June 5, 2023 Mandarin Immersion (Part 22) By Simon J. Lau I visited Shuhe Ancient Town, located a short distance from Lijiang. It’s the original settlement of the Naxi people, and it was an important place of commerce. On my way over, I was told that many overseas Chinese have recently moved there. I wasn’t specifically seeking out other overseas Chinese to hang out with, but I did spend my afternoon at this hip coffee shop. I don’t typically rave […]

June 4, 2023 Mandarin Immersion (Part 21) By Simon J. Lau I made it to Lijiang, home to the Naxi people. These ethnic minorities are thought to have migrated from Tibet and established the Kingdom of Lijiang. They were conquered, along with their neighbors, by Kublai Khan and incorporated into the Yuan dynasty. Lijiang was an important stop along the Silk Road, where it was the center for silk embroidery, and the Ancient Tea Horse Road. The ancient city, known as […]

June 3, 2023 Mandarin Immersion (Part 20) By Simon J. Lau I visited the Three Pagodas, located at the foot of the Cangshan Mountains. The original and largest pagoda was built sometime in the 9th century, with its two smaller siblings added 100 years later for auspicious reasons. Besides the pagodas, there are also many temples that lead up the mountain. I was surprised by just how many there were (I lost count!). It took me over an hour to […]

June 2, 2023 Mandarin Immersion (Part 19) By Simon J. Lau I visited Xiaguan, Dali’s modern city center, where I explored Erhai Park and Erhai Lake. The park is massive, featuring a sizable amusement park within its grounds, while the lake is the second-largest highland lake in China. After spending several hours exploring these areas, I was ready to head back. However, I found myself short on bus fare. Unlike in the US, Chinese buses don’t offer free transfers (especially if […]

June 1, 2023 Mandarin Immersion (Part 18) By Simon J. Lau Yunnan is renowned, along with Fujian, as one of the two provinces celebrated for their teas throughout China. Yesterday, I had the pleasure of sampling teas at a popular tea house, guided by my host. She and her extended family have been immersed in the tea trade and tea house culture for generations. In addition to enjoying teas, our conversations delved into the lives of ethnic minorities in China. […]

May 31, 2023 Mandarin Immersion (Part 17) By Simon J. Lau I made it to Dali, located in Yunnan province. Yunnan, a landlocked province in southwest China, borders Vietnam, Laos, and Myanmar. Due to its strategic location, it’s one of the most ethnically diverse provinces in China. It’s historically significant as it served as the capital of the Dali Kingdom, which encompassed present-day Yunnan as well as parts of Laos and Myanmar. After the kingdom was overthrown, its people, primarily the […]

May 30, 2023 Mandarin Immersion (Part 16) By Simon J. Lau For my last day in Chongqing, I toured People’s Square, the Three Gorges Museum, and the Great Hall of the People. I was hoping for more from the Three Gorges Museum, but it focused less on the Three Gorges and more on general Chinese history. However, considering it from that perspective, it wasn’t bad. It also didn’t hurt that the museum only accepted WeChat payments. (A first!) As a […]

May 29, 2023 Mandarin Immersion (Part 15) By Simon J. Lau I visited Wulong Karst, a region known for its beauty and prominent karst landscape. Three Natural Bridges, one of several protected areas, was made internationally famous by Transformers. These natural bridges are the largest in Asia. Longshuixia Gap, a gap-style gorge, is another area in Wulong. The gorge is 5km (3+ miles) long, but the walking tour is only 2km (1+ miles). This trail includes many unique views of […]

May 28, 2023 Mandarin Immersion (Part 14) By Simon J. Lau I visited Ciqikou, an ancient town that was once known for its thriving porcelain production. There’s very little, if any, porcelain manufactured here now. Instead, these storefronts have been mostly converted into small shops and restaurants. In the evening, I had my first taste of authentic Chongqing hotpot. I went with a friend’s cousin, who previously studied abroad. We spent much of our time discussing Chinese politics. He was […]

May 27, 2023 Mandarin Immersion (Part 13) By Simon J. Lau I went on a river cruise along the Jialing River, which took us around parts of Chongqing. I managed to capture these stunning views of the city from the river. I didn’t expect to enjoy the tour as much as I did, but I did, and the photos turned out beautifully. In coming here, I also noticed the unusually low river levels. It appears China is suffering from a […]