habits, is an interesting area to look at. Throughout China there are different approaches to bathing, ranging from quick rinses to going to a public bath and lounging afterwards, getting massages, or hanging out in a sauna to relieve their fatigue. The thing is, regardless of what’s happening when it comes time to bathe, whether going to a public bath or cranking up the water heater at home, for the large majority of Chinese people it’s happening at in the evening rather than in the morning. Why is that?

In general, bathing is seen purely as a way to cleanse the body after a hard day of work, coming into contact with lots of people (of which there are a lot of in China!) and different environments. When I come home from work I usually take a hot bath, especially in the evening, to help me relieve fatigue of the day’s work, calm me down, and promote blood circulation throughout my body. After taking a bath, I feel more relaxed and ready to sleep.

However, many non-Chinese people opt to shower as part of their morning ritual, helping them to wake up and welcome the new day, making sure that they’re clean and fresh when they meet other people. Also, many foreigners exercise in the morning and so choose to get clean after that, a trend that is also gaining traction in large cities in China.

As many people feel rejuvenated once they are clean, those looking for an extra pick-me-up in the morning hours may benefit from bathing or showering then in order to prepare for the work day ahead of them.

中文例句 (zhōng wén lì jù):

疲劳 (pí láo): n. fatigue, weariness

xià  bān  huí  jiā  xǐ  gè  rè  shuǐ  zǎo ，kě  yǐ  huǎn  jiě  yì  tiān  de pí   láo.
下   班    回    家  洗  个 热   水    澡，  可 以    缓     解  一  天  的   疲   劳。
Taking a hot bath when you get home from work can relieve the fatigue of the day.

面对 (miàn duì): v. to confront; to face

wǒ  xí  guàn  zǎo  shɑng  xǐ  zǎo ，yīn  wèi  zhè  yàng  wǒ  kě  yǐ   gèng
我   习   惯      早     上    洗   澡，  因    为    这     样    我  可    以     更
yǒu  jīng  lì  miàn  duì  yì  zhěng  tiān  de  gōng  zuò.
有    精    力    面    对   一     整    天    的    工     作。
I’m used to taking a bath in the morning, because I can have more energy to face a whole day’s work.

洗澡 (xǐ zǎo): v. to shower; to bathe

wǒ  měi  tiān  xǐ  zǎo  yào  huā  yí   gè   xiǎo  shí.
我    每     天   洗  澡   要    花    一    个    小    时。
It takes me an hour to shower every day.

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“5 Chinese Foods That Are an Acquired Taste”
“A Day More Exciting Than Your Birthday”
”New Chinese levels added”

Also, our last example has some insight into Chinese humor and internet vocabulary, so make sure you read to the end!

1. tiào jìn huáng hé yě xǐ bù qīng 跳进黄河也洗不清
Literal meaning: “Unable to wash oneself clean even if one jumps into the Yellow River.”
Metaphorical meaning: to be unable to rid oneself of a connection to something bad or of suspicion

In fact, this expression was originally phrased as an allegorical saying: “Jumping into the Yellow River can’t wash it clean” due to the fact that the Yellow River was known for its turbid water, i.e., “these bad results were inevitable”—washing in the Yellow River would only make someone dirtier! As such, people were careful not to say, “Even jumping into the Yellow River can’t wash it clean,” because everyone knew that already.

However, over time the word “also (yě 也)” was added, and the phrase gradually changed to mean “Unable to wash oneself clean even if one jumps into the Yellow River”, making the Yellow River a stand-in for any body of water and giving a more subjective agency to the meaning, like “that’s not the way to clear your name” or “there’s no way to get out of this one.”

The two meanings, the old and the new, are very similar, though when most people use the expression nowadays they are referring to the latter.

Example 例句 (lìjù):

nǐ  zhè  shì  wū  miè  wǒ！ nǐ  zhè  yàng  shuō  wǒ  jiù  shì  tiào  jìn  huáng  hé  yě  xǐ  bù  qīng.
你   这   是   污   蔑   我！  你   这    样      说     我   就    是   跳   进     黄     河  也  洗   不   清。
You’re slandering me! If you say something like this there’s no way I can clear my name.

2. shě bù dé hái zi tào bú zhù láng 舍不得孩子套不住狼

Literal meaning: “You can’t catch a wolf if you’re afraid to risk losing your child.”
Metaphorical meaning: to achieve a certain purpose one must pay the price

The essential meaning behind this expression is that sacrifices must be made, or must be prepared to be made, in order to reach a goal. Seems pretty straightforward, right? Then why all this talk about losing a child?

One not-so-happy idea is that a child might be the bait that draws a wolf into a trap—perhaps not the model for responsible parenting we should draw on these days—hence we must be prepared to risk losing something precious to us if we’re looking to gain something precious.

There is, however, the fact that in ancient Chinese there were no ‘j-‘, ‘q’ or ‘x’ pinyin sounds, and pronunciation was slightly different overall. At that time, the word for “shoes” was not pronounced the same way it is today, as “xié zi”, but rather as “hái zi”… the modern word for “child”. If we look at it this way, the expression takes on a significantly less morbid meaning: “You can’t catch a wolf if you’re worried about ruining your shoes.” This simply referred to the fact that catching a wolf might mean climbing mountains and crossing significant distances, and shoes might get worn out in the process.

Funnily enough, this old word for shoes, “hái zi”, has survived in many local dialects to this day, such as those of Sichuan, Shaanxi, Guangxi, Jiangxi, and Hubei, and so the original version of the expression survived, too.

Example 例句 (lìjù):
shě  bù  dé  hái  zi  tào  bú  zhù  láng，yào  xiǎng  yǒu  suǒ  shōu  huò，
舍   不    得  孩   子  套   不   住    狼，   要     想      有    所      收    获，
bì  xū  yǒu  suǒ  fù  chū.
必  须  有   所    付    出。
You can’t catch a wolf if you’re afraid of losing your child; if you want to gain something, you must pay something.

3. dǎ pò shā guō wèn (wèn) dào dǐ打破砂锅璺(问)到底

Literal meaning: “To break the pot, even cracking the bottom”
Metaphorical meaning: to incessantly question; to get to the bottom of the matter

How does an expression about breaking a pot come to mean asking lots of questions? There’s a character in this expression you may have not seen before: 璺 (wèn). This literally means “a crack”, as might appear in porcelain or earthenware. Well, this word for crack (“wèn”) also sounds like another word you’re probably familiar with— 问 (wèn) which, you may know, means “to ask.” Ah ha! Looks like we’re getting to the bottom of this…

How do you know when a pot is truly broken and unusable? When the bottom (底dǐ) is cracked, it’s probably time to get a new one; likewise, when you have “问到底 (wèn dào dǐ)” you have gotten to the bottom of something by asking questions; the imagery of a broken pot really emphasizes how much you have asked.

This is a fun example of how homophones can be used in allegory, word play, jokes, online euphemisms, and (quite often for new and long-time learners alike) confusion in Chinese!

Example 例句 (lìjù):
wèi  le  zhuī  xún  shì  shí  zhēn  xiàng ，wǒ  men  yào  yǒu
为   了    追    寻    事    实    真     相 ，   我     们     要    有
dǎ  pò  shā  guō  wèn  dào   dǐ  de  yǒng  qì  hé   jué  xīn.
打   破    砂   锅    问    到     底   的    勇    气   和    决   心。
In order to find out the truth, we should have the courage and determination to ask questions and get the truth.

You May Want to Learn More :
“Why Three Long and Two Short Is Not a Good Thing”
“Are you a fraud? Don’t Be Like Lord Ye!”
”World Book Day”

Or perhaps you may have heard about the alternative and lesser known pre- 1940s rural custom of “龙舟抢亲 (lóng zhōu qiǎng qīn) dragon boat kidnapping” which was practiced in order to circumvent paying to obtain brides and also known as “抢亲 (qiǎng qīn) bride-snatching”. If both of these are news to you then read the in-depth article from last year first. This year we are going to get into the more technical side of the Dragon Boat Festival, the intense sport of racing dragon boats.

The Anatomy of a Dragon Boat

Traditionally, dragon boats are intricate with complex and beautifully ornate details. The portion of a ship’s bow above water, the “船头 (chuán tóu) prow” is made of a single block of teak wood and carved as a dragon head while the “船尾 (chuán wěi) stern” is made to look like a dragon’s tail and along the length of the boat’s body, called the “船体 (chuán tǐ) hull”, are innumerable dragon’s scales painted on one by one or carvings of traditional auspicious patterns like the waves, clouds, or beasts with bright colors. Modern boats are typically made of carbon fiber, fiberglass, and other lightweight materials. During training, decorative regalia is usually removed, although the drum often remains aboard for drummers to practice.

“船头 (chuán tóu) prow”

“船尾 (chuán wěi) stern”

“船体 (chuán tǐ) hull”

How to Row a Dragon Boat

The number of the paddlers varies accordingly since the boats are in different sizes but mostly, there are 22 members in a standard racing dragon boat, a steersman, a drummer, and 20 sailors. Sailors sit on both sides of the boat, 10 on each side to keep balance and row forward with the dragon boat paddle. The steersman in the back guides the direction. The drummer in the front beats the drum to encourage sailors and control the movement and frequency of the sailors’ paddling. The drummer is the soul of a dragon boat team in that he guides the rowers to paddle at a unified pace.

It could be argued that the most important part of the dragon’s anatomy is the heart which in the boat’s case is the drum. And thus the most crucial crew member would be the drummer. The pulsation of the drum reverberating is akin to the beating heart of the dragon boat. The drummer leads the paddlers by creating rhythmic drum beats to signal the paddlers’ strokes. The drummer keeps the crew on rhythm and pace to enable the crew to work as a single entity. Almost as a cohesive being, summoning the spirit of the dragon to commemorate a somber event.

Example Sentences Using 龙舟 (lóng zhōu) Dragon Boat

Gāi  jié   rì   de   tè   sè   shì   sè  cǎi  bīn  fēn  de  lóng  zhōu  jìn  xíng  jìng  sài.
该   节  日   的   特  色   是   色   彩    缤    纷   的   龙     舟    进    行     竞    赛。
The festival is marked by races of colourful dragon boats.

Sài  lóng  zhōu  zài  zhōng  guó  hé  yà  zhōu  qí  tā   dì    qū   hěn  shòu  huān  yíng ,
赛    龙     舟     在      中      国    和   亚   洲    其   他   地   区     很     受     欢     迎  ，
yǐ   jīng   chuán   bō  dào    wǔ   shí    duō   gè    guó   jiā.
已     经      传     播     到      五    十    多     个      国     家。

Dragon boat racing is very popular in China and other parts of Asia and has spread to more than 50 countries.

Why Dragon Boat Racing has Gained Popularity

Paddling hard can burn a tremendous amount of calories and top speeds of 14.5km per hour/9 mph can be reached. It can be an exhilarating feeling for the boat to seem incredibly heavy for about the first 15 strokes then feels as if the boat and crew are gliding across the water’s surface. The camaraderie between the crew members is special as well. Without perfect synchronization the boat fails to pick up speed or go in a straight line.

The distance that the crew races for can vary. Formal races can be anywhere from 250m-1,000m, medium distances from 5,000m-20,000m, and rally races can be more than 10km long. That’s a lot of calories and a lot of time spent together training. It’s a fantastic team sport and a sport full of history and legend. No wonder it became so popular.

Don’t forget to download the Chinese New Year Traditions and Origin Stories ebook for free to learn more about various traditional Chinese festivals all while improving your vocabulary and expanding your understanding of modern Chinese culture.

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“后天习得的品味 (hòu  tiān  xí  dé  de  pǐn  wèi) acquired taste” for certain Chinenes foods may immediately bring forth images of chicken feet and stinky tofu but let’s explore some finer and more often left out foods that are worth mentioning and worth getting to know. While some are eaten for their health benefits others are enjoyed as delicacies or as comfort food.

后天习得的品味 (hòu  tiān xí dé de pǐn wèi) acquired taste

1.叫花鸡 (jiào huā jī) Beggar Chicken

Legend has it that a starving beggar was in possession of a chicken but had no means to prepare it, so in a stroke of genius, he covered it with mud and baked it over an open fire.

A Qing-dynasty Emperor happened to walk by and was attracted by the aroma, so he stopped and consumed it with the beggar. He liked it so much that he added it to the list of dishes to be served at the Imperial court.

Beggar’s chicken hails from the city of Hangzhou and has a secret preparation method: tightly wrap it in lotus leaves, pack it in clay, and then baked it in a special oven or over an open fire. This makes it one of the most visually interesting dishes.

Once the dish has been served, the hard outer shell is often cracked open with a hammer. Today, the dish is enjoyed either in restaurants or as street food.

2.月饼 (yuè bing) Mooncake

“月饼 (yuè bing) mooncake is a small pie-like pastry made with a shortcrust base and is eaten during the Mid-August Festival or Moon Festival. It is traditionally filled with black sesame seed or lotus seed paste, along with red beans, roasted pork, mung beans, dates, and salted duck egg yolks. These fillings are uncommon to many non-Chinese and are thus an “后天习得的品味 (hòu tiān xí dé de pǐn wèi) acquired taste”. Once you learn what the fillings are it’s easy to look forward to them in the future.

Nowadays, mooncakes are available in a variety of different sweet and savory fillings, some of which are fruits, chocolate, mixed nuts, green tea, or even ice cream which can be quite the treat!

3.榴莲 (liú lián) Durian

During durian season in China, you’ll smell the fruit the moment you enter a grocery store. If it’s unfamiliar you’ll wonder if there’s something wrong. Is the plumbing backed up? Is there a freezer defrosting in the frozen section? Not at all. While some people expect all fruits to taste and smell sweet only, the durian, also known as the king of fruits, is so much more complex. It can be pungent and savory so newcomers just don’t know how to process this information.
In fact, the smell can be so intense and lingering that the fruit is banned on public transport and in hotels across Asia. Don’t let this deter you. If you appreciate aged cheeses, you might find a special appreciation for “榴莲 (liú lián) durian”.

4.燕窝 (yàn wō) Bird’s Nest

This is a delicacy in Chinese cuisine and can be relatively expensive. For authentic bird’s nest soup the coveted and important ingredient is actually the bird’s saliva. Luckily, you can find a cheaper version made with a fungus and without the bird’s nest. It tastes sweet so you just have to get over the idea of bird saliva. This dish, in particular, is consumed for its alleged health benefits but is equally pleasant and can be found as sweetened drinks or desserts as well.

5.蚕蛹 (cán yǒng) Silkworms

In China, silkworms are often enjoyed by the locals. Silkworm pupae remain after their fibrous cocoons have been harvested and the flavor and consistency are said to be like that of shrimp or crab. They are high in protein and insects are said to be the future of food.
Silkworms can be found in local markets cooked several ways or stocked frozen and canned. You can always start with the sweeter and more tourist-friendly version, chocolate-covered silkworms.

Or how about trying spider, black beetle, centipede, scorpion, or grasshopper when browsing a night market in Beijing as well? Some, such as giant tarantula, are just for the ‘wow’ factor and aren’t eaten on the regular.

These “后天习得的品味 (hòu tiān xí dé de pǐn wèi) acquired taste” foods are on the tame end of the spectrum and you can easily learn to enjoy them after a little exposure. None are particularly hard to come by so there is no excuse not to try them at least once in your lifetime. Try them a few more times to solidly decide if they are something you could say you rather enjoy or dislike. Who knows, perhaps you’ll expand your palate. If you consistently eat the same foods, you’ll never expand your palate. Get in the habit of trying something new every day, or at least whenever you get the chance.

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Tuesday, June 1st 2021 is when International Children’s Day is this year. If you ask any Child in China, they will often tell you that Children’s Day is a time when they go to the movies for free, eat whatever they want, and play outside. Didn’t you love to do these things as a kid too? It’s a special day for them and a day where adults let them enjoy their childhood to the fullest.

In China, Children’s Day is for primary and middle school students until they are 14 years old. Celebrations vary but many schools would have student performances and class parties while other schools would opt to celebrate with field trips to the museum or the “公园 (gōng yuán) park”.

The students only attend school for half a day, which is usually spent doing fun activities while it’s not uncommon for their parents to take the day off to spend extra time with them. Chinese parents usually take their children out to have fun, eat good food of the children’s choosing and at some point in the day the children would receive a “礼物 (lǐ wù) gift”, as a part of an unforgettable day.

You will often hear parents exclaiming “儿童节快乐! (ér tóng jié kuài lè!) Happy Children’s Day!”

Commercialized 商业化 (Shāng yè huà)

Businesses offer promotions or discounts during the holiday such as free movies or admission to certain amusement parks. This can leave a good impression on the youth and start a consumer habit young. Although it has been commercialized, many businesses genuinely want to celebrate in the spirit of letting children enjoy their youth.

Example sentences

Beginner
Xiàn  zài  de  diàn  yǐng  dōu  tài  shāng  yè  huà  le!
现     在   的    电     影      都    太    商    业    化    了！
Today ‘ s movies are just too commercial

Intermediate
Tǐ    yù   yùn   dòng   jìn    jǐ   nián  gèng  jiā  shāng  yè  huà  le.
体    育    运     动     近     几    年      更    加   商    业     化    了。
Sports have become much more commercialized in recent years.

Advanced
Dàn  zhōng  guó  sì  hū  yǐ  jīng  zhǔn  bèi  hǎo  zài  mǒu  gè  zhàn  lüè  bù  mén  de  yí  xì  liè  xīn  xīng  jì  shù   hé   xiān   jìn   jì  shù  shàng  dà shǒu  bǐ  tóu  zī,  tóng  shí  zài  yán  fā  hé  shāng  yè  huà  wán  chéng  hòu  bǎo  liú  yí  dìng  gǔ  quán.
但    中    国    似    乎    已    经    准   备    好     在    某    个   战    略    部    门    的    一   系 列    新    兴    技    术   和   先   进    技   术    上    大   手    笔    投    资， 同   时    在    研    发   和    商    业   化     完     成     后     保     留    一     定    股    权。
But China appears poised to boost investment significantly in a range of new and advanced technologies in strategic sectors, while retaining equity stakes as they are developed and commercialized.

Some people will always be a child at heart and never wanted to grow up in the first place. Thus, Children’s Day has also become popular among young adults. In an effort to reminisce about all things nostalgic and reclaim memories of carefree times you will also see twenty-somethings treating themselves to snacks or an evening with friends singing karaoke and celebrating a day dedicated to their youth. It’s a nice time to revert to having fun and being a kid again and not think about all of the responsibilities of being a grown-up.

Grow up 长大 (Zhǎng dà)

Example sentences

Beginner
Zhè  hái  zi    zài    huān  lè  zhōng  chéng  zhǎng.
这    孩    子   在     欢      乐      中      成      长。
The child grew up in happy times .

Bié  zhǎng  dà,    shì  xiàn   jǐng.
别       长     大，  是     陷     阱。
Don’t grow up. It’s a trap!

Tā   shì  zài  dé   guó  zhǎng  dà  de.
他    是   在   德    国     长     大   的。
He grew up in Germany.

Intermediate
Wǒ  zhēn  de  méi   xīn   qíng   děng   nǐ   zhǎng   dà.
我     真     的   没    心      情      等      你       长     大。
I’m really not in the mood to wait for you to grow up.

Zhè   shì   tā   men   yǒu   shēng   yǐ   lái   dì   yī   cì   kàn   dào   zì   jǐ   de   hái   zi   zài   ān   quán   de    huán    jìng   zhōng  chéng  zhǎng.
这    是     他      们     有       生   以    来    第  一  次  看     到    自    己   的   孩   子   在   安   全    的       环      境        中        成        长。
For the first time in their lives they get to watch their children grow up in an environment of safety and security.

Whether you have children, or if you are still a child at heart yourself, you can join in on the festivities of Children’s day as a day to remember simpler times and experience a little unadulterated joy before you have to get back to your adult responsibilities in the morning.

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1. Pronunciation of Numbers
The dates May 20 and May 21 are homonyms for different ways to express love. Because of the difference between the two numbers, 520 is mainly for women, and 521 is mainly for men, meaning that men choose to express “520″ (I love you) to their wives, girlfriends, or crushes on May 20, and receive their answer on May 21, when the women might reply, “521” (“I like and I love you”). Because of this, May 20 and May 21 every year have become auspicious days for couples to register for marriage and hold grand wedding banquets.

In addition to “520” and “521”, there are other popular homonymic numbers in Chinese:

2. Knowing the Real Numbers
1234… these are the Arabic numerals used around the world. You will see these if you come to China, but there are other ways to write numbers in Chinese—and not just the characters you probably already know!
In order to distinguish numbers used to keep financial records, “壹贰叁肆伍陆柒捌玖拾佰仟万” were born. Believe it or not, adopting these characters has prevented digital tampering and altering of electronic finances.

3.Celebrations Mean Consumerism
With all of the weddings and engagements and gifts being given, online shopping has taken off around this time. Many businesses have group buying, discounts, and other promotional activities, and sales shoot through the roof. Everywhere people look they see advertisements and promotions for 520 and 521, and when they open their WeChat they see “red envelopes” with cash flooding into their inbox. No industry is ignored—even tour agencies offer special travel discounts to other countries during this time!

Example:
宣布vs.宣传
kǎo  shì  zhī  qián ，jiān  kǎo  lǎo  shī  xuān  bù  le  kǎo  shì    jì    lǜ
考   试    之    前，   监    考    老   师   宣    布    了    考   试    纪   律。
Before the exam, the proctor announced the exam discipline.

xiàn  zài  yǒu  xǔ  duō  xū  jiǎ  guǎng  gào ，xuān  chuán  de  tiān  huā  luàn  zhuì ，bú  dé  bú  ràng  rén chǎn  shēng  huái  yí 
现    在   有   许   多   虚    假    广       告，    宣      传      的      天     花      乱     坠，不   得    不     让     人     产     生     怀    疑。
Now there are many fake advertisements, there’s a lot of hyped-up publicity, and people should be cautious.

Example:

公布VS颁布
guǒ  rán ，sān  tiān  hòu   gōng  bù  le  chéng    jì
果     然，  三    天     后     公     布     了     成     绩。
Sure enough, the results were announced three days later.

zhè   tiáo   fǎ   lǜ   shì  shàng   gè   yuè   xīn   bān   bù   de
这     条     法     律    是     上    个   月    新     颁    布     的。
The law was enacted last month.

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This Chinese idiom story in particular was told by 颛孙师 Zhuān sūn shī, also known as 子张 Zi Zhɑng.  He was a prominent disciple of Confucius, who accompanied Confucius in his travels abroad, and later started his own sect of Confucianism. He had heard about how the duke of the state of Lu was fond of highly talented people and decided to take a trip to pay him a visit. Upon his arrival he was not greeted. Instead, he was rather disappointed after being completely neglected by the duke for seven days. After this point he was very upset and decide to leave without meeting the duke.

有才华的人 ( yǒu cái huá de rén )talented people

zhè  xiē  nián，wǒ  jiē  chù  guo  hěn  duō  yǒu  cái  huá  de  rén.
这   些    年，    我     接   触   过    很     多      有   才   华   的   人。
I have met many talented people over the years.

wǒ  men  yì  zhí  zài  xún  zhǎo  yǒu  cái  huá  de  rén, xī  wànɡ  tā  men  kě  yǐ  jiā  rù  wǒ  men, gòng   tóng   chuàng   zào   měi   hǎo   de    shì     wù!
我    们    一    直    在    寻    找    有    才  华  的   人， 希  望   他   们    可   以   加  入  我  们， 共       同        创       造        美       好      的    事     物！
We are always looking for talented people who will join us in order to do great things together!

Before 子张 Zi Zhɑng took his leave he had his attendant deliver a message to the duke. In this message contained a story about a man who was obsessed with dragons.

This is how the story goes:

Lord Ye was an enthusiast of dragons, and it was said that he painted and carved the fantastic creatures everywhere he could. The walls of his house had dragons painted on them, while the beams, pillars, doors, and windows had intricate carvings of dragons. The love he had for dragons was known throughout the land.

Word spread and one day a real dragon within the Heavenly Kingdom heard of Lord Ye’s sincere adoration of his kind. The dragon was deeply moved and thus decided to fly down to Lord Ye’s home for a visit.

真心 ( zhēn xīn )sincere

tā   zhēn   xīn   xǐ   huān   nǐ .
他    真      心    喜     欢    你 。
He really likes you.

wǒ   xiānɡ   xìn   zhè   shì   tā   de   zhēn   xīn    huà.
我       相     信     这    是    她    的    真     心     话。
I believe this is her true word.

The scene that accompanied the dragon’s descent to earth was magnificent: dark clouds rolled across the sky, lightning flashed and thunder boomed. The earth shook and a heavy downpour nearly devastated the city.

When the dragon landed, his huge body overtook Lord Ye’s land. His stately head occupied the front of the parlor, nodding at the host, while his tail lay across the backyard, wagging up against the wall. At first sight Lord Ye was terrified and fled the situation as fast as he could.

It seemed that what Lord Ye loved afterall was not the real dragon, but things that looked like dragons.

子张 Zi Zhɑng made sure his story mocked the duke for being unable to realize true talents and said at the end, “Now I hear you prefer the company of talented people, so I came a long way to visit you. But you haven’t made an effort to see me after I’ve waited for seven days. This tells me, you don’t care to surround yourself with talent, but those who only seem excellent.”

This story contains a rather elaborate metaphor that bitterly satirizes those like Lord Ye and the duke as hypocritical people.

We can extract the moral of this story is that often the supposed ‘love’ is a disguise for fear. So Lord Ye’s love of dragons is a confession of what one actually fears meaning that someone loves a certain thing outwardly, but not sincerely.

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