A Thousand Whys

You may have heard of time juggling or dream in a dream in the movie Inception, but do you know the Taoist philosopher Zhuangzi (3rd century B.C.) also touched the definitions of reality vs. illusion in his dream?  You may have read about Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, but do you know there’s almost a Chinese equivalence to that, which has also inspired one of the most famous orchestra music work...

When some say “Happy birthday” on that special day, we say “May you enjoy health and longevity”. Yes, some Chinese traditions for celebrating birthdays might seem novel to many outside of the culture. Here are some basics for understanding Chinese birthday celebrations.

Standing at the end of the central axis of the ancient Beijing City are two tall buildings that have become landmarks in the capital. Such twin buildings could be found in many cities and towns with long history around China. Called as the Bell Tower and the Drum Tower, they had been functioning for hundreds of year for the city management in ancient China. Let's hear what Shen Ting has to say.

How come this incredible little insect became the symbol of "making the impossible possible"? In many cultures, bees represent the god of love. Many believe the spirit of bees is to live and learn, to love and care.

If you ask someone from China “what do you think is the king of all flowers”, different people would probably manage to agree on one candidate. What is it, and why?

Many people start learning the Chinese culture from reciting some famous Chinese poems, since China boasts a rich tradition of poetry throughout its history. To track the source of such a tradition, we’ll have to go back to two millennia ago when an ancient China classic was compiled, which cast great influence on the Chinese poetry, as well as on the Chinese culture and society.

For many Chinese people, tiger-head shoes are their first pair of shoes in life. Although it doesn't click together three times against the yellow brick road like what Dorothy does with her ruby red slippers, the tiger-head shoes still bring a strong sense of home.

The Forbidden City is one of the most missed places to visit during the spring season of hope and life. Sadly, the much-loved tourist attraction has been temporarily closed to the public for more than 70 days due to the COVID-19 outbreak. However, despite everybody staying at home and practicing social distancing, millions of people were able to enjoy a dream-come-true virtual guided tour of this...

Qingming Festival, mostly known as the Tomb Sweeping Day, is one of the most important traditional festivals in China. Usually in early April, the festival actually contains more meanings than the tomb sweeping for the Chinese people. To find out more about this ancient festival, let’s hear what Shen Ting has to say.

According to the Five Elements of Chinese philosophy, spring is associated with the color green, the wood element, and the climate of wind. So we eat green vegetables, plant seeds, and fly kites. After a season of darkness and quietness, the spring equinox marks the beginning of spring. Let’s celebrate the time of rebirth.

Turn to ancient Chinese wisdom for fun games to play if you want to take a break from the digital world. Families with young kids in particular would love them.

Peach blossom is favored by the Chinese people not only because of its beauty, but also the cultural connotation it contains thanks to an article composed more than two millennia ago. And of course it won’t be just for the blossom that the plant of peach has been enchanting the Chinese for so many centuries. Shen Ting tells you more about it.

Orchid, together with plum, chrysanthemum, and bamboo, are referred to as "The Noble Four" of plants, or the Four Gentlemen. Click to learn why orchid makes the perfect symbol of friendship, integrity, and nobility among all flowers in Chinese culture.

Magpies don’t have the best of reputations, being known as the scavenger, predator, thief, attacker and even a sign of bad luck in some cultures. But folktales in China tell a different story about magpies that symbolize joy, good luck, happiness and fortune. Want to share a bit of magpie luck?

An order of noodle, or a bowl of rice? That's a question. But, maybe not to the Chinese people - well, at least in the traditional impression about our dietary customs which goes like "northerners like eating noodles, while southerners prefer the rice." However, the real situation might not be so absolute and simple. Follow Shen Ting to explore more about Chinese people's choices on noodles and ri...

Yes, of course! When Valentine's Day is around, a handkerchief with hand-embroidered mandarin ducks will make a perfect gift for love birds.

During the Spring Festival holidays, the Chinese people pay visits or give New Year’s greetings to each other, which are not done as you wish but in accordance with some traditions and etiquettes. But please be noticed, this year’s Spring Festival is quite different to the Chinese people, due to the coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan City. Some traditions to celebrate the Chinese New Year have to be dr...

What’s a holiday without the right food? Tender, juicy and plump, the Chinese dumpling—Jiaozi is considered by many a must-have for celebrating the Chinese New Year. You know why we love Jiaozi so much?

There is always one thing to conquer another. The men-eating Nian, or the Year monster is no exception. What is he afraid of on earth?

If you find it hard to understand Chinese martial arts novels, get to know about JIANGHU first. Where there are people, there is Jianghu.

Still remember the "Three Friends of the Winter" favored by the Chinese? We've talked about the first two - the bamboo and the pine tree, and now let's meet the third one, the plum blossom. You know what, it's almost the time for us to enjoy the beauty of plum blossom throughout China. So, before that, let's get some ideas about it and get prepared.

Apart from the Gregorian calendar, the Chinese also observe our own lunar calendar. How does it work and what does it mean to the Chinese?

“A Diamond is Forever.” But it can never replace Chinese people’s love of jade, a special kind of stone symbolizing the values of ethics and honor.

Pine and cypress are not simply two kinds of trees in minds of the Chinese people. They have been personified in literature, paintings and other artistic creations throughout the Chinese history, which means Chinese people possess unique feelings and emotion toward these two plants. Let's hear what Shen Ting has to tell you about this love for pines and cypresses.

Winter can be brutal in some parts of China, especially in the north, where blizzards and icy roads are not uncommon. If you want to survive the worst that the winters here can throw at you, it's important to be prepared. Here are some tips for making it through the chilliest days of the year.