Category Archives: Tour guides

Less known to the world that Forbidden City is more about architecture; it is the pinnacle of Ming-era royal architectural style. Its alternative name of “the Palace Museum” will disappoint visitors looking for paintings, sculptures, or ancient artifacts. For those, … Continue reading →

I attended Greater China's and Asia South's sales fiscal year kick-off and annual partners summit for 3 days. After such deep submersion, I now have a deeper appreciation on field organizations. We engineers sit in the air-conditioned rooms and click … Continue reading →

On May 4th, 1918, about 3000 students gathered in TianAnMen Square to protest the signing of the Treaty of Versailles in which Japan will assume all German occupied locations and render ShanDong (山东) province almost as its colony. It quickly … Continue reading →

On this 2nd day of the 2nd month of Chinese year (March 20th, 2007), the dragon lifts his head (二月二 龙抬头). During the Tang (唐) dynasty, WU ZeTian (武则天, 624~705) over-took the country and became the 1st ever Empress in … Continue reading →

By area, Beijing is 20 times larger than New York City and 7.5 times than Tokyo. By population, it is 10% more than New York, 70% more than Tokyo, and about the same as New Dehli. Taiwan is 35,980 km² … Continue reading →

Every Beijing would say, “正月十五雪打灯 (On the 1st full moon of the new year, the lanterns are covered with snow).” This is a unusually warm winter in Beijing. On March 2nd, two days before the new moon, it was 15°C. … Continue reading →

Everywhere you go, a pair of lions guards the entrance of a respectable establishment, be it a temple, restaurant, government agency, bank, or simply a residential house. The most common material is stone. Some of them are made with iron … Continue reading →

Last winter, the first snow fell on January 12th. This one, today. They say it is going to be a warn winter. I like snow.

WANG Wei (701~761) is one of my favorite poets. On this 9th day of the 9th lunar month, long, long time ago, he wrote this famous poem. It became an instant classic and spread all over China. 王維《九月九日憶山東兄弟》 獨在異鄉為異客， 每逢佳節倍思親。 … Continue reading →

After the October holiday (really the mid-Autumn festival), China enters the crab season. If you are in the country, the hairy crab (大闸蟹) is a must have. (Do you visit San Francisco without going to the Fisherman's Wharf?) Not just … Continue reading →