we are chinese

Tea in China

Last night, I was drinking some tea before went to bed. Then I remember my last year trip to Yunnan, a province where nearly half of the 56 Chinese ethnic Minority living. When we visit Bai village in Dali, they hold there special Three-Course Tea ceremony to welcome us. Very interesting one.

This ceremony was originally held by the senior members of a family to express best wishes to juniors when they were going to pursue studies, learn a skill, start a business ，get married or whatever important step towards future. Now, it has become a conventional ceremony when the Bai ethnic minority greet guests (of course, things will be much less meaningful when tradition go with the commercial, that what I thought) .

In the past, the ceremony was normally conducted by the senior family members, but now the juniors ( usually, young beautiful girls) can also take charge of the whole procedure and offer tea to guests. In Three-Course Tea, the brewing techniques and materials used in each course are different from each other. The singing and dancing go along with the whole performance.

The first course of tea is called bitter tea, meaning that one will suffer a lot before she/he starts his or her career. The second course of tea is called sweet tea. After serving the first course, the host will empty the pot and repeat the procedure right from the beginning. This time, the host will add brown sugar and Chinese cinnamon into the cup. (I was doubt the after the first bitter one, even without the sugar, the second one will taste good) The third course of tea is called aftertaste tea. The same procedure, but materials change to honey, popcorn, Bunge prickly ash, and walnut kernel. When drinking this course of tea, we should shake the cup to mix up all those materials and then drink the tea up while it is hot. we will find flavor of sweet, sour, bitter, and pungent in the tea which reminds the taster of bitter comes first, sweet comes second. (that’s what they told me, actually, the taste is too mix to tell, just little)

My health lunch

Went out to have lunch today, and then suddenly realised the dishes in front of me are so nutritious, filling, good-looking , well-priced and most of all, meat-free, whoops, I said it, that is the wish of every figure-loving girls, isn’t it? To eat well and not put on even tiny weight. I took pics by my Mobil phone. It looks good too, share it with you all. Oops, forget to tell you what is it, that is Spicy Beancurd (Ma Po Duo Fu) and Mixed Veg.

The Freedom of Chinese Internet Users is None of Mr Capitol Hill’s Business

When I heard the news that the U.S. Congressional hold the hearings on the cooperation of four large Internet companies (Microsoft, Google, Yahoo and Cisco) with the Chinese government, I thought, well, that‘s your company, this has nothing to do with we Chinese, it is the Americans' internal affairs. But when I heard that the US congress pass the so called “Global Online Freedom Act”, which they WILL protect the Chinese people's right to free speech. I thought, wait, it is RIDICULOUS! I never thought my right of free speech need the protect from the US Government.

In Chinese history, people, no matter when and who, who loves his motherland are always hold this kind of strong belief: A country is great because even in its darkest and most trying days, there are always young people who love this land, and who are absolutely unwilling to give up their pursuit of the dream of freedom, democracy, peace and prosperity for the nation. This kind of dream is not bestowed upon us by some United States. We can only realize this kind of dream ourselves. This is true no matter for which country, isn’t it?

This is our country; this is our land. We will make China free, democratic, peaceful and prosperous, and we are doing it right now. This is where we and our children belong. A failed country will suffer the discrimination of others, that’s already proved by the fact, dozens of the fact.

When I read the report that the people, the foreigners, use "autocratic" to describe China, I feel deep humiliation as a Chinese. This kind of shame, one will remembers for the rest of his life. It is not for me myself, it is for we are entire generation. I am so sure that I can speak out for them, cause the true is always the true, it is unchangeable.

This emotion and pain might not be understood by foreigners, actually I mean Americans. If the U.S. Congress to hold a hearing on the freedom of Internet information of Chinese, this is indeed an issue for the American people. But the bill to be submitted about freedom of Internet information treats the freedom of Chinese Internet users is absolutely too much for we can endure.

we as individuals believe that we have a beautiful future. We, the Chinese themselves are the only people who can fight for their rights and freedoms.

The real way to resolve the situation is Chinese Internet users gradual increase of freedoms, in line with the law. Do remember that this is my country, our country, the country we love, no one hopes for her freedom more than we do.

Finally, I just want to say that do not reach too far, Mr Capitol Hill, mind you own buiness!

Yuanxiao

To hear the firecrackers and fireworks everywhere outside the window and watch the clock hit the 12pm, I knew there are no more excuse for my lazy, the traditional Lantern Festival, which marks the last day of the 15-day long Spring Festival, is gone, . That means life are completely back to normal right now, completely.

Tell you that one thing we everyone have to eat in this special day, just like the Turkey for the Thanksgiving, is yuanxiao or Tangyuan, that depend on whether you are come from the south part or the north part of the china, basically, they are same, well, maybe the size is different. .

The small dumpling balls are usually madeof sticky rice flour filled with sweet stuffing and round in shape, it symbolizes family unity, completeness and happiness.


The fillings inside the yuanxiao are either sweet or salty (not recommend, I always thought it’s kind of dessert, and of course, the dessert should be sweet) . Sweet fillings are made of sugar, Walnuts, sesame (highly recommend, my most favorite one), rose petals, sweetened tangerine peel, bean paste, or jujube paste. A single ingredient or any combination can be used as the filling. The salty variety is filled with minced meat, vegetables or a mixture.

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Fearless!

“Fearless”

He helped restore the glory to Chinese Martial Arts .
And he showed the world what it meant to live by its codes.
September 14th 1910, a day that lives in the hearts of the Chinese people
He is huoyuanjia .


“Fearless” , a kung fu film acted by Jet Li , has ranked 1th in the box office of Asia recently .Don’t have to miss this movie If you like Chinese kungfu and Jet Li , which will show you the true mean of Chinese Martial-Arts and an attrictive nation hero!

Jet Li's whole life has been built around kung fu. Born in Beijing, he enrolled at the Wushi Academy when he was 8. As a child, he won China's national martial-arts competition five years in a row. After his first victory, his prize was a visit with U.S. President Richard Nixon in Washington. He embarked on his film career in 1979 with "Shaolin Temple" and has since starred in 34 movies, including the landmark "Once Upon a Time in China" series in Hong Kong and "Hero" (2002). He became the first ever China-born star to be imported to Hong Kong and then Hollywood. Long interested in Buddhism, he was baptized as a monk in 1998 and says his faith compelled him to end his kung fu career.

more information to visit the site:
http://www.fearlessthemovie.com/

snowman

First heavy snowfall in year of the dog yesterday! I took some pics on my way back home with my mobile, it is not the most beautiful one, but good to see the adults are as happy as child. They made snowman with their not-much-left-imagation. To see everyone's face with the childlike innocence isn't a easy thing

nowadays!

Beijing's Temple Fair

It is the very traditional thing in China, for most hard-woking-whole-year people, these days are the most expected and joyful day for them. To walking around people,which big smile at everyone's face, and the most attract part for me, well, guess for lots people too, is you can eat various snacks which only available at this time.

The "temple fair" (Miao Hui) began as groups of vendors who did business near temples when many pilgrims came to pay tribute to the gods during traditional festivals. The practice grew, gradually turning into a regular event. Now temple fairs are an important and joyful destination for Chinese people during festivals, most especially the Spring Festival, or Chinese New Year.

The temple fairs in Beijing date back to around 1000 AD, when they were called "Spring Outings", steadily booming throughout the following three dynasties of the Yuan, Ming and Qing emperors. Nowadays, going to temple fairs has become a Spring Festival routine for residents in Beijing.