Who can resist a cuddly puppy or a cute kitten? They have so much innocence that we tend to think of them as 100 percent safe and harmless. But remember, these pets are capable of spreading rabies.
Last Saturday marked the September (autumn) equinox, which meant we’ll once more get an equal length of day and night. Soon after, nights will become long again. The Chinese call it 秋分 (qiūfēn), the 16th point in the 24 Solar Terms (24 节气 jiéqì), an important part of the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar. The astronomical …
From last week’s trip to Yungang Grottoes, we go a little bit further south and visit Pingyao County for the second part of our China Bucket List in Shanxi.
You’ve lived in Beijing for more than a year already and you’ve (never) been to many historic areas. Congratulations! China boasts 52 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, ranking second in the world. Six of them are located in Beijing — and may be taken for granted because they’re just sitting in the city and waiting to …
Read more “China Bucket List in Shanxi, Part 1: The Grottoes of 51,000 Buddhas”
In today’s China Bucket List in Shanxi, we continue our tour of the ancient city of Datong, the coal capital of China. But instead of seeing coal mines, we’ll hang out in the Hanging Temple in Hunyan County.
In my experience as a broadcast journalist, reporting suicide cases has been one of the most sensitive, if not the hardest coverage I’ve ever done. Suicide is a complex and multifactorial issue and there has always been a notion about the possibility of copycat cases. I know some people who have lost someone because of …
Read more “"Take a Minute, Change a Life" – How Listening and Compassion can Help Prevent Suicide”
Running as a cardio exercise is an essential part of my workout, especially since I’m on an office challenge to burn fat (hey, though I’m quite lean I still need to lose my little beer belly). But just recently when I ran in a riverside park, my knees hurt so bad that I felt crippled. …
Read more “You Don't Want to Get a Runner's Knee During a Marathon”
While taxis or Didis may be the most convenient form of transportation to or from Beijing Capital Airport, we can’t deny that taking the subway is still the cheapest way to go. A one-way ride from or to the city terminal Sanyuanqiao (三元桥, Sānyuánqiáo, or “Three yuan” Bridge) subway station on Line 10 costs 25元. …
Read more “Subway Sunday: The Bridge of the "Three Deities"”
The summer heat is just getting unbearable, isn’t it? One great way to cool down is to sip a cold, thirst-quenching beverage. Of course, water is fine, but these sweltering days call for a refreshing taste, courtesy of your local café or milk tea stall.
Today’s generation has so much of everything that acquiring skills and connections has become a less painstaking endeavor. But the glut of choices nowadays becomes a distraction that challenges the way we focus on our capabilities and priorities. We might find it difficult to answer, “What’s your passion?” or “What’s your purpose in life?”