Category Archives: China

Shan Hai Pass

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山海关 or the Shan Hai Pass is one of the most important and the most easterly of the passes through the Ming Great Wall.

It is built as a square, with a perimeter of around four kilometres (2.5 mi). The walls reach a height of 14 metres (46 feet), and are seven metres (23 feet) thick – see bottom picture. The east, south and north sides are surrounded by a deep, wide moat with drawbridges over it. In the middle of the pass stands a tall bell tower.

The location where the wall meets the Bohai Sea is nicknamed the “Old Dragon’s Head” (老龙头). The pass lies nearly 300 kilometres (190 mi) east of Beijing and if I could be bothered there’s a picture in this blog of that as well, guess you’ll just have to find it yourself.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shanhai_Pass

Wucai (五彩）Porcelain

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The Wucai (五彩）Porcelain shown above is all from the Qing dynasty and dates from the 18th century.

Although Wucai can be translated as ‘five-colour’ the colours are not limited to that number and it can best be understood as multicoloured.

Characterised by the over glaze decoration of coloured enamels after the porcelain had been fired once with a blue under glaze design. The over glaze enamels included a variety of colours such as red, green, blue, yellow and purple. Once the coloured over glaze enamels had been applied, the porcelain was then fired a second time, but at a lower temperature.

https://theme.npm.edu.tw/selection/Category.aspx?sNo=03000129&lang=2

Taipei, Zongzheng and Shilin

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November is a great time to visit Taipei. ‘Goldilocks’ weather (not too hot, not too cold) and there is much to be seen in the Zhongzheng and Shilin districts such as the Chiang Kai Shek Memorial 中正紀念堂圖書室, Liberty Square 自由廣場, the Dazhong Gate 中正紀念堂大忠門, DongMen 東門 Market and the National Palace Museum 國立故宮博物院 where you can see the treasures that the KMT stole rescued from mainland China in 1949.

Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall: https://www.cksmh.gov.tw/en/

National Palace Museum: https://www.npm.gov.tw/?l=2

I’ll probably do a separate post about the National Palace Museum later.

Video Music credits:

Shenyang Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/

Cicada – Genus Meimuna

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Walker's Cicada

Probably a cicada of the genus Meimuna, possibly Walker’s cicada, Meimuna opalifera which is commonly found in Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Mainland China. They feed on the sap of trees and are harmless and are believed to live for a total of 2 – 3 years.

In Summer they can be very loud due to their large numbers. In Japan they are commonly called “tsuku-tsuku-bōshi” due to the sound they make.

Further reading:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meimuna_opalifera

https://www.uniprot.org/taxonomy/179424

https://www.cicadamania.com/cicadas/category/genera/meimuna/

The Cicada in China

Year of the Water Tiger

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Feb. 1, 2022 – Jan.21, 2023 is a year of the water tiger （水虎）

春节快乐  – Happy Spring Festival

Characteristics of Water Tigers: Studious, Thoughtful

Water Tigers have an innate ability to learn something new, and they are especially professional in the fields of art and handicrafts.

They have a strong sense of self-esteem and seldom accept advice from others. They only have a slim chance of failing in their careers, which often incurs envy from others.

what fate has in store for Water Tigers: Bittersweet

Water Tigers will achieve more in their careers by getting help from their friends and lovers. They should be very careful and thoughtful when making big decisions and dealing with any emergencies in life, and should not trust others readily or they will suffer because of it.

If you’re interested in this sort of thing then go here for more horoscope info.

Scholar’s Stones in the Snow

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供石 (Gōng shí) or scholar’s stones vary in colour and shape. Their size also varies from hundreds of kilos to less than one kilo. They are placed in traditional gardens and the grounds of colleges , schools and universities.

These examples are to be found in the grounds of a university in Tianjin.

New Header Picture: Pingdingshan

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Nei Mengu
The extinct volcanoes of Pingdingshan, Xilin Gol, Nei Menggu

平顶山, 锡林郭勒盟，内蒙古

Pingdingshan in Xilingol League in Inner Mongolia has a very distinctive landscape. There are many extinct volcanoes from a time when this was the sea floor. This photo was taken in early October and the lush green grasslands had already faded to their winter brown. Even so you can see a flock of sheep in the foreground.

The interactive map is a new feature which I’ll maybe use again now that I know how to do it.

For tourist info click here

平原县, 德州市, 山东省

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A memorial pagoda in Pingyuan County, Dezhou, Shandong Province
A bit different from but similar to Banbury Cross

人, 丛, 众

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Widely seen Chinese Covid poster:

人 rén – person

丛 cóng – a collection or group

众 – zhòng – a multitude or crowd

Chinese covid poster 2020/21 Beijing

There is a tradition of health posters as we can see:

“To do a good job in epidemic prevention and hygiene work is concrete patriotic behaviour in the battle to smash American imperialist germ warfare!”

Crataegus pinnatifida

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Commonly known as Snow Hawthorn  these red fruits which grow up to about 35 mm in diameter are now in season.

The ones in this picture, taken yesterday, are from Xiong Xian County in Hebei Province, near the city of Baotou.

Chinese Hawthorn, click for larger image
山楂 (mountain hawthorn) or 大红果 (big, red fruit)

They are used to make a number of deserts and snacks. In Northern China they are often sold dipped in a sugar candy coating on a wooden skewer  much like toffee apples are  in Europe and are called 糖葫芦 (tanghulu).

They have been associated with various medicinal properties especially as a digestive aid.


Recycle

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One of the new generation of Mobikes – best so far.

Features:

    • Adjustable saddle height with easy to use handle and height indicator
    • GPS powdered by solar panels in the basket
    • Lightweight
    • Solid types (no punctures)
    • Ergonomic grips on the handle bars
    • Bell integrated into the handlebar
    • QR code

https://mobike.com/global/blog