Hugo Van der Merwe

Nestled along the banks of the Li River, speckled with tens of thousands of individual karst peaks, and bustling with the arts,…

Hongbao are ubiquitous across China—and even throughout much of Asia! But what are these little red envelopes stuffed with money actually for,…

China spans more than 3,250 miles (5,250 km) from east to west and shares borders with 14 countries means. You may wonder,…

Chinese etymology is actually easier to grasp than it might first appear. Learning the origins of Chinese characters is arguably one of…

Curious about the origins of China’s Army Day? Unsure exactly how this holiday works or what precisely is being celebrated? Eager to…

An ancient, cross-cultural symbol of ferocity, bravery, and intelligence, the tiger occupies a unique position in traditional Chinese mythology and culture. Join…

The Year of the Dragon... even the name exudes a certain mystique. Dragons, the mythological creatures of Chinese folklore, are one of…

Founded by Manchu warriors, the Qing dynasty was once a continental force to be reckoned with. Stretching across the entire eastern half…

It’s in the name! The Chinese word for China fuses two words, the character 中 (zhōng) meaning middle or central, and the…

"The City of Canals," "the Venice of China," "a World of Gardens...", and all this a mere 25-minute train ride from Shanghai?…

Proverbs and idioms reflect cultural belief systems. As a result, Chinese proverbs and idioms about family are a great way to gain…

Chinese idioms, or chengyu (成语 chéngyǔ), are an essential part of the Chinese language. Read on to discover how Chinese idioms are…

Yangshuo (阳朔, Yángshuò) is located on the banks of the Li River just south of Guilin. Known for its hauntingly beautiful karst…