i used to understand cantonese when i was very young, my grandmother on my mom's side was from china (escaped from actually).
a munber of people from guam take trips to hong kong and taiwan.
China
I wish that I had the chance to travel to China. I have a measly paying job and have absolutely no idea what kind of planning it takes to travel to foreign countries, but I know the idea of it is very exciting. I've heard around that there are quite a few companies in China that are looking for Westerners to travel there and teach English, but when I visited a few of the websites, they require BS degrees and that I'm lacking, so. But if anyone knows of any other ways that it could be possible to visit and maybe stay for a while, please do share. I'd love to travel to Tibet and visit some of the monestaries and learn more about the culture and people. Thought about looking into some of the Overland programs they have, but they look pretty darn expensive. I also heard that it was possible to go with a group of people and backpack it across some of the provinces, is this true?
Hi All, I could be a guide free for u who want to visit Shanghai - rapid changing city in China.
zealan, I have visited Shanghai twice; where were you when I needed you? LOL BTW, I especially enjoyed the new Shanghai museum (four years ago).
Front of the museum in Shanghai.
cicerone imposter
you seemed a "Zhongguo tong" now~~~ I beleive you can travel our country without any difficulties(language) isn't it???... Haha
Anyway next time when you need a lacal guide i will be there in Shanghai...
anyone who have been to Hangzhou?
skylam, Welcome to A2K. No, I've never been to Hangzhou. On my next trip to China, I will definitely do the Yangtse river cruise.
cicerone imposter,have you ever heard of West Lake,now it's very beautiful,i beleive you will like it.
William and Mary offers a program which I believe allows those pursuing Mandarin minors to study their majors in Beijing. I've been quite interested in this but their site's down, so I'm short on details right now.
Never heard of West Lake, but I'm sure it's very beautiful there, and I'll like it.
skylam: Hangzhou is located in Zhejiang province, there is about 2 hours trip from Shanghai by train.
As you see the pictures above, Hangzhou is a beautful city with lots of folk stories and nature landscape. There were lots of poets and artists living in this city in Chinese history. West Lake Green Tea is very famous in China, I think you should not miss it. The biggest silk market is also located in Hangzhou. You can buy some gifts for your friends here.
This is Lotus in West Lake. Lotues is the symbol of Buddhism.
This is West Lake in evening.
West Lake Green Tea =碧螺春?
lemonegg2001, 碧螺春(Bi4 Luo2 Chun1) is a kind of green tea from DongTing Lake in HuNan province. The green tea from West Lake is 西湖龙井(Xi1 Hu2 Long2 Jing3).
碧螺春's leafage looks like a field snail with curly shape. 西湖龙井 has a flat shape leafage.
Here is an article about Chinese tea.
The history of best 10 Chinese tea
(1)The history of Lung ching and Paohu fountain
It could date back to an emperor named Qianglong. Once he traveled to the to foot of Jingshi mountain of Hangzhou city. Seeing some girls picking tea leaf, he felt interesting, so he tried to pick too. Just having picked one handful leaves, he was told that his mother was ill. Without thinking too much, he put those in his pocket and rushed back home. His mother smelt a kind of flavor as Qianlong went to near her. Later it came out that it was the tea leaf left in Qian long's pocket. The old lady drunk the tea and became well soon. Therefore, all are very happy and Qian long named that tea as "Lung ching" or Dragon well tea.
Lung ching tea and paohu spring are known as "Two wonders of the West Lake". It is said long ago there were two brothers. They were prepared to settle in a temple of Hangzhou. The old monk told them there had not sufficient water and they could settle down if succeeded in bringing water. Therefore the two brothers ran to Hengshan where there was a "Tongzi" spring. They told the keeper of that spring why they needed water. Hearing this, the keeper changed these two brothers into two tigers and drove them to Zhangzhou quicdly. As a result of it, Paohu spring got its name.
(2)The origin of Huangshan maofeng:
Huangshan lies in Anhui province and is a famous sightseeing spot. And Maofeng is it specialty. Its story should go back to Ming Dynasty. At that time there was an official. Once he went to travel and missed his way in Huangshan mountain, while fortunately an old monk adopted him, took him to his temple and made a cup of tea for him. The tea made him energetic and refreshed. He was known it was named Maofeng, and only if used the special water, that favorable flavor could be obtained. The next day, he left and took some leaves by himself. Then he showed off before the emperor. But it did not tasted as good as it in that temple, for there was no that special water. The emperor was angry and ordered him to make it again. That person had to go to that temple again, at last he succeeded in making that tea. But he realized that he was not suitable to be an official, and he resigned and became a monk in Huangshan mountain too.
(3)The legend of Guanyin.
This is the most famous of all Chinese oolongs. Guanyin, sometimes called the Goddess of Mercy, is actually more like the Buddhist equivalent of the Madonna. She is a bodhisattva, one who is qualified to enter nirvana, but chose to remain on earth to bring all to enlightenment. Statues of her stand in many Buddhist temples, and a woman who wants a child may pray to her. A legend gives one version of why a tea bears her name.
An iron statue of Guanyin stood in a rundown temple in central Fujian's Shaxian (Sand) province. The temple's condition aroused the concern of a tea grower who passed it daily. Financially uanble to repair it, he thought that the least he could do was to burn incense and clean the place twice a month.
One night Guanyin appeared to him in a dream and told him to look in the cave behind the temple for a treasure. He was to take it for himself but also to share it with others. There he found a single tea shoot which he planted and cultivated into a bush with leaves that produced a singularly fine drink. He began selling it under the Guanyin name, and gave many cuttings to his neighbors. All prospered, and eventually the temple was repaired.
A book from contemporary China gives another version: this tea is so named for the appearance of its processed leaves -- dark as iron and heavier than other teas, but with a quality as pure and beautiful as Guanyin.
(4)The history about Da hongpao (Red garments)
Da hongpao is special curiosity produced in Fujian province, which is the best specie in Wuyi yan cha. In Wuyi Mountain various kinds of tea are planted there. And those trees can be named after their species such as Da hongpao, Tie luohan etc; can be named after their growing environment such as Bu jian tian (see no sky); Jin suoshi (golden key); after their shapes such as Zui hantang (drunk hantang), Zui dongbin, etc; or after their leaves' shapes such as Gold peanut, gold thread, etc.
The origin of Da hongpao dates back to ancient time. It is said once a poor person went to the capital to attend the examination. He was too tired and sick on the road. At this time, an old monk found him and made a cup of tea to the person. After drinking the tea, the person recovered and was able to continue his journey. Later, he succeeded in that exam and became an official. The next spring, he went to the Wuyi Mountain to express his thanks to the old monk and was attracted by a green tree. The old person told him that when he was ill, he drunk the tea made by the leaves of that tree and recovered, so the man took some tea with him. Later, when he returned to the capital city, he was told that the emperor got the same disease as he once was. Immediately, he asked the servants to make tea for the emperor. At last, the illness was over, and the emperor was so pleased that he sent a red big garment in praise of the tea. Thus the name of Da hongpao came out.
(5)The legend of Junshan Silver Needle "Yinzhen"
This Junshan "Yinzhen" leaf has very long silvery, downy tips. Most of the flowers have been removed. It has a wonderful bouquet, which shows repeated scenting, and produces a liquor that is truly delicious. It was said long ago there was an ancient king he once drunk the tea and feel refreshed and easy. Other official told him because of the special water and tea leaf. Then the king was so glad that he made it as royal tea.
(6)Baimao Yinzhen
Baomao Yinzhen is produced in the north east of Fujian province, whose leaf is white and silvery and has sharp tips. This tea is healthy and good for sight. The history about it is that long ago it is said there was a kind of curious herb in the top of a mountain, which could kill many diseases. So many young people went to find it buy in vain. There were three people they met with an agreement to find that herb one by one. The first person went and never came back any longer, so was the second one. Then the last went on finding that herb. At last he found and took its seed back. That herb is today's Baimao Yinzhen.
(7)The history of White Rose
White rose tea is mainly produced in Fuding county of Fujian province. Once upon a time there was a young person who could not bear that unfair society, so he went to be a hermit with his mother. They got to a place where there were 18 white rose flowers, which attracted them, so they settled there. One winter his mother was ill, and the doctor told him to cure his mother need fish and tea. But in that remoted place how could he get any tea. Just at that time, those tea became 18 tea tees and his mother was saved. From that time, the name of White Rose tea came out.
(8)Fanciest Jasmine (Moli Huacha)
From China's Fuzhou area in Fujian province comes this delightfully scented tea. The cup has a smooth fragrance of a garden in bloom, with liquor that is lightly sweet and very smooth. It was said a person named Chen once saved a girl on his way to a teahouse, and the girl sent him a bag of tea. Each time he drunk it, there would appear a Moli hua. He realized the girl is suggested that moluhua can be used in tea making. From then on, there was a special kind of tea named Moli hua.
(9)The legend of Biluochun.
Biluochun has a history of more than a thousand years. Originally it was called among the people "Dongting Tea" or "Scaring Tea". It is said that a couple loved each very much, among whom the girl's name is Bi luo. But a cruel Dragon wanted to kill the girl. To protect the girl her sweetheart had a fight with that dragon for 7 days and finally the dragon was killed. But he was ill and lied on bed too. Bi luo tried her best to take care of the young fellow, but he could not recover. Then the girl found a kind of tree with green leaves. She picked the leaves and made tea for him. To their surprise, the young person came through, while the girl was too tired to get over any more. The young person was so depressed that he named these trees after the girl's name and look after them carefully. Thus Biluo chun came out.
(10)Oolong is produced in Fujian
the province of its origin, and some other mainland provinces. The technique for processing it was taken by Fukienese migrants to Taiwan, and that island's Tungting (Dongding) oolong is well known. There may be some difference among mainland and Taiwanese oolongs is taste and medicinal function, due to different soil, processing, and fermentation time. Oolongs from the mainland are said to have more body, the result of longer oxidation, than those from Taiwan. Oolong is the tea most often served in Chinese restaurants in the United States and south China.
yes, i want to go to china and i will (next year possibly).
lemonegg2001 wrote:I am afaird not. Only HK and few province like Guangdong or Fujian speak Cantonese
but you can speak English right? lol ,many educated people can understand you
I even saw lots of street vendors in Dali& Lijiang can bargain foreigner by english -_-b
Yes, if you go to big cities, most cases will be you can find some educated people, even old people help you. And some foreigners even go to rural area to live with the poor people there. I don't know how they manage that. So if you really want to travel around China, nothing is a problem. Welcome everyone.
