Breaking the Law in China
China is a country of rule breakers. It’s a nation of criminals, scofflaws, delinquents, lawbreakers, and ne’er do wells who are constantly engaged in a convoluted game of cat and …
Life in China
It’s the 100 Year Anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party
July 1st marked the hundredth anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Communist Party. Love it or hate it, the Chinese Communist Party is the largest political organization in the …
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What is the Dragon Boat Festival?
The Dragon Boat Festival is a national holiday in China that takes place on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. Usually near the beginning of summer. The holiday …
You Can’t Drink the Water in China
There’s water everywhere, but in China, it isn’t safe to drink. It rained all day yesterday. Even though I had an umbrella with me, my shoes are still soggy from …
What is the Qingming (a.k.a. Tomb Sweeping) Festival?
The Qingming festival is also known in English as Tomb Sweeping Day. It happens every year on the 15th day after the spring equinox, usually on the 3rd, 4th, 5th, …
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Chinese Public Hospitals Are a Kafkaesque Nightmare
Last fall, we visited the emergency room of a Chinese public hospital when my life-partner and bride-to-be injured her knee. It was interesting, and the doctors gave us the impression …
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Five Chinese Movies That Aren’t Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon
Chinese movies have existed pretty much since the beginning of cinema, starting with rickety black and white footage of downtown Shanghai. The country has a rich artistic heritage that goes …
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How Shanghai is Celebrating the Chinese New Year
The Chinese New Year, or Spring Festival, is undoubtedly the biggest of all the big holidays in China. It’s like Christmas, Thanksgiving, and New Year’s all rolled into one gigantic …
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Why Living in China is Great
I already wrote about why living in China can be annoying, it’s time to write about why living in China is great. About a month after I moved to Shanghai, …
Studying Chinese in China
You would think that after two years of living in China and studying Chinese almost every day, I’d be pretty good by now. I’m not. I can order food and …