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8 Aug 2011 | 0 Comments
Photo Post: Fenway Park & The Status of Baseball In China
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23 Apr 2011 | 2 Comments
Hot Tourist Destinations in Shanghai: The French Concession and Yu Garden
Aside from the Bund, the French Concession 新天地 and Yu Garden 豫园, are probably Shanghai’s most popular tourist spots. The French Concession was formerly owned by France from 1849 to 1946. Now it is a commercialized part of Shanghai that ...
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17 Apr 2011 | 17 Comments
Things to Consider Before Moving to Shanghai!
I have been telling my students about my trip to Shanghai, and I tell them, compared to Xi’an, it was like going to a different country. Shanghai is modern, vibrant, colorful, and full of optimism. It appears to be the ...
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15 Apr 2011 | 2 Comments
A Bowl of Crabs, and Dumplings that Spit at You- Shanghai Photo Series
Because it attracts such a great deal of international travelers and businesspeople, Shanghai offers significantly more variation in food than other parts of China. Read the full post
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14 Apr 2011 | 2 Comments
Stunning Photos of European Architecture in Shanghai- Shanghai Photo Series
Shanghai is well known for its European style architecture, and a walk along The Bund (外滩 wàitān) is one of the best places to witness this. The Bund was one of my favorite areas in Shanghai because of its magnificent views ...
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21 Mar 2011 | 6 Comments
Is Hong Kong a Country?
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17 Mar 2011 | 11 Comments
Chinese Breakfast of Champions
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13 Mar 2011 | 4 Comments
Playboy as a Clothes Company in China
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8 Aug 2011 | 0 Comments
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Category Archives: Photo Posts
Photo Post: Fenway Park & The Status of Baseball In China
A shot of Fenway Park during a night game in Boston. One of the things I was most looking forward to coming home from China was going to a baseball game. It's really an American sport and pastime. In fact, it is so "Western" that China decided to ban it during their Cultural Revolution because they considered it a symbol of the "cruel" West. But, baseball does have precedent in China (some leagues formed towards the end of the 19th century, and the game is currently played in Taiwan, South Korea and Japan). There is in fact a small baseball league in China now that supports 7 teams including the Beijing Tigers and the Sichuan Dragons. An estimated 4 million people play baseball in China, a paltry figure next to the 300 million who play basketball. But, Major League Baseball wants to turn things around. It supports a development league in Wuxi, China where young Chinese with promise split their time between baseball and highly regarded academics. Will China ever fill up baseball stadiums like Fenway Park? Maybe not, but it could send a few players to the Major Leagues one day.
Posted in Culture, Marketing/Finance, Photo Posts
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Hot Tourist Destinations in Shanghai: The French Concession and Yu Garden
Aside from the Bund, the French Concession 新天地 and Yu Garden 豫园, are probably Shanghai’s most popular tourist spots. The French Concession was formerly owned by France from 1849 to 1946. Now it is a commercialized part of Shanghai that boasts French architecture, beautiful churches, and upscale restaurants.
Posted in Photo Posts, Shanghai Photo Series
2 Comments
Things to Consider Before Moving to Shanghai!
I have been telling my students about my trip to Shanghai, and I tell them, compared to Xi’an, it was like going to a different country. Shanghai is modern, vibrant, colorful, and full of optimism. It appears to be the THE city in Asia. It is a cosmopolitan city that reminded me a lot of Boston. In fact, based on the parts where I toured, it could of been Boston. The French Concession would be Beacon Hill, the Pearl Tower the Prudential center. And NanJing Xi Road would be Newbury street. So you might say, why even go to Shanghai if it’s just like a Western city? And I would answer by saying that the East meets West blend of culture and values is entirely new, and unlike anything I have ever seen before.
A Bowl of Crabs, and Dumplings that Spit at You- Shanghai Photo Series
Because it attracts such a great deal of international travelers and businesspeople, Shanghai offers significantly more variation in food than other parts of China.
A crab dish in Shanghai. I was actually completely confused as to how to eat it. It was a bunch of crabs in a bowl with some vegetables. The crabs tasted like white fish.
Stunning Photos of European Architecture in Shanghai- Shanghai Photo Series
Shanghai is well known for its European style architecture, and a walk along The Bund (外滩 wàitān) is one of the best places to witness this. The Bund was one of my favorite areas in Shanghai because of its magnificent views and open space to walk along the Huangpi River. In Shanghai, unlike other cities in China, the buildings are well designed, clean, and stately. In my opinion, the evening is the best time to see The Bund as the buildings light up and make the views even more stunning. Below is part one of my photo series on Shanghai. I’ve chosen some of my favorite buildings in Shanghai, including skyline shots, a church, and several examples of the European style architecture that makes Shanghai so unique.
Posted in Photo Posts, Shanghai Photo Series, Traveling in China
2 Comments
Is Hong Kong a Country?
I am always surprised at how few people know the political status of Hong Kong. A lot of people think it is its own country, but it is actually one of two Special Administrative Regions of China (Macau being the other). In the 19th century, England, being so fed up with China's isolationist policy, gained control of Hong Kong in order to open up trade with the East. Except during a short stint during the Pacific War, Hong Kong has been under British control since 1842 (after the Opium War) until 1997, when the territory was officially given back to China. Under Hong Kong's "one countries, two systems" policy, China has jurisdiction over HK only in the areas of national defense and foreign relations. Otherwise, Hong Kong virtually acts as an independent country with its own immigration checks, currency system, and laissez faire capitalist economy. (Above is a photo of the highly commercial HK skyline taken from Tsim Sha Tsui.)
Posted in Hong Kong, Photo Posts, Traveling in China
6 Comments
Chinese Breakfast of Champions
Above is my uncontested favorite meal in China. To the left, bāozi (包子), or hot steamed buns with a ground pork filling. In the middle is làzǐ (辣子) or a crushed chili pepper and vinegar sauce for the buns. To the right, tomato and egg soup (fānqié jīdàn tāng 番茄鸡蛋汤), with chopped parsley on top. This hearty breakfast costs me ¥6 or USD .91 cents and satisfies me nearly every morning. It can be found either out on the street or at small restaurants that specialize in bāozi and soups.
Posted in Chinese Food, Food & Drink, Photo Posts
11 Comments
Playboy as a Clothes Company in China
Playboy is a popular clothes brand in China, as it is in other parts of Asia as well. Interesting enough, Chinese buy Playboy clothing for its cute bunny logo, and not its sex appeal. In fact, most customers have no idea about the Playboy magazines because they are banned in China. But, Playboy is expanding its business in China by selling merchandise through licensing agreements that allow other companies to use its logo on clothes, or other items such as lighters and stationary. Playboy is hoping that the year of the rabbit (2011 Spring Festival in Asia) will bring increased sales to a company plagued by decreased readership. (In the photo above, a Playboy apparel shop is open for business in Xi'an, China. I thought the logo behind the tree was rather symbolic of a vague understanding as to what Playboy really means in the West).
