She has a unique style as she has chose women in the military as the subject for many of her works. Her women are sexy, but yet very powerful at the same time. She had spent time in the military during the Cultural Revolution, which would explain her preoccupation with the subject.

Artist Background

Hu Ming’s parents were doctors and served in the army. So they hope Hu Ming also can be a doctor. However Hu Ming took no interest in it, she only wanted to paint.

During the Cultural Revolution in China, Hu Ming spent her school days either drawing Chairman Mao’s portrait or memorizing his red book, nothing else was allowed and Hu Ming found it very boring, so she begged her parents to let her enter the army, she was only 15 years old. So in 1970 she became a soldier.

While Hu Ming was serving in the army hospital, she had numerous positions. Starting as the hospital broadcaster, a librarian, and a lone projectionist; travelling with a truck and moving around several different locations.

Her time as a Librarian changed her most profoundly. During the Cultural Revolution, people were only to read Chairman Mao’s red book, or his poetry, or some history that was of the “right” way while every other book were all banned during Mao’s reign in communist China.

For some reason of the three truck loads of books that arrived at the hospital, they decided not to burn the last load, and it was Ming’s task to categorize three rooms of books piled a meter high on the floors. She was not allowed to read the books of course, but when she found amongst the mounds of books, classics from Tolstoy to the story of Oliver, she read everything she could get her hands on! She also found records of classical music. The library became a wondrous place for her.

She would awaken whilst within its walls and fall asleep once she returned to the outside world of the Cultural Revolution.

However it was one day in that library that she found a book that would change her life forever. It was a life drawing book by Michelangelo, a book of human anatomy. The figures were of men, and it was the first time for the then 16-year- old to see the nude.

Michelangelo's painting

She was in a mental turmoil as she was both absolutely fascinated, yet petrified. Despite the danger, she took the book back to her room to study and copy the drawings, so that she might be able to draw the human body well.

The Cultural Revolution required men and women to be homogeneous, women were not to display their femininity or to wear face cream that contained any perfume, hence in her art she emphasised on the womanliness of the army girls in her painting.

In 1976 her commander sent her to train as a nurse for three months. After the training was completed she was sent to a “real hospital” to administer needles to the soldiers. She was placed in the male section where men lined up to receive their medication.

Ming continued this job for a year then she changed positions to work with the burn victims, which was not a popular job with the other nurses. During this time as a nurse Ming witnessed daily the dead and withered bodies of illness. She came to hate the view of an ill body and developed a passion in painting healthy voluptuous bodies.

In 1979 Ming went to University and sat for the entrance exams and passed with flying colours. Her university life was very rigorous; she would study till midnight then up at 5:30 to exercise and consequently won a scholarship and for 3 years.

In 1982 she bought her first camera. And instead of travelling home in her holidays as did the other students, she would travel alone to the mountains in the North to visit the local villages and consequently hitching around the country. During this year, her whole class was assigned to copy the famous cave paintings of the Buddhists grotto temple of 5000 years old. It took 6 months and 6 artists to copy these famous and important paintings onto rice paper, working with only a simple battery torch to see inside the caves. This time in the caves was extremely important to Ming’s training as it was the traditional line style of drawing.

At this time Ming kept 3 wishes that she wanted to materialize in her life:

1. To continue to study art.
2. To travel to different countries.
3. To be wealthy enough to start an Art university.

Till this day there are 23 of Ming’s art works in her university’s gallery.

In 1983 for her final work for graduation, she painted a 2-metre square painting entitled “Mountain Kin and River” for graduation. Then she returned to the army hospital 254 and went back to the political office, She remained in the army for another year then chose to work for the army film factory, which specialized in propaganda war films, typically about the red armies victories over the Japanese imperialists during the World War II when the Japanese invasion and occupation.

The films typically featured the killing of Japanese soldiers with bombs/ fire/ etc. She was the creative director working with props and special effects. After that, she tried her hand at writing and directing films. She worked with the army films for 5 years, and was on her way to be a director and was given the rank of Major. But her heart was not in it any longer, she took the opportunity to study English in New Zealand.  And so her life in the Chinese red army which she spent all her youth in,came to an end after 20 years. That was how her paintings’ influences came about.

While studying in New Zealand, she would draw faces at the markets in Auckland to earn a living. Then a man from Warner Bros saw her and asked if she would like to work for him, which she did for a year till an opportunity came to paint full-time in her own studio and so she started her own gallery and studio – Anzac Parade in Auckland in 1993. This was her first time to use oil’s and canvas; previously she had only used Chinese brush on rice paper and water colour. She fell in love with the oil paint immediately and has never returned to the water colour.

Later on in life, she was drawn to Australia. So in 1999 she went to Australia and found work with the Chinese post editorial board for a year, but has since met a partner who was able to give her the time to once again paint full time.

Hu Ming is a pioneer in her field being diverse in combining both modern and classical styles. There is a blend of exotic, strange, humorous and above all mysterious in her art. She merges a conscious sense of post modernism and element of sub-culturalism.

The females depicted by Hu Ming are all sturdy and beautiful Chinese women. What she wants to bring out are the new generation of Chinese women who are brave, sexy and being on par with men like Super Women.

The people in the old communist propaganda posters such as labourers carrying weapons or holding flags with happy smiles is not enough and aren’t attractive enough. Hence, Hu Ming has included some mild sexuality in her painting which are possible from western influence.

Her paintings express dearly her worship of the female form depicting both physical strength and feminine beauty. Her works are not of a planned process born of her dreams but represents an accumulation of her diverse experiences.

There is a book named Hu Ming published by University Of Hawaii Press in 2007.

This book contains 41 colour reproductions, mostly of Hu Ming’s recent work; Hu has taken the depiction of the semi-nude female body to new dimensions with work that exudes a unique sensuality and a dynamic realism.

She has held exhibitions in Japan and Singapore with her paintings being sold to buyers in the US, Canada, Asia and Europe. The New 87 Immortals was even chosen to be the background picture when Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd delivered a speech on April 9, 2008.

She has held exhibitions in Japan and Singapore with her paintings being sold to buyers in the US, Canada, Asia and Europe. The New 87 Immortals was even chosen to be the background picture when Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd delivered a speech on April 9, 2008.

Check out some of Hu Ming’s paintings below, and if you’d like to see more please visit her official website at http://hu-ming.com

Vocabulary

军人               jūn rén                             Military Personnel

红宝书            hóng bǎo shū                   red books (written by Mao Zedong)

宣传               xuān chuán                      Propaganda

创意总监         chuàng yì zǒng jiān          Creative director

文化大革命      wén huà dà gé mìng         Cultural revolution

人体解剖学      rén tǐ jiě pōu xué              Human anatomy

Raw meats ready to be cooked

On a cold winter night, there is nothing like a good Chinese hot pot to warm you up.

The Chinese hot pot boasts a history of more than 1000 years; it is a great creation by Chinese and has spread over to many other countries. It is extremely favoured by the Chinese people. There are restaurants which specialize in hot pot attracting people who prefer to cook their own style.

Chinese Hot pot or Steam boat, refers to a variety of stew, using a constantly boiling metal pot of stock (as broth/ soup base). Placed at the centre of the dining table, raw and fresh ingredients are laid out around the pot. Typical hot pot dishes would include thin slices of meat, vegetables, mushroom, wonton and a variety of seafood. The ingredients are cooked in the simmering pot and usually eaten after dipping in sauce.

History

The hot pot originated from the Mongolians and first appeared in China early Qing Dynasty. It became popular after Manchu army passed the Shanghai Pass in 1644.

Early in the 18th century of China, during the reign of Emperor Kangxi and Qianlong, Hot Pot was already featured upon their royal cruisine. Hot Pot later also became popular in Muslim restaurants.

1854, Zhengyang Restaurant was opened outside Qianmen in Beijing. This became the first Han restaurant with Hot Pot. The restaurant was renowned and exceptionally famous for its mutton being sliced as thin as paper.

Hotpot today has become widely popular in most of China. Many modern homes, particularly those in big cities, have replaced the traditional coal-heated hot pot or steam boat with more convenient electric, gas or induction cooker versions.

Regional variations

Several more distinct variations and styles have developed for the Chinese Hot Pot.

Beijing Hot Pot

Hot Pot in Beijing is eaten all year round. The typical Beijing Hot Pot is eaten indoors in winter. There are a few types of Beijing Hot Pot. More modern restaurants offer sectioned bowl with different flavoured broths in each section.

Traditional Beijing Hot Pot with a donut-shaped brass pot

The more traditional ones will serve the Hot Pot in a large brass vessel pot, with burning coals beneath and a chimney structure in the centre, forming a deep donut shaped pot. The broth is typically mild and fragrant.

Manchurian Hot Pot

The Manchurian Hot Pot is characterized by its plenty use of suan cai (Chinese sauerkraut) or Chinese pickled cabbage or sauerkraut. It provides a distinct flavouring for the soup. Hence, Manchurian Hot Pot is also known as Suan Cai Hot Pot.

The pickled cabbage pickled flavor is not too heavy hence the vegetable flavor still remains. The smell and the taste of sauerkraut are able to increase your appetite. Fatty pork is sometimes added to provide a complementing flavour to the soup base. The special flavour of the Manchurian Suan Cai Hot Pot has made it famous in the whole of China in recent years.

Manchurian Hot Pot

Sichuan Hot Pot

Sichuan Hot Pot is one of the most famous variations. It is well-known to have a heavily spicy taste, leaving a burning and numbing sensation in your tongue. The Sichuan Hot Pot is hence commonly also known as Ma La Hot Pot (Ma la meaning Numb and Spicy). The special spice added to the broth is the Hua Jiao (“Flower Pepper” or Sichuan Pepper).

In your Sichuan Hot Pot, it is common to have a variety of different meats including sliced mutton fillet.

Sichuan Hot Pot is quite different from other types of Hot Pot in China. The type of meat and soup base used and the sauces and condiments for flavouring the meat are all distinctively unique. The cities of Chengdu and Chongqing in Sichuan province are both famous for their many types of Sichuan Hot Pot.

Sichuan Hot Pot in a Yuan Yang Pot

Sichuan Hot Pot also offers an alternative. For those who do not fancy and cannot fanthom why many people are addicted to this fiery and numbing sensation of the Sichuan pepper, you can opt for a split pot.

Yuan Yang Hot Pot

A split pot as seen on the picture above, dividing the pot into 2 sections resembling the yin & yang symbol in Taoism, allows two different soup base in the pot to suit everyone’s taste at the dining table. This type of Hot Pot design is also known as Yuan Yang Hot Pot or Mandarin Duck Hot Pot (Yuan Yang refering to Mandarin ducks which are commonly seen in pairs).

Cantonese Hot Pot

The Cantonese variation involves mixing a raw egg (sometimes with condiments like soya sauce) and pouring into the broth. According to Chinese herbalist theories, this will reduce the ‘heatiness’ absorbed by the food and thus reduce the tendency of getting a sore throat after your Hot Pot meal. In the broth also contains Chinese herbs and mutton chunks cooked with rice wine and root ginger, which helps remove the rank flavour in the mutton.

Herbs used in food has a long history in china, different kinds of herbs have different functions in people’s health. The Chinese, and especially the Cantonese, are avid users of medical herbs. The Cantonese Hot Pot lets you enjoy delicious food while taking your health into consideration.

Taiwanese Hot Pot

The Taiwanese hot pot is also called shabu-shabu due to its Japanese influence. It uses thinly sliced meat and vegetables, and is usually served with Japanese-flavored dipping sauce. Shabu-shabu is quite different from Chinese styled Hot Pot. It is a little bit sweet and sometimes savory.

While considered a winter dish, it is eaten all year round. People eat the food with a dipping sauce consisting of shacha sauce (a Chinese condiment with dried shrimp and other spice as ingredients) and raw egg yolk.

Taiwanese Hot Pot or Shabu-Shabu

Fusion Hot Pot

Recently, newer innovations of the Hot Pot are flourishing in modern cities like Shanghai. These Fusion Hot Pot establishments offer a mix and match of different styles. You can pick your own soup base, meat, vegetables and sauce from an endless list of choices.

Some restaurants also offer mini Hot Pot. These mini Hot Pots are smaller variations so each individual will have their own mini hot pot with their desired broth and ingredients.

DIY Hot Pot

Lastly, there is your Do-It-Yourself Hot Pot. With electric and induction cooking hot pots easily available, many Chinese do set up their own Hot Pot right on their own dining tables. Staying cozy in your homes in winter and having a warm hearty Hot Pot dinner with families and friends is possibly the best meal you can have.

There is no one way of setting up your DIY Hot Pot, just whatever suits you and your dinner companions taste buds. You can also cook noodles in the pot or have steamed rice with the food.

Fresh Hot Pot ingredients

The Technique and Etiquette of Eating Hot Pot

If you are already salivating and can’t wait to join your Chinese friends in a Hot Pot meal, hold on a minute. If this is your first time around a Hot Pot table, knowing some basic techniques and etiquette will save you some embarrassment.

Cooking thinly sliced meat to perfection in a Hot Pot requires a certain amount of skill.

The Tools

Tools used are simple. Basically other than the Hot Pot, you will need a pair of cooking chopsticks and a small perforated ladle.

The ladle can be used to cook small items that will potentially be lost in the broth, for example thin sliced meat. With the food item in the ladle, dip it into the boiling broth.

Feel free to bob the ladle up and down to ensure it cooks thoroughly. When retrieving, let the broth drain properly before taking the ladle out to prevent spilling.

Cooking the Food

You may throw larger items into the pot for yourself and the rest of your table at any time.

However, for certain seafood like live prawns, clams and abalone, which takes longer to be cooked, it is generally a good etiquette to ask your Hot Pot companions first. They may want to scoop some food out of the pot before you place them in.

The time waiting for your food to be cooked is not wasted during your Hot Pot meals. It is an excellent time to interact with your families and friends.

Tip

The Art of cooking your food at a Hot Pot involves making sure you get to taste the freshest and meats, seafood and vegetables possible.

Grasping the cooking time is key, ensuring that your food is not overcooked, which will make your meats too tough and your vegetables soggy.

Meat that is sliced thinly requires a very short cooking time. Using the chopstick or ladle, dip the meat in the boiling soup for approximately 20-30 seconds and take it out just as the last bit of pinkness leaves the meat.

Seafood requires a longer time to cook. Overcooking them will leaves u a tough texture and lose the natural flavour, so you may need to check on them often in the pot.

A Caucasian girl enjoying her very own Chinese hot pot prepared at home.

Hot Pot Hygiene Tip

• Always wash hands before handling food and eating.
• Choose fresh food from quality supermarkets.
• Wash and cook all food thoroughly.
• Cook seafood for five more minutes before eating.
• Use different sets of chopsticks to handle raw and cooked meat to avoid cross contamination.

Vocabulary

火锅               huǒ guō                                hot pot

电磁炉          diàn cí lú                               induction cooker

涮羊肉          shuàn yáng ròu                   instant-boiled lamb

Suzhou Silk and Silk Embroidery

Suzhou is not only a famous cultural city and a city of gardens, but also the silk capital of China.

During the Tang (618-907) and Song (960-1279) dynasties, it was the silk producing centre; in the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties most of the high-grade silk produced for the royal families was made by Suzhou silk weavers.

Authentic Suzhou silk is produced from the cocoons of silkworms. Silkworms are actually not worms, but caterpillars. Silkworms feed on mulberry leaves until they are one mouth old. Then the worms build a cocoon to protect themselves until they change into a moth.

Once the cocoons are finished workers will collect the cocoons and place them in hot water. This kills the worms and melts the natural glue that holds the cocoons together. Once the natural glue has been melted each cocoon can yield over 2,000 feet of silk thread. Once the silk thread has been unspun, it is hung outside to dry in the sun and then woven on looms. It is an extremely labor intensive process, but only this will guarantee silk of the finest quality.

Suzhou artisans are also masters of silk embroidery. Beddings, clothes, wall art, and many other objects can carry stitched works of the local Suzhou style, one of China’s Four Traditional Embroidery Styles. Large wall arts, equivalent of laborious paintings can take years to complete, carefully choosing the perfect threads by color and thickness.

Through highly skilled motions and unparalleled dedication, artists create unbelievable realism. Suzhou specializes in double-sided embroidery, where one single piece of cloth can display different images on either side.

If you are interested in admiring these works, you can visit these places below:

Suzhou Silk Museum

Suzhou Silk Museum is multi-functional, and combines exhibits with demonstrations of silk weaving. Exhibits on display in its various exhibition halls reflect the origin, evolution and development of silk production, from primitive times to the Shang, Zhou, Han, Sui, Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties right through to present day.

Address: No.2001 Renmin Road

Entrance Fee: 15RMB

Opening hours: 9:00am – 5:00pm

Suzhou Institute of Embroidery

The institute is a worldwide name, with over 100 professional technical personnel, including some masters of Chinese arts and crafts. The silk and brocade works of art produced by the institute won gold prizes at the international fairs and golden cup awards at the national quality competitions time and again.

Address: 272 Jingde Road

Entrance Fee: Free of charge

Opening hours: 8:30am-4:45pm

Suzhou No. 1 Silk Factory

For over 80 years, Suzhou No.1 Silk Factory has been a leader in local silk production. A complete silk manufacturing facility, the No. 1 Silk Factory handles every facet of production from raising silkworms and cocoon boiling to reeling and packing. Visits to the silk factory include a tour of the facility, a lecture about silk production, a workshop on making silk goods and a visit to the factory’s showroom.

Address: No.94 Nanmen Road

Entrance Fee: Free of charge

Opening hours: 8:00am – 5:00pm

Chinese Embroidery Art Gallery

Chinese Embroidery Art Gallery is the largest professional embroidery exhibition gallery in China. The whole gallery was built with the classic garden concept in mind. The gallery shows various embroidery art works from all over the country. It is a multi-functional gallery with embroidery for sale, embroidery art research and development, embroidery art communication and so on.

Address: Zhenhu Street, New & High-tech District

Entrance Fee: 10RMB

Opening hours: 9:00am-4:00pm

Suzhou Performing Arts

Kunqu

Kunqu (昆曲, Kun Qu), also called Kun Opera, is one of the oldest forms of Chinese Operas, also considered to be one of its Four Great Characteristic Melodies.

Born in the Wu Kingdom, today’s Kunshan area of Suzhou, it grew and thrived. However, during the Cultural Revolution, opera performances were suppressed. Despite this and against all odds, Kunqu gained in popularity and significance, leading to its current position of importance and appreciation.

Another aspect of Kunqu that is still unknown to many is that it has influenced many other styles of Opera, especially its better known cousin, the Peking Opera. It is even said that the appearance of Kunqu was the key reason for the rise in popularity and success of Chinese theater and drama.

Where can you watch Kun Opera shows?

Suzhou Opera Museum

In the museum, you can discover the great achievements made by groups of artists since the liberation and their successful performances in and out of the country. Their journey will leave you with a deep respect for the art.

Address: 14 Zhangjia Lane in the middle of Pingjiang Road

Entrance Fee: Free of charge

Opening hours: 8:30am-4:30pm

Pingtan

Pingtan (评弹, Ping Tan) must also be noted as yet another exquisite performance art of Suzhou, after all, it is probably the most local form of performing art.

Essentially, Pingtan is a story telling art where together, two artists/storytellers, one male and one female, retell traditional tales. Stories can take hours, even days to be told and so, traditionally, these performances take place in peaceful teahouses.

The name Pingtan comes from the unison of two Suzhou words: pinghua and tanci, storytelling and ballad singing. And so, true to its origins, Pingtan uses Wu Kingdom Chinese or Suzhou dialect, in addition to traditional Chinese instruments. Normally, the woman plays the Pipa, while the man plays a three stringed instrument. Together the melodies are sweet and support the story being told.

Here is a list about where you can enjoy the show:

Plum and Bamboo Storytelling Garden

Address: No. 30 Taipingfang, Stone Road

Opening hours: 1:30pm-3:30pm

Price: 4 RMB per person (including tea)

Guangyu Storytelling Hall

Address: No. 8 Diyi Tianmen, Guanqian Street

Opening hours: 1:30pm-3:30Pm

Price: 4 RMB per person (including tea)

Pinfang Teahouse

Address: No. 24-25 Xijiaomen, Guanqian Street

Opening hours: 1:30pm-3:30pm

Price: 3.5 RMB per person (including tea)

Food & Drink

Bluish Green Spring

Bi Luo Chun (碧螺春) is a famous green tea originally grown in the Dongting Hill near the Tai Hu Lake. It is renowned for its delicate appearance, fruity taste, floral aroma, showy white hairs and early cropping.

Chinese tea experts regard it very highly. Zhen Jun (1857 – 1918), the author of famous tea encyclopedia Cha Shuo, ranked it first among Chinese green tea.

Bi Luo Chun from East Hill is considered the best. Every March and April is considered the right to pick the tea. Due to the different picking period and quality, Bi Luo Chun is divided into many grades and it is said the Supreme grade cost about 6000RMB per kilogram!

Yangcheng Lake Hairy Crab

Yangcheng Lake hairy crab (阳澄湖大闸蟹, Yang Cheng Hu Da Zha Xie) is a kind of Chinese Mitten Crab. White bottom, golden hairy and a pair of big pincers, those are distinguishing features of the crab. Every late autumn when every crab’s weight gains more than 150 gram, then it’s the time to enjoy the cate.

Just steaming is the best way to cook the crab, dipped in the sauce just made from vinegar, sugar and tiny baby ginger slices so that you can taste the natural flavor.

Vocabulary

sī chóu

丝 绸                                       Silk                   n.

cán

蚕                                        Silkworm              n.

cì xiù

刺绣                                 Embroidery            n.

jiǎn

茧                                         Cocoon                n.

áo

螯                                          pincers               n.

]]> http://ilearn-culture.com/discover-suzhou-silk-art-food/feed/ 0 http://ilearn-culture.com/discover-suzhou-silk-art-food/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/impact-ilearn/feed/~3/nghcIC71TzE/ http://ilearn-culture.com/shanghai-expo-2010-trip-plan-guide/#comments Mon, 19 Apr 2010 04:58:17 +0000 Kenneth Mun http://ilearn-culture.com/?p=4271 If you have seen photos of the amazing pavilion designs and following the news and anticipation of the World’s biggest Expo since last year, I’m sure you are as excited as me about making your visit to Shanghai World Expo 2010!

However, if this is your maiden visit to the Middle Kingdom and you are a little clueless as to where to start, just follow this guide to make your preparation smooth and easy.

You will also find a list of useful articles in our Shanghai World Expo 2010 Definitive Guide, covering topics from Ticketing to Transport to Travel attractions in Shanghai. With a little reading, you can plan your itinerary better.

Planning your Trip to the Expo

So you have made up your mind to set foot on Shanghai for the big event. As you throw your clothes, ipods and your beloved pet dog into your luggage bags, you pause and ponder.. ‘should I purchase my air tickets first, or call to check if my laundry is ready?”

Truth is, there is no right order of doing things as long as it works. However, at iLearn, we have created a clear and easy checklist as our recommendation.

1. Create an Itinerary

Draw up a simple Plan:

1. Duration of trip
   • How long do you plan to visit?
   • How long can you afford to take leave from work?
2. Dates for trip
   • When to travel?
   • Try to avoid visiting during the 17 Expo Peak Days as it is expected to be more crowded than usual.
     • China Labor’s Day (May 1st-3rd, 2010)
     • National Day (October 1st – 7th, 2010) and
     • Expo Ending Week (October 25th – 31st, 2010)
3. Number of people
   • Who to bring along as companions on the trip?
     Companions are good for reducing lodging and transport expenses, sharing the fun of exploring new places and for pointing the blaming finger at when you occasionally get lost.
4. Places to visit
   • Being in Shanghai for the Expo, you probably will want to spend another 2-5 days exploring Shanghai city.
     If you have the time, why not visit nearby attractions in neighbouring cities like Suzhou and Hangzhou?
     Perhaps take a flight north to Beijing Capital or south to the bustling cities of Guangzhou or Hong Kong?
5. Set a Budget
   • You may want to set a rough budget, how much you are willing to spend. This can be used as a reference to where you stay, how long your trip is and where to visit.

With these factors set, you are ready to make your trip arrangements.

2. Making Preflight Arrangements

Air tickets

Plane is your obvious choice of transport to Shanghai if you are living outside China. Check with your local travel agents or International Airlines what flights and routes are available.

Your choice is usually a Direct flight (a straight ride from your city to Shanghai) or an Indirect flight (requiring you to stop over and change flights somewhere in between the journey)

Either way, you will end up at Pudong International Airport of Shanghai. (Shanghai has another airport in Hongqiao, but that serves mostly for domestic flights)

Generally booking your air tickets early will get you a cheaper price, so planning early is advantageous. You also would want to avoid last minute bookings as you might not get your desired flight dates and timings.

Keeping your ticket flexible

In the event where you want to extend your trip, Airlines usually do allow you to make changes. Additional fees may incur. It is encouraged to check with the Airlines regarding their terms and conditions for flight date changes just so you know what to expect incase of changes in plans.

Hotel booking

It is strongly advisable to make your hotel booking beforehand, at least for the first few days when you land. If you want to extend or change your plans later on, you can do so easily when you are there.

Another thing to note is, all hotels require your passports when you check in. It may seem like an obvious thing; however, in a case where you leave your luggage in your Shanghai hotel, to travel on a day trip to neighbouring Suzhou city, this becomes applicable. If you didn’t bring your passport along, it will not be possible to plan a stay over.

Where should you stay?

The site of the Shanghai World Expo 2010 is not too far South from Shanghai downtown centre. It is on the waterfront area between Lupu and Nanpu bridges and stretches along the banks of the Huangpu River.

Shanghai Map showing location of World Expo 2010 Site

Shanghai is relatively easy to commute around in and there are several modes of transport to the Shanghai Expo site (Transport info to Expo site – official Expo website), so it will be relatively convenient for you no matter your choice of hotel. Your budget and lodging preferences should be your priority when seeking lodging. Of course, a hotel near the city with shops and restaurants in close vicinity is usually a good idea.

Look at our Shanghai Lodging article for more information.

You can also visit Expotia.com which is the Shanghai World Expo Official Hotel Reservation website.

Visa Application

Visa is an approval document required to enter foreign countries. As with visiting other countries, the People’s Republic of China requires visitors to obtain Chinese Visa prior entry.

There are exceptions where certain nationalities are eligible to enter without visa to stay in China within 15 or 30 days. Terms vary with different countries. You can verify this with your traveling airline, travel agency or local China embassy.

Chances are that you will be required to apply for a visa. Simply head down to your local China embassy for application.

Generally you will need:

• One completed application form (form available from the embassy or its website)
• A valid passport with six (6) months of remaining validity and at least one blank visa page in it.
• One recent passport-sized photo (approx. 2 x 2 square inch or slightly smaller)
• Visa application charges applies

Different types of Visas are available dependent on your reason for visiting as well as duration of stay. A Single Entry Tourist Visa is probably what you need. Your maximum stay allowed is usually 90 days. Processing Time is about 3-5 business days. You can apply for express service to shorten your processing time and you may also entrust someone else or your travel/visa agent to drop off your application on your behalf.

Don’t fret on the fuss of visa application. It is usually simpler than it seems. Do a web search on your nationality’s requirements for entry to China or just call up the embassy for specific steps.

Travel Insurance

As with every overseas travel trip, it is advisable to apply for travel insurance. Temporary travel insurance is available to cover just the duration of your trip. A basic travel insurance policy is generally pretty affordable. Some common risks covered includes: medical expenses, trip cancellation/ interruption, delayed departure, loss or damage to personal possessions and legal assistance.

Specific coverage will depend on the type of policy and its terms.

Traveling Agents

Seeking Travel Agents are optional in your arrangements. You may seek them for air ticket booking and hotel booking. Or if you are the type who prefers to just go with the flow and let other people handle the nitty-gritty stuffs, full tour packages can be arranged with travel agencies.

Agencies will usually take care of visa application and travel insurance for you too, if you sign up for packaged tours.

There are times when you may feel rushed or lack of freedom over the itinerary, especially if it is a huge group tour, however customization may be arranged. Compare your agencies and packages if interested.

Currency in China – Renminbi (RMB)

Chinese Currency - renminbi / RMB

The currency you will be using in China is the Renminbi (RMB) (人民币).

Converting currency to RMB outside China

You will be able to convert your currency at most banks or currency exchange counters in your country or at the International airports. Usually the exchange rate may not be as favourable as converting in China.

Converting currency to RMB in China

You may convert Foreign banknotes and traveller’s cheques to RMB in major banks in China.

Four major banks in China are Bank of China (BOC), the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), Agricultural Bank of China (ABC) and Construction Bank of China (CBC).
Your passports may be required for the conversion procedure. Your hotel may also have a currency exchange counter.

Credit / Debit Cards and ATMs

Major Credit and Debit cards like MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted in major cities in China and of course in Shanghai. Large department stores and restaurants accept card payments. You will also be able to find ATMs (Automatic Teller machines) that allow you to withdraw RMB cash with your card.

Credit/debit card usually support International networks like Plus and Cirrus. Look behind your card to see what networks are supported. You will be able to find these logos on the ATMs in China where you will be able to withdraw from. An exchange rate will incur as well as a transaction fee according to your bank.

It is advisable to convert at least a small amount of RMB before your trip so that you do not have to hassle with finding currency exchange counters immediately after you land. Then you have the option of converting the rest of your currency after checking into your hotels.

For your information, a cab fee from Shanghai airport to the city centre should cost below 300-400 RMB/yuan (40-70 minutes dependent of traffic conditions).

Check out our comprehensive guide to Chinese Currency – RMB.

Expo Tickets

You can read our detailed article on Shanghai World Expo 2010 – Ticketing Info.

But basically, you need to know that tickets in Expo are defined by either Peak day or Standard day. Peak days are during the dates of May 1st-3rd, October 1st – 7th and October 25th – 31st. The rest of the expo period is Standard day.

Peak day tickets are slightly more expensive, limited in volume and dated. One Peak day ticket allows 1 entry on the specified date. On the other hand,

Standard days are not dated and multi-day tickets are available.

Visting on Peak Day

This generally means that if you intend to visit the Expo during the Peak days, you will need 1 ticket for each day of expo visit. It is also advisable to purchase the Expo ticket prior your trip arrangements, to assure your entry to the expo site.

Visting on Standard Day

If your intended expo visit does not coincide with the Peak days, you are assured of your entry to the expo site as Standard day tickets are not volume limited and also not date specific.

I.e. – Getting a Single Day Standard Day ticket will allow you 1 entry ANY day within the expo period (not coinciding Peak days).
a 3 Day Standard Day ticket will allow you a TOTAL of 3 entries on ANY day within expo period (not coinciding Peak days).

Hence for your Standard day tickets, there is no rush to purchase beforehand. You may buy your ticket onsite or at authorized sellers in Shanghai. Of course if you would like to purchase online or through overseas agents prior your trip, that is fine too and that may save some queuing time.

3. Packing your bags

According to our checklist, it is not a good idea to pack your dog in the luggage.

With your trip arrangements done, all you are left with is luggage packing! Here is a recommended short checklist of items to bring:

• Travel documents (passports, air tickets, expo or other tickets, hotel booking info, itinerary, etc)

• Cash / Credit Cards

• Necessities (clothes / medication if required)

• Personal comforts (mp3 player / laptop / phone)

• Cameras and videocams (with enough storage capacity, battery and charger)

As with all holiday trips, you are sure to end up with bags of shopping and souvenirs. Either leave some room in your luggage, or bring along an empty bag to fill your goodies with.

4. Information to Prepare

• Find out how best to reach your hotel from airport.
  Check with your hotel beforehand.If you do not mind bringing your luggage around and your hotel is near a metro station, the metro is a viable option. Pudong Shanghai International airport is connected to the metro system by a 15 minutes ride on the Maglev Train, the World’s fastest train. Otherwise, a cab is usually your choice of transport from the airport.

• Print out or Write down your Hotel Information
  - hotel name, address and phone on paper (preferably in Chinese characters too). Show this to the driver to avoid ambiguity.
  

  Find out about the China Pavilion and other uniquely designed pavilions

• Do a little more reading on the Expo.
  You may want to read more on the Expo Pavilions and Expo Events and Performances to get an idea of what to expect and what to look out for.
  .
  The expo site is a huge place and if your visit is not long enough, you will have to be selective on what to visit.

5. Some Tips and Additional Information

• You will find official Taxi Stands at airports and train stations. Use them. Be wary of people approaching you to offer rides in non-taxi cars. There is no guarantee taking these ‘non official taxis’.
  So better be safe and take a cab that looks like a cab.

• Transportation in Shanghai via metro/subway is an affordable and most convenient transport means. Taxis are relatively cheap too, but getting one during peak hours can prove to be a daunting task.

• If you would like to maintain contactable on mobile while overseas, make sure your local mobile phone plans support Global/International/Auto Roaming.
  You may need to call up your mobile network provider to activate roaming services.

• You may purchase prepaid mobile SIM cards at the airport or in many authorized shops around the country if you wish to. Passports may be required.

• Most hotels will provide Internet connections.

• You can find More Tips regarding touring Shanghai World Expo:
  • Touring the Shanghai World Expo 2010 Tips – Part 1
  • Touring the Shanghai World Expo 2010 Tips – Part 2

I hope this guide has been useful for those keen on making the trip and if you need any more information or help, just leave a comment or send us an email

The Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in northern China will present a vivid picture of its vast grassland scenery and also showcase its heroic spirit and civilization through multimedia displays at the 2010 World Expo.

The exhibition aims to offer a glimpse of urbanization as well as sustainable growth, featuring a 1,000-square-meter exhibition, a forum and campus activities. The structure surrounded by the “hada”, the museum set up 13 projects and an interactive display screen theater. The idea came from the long history of grassland culture, and chose seven representative elements: grassland, desert, forest, clouds, stars, yurt and hada.

A video of a trailer on the background and theme of the Inner Mongolia pavilion as well as a taste of what the viewers would expect as you step into the pavilion.

Sichuan pavilion

With the theme: “paradise nourished by water, suitable for living” The province’s display will highlight its profound history, culture and optimism following the devastating May 12 earthquake in 2008.

The pavilion’s outfitting features its beautiful water and mountain landscape.

In the 18,000-square-meter exhibition hall surrounding the China Pavilion, provinces and municipalities will showcase their time-honored cultures and customs. Columns with multimedia screens will display the Chinese character “川” (chuan) and “flying sun bird” a holy bird well-known in the province which represents the admiration of the sun by ancient Chinese.

The exhibition develops a picture of Sichuan’s cultural heritage such as the Sanxingdui, which boasts rich cultural relics and whose history can be dated back more than 3000 years. Also displayed will be the Jinsha archaeological site and the Dujiangyan irrigation project.

There are three halls in the pavilion:

Section 1: City, History & Civilisation

Under the leadership of the Sichuan pavilion mascot – a panda name Huan Huan, it brings about Sichuan’s four most important elements: Sanxingfui, Jinsha, Shuxiu, Qiqi and other historical civilization & folk culture for the audience’s viewing pleasure. With the interactive technology in the pavilion, the Silk Roads comes alive before the very eyes of the audience.

Section 2: Multimedia & Virtual Modeling

Using multimedia & virtual modeling, the audience is able to experience the Dujiangyan Irrigation Project with the multi-column screen displaying the sample of life in Chengdu. The “Urban Life Reality Show” display great development changes in Sichuan tea culture, Sichuan Opera face art, urban & rural.

Section 3: Sichuan’s future better life

Through the 3-dimensional optical map, it displays a new Sichuan rising from the New Tianfu Divine Land. To shorten the distance between Sichuan and the world, Sichuan generously invested on an “Asian Economic Hub”. The land of abundance of Tianfu is becoming a reality little by little.

The pavilion puts the city of Sichuan as the display objects; rivers and civilization as the ideological context; the lifestyle as the content; to bring us a bright future.

Each visitor will receive a card made of recyclable paper by children living in the May 12 earthquake-hit regions, expressing their hope for a better future.

Heilongjiang pavilion

Heilongjiang Province will offer visitors a chance to explore a dream-like icy city at the 2010 World Expo to show how city dwellers can live well in ice and snow and in harmony with nature.

It will produce an “icy crystal” effect with special materials in the theme “Ice and Snow Make Us Extraordinary.” Conception of exhibition theme: generous, harmonious, unselfconscious, diligent and encourage.

Heilongjiang in China’s far north is famous for its breath-taking winter scenery, sports and the annual Harbin Ice Sculpture Festival which attracts tourists from all over the world. The average annual temperature ranges from minus 5 degrees Celsius to plus 5 degrees. Designer will use special method to show us a huge dream-like Ice Sculpture structure—Heilongjiang pavilion.

In the pavilion, snow and ice will be the main line, showing Heilongjiang’s unique “green ecology”，”ice and snow” and “human spirit”.

The Beijing Youyi International Exhibition Ltd and Harbin Icecity International Exhibition Ltd have been chosen as designers.

Vocabulary

大草原             dà cáo yuán                    Vast grassland

文化遗迹         wén huà yí jì                   Culture relics

城市居民         chéng shì jū mín            City dwellers

绿色生态学     lǜ sè shēng tài xué        Green ecology

]]> http://ilearn-culture.com/expo-2010-pavilions-zone-a-inner-mongolia-sichuan-heilongjiang/feed/ 0 http://ilearn-culture.com/expo-2010-pavilions-zone-a-inner-mongolia-sichuan-heilongjiang/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/impact-ilearn/feed/~3/AsJgi5DdlWQ/ http://ilearn-culture.com/discover-suzhou-sightsee-shopping-recreation/#comments Thu, 15 Apr 2010 09:03:54 +0000 Simon Zhang http://ilearn-culture.com/?p=4247 SIP (Suzhou Industry Park)

In Suzhou, it is impossible not to mention the SIP.

In the beginning, it was a cooperative project to build a modern industrial park in the east of Suzhou with Singapore’s experience and investment. The China-Singapore Suzhou Industrial Park (CS-SIP) was thus born on Feb. 26th 1994, after these years’ development the SIP is not only a world famous investment paradise but also the interpretation of modern life. Around Jinji Lake and Dushu Lake, a lot of people settle and are enjoying the modern live there.

Museums

If you want to know a city, then go to visit its museums to understand the city’s history & development, here is a list should be useful to you:

• New Suzhou Museum

The New Suzhou Museum is the final design of world-renowned designer, Mr. I. M. Pei in his glittering career. It is not only a symbol of public construction in Suzhou, but also an innovative monument, bridging traditional Chinese architecture with the future. Prompting the protection of Suzhou’s cultural heritage, the new museum also has turned a new page for Suzhou Museum.

Address: No.204 Dong Bei Street

Entrance Fee: Free of Charge

Opening hours: 8:15am-5:00pm

• Suzhou Arts and Crafts Museum

Here you can watch artists in action. They carve jade, cut latticework fans from thin sheets of sandalwood, and fashion traditional calligraphy brushes. Perhaps most amazing is the careful attention to detail of the women embroidering silk. The attached shop is a good place to pick up quality crafts

Address: No.58 Dong Bei Street

Entrance Fee: 15RMB

Opening hours: 8:30am-3:45pm

• Museum of Suzhou Folk Customs

The Museum of Suzhou Folk Customs, located in an ancient residence, is a regional folk custom museum. The building of the Museum, featuring the architectural style of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), is listed as one of the major historical sites under the protection of Jiangsu Province.

Address: No.32 Panru Lane

Entrance Fee: Free of charge

Opening hours: 8:30am-3:45pm

• Suzhou Garden Museum

In order to commemorate the 2,500th anniversary of Suzhou, a Garden Museum was established inside Humble Administrator’s Garden. The exhibitions in this museum mainly introduce the history of Suzhou’s ancient gardens, plus their current conditions and the technology of building gardens. There are four exhibition halls.

Address: Inside Humble Administrator’s Garden

Entrance Fee: Free of charge

• Suzhou Inscriptions Museum

Address: No.613 Renmin Road

Entrance Fee: Free of charge

Opening hours: 8:30am-3:45pm

• Suzhou Art Museum

Address: No.4 Canglang Ting

Entrance Fee: Free of charge

Opening hours: 8:30am-3:45pm

• Art Museum of Suzhou Art Academy

Address: Xinghu Street (Southern Square E-103)
Open Hours: 9:00am- 5:00pm
Entrance Fee: Free

Shopping and Recreation

• Guanqian Street

Guanqian Street (观前街, Guan Qian Jie) is famous for shopping and recreation in Suzhou.

The history of the street can date back to Qing Dynasty, 100 years ago. It is named after the Xuanmiao Guan which is a Taoist temple, meaning of “the street in front of the Guan”. In the Guanqian block, you can shopping, dining, see a film, sing karaoke, watch festival performances and everything about recreation you can find here. What special in Guanqian is you also can find some old & famous shops and traditional craft.

• Shiquan Street

Shiquan Street (十全街, Shi Quan Jie) was once the old downtown of Suzhou, it is home to many hotels, including the famous Nanlin Restaurant, Suzhou Hotel, Nanlin Hotel as well as the classical Master-of-Nets Garden. Ming-and-Qing-Dynasty-style architectures can be found dotted along this famous street.

Shiquan Street is well known for its art and craft products, such as chinaware, silk, inscriptions, jade, rosewood, etc. Other general shopping items can also be found here.

• Shilu Shopping Street

Located in Jinchang District, it is said that the Shilu (石路, Stone Road) street was very prosperous in ancient times.

Reconstructed in 2003, and now one of the best shopping centers in Suzhou. Nearby Xinfeng Lane has been restored and is now a leisure area with cafes and pubs to accommodate any weary shoppers. The opening of the Shilu pedestrianised Shopping Street has also attracted shoppers, especially with the market at night in the Shilu commercial area. Business hours of the stores on Shilu (Stone Road) have been extended to 10 PM.

• Times Square

On the east shore of Jinji Lake, Times Square (时代广场) is the biggest shopping mall in Suzhou. You can find the latest fashion things here.

The Guinness World Record for the biggest commercial LED ceiling over the world is right smack in the middle of Time Square. It measures 500m in length, 32m in width and had more than 2,000,000 LED.

A number of other bigger & well known shopping area.

• Stage

Numbers of international brands, often discount

Address: No.9 Houdai Street, modern avenue, SIP

• INCITY PLAZA

Address: Donghuan Road, Modern Avenue

• Wanda CBD (万达广场, Wan Da Guang Chang)

Shopping Mall, CBD, Leisure District, HOPSCA

Address: No.3188 Renmin Road

• Suzhou Amusement Park

Suzhou Amusement Park (苏州乐园, Su Zhou Le Yuan) is the largest modern park with a special theme in East China. The park falls into two parts: Water World and Happy World. Water World is the largest aquatic amusement park in terms of size and advanced facilities in all of China. The Happy World is regarded as “Oriental Disney Land” with beautiful European and American architectural styles.

Address: Changjiang Road

Entrance Fee: 60RMB for Happy World ; 40RMB for Water World

Opening hours: 9:00am-5:00pm Happy World ; 9:00am-9:00pm Water World

• Suzhou Ferris Wheel Park

As a land-mark project, Suzhou Ferris Wheel (摩天轮乐园, Mo Tian Lun Le Yuan) is the most eye-catching facility in Suzhou Industry Park. It is in the new amusement Park, which is one part of Jinji Lake Area.

Looking at the giant wheel located on the east bank of Jinji Lake, visitors are always impressed, and excited, about taking a trip on the wheel. In addition, there are many other amusement facilities around the park, such as the 28-seater 4D cinema, a roller coaster with a track in the shape of butterfly, and more. Hours of fun can be had here, for both the young and the young-at-heart!

Address: East of the Jinji Lake in Suzhou Industrial Park

Entrance Fee: 80RMB

Opening hours: 9:00am-5:00pm

Other fun & exciting places for fun & entertainment are:

• Suzhou Ocean Aquarium (苏州海洋馆, Su Zhou Hai Yang Guan)

Address: No.28 Taihu Lake Avenue, Taihu Scenic Zone

Entrance Fee:   adult 130RMB ; children(1-1.4m) 90RMB

Opening hours: 9:00am-5:00pm

• Night clubs

Shiquan Street – a European-style bar street paradise

On the 300-meter-long stretch between Anli Bridge and the crossing of Phoenix Street, there are more than 20 bars. Each of which offers a different style of music, drinks, and food. Rock, blues, and pop music; pool tables, darts, and sports channels guarantee you find the fun you want. Here you can also enjoy cheaper drink prices, warm service, good food, and games.

Japanese Bar Street – a pure Japanese world

To make businessmen, travelers, and expatriates coming from Japan feel more at home, a Japanese Bar Street was set up in the Suzhou New Area. Walking this 1000-meter-long commercial street, you can find over 80 Japanese restaurants and bars, all with Japanese signs and menus and Japanese speaking waiters. Here, you can really enjoy Japanese-style nights, with authentic customs and flavors.

Li Gong Di – Modern Leisure Life Palace

Li Gong Di (李公堤) is the only causeway in Jinji Lake of Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP). It is a water-side leisure area that represents the most modern face of Suzhou. High-level night clubs and spas are spread around the area and can provide you a luxurious evening. Most clubs here take on a European style. While walking along the Li Gong Di, you can enjoy graceful views of Jinji Lake and relax.

Vocabulary

yú lè

娱乐                                 Recreation           n.

jì niàn bēi

纪 念    碑                        Monument          n.

tán xiāng mù

檀   香     木                    Sandalwood       n.

bēi wén

碑   文                             Inscriptions        n.

International

Plane

There are two airports in Shanghai- Pudong International Airport (PVG) and Hongqiao International Airport (SHA).

Pudong is the new International airport and and it is located 55 km from the city center. The Maglev (Magnetic Levitation) Train links Pudong Airport to the Shanghai Metro System.

The airport for most domestic flights is Hongqiao which is older, and located in the west of Shanghai, 15 km from the city center. A taxi to Hongqiao airport from CBD should cost approximately RMB30-50.

Shanghai is connected with domestic flights to most cities within China.

Inter-city

Train

Shanghai Railway Station and Shanghai South Railway Station are the primary railway ports of the city. Travelers can get to Shanghai from virtually any city in China, arriving in one or the other of these stations.
Long-distance buses are also convenient when traveling to Shanghai, but most foreign travelers reserve this form of travel for short distances to nearby cities (Hangzhou, Suzhou, Wuxi and Ningbo).

Water

Transportation via Shanghai’s waterways is extremely convenient as it is located at the estuary of the Yangtze River and the East China Sea.

You can travel by ships to many cities like Zhejiang, Chongqing, Nangjing, Putuoshan and Wuhan. There are also International passenger ship lines that travel to Ichon and Pusan of South Korea, as well as Osaka and Kobe of Japan.

The main passenger port – Shiliupu Passenger Port is on Zhongshan Nan Road. 1 km south of the Bund, there are also several other passenger ports in Shanghai, which are usually far away from the city center.

As a general rule, for long distance destination this is a cheap but slow way to travel. For destination closer to the city however the train is more efficient.

City Transportation

Metro:

The fast-growing Shanghai Metro network has 10 lines with another 9 under construction, with nearly all lines operating underground.

The Metro is fast, cheap, air conditioned and fairly user-friendly with most signs and station arrival announcements in English, but the trains can get very packed during rush hour.

The main city scenery and shopping centers of Shanghai are along metro lines, so metro is a very convenient way for you to visit Shanghai.

Shanghai Metro Map (2010 Feb)

Bus:

There are more than 1,100 bus lines in Shanghai. Buses are often fully-packed and at times, impossible to board. Once on board, keep your valuables tucked away since pick pocketing is easy under such conditions.

Contrary to popular belief, buses are not color coded-the bus number is. Routes 1 to 30 are for trolley buses (now supplemented by regular buses). Buses 1 to 199 operate from 5 am to 11pm. Buses in the 200 and 400 series are peak-hour buses, and 300 series buses provide all-night service. Suburban and long-distance buses don’t carry numbers-the destination is in characters.

The ticket prices are divided into several kinds which are according to the length of the routes and the condition of the bus, RMB1 for the routes less than 13 km long, RMB1.5 for the over-13 km long routes, RMB2 for air-con buses.

For tourists and travelers, we do not recommend you to use bus since it is crowded and often gets caught in jams. Taxi and metro are your first choices.

Taxi:

There are 50,000 taxies running in Shanghai City. They are reasonably cheap and easy to flag down, but try to avoid the peak hours of 7 to 9 am and 5 to 7 pm. The start price is RMB10 for 3 km and RMB2 for following each 1 km.

At night (23:00-5:00) the start price is RMB13 for 3 km and RMB2.6 for following each 1 km, once exceeding 10 kilometers’ journey, it would be RMB3.9 for each kilometer, and the bargain is permitted, also, you could take the taxi to travel in a group.

Hope your stay in Shanghai will be a pleasant one.

Vocabulary

交通    jiāo tōng                      transport

出租车    chū zū chē               taxi

公交车     gōng jiāo chē         bus

Food in Shanghai is like any global metropolis. You are able to find all sorts of International cuisines in this city, from Western steaks to Japanese sushi. Popular food and beverage chains like Mac Donald’s, KFC and Starbucks can be commonly spotted too. However if you are in Shanghai, you must try the Shanghainese cuisine and snacks.

Shanghai Snacks

Shanghai is the paradise of snacks, and its Snacks could be traced back to as early as the Southern Song Dynasty and became more exquisite in cooking when Shanghai grew into an important city in early Ming Dynasty.

After Shanghai was listed as a trading port by the end of the Qing Dynasty, various regional snacks were assimilated, developed and refined, bringing forth the specialty of Shanghai style. Four must-haves Shanghai Snacks are:

• Baked Sesame Pan Cake,
• Deep-fried Dough Sticks,
• Soybean Milk,
• Sticky Rice Combo

As well as dozens of kinds of pastries, buns, stuffed dumplings and cakes.

Shanghai snack is famed for being light, fresh and tasty, and has long been diners’ favourite for its characteristics.

There are a number of Famous Snack Streets (小吃街 xiǎo chī jiē : snack street) in Shanghai, such as:

• Qibao snack street – Minghang district
  • 七宝老街 (qī bǎo lǎo jiē : Qi Bao Old Street)
• Wujiang road snack street – Luwan district
  • 新吴江路 (xīn wú jiāng lù : New Wujiang Road) – near Metro Line 1 Nanjing Xi lu Station
• Huanghe food street – Huangpu district
  • 黄河路 小吃街 (huáng hé lù xiǎo chī jiē : Huanghe Road Snack Street)
• Zhapu road snack street – Hongkou district
  • 乍浦路 美食街 (zhà pǔ lù měi shí jiē : Zhapu Road Delicacy Street)
• Yunnan South road snack street – Huangpu district
  • 云南南路 小吃街 (yún nán nán lù xiǎo chī jiē ：Yunan South Road Snack Street)
• Guling road snack street – Jing’an district
  • 牯岭路 小吃街 (gǔ lǐng lù xiǎo chī jiē : Guling Road Snack Street)
• Chenghuang Temple – Huangpu district
  • 城隍庙 小吃广场 (chéng huáng miào xiǎo chī guǎng chǎng : Chenghuang Temple Snack Square)

There are also some Famous Restaurants Popular for its Snacks.

He Feng Lou

He Feng Lou brings all Chinese snacks together and introduces 144 snacks and dishes from 8 major styles and their 16 sub-cuisines. The two-storey restaurant serves on the first floor buffet-style Chinese cuisine numbering 300 in kinds according to their origins such as Shanghai, Sichuan & Hunan, Taiwan, Jiangsu, etc. The second floor features special Chinese and overseas snacks including Japanese Teppanyaki and is popular with tourists.

Address: 10 Wenchang Road

Tel: 021-63557878

Transportation: Bus 55, 930, 932, 980

Guang Ming Cun Restaurant

Guang Ming Cun Restaurant, open in 1948, is known for its dim-sum and snacks with over ten dishes awarded “Shanghai specialty snacks”. Those snacks are highly appreciated including Juicy Chicken Wanton Soup, Fried Crabmeat Stuffed Bun and Steamed Pork Stuffed Bun. Some signature dishes are superb like Crystal Shrimp, Peppery Beef Fillet with Honey, Crispy Duck, Turtle and Snake Soup with Herbs, Eye Brow-shaped Crispy Cake and Milky Date. The restaurant is popular with customers for its inexpensive price, authentic taste, comfortable ambience and excellent service.

Address: 588 Huaihai Road (M.)

Tel: 021-53067878

Transportation: Bus 42, 911, 945

Lu Bo Lang Restaurant

Lu Bo Lang Restaurant, located by nine-twist-bridge at Old City God Temple (Chenghuang Temple), has an elegant and peaceful surrounding matching the elegance of Mid-Pond-Pavilion tea house next door. It is well-known for its carefully selected raw materials and meticulous preparations and is highly praised by gourmands from home and abroad. The signature dish “Osmanthus Cake” is so sticky in texture that it gets stuck on plate or chopsticks but does not stick to your teeth and feels smooth in the mouth, carrying a faint fragrance of rice wine.

Address: 115-131 Yuyang Road

Tel: 021-63280602

Transportation: Bus 11, 64, 66, 126, 920

Wang Jia Sha Restaurant

Wang Jia Sha Restaurant, lying at the crossing Nanjing Road (W) and Shimen Road, enjoys high popularity in Shanghai for its wide selection, meticulous preparations and delicious taste. The most popular four must-eat dishes are its tasty and fried stuffed bun, delicious shrimp wanton soup, crunchy red bean pastry and crispy double-side fried noodle. Recently the restaurant has created a new and unique crab meat dim-sum series and dishes.

Address: 805Nanjing Road (W.)

Tel: 021-625330404

Transportation: Bus 21, 17, 112, 921

Feng Yu Restaurant

On early mornings of autumn or winter, it is a delight to visit this cozy restaurant and have some hot fried stuffed bun and fried tofu rice noodle soup. The white skin breaks once bitten.  The warm delicious soup and golden dough crusts are so luscious that they cover the slight grease of the buns. Inexpensive and tasty, Feng Yu is fairly popular in Shanghai.

Address: 41 Runjin Road (NO.2)

Tel: 021-53061742

Transportation: Metro Line 1 (Shaanxi Road (S) Station), Tourist Line 10, Bus 26, 945

Vocabulary

饭店    fàn diàn                      restaurant

小吃  xiǎo chī                         snack

The Expo – An Introduction

Expo, also known as Universal Exposition, or World(‘s) Fair is a large public exhibition held in turns by different cities in the world. The Expo is typically characterized by the National Pavilions, where participating countries would display their own architecture and exhibit their nations’ technologies and cultures. With such an Internationalized Exhibition, the World Expo generates global interests, attracting people all over the world to visit and experience the multi-cultural environment as well as to explore state-of-the-art technologies brought together by different countries.

A brief History of Expo

The origin of the Expo comes from the French tradition of national exhibitions which started from 1844 in Paris. Soon other parts of Europe followed and held national exhibitions. It was in London on May 1^st of 1851, that the first real International exhibition was held.

The Great Exhibition in London 1851 and the Crystal Palace built to house the event

The expo has since evolved with time. Three eras can be distinguished:  the era of Industrialization, cultural exchange and national branding.

Industrialization (1851 – 1938)

In this first era, the World’s Fairs were especially focused on trade and famous for the display of technological inventions and advancements. They were the platforms where the state of the art in science and technology from all over the world was brought together.

In 1928, the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) started to serve as an International sanctioning body for the World’s Fair.

Cultural Exchange (1939 – 1987)

During this period, the World’s Fairs became more based on specific themes with cultural significance and started to address issues of humankind. The themes were more future oriented as well as ‘utopian’ in scope. For example, the theme for New York World’s Fair (1939) was “Building The World of Tomorrow”.

It was also during this time (in the 1960s), that BIE organizers started calling the World’s Fairs as “Expo’s”.

National Branding (1988 – now)

Since Expo  ’88 in Brisbane, the Expos have become more focused by each country towards improving their national images through their own pavilions. National branding increases in significance as National image become a key asset for each country in this world.

Today’s Expos embody elements of all three eras. They present new inventions, facilitate cultural exchange and also used by each country to promote themselves.

Main attractions of the Expo

The main attractions at a World Expo are the National pavilions. Participating country will each build their pavilion structures on the assigned expo site. These pavilions will often showcase each country’s architectural creativity and skills.

The final result is a massive and grand display of beautiful and fascinating buildings on the site. Exploring through the uniquely designed national pavilions is an awe-striking experience.

Aichi Expo 2005

The UK Pavilion (artist's impression) - one of the uniquely designed pavilions for the coming Shanghai World Expo 2010.

Entering each pavilion, visitors can view the country’s exhibits, interact with the people as well as enjoy shows and performances specially prepared for the event.

The Expo started a tradition, since 1967 at the Montreal Expo, of the “Expo Passport”, where visitors are given a passport booklet. Visitors can get different commemorative seals at each pavilion to be stamped on the expo passport.

Expo passport for Shanghai World Expo 2010. The passports are the size of real passports and have pictures of pavilions inside

Categories of Expo

There are two types of world exposition – Registered (Universal Exposition) and Recognized (International Exposition).

Registered (Universal)

Registered Expos are the biggest in scale and may last between six weeks to six months. Registered Expos are usually spaced 5 years apart.

The upcoming Shanghai World Expo 2010 is a Registered Exposition, with the previous being Aichi Expo (2005) and the next – Milan Expo (2015).

Recognized (International)

Recognized Expos are smaller in scope and shorter in duration. The next Recognized Exposition will be Yeosu Expo (2012).

Interesting Facts of the Expo you may not know..

• The Eiffel Tower, the most recognized symbol of Paris, was build for Exposition Universelle (1889) hosted in Paris.

Eiffel Tower under construction in July 1888

• Brussels Atomium is a monument built for Brussels World’s Fair in 1958. The original idea was to build an upside-down version of the Eiffel Tower. The idea was later replaced with a concept of an atomic structure, which Waterkeyn, the Belgian engineer, felt was more symbolic of the era.

Brussels Atomium monument

• The World’s 1^st Ferris Wheel was designed and constructed by George Washington Gale Ferris, Jr. as a landmark for the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago.

The original Chicago Ferris Wheel, built for the 1893 World’s Columbian Expo.

• In the 1964 New York World’s Fair, Walt Disney contributed to many of the exhibitions and rides at the site, partly in hope to retain the site as a permanent World’s Fair. This concept of a permanent World’s Fair is eventually materialized with Disney’s theme park – Epcot.

Epcot (Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow) is a theme park dedicated to International culture and technological innovation.

Vocabulary:

shì bó

世  博                    World Exposition  n.

jiè shào

介  绍                    Introduction   n.

lì shǐ

历 史                     History    n.

guó jiā guǎn

国    家  馆            National Pavilions  n.

hù zhào

护  照                    Passport  n.

]]> http://ilearn-culture.com/world-expo-introduction-and-history/feed/ 0 http://ilearn-culture.com/world-expo-introduction-and-history/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/impact-ilearn/feed/~3/qHECipH6nV0/ http://ilearn-culture.com/chinese-table-manners-dining-etiquettes/#comments Thu, 08 Apr 2010 06:53:02 +0000 Candy Lu http://ilearn-culture.com/?p=4117 Chinese dining traditions have as long a history as the history of Chinese Cooking or Chinese Food. The Chinese people pride themselves on being one of the earliest peoples to develop sophisticated notions of polite social interaction, including highly sophisticated rules of etiquette governing acceptable table manners.

Since wining and dining guests is an old and esteemed tradition in China, it is not surprising that Chinese society has developed an intricate set of rules to govern also this delicate aspect of social interaction.

Chinese dining etiquette, whether it applies to receiving only a few guests at a single table in one’s home or to holding a public banquet involving dozens of guests seated at several tables, varies with the character and purpose of the dinner. It also differs slightly from region to region in China. China’s banquet etiquette is said to have originated from the Etiquette and Ceremonials, a work believed to have been penned by the Duke of Zhou during the Zhou Dynasty (BC 1027 – 221), though no independent mention of the book exists until the beginning of the Han Dynasty (BC 206 to AD 220).

Through thousands of years of evolution, Chinese dining etiquette has continued to develop, albeit always with one foot in the traditions of the past.

The main difference between Chinese and Western eating habits are that unlike the West, where everyone has their own plate of food, in China the dishes are placed on the table and everybody shares. If you are being treated by a Chinese host, be prepared for a ton of food. Chinese are very proud of their culture of cuisine and will do their best to show their hospitality.

Here are some tips about Chinese Dining Etiquettes.

Reception Formalities

• Guests should present themselves to the host upon arrival. This is important since it is the host who determines the seating arrangement, and in order to do this properly, the host needs to know who among the invited guests actually arrived.
• If one is more or less a stranger to the other guests and needs introducing, the host will generally take care of this, either personally, or by delegating this function to an appointed person.
• Be punctual – it is rude in Chinese society to arrive late. It shows disrespect to the host, one should not keep the host waiting.
• One may bring a small gift if one is a low-ranking guest (a stranger or a near-stranger, a distant relative, etc.) while one brings a finer gift such as a bottle of quality wine if one is a higher-ranking guest.
• The elderly or guest(s) of honour are usually the first to start the meal.
• The youngest or least senior may serve the eldest or most senior first, as part of the Confucian value of respecting seniors.
• The youngest on the table addresses all of the elder members at the table before starting, perhaps telling them to please “eat rice” as a signal to help themselves.
• The best food in a dish should be left to the elderly, children, or the guest of honour.
• When the hostess says her food is not good enough, the guest must disagree and tell her it is one of the finest foods they have ever tasted.

The First Toast and the Signal to Dine

Usually, the guest of honour start by taking the first drink or by proposing the first toast, just as it is the guest of honour who is the first to begin eating. As to the mechanics of the first toast, the guest of honour raises his glass first, then the first “row”, the second “row”, etc., down the line as each “row” raises its glasses until the last “row” is reached, whereupon everyone drinks at the same time, possibly to a special toast.

Generally, the guest of honour will invite everyone to commence eating with words to the effect of “Shall we dine?” This gesture of politeness serves as a signal to the other guests that they may then commence dining. It is unforgivably rude to commence eating before the guest of honour has begun to eat, so although the guest of honour invites the assembled guests to begin dining, no one does so until the guest of honour has taken the first bite.

During the dinner, you also have some tips to attention:

Chopstick Usage

• Chopsticks should always be held correctly, i.e. between the thumb and first two fingers of the right hand.
• When not in use, chopsticks must always be placed neatly on the table with two sticks lying tidily next to each other at both ends. Failure to do so is evocative of the way the dead would be placed in a coffin before the funeral.
• Never point the chopsticks at another person. This amounts to insulting that person.
• Never wave your chopsticks around as if they were an extension of your hand gestures.
• Never bang chopsticks like drumsticks. This is akin to telling others at the table you are a beggar.
• Never use chopsticks to move bowls or plates.
• Never suck the chopsticks.
• Decide what to pick up before reaching with chopsticks, instead of hovering them over or rummaging through dishes.
• To keep chopsticks off the table, they can be rested horizontally on one’s plate or bowl; a chopstick rest (commonly found in restaurants) can also be used.
• When picking up a piece of food, never use the tips of your chopsticks to poke through the food as with a fork; exceptions include tearing apart larger items such as vegetables.
• Never stab chopsticks vertically into a bowl of rice, as this resembles incense sticks used at temples to pay respects to the deceased.

Eating

• Pick the food on the dish that is at the top and nearest to you in distance. Never rummage through the dish or pick from the far side for your favourite food.
• In general, more conservative Chinese frown upon the practice of picking more than one or two bites of food in your bowl or serving plate as if you were eating in the Western way.
• If both a serving bowl – separate from rice bowl – and plate are provided, never put any food items to be eaten onto the serving plate. This rule may be relaxed for foreigners.
• If a dish is soupy, pull the serving bowl near the serving dish and reduce the distance the chopsticks need carrying the food. Spilling plenty of sauce on the table is a major faux pas.
• When eating food that contains bones, it is customary that the bones be spat out onto the table to the right of the dining plate in a neat pile. Spitting onto the floor is almost never acceptable.
• Talking with a full mouth, eating with the elbows on the table and tasting from a table guest’s plate is also not allowed

Drinks

There are several kinds of drinks at a Chinese table such as wine, alcohol, but more tea is a more common drink.

• The host should always make sure everyone’s cups are not empty for long. One should not pour for oneself, it’s be good to offer to pour drink for the person sitting next to you and he/she will in turn pour drink for you.
• Make sure the spout of the teapot is not facing anyone; it is impolite to set the teapot down where the spout is facing towards somebody. The spout should always be directed to where nobody is sitting, usually just outward from the table.
• When people wish to clink drinks together in the form of a cheer, it is important to observe that younger members should clink the rim of their glass below the rim of an elder’s to show respect.

Strong alcohol, called baijiu, is often served throughout the meal; and it is customary for the host[s]/hostess[es] to insist that guests drink to “show friendship.”

If the guests prefer not to drink, they may say, “I’m unable to drink, but thank you.” [in Mandarin: "Wo bu neng he jiu, xie xie." ]The host may continue to insist that the guests drink, and the guests may likewise continue to insist upon being “unable” to drink.

The host’s insistence is to show generosity. Therefore, refusal by the guests should be made with utmost politeness. Beware: If a guest drinks alcohol with a subordinate at the table, the guest will be expected [if not forced] to drink a glass of the same alcohol with each superior at that table, and possibly at other tables too—if the guest has not passed out yet.

Vocabulary

礼仪                  lǐ yí                      etiquette

筷子                 kuài zī                   chopstick

功能                 gōng néng             Function

举杯祝酒        jǘ bēi zhù jiǔ            Toasting

客人                kè rén                     Guest

慷慨                kāng kǎi                 Generosity

好客                hào kè                    Hospitality