8 popular foods in Beijing

As a heaven of food, Beijing has so many kinds of snacks which have attracted a lot of people from home and abroad. The most popular food are the following. Clay Oven Roll (Shaobing) Shaobing or Huoshao are baked layered flatbread with sesame on top. They are usually made in two flavors: savoury or sweet. According to Mandarin cuisine, Shaobing are served with hot pot in winter. Fried Bread Stick (Youtiao) Youtiao sometimes called fried bread stick, is a long, golden-brown, deep fried strip of dough in Chinese cuisine and is usually eaten for breakfast. It is also known as (Guozi) in northern China. It is also a popular breakfast food in Myanmar (Burma), where it is called e kya kway. Steamed Bun (Mantou) Mantou sometimes known as Chinese steamed bun, is a kind of steamed bun originating from China. It is typically served in Chinese cuisine. Made with milled wheat flour, water and leavening agents, they are similar in nutrition and eating qualities to the white bread of the West. Soybean milk Soybean milk is a healthy alternative to cow's milk. Soybeans are composed of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, fiber, and a powerful array of phytonutrients, and have been known to help reduce blood cholesterol, thereby promoting cardiovascular wellness. Eight Treasures Rice (Ba Bao Fan) Ba Bao Fan is a traditional Chinese dessert with more than a thousand years of history. This dessert is made in all regions of China with their own local ingredients and recipes; however, all recipes are based upon the ingredients of sticky rice and eight different dried fruits. The most famous Ba Bao Fan recipe is from Jiang Nan, a southern area of China. Boiled Dumpling Jiaozi are believed to bring fortune and good luck to their eaters, perhaps because of their appearance as shoe-shaped gold or silver ingots. There is no doubt that Jiaozi will appear on most tables during any given Spring Festival. Generally, people prepare them before midnight on the last day of the previous year, before eating them after the New Year's bell is sounded New-years Hard Rice Cake This staple food is made of glutinous rice flour and comes in thumb sized nuggets. Its popularity during Spring Festival has come about since it has a homonym, which translates as "getting higher and higher year after year." This preserved food is therefore a must-eat in many parts of China, especially its southern provinces. Full-moon Dumpling (Yuanxiao) Yuanxiao is a special dumpling in China for the Lantern Festival (the 15th night of the 1st lunar month). It is a "ball" made of glutinous rice flour. As the 15th night of the New Year was later called "Shangyuan" and the "Yuanxiao" festival, so the dumplings came to be known by the name of the festival. Food habits

In the skill of cooking of China, it is nearly reach the limit that Chinese seek the delicious food, the delicious Chinese food is well known in the world. The Chinese food has its unique glamour, the key lies in its flavor. Chinese have been seeking the supreme state of

the cooking all the time. The Chinese food can be said to be The color, fragrance, flavor, shape, tableware perfect unify. The Chinese food pays attention to the nutrition matching of the vegetable with meat. According to investigation of the plant scholar of America and Europe, there are more than 600 kinds of vegetables that Chinese eat. The Chinese food habits has unique characteristic. Because Chinese like all people sharing the cooked food, most dining-table of China are round, but isnt Occidents rectangle dining-table. In China, any feast, no matter what purpose it is, only have a kind of form, everybody sit around the round dining-table. This dietetic habit causes a kind of solidarity and jollification atmosphere. The delicious food is put in the centre of dining-table. People through taste the delicious food and chat, thus promote friendship. People propose a toast each other, this reflect mutual respect and comity. This accord with Chinese people happy reunion general psychology. The biggest characteristic of Chinese food habits is: use the chopsticks, besides soup, Chinese take the food using the chopsticks. Different from Occident, Chinese like eating dishes first, and then eat soup. It has a characteristic too that Chinese treat, because of Chinese use the round dining table, the hosts identity isnt recognized through his seat. Guests should wait for hosts invitation, and then sit down. The host must notice that cant let guests sit close to the seat that serve food, or else is impolite. The host must propose a toast to guests first, the host should add the wine to the wine cup for guests first, and then add the wine to the wine cup for oneself, and must add to the almost full of wine cup, thus conform the Chinese etiquette, in order to express that respect the guest and each others friendship (Generally speaking, Chinese drink white liquor, do not drink the grape wine, so use flat cup, dont use the grape wine cup. In addition, Chinese white liquor was made by the grain, the alcohol degree of Chinese white liquor is between 38 to 65 degree generally, it is much higher than the grape wine). If you do not want to drink, should make clear while beginning in banquet, avoid the embarrassed scene. This is very big difference between China and Occident. Through the Chinese food habits characteristic, everybody can find out the Chinese personality characteristic: Hospitable, solidarity, attach importance to the friendship, like making friends, etc. So, if Chinese feast you, you must know these Chinese food habits, avoid the embarrassed scene. In addition, the thing that you should to do is to enjoy the delicious Chinese food.
Culture flag

China's Flag
The Chinese flag design is composed of a solid red background with five gold stars positioned in the upper left hand corner. The star furthest to the flags left side is larger than all the others. The remaining four smaller stars are spread out, surrounding the largest star and all appear to be spread evenly in distance away from the larger star and away from

each other. One of the five points on each of the four smaller stars points directly to the center of the large star. The symbolism of the large golden star is said to represent the leadership of the Communist Party of China, while the four smaller stars are believed to represent the four classes of people in China (as categorized by Mao Zedong): workers, peasants, petty bourgeoisie, and patriotic capitalists. The colors represented, red and gold, also are symbolic in meaning. Red is a color commonly associated with communism and gold is said to symbolize the yellow race of the Chinese nation. The story of the Chinese flags origin began in July 1949 when the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) placed an ad in the newspapers stating that entries for the design of Chinas flag were being accepted and that all people were invited to submit their entries. Over 3,000 entries were received and that number was soon narrowed down to 38 possibilities for the CPPCC committee to decide from. And eventually, a design by Zeng Liansong was chosen as the flag design for the Peoples Republic of China. The committee made a small change to Zengs flag design by removing a hammer and sickle from the center of the large star, but Zeng was still credited with the flags design. The design was officially approved on September 27, 1949 and on October 1, 1949, President Mao Zedong raised the flag over Tiananmen Square for the first time for all to see.The Chinese flag is raised at sunrise and lowered at sunset in a simple ceremony everyday. The daily ceremonies take place in Beijing at Tiananmen Square, where the flags design was first unveiled to the people of China, in front of a large crowd of spectators.
Great wall of china

The Great Wall of China extends over more than 6700 kilometers leading from the Shanhaiguan pass at the east coast up to the Jiayuguan pass in the Gobi Desert. The building of the Chinese Wall began more than 2000 years ago at times of the Qin-dynasty (221-207 BC), as China got united under the emperor Qin Shihuangdi. The wall was built by means of connecting several walls separated from each another, which originally were erected in different previously independent kingdoms. The wall was intended to serve as bulwark against plundering nomadic tribes. More than 180 million cubic meters of stamped earth were used for forming the basic core of the original wall. The wall was extended then by later dynasties bit by bit. However, the Chinese wall never fulfilled its actual purpose, namely to serve as line of defense. It served rather as a kind of road, on which people and material could be comfortably transported over mountainous areas. By means of smoke signals, which were transmitted from one tower to the other, it became possible to send news about the enemies actions into the capital quickly.

The remnants, which are still standing today, originate mainly from the Ming dynasty (1368-1644). At that time, the wall was erected predominantly by using bricks and granite.

Everyday life in China

Chinese people are very tolerant of foreigners. Even the strangest behaviors are often accepted, for they think that such things are normal in other countries. The first rule in almost all situations you can get into in China is: don't lose your temper! Patience and politeness always go further than cursing and shouting. Here we'll offer some hints for the traveler's daily life. The topic "Chinese food: what if I'm allergic to duck foot?" will be dealt with in its own chapter. If you have further questions about traveling in China, you can ask them in our China Forum.

Public transportation in China Taxis

The simplest option for getting from point A to point B in Chinese cities is a taxi-people with lots of time and courage can also ride the bus. However, tourists coming in at the airport run the risk of getting ripped off by taxi rides into the city. We recommend taking an airport bus (no problem in Beijing and Shanghai) into downtown proper and then continuing by taxi to the final destination. One is normally met at the airport when one visits Chinese business partners, and hotels also offer pickup service at the airport. Chinese taxis are very cheap; you can cover short distances for eight yuan (about one euro) and up. After a certain distance, the price is calculated per kilometer. When you take a taxi, be sure the driver starts the meter, and seems like he knows where he's going-at least seems like he could follow the route on a map.

Buses
You buy bus tickets in the vehicle from a conductor. Simply name your destination and hold out the money; the bus company employee will give you the proper ticket. Depending on the route, you'll pay 1 - 2 yuan, or more for longer distances. Buses in large cities are for the most part overfull, and crowding is enormous-keep an eye on your valuables. The driving style of bus drivers is often astounding and reckless. My first bus ride a few years ago in Hangzhou was a formative experience: our driver didn't like to be passed and ran races with another bus. Just when it got really exciting, the police interrupted.

Trains
To obtain tickets in person at a train station is an interesting experience that helps one to imagine why self defense is so important to the Chinese. Crowding is unbelievable. During the spring festival or holidays around the national holiday, it's almost impossible to get a ticket yourself. It's therefore worthwhile to pay an extra 30 - 50 yuan to get tickets from a travel agent. There are four classes of travel on trains. Hard seater the cheapest seats, typically just metal with a thin plastic coating. For overnight and long trips you should avoid these; even hardened backpackers should steer clear. Don't offer your seat to an older gentleman or beautiful woman, or you'll bitterly regret it at midnight, as you try in vain to sleep in the aisle or continue standing for the nth hour. If you go to the lavatory, there is no guarantee that your seat will be unoccupied when you get back to it. Soft seater available on some routes (e.g. between Shanghai and Hangzhou) day and night. Hard sleepers are fully sufficient for night travel. They are open compartments with six narrow beds, with great opportunities to converse with Chinese travelers. Hard sleepers are often sold out on holidays. Soft sleeper luxury class. Here you'll encounter wealthy Chinese and executives (if, that is, they don't fly instead). Comfortable compartments for two or four people, there is nonetheless not as much space for luggage as in hard sleepers. A soft sleeper costs almost as much as a plane ticket.

Finances
Converting euro to Chinese currency is easy. You can do it immediately after arrival at the airport in Beijing or Shanghai, whereas in Europe the exchange is not possible. Traveler's checks in euro are accepted even in provincial areas, and they can be exchanged for yuan at almost any Bank of China, as well as in many hotels. People planning to stay longer should consider opening an account with Bank of China. Electronic transfers from European banks take 3 - 7 days. Chinese banks often have a special counter where transactions in foreign currency are conducted. Foreign credit and debit cards are an exciting affair-will the ATM take them or not? There are tourists who spend half a day in the bank waiting for the return of their credit cards. Paying with a credit card is usually not a problem in posh hotels.

Tipping in the People's Republic of China

Even though you'll be stared at pleadingly and expectantly by attendants (after they hand you a none too clean towel) in the first airport lavatory you enter, it is not usual in Chinaneither there nor in restaurants and hotels-to tip.

Gifts in China
Among friends, the best gift is something typical from your homeland. If you are unexpectedly invited, bring for example a bottle of wine. Chinese people prefer sweet wines (a dessert wine is an outstandingly suitable gift); a fruit basket would also be good. Avoid certain items, however, such as flowers, which are an expression of mourning, as is white wrapping paper. Go with red instead, which symbolizes good luck.

Greetings and salutations

The Chinese business partner and even friends are greeted according to a hierarchy of age. "Ladies first" doesn't exist in China, so avoid, for example, greeting female interpreters first in a business meeting. A brief handshake serves as greeting, as the majority of Chinese people who interact with Europeans have become accustomed to shaking hands and are surprised when someone offers a short bow. It's advisable, when greeting a superior or equal, to direct your gaze downward and to avoid direct eye contact. This attests to deference and respect. Following greetings, it's customary to exchange business cards, whereby politeness demands that a card be received with both hands, and then examined for a few seconds rather than carelessly putting it away immediately.

Unexpected encounters
He who travels as a tourist through China will often be approached by strangers, be it by the rickshaw drivers at train stations who want to drive you to a hotel, or Chinese who prod tourists into a restaurant and invite themselves to an expensive dinner. Male tourists are routinely spoken to by beautiful Chinese women, who then order expensive drinks and disappear after consuming them. I heard about a group of students who, on their first day in Beijing, were convinced by two Chinese men to dine on Peking duck in a rather shabby restaurant. Without ever having seen the bill, they gave the men 1000 yuan (ca. EUR 100) to settle the bill, whereas I, coincidentally, ate like royalty that same day in Beijing's restaurant most famous for Peking duck (Qianmen Quanjude Kaoyadian, in which hang photos of many Chinese and western politicians and famous personages who have eaten there) for a third of that amount. In case of late-night phone calls to your hotel room, memorize these two important words: "bu yao." Feel free to sound quite enraged, because that will help to achieve just the right Chinese intonation. "Bu yao" means "I don't want that," referring to offers-for example, to have a girl sent up to your room. Many times you'll also be addressed by Chinese students who want to practice their English, or by helpful Chinese folks eager to offer their assistance to gawkish, dumbfounded tourists. It is often the case that someone will invite you on the spur of the moment to visit, or will help you buy a train ticket. As anywhere in the world, there are welcome and no so welcome encounters and events. Though you should be a little suspicious, trust your good judgment of people-if you have a bad feeling,

refuse politely but firmly, with a smile on your face, then move along. However, there's no reason to be impolite.

Bartering with street vendors/at the market

Bartering with street vendors/at the market China's is a trade society; besides at restaurants, malls, and supermarkets, you haggle for whatever the stuff is worth. The point isn't to rip off foreign tourists or purchasers, as even Chinese students and other bookish sorts don't know the prices and therefore pay too much. In the end, you pay whatever the wares are worth to you. If the seller determines that you, even as a foreigner, understand the prices, negotiation goes quickly and smoothly. Many products are quite inexpensive to westerners even without lengthy bartering, and one is tempted to pay more for small purchases (for example vegetables) in order to save time. But when you're stocking up on clothing or souvenirs, haggling becomes an interesting experience. Save money with the following guidelines:

Rule of thumb for determining price (not guaranteed):

opening price divided by three is a decent result; opening price divided by four is an outstanding outcome. Always let the seller name a price, then begin with an offer 1/5 of that. Increase your offer slowly. When you find something you really like and definitely want to have, don't telegraph how eager you are. Be polite and patient, and take care that haggling is fun for the seller as well, because he'll be more likely to make concessions. Traders occasionally let their wares go very cheap, as long as they can save face doing it. If an item seems too expensive, don't purchase it out of false politeness. Walk away from the stand and see if the trader will then come down on price; if not, well, you can almost certainly find the same product a few meters down the street. Otherwise, if you don't care at all what the trader thinks of you or your countrymen, go back and buy from him. Counterfeit currency is very common in China!

Surely we needn't mention that price negotiations at a marketplace go by very different rules than during business transactions.

Chinese Food
Chinese delicacies - what to do for duck foot allergy
Of course, many tourists have already read a bit about Chinese food, but they still have a hard time getting used to it. Although one looks forward to the first meal with Chinese friends, the next time one might wriggle out of the next invitation and prefer eating instant

noodles and cookies alone in a hotel room instead of networking with Chinese friends or business partners. Business meals can be especially nerve-wracking because you read somewhere that politeness forbids one to refuse particular dishes or alcoholic drinks.

Here you need just one rule: be open to trying strange foods. China isn't famous for its manifold cuisine for nothing. Meals that are eaten every day by the Chinese are also wellsuited to the western palate. Even Chinese people don't like to eat some stranger specialties. If you will under no circumstances eat a particular dish, you can decline it with a (believable!) pretext or a polite excuse. Illness or allergy need not be claimed; the simple fact that, as good as Chinese cooking is, one's stomach must grow accustomed to it is completely sufficient-and doesn't sound as unbelievable as an allergy to duck foot. One exception to this is when eating with a family. It's also completely normal in Germany to eat out of politeness and to praise the food, even when it doesn't taste good. When in a large group of Chinese friends or business partners, toasts are often made with alcoholic drinks. When a single person from the group toasts you, you should toast to the whole group. That way, everybody drinks and you aren't the only one who gets drunk! As with food, it's ok to turn down alcoholic beverages, or to sip them slowly. The phrase gan bei ("empty the glass") doesn't necessarily mean that you have to chug it all down at once. Chopsticks are normally used in China. When you're full, lay your chopsticks down next to the rice bowl. Never plant them sticking straight up out of the rice! Avoid loud nose-blowing in public. Either leave the room or turn away and blow as silently as possible.

Don't play with your chopsticks .

Chinese people like to relax during meals-table manners aren't as strict as in the west-so stressful, "heavy" topics (e.g., politics) should be avoided. Don't crack inside jokes that the interpreter cannot bring across correctly; only you will find yourself amusing.

Travel to China and Health

Vaccinations
Though there are customary vaccinations in Germany it is highly advisable to see a doctor in this matter. A lot of family doctors are not sure which vaccinations are being recommended for a certain travel destination. This is especially true for China, because there are several climatic zones. Information is available either at the health insurance or at chemists shops that offer vaccination advice. For information on vaccinations there is a

good internet address of the Tropical Institute Munich, which provides a medical information service for travellers

Medicine
For a trip to China, a portable pharmacy is definitely sensible. In addition to typical travel supplies (band-aids, bandages, laxatives, etc.), include insect repellent-especially in summer and for south China-a topical antifungal agent, and sunscreen. For dry regions, above all in the winter, an additional supply of moisturizer is recommended.

Drinking water
For a trip to China, one should be conscious of the fact that China is still a developing nation that has problems with water quality. Therefore, tap water should be strictly avoided, and bottled water should be used even for cooking. Those living for extended periods in the same place can order mineral water by phone for delivery in large bottles.

Food
Chinese cuisine is famous for its variety, and each region has its own cooking style. While food in Hangzhou is rather sweet and mild (sweet-and-sour), a very spicy meal in Sichuan (Szechuan) can lead to stomach trouble. Take advantage of the variety as often as you can, but if you have a delicate stomach, be prepared for an adjustment period. Standards of hygiene in luxury restaurants and hotels certainly meet European standards, but don't expect that in inexpensive restaurants and definitely not from street vendors. Especially at the latter, poor-quality vegetables or meats in a baozi (turnover) can lead to diarrhea. Many China travelers swear by bringing their own chopsticks to restaurants, in case no disposable ones are available.

How do the Chinese today celebrate Chinese Spring Festival?

During the Chinese spring festival, there are officially three holydays; many Chinese extend this vacation to one week. The Chinese New Year is a great family feast in China. The preparations already start long before the actual feast, making preparations for travelling and decorating the houses red is the dominating color during that time. Lucky charms are hanged up. They look like banners made from paper and are decorated with luck-bringing signs and proverbs. These are hanged on the doors, but with their front side turned over, since the Chinese dao (to turn over) requires nearly the same pronunciation as dao (to arrive). The family meets mostly at the parents or the grandparents home. In the best case, the complete family containing of several generations gathers together under just one roof. Presumably, the typical Chinese family will assemble in front of the TV set, in order to see the Chinese programme "chunjie wanhui", which is broadcasted every year since 20 years in Chinese TV from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. in the morning. While seeing this programme they usually prepare Jiaozi together for the next day. At midnight the fireworks start. However, fireworks were forbidden to be held in some of the greater cities, as for example in Beijing within the fourth district. The fireworks and the red color serve in order to drive away the years monster nian (in Chinese: year), for which according to a legend the Chinese once had immense fear and did conceal themselves in their flats in the evening until they found out, that the monster would come only one time during the year and that it feared noise and red color. At the New Years Day during the morning, the Jiaozi, which were prepared in the evening before, are traditionally cooked. Afterwards, the family will gather in order to eat lunch together. However, nowadays, many families prefer going to a restaurant instead of spending New Years Day at home. The relatives will be visited during the following days. During the 15 days, in which the Chinese spring festival traditionally is celebrated, miaohui take place. These are performances that take place in monasteries, by using lions- and dragon costumes that are well known in the western world. The Chinese spring festival traditionally ends with the Lantern Feast, which takes place on the 15th day of the New Year. The temples are decorated with lanterns at that day. Families go for a walk with self-made (or bought) lanterns holding in their hands and they eat the famous yuebing (moon cake), since there is a full moon at that day.