The Mid Autumn Festival
By Leona Su, on August 16th, 2011
 CELEBRATING MID AUTUMN FESTIVAL
The Mid Autumn Festival or Moon Festival is perhaps one of the most well known Chinese festivals in the West (Aside from Spring Festival/Chinese New Year, Tomb-sweeping day and Dragon Boat Festival). It's celebrated on the 15th of August in Chinese lunar calender and this year, it will fall on September 12th, 2011.
It is important to us Chinese, because it's a representative of family's reunion. So I'd always spend this day with my parents, brothers, sisters and at our grand-parents's house. For generations, mooncakes have  been the typical dessert of the Mid Autumn Festival.Mooncakes made come in different varieties, but the most popular ones are often with sweet fillings – either mashed red beans, green bean paste, lotus-seed paste or Chinese dates and nuts, and they are wrapped in pastry and baked in special cups engraved with unique patterns. Sometimes a cooked egg yolk are in the middle of the rich tasting dessert.
While now, people are getting more creative, and one of the special moon cake that many people enjoy come with ice cream filling. It's tasty but not quite not as heavy and are specially loved by little kids.
Xianyukou Historical Food Market in Beijing
By Michelle Lin, on August 14th, 2011
Xianyukou Food Street in Beijing
 Those who love gourmet have another place to hunt for delicious food in Beijing at Xianyukou, a 570 year old ancient street that has been renovated and reopened to the public this summer! You will find a lot of famous historical restaurants here, such as Pianyifang Peking Duck House. There are also local snacks and specialty dishes that you can sample.
In addition to food, the region is unique for its architecture and history – aside from the main streets where big and famous restaurants area, you can also de-tour into the Hutong, a truly unique scene in Beijing. Hutong are back alleys existed in old neighborhood of Beijing. These old and narrow streets were built in Ming and Qing Dynasties and have several hundred years of history. Seniors have profound memories as this is the type of neighborhood where they grew up. There are a lot of courtyard houses and some were converted into stores.
The name Xianyukou, means the mouth of fresh fish, a symbol of where culinary experience starts. The entire area was constructed to represent what it should be in ancient days, but it of course, soaks up a lot of modern atmosphere.
Spend a few hours here during lunch/dinner time to enjoy a wonderful culinary tour of Beijing.
Chinese Wedding
By Leona Su, on August 9th, 2011
CHINESE WEDDING
Nowadays, more and more young couples choose to have a traditional wedding ceremony. Chinese wedding custom has a long history and a lot of rules and of course, some are barely practical. While a lot of interesting aspects are particularly popular as people believe these bring great luck to the marriage.
For example, in the morning, the groom will go getting his bride by a sedan chair lifted by either 4 or 8 people. In order for the groom to "land" safely, the bride would usually have to give "the drivers" a red envelop [...]
West Lake in Hangzhou is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site
By Michelle Lin, on July 27th, 2011
NEW UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE: WEST LAKE IN HANGZHOU
China has one more UNESCO's World Heritage Site – West Lake was inscribed into the list recently.
Hangzhou is described as heaven by Marco Polo, and West Lake contributes so much to Hangzhou's uniquess and beauty. Famed throughout China, this picturesque lake has inspired poets and literati to great creations.
The best way to explore the lake is by boat ride either in the early morning or late afternoon. Then make sure you either bike or walk further to explore landscaped islands and [...]
Qingdao International Beer Festival – August 13-28
By Michelle Lin, on July 26th, 2011
Qingdao International Beer Festival
If you claim yourself a beer lover, then you must know about the tasty Tsingtao Beer – the perfect match with Chinese food, specifically spicy seafood dishes! While you perhaps don't know that, "Tsingtao" is just another way to spell "Qingdao" the coastal city and the summer resort for the rich and the famous located in northeast part of China, inside Shangdong Province. This is where the original factory is, and for the past 20 years, tons of people rush here to celebrate International Beer Festival in August.
For 2011, the [...]
Meet “Biasha”, a branch of Miao tribes
By Leona Su, on July 7th, 2011
Biasha Tribal Village in Guizhou
BiaSha is a little village located in the remote mountainous region in Guizhou Province located in the Southwest part of China. Miao is the main ethic group in the area and their tribal settlements have been here for thousands of years.
Men in Biasha village keep a special hair style – it's a unique way pf hairdressing known as Sickle Shaving
When you see the men here, you will probably think they belong to a military camp of some sort, because everyone of them carries a pistol or riffle. This is the [...]
Karma Trekkers TV – Visiting China Part I
By Kevinf8, on July 4th, 2011
Karma Trekkers Host, Damon Redfern Travels to China with East Tours
Karma Trekkers is a special TV series airs globally in CNBC World and Discovery Asia. The host Damon Redfern visited China with us and here's a brief intro of his trip to China.
Damon follows the sweep of Imperial China from the first Emperor 200 years before Christ to the last one, under a century ago. He discovers the scope of Chinese culture and spirituality that flourished under power and intrigue of the Imperial Court.
Here's a link to the promo of Karma Trekkers China Episode [...]
Hot and Sour Noodles
By Leona Su, on July 4th, 2011
Yummy Hot & Sour Noodles!
Guess what's the most impressive dishes I've tried during my recent trip to Chengdu? Not the hotpot, not the bon bon Chicken, but a local specialty snack: The "Hot and Sour Noodles".
Just from the name, you can tell the dish is both spicy and sour with a bit of sweetness, while it is completely different from the hot and sour soup you are probably all familiar with. First of all, the noodles are made of sweet potato powder – the starch gives it a unique texture that has much flexibility and [...]
Commune by the Great Wall
By Leona Su, on July 4th, 2011
Commune by Great Wall – a Special Hotel in Beijing
Imagine what it's like to welcome a morning with the breathtaking view of the Great Wall right in your balcony? Or what about having breakfast at the foot of the Great Wall? More so, relax yourself fully with a massage right at an openair spa facing the Great Wall. These are the reasons why we love and recommend The Commune by the Great Wall to our guests.
The Commune by the Great Wall is located right next to Shuiguan Great Wall and have a secret path leading [...]
Naadam Fair
By Leona Su, on June 28th, 2011
Naadam Festival in Inner Mongolia
Naadam is a traditional Mongolian festival widely celebrated by Mangols in early to mid June (lunar calendar). As there are a large Mogolians in Inner Mongolia of China, a fair is held on the 4th day in the Lunar Calendar of June and it usually lasts for 5 days. Maadam is a Mongolian word which means "games" and "entertainment". It's an athletic gathering and friendly competitionf and a celebratration for the harvest. While if you ask a Monglian what is Naadam Festival, they will most likely simply answer: it's the happiest and the [...]
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