Feng Huang- Phoenix

The Phoenix, is known as Feng Huang, and is mostly described as a beautiful bird, engulfed in flames, reigning over all other birds. The Feng Huang is the feminine counterpart of the Chinese Dragon, the Long, and is usually paired with Long.  A common picture of the Feng Huang is of it attacking snakes, with its wings spread wide open.  It is said that this mythical bird is made of the beak of a peacock, the face of a swallow, the forehead of a fowl, the neck of a snake, the breast of a goose, and the back of a tortoise, as well as the hindquarters of a stag and the tail of a fish.

In its origin, the Feng Huang has no connection at all to the phoenix of the western world, and current theories suggest that it may be a representation of a large prehistoric bird, similar to an ostrich.  During the Han Dynasty, the Feng Huang was used to symbol the direction of south, showing two phoenixes facing each other.  It is also used to symbolize the Empress, when paired with a dragon, where the dragon represents the Emperor.  In ancient China, the Phoenix can often be found in the decorations for weddings or royalty, along with the Dragons.  That is mainly because the Chinese consider the dragon and phoenix the symbol of blissful happiness between husband and wife.

Jing Wei
Jing Wei, the bird who tried to fill the ocean, was originally the daughter of Emperor Yandi.  She perished at a young age in the East Sea, and after her death, assumed the shape of a bird in order to exact revenge upon the sea by bringing stones and small twigs in effort to fill it up.  Jing Wei has a short dialogue with the sea, where the sea scoffs at her, saying she’ll never be able to fill it up in the next millon years.  However, Jing Wei retorts that she’ll take ten, twenty, hundred years to fill it up, so that others will not perish at its hands.  From this story, the Chinese show us the meaning of dogged determination and perseverence in face of the most impossible odds.

Jiu Tou Niao- Nine Headed Bird
The nine-headed bird, or Jiu Tou Niao, is a creature of ill omen in Chinese mythology.  It appears in various Chinese tales, as the arch nemesis of a hero.  The hero finally catches and kills Jiu Tou Niao, which has kidnapped various girls who have died in its lair. This story is used to scare the younger generation, mainly girls, to stay in the safe haven of their homes, and not venture out alone.

Ra Shi Da- Guardian Lions/Dogs

Male Guardian

Guardian lions, called Fu Dogs or Foo Dogs, are referred to as Shi, or Ra Shi Da are powerful mythical protectors that have traditionally stood in front of the Chinese Imperial palaces, temples, emperor’s tombs and other structures. Imperial guardian lions are still common decorative symbols in the entrances to hotels, restaurants and other buildings.  They are traditionally carved from decorative stone or granite, or cast in bronze or iron.  The lions are generally presented in pairs, with the male on the right, and female on the left. The male lion has a globe under his right paw, and the female, though identical, has a single cub under her left paw.  Other styles have both lions with a single large pearl in their partially opened mouth, but traditionally, the males have their mouth opened, while the females have a closed mouth, symbolizing the pronounciation of the sacred word, “om”.  However, since the Chinese artisans of that time had never seen the real form of a lion, they styled the traditional guardians after native dogs, like the Pekingneses, ShihTzu or Chow Chow.

Female Guardian

Huli Jing- Fox Spirit

Hu Li Jing, in Chinese, are fox spirits. The fox spirits encountered in Chinese tales, are usually females, and appear as beautiful young women.  One of the most infamous fox spirits is Daji, who was portrayed in the Ming novel, Feng Shen Yan Yi.  She was a beautiful daughter of a general, married forcibly to a cruel officer, Zhou Xin.  A nine tailed fox spirit, who at that time served Nuwa, whom Zhou Xin had once offended, entered her soul, and expelled Daji’s true soul.  The fox spirit, using Daji’s body, together with her new husband, invented many devices of torture, for example, forcing righteous officials to hug red hot metal pillars. Because of such acts, many people revolted and fought against his dynasty, Shang.  Finally, the fox spirit in Daji’s body is driven out by Jiang Zi Ya, the first Prime Minister of the Zhou Dynasty.  Typically, fox spirits are dangerous, but some stories in the Pu Song Ling’s novel are based on the love story of a fox spirit with a young man.

Nian- The Beast

Nian is the beast of the Chinese New Year, coming out to terrorize the villagers come the new year.  It is believed that Nian lives under the sea, coming out to attack people at the same time each year.  There is another story about the beast. It is said that an immortal made use of Nian’s powers (eating up venomous snakes and killing wild beasts like tigers and lions) before taming it (by flashing his red undergarment to scare Nian, who feared the colour red).  Since then, people put up red spring couplets to prevent Nian from coming back.

 

The whole lake is divided into 5 sections, namely the Outer Lake, North Inner Lake, Yue Lake and Little South Lake, by Gu Hill, Sudi Causeway, Baiti Causeway and Ruangong Mound.

 

The name of West Lake was fixed as early as the Tang Dynasty (618-907). Before the Tang Dynasty, the lake had various names such as Wulin Water, Mingsheng Lake, Jinzhong Lake, Longchuan, Qianyuan, Qiantang Lake, and Shang Lake, etc. In the Song Dynasty (960-1279), the Chinese renowned poet Su Dongpo wrote a poem to praise the West Lake and compared it to Xizi, a Chinese legendary beauty. Since then, the West Lake has another elegant name Xizi Lake.
 
The beauty of the West Lake lies in its lingering charm that survives the change of seasons in a year and of hours in a day. Among its beautiful sights, the most famous sites are the Ten Sights in West Lake and the Ten New Sights in West Lake, which are known as the Double-Ten Sights in West Lake. The Ten Sights in West Lake are Melting Snow at Broken Bridge, Spring Dawn at Sudi Causeway, Sunset Glow over Leifeng Hill, Lotus in the Breeze at Crooked Courtyard, Autumn Moon on Calm Lake, Listening to Orioles Singing in the Willows, Viewing Fish at Flowers Harbor, Evening Bell at Nanping Hill, Three Pools Mirroring the Moon, and Twin Peaks Piercing the Clouds. The Ten New Sights in West Lake are Dream Spring of Hupao, Tea-tasting at Dragon Well, Gem Bathed in Flowing Rosy Clouds, Heaven Wind over Wushan Mountain, Scud over Yuhuang, Yellow Dragon Spitting Greenness, Rains of Sweet-scented Osmanthus Over Hills, Trees in Mist by the Nine Rivulets, Ruan Mound in Green, Cloud Dwelling and Bamboo Path.

 

The West Lake is also famous for its historical flavor with numerous celebrities. National heroes Yue Fei, Yu Qian, Zhang Ruoshui and Qiu Jin were all buried along the West Lake, leaving their illustrious names and noble spirits in the green hills and blue waters. Moreover, many ancient poets and artists, such as Bai Juyi, Su Dongpo, Liu Yong and Pan Tianshou, had also left countless famous writings.

Embraced by hills, the Tianmu Lake is crystal clear and has numerous islets, large or small, with various pavilions built on them. Pines, bamboos grow along the lakeside, while the orchard bears a lot of fruit. The Tianmu Lake combines the beauty of the Taihu Lake, the West Lake and the Thousand-island Lake into a whole and gets the reputation of the green fairyland.
 
Various species of ancient trees, wild flowers and plants grow in the Tianmu Lake Scenic Area. It is also a habitat for wild animals such as wild boar, hare, pheasant, and mallard, etc, together with some man-fed animals such as camel, macaque, spotted deer, and peacock. The lake, hills, trees, animals and birds make a harmonious ecological landscape of the nature.

The three unique products of the Tianmu Lake is composed of the sweet water, tasty tea, and delicious fish head. Since the government pays great attention to environmental protection, the Tianmu Lake Scenic Area is well preserved without any pollution and its water keeps the purity and the mineral components of a natural spring. According to statistics from the environmental department of Jiangsu Province, the lake water is better than the national second-level drinking water. The mild climate and humid soil around the Tianmu Lake are perfect for growing tea. With an annual tea yield exceeding 1,000 tons, the area has produced several famous brands, such as the Guiming tea of Sand River and Shoumei tea of Nanshan Hill. The pure water and rich fish food feed various freshwater fish such as cod (Gadus morhua). The flesh of the cod is as soft as bean curd, and very delicious.

 

Some bargaining techniques:

Do your research.  Compare prices at different shops for similar products
Make a lower offer than you would plan to see what price the vendor will agree on.  I usually have a target price of 50% of opening price and start with 40%.
You will most definitely be made a counter offer (usually 80% of opening price).  Consider the offer or at least pretend to do so (pause and look as if you are deep in thought) and make a 5-10% concession from your starting price (40% of the opening price).  If you pause long enough (0.5-1 minute), the vendor might just cut his price further.
During the bargaining process, keep smiling and keep the exchange of offers and counter-offers light and relaxed.  Don’t get worked up and walk away angrily.
Continue Step 3 until both the vendor and you agree on a price (usually 50-60% of opening price).
If you still cannot get a good price, politely reject his counter offer, smile and walk away slowly.  Walk slowly as the vendor might come running after you and cut his offer lower.  If he/she does so, try again for a lower price.
If he/she doesn’t come running after you, it is quite clear that the vendor is not making a profit at the price you want.  Now you know what the real market price is.
Bonus tips:

Bring a calculator – helps to overcome language barriers and ensure no miscommunication over prices e.g. fifty or fifteen dollars.  You can also use it on the spot to do currency conversions (store currency exchange formulas – use the M+ function, for quick conversions).
Be familiar with foreign currency notes – some countries use similar colors for different denominations.  Once, I almost handed over a S$50-equivalent, confusing it with a S$5-equivalent note and the vendor knowingly accepted it (I noticed the sly smile as she went to retrieve the item I bought).  Luckily I noticed the mistake and immediately exchanged it for the correct amount.
Bargain in just one currency – vendors might try to confuse you by interchanging between the currencies, unless you are very clear about conversion rates, in that case, you could try to confuse them.
During the bargaining process, the vendor might ask some personal questions e.g. “Where you from” and ‘What do you work as”, don’t tell them “I am from land of riches – Singapore and I am a director who makes $100,000 per year” or something along that line.  You will lose your bargaining power.  Be smart about the info you share with strangers.
If you are not able to cut down the price further, try asking for a freebie or two e.g. matching scarves for your dress or if you are buying some other items from the same vendor, try to get a package deal (Product A – $5, Product B – $10, how about Product A + B for $12)
It is usually easier to bargain when the shop/stall is closing for the day – the vendor might be trying to clear some stocks to avoid bringing them back.
Even if you have managed to get your desired price, that’s not the end of the story.  Watch the vendor as he packs the item you bought to ensure that it was not swapped for an inferior or a different product.
Once you have agreed on the price with the vendor, NEVER make another counter-offer or decide not to buy it.  You will get an earful from him or even his neighbours.
These bargaining tips and techniques could also be used in other countries besides Hong Kong and China.  Try to understand the culture and customs of the area before trying to bargain so that you don’t offend the shopkeepers.

 

Guǎngdōng’s exposure to the outside world and the independent nature of the Cantonese has often been a thorn in the side of the authorities. In early times, Guǎngdōng was thought to be inhabited by barbarians; it was where disgraced officials from the north were sent into exile.

Guǎngdōng was an economic backwater until Deng Xiaoping’s ‘open door policy’ opened up the province to development. With the establishment of the three Special Economic Zones and trading links to Hong Kong, economic activity in the province took off like wildfire and hasn’t slowed down yet. The once subtropical landscape is now hidden under a sprawl of smoke-spewing factories. Here you’ll witness the future of modern China close up, warts and all.

Even with all the development, there are still some worthwhile places to visit. Guǎngzhōu, the capital, may be chaotic and polluted but it’s also world-renowned for its Cantonese cuisine. Close to Guǎngzhōu is Kāipíng, famous for its unique watchtowers, and a journey downriver from Qīngyuǎn to see the ancient temples of Fēilái and Fēixiá is truly a one-of-a-kind experience.

History

As China’s southern gateway, Guǎngdōng has had contact with the outside world for over a millennium. Among the first outsiders to make their way here were the Romans, who appeared as early as the 2nd century AD. By the Tang dynasty (618–907 AD), Arab merchants were visiting regularly and a sizeable trade with the Middle East and Southeast Asia had developed.

The first Europeans to settle here were the Portuguese in 1557, who set up base downriver at Macau. They were followed by the Jesuits in 1582, who established themselves at Zhàoqìng, west of Guǎngzhōu. The British came along in the 17th century and by 1685 merchant ships from the East India Company were calling at Guǎngzhōu. In 1757 an imperial edict gave the cohong, a local merchants’ guild, a monopoly on China’s trade with foreigners, who were restricted to Shamian Island. Trade remained in China’s favour until 1773 when the British shifted the balance by unloading 1000 chests of Bengal opium at Guǎngzhōu. Addiction swept China like wildfire, eventually leading to the Opium War.

Guǎngdōng was a hotbed of revolt in the 19th century. The Taiping Rebellion (1848–64), led by the enigmatic Hong Xiuquan, who claimed to be the younger brother of Jesus Christ, tried to establish his own ‘Kingdom of Heavenly Peace’ and recruit members to overthrow the dynasty. The rebellion was crushed with the help of foreign powers.

Twentieth-century Guǎngdōng saw its share of hardships and successes, being the headquarters of both the Nationalist and Communist parties and enduring untold suffering during the Cultural Revolution. After 1978, with the rise of Deng Xiaoping and the decision to adopt an ‘open door’ economic policy, Guǎngdōng became the first province to experience firsthand the effects of economic reforms, with Shēnzhèn, Zhūhǎi and Shàntóu set up as Special Economic Zones. Guǎngdōng’s continued economic success has made it a leading export centre for computers, clothing and household items.

Nor has it ever felt as comfortable with its status, as a part once again of its original motherland but separate, too, largely governing its own affairs and much better off for it. Almost 7 million people call a territory of 1100 sq km home, squeezing onto only 10% of the available land space. A flood of mainland and international visitors, meanwhile, crowds in to see what all the fuss is about. Multitudes seek standing or sitting room here, bringing with them smog, odour, clutter and clatter.

Hong Kong means different things to different people. For some it is the view from the Peak by day or Hong Kong Island’s skyline by night as the skyscrapers flush their neon rainbows, competing like tetchy cuttlefish to out-display each other. It can be about a lingering morning of tea and bite-sized dim sum, or a multidish Chinese banquet. Others – hikers, birders, climbers – say nothing beats the Hong Kong countryside for its beauty, facilities and accessibility.

It is all these things, of course; a city of teeming streets and empty wilderness, dazzling modernity and traditional observances. Brash, buccaneering and Westernised, yet conservatively minded and Chinese to its core, Hong Kong surprises, delights and confounds with its cheerful contradictions and energetic inconsistency.

According to the Shanghai daily, enters a smoking ban on 1 Into force in March 2010 and the Shanghai Patriotic Health Campaign Commission is responsible for examining and affecting the enforcement of the measure. New anti-smoking regulations, the following, according to the China Daily: “Smoking is in the places, including kindergartens, schools, hospitals, stadiums , places of public services, shopping malls, libraries, theaters and museums prohibited. Entertainment venues, general areas of hotels, airports and train stations, ports should ban smoking at home and providing a different smoking area. The law agreed that all the separate smoking areas or rooms should be ventilated. Public places should also have prominent signs that indicate smoking is prohibited. “Since smoking about one third of China’s neighbors, it is interesting to see how the new law is enforced exclusively. It seems nothing about restaurants in the new regulations give (though I must say, it must ventilation in Shanghai, while I most of Shanghai restaurants less smoky than think many Swiss and German institutions have been better.) There is still all about elevators …

The rear garden is featured as delicate, elegant, charming and gentle. Standing in the two-storeyed long corridor, people are able to enjoy the charming scenery of gardens and lively ancient pines; admiring the graceful view of the Linyan Hill in the distance. West side of the rear garden is the Chinese craft art master, the inheritor of Shen Shou—Yao Jianping’s Embroidery Showroom