Two weeks ago, I had the pleasure of attending a function at the Shanghai International Literary Festival, which has been running annually since 2003. The Festival draws authors from around the world and has become a major event in the Shanghai arts scene. Over 50 writers attended the 2013 Festival, including James and Deborah Fallows and Tom […]
China
Enter the Year of the Snake
It’s time to bid farewell to the Dragon, as the Year of the Snake comes slithering in. One of the 12 years of the Chinese Zodiac, which follows a lunar calendar, Snake years are said be a period of great change. It’s a time for shedding your old skin, shaking off what was slowing you […]
The Best Hot Chocolate in Shanghai
Last month I gave myself the arduous task of hunting down the best hot cocoa Shanghai had to offer. I spent many a cold, blustery afternoon sipping chocolate drinks at cafes and restaurants across town, all in the name of blog research. It was challenging work, let me tell you! My favorite by a mile […]
A Brief Introduction to Hunan Cuisine
Before moving to China I could barely eat jalapeno peppers and now I pop them like pickles. Chinese food – real Chinese food, not the bland U.S. take-out variety – can be seriously spicy. Sichuan dishes are most notorious for their heat, and I still struggle with those numbing pink peppercorns that bite like a shot of Novocain. […]
In China, Imitation is the Sincerest Form of Flattery
I have greatly enjoyed spotting all the quirky English store names around Shanghai, but it’s the copycat stores and products that I find most amusing. They are just so blatant! Tommy Hilfiger becomes Tommy Welai and the Nike swoosh gets turned upside down. There are also some unexpected surprises, like finding the Kodak store that […]