May 15, 2023 Mandarin Immersion (Part 1) By Simon J. Lau I kicked off the start of my 6-week Mandarin immersion trip last weekend. I’ve been learning Mandarin regularly for the last 5+ years, but I haven’t had a chance to use it in earnest. I saw this as my opportunity to do so. First stop, a (long) layover in Taipei! I had 11 hours to kill, so I did what I often do: I explored! The airport ATM only […]

May 16, 2023 Mandarin Immersion (Part 2) By Simon J. Lau My first day in Beijing, and to get over jet lag and get settled in, I willed myself across the city (with help from a small boost of coffee). A little over 14 miles (according to my Fitbit). Not bad for my first full day! In the morning, I had a traditional Chinese breakfast. However, the real highlight was dinner, where I had Muslim street food. Since New Zealand, […]

May 17, 2023 Mandarin Immersion (Part 3) By Simon J. Lau I visited Beijing’s 798 Art District. I’ve been to 798 before, but after learning more about it from my Chinese language book, I wanted to visit again. Previously, it was a military industrial park. After it was decommissioned, a thriving artist community took over. I visited with my friend and former Twitter coworker, David. David grew up in Beijing and was in town, so he graciously showed me around. […]

May 18, 2023 Mandarin Immersion (Part 4) By Simon J. Lau I had the pleasure of meeting Kou Aizhe, a renowned podcast producer behind the immensely popular Chinese podcast, GushiFM, which translates to “Story FM” in English. Similar to the podcast This American Life, GushiFM focuses on sharing authentic stories of everyday people in China. As a Mandarin language learner, I discovered Aizhe’s work years ago. Although still a bit advanced for me, I use it to enhance my listening […]

May 19, 2023 Mandarin Immersion (Part 5) By Simon J. Lau Chengde, a mountain city, was the former summer residence for Qing dynasty emperors who sought to escape Beijing’s suffocating seasonal heat. It was also an important military outpost, located between Beijing and the further reaches of Mongolia (now Inner Mongolia). At its heart is the Mountain Resort. This facility includes many imperial palaces and gardens that were influenced by different regional designs found throughout China. It beautifully showcases China’s […]

May 20, 2023 Mandarin Immersion (Part 6) By Simon J. Lau I visited Putuo Zongcheng Temple and Puning Temple, which are part of what is collectively known as the Eight Outer Temples. These temples were constructed by the Qing dynasty to unite the region’s many ethnic minorities, offering them to their leaders as a gesture of unity. In the evening, I hired a guide to show me local hangouts and places for night photography. We explored Shuangluan District, located just […]

May 21, 2023 Mandarin Immersion (Part 7) By Simon J. Lau I spent time exploring the morning street market. Unlike the night market, the food here is seen as a necessity and is heavily regulated by the government. Some vendors were uneasy when I photographed them. However, these photos were from the more accommodating ones. I concluded my two-day Chengde tour with a Muslim breakfast, enjoying lamb soup with meat and intestines. My guide, Helen, was excellent! She thoughtfully curated […]

May 22, 2023 Mandarin Immersion (Part 8) By Simon J. Lau I returned to Beijing for a night, as a transit stop before leaving for Wuhan tomorrow. One place that I’ve always liked is Beihai Park, which was once an imperial garden. I spent the evening photographing this park and portions of the outer wall of the Forbidden City. When leaving Chengde this morning, I had my first experience riding a bullet train. 🚄 It was crazy efficient, organized, and […]

May 23, 2023 Mandarin Immersion (Part 9) By Simon J. Lau I made it to Wuhan! It’s a historic city and has briefly served as China’s capital several times. Unfortunately, it’s also where COVID-19 originated. 🦠 That alone may forever overshadow its long history. Time for me to investigate? 😅 First stop, Hubu Alley! This is one of the oldest streets in Wuhan, transformed into a street food paradise. I indulged in some delicious snacks here, including savory pork (pictured) […]

May 24, 2023 Mandarin Immersion (Part 10) By Simon J. Lau I indulged in some night photography from the Wuhan Yangtze River Bridge. It reminded me how much I love capturing urban landscapes at night, especially when I’m out late by myself. In those moments, I feel completely in my element and, most importantly, happy. Earlier, I explored East Lake and the botanical gardens in Wuhan. East Lake is a major attraction and one of the largest freshwater lakes in […]