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Wudaokou Travel Blogs

Background: For centuries China stood as a leading civilization, outpacing the rest of the world in the arts and sciences, but in the 19th and early 20th centuries, the country was beset by civil unrest, major famines, military defeats, and foreign occupation. After World War II, the Communists under MAO Zedong established an autocratic socialist system that, while ensuring China's sovereignty, imposed strict controls over everyday life and cost the lives of tens of millions of people. After 1978, his successor DENG Xiaoping and other leaders focused on market-oriented economic development and by 2000 output had quadrupled. For much of the population, living standards have improved dramatically and the room for personal choice has expanded, yet political controls remain tight.

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By BJwest
November 7th 2009

Students’ Flea Market Asia » China » Beijing » Wudaokou

Try on hats

The Wudaokou 五道口 subway station is a major access to the near by universities. Such as - Beijing Language and Culture University 北京語言大學; China University of Geosciences 中國地盾大學; Tsinghua University 清華大學; Peking University 北京大學; Beihang University 中國航空航天大學; Beijing Forestry University 北京林業大學; China Aricultural University 中&# [View Full Entry]

By Kelly and Liz
October 13th 2009

Beijing Part 1 :::: 北京一部分 Asia » China » Beijing » Wudaokou

the new communism

About halfway into the fall, the Chinese celebrate two holidays - Mid-Autumn Festival and National Week. The first holiday usually marks a long weekend of eating Moon Cakes (a rich date-filled pastry-ish treat-ish) and family time. The latter holiday marks, for the better part of a week, a mass mobilization of most of China when everyone plays tourist while waving small Chinese flags. This year the two holidays collided and we found ourselves with a solid double holiday of ten days. China’s National Week was of particular interest being that it marked the 60th anniversary of the curr [View Full Entry]

By BJwest
September 24th 2009

From E to C Asia » China » Beijing » Wudaokou

C level books

I has been sit thorough all the classes in the level E. I do not have much problem except the speaking part. Most students there are have been in China for a while or have Mandarin and Chinese background. The older Caucasian is from Hawaii, he has been learn Chinese before and work in china for 3 ½ years. The older Japanese is working in Beijing for fours years. Most other students have been here for sometimes or work or study here before. It will be difficult to keep up with them especially the spoken part. It appears the advance level [View Full Entry]

By BJwest
September 22nd 2009

Classes Started - helps ! Asia » China » Beijing » Wudaokou

Books

I get up early today for the first day of classes. First time need more time to be on the safe side. I get on the subway at 6:30am the early bird. There are already a lot of people even not packed yet. Half of them taking a nap stand or sitting down. The 8 am rush hour group usually reading the newspaper standing or sitting. Their paper is half size ( area ) of ours, may be easy to ready in the subway. It take exactly an hour from my apartment to the classroom, may be a few minutes later [View Full Entry]

By BJwest
September 21st 2009

Test Result Asia » China » Beijing » Wudaokou

Checking Grade

I was in the university a little over 8:00am; there are quite a few people there already. The test results group it by price. Dollar sign on to of the list. The higher the price the longer the term. Most students take the 20 weeks or one semester term. May be approx. 250 taking the 12 weeks course. I was confirmed at level E of the 6 levels fro A-F, the second highest level. Out of the 12 weeks group. Only 10 in the E level. One in level F and is a Japanese. Majority are in level A, B and [View Full Entry]

By BJwest
September 17th 2009

Classes Registration Asia » China » Beijing » Wudaokou

BLCU Main Bldg

This is the first day of registration. I went to BLCU ( Beijing Language and Culture University ) early. The table was set up and only a few students there. However the girl told me I need a temp. residence permit from the police department before I can register. I said I do not need one I am a legal citizen of Hong Kong, same as China. She refused to stamp ok on my application. I spent two hours back and forth, they all told me I do not need one. When I got back two or three hours later, there [View Full Entry]

By HipHipSueRay
September 8th 2009

First Chinese Lesson Asia » China » Beijing » Wudaokou

Dinner 2

Hello Everybody! We had our first Chinese lesson today, so we don't have much to report for the day, we pretty much just went to bed when we got home - we were really exhausted for some reason. It was pretty cool - we feel like kids again because they make you feel like a kid again - just pronouncing sounds before you can even put them into words - although some of the sounds are incredibly difficult to make, I'll never look at the letter 'e' the same way again!!! We went out to dinner at a cool place tonight [View Full Entry]

By Frank2289
July 3rd 2009

Wal-Mart ~ always rolling back prices Asia » China » Beijing » Wudaokou

The Lotus Center, conveniently located at the coroner of one of those intersections, is the equivalent of the American Wal-Mart. The store consists of three separate floors. First floor is used by individual retailers and other separate little shops. Simple stuff like a T-Shirt shop or purses or other stuff that will definitely sell better if it is a store and not being sold off the streets. The second floor consists of all the regular household appliances that you might find at a Wal-Mart from electrical fans, flashlights, and towels to sports equipment. The three most popular sports items ar [View Full Entry]

By Peanut goes to China
March 8th 2009

请你吃饭。。。[Invitation to Dinner] Asia » China » Beijing » Wudaokou

Sunset

Today was the official day of International Women's Day and I had a Chinese friend (Guo Dong) invite me out to dinner in the area around our university. I also asked a friend (Derek) from the Syracuse program to join us for dinner and it turned out to be a really fun evening! We went out to eat at Korean Restaurant. The area by my school is called "Wudaokou" 五道 and is generally know for two things: the large population of international students and its large Korean restaurants, shops and businesses. Needless to say the food at the restaurant was very [View Full Entry]

By Peanut goes to China
March 7th 2009

International Women's Day Vietnamese Style... Asia » China » Beijing » Wudaokou

The gals!

Tonight, I had one of the most spectacular nights in China. Life is full of surprises and today was definitely one of the most fun nights I have had in China. After class the other day, I heard some guys speaking a language that was strangely familiar. The more I listened the more I was certain that it was spoken Vietnamese. Since they were both northern Vietnamese speakers, I was a bit hesitant to believe that what I was hearing was correct, but I knew I could not give up the chance to introduce myself. As it turns out, going out [View Full Entry]

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