America has the Bald Eagle, a powerful symbol of might, individuality, and freedom -- even if Benjamin Franklin thought it was a bird of "bad moral character" inferior to the Wild Turkey. What does China have as a national bird? Well, it doesn't yet. The house sparrow, so common in China, and named one of the four vermin during the 1950's (and killed en masse), has received a … [Read more...] about Netizens vote for sparrow as China's national bird
Recently completed mega-construction projects in China
For about two decades straight, day-and-night, 24/7, China has been the world's construction ground, with architectural marvels and giant infrastructure springing up at a swift rate and on an enormous scale. The Beijing Olympics set some ungodly tight deadlines on a few of these projects, but with sheer drive, massive manpower, capital investment, and the directive planning … [Read more...] about Recently completed mega-construction projects in China
Beijing Welcomed You … so did you remember its song?
The Olympics are over (except for the Paralympics, that is) and people have trickled out of Beijing, but still in their heads and mine is probably this catchy (some say annoying) song that was sung by an ensemble of veritable who's-who in today's Chinese popular music world. Chinese people seem to really like this kind of qunxing (群星) or star-ensemble singing, where phrases are … [Read more...] about Beijing Welcomed You … so did you remember its song?
Beijing Olympics a learning experience for all involved
It is said that the Beijing Olympics was a big draw, perhaps proving the adage that no publicity is bad publicity. Did the worldwide protests before the Olympics ironically serve as a big advertisement for the Beijing Olympics? And now that a record number of people have watched the Olympics, what have they learned about China? … [Read more...] about Beijing Olympics a learning experience for all involved
Has He Kexin's age been changed to older or younger?
Even though Buxi isn't back, why don't we return to a fine tradition of this blog? This post from Niubo (牛博), a Chinese forum often filled with discontent with how things are, has something interesting to add about the age of Olympic gymnast He Kexin. Translation below: On the question of the Chinese gymnast He Kexin's age, one fact is certain, that is, there is an … [Read more...] about Has He Kexin's age been changed to older or younger?