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Zongzi

Zongzi 粽子 are a pyramid-shaped dumpling made of glutinous rice wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves (eaten during the Dragon Boat Festival). They are made with different fillings: with pork or beef meat, with nuts, yellow or red sweet beans. They will be cooked 25 minutes in boiling water and served hot. They are delicious. In…

Talking about sex in China?

A direct referencing to sex is not welcome in China. Influenced from the vulgarity of certain American TV-series some young Chinese may use sex-related expressions in their conversations. Nevertheless this is not the norm, so, in order not to loose the face and not to put Chinese in embarassing situations, one should avoid mentioning any…

Is Chinese difficult?

Chinese spoken language is not difficult. It does not have conjugation of verbs and declinations of adjectives or inflections. Ideograms (called 汉字 hànzì) are the only hard stone in this language. To learn to recognize, or for the most audacious even to write, Chinese characters, you need time and dedication (this means hours spent trying simple and complex…

Destruction works continuing: Remodelling Shanghai for Expo 2010

The third phrase in my Business Chinese text book is Shanghai has changed considerably (上海的变化真大啊！shànghǎi de biànhuà zhēn dà ā), said from the CEO of an international company coming after some years to Shanghai for a business trip (出差 chūchāi). Well, I have been living in shànghǎi half a year now and I can prove that this city…

Chinese calligraphy: Figure iceskating on 4 fingers

Equipped with brush, paper, ink and a lot of motivation I had yesterday my first Chinese calligraphy lesson. As any other Chinese (traditional) activity or art expression, this has always seemed to me an easy activity, to be performed in full relaxation. Well, after the first trial lesson I must admit that exercising shūfǎ (the art…

Dragon Boat Festival

The Dragon Boat Festival (龙舟节, lóng zhōu jié) is, together with the Spring and Mid-Autumn festival, the most important festival in China. It is held on the 5th day of the 5th month of the Chinese calender (approximately at the beginning of Mai). During this festival families get together and different dragon boat celebrations will be held…

Shanghai Textile University & Raffles Design Center

The best Chinese university for textile engineering studies and fashion marketing is the Dong Hua Da Xue, in Shanghai. On the campus you also have the Raffles Design Insitute, apparently a well-known Asian fashion design college that operates in collaboration with the Dong Hua University. If you log in into the website an operator will give you immediate…

Cartoon fair

The CICAF, the China International Cartoon and Animation Festival will be held in Hangzhou every spring. I couldn’t manage to visit it this year but this is on the wishes-list for next year. http://www.cicaf.com/english/

What do Chinese buy…?

In the last 5 years the considerable increase of the wages of the white collars in the cities has made possible to many Chinese to buy exclusive luxory fashion brands products such as bags, clothes and accessories. In shopping malls, airport duty-frees, taxi, even in restaurants!, there are videos running all day showing the latest creations of…

Is China cheaper than Italy?

No. Even the quality rice is cheaper in Italy… Prices at 14 April 2009. High quality rice Italy: Riso superfino carniaroli, 500gr. 1.82 Euro. (Coop) China: 静里含香 (jing li han xiang), 500gr. 2.09 Euro. (19 RMB, Carrefour) High quality fresh Milk Italy: Lattebusche, 1 L, 0.90 Euro China: Ubest, 1 L, 1.35 Euro Coffe at the…