Culture

Funny & Weird Stories from the Mid-Autumn Festival

Funny & Weird Stories from the Mid-Autumn Festival

For every festival in China, you are sure to find a bounty of folk tales claiming origin to the day. Mid-Autumn Festival, coming up this weekend, is no exception — it is considered the most important of Chinese Holidays, in addition to Chinese New Year and Spring Festival — so this day has funky folk tales staking their claim to why the moon is celebrated on this spirited day. Read more for the stories and traditions that stem from the stories to impress your Chinese friends during the festivities.

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Yikes! Four Spooky Chinese Ghost Stories to Read with the Lights On

Yikes! Four Spooky Chinese Ghost Stories to Read with the Lights On

As August draws to a close, Ghost Month also comes to an end. To celebrate this ~haunting~ month, we are going to showcase four fantastic ghost stories from the famed Pu Songling. Pu published a collection of ghost stories in the early 1700’s and today, these stories remain some of the most well-known supernatural tales in Chinese culture.

Read more to learn about how this anthology came about and our picks for the top four ghost stories!  Read More

Chinese Valentine’s Day: Not the V-Day You Know and Love (or Hate!)

Chinese Valentine’s Day: Not the V-Day You Know and Love (or Hate!)

When you think of Valentine’s Day, you probably think of roses, chocolate, heart decor everywhere.… or the alternative: a bitter hatred of the holiday and all the sappy reminders of love around you.

So you are probably wondering: what the heck is up with Chinese Valentine’s Day? Why does the picture above have a bird on it against a starry sky?  Well for starters: throw your understanding of Western Valentine’s Day out the window. Chinese Valentine’s Day doesn’t take in February. It take’s place on the seventh day of the seventh moon of the Lunar Year… or today, August 20th, 2015. The holiday is rich with mythology and tradition, with an origin tale dating back two thousand years ago to the Han Dynasty.

Read to learn why this holiday take place, how Chinese Valentine’s Day is celebrated, and key vocabulary for the day.

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The Eight Culinary Traditions of China & the Dishes You Have to Try

The Eight Culinary Traditions of China & the Dishes You Have to Try

Chinese cuisine has a history that is steeped in tradition. These traditions vary as you move across the land; influenced by the diverse geography and available resources. China being as big as it is has nearly infinite options for what you may find, even on a village-to-village basis. Even with so many different traditions, eight stood above the rest and today are classified as the Eight Cuisines of China. Read more to find out key information about each cuisine, useful vocabulary words and, of course, a delicious recipe for you to have a go at these delicious traditions.

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How Do You Say Jurassic World in Chinese?

How Do You Say Jurassic World in Chinese?

Twenty-two years after the original Jurassic Park hit cinema screens, the highly anticipated reboot of the popular tale, named Jurassic World, is set to be released this weekend (July 10th in China). But what will they be calling Jurassic World in China? How will you know how to order a ticket for your date without fumbling over the title? Take a look after the jump. Read More

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