China’s Ghost Festival, also known as Zhongyuan Festival or Hungry Ghost Festival, is a seventh-lunar-month tradition for honoring ancestors, appeasing wandering spirits,…
China’s Ghost Festival, also known as Zhongyuan Festival or Hungry Ghost Festival, is a seventh-lunar-month tradition for honoring ancestors, appeasing wandering spirits,…
In English, "pig" is an insult before it's an animal. In Chinese it means your household has more than it needs —…
The next Year of the Rat runs from 11 February 2032 to 30 January 2033 — but the Rat is the most…
Chinese wedding customs are far more diverse than many people realize. From tea ceremonies and red symbolism to 彩礼 and modern hotel…
The Zhuang people are China’s largest ethnic minority, with deep roots in Guangxi and the Lingnan region. This guide explores Zhuang history,…
Joss paper — also called spirit money or ghost money — is burned in Chinese rituals to send symbolic offerings to deceased…
Business Chinese is more than workplace vocabulary. This guide covers the key phrases and etiquette for real professional situations, so beginners can…
Sanyuesan is one of Guangxi’s most important traditional festivals. Learn when it takes place, how the Zhuang people celebrate it, and why…
In China, dating is rarely just about two people. Parents, blind dates (相亲, xiāngqīn) and the question of marriage all play a…
Chinese skincare goes back to Traditional Chinese Medicine, with ingredients like ginseng and pearl powder. We compare C-beauty with K-beauty, walk through…
Discover the meaning of the 2026 Year of the Fire Horse, from zodiac personality traits and 五行 symbolism to 本命年 traditions, lucky…
On June 1st, China celebrates Children's Day (六一儿童节). We look at how the holiday started, how families and schools mark it now,…
Chinese has tones but almost no grammar endings. Korean has no tones but plenty of verb endings and politeness levels. Here's how…
Japanese borrowed its kanji from Chinese, but the two languages aren't related. For a new learner, Chinese means tones and simple grammar,…
Chopsticks in China go back more than 3,000 years, to bronze pairs from the late Shang dynasty. See how Chinese, Japanese and…
Chinese calligraphy (书法, shūfǎ) takes years to master, but you can start with a brush, ink and a few basic strokes. Here's…
Curious to learn more about the eighth year in the Chinese zodiac calendar: the Year of the Goat? Read on to learn…
Explore the Year of the Snake in Chinese astrology, from personality traits and zodiac compatibility to lucky numbers, colors, and the character…
Mandarin Chinese has the most native speakers on Earth, while English leads in total speakers. Discover the world's top 10 most spoken…
Learn the basics of feng shui — chi, yin and yang, the five elements, and the bagua map — plus simple, room-by-room…
Discover the meaning of the Year of the Rabbit in the Chinese zodiac, including Rabbit years, personality traits, compatibility, moon symbolism, Jade…
Chinese New Year, also called the Spring Festival (春节, Chūnjié), celebrates the beginning of the Chinese year based on the traditional Chinese…
Explore Chinese Labor Day: the history of May Day in China, the official May 1–5 holiday, Golden Week travel, and modern 996…
International Women’s Day in China falls on March 8th and is known as 国际妇女节. Learn how the holiday is celebrated, why some…
Dōngzhì (冬至), the Chinese Winter Solstice Festival, is the longest night of the year and the 22nd of the 24 solar terms.…
The Chinese summer solstice (夏至, Xiàzhì) is both an astronomical event and the 10th of 24 solar terms on the Chinese calendar,…
The Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the most important holidays in China and is recognized and celebrated by ethnic Chinese and Vietnamese…
Wondering whether to learn Mandarin or Cantonese? Compare their tones, romanization systems, writing, and number of speakers — and find out which…
Chinese characters can look like random symbols, but they're built using six distinct formation methods known as 六书 (liùshū). Pictograms make up…
Explore the Year of the Monkey in Chinese zodiac tradition, including Monkey personality traits, compatibility, 本命年 customs, lucky beliefs, and useful Mandarin…
Bamboo is woven into the heart of Chinese civilization. Explore its 3,000-year history, its symbolism as one of the "Four Gentlemen," its…
Many people are often fascinated and attracted by Chinese characters. At first glance, characters may look like bizarre pictograms, randomly drawn at…
Traditional Chinese clothing tells the story of a civilization. This guide traces how styles evolved across the Han, Tang, Ming, and Qing…
If you’ve ever taken a Chinese class, you’ve probably already heard of the HSK. But what is the HSK, exactly? In this…
Using podcasts is an incredibly versatile way to improve your Chinese level. Not only will you improve your listening skills, but you…
Discover the meaning of the Year of the Ox in the Chinese zodiac, including Ox personality traits, lucky traditions, compatibility, 本命年, and…
Chinese names can be puzzling for those not familiar with Chinese language and culture. This article will provide you with the ultimate…
Your ultimate guide to social media in China, covering WeChat, Douyin, Xiaohongshu, and more, plus censorship and key vocabulary for learners.
Using music to learn Chinese is one of the best and most fun ways to improve your listening and reading skills. It…
Discover the best Chinese TV shows and talk shows for learning Mandarin — from period dramas like Empresses in the Palace to…
Chinese homophones have a profound influence on Chinese culture. In Chinese numerology, certain numbers are considered to be auspicious (吉利 jílì) or…
Chinese Valentine’s Day, or Qixi Festival, falls on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month. Learn the story of Niulang and…
How many countries can you name in Chinese? Our list covers 244 country and territory names, with characters, pinyin, and audio for…
Whilst we are bombarded with images of love and romance through the media and holidays like Valentines’ day, thousands of Chinese people…
Mandarin has more native speakers than any other language, but that's not the best reason to learn it. Here are seven reasons…
The best way to learn Chinese online is one structured course, early tone work with feedback, spaced review for characters, plenty of…
Anyone who has searched “learn Mandarin” on YouTube might agree that the sheer number of results is overwhelming. We have good news…
Ever wondered what to gift your Chinese friends on special occasions? Whether it is for Chinese New Year, birthdays, or just a…
The traditional Chinese calendar is not purely lunar. Learn how this lunisolar system uses moon phases, leap months, solar terms, zodiac cycles,…
Discover the best Chinese textbooks for every Mandarin learning goal, from HSK exam prep and beginner courses to business Chinese, graded readers,…
Planning a trip to China and looking for useful Chinese travel phrases? This article provides 10 useful phrases for your upcoming journey…
China's National Day (国庆节, Guóqìngjié) falls on October 1st each year, commemorating the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949…
What makes a face "beautiful" in China? From the coveted "goose egg face" to viral waist challenges and a booming surgery industry,…
How is Christmas celebrated in China? Explore the holiday's history, romantic and commercial side, unusual festive foods, and key Mandarin vocabulary for…