Views of the Giant Buddha of Leshan
As flood waters in China have reached the Giant Buddha of Leshan, I’m reminded of my trip to the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
China
Losing Hong Kong
Hong Kong was never my home, but it was there when I needed it. Amid the congestion of Kowloon and Central, I felt at ease. It was an escape.
Happy Year of the Dog
This year begins the Year of the Dog in the Chinese calendar. During my first year in China, I got to experience Spring Festival and celebrate Chinese New Year.
Walk Through Huanglong and Its Colorful Pools
During the May holiday in China, I headed to Sichuan Province to see the beauty of nature in the Huanglong Valley with the colorful travertine pools.
Witnessing the Scale of the Terracotta Army in Xi’an
On my first summer holiday in China, I visited the Terracotta Army in Xi’an and was in awe at the epic size of this ancient tomb for the Qin Emperor.
A Different View of Hong Kong
I planned this trip to be different. Hong Kong is still a familiar city to me, but on this trip through the city I experienced the familiar and the new.
A Different Expat Experience
If I am not Ulysses, I am his dear, ruthless half brother. Strap me to the mast so I may endure night sirens -Yusef Komunyakaa, Latitudes This is not my first time being an expat. It is, however, my first being an expat for purely economic reasons. But should that change my overall expat experience, …
Traveler Reads: Apologies Forthcoming
Shiao Su leaned his forehead against the closed door and shut his eyes. The vibration of the Zheng strings passed through the door to his body. He lost the courage to knock on the door. -Snow Line, Apologies Forthcoming The following review is revised from one written years ago. As this marks the 50th anniversary …
Staring at the Lion’s Feet in Shanghai
“Sometimes we don’t even realize what we really care about, because we get so distracted by the symbols.” ― Tom Wolfe, The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test Back in 2006, just before my first Spring Festival celebration in China, I wandered the streets of Shanghai. My travel companion was busy most days with her friend, so …
Witnessing Changes in Shanghai
After 9 years I returned to Shanghai to witness the changes in the city first-hand. Shanghai is no longer the city of my memory, nor should it be.
Experiencing the 72-Hour Visa-Free Stay in Shanghai
“Look on every exit as being an entrance somewhere else.” ― Tom Stoppard, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead I had planned to take a weekend in Hong Kong–the flight was cheap and I didn’t want to wait until my visa-free stay in Taiwan expires just before Chinese New Year when the ticket prices will skyrocket. …
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Beer in the Park
“While we were sober, three shared the fun; Now we are drunk, each goes his way. May we long share our odd, inanimate feast, And meet at last on the Cloudy River of the sky.” -Li Bai, Drinking Alone by Moonlight This week marks the 61st anniversary of the People’s Republic of China. The National …
Beyond the Scaffolding of Travel
I feel like I’m touring construction sites instead of historic sites. Almost every time I visit a tourist destination, it’s covered in scaffolding.
Where Do You Want to Live?
Twitter user @PekingMike reminded me of an interesting sign I saw back in 2007 in Tianjin, China. Back in 2011, he co-wrote an article for Bloomberg about a ridiculous real estate project in the city that was to be a replica of Manhattan. Like many real estate developments in China today, it’s mostly an empty …
It May Be Healthy, But I’m Not Eating It
Travelers love talking about “comfort zones” and “getting out of” that zone, but sometimes you have to draw the line, especially when it comes to food.