ChinaSnap! Chrysanthemum Tea

 

This is a picture of... a mug of Chrysanthemum tea (Zhuhua Cha, 菊花茶).

At the time I took this ChinaSnap! I was... reading at Home Cafe on Nanluoguxiang Street (南锣鼓巷), a revitalized district of hutongs (衚衕, traditional Chinese houses) in Beijing. 

I remember that... usually, Chrysanthemum tea is served with rock sugar to balance out the sometimes bitter undertones. 

This qualifies as a ChinaSnap! because... tea is quintessentially Chinese, and Chrysanthemum tea is that much more authentic. The floating flower bulbs are whimsical, and the tea has a delicious yet mild flavor. Plus, it is a staple of Chinese medicine, curing all kinds of illness from the common cold to liver issues.

Submit a ChinaSnap! of your own to Chinaful by emailing chinafulblog@gmail.com and we'll post it with your answers to the bolded sentence-starters. Anything from your favorite Chinese food dish to you in the Forbidden City, we want to see what's Chinaful to you.

Chinaful Insider Guides: Where to Eat, Drink, See, Shop, and Stay

"You've lived in China," a friend or acquaintance will say to me. "What do I have to see when I'm in Shanghai? Where should I stay in Chengdu? What are the best souvenirs from Beijing?  What's the best bar in Hong Kong?"  

          

{Traveling by sleeper train to Holhot, Inner Mongolia}

In China, it's best to use the recommendations of friends to make the most of your trip.  In that spirit, Chinaful Insider Guides are on their way. Each will contain personal recommendations from me, or my contacts in China, on the basics -- where to eat, drink, stay, shop, and see. If you have specific questions, ask them in the comments or email chinafulblog@gmail.com. You'll get advice, straight from a friend. 

Regions to be covered include:

• Beijing
• Shanghai
• Hong Kong
• Macau
• Tibet
• Inner Mongolia
• Qingdao
• Chengdu
• Guilin

Speaking at Tsinghua University, Beijing: Current Issues in US-China Cross Border Litigation

Of all my experiences living, working, and studying in China, my most useful (and most enjoyable) was the time I spent studying at Tsinghua Law School in Beijing, regarded as one of the top universities in China. (Hu Jintao and Xi Jinping are fellow alums!) The LLM program covered all aspects of Chinese law, from corporate to criminal, civil procedure to contracts. I continue to draw upon my Tsinghua education in my practice today, particularly in how to interpret and research Chinese law.

This week, I am proud to return to Tsinghua to share about my practice with the current LLM students. As a student, I remember being uncertain how I could use my China law education. I hope my experience gives the students an idea of the possibilities that exist in today's market, from securities litigation to products liability, discovery disputes to anti-corruption compliance. There's so many opportunities for attorneys to assist businesses as they establish and grow their operations in China.   

  

The Chinaphiles: Interview with Peter Anthony, Author and Collector of Chinese Coins

Today marks a new series for Chinaful: The Chinaphiles. In this series, I'll interview Chinaphiles (also known as Sinophiles, those who demonstrate a strong interest and love for Chinese culture or its people) that study and work in various fields, all with a focus on China. 

For this first interview, Chinaful features Chinese coin collector and author, Peter Anthony. Anthony is an expert on Modern Chinese coins, covering 1979 to the present. Author of Gold and Silver Panda Coin Buyer’s Guide and the monthly China Pricepedia price guide, Anthony’s research is the gold standard on all aspects of collecting, from accurate pricing to spotting counterfeits.

Peter Anthony, autor and Chinese coin collector

You can also access a wealth of information on Anthony’s website, www.pandacollector.com, which gives an introduction and news about Chinese coins. Having the opportunity to speak with Anthony, I wanted to learn what drew him to Chinese coins initially and lessons he’s learned while collecting and researching in China. 

Click to read more ...

How To: Celebrate Chinese New Year

Seeing red all over this week? That's because it's Chinese New Year, in the Year of the Snake -- Sunday kicked off the celebration, and all week long specific traditions mark the holiday. Red is the color of happiness and festivity in China, so this week red lanterns, red dresses, and red envelopes abound.

Want to partake in the fun? Try making dumplings at home, hang some red paper lanterns in your home, or head to a local dragon parade. If you are in Los Angeles, the Chinese Chamber of Commerce is hosting a parade in Chinatown. Say "Happy New Year!" in Mandarin -- "Xin Nian Kuai Le!" Or follow the tradition of giving your friends and family red envelopes (hong bao) stuffed with money for the new year -- they are sure to thank you! 

How do you celebrate Chinese New Year?