The Legend Behind the Festival

The Dragon Boat Festival has its roots in ancient Chinese history. According to legend, the festival commemorates the death of the famous poet and minister Qu Yuan, who lived during the Warring States period (475–221 BC). Qu Yuan was a loyal and patriotic official who was banished by the Emperor for his opposition to a corrupt government. While in exile, Qu Yuan wrote many beautiful poems that expressed his love for his country and his people.

In 278 BC, Qu Yuan learned that his country had been invaded by a neighbouring state. Overcome with grief and despair, he drowned himself in the Miluo River. The local people who admired Qu Yuan’s patriotism and literary talent rushed to the river to try to save him. They paddled their boats up and down the river, beating drums and splashing the water with their oars to scare away the fish and water dragons that might harm Qu Yuan’s body. They also threw sticky rice dumplings into the river as a sacrifice to the river gods, hoping to prevent Qu Yuan’s body from being eaten by the fish.

Read More: Popular Chinese Festivals – An Exploration of Chinese Culture and Tradition 

Sha Tin Dragon Boat Race

Located all along the Shing Mun River, there is plenty of space to get a spot to watch the races. The area boasts a great cycling track all the way up to Tai Mei Tuk with a few places to rent bikes. After watching the races, cycle up and down the riverside for an action-packed day.

When: 8:00am to 1:00pm

Where: Shing Mun River

How: If you’re going from Central, take Bus 182 from Central Market and get off at City One. Another option is to take the East Rail Line on the MTR up to Fo Tan and walk to the riverside.

Sun Life Stanley International Dragon Boat Championships

A very popular destination for Dragon Boat Racing with locals and tourists heading down to Stanley for a day of sun, sand and sea. Make the most of your time there by watching the competition followed by a delicious meal at one of the seaside restaurants nearby. 

When: 8:00am to 5:00pm

Where: Stanley Main Beach

How: Going from Central to Stanley is the easiest way to get there. Take the 6 / 6A / 6X or 260 from Exchange Square. If you’re going from Tsim Sha Tsui catch the 973 from Mody Road which will take you directly there. Most of these buses stop near the Main Beach, but some will stop at the Stanley Village Bus Terminus. From there it is a 5 minute walk to the beach.

Tai O Dragon Boat Water Parade

As one of the last remaining fishing villages in Hong Kong, the Dragon Boat Water Parade at Tai O is an important religious event that has been celebrated by the village for several generations. Witness the ‘Deities Parade’ as it passes through the numerous stilt houses, sample the fresh seafood from the array of restaurants available and celebrate an intricate part of Hong Kong’s cultural heritage. 

When: 8:00am to 2:00pm 

Where: Tai O Pier (Parade) and Tai O Promenade (Dragon Boat Races)

How: Catch the Mui Wo Ferry from Central Pier 6, then take Bus 1 to Tai O OR Take the MTR to Tung Chung Station, then get on Bus 11 from Tung Chung Town Centre to Tai O

Tai Po Dragon Boat Race

Located at the Tai Po Waterfront Park, the Tai Po Dragon Boat Races offer crowds a scenic spot to cheer on the races. Walk around the park and take in the wonderful nature or head over to the kite-flying area (one of several different facilities at this park) and watch the different colourful kites being flown.

When: 8:30am to 1:00 pm 

Where: Tai Po Waterfront Park

How: There are several buses that can take you up there including 71K, 71S, 73X, 271 and 275R with many different points around the city to hop on or off of. If you fancy a more scenic commute, take the MTR to Tai Po Market (Exit B) followed by a 30-minute walk to the park.

 

The Chinese Dragon Boat Festival is an important cultural event that celebrates Chinese history, culture, and traditions. The festival is a time for people to come together to honour their ancestors, show their patriotism, and enjoy time with their families. Whether you choose to watch dragon boat races, eat Zongzi, or hang calamus and mugwort leaves, the Dragon Boat Festival is a wonderful way to experience Chinese culture and tradition.

 

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The post The Best Places to Watch Dragon Boat Racing in Hong Kong. appeared first on Mandarin Matrix.

1. Mulan 花木兰

Dress up idea # 1: Mulan at home

Difficulty:

You will need:

• A long dress
• A big jacket with long wide sleeves
• A belt
• To tie your hair into a high bun
• To put on make up:
  • Paint your forehead in yellow
  • Draw a tiny red flower in between your eyebrows
  • Draw thick and dark eyebrows
  • Apply blush to your cheeks
  • Put on lipsticks

Dress up idea # 2: Mulan on the way to the war

Difficulty:

You will need:

• Tie up your hair to blend in with the other warriors
• Make an armored suit
  • You can use old paper, cardboard, soft drink cans to make your armor, however, be very careful when you use the scissors!
  • The armored suit has two parts: the head and the body. Cut the materials in small pieces and then glue them together with glue, tape or stapler, according to your body shape.

2. Tang Sanzang 唐三藏

Dress up: Tang Sanzang

Difficulty:

You will need:

• A long yellow gown or cloth
• A red scarf
• A hat – Make the hat by cutting out five pieces of paper of the same shape, and then stick them on a circular paper strip
• A rod – You can borrow mom’s mop rod!

3. Zhu Bajie 猪八戒

Dress up difficulty:

You will need:

• A pair of large pig ears with paper – If you have a headband at home, you can stick the ears to the headband.
• A pig nose made from paper  – Cut out an oval shape from a piece of paper and then draw two circles on it. After you have made the nose, glue it to an elastic string and wear it on your face.
• Pigs are usually chubby, place a cushion or a small pillow under your shirt to make it look like a big belly!

• Dress up difficulty:

You will need:

• Basic clothing – Hou Yi is a person from an ancient period that did not have extravagant fabrics 
• Bow – Fold a paper strip through the middle into an arch, and then tie a string to the two ends.
• Arrow – Use bamboo chopsticks, wooden sticks or straws to make the arrows. Cut some paper triangles to be the arrow head. Cut some small parallelograms, glue three of them to an arrow to be the feathers

Dress up difficulty:

You will need:

• Tie your hair into two buns and wrap red ribbons around them
• Wear a red belly band (you can wrap your body with a red scarf or shawl)
• Make hot wheels with red and orange paper. Cut the paper into fire flame shapes and stick them to the sides of your shoes.

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Sale!

Chinese Festivals Bundle

$88.00 $62.00

Enrich your children’s Chinese culture with our new Chinese Festivals Collection, specially made to introduce Chinese festivals and specific words in simplified Chinese.

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Categories: Bundles, Printed, Supplementary Tags: Bundle, Chinese Festival Bundle, Festivals

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Description

Enrich your children’s Chinese culture with our new Chinese Festivals Collection

Specially made to introduce Chinese festivals and specific words in simplified Chinese, this festival bundle is suitable for intermediate level learners

Includes 11 books + 1 activity book:

• 中国的节日 – China’s Festivals: Teach your kids the different Chinese festivals that are celebrated during the year!
• 庆祝节日 – Celebrating Festivals: Learn what are the customs that people usually do during the celebrations.
• 过春节 – Spring Festival: Read how Chinese New Year is celebrated.
• “年”的传说 – The Legend of Nian: Learn about Nian and what people used to do to keep him away.
• 食在春节 – Chinese New Year Food: Discover with your kids what foods are popular during Chinese New Year. 
• 今年春节我们跳舞 – Chinese New Year Dance: Read how kids prepare for the Chinese New Year Dance.
• 我要做什么？ – Making a Choice: Find out how Duodou participates in the Chinese New Year celebrations.
• 晚会开始了 – The Party Starts: Read how kids celebrate Chinese New Year at school.
• 清明节 – Qing Ming Festival: Learn how this interesting festival started.
• 端午节 – Dragon Boat Festival: Read about Qu’s legend and how the Dragon Boat Festival became popular.
• 过中秋 – Celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival: Learn what kids usually do during the Mid-Autumn Festival. 
• 1 activity book with several activities to train writing and comprehension skills.

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Weight	1.3 kg

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Being able to listen, interpret, and react in a different language requires a lot of skill – and practice. The more we expose ourselves to different speaking styles and familiarise ourselves with the vocabulary, the better our Chinese language skills will be for it!

One of our favourite ways to develop those all important Chinese listening comprehension skills is by listening to Mandarin podcasts. Podcasts are a great (and often free!) learning tool. They enable you to get totally immersed in a language of your choice while on the go, and with so many podcasts out there these days, you can guarantee that you’ll never be bored or in want of content!

Continue reading to discover a wide range of Mandarin podcasts to learn Chinese.

iMandarinPod

iMandarinPod.com is designed to help people to improve their Chinese. Releasing a podcast almost every day for over 14 years, iMandarinPod spoils their listeners with a wide range of topics and difficulties to choose from. Their content spans the following five topics:

• 传统文化 (Chuántǒng wénhuà – Culture and tradition) – Focuses on Chinese culture and traditions, with explanations behind historical stories and important idioms.

• 日常用语 (Rìcháng yòngyǔ – Everyday language) – Perfect for beginners, this introductory Mandarin section covers everyday vocabulary and simple greetings

• 历史故事 (Lìshǐ gùshì – Historical stories) – Shares stories from different Chinese dynasties.

• 今日中国 (Jīnrì zhōngguó – Modern day China) – Introduces current topics relating to modern day China, such as social stances, lifestyle in China, current news events, and the developmental state of China.

• 听新闻学汉语 (Tīng xīnwén xué hànyǔ – Listen to the news and learn Mandarin) – News stories about the latest world events. Initially read at a slow speed and later transitioning to a normal speed, allowing listeners to get accustomed with the more difficult and advanced Mandarin vocabulary.

iMandarinPod podcasts are free. Through their subscription option, listeners can gain access to a learning guide (with pinyin) for each podcast including full podcast transcripts, vocabulary lists, and exercises.

Suitable levels: All learners 

Chillchat

One of our favourite podcasts to learn Chinese is Chillchat. Chillchat is a podcast talking about daily life in China, news, and other topics of general interest to help Chinese learners improve their listening skills by exposing them to real conversations. Suitable to all levels, Chillchat covers a wide range of content that varies in difficulty. Their Mandarin podcasts are lighthearted and enjoyable to listen to due to the fun topics and conversations they address. Foreigners are also commonly featured participating in the podcast, which is extremely beneficial to boost morale and inspire new learners. Listeners are further supported by Chillchat’s full range of transcripts, available on their website.

Suitable levels: All learners

Slow Chinese 慢速中文

Created by Chinese college students, Slow Chinese follows the theme of daily life when living in China. Speaking about what life is like in China, listeners have the chance to delve into the importance of Chinese culture and etiquette. Their short bite-sized lessons (lasting around 10 minutes) mean that learners can conveniently listen to episodes on a commute or whenever they have free time. Like its name, the unique feature of Slow Chinese is that everything being said is spoken especially slowly. This slower speed makes it easy to make out certain words even if the vocabulary is advanced. Concerning additional material, Slow Chinese is not too well equipped but the podcast itself is really interesting, giving insight into affairs about Chinese culture from a natives perspective.

Suitable levels: Upper Intermediate to Advanced

BearTalk 狗熊有话说

Unlike many other Mandarin podcasts which tend to cover more general topics, BearTalk differentiates itself through its focus on technology, books reviews, and self improvement. Loved by many, the podcast won the iTunes editors choice award in 2013 and has been featured in numerous newspapers and articles worldwide ever since. The slow and careful manner of BearTalk’s speech style makes the podcast suitable for intermediate learners. Beginners, on the other hand, would struggle with the informal language, conversational tone, and advanced technical language included. 

Suitable levels: Intermediate to Advanced

Ruixi’s Radio  蕊希電台 

Addressing the theme of mental health issues in China, Ruixi engages with her audience on a personal level, often asking after their wellbeing and discussing issues that affect our everyday life. Speaking in a slow calming tone, many listeners opt to use Ruixi’s podcast as part of their bedtime ritual. The slow nature of the podcast makes her content fairly easy to understand despite the occasional difficult vocabulary. These bite-sized 15-minute lessons are perfect for when you’re getting ready in the morning or about to lay down to sleep, and is a great podcast to learn Chinese from. 

Suitable levels: Beginner to Intermediate

You may also be interested in: The Best Mandarin YouTube Channels for Learning Chinese

Behind the Headlines with Wen Tao 锵锵三人行

Originally a TV show, Behind the Headlines with Wen Tao comes with audio-only versions of their episodes. This Mandarin podcast is a current affairs discussion show with each episode taking the form of a natural conversation between Wen Tao and two other guests. There are a mix of topics spoken about which all relate to current affairs in China. We would not recommend this podcast to anyone below an advanced level due to many of the guest speakers coming from either Hong Kong or Taiwan, meaning you would already have to be used to a range of accents and speech styles.

Suitable levels: Advanced

See also: The Best Chinese Shows on Netflix to Boost Your Mandarin

BBC 新闻博客

Podcast of the day by bbcchinese.com gives you the best interviews on a hot topic or despatches from its reporters based in Asia and elsewhere. The podcast covers current affairs both in China and across the globe, and is spoken at high speed using rather formal language. While arguably not the most entertaining of Mandarin podcasts on this list, it does offer a lot of value in terms of advanced vocabulary and topics studied. We would only recommend the BBC podcast to advanced learners due to the speed and difficulty.

Suitable levels: Advanced

We hope this list of Mandarin Podcasts will help you boost your Chinese listening comprehension skills. For more articles like this, be sure to check out our blog and subscribe to our newsletter in the sign-up bar below.

Feature Photo courtesy of Shutterstock, Photo 1 courtesy of iMandarinPod, Photo 2 courtesy of Buy me a coffee, Photo 3 courtesy of Youtube, Photo 4 courtesy of FluentU, Photo 5 courtesy of Soundcloud, Photo 6 courtesy of Lujuba, Photo 7 courtesy of BBC

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Chinese proverbs (known in Chinese as 諺語, yànyŭ) are popular sayings taken from literature, history, and philosophers such as Confucius and Laozi. These short pearls of wisdom play an important role in daily communication in China, and are a great tool for expanding your vocabulary and understanding of both Chinese culture and language.

Get inspired by this selection of Chinese philosophy quotes and proverbs, complete with Chinese characters, pinyin pronunciation, English translations, and explanations.

Motivational Quotes to Inspire You Today

1.  否极泰来. (Pǐ jí tài lái)

Peace replaces extreme evil.

Explanation: If you find yourself in a hard place don’t be discouraged because all nightmares end.

2. 老骥伏枥，志在千里。 (Lǎojì fúlì, zhì zài qiānlǐ)

An old warhorse in the stable still longs to gallop a thousand miles.

Explanation: You’re never too old to live out a dream, just because you have aged doesn’t mean you are no longer allowed to be the happiest version of yourself.

3. 吃得苦中苦，方为人上人。 (Chī dé kǔzhōngkǔ, fāng wéi rénshàngrén)

Enduring deepening pain is how man ascends.

Explanation: Pain in your life isn’t the end of the world, instead we can learn from it and become better people. Similar to the saying of no pain no gain.

4. 不能一口吃成胖子。(Bùnéng yīkǒu chī chéng pàngzi )

You can’t get fat with one mouthful.

Explanation: If you want something you have to be patient and persevere because good things take time. Things aren’t accomplished straight away, don’t give up.

5. 星星之火，可以燎原。 (Xīngxīng zhī huǒ, kěyǐ liáoyu)

Starlight shines far.

Explanation: A single spark can start a huge blaze, so be mindful of the things you do, be motivated to be a better person.

You may also be interested in: 13 Famous Chinese Poems with English Translations

Chinese Proverbs About Friendship

1. 广交友，无深交。 (Guǎng jiāoyǒu, wú shēnjiāo)

Numerous friends means no deep friendship.

Explanation: The less friends you have the more of a connection you have, it’s better to have quality friendships with a few people rather than having many friends and not feeling comfortable around any of them. A friend to everybody is a friend to nobody.

2. 道不同，不相为谋。 (Dào bùtóng, bù xiāng wéi móu)

Men of different principles don’t work well together.

Explanation: The closest friends are those who have similar goals to you, this way you have somebody who understands you and pushes you further to achieve your goals.

3. 患难见真情。 (Huànnàn jiàn zhēnqíng)

In hardship, we see true friendship.

Explanation: Going through hardship exposes your friends true colors, you will be able to determine if they are there for you when you need them. After all, a friend in need is a friend indeed.

4. 凡人不可貌相, 海水不可斗量。 (Fánrén bù kě màoxiàng, hǎishuǐ bù kě dòuliàng)

Man cannot be judged by looks; seas cannot be measured by the cup.

Explanation: If you judge people purely based on the way they look then you may miss out the truest of friends. Don’t judge a book by its cover.

5. 朋友的眼睛是最好的镜子。(péngyou de yănjing shì zuìhăo de jìngzi.)

The best mirror is a friend’s eyes.

Explanation: People are often too critical about themselves and undermine themselves. Friends can offer an objective perspective and help us understand ourselves better.

Chinese Proverbs About Family

1.  但愿人长久，千里共婵娟。(Dànyuàn rénchángjiǔ, qiānlǐ gòngchánjuān)

Wishing a person a long life, no matter how far away from the moon they are.

Explanation: No matter how far up you are from your family  you will always have some sort of connection to them. A popular Mid-Autumn Festival saying, this Chinese philosophy proverb is often quoted to convey feelings of love and homesickness. 

See also: 5 Chinese Poems About the Mid-Autumn Festival

2. 家和万事兴。 (Jiāhé wànshìxīnɡ)

If the family lives in harmony, all affairs will prosper.

Explanation: Family comes first. If the family is divided, then things will fall apart, and nothing in their lives will be successful.

3.  不当家，不知柴米贵。(Bù dānɡjiā，bùzhī chái mǐ ɡuì.)

One can’t tell the cost of the fuel and rice without being the head of the family.

Explanation: Only those who take responsibilities know how difficult it is to get anything done.

4. 家家有本难念的经。 (Jiājiā yǒu běn nán niàn de jīnɡ)

Every family has its problems.

Explanation There is no such thing as a perfect family, so if members of your family are divided or fighting don’t feel discouraged because every family has its problems. Similar to the saying “there are  skeletons in every family’s closet”.

5. 家丑不可外扬。 (Jiāchǒu bù kě wài yánɡ)

Family shames must not be spread abroad.

Explanation: If you care for and  respect your family, you will keep family matters to yourself. Giving light to the idea of maintaining your family’s honour.

Chinese Proverbs About Love

1. 执子之手，与子偕老。 (Zhí zǐ zhī shǒu, yǔ zǐ xiélǎo)

Hold hands with you, grow old with you.

Explanation: Expressing the idea of lifelong love and commitment between partners.

2. 爱屋及乌。(Ai wū jí wū)

Love the house and its crow.

Explanation: Similar meaning to the English proverb “Love me, love my dog,” this Chinese philosophy quotes advises that if you love someone, you should accept everything and everyone that the person loves.

3. 情人眼里出西施。 (Qínɡrén yǎnlǐ chū xīshī)

In a lover’s eye is the foremost Beauty.

Explanation: Someone who is in love with you sees you as the truest form of beauty. You will always be beautiful to the person who loves you. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

4. 当我看着你，我看到我的未来岁月在我的眼 (Dāng wǒ kànzhe nǐ, wǒ kàn dào wǒ de wèilái suìyuè zài wǒ de yǎn)

When I look at you, I see the rest of my life in front of my eyes.

Explanation: This proverb is commonly featured in vows when two people are to be wed.

5. 有情饮水饱，无情食饭饥。 (Yǒuqínɡ yínshuǐbǎo, wúqínɡ shífànjī)

With love water is enough; without love, food doesn’t satisfy.

Explanation: “Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.” Everything is better in life when you have love in it.

We hope you found this list of Chinese philosophy quotes as inspiring, motivating, and enlightening as we do. Be sure to follow us on Instagram and Facebook to stay up-to-date with all our latest content!

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The post 20 Chinese Philosophy Quotes and Proverbs appeared first on Mandarin Matrix.

Since ancient times, humans the world over have memorized and recited poetry. Amongst other benefits, it’s a popular method for learning a new language, and one we wholeheartedly stand behind! By reading out loud or listening to poems being recited, you can quickly master the rhythms and pronunciations of words and phrases, gain confidence in your speaking, and connect with the cultural heritage of the poet. 

Luckily for us, Chinese poetry is – more often than not – concise, which means it’s far more digestible than some of its Western counterparts (we’re looking at you, Tennyson!). It also means that you can set manageable goals such as a poem a day! We’ve shared below three of our team’s favourite childhood poems, as well as Chinese poems about love and Chinese farewell poems. We hope you enjoy this list of famous Chinese poems.

3 Chinese Poems All Children Know

In China, there are a handful of famous Chinese poems that children are taught in the classroom and expected to memorize. Many of these were written during the Tang dynasty (618–907), a period that is widely considered to be the golden age of Chinese literature. Here are just three of our favourite childhood poems.

静夜思 (“Thoughts in the Silent Night”, by Li Bai )

床前明月光，

疑是地上霜。

举头望明月，

低头思故乡。

TRANSLATION

Moonlight reflects off the front of my bed.

Could it actually be the frost on the ground?

I look up to view the bright moon,

And look down to reminisce about my hometown.

About: This popular Chinese poem was penned by one of the most famous Tang dynasty poets of all time – Li Bai (701-762). The poem expresses the poet’s loneliness, pensiveness, and homesickness as he gazes up at the bright moon.

悯农 (“Toiling Farmers”, by Li Shen)

李绅 《悯农》

锄禾日当午，

汗滴禾下土。

谁知盘中餐，

粒粒皆辛苦。

TRANSLATION

Farmers weeding at noon,

Sweat down the field soon.

Who knows food on a tray

Thanks to their toiling day?

About: A common Chinese nursery rhyme still popular today, “Toiling Farmers” depicts the hard work and life of a Chinese farmer. Written by Tang Dynasty poet Li Shen, the poem emphasises how hard each farmers work for every grain of rice, and serves as a gentle reminder for children not to waste their food.

咏鹅 (“An Ode to the Goose”, by Luo Binwang)

鹅、鹅、鹅，

曲项向天歌。

白毛浮绿水，

红掌拨清波

TRANSLATION

Goose, goose, goose,

You bend your neck towards the sky and sing.

Your white feathers float on the emerald water,

Your red feet push the clear waves.

About: Written by Tang Dynasty poet Luo Binwang when he was only seven years old, “An Ode to the Goose” is a particularly simple and easy to memorize poem, resulting in it often being one of the very first famous Chinese poems to be learned by Chinese children.

Chinese Farewell Poems

Saying goodbye is never easy. Scroll on to discover our team’s pick of Chinese farewell poems.

送杜少府之任蜀州, 王勃 (“Farewell To Vice-Prefect Du Setting Out For His Official Post In Shu”, by Wang Bo)

城阙辅三秦，

风烟望五津。

与君离别意，

同是宦游人。

海内存知己，

天涯若比邻。

无为在岐路，

儿女共沾巾。

TRANSLATION

By this wall that surrounds the three Qin districts,

Through a mist that makes five rivers one,

We bid each other a sad farewell,

We two officials going opposite ways….

And yet, while China holds our friendship,

And heaven remains our neighbourhood,

Why should you linger at the fork of the road,

Wiping your eyes like a heart-broken child?

About: Written by Wang Bo when his friend Du was set to leave and take the position of country official in Si Chuan. Wang Bo saw off Du and presented him with this farewell poem that represents the sincerity and profoundness of their friendship.

送友人, 李白 (“Farewell to A Friend”, by Li Bai)

青山橫北郭 , 白水遶東城 

此地一為別, 孤蓬萬里征 

浮雲遊子意, 落日故人情 

揮手自茲去, 蕭簫斑馬鳴 

TRANSLATION

Green hills skirt the northern border,

White waters gird the eastern town;

Here we part with each other,

And you set out like a lonesome wisp of grass,

Floating across the miles, farther and farther away.

You’ve longed to travel like roaming clouds,

But our friendship, unwilling to wane as the sun is to set,

Let it be here to stay.

As we wave each other good-bye,

Our horses neigh, as if for us they sigh.

About: Li Bai’s friend longs to travel like ‘roaming clouds’. This Chinese farewell poem uses beautiful metaphors to express the deep connection Li Bai and his friend share through their friendship.

送别, 王维 (“Farewell”, by Wang Wei)

下马饮君酒

问君何所之

君言不得意

归卧南山垂

但去莫复问

白云无尽时

TRANSLATION

Dismounted, we drank to bid you farewell. 

I asked, “My friend, where are you heading?”

You said, “Oh, nothing is working my way,

So be back to the crags of Nanshan, retiring.”

“Go then!  You’ll ask of the world no more!

Ah, days of endless white clouds, unending!”

About:Wang Wei’s friend is feeling dejected and rather than keeping him from leaving he is encouraging him to leave and get some rest, they have drinks to solidify him leaving. 

无言独上西楼, 李煜 (“I Climb the Western Tower in Silence”, by Li Yu)

无言独上西楼 

月如钩

寂寞梧桐深院

锁清秋

剪不断

理还乱

是离愁

别是一般滋味

在心头

TRANSLATION

Wordless, alone, to the West Tower I climb the stair;

The Moon, like a curved sword, hangs there.

Held captive in the deep courtyard and its lonesome phoenix tree,

Is the cool, pure Autumn breeze.

Cut it, it doesn’t sever;

Sort it, as entangled as ever —

It is a great sorrow to part,

Creating an entirely different feeling in my heart

Notes: Although the first stanza doesn’t openly talk about farewells, the description of the view from the West Tower provides imagery for us to believe so. The desolate courtyard and the lonesome phoenix tree could possibly symbolize Li Yu’s feelings about parting. Describing that although they are parting they are still as connected as ever.

赠别, 杜牧 (“On Parting”, by Du Mu)

多情却似总无情

维觉罇前笑不成

蜡烛有心还惜别

替人垂泪到天明

TRANSLATION

Fond are my feelings, yet unfeeling I feign,

Before our wine-cups, we merry-make in vain.

So heartful, the candle, our parting it grieves,

And in tears it melts, till the sky lights again.

About: Although it can’t be confirmed, instead of parting with a friend, Du Mu is parting with a now ex-lover. Saying that even though their love was deep it diminished into nothing, they can’t even fake a friendly smile so the candle weeps for them. This powerful poem expresses the pain in ending a special connection with someone you loved.

Chinese Poems About Love

Many of us often struggling to find the words to express how we feel. So why not borrow from one of these famous Chinese poems about love instead?

江城子, 苏轼 (“Song of River City”, by Su Shi)

十年生死两茫茫，不思量，自难忘。

千里孤坟，无处话凄凉。

纵使相逢应不识，尘满面，鬓如霜。

夜来幽梦忽还乡，小轩窗，正梳妆。

相顾无言，惟有泪千行。

料得年年肠断处，明月夜，短松冈。

TRANSLATION

Ten years, dead and living dim and draw apart.

I don’t try to remember,

But forgetting is hard.

Lonely grave a thousand miles off,

Cold thoughts, where can I talk them out?

Even if we met, you wouldn’t know me,

Dust on my face,

Hair like frost.

In a dream last night suddenly I was home.

By the window of the little room,

You were combing your hair and making up.

You turned and looked, not speaking,

Only lines of tears coursing down.

Year after year will it break my heart?

The moonlit grave,

The stubby pines.

About:This Chinese poem about love was written by Su Shi around 1075 and is about a dream he once had about his wife, Wang Fu, who he married in 1054 but unfortunately died just 11 years later. He loved and missed his wife so much that he composed this poem to express his feelings and longing for her.

上邪 (“God!”, by Unknown)

我欲与君相知，

长命无绝衰。

山无陵，

江水为竭，

冬雷震震，

夏雨雪 ，

天地合，

乃敢与君绝！

TRANSLATION

I want to be your love forever and ever,

Without break or decay.

When the hills are all flat,

The rivers are all dry.

When it thunders in winter,

When it snows in summer

When heaven and earth mingle,

Not till then will I part from you.

About: While the author of this poem is a mystery, what is known is that it comes from the era of Yuefu folk poems during the Han Dynasty. The poet takes an oath pledging that even if the whole world were to be destroyed and the unthinkable were to happen, she would still love him. This poem is a sweet confession from a woman to her lover.

蝶恋花, 刘墉 (“Butterflies in Love with Flowers”, by Liu Yong)

伫倚危楼风细细，

望极春愁，

黯黯生天际。

草色烟光残照里，

无言谁会凭栏意。

拟把疏狂图一醉，

对酒当歌，

强乐还无味。

衣带渐宽终不悔，

为伊消得人憔悴。

TRANSLATION

While I lean against the banister of a tall tower,

The breeze gently blows.

As I look into the distance,

The end of Spring arouses melancholy in my mind.

Surrounded by dewy grass at sunset,

I wonder who is able to understand my longing.

I would rather drink to intoxication.

One should sing when one has wine in hand,

But drinking to escape offers no reprieve.

I do not mind that my clothes are getting looser.

My lover is worthy of desire.

About: The poet longs for her lover so deeply that she neglects herself in a land that she isn’t familiar with. Successfully portraying that the poet’s love for her partner is so strong that she can only think about him.

点绛唇-蹴罢秋千, 李清照 (“Rouge Lips · She Jumps Off the Swing”, by Li Qingzhao)

蹴罢秋千，起来慵整纤纤手。

露浓花瘦，薄汗轻衣透。

见客入来，袜刬金钗溜。

和羞走，倚门回首，却把青梅嗅。

TRANSLATION

She jumps off the swing, lazily stretching her slender hands.

The dew is heavy on the thin flower branch, a light sweat seeps through her shirt. 

Seeing a guest, she runs away in her socks, her golden hair pin slipping off. 

She leaves in embarrassment, yet pauses at the door to look back, and sniffs the green plums.

About:  This straightforward poem was written during the Song Dynasty (960-1279) by Li Qingzhao, one of the best-known female writers in Chinese history. Though only fragments of her works survived, she wrote prolifically during her lifetime, usually depicting the lives of girls and women in their boudoirs. 

卜算子, 李之儀 (“Song of Divination”, by Li Zhi Yi)

我住长江头，

君住长江尾。

日日思君不见君，

共饮长江水。

此水几时休，

此恨何时已。

只愿君心似我心，

定不负相思意。

TRANSLATION

I live upstream and you downstream,

From night to night of you I dream.

Unlike the stream you are not in view,

Though both we drink from River Blue.

When will the river no more flow？

When will my grief no more grow？

I wish your heart will be like mine，

Then not in vain for you I pine.

About: “Song of Divination” talks about separation between lovers and lovesickness, expressed by using the Yangtze river to show the distance between them.

By listening to and memorizing famous Chinese poems, you can fast-track all four language skills – listening, reading, writing, and speaking. We’ll be updating this list of Chinese farewell poems and Chinese poems about love in the near future, so stay tuned!

Related articles:

• 5 Chinese Poems About the Moon for Mid-Autumn Festival
• 10 Haunted Places in Hong Kong with Spine-Chilling Backstories
• How to Memorize Chinese Characters

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The post 13 Famous Chinese Poems with English Translations appeared first on Mandarin Matrix.

Falling on the shortest day and the longest night of the year (either December 21 or 22), the Winter Solstice festival or Dongzhi Festival (冬至, Dōngzhì) is commonly regarded to be one of the most important Chinese festivals, and like most other Chinese festivals, is a time for families to get together, worship their ancestors, and feast on an array of traditional delicacies. 

The festival has been celebrated for over 2,000 years and usually revolves around the practice of families coming together to make and eat tangyuan (glutinous rice balls), which are symbols of reunion and prosperity. While the solstice celebration is only one day, the Dongzhi Festival in fact lasts 15 days.

In Chinese, Dongzhi roughly translates to ‘winter’s extreme’ or ‘winter’s arrival’. The festival celebrates the start of winter, with the date marking the turning point on the calendar where the days that follow start to get longer as the nights get shorter. 

The Winter Solstice Festival has its origins in the Chinese concept of yin and yang, an ancient symbol of harmony and balance. In Chinese culture, there is a belief that when the days are short, there is insufficient Yang energy, which is why during Dongzhi we try to consume foods that are more yang (warm) in nature to counteract the yin (cold) of winter, such as tangyuan. Other popular dishes during this time include mutton hotpot, babao porridge (also called eight-treasure porridge), and jiaozi (dumplings).

Scroll on as we dive into everything from the origin of the festival to different customs based on China’s regions.

History and Origin of the Dongzhi Festival

The winter solstice has been celebrated throughout history by a variety of cultures. In China, it is known as Dongzhi, and was discovered over 2,500 years ago during the Han Dynasty (206 BC–220 AD) by a wise man named Zhou Fong while using a sundial.

Today, it is one of the most significant Chinese festivals. There’s even a saying in Chinese tradition that says that the Winter Solstice is more important than the Lunar New Year!

Though prominently celebrated during the Han Dynasty, it was during the Tang (618 – 907 AD) and Song Dynasty (960 – 1279 AD) that the festival truly prospered. Officials were granted 7-day holidays and the common people would reunite with family members at home as they worshipped the gods and their ancestors, and paid respects to their ancestors. 

REGIONAL CUSTOMS

While traditions vary region to region, the reunion over food remains a constant. Read on to discover how people celebrate Dongzhi in Northern China, Southern China, and Taiwan.

Northern Chinese Customs during the Winter Solstice

Northern China is bitterly cold. In ancient China, people lacked sufficiently warm clothing which led them to eat and drink hot items in order to keep warm. 

Based on a belief that when days are short there isn’t enough Yang energy, Chinese people during the Winter Solstice try to eat foods with high Yang energy, in accordance with Chinese medicinal cuisine principles. Consequently, in Northern China one of the commonly eaten foods during Dongzhi is jiaozi (饺子, jiǎozi), fatty dumplings containing meat and high Yang warming herbs, such as ginger and garlic. 

It’s argued that these foods help to fend off illness and disease, which is why people today still continue the tradition of making and eating jiaozi during the Winter Solstice in Northern China.

Southern Chinese Customs during the Winter Solstice 

People in Southern China also have their own Winter Solstice dishes to help keep warm and stay healthy. During Dongzhi, families in Southern China will typically gather together to make and eat tangyuan (汤圆, tāngyuán) or soup dumplings. Tangyuan are small balls of Glutinous rice flour which are filled with either red bean for a sweet touch or meat with high Yang herbs, served in a bowl of either sweet soup or broth. Tangyuan symbolise a family unit and prosperity and coincidentally sounds similar to tuányuán (团圆) which means reunion.

Taiwanese Customs during the Winter Solstice

Like those in Southern China, people in Taiwan tend to eat tangyuan and visit ancestral tombs during Dongzhi, with some offering Tangyuan to their ancestors. They even have their own custom of offering a special nine-layered cake made out of glutinous rice flour to their ancestors. During the Winter Solstice Festival, it’s typical of many observers to treat their bodies just as animals would during hibernation, which involves rejuvenating and preserving their bodies. This means that, if possible, many will spend the day resting and eating high Yang foods like ginger and ginseng to help to restore and relax the body and even alleviate stress.

Wherever you may be celebrating Dongzhi, we wish you and your loved ones a warm and loving Winter Solstice this year! If you’d like to learn more about the traditions and customs observed by Chinese people living in China and Chinese communities throughout the world, be sure to check out our article on the 6 most popular Chinese festivals.

Feature Photo courtesy of Shutterstock, Photo 1 courtesy of Shutterstock, Photo 2 courtesy of @Yuxiang Zhang Unsplash, Photo 3 courtesy of Shutterstock, Photo 4 courtesy of Butterkicap

Related articles:

• What is the Double Ninth Festival (or the Chongyang Festival)?

• The Origins Behind Dragon Boat Festival

• Are You Ready for the Year of the Ox?

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Hong Kong’s culture is deep-rooted in superstitions and beliefs and after reading this article you’ll discover some places in Hong Kong that are surrounded by superstitions and stigma. For a socially and economically developed city, the last thing you would expect to have is a multitude of locations that are allegedly haunted. From abandoned villages and luxurious houses to converted office blocks, the one thing that connects these places are the chilling stories behind them. In true Halloween fashion, join us as we dive straight into ten of the most haunted places in Hong Kong with horrifying backstories. 

Dragon Lodge

Located on The Peak, one of the most expensive areas for real estate in Hong Kong, it’s difficult to believe that anything eerie could be attached to Dragon Lodge, however its history tells a different story. Dragon Lodge has seen many owners: the first owner who built the famous property in 1920 went bankrupt, forcing it to be sold. During World War II, it is said that Dragon Lodge was occupied by Japanese soldiers, some of whom allegedly executed Catholic nuns in the courtyard. After the 1980’s, Dragon Lodge became known as Hong Kong’s most haunted house. Despite the stigma surrounding the house, the property was purchased in 2004 by its most recent owner. There were plans for development under the supervision of retail company, Hudson Group, but nothing came of it after construction workers became convinced that Dragon Lodge was haunted due to reports of hearing a young child crying in the mansion. To this day, Dragon Lodge has been left untouched by its current owners and it has succumbed to the elements. 

Address: 32 Lugard Rd, The Peak

Nam Koo Terrace

Nestled in the concrete jungle of Wan Chai, Nam Koo Terrace has a century of history behind it. Built in 1915 by a wealthy Shanghainese family involved in the silk trade, Nam Koo Terrace was lived in by the same family until WWII, which saw the property abandoned after the owners fled Hong Kong. Japanese soldiers began seizing properties within the Wan Chai area for comfort women and prisoners of war, Nam Koo Terrace being one of them. Inside these ‘brothels’, comfort women were tortured and beaten, with some sadly passing away. Since then, there have been rumours of ghosts wandering the house and some passersby tell tales of hearing people screaming in the house or seeing strange shadows in the dark windows. 

In 2003, a group of students decided to venture into and stay the night at Nam Koo Terrace in the hopes of seeing a ghost. Police were abruptly called when one girl claimed she was possessed by a spirit and she was subsequently hospitalised. The property lay empty for over 18 years, until recently, when the current owners, Hopewell Holding, announced plans to restore the building and convert it into a wedding registry. 

Address: 55 Ship Street, Wan Chai 

Bride’s Pool

Named after the legend surrounding its waters, Bride’s Pool is one of the most infamous haunted locations in Hong Kong. Bride’s Pool is a beautiful rock pool in New Territories which is fed by numerous waterfalls surrounding it. The stigma surrounding Bride’s Pool is due to the misfortune of an ancient bride. The story has it that four men (porters) were carrying a bride-to-be to her groom’s village on a sedan chair, passing over one of the waterfalls that feeds into Bride’s Pool on their way. One of the porters slipped on a rock, resulting in the bride and her porters falling into the pool below. Unfortunately, because of the heavy weight of her Cheongsam (a traditional, tight-fitting dress), the bride drowned, along with all her porters. Never making it to her groom, she lurks below the pool’s surface dressed in her Cheongsam waiting for her groom to return.

There have been reports of people taking their lives in the surrounding areas of Bride’s Pool and shockingly, the remains of a man murdered by his fiance were discovered in 1982.

Not only does Bride’s Pool seem to have a never ending string of bad luck, so too does the road sitting above it. The road has been coined ‘The Deadly Curve’, after being labelled a junction blackspot due to the extensive number of fatal accidents. Regardless of this rock pool’s history, many people find themselves visiting Bride’s Pool out of curiosity or to take in the beautiful surroundings.

Address: Plover Cove Country Park, Shuen Wan, New Territories

Murray House

With over 150 years of history, it is no surprise that stories about Murray House exist. Built in 1844 in the Central district, the structure was originally used as officer quarters of the Murray barracks for over 100 years until 1960. During WWII, the property was used for the Japanese military police and allegedly, over 4,000 Hong Kong civilians were tortured and murdered on the property. 

After serving its time as officer quarters, Murray House was converted into an office space. However, between 1960 and 1970, there were reported sightings of poltergeists, while documents within offices mysteriously went missing. These reports were so concerning that in an effort to put an end to this strange behaviour, the government ordered an exorcism of the building. 90 Buddhist monks performed an exorcism on the building in 1963, which lasted 10 hours. Despite their efforts, the exorcism wasn’t successful and a second one was performed in 1974. 

Since being dismantled and moved to Stanley in the early 2000’s, no further activity has been reported. However, some people still claimed to hear strange things in the building in the dead of night….

Address: 96 Stanley Main Street, Stanley

Sai Ying Pun Community Complex

Originally built in 1892 with the purpose of providing housing for medical staff, the story of ‘High Street Haunted House’ never fails to send shivers down spines. It was rumoured to have been used as an execution ground during WWII and afterwards, was used as a psychiatric hospital until 1961. Following the building’s abandonment in 1970, it was badly damaged when two fires were started by trespassers. Despite the fire, the government decided to preserve the building and in 2001, it was transformed into the Sai Ying Pun Community Complex.

Strange things have been heard throughout the building, like women crying and mysterious footsteps, while there have been alleged sightings of a devil-like man wearing traditional clothing roaming the halls. Despite the rebranding and modern preservation of the building, the nickname ‘High Street Haunted House’ still remains.

Address: 2 High Street, Sai Wan

Tak Tak School

Abandoned since 1988 and on the National Geographic’s list of Asia’s Top Ten Creepy Places, Tak Tak School isn’t for the fainthearted. The village where the school is located has a history of misfortune; residents were killed and buried by British intelligence after refusing to give up their land. It has also been said that a large number of villagers were massacred during the Japanese occupation, with remains being buried in the hill next to the school. Shortly before the school closed in 1988, the headmistress took her own life in one of the bathrooms while wearing a red dress, supposedly leaving behind a spirit clothed in red.

In 2011, students were exploring the school when one of the girls reported seeing a woman in red. Whilst they all began to rush back towards the MTR station, one of the girls began strangling herself and attacking her friends when they attempted to stop her. An ambulance was called and two teenagers were hospitalised. Tak Tak School now remains a shabby site littered with broken glass, rubbish and graffiti.

Address: Ping Shan, Yuen Long

Waterfall Bay Park

Located in the Pok Fu Lam district, Waterfall Bay is a hotspot amongst locals, nature enthusiasts and dog walkers. However, beautiful scenery isn’t the only thing this waterfall is known for. Legend has it that pirates during the Qing Dynasty would use this bay as a place to rest until they one day went on a rampage, attacking villagers and dumping their bodies in the bay. 

After the Wah Fu estate was built in 1970, many children would use Waterfall Bay as a playground, resulting in a lot of young children drowning. Many people believe that the bay is full of water ghosts (Shuǐ guǐ 水鬼) who are the reason for the drownings. To prevent more drownings, the government put up railings to prevent people from making their way into Waterfall Bay. If you’re thinking of visiting Waterfall Bay, don’t go on a rainy day and keep your distance from the railings!

Address: Waterfall Bay Park, Pok Fu Lam

White House Compound 

White House Compound, also known as the Victoria Road Detention Centre or the Mount Davis Concentration Camp, has long been a fixture in the minds of Hong Kongers. Used by the police to hold political prisoners and suspected spies during the 1967 leftist riots, many prisoners were tortured and executed.

Prisoners were held in appalling conditions, in tiny cells, while some were held in solitary confinement for months on end. After the riots, the detention centre sat abandoned and ignored by all except those who endured the pain of their experiences in the building. From when it was abandoned to only recently, the centre sat without signposts and remained unmarked on maps, until it was converted into the University of Chicago Booth School of Business in 2018.

Address: Victoria Road, Mount Davis

So Lo Pun

In the far northeast of the New Territories, lies the remains of the abandoned village of So Lo Pun. Its name means “Locked Compass,” and is so named because of reports that compasses eerily stop working nearby and in the village.

Although So Lo Pun is frequently visited by curious passersby, the definite reason for its abandonment is unknown, but there are of course, many rumours. Some believe that everyone went missing overnight as the current condition of the village makes it appear as though everyone simply got up and left. Others believe that an epidemic killed all the villagers, while others still believe that the villagers died on the way to a wedding in a boating accident and the survivors couldn’t stand to remain in the village. Although the reason for the abandonment is unknown, it apparently gives visitors feelings of great unease. If you’re interested in making a visit to the So Lo Pun village, the closest road is three hours away, so the most convenient means of getting there is hiking.

Address: So Lo Pun, New Territories

31 Granville Road

31 Granville Road is the site of one of the most gruesome murders in Hong Kong’s history. The “Hello Kitty Murder” of 1999 saw a 20-year-old hostess kidnapped, tortured and killed after she stole a wallet.  

The apartment block was demolished in 2012 due to tresspassers hoping to see the site of the murder and in 2016 a hotel was built on 31 Granville Road. There have been reports of the woman’s spirit being caught on CCTV wandering outside and around the hotel.

Address: 31 Granville Road, Tsim Sha Tsui

That wraps up the list of the top 10 haunted places in Hong Kong with chilling backstories. We wish you a very spooky Halloween!

Feature photo courtesy of Shutterstock, Photo 1 courtesy of The Beijinger, Photo 2 courtesy of The Loop HK, Photo 3 courtesy of Youtube, Photo 4 courtesy of HKU Online Learning, Photo 5 courtesy of South China Morning Post, Photo 6 courtesy of Time Out, Photo 7 courtesy of Through The Looking Glass, Photo 8 courtesy of HKFP, Photo 9 courtesy of HKFP, Photo 10 courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

The post 10 Haunted Places in Hong Kong With Spine-Chilling Backstories appeared first on Mandarin Matrix.

Rich with culture and history, the Double Ninth Festival is a day to hike, eat and drink, and celebrate the elderly. In this article we will be covering everything from its origins and story to the established traditions.

The Double Ninth Festival  (重阳节 Chóngyáng jié)  also known as Chongyang falls on the 9th day of the 9th month under the lunar calendar and is an ancient memorial festival. It is a day for families to visit the graves of their ancestors to pay their respects, as well as a time for people to climb mountains, eat Chongyang cake, and drink chrysanthemum wine or tea.

While the holiday is celebrated in China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan, it is only a public holiday in Hong Kong and Macau.

This year, the Double Ninth Festival will take place on 14, October, 2021.

The Meaning Behind the Name

According to records from the ancient book Yi Jing (also known as The Book of Changes), the number 6 belongs to the Yin character (feminine) and the number 9 belongs to Yang (masculine), which means that the day and the month of the Double Ninth Festival are both Yang characters. In Mandarin, “chong” means double, hence the name Chongyang (Double Ninth), and is a day to be celebrated and cherished. Read on as we delve into the Double Ninth Festival story and traditions.

Why Do We Celebrate the Double Ninth Festival?

The Double Ninth Festival has 2,000 years of history dating back as early as the warring states period (475 – 220 BC), however during this time, it was only celebrated by royal families. Legend has it that a concubine of the Emperor Gaozu from the Han Dynasty (202 – 220 BC) was framed by the Empress, resulting in her maid being banished from the palace. This maid then went on to marry a civilian, revealing to all the commoners that the royal family would wear zhuyu leaves and drink chrysanthemum wine for longevity during the Double Ninth Festival. Just as this news was spread, so too did the tradition of wearing zhuyu leaves and drinking chrysanthemum wine. However, despite the increasing popularity of this tradition, the Double Ninth Festival would only be added to the official list of folk festivals during the Tang dynasty (619 – 906 AD).

What is the Double Ninth Festival Story?

According to legend, it is said that during the Eastern Han dynasty (25 – 220 AD) there was a devil of the plague that was infesting the Ruhe river. As long as it showed up, people would get sick and even die. A man named Huan Jing (whose parents had died of the plague) decided to travel to Zhongnan Mountain and learn the magic required to defeat the demon. There, he was given a magic sword, chrysanthemum wine, and zhuyu plant, and learned that the devil would return to the village on the 9th day of the 9th month in the lunar year. In response to this, Huan Jing went back to the village and advised all the villagers to climb up a mountain to stay safe, giving them all zhuyu plants and chrysanthemum wine to further protect them from harm. When the devil emerged from the river it felt dizzy from the zhuyu plant and the chrysanthemum wine, enabling Huan Jing to finally kill it. Since then, mountain climbing, wearing zhuyu, and drinking chrysanthemum wine have become the most well-known traditions of the Double Ninth Festival.

Traditions and Customs of the Double Ninth Festival

Hiking

Starting around 2,000 years ago, people used to climb up a platform outside the capital city of Chang’an (now named Xi’an) during the Double Ninth Festival. Due to the timing of the festival (October), this outing would be, for many, the last outing of the year before winter comes (contrastingly in Hong Kong, however, the festival actually coincides with the start of the hiking season). Additionally, according to legend, hiking is supposed to ward off diseases, an added bonus to those family and friends that have a tradition out of trekking various glorious peaks during the day. It’s because of this prevalent tradition that the Double Ninth Festival has earned itself an alternate name – the Height Ascending Festival.

Eating Chongyang Cakes

Ideally nine layered and shaped like a tower, the chongyang cake is a cake that highlights all aspects of the Double Ninth festival. You’ll even be able to find two sheep on the top of the cake that represent the Yang aspect of the festival, since sheep in Chinese is pronounced yang. Also known as as a flower cake, chrysanthemum cake, and five-colour cake, chongyang cakes are regarded as being lucky, and typically consist of rice flour and sugar which are then baked and steamed and decorated with jujube, chestnuts, and almonds. With that said, there is no fixed recipe for chongyang cakes, with many people these days choosing to only have one or two layers decorated with various nuts.

Drinking Chrysanthemum Tea or Wine

As the Festival takes place when chrysanthemum flowers are in full bloom, the consuming and admiring of chrysanthemums has become one of the many festivals many traditions. Traditionalists will typically drink chrysanthemum wine to mark the occasion, though most observers today will opt instead for chrysanthemum tea for its antioxidant properties. The story behind the tradition of drinking chrysanthemum wine goes as follows: it is alleged that the first person to drink chrysanthemum wine during the Double Ninth Festival was the poet Tao Yuan Ming during the Tang Dynasty (317 – 420 AD). Due to his popularity as a poet, people began following in his footsteps and drinking chrysanthemum wine during the Double Ninth Festival grew in popularity.

The Importance of the Zhuyu Plant

Wearing zhuyu (Cornelian cherries) during the Double Ninth Festival first became prevalent during the Tang dynasty (618-907 A.D). People wear zhuyu plants either around their arm or tie a sachet of it around their waist out of the longhand belief that wearing zhuyu helps to ward off evil, disaster, and danger.

Visiting the Elderly

Nine, pronounced jiu, is also the pronunciation for the word long. Due to this, people endow jiu with the meaning of longevity with a person’s life. The double meaning behind the character jiu led to the Double Ninth Festival being crowned a designated senior day in 1989. On the date of the Double Ninth Festival, people visit their relatives or their ancestors’ graves to show respect, making it a suitable day for whole family outings.

Now you know the deeper meaning behind the Double Ninth Festival story and traditions! From everyone at Mandarin Matrix, we wish you a meaningful and family-filled Chongyang!

Feature Photo courtesy of Shutterstock, Photo 1 courtesy of China culture, Photo 2 courtesy of CGTN, Photo 3 courtesy of Lifestyle Asian Hong Kong, Photo 4 of China daily, Photo 5 courtesy of CGTN, Photo 6 courtesy of Shutterstock, Photo 7 courtesy of Shutterstock

Related articles:

• The Origins Behind Dragon Boat Festival

• 6 Popular Chinese Festivals

• Everything You Need to Know About the Mid-Autumn Festival

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Do you want to push yourself further with your Mandarin knowledge but don’t want to spend extra hours in the classroom? Then we have the perfect solution for you…YouTube!

These days, thanks to the increasing number of language vloggers using the immensely popular platform, more and more aspiring linguists are opting to learn Mandarin through YouTube. And why not? It’s entertaining, free, and pretty much unlimited when it comes to the amount of content readily available.

From fun takes on your standard language courses to enigmatic cooking channels and foreigners speaking Mandarin, there are numerous channels on YouTube that will teach you Mandarin without having to feel like you’re confined in a strict classroom environment. Keep reading to discover the best Mandarin YouTube channels for learning Mandarin as a foreign language here!

Oriental Pearl 

Following the life of an American woman who speaks Mandarin, Oriental Pearl is made for those seeking relatable insights in the Mandarin language. Despite many of her videos feature her talking to locals in Mandarin, Oriental Pearl assures us that she used to be a very shy person. Through her own struggles whilst learning Mandarin, she encourages her viewers to not stray away from practicing their speaking with Chinese natives out to fear or shyness. Viewers don’t feel as if they are stuck in a classroom when watching Oriental Pearl’s videos, rather that they are watching one of their favourite channels on YouTube – but in Mandarin. There’s a variety of content that learners can choose from, including: Vlogs around China, interacting with locals, education about Chinese culture, and Mandarin tips and tricks. Having both English and Mandarin subtitles available on her videos Oriental Pearl makes it easy for Mandarin learners to associate themselves with new vocabulary. 

Suggested Mandarin Level: Upper Intermediate to Advanced

Learn Mandarin With Rita

Operated by a Chinese native with 10+ years of teaching experience, watching Learn Mandarin with Rita is not unlike learning Mandarin from a friend. Rita’s channel is very casual and perfectly suitable for those looking to learn at a slower pace. Through her wide range of videos, Rita offers learning everything from advice when learning the language and amusing reaction videos to interviews with foreigners learning Mandarin. Thanks to the relaxed pace of learning in these videos, viewers needn’t feel stressed or rushed, and instead can sit back and enjoy learning in a fun and entertaining environment. Rita has excellent charisma, and encourages her many viewers to actively learn through her videos without feeling like they are working themselves to pieces. Many of her videos help new learners understand the specifics of learning Mandarin. We would recommend this channel to people who are struggling with using Mandarin grammar and tones.

Suggested Mandarin Level: Beginner to Intermediate. 

Mandarin Corner

With over 200 videos, there’s plenty of variety on offer at Mandarin Corner. Rather than strictly producing learning content, Mandarin Corner likes to switch up their videos a bit, including videos such as street interviews with Chinese natives, short vlogs based on situational topics, videos talking about social and cultural dilemmas in China, as well as HSK educational content. Mandarin Corner provides a full immersive experience for their viewers by speaking little to no English. Not only does Mandarin Corner provide valuable information in their videos but they also have accompanying resources on their website for only US$10, which includes flashcards, audio files, and pdfs. Every video title includes the level of Mandarin required for the video to be comprehensible, making Mandarin Corner’s Youtube channel extremely easy to navigate and a great option for Mandarin learners of all abilities.

Suggested Mandarin Level: All Levels 

You may also be interested in: Learn Mandarin in Hong Kong | 8 Courses That Really Work

Magic Ingredients 

A channel revolving around delicious food native to Xi’an, Magic Ingredients is made for foodies. We would recommend Magic Ingredients to learners who want to learn culinary specific vocabulary, as well as Mandarin terms for measurements. With every video accompanied by a Mandarin voice over, viewers can watch the delicious food being made whilst listening to instructions in Mandarin, making this channel a completely immersive and enjoyable experience. With that said, the voiceover does sometimes get quite fast and can be hard to understand – thankfully Magic Ingredients supply their viewers with both Mandarin and English subtitles. Not only can viewers improve their Mandarin vocabulary by watching, but they also have the privilege to learn how to make authentic Chinese food. We recommend this channel to those who want to surround themselves with the Mandarin language whilst watching something that is very pleasing to the eye.

Suggested Mandarin Level: Upper Intermediate to Advanced

Fragrant Mandarin 

Following a British-Chinese couple living in China, Fragrant Mandarin is a channel that explores all kinds of ideas surrounding China and life there. Speaking in both English and Mandarin, viewers here will get the opportunity to learn Mandarin but with the help of some extra support. Exploring the topics of Chinese culture, adventuring within China, and their relationship, Fragrant Mandarin is a fun, light-hearted channel that makes viewers feel comfortable and acquainted with the Mandarin language. This channel is perfect for those who still want to watch travel vlogs during the world’s current situation as well as learn vocabulary related to travel and nature.

Suggested Mandarin Level: Beginner to Intermediate 

ChinesePod

Searching for an endless stream of Mandarin learning content? ChinesePod has over 300 videos that are short and self-contained, making it easy for viewers to pick and choose what they want to learn that day. These 300 videos consist of content ranging from answering common questions about the Chinese language, learning Mandarin from movies, newbie Mandarin lessons, and even more. ChinesePod also makes playlists for their viewers to help guide users based on each video’s content and difficulty level. Besides their YouTube channel, ChinesePod also has a website with even more learning materials giving learners access to an unbelievable amount of resources. ChinesePod is an exceptionally user-friendly platform that is perfect for all kinds of learners and easily one of the best Mandarin YouTube channels. 

Suggested Mandarin Level: All Levels

We hope you’ve enjoyed this list of the best Mandarin YouTube Channels. For more fun ways to learn Mandarin, check out our article featuring the best Chinese shows on Netflix.

Feature Photo Courtesy of Shutterstock, Photo 1 courtesy of NoxInfluencer, Photo 2 courtesy of Youtube, Photo 3 courtesy of Youtube, Photo 4 courtesy of NoxInfluencer, Photo 5 courtesy of Youtube, Photo 6 courtesy of Twitter

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