Blog Tag - History

Solar Terms 101: Winter Solstice Comes, Can Spring be Far Behind?
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...
Capital Histories: How Beijing Came to Be China's Capital
While Beijingers claim a history dating back to 1045 BC, it would be more accurate to say that the past 3,000 years have seen a number of cities rise...
Bells, Drums, Cannons & Clocks: A Brief History of Timekeeping in Beijing
There was a time when the Drum (鼓楼 gǔlóu) and Bell Towers (钟楼 zhōnglóu) were the two tallest buildings in Beijing. While their height was most likely...
Why Do Beijingers Love Eating Watermelons So Much?
The weather in Beijing has certainly been sweltering recently (or at least humid from all the rain). On summer days like these, it's hard to say no...
James Zimmerman Rides 'The Peking Express' through Early 20th Century Chinese History
Nothing beats a bit of thriller, even moreso if it's a story that actually happened. Such is the case of 1923 Lincheng Train Incident, in which a...
Art Imitates Life Imitates Art: New Women and the Tragic Suicide of Ruan Lingyu
The death of Chinese silent film actress Ruan Lingyu – known for her strong social conscience and work with leftist film directors – on Mar 8, 1935,...
嚯, 嚯, 嚯! How Santa Claus Came to China
You’d better not shout, you’d better not cry, you’d better not pout, I’m telling you why… Chinese Fortune Grandpa is coming to town! Wait – who? In...
The Ghost of Stone Tiger Hutong: A Beijing Halloween Tale
Is it possible that even in the neon canyons of Xidan, spirits of Beijing's imperial past still lurk? On a crisp autumn evening in the early years of...
Solar Terms 101: The Art of Familial Piety and Practicing an Ancient Chinese Detox
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...
Mandarin Monday: Roaring Iron? Foot Long Jade? How Ancient Chinese Named Their Cats
Although the cat was domesticated after the dog and is seemingly more independent and aloof than their rival, cat worshippers the world over can't...
Mandarin Monday: Capitalized Chinese Characters? What The Hell Are Those?
Mandarin Monday is a weekly column where we help you improve your Chinese by detailing learning tips, fun and practical phrases, and trends....
Story of the 'Jing: What's the Deal With the Old Red Gate on Ghost Street?
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. Ever walked (or...
These Historial and Cultural Sites Have Reopened to the Public
A number of places that were shut during the most recent outbreaks in Beijing have been reopened to the public from Jul 15 and into this week,...
Find Out How the Chinese Language was Created at this History Talk, Jun 26
In 1913, a meeting was held in a small courtyard close to Xidan with the aim to find a nationwide standard of pronunciation for the Chinese language...
Seeing Beyond the Surface: A History of Blind Massage in Beijing
A good massage can be a boon for both body and soul, but can it benefit others, too? If you have spent any time in Beijing or other cities in China,...