A Thousand Whys

​By stringing sugar-coated fruit on a skewer, the unique Chinese snack Tanghulu has attracted many to DIY it at home for the sweet crunchy bite. But did you know that this sweet treat is also one of the traditional snacks of Beijing? Do you know the connection between Tanghulu and the old capital city? Let’s have a listen and find out!

The Beihai Park, or the Northern Sea Park, is a great place to enjoy the water view and a boat ride in Beijing. But for anyone who visits the park for the first time, the "sea" in the name might seem a bit misleading. It’s highly likely that he or she will wonder: Why is it called a sea? In present-day downtown Beijing, there are six interconnected lakes that are called various “seas”. Why?

​A Thousand Whys introduces you to a popular stage performing art that may help improve your sense of Chinese humor: cross talk. This traditional performing art remains popular, especially among young people in China. Listen to this episode to find out why.

​Is there still “old Beijing” in the new Beijing? In this episode, we will share with you the traits of Beijing that have survived throughout the centuries and are still vibrant today. Attention! We’re going to discuss something that's hidden behind the hutongs, quadrangles, or the other iconic symbols that you can easily find in a Beijing travel guidebook.

Taking a walk with a pet bird has been a popular hobby of some Chinese people for centuries. In this episode, we are going to introduce to you why we do it, what it is like, as well as some fun facts and tricks about this particular Chinese tradition. Want to know how and why we walk birds? Please join us on A Thousand Whys!

With expanding urbanization all around the globe, historical residences that still exist today are especially precious as witnesses of history and traditional culture. In this episode, let's tour around a traditional residence in China's capital city Beijing. The siheyuan courtyard, or a quadrangle, shows us a glimpse of what Beijing style was like back in time.

"Golden doornails on a red gate" has been a symbol of the imperial power of the Qing dynasty. Apart from this, did you know that doornails have long been used in China for centuries? In this episode, we are going to introduce to you how Chinese doornails evolved into the way they are today. Let's check this out!

What do you think is the meaning of a birthday celebration? Sending and receiving best wishes, perhaps? This episode of A Thousand Whys shares with you an interesting and meaningful Chinese tradition concerning birthday celebration – not for kids this time, but rather, for seniors!

The first birthday of a baby is the most precious – it’s a landmark for any child as well as an exciting time for parents. In China, it’s believed by some that the first thing you pick up at your first birthday party can tell about your future career. Interested in the “picking up” game for the first birthday, in a Chinese way?

If someone tells you that he/she saw Mr. Zhougong last night, you might wonder, who is Mr. Zhougong? Anyone to be worried about?

You might know Shanghai as an international cultural metropolis, yet you probably don’t know that Shanghai is also an international hub of shipping and trade. This episode will share with you some fun facts about “the city you think you know.”

Peking Opera has been one of China's most popular traditional performing arts for 200 years. Want to know what's so special about it and why we love it so much? Let's check it out!

Fungi are perhaps one of the most fantastic creatures in our planet. There's a place in China that drives mushroom lovers crazy. Let's dive in!

The list of the first batch of national parks in China has just been announced. These parks are for the protection of rare plants, birds and animals, the preservation of land and water, and for the Chinese people’s long tradition of love towards nature, especially in the hearts of the poets, painters and philosophers. In today’s episode, we explore these charming locations and look at how the anci...

As the temperature continues to drop, the traditional Chinese calendar has ushered in another solar term today: the Cold Dew. In case you are curious about why we have soooo many different solar terms in a year, we bring the answer in this episode.

There is a saying that one must learn about Confucius and his legacy to truly understand China. The Analects of Confucius is the absolute classic on Confucianism. But was the book really written by Confucius?

Though many of us tend to consider autumn as a time of nostalgia and sadness - some may even experience seasonal affective disorder, or SAD - a Tang Dynasty poet had a totally different perspective of this season.

Eating moon cakes is an essential part of celebrating the traditional Mid-Autumn Festival in China. But did you know that these small pastries can sometimes trigger a heated debate?

A new study has found evidence of beer drinking dating back to about 9,000 years ago in southern China. Let's dive into the world of ancient drinkers who tried to enjoy Happy Hour in their own way.

A total of 108 dishes in one single banquet… The Manchu-Han imperial feast is more than a symbol of luxury in ancient Chinese royal cuisine, but also a blend of ethnic culinary cultures.

Breakfast, lunch, dinner… many of us have been brought up with the habit of eating three meals a day. However, it might shock you that it wasn’t always the case.

To build up motivation for space explorers to venture into the unknown world, it definitely takes a lot of courage, ambition and perhaps more importantly, love. In this episode, let's talk about something that's worth pondering on behind all the great space ventures.

It’s been almost two months since the three Chinese taikonauts entered China’s space station and started their three-month stay. What do they do on their days off? What fun things can they do without gravity up there?

Without scientific explanation, the darkening of the Moon may be a startling event. That is probably why lunar eclipses were once a source of mythology in ancient China. But were astronomers at the time able to explain this celestial phenomenon?

What is it like to live in a space station 24/7 for three months? Is it better or worse than living on earth? Here are the answers to satisfy your curiosity.