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 [...]]]> 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. 

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, [...]]]> 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.
 

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 [...]]]>   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 with money as a lucky gift, or these drivers would lift the sedan chair up and down on purpose.

During the ceremony, the bride and the groom will be in red robes. The bride will be in her phoenix coronet and with a red cloth/veil covering her face during the ceremony. They will make three courtesies. The first one to the heaven and earth to show respect to gods, anchestors and all beings. The second to the parents for their love and care they give. Then the third to each other for mutual respect. Only after this, they become man and wife.

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 [...]]]> 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 stroll along the winding paths lined with blooming flowers and bamboo trees .  You will see ancient pavilions, temples, and pagodas on tiny islands in the middle of the lake.  And  don't forget to enjoy the famous Longjing (Dragon Well Tea) at a lakeside tea house to soak up the great atmosphere!

We also strongly recommend the Impression of West Lake Performance: A collaboration between famous Japanese musician Kitaro and iconic singer Zhang Liangying, "Impression West Lake" is one of the most amazing performances and is highly recommended, specifically for those that love Kitaro’s Music. (www.hzyxxh.com/en/index.htm). 

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 [...]]]> 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 festive event will take place on 8/13-28. Consider this the carnival for Chinese beer lovers: dancing, music, performances and contests will run throughout the 2 week period and since you are in China, a country full of gourmet, people will celebrate with feasts and banquets.

In addition to beer, Qingdao is also famed for its lovely beaches, coastal lines with sun, sand and sea. It also serves the best seafood.  If you plan to visit China this summer, consider spend 2 days here and join the crowd. 

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 [...]]]> 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 only place in China that allows personal possession of a weapon since hunting is the main form to make a living.

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 [...]]]> 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

Damon went to Xi'an (First Emperor of Qin was the one created the Terra Cotta Warriors) and Beijing ( The last dynasty Qing was capitalized in Beijing and the Forbidden City was their imperial palace).  If you wish to follow Damon's footprint, contact us to request an itinerary.  

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 [...]]]> 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 is chewy. The noodles come with a specialty dressing with light soy sauce, chilli powder, vinegar and then each restaurant perhaps has their own version of secet spice. The are mixed together with peanuts, chopped green onion and soybeans. The flavor is very strong and long lasting – it's simply hard to forget after you try and yes, very addictive! It's easy to make but the ingredients are important. 

It's popular in Chengdu and Chongqing area and if you are visiting Sichuan province, make sure you find it in the local restaurants. 

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 [...]]]> 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 to a private section of the Great Wall. It's famous for the unique Villas designed by 12 architects. The name "commune" came from the concept. In each of the villas, there are always several private rooms with a shared living room area. Hence guests from all over the world can gather here sharing some social moments with the others while having privacy in their own rooms if desired.

This is definitely a very special hotel in Beijing- consider spending a night or simply having lunch here, and don't forget to request a picnic basket while you climb up the private section of the Great Wall.

http://www.communebythegreatwall.com/index.php?lang=en

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 [...]]]> 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 most fun time of the year!

Wrestling, horse racing and archery are the main events on the fair, since these are the 3 skills used to eveluate good herdsmanship in Mongolian culture. You will find men of all ages, including really young boys at the age of 5 in the field and as all festivals, people always come from all around the country to be part of it, and they are always in their pretties costumes.

This year, Naadam will held in Gegentala Grassland beginning on July 24th. To get there, you will have to fly from a major city in China to Hohhot in Inner Mongolia and then drive for around 2.5 hours.