Nov 21It’s never too late to learn to use chopsticksChange, no matter how late, is never too late. If a person has been using the wrong chopstick technique for 35 years, can they still learn the correct way? When I was young, my chopstick technique was not correct. However, I didn’t make a conscious effort to correct it. The…Chopsticks4 min readChopsticks4 min read
Jun 16Wearing masks on the Beijing subway is no longer compulsoryWearing masks on the Beijing subway is no longer compulsory. It seems that all the slogans in the subway about wearing masks have been removed. This change is worth marking here. (16 Apr 2023, by Jian Xu) I keep an English diary recording China life and culture. You are welcome to read the full list of articles here: Jian Xu’s China Diary — WorkFlowyChina1 min readChina1 min read
Jun 15Took the two kids to the Shichahai Lake for an afternoon of funMy 8-year-old son likes to take subway in Beijing. He memorised the complex subway lines easily and draw a map by himself. Took the two kids to the Shichahai Lake for an afternoon of fun. On a weekend afternoon, this scenic spot was naturally crowded with tourists. We waited in…China2 min readChina2 min read
Jun 14Cartoon boats now operating at the Tuanjiehu LakeThis month, in my monthly intellectual property update newsletter, I mentioned that I saw the long-lost cartoon cruise ship in Tuanjiehu, which was under renovation and ready to set sail. At that time, a British lawyer friend replied to me, saying that he immediately looked it up on Google Maps…China2 min readChina2 min read
Jun 13Red brick old residential buildings in Beijing in the 1970s and 1980sFor the past two or three weekends, whenever I had time, I would gather my old photos, diaries, and random notes, sort them by time, and create a journal. I put all the articles together in my Evernote. …China2 min readChina2 min read
Jun 12Found a lovely bird nest at the Liangma river in BeijingDuring the morning rush hour today, there was a malfunction on Line 10 of the Beijing subway. The train only made it to Nongzhanguan (Agricultural Exhibition Hall) station before all passengers were asked to disembark. Seeing the long queue of people, I decided to exit at Nongzhanguan station and instead…China3 min readChina3 min read
Apr 22Return of Cartoon Boats to the Tuanjiehu ParkAs spring approaches, the lake water ripples, and the boats in Tuanjiehu Park are also preparing to set sail. Throughout the entire period of the pandemic, it seems like the sight of boats on Tuanjiehu Lake has been absent from memory. Now they have reappeared, a sign of revival. With…China2 min readChina2 min read
Mar 16The Awakening of Hibernating InsectsToday is Jīngzhé (惊蛰), one of the traditional twenty-four solar terms in China, usually falling on March 5th or 6th, marking the beginning of spring. The name of this solar term comes from traditional agricultural culture, meaning “the awakening of hibernating insects”. …China2 min readChina2 min read
Mar 12Puppetry Exhibition at the Yan Huang Art MuseumThis Sunday, I took my childen to visit the Yan Huang Art Museum to see a shadow puppetry exhibition. We went there because they had a school assignment to make their own paper-cut shadow puppets and perform them. Additionally, I showed them some clips of shadow puppetry from the movie…China3 min readChina3 min read
Mar 11Cash Transactions Becoming a Nostalgic ExperienceThe high-legged dining table that I bought online has finally arrived. From now on, we say goodbye to the history of eating on short stools and tea tables. With this high-legged dining table, dining feels more formal and has more style. …China3 min readChina3 min read
