Blog Tag - Chinese History

Beijing's Five Architectural Colors, and the Symbolism Behind Them
It sometimes seems like the dominant color in Beijing is “Socialist Taupe.” The streets. The bricks. The roads. Getting away from the gray and the...
Story of the 'Jing: When Beijing's Most Famous Sites Opened Their Doors to the Public
In Story of the 'Jing, we look at the history and tales of our fair city and how they inform the capital as we know it today. Beijing in the 21st...
Doors to the Past: Visit These 9 Ancient Beijing Gates
I've always been puzzled by the ring road system in Beijing. It didn’t make sense to me when I first arrived here years ago, and it makes only a bit...
Solar Terms 101: Guyu, The Rain For The Crops And The End of The Spring
The traditional Chinese lunar calendar divides the year into 24 节气 jiéqì solar terms based on seasonal changes and natural phenomenon. They play an...
Beijing’s Top Five ‘Time-Honored Restaurants’ (needs pics)
This post comes courtesy of UnTour Food Tours, who have been taking guests off the beaten path to eat shoulder-to-shoulder with locals since 2010....
4 Reasons Why Cycling in Beijing Is Way Nicer Than You Think
I love cycling. It’s fun. It’s good exercise. Second only to walking, it’s the best way to get to know the geography of a city and – depending where...
New Documentary, "The Six," Details the Untold Legacy of Chinese Men Who Survived the Titanic
Some historical stories and figures have been so well-chronicled that it often seems like nothing more can be said. From WWII to The Beatles and the...
How ChinaMan Yard is Building on Chinese-Jamaican's Reggae Legacy
When most people hear the word “reggae,” chances are one of the furthest things from their mind is China, and yet, the two are inextricably entwined...
Your (unofficial) Guide to Trash Talking Whippersnappers: The China Edition
Step aside, millennials and boomers! China has its own intergenerational debate complete with all the classic tropes you know and love, and some...
Lunar Lessons: 10 Things You Didn’t Know about the Mid-Autumn Festival
There’s more to the Mid-Autumn Festival (Zhongqiu Jie, 中秋节) than a nice, long weekend and random boxes of semi-edible mooncakes – here are 10 facts...
Throwback Thursday: The Contentious History of Chaonei 81 Mansion
If, during the thunderstorms that are expected to pour down this week, you were to pass by the rusted gate in front of the old Chaonei 81 building...
How China's Provinces Came to Have Their Single Word Abbreviations
Mandarin Monday is a weekly column where we help you improve your Chinese by detailing learning tips, fun and practical phrases, and trends. If you...
R Become a Beijing Expert With the Kindle Unlimited Free Books Offer
Call it savvy marketing or compassion during a crisis, but Amazon has unlocked a pretty attractive feature recently: offering two months of access to...
Heroes of Socialist Labor: May 1st Is YOUR Day to Celebrate!
The May 1 Labor Day holiday is upon us. Unofficially, it's the start of summer here in Beijing. Officially, it’s a four-day holiday this year but...
5 New China-Centric Books That Make Great Christmas Presents
It’s that time of year again, but have you done your Christmas shopping? Or are you still pulling your hair out trying to figure out what to gift? If...