This past weekend, a friend and I ventured out to Wangsiying Wholesale Flower Market Beijing in search of Christmas greenery and to have a general look-see. We had no idea what to expect, but were pleasantly surprised at the […]
If you love stationery, you’ll be in heaven at the stationery market in Shanghai. So what does stationery heaven look like? Ok, so maybe it’s not a market as such, but it’s a building with numerous stationery shops filled […]
The colours of this enormous archway against the clear blue sky are stunning! These ornate archways are found throughout China and are called pailou or paifang. The archways are placed at the entry of temples, government offices, parks, villages, […]
I have a confession. I love doors! Some may find my obsession with doors and entryways a bit strange. Whether they’re imposing stone gateways, beautifully carved solid wood doors, intricately hand painted or dilapidated and worn out, I find […]
When we first moved to China, catching the metro system in Shanghai terrified me. The hustle and bustle, not speaking the language, the possibility of getting lost, and the sheer size of the metro network reduced me to an […]
These enormous doors stand at the entrance to The Forbidden City (Imperial Palace) in Beijing and is now referred to as The Palace Museum. The palace was home to 24 emperors over the span of 492 years between 1420-1912. […]
It’s mooncake time! Let’s give thanks for our family and gaze up at the full moon. What and when is Mid-Autumn Festival? The Mid-Autumn Festival (Zhong Qiu Jie – 中秋节) is celebrated throughout China and in many other countries […]
On sunny days we love to wander through the beautifully manicured gardens of The Jing’an Sculpture Park, a favourite of many families, tourists and office workers out to soak up the sun during their lunch break. During the summer […]
Exploring the historical area of Dongcheng in Beijing on foot.
Where is Arkadia Retreat? Nestled amongst the clouds, pine trees and towering bamboo in mountainous southern Zhejiang Province is a beautiful bed and breakfast called Arkadia Retreat. With stunning views of the ancient mountain village of Yan Keng Ling […]
Updated January 15, 2023 Chinese New Year 中国新年 (zhōng guó xīn nián), commonly called Lunar New Year and Spring Festival, is rich in symbolism and tradition stemming from folklore. It is rooted in the celebration of spring and marks the transition between […]
Joy City is the mall that keeps on giving! Recently I was talking about Joy City with a friend, and he mentioned he’d taken his son to an animal petting zoo there. I thought he had his malls mixed […]
When we moved to Shanghai in 2016, never in my wildest dreams did I imagine us taking weekend road trips to the mountains, swimming in crystal clear mountain streams among forests of towering bamboo! Thankfully friends in the know […]
Last week my friend, Janette, asked me if I would like to ‘Go and smash some stuff’. I replied with an emphatic ‘YES!’ before she’d even had a chance to explain where, when and how. Janette had heard about […]
The M50 Art Precinct is a must see during your stay in Shanghai. Parks, cultural centres, and tourist sites throughout Shanghai have experienced closures due to continuing Covid-19 restrictions. Even Shanghai Disney Resort, ‘The happiest place on earth,’ closed […]
Old Traditions Die Hard Although attitudes to marriage in China have become freer in the last century, the ancient Chinese tradition of matchmaking continues to this day and many parents still follow the traditional ways to ensure their child […]
Wondering how to celebrate Christmas in Shanghai, where to buy a special gift, or need help finding something on Taobao? We’ve got you covered!
Our first Halloween in Beijing saw us enjoying another Spooktacular month of Halloween activities. And this year, we celebrated our first-ever Halloween street party with house-to-house Trick or Treating! Halloween planning was in full swing in mid-September when Liv […]
On a visit to a Korean Spa in Shanghai we were intrigued to find these strange looking igloos. And if finding three solid stone igloos inside the relaxation hall of a Korean spa wasn’t strange enough, what shocked us […]
Planning on travelling to China, here are five essential apps to make your trip less stressful and more enjoyable
