Time to get a grip on Chinese handshakes
2011-01-12 14:12:34
The handshake is a worldwide form of greeting but in China this friendly custom is sometimes practiced in a different kind of way.
Rare snowfall turns West Lake into winter wonderland
2011-01-07 11:11:40
Snow in northern China is nothing out of the ordinary but in Hangzhou its appearance caused a great deal of excitement.
Nothing better than a cup of tea for a coffee junky
2011-01-07 11:11:40
When my plane touched down in Guangzhou in early November, I had no idea what time it was.
Turning the page to a new year
2011-01-04 10:36:09
With 2010 behind us, it's time to look ahead to what 2011 might hold, and think about the things we'd like to achieve.
My wanderings in the Chinese wonderland
2011-01-04 10:36:09
The beeping Guangdong bus driver is driving me beeping crazy, and I demand to get off his beeping coach.
2010 a year that will be hard to beat
2010-12-30 12:57:35
2010 has been a remarkable year for me here in China, one that I think I'll have great difficulty topping in coming years.
Rod piercing or blood rituals, it's all about people
2010-12-30 12:57:35
Three young men holding incense sticks danced frantically before a religious shrine, which housed small, bearded, king-like figurines.
Christmas finally found me in China
2010-12-30 12:57:35
Some expats celebrate the holidays of their homeland.
Avoiding an evil Xmas on Taobao Street
2010-12-15 13:21:40
The way we use words, their pronunciation and tone, all play a very important part in how well we understand each other. Even the slightest slip can lead to unexpectedly funny results.
Tall tales on a mountain
2010-12-15 09:57:39
It's amazing what 500 yuan ($75) can buy when you're a foreigner dealing with a borderline-crazy Chinese driver.
2.6 billion eyeballs, lessons from the street
2010-12-09 10:23:42
We Americans are famously overfed. Only in China did I realize that my eyeballs are fat and lazy too.
Teaching a life skill can be life-threatening
2010-12-08 09:45:24
When I discovered that the university I work at has a swimming pool, I was quite pleased. Swimming is a great way to exercise, because the water reduces the strain on the joints.