Winter

Full moon fever on the Lantern Festival

Full moon fever on the Lantern Festival

The brightest moon of the new year welcomes a festival of light – the Lantern Festival, also the official end to Chinese New Year. Thought the new year was over after Chinese New Year’s Eve? Think again. In China, celebrating the new year is not just a matter of swinging around a few firecrackers and […]

Duilian...one of the most beloved Chinese New Year Symbols

Duilian…one of the most beloved Chinese New Year Symbols

This image courtesy of Wikipedia Commons and user Chrislb, and falls under their GMU Free Documentation License. Ever come across a door flanked by two vertical red strips with Chinese characters? If so, you’ve seen duilian — one of the most important and revered Chinese New Year symbols and traditions. Duilian are generally two long, […]

Yes, I’ll have some more walnuts and black sesame: the wintertime push for nutritional supplements in China

I’ll never forget the January scene I once witnessed at a foodstuffs store on Huaihai Road — Shanghai’s main shopping drag. There they were, masses of people, lining up for this classic wonder supplement. No, it wasn’t Amway or Nuskin or even some hi-tech offering from a Chinese company. Just walnut and black sesame powder, […]