Chinese Family Titles Explained: Uncles, Aunts, and Cousins
Master Chinese family titles with a map of father- and mother-side relatives, terms like shūshu and jiùjiu, and the rule for 堂 (táng) vs 表 (biǎo) cousins.
Mar 19, 2026
Stories from China
Explain China, One Story at a Time
Jingzhe: Awakening of Insects in China's 24 Solar Terms
Jingzhe is the third solar term and usually arrives around March 5-6. Here is what it means, which customs continue today, and how people use it in daily life.
Mar 4, 2026
30 Cultural Tips for First-Time Visitors to China
First time in China? These 30 practical tips on etiquette, meals, gifts, transport, and habits help you avoid common mistakes and settle in with confidence.
Mar 1, 2026
First Trip to China in 2026: A Fact-Checked Practical Guide
A practical, fact-checked guide for first-time visitors to China in 2026: entry policy, accommodation registration, payments, train tickets, and common mistakes to avoid.
Feb 26, 2026
[Video] The Warmth of Chinese New Year
A short Chinese New Year video about decorations, reunion dinner, red envelopes, and family warmth.
Feb 25, 2026
Lantern Festival in China: What to See, Eat, and Do at Night
A practical guide to Lantern Festival in China: what you see at night, where riddles and performances happen, what to eat, and how visitors can join politely.
Feb 24, 2026
A Children's Rhyme That Counts Down to Chinese New Year
A Chinese rhyme counts down to Lunar New Year: Laba porridge, sweets, cleaning, cooking and New Year's Eve vigil, showing the festival slowly builds day by day.
Feb 12, 2026
The 10 Most Common Chinese New Year Greetings Explained
From doorsteps to group chats, these ten Chinese New Year phrases show how people in China wish for wealth, health, and togetherness during Spring Festival.
Feb 8, 2026
New Year's Eve dinner: The reunion dinner that brings China home
On Chinese New Year's Eve, families gather for Nian Ye Fan, a meal built on shared seats, symbolic dishes, and the simple wish to start the year together.
Feb 7, 2026
Chinese New Year's Eve: Chinese Families Say Goodbye to the Old Year
A warm cultural snapshot of 除夕 (Chúxī), the emotional core of Chinese New Year, told through family routines, food, memory, and small rituals that still feel deeply alive.
Feb 7, 2026
Spring Festival Couplets: Poetry That Welcomes a New Year
Red paper, black ink, and a doorway that suddenly feels alive.Spring Festival couplets are one of those traditions that look simple from a distance, but carry a lot once you step closer.
Feb 6, 2026
How the Chinese Zodiac began: the river race legend
Behind the Chinese Zodiac is a river race, a clever rat, and a few moments of kindness and wit that shaped how people mark time.
Feb 5, 2026
Lichun: The First of the 24 Solar Terms, Spring Has Arrived
An intimate look at Lichun, the first of China’s 24 solar terms, and how a subtle seasonal marker still shapes food, tradition and the way people notice spring.
Feb 4, 2026
Chinese New Year 2026-The Year of horse
A guide to Chinese culture and travel, with Lunar New Year 2026 insights, food traditions, zodiac tools, festival customs, and language tips.
Feb 4, 2026
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Why Red Envelopes Matter in China: A Guide to the Hongbao Tradition
Guide to China’s red-envelope (hongbao) tradition: who gives and receives, how much to give, lucky numbers, why red matters, and digital hongbao today.
Feb 3, 2026