How to promote the Chinese language? By setting up a cultural corner in the Olympic village where volunteers teach athletes 你好 or making delegations enter the stadium not in alphabetical order, but according to the order of the simplified Chinese characters. The organisers announced this yesterday. I’m not exactly sure what it means. But I assume it refers […]
A few weeks ago Obama shot a 3 pointer, this time it was China’s premier Wen Jiabao’s turn. Mr. Wen is seen as the nation’s caretaker who lovingly comforts people in their distress (many draw parallels with premier Zhou Enlai, PRC’s first premier). It’s nice to see his active side. Not bad for a 66-year-old!
These photos feature some of the most iconic places in China. However, what catches most people’s eyes is the naked man doing push ups. How scandalous! The naked man is a TV host from Guangdong. He claims that the series of naked photos display his pride of China and his body.
You can probably figure out that such brave actions would scandalise China. But interestingly the focus is not […]
On top of being America’s Independence Day, 4th of July now represents a new era for China and Taiwan’s relations as direct flights started on this day. Eventhough the two sides are inextricablly linked at the civilian level through trade and cultural exchange, direct flights hold deep sentimental value. Ever since 1949, there had been no direct traffic or mail communication cross the Straits. In the Cold War […]
Qingdao/青岛, a beautiful coastal city in North China which is hosting the Olympic sailing events is gearing up every effort to clean up a horrific outbreak of algae. A month away from the Olympics, this really is the worst nightmare come true. The bright green algae extends several hundred meters along the coastline.
According to experts, the algae came from […]
Nothing displays the extreme wealth, hype and excess in China better than the price tag of the Olympics opening ceremony. On ganji.com, the hottest cyber market for trading Olympics tickets, several sellers have the neck to charge 100,000 RMB for a ticket originally priced at 5,000, the highest of the opening ceremony. This is extreme and […]
While I am taking in all the benefits of nature in Canada, I seem to be missing a lot of fun in China. A few days ago, 1,200 bikini clad girls gathered in Guangzhou and stood in the shape of Olympic circles to celebrate the summer games. The spectacle set a new Guinness record.
China has […]
Organisers of the 2008 Games recently announced a standard, four-part Olympic Cheer. It is a series of hand motions and slogans that’s being promoted as THE way to cheer. See the video clip and illustration for reference. This doesn’t mean spectators’ can’t cheer in their own ways, but the authorities hope to rally a uniform, powerful and 文明/wen2 ming2/’civilised’ audience to showcase China’s image to […]
Anxious parents stand outside the school to give kids moral support
Besides Chinese New Year, the only occasion that China stops for is 高考/gao1 kao3/university entrance exam. Every year, from the 7th to the 9th of June, the entire nation switches into exam mode with millions of teenagers. This year, a staggering 11 million students […]
For the pandas in China’s national reserve in 卧龙/Wo4 long2 county in Sichuan, the earthquake was a horribfying experience. Fortunately, none suffered physical injuries, but the psychological trauma is severe and enduring. China’s government, media and society have made an imperative to help the pandas heal. In fact, I think these heart-mealting creatures help us heal. Since the reserve was largely destroyed by the earthquake, […]
Hi, I am Jenny Zhu from ChinesePod.com. I bring you a slice of the Chinese language and culture in the daily podcast. But there is so much more than what a podcast has time for, so jennyzhu.com is a space of observation and reflection on the big, small and everything in between about China.