Things You Don’t Know about the Coming Dragon Boat Festival

This year’s Dragon Boat Festival (端午节 Duānwǔjié) falls on June 25, the 5th day of May in lunar calendar. Maybe you have some clues about it already: people start to eat rice dumplings wrapped in triangle shape; you know people do dragon boat racing on the day just because it is obviously in the name; if you are interested in Chinese culture enough, you know this day originated from a famous poet in ancient time…Yes, all of them are right but they are not all about the festival!

5 Unique Ways for Chinese to Survive Summer

The hottest season has arrived. Summer in China is becoming hotter and longer because of global warming. Sometimes the temperature can even reach higher than 40 degrees, which makes people sweat a lot and turn impatient. How can we live through these tough months? Besides staying with aircon for a whole day or having too much ice cream that makes you feel guilty, Chinese people sure have healthier ways.

The Most Important Exam in China

Tomorrow it is the annual college entrance examination (高考gāo kǎo) again. Every year at this time, it influences many students and their parents. Gāokǎo could be the turning point of some’s life, of which the success can change their family. Imagining the sight of thousands of troops crossing the single bridge, my mind flies back to decade ago when I took it and experienced how tense this competition has been. Since the whole society is paying attention to the college entrance examination, what does gāokǎo mean for Chinese people? 

The Right Way to Order Your Milk Tea in Chinese

What is the best treat for yourself during the hottest season?Besides facing the cooling breeze from air-conditioner, I bet everyone wants a bit of sugar and ice to refresh. Thanks to the development of milk tea(奶茶 nǎichá) economy, it is hard not to find a drink bar along the street. Have you ever tried to order this what the young called "daily spiritual drink" in Chinese by yourself?

What Can You Say about “Hot” besides “Rè”?

The average temperature in Shanghai during latest week is around 28~35 degree and yellow high temperature alert was issued. Please be kind to those who ask you out recently. As your friends to death, they must want to discuss about your lifelong business on such sweltering days outside! Anyway, do you know how to express HOT in Chinese except

How to Not Get Lost in Shanghai’s Metro?

Do you know how many metro lines does Shanghai have? The answer is eighteen in total, including Line 1 to Line 17(fifteen lines except that Line 14 and Line 15 are in construction), Pujiang Line, Maglev Line and Jinshan Line. People benefit from the convenience of how metro can send you everywhere while still get confused by the complexity of the metro system sometimes. As a foreigner, or tourist who come to the city for first time, how to find your way to the destination without getting lost by public transportation?

Not All Ice Creams Are Called “Bingqilin”!

Many of us will buy various kinds of ice cream and store in the refrigerator these days, which makes us happy once seeing the collection of it as if it visually cools down already. When it comes to “ice cream”, the Chinese word “bīngqílín” must not sound unfamiliar. As a foodie, I think you will not be satisfied with the only expression of it. Today let’s talk about some related words of ice cream in Mandarin.

3 Idioms Related to Chinese Folk Love Stories

Tomorrow is Chinese Valentine’s Day, Qixi(七夕, qīxī) again. The love tale of the cowherd and weaver maiden is well known; but besides this legend, do you know any other classic Chinese love stories and their relative idioms or cultural meanings? Follow the article then you will know…

Vocabulary You Must Know in This Back-to-school Season

We have welcomed September and it is time that all schools began to open one after another. Some of the students are excited about meeting long-time-no-see classmates while others may feel slightly uneasy about entering a new school. Whether it is the case for you or not, we would like to bring you some Chinese words related to the school season so that you can make friends in the new environment!

Why Do Shanghainese Love “Páiduì”?

Although Mid-Autumn Festival has a few days to go, Shanghainese cannot help to line up(排队 páiduì) for purchasing mooncakes one month earlier. In the morning on weekdays, middle-aged aunties and uncles are already in lines for hours waiting for the fresh baked mooncake. Queuing seems to become one of people’s survival skills in Shanghai. If you want to experience something new and famous, you have to observe this convention…