Olympic Games 2008 @ Beijing

Olympic Games 2008 took place in Beijing, China with motto "One World One Dream". The opening ceremony officially began at 8:00 pm on August 8, 2008 (08/08/08) in the Beijing National Stadium. The number 8 is associated with prosperity and confidence in Chinese culture, and here it was a triple eight for the date and time (08:08:08 p.m.) The centrepiece of Olympic Games 2008 was the Beijing National Stadium aka The Bird's Nest because of its structure which looks like bird's nest.

Beijing National Stadium or The Bird's Nest

Olympic Games 2008 song "Beijing welcomes you"

Credit : http://en.beijing2008.cn/ , http://www.olympic.org/en/

Cheongsam

The cheongsam, pronounced like /ˈtʃɒŋˈsæm/ is a one-piece Chinese style dress for women. Chinese people called it "qi pao" and also known in English as a mandarin gown. It's typically red. I don't know exactly when cheongsam first used but I know it was during the Qing dynasty. During the Qing dynasty, China was ruled by Manchu. Manchu women typically wore one-piece dress. It's what we call cheongsam these days. But the cheongsam worn by Manchu was not quite same as we have now. It doesn't look alike at all, actually. The original choengsam was wide and loose. It covered most of the woman's body, revealing only the head, hands, and the toes. After Qing dynasty fell, people transfered their old-fashioned cheongsam to suit their tastes. The cheongsam was tailored to become more form-fitting, slender, revealing like we can see it today.

Here is the evolution of cheongsam

Manchu (Original)

Present

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Picture Credits : http://www.allaeas.com/shown-beautiful-and-sexy-with-cheongsam-dress.html

Content Credits: Chinese book

Traditional Chinese Medicines

I've grown up in Thailand in Chinese family. My grandad is a traditional Chinese doctor. He uses Traditional Chinese Medicine to remedy people. Traditional Chinese Medicine, also known as TCM, it is considered an alternative medical system. Most Chinese medicines distill from plants or herbs. They couldn't affect your body that much like Western medicines do. When I was young, I was always treated by my grandad using Traditional Chinese Medicine. It works every time. However, I'm not saying that Western Medicine is not good. In the other hand, I've used Western Medicine more than Traditional Chinese Medicine so far. Some diseases cannot be cured by only Traditional Chinese Medicine, aids, cancers for instances.

Here are some samples of Traditional Chinese Medicines

Pictures Credits

http://www.chanthaboonriver.com/jungkungan.html

Standing Air Ticket

China is offering their new way of transportation. The government sees that there are many poor people using train to go somewhere far, and it would be very crowded. The government sees this problem and issues this idea. They would like to give poor people an opportunity of travelling by plane and convenience in travelling. They create a stand-up seat in their planes. The price of the ticket is reduced by 40% of normal seat's. All to all, it's new for us to stand on a plane but you have to try this out.

Picture Credits

http://www.miamibeach411.com/ee/images/uploads/airplane-seats.jpg

China's Transportation

Most Chinese people are very diligent. They take things seriously. And even when they have to go somewhere, they usually go by walking or riding bicycles or bus or trains. Because China is a big country, there are many transportation provided for their people. According to the survey collected by a researcher of some institute, the data showed that almost every people in China have purchased bicycles. However, the number of people using taxi and their own car is increasing more and more.

Picture Credits

http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&q=自行车&gs_upl=5918,156,5,1,208,468,0,4,4:1&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi

China holds day of mourning for Gansu landslide victims

There are more than thousand people killed in floods and mudslides in Zhouqu county of Gansu province. More than 500 people are missing, so teams are keep finding them. Recently, Chinese websites change their homepage to be black and white for mourning to the victims of this accident. In addition, President Hu Jintao let the country in 3 minute silence and crowds gathered at Tian An Men square to show their respects to victims. The BBC's Chris Hogg in Beijing says that large scale national mourning like this is rare in China. The last time was earthquake in Sichuan that people mourning for 3 days. There are possibility that more rain can cause the Bailing River overflow. The Ministry of Civil Affairs says at least 45,000 people have evacuated their homes. Survivors are living in tents and temporary homes. The last news is that they can provide clean water for 30,000 people.

Credit : http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-10975066

China and Taiwan

The People's Republic of China (PRC) was founded in 1949 after the Communist Party defeated

the previously nationalist Kuomintang in a civil war. The

Kuomintang retreated to Taiwan, creating two rival Chinese states - the PRC on the mainland and the Republic of China based on Taiwan.

If you ask Chinese people on the mainland, "Is Taiwan a country or a part of China?" the

y would say it is just a part of China. Meanwhile, Taiwanese would say they are another country not part of China.

Credit : http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/country_profiles/1287798.stm

Giant Panda

Giant Panda is a bear. It is a very cute bear. Giant Pandas are native in South western China. They typically live in mountains. They eat bamboo. In the history, dragon served as China's national emblem. At the present, panda also serves as the emblem for China. Giant Panda is an endangered species. There are about 239 pandas living in cages and more than thousand of panda living in the wild. And another 27 pandas are living in another country. In the past, China sent their panda out to another country such as America, England, German, Japan, Thailand, etc. to serve as an ambassador but now China government have already changed their policy. They just lend panda but not give. Panda can live in another country for 10 years after that the country must send panda back to China. The fees of lending are 1,000,000 US dollars and any offsprings during lending belong to China and must be send back to China as well.

Giant Panda after birth for awhile, Look! how cute it is

Giant Panda's Range

Credits

http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/GiantPandas/PandaFacts/default.cfm

Since clothes are not just clothes but more about fashion these days. People would look up your clothes, look how you dressed first. There is a famous Chinese proverb my grandma told me "Someone just consider people by their clothes not what they really are" and this is my own experience. When I go to whatever restaurant or place, who is in dressing up clothes would be served or be paid attention first and always be a big deal, and it's opposite for the ones in down-to-earth clothes. The only difference is just the way they dressed. It's very unfair. Don't you think? But it's a real story in the real world. I've seen this kind of thing usually happens in Thailand and many other countries such as Japan, China, Singapore, Korea and Taiwan. I don't know if the Europe has this kind of thing or not but I guess. yes, there is. All in all, people are often considered by their clothes, dressing and appearances.