Author Archives: jz8541

San Francisco Trip

China Trip 2010: Bridget’s Impression

When we arrive at China (Shanghai) I can’t wait to get of the plane and get to the hotel!
In Shanghai while going out for dinner I met my two most adorable cousins ever! Yang-Yang and Tian-Tian. Tian-Tian is the one in the blue dress,and Yang-Yang is the one in the white shirt.

I noticed if on the Chinese subway train if you stand in a specific spot (between two connecting carts) it feels like you’re getting a massage.

In our first stop at Shanghai, when we went to explore the hotel I noticed there is a restaurant on the 7th floor. I love the Chinese yogurt the best. Yum!

In the hotel we stayed there is a big pool on the roof:  it was amazing to see the whole city from there.

At the science museum in Shanghai, every time I stand above a air vent my dress pops up! ( I couldn’t resist taking a picture!)

We watched an ancient Chinese puppet show that’s played inside a big wooden box. But when he banged the gong, it hurt my ear drums.

The monk in the middle of this plate looks like my uncle, except for he is more bald and fatter than my uncle.

In Shanghai, I met my aunt and her pet cat Nui-Nui. When Nui-Nui smells a special kind of grass, she rolls over non-stopping!

In the Barbie store at Shanghai, me and my Mom enjoyed checking out the special Barbies and tons of accessories you won’t see here in US.

In the hotel in Hangzhou: around 7 o’clock, the dancers got on stage while we ate dinner. Their dresses are very fancy.

I went fishing with my cousin and my other uncle (Dad’s brother). We were about to catch a really big fish,maybe the biggest but then it took our hook!

I went to my grandparents’ hometown near ZhuJi: we went to a grape farm of one of our relatives. The grapes are really big, the green ones tasted the best.

That guy is really fat! He is way (definitly) fatter than me. By the way how do you like our imitations?

I don’t know why people make these statues to step on babies, but all I know is that it is cruel.  My mom says that the little guy could be a devil.
I forgot where this was, but it was kinda fun being under this statue.

He is making a butterfly out of melted sugar. He puts it on a stick after it’s done, along with a few flowers made the same way. The best thing is:  you can buy it for five dollars and eat it!

China Trip 2010: Nicholas’s Impression

On our trip to China on an airplane, we got to pass the north pole. It was a beautiful sight, with all the ice cracks and gleaming ice. Too bad that we didn’t see Santa’s workshop.

This was our second day in China, and we were all taking a walk when we got to try some interesting street food. Trust me, it tastes better than it looks!

I’m eating some Chinese food at a restaurant in a huge shopping center. I usually drink soup and eat a lot of noodles.

This is our first time riding a Chinese subway. There aren’t a lot of seats, so we have to stand. The Chinese subway is obviously bigger than the ones in the US.

Here we are watching a type of exercise being performed by a lot of people. This is happening in a park, and the exercise kind of reminds me of yoga in the US.

This dish is called stinky tofu, and it is obviously very stinky. In China stinky tofu has a pepper dip to go with it. Grownups love stinky tofu, but I’m trying to understand why.

Compared to china, America shopping centers don’t even come close to the size of Chinese shopping areas. There are game centers, restaurants, clothes, and more.

Me and my sister are sitting under a huge elephant carved from rock. Looking at it, this statue was made from professionals. The stone elephant is part of a landmark that use to belong to an important emperor.

My sister and I are pointing to roasting ducks in the restaurant oven. My mom told me that this is the best duck place in China.

These two roasted ducks reminded me of Bridget and me, one small one and one big one.

I don’t know why I choose to blog this, because it is so creepy and weird. We took this picture in a museum in a city.

After eating a lobster, this claw was all that was left from it, along with some shells.

I am bowing on the same stools monks used for their special rituals.

Next to West Lake, my cousin, sister, and I are standing on the southern side of it. I predict that this lake is no less than five square miles in diameter.

After arriving in a city and meeting my Dad’s other cousin, or our aunt, we traveled to see places. On every trip, my aunt would always bring her adorable dog, Coffee, with us. Coffee was a medium sized dog with curly fur, and it liked to lick us in the car. Usually it laid on my cousin’s lap, but it also liked me holding it.

In a temple, these statues were built to honor a famous General’s grave (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yue_Fei). He helped taking back many parts of china from invading tribes. He also defended a dynasty that was very powerful.

Spitting on a bronze statue is the funnest thing that happened for me in China. The statue is of a criminal that murdered the respected general (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yue_Fei#Kneeling_Iron_Statues). People in china hated the guy that betrayed the general, so they built this statue that you can spit, curse at, and throw stuff at it.

It was fun trying to practice Chinese symbols.

This is a painting in a chinese temple. It kind of reminds me of Egyptian paintings. It tells a story of ancient war and revenge (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goujian).

My cousin, Uncle, and I were very hungry, so we bought street food to gobble down.
After we caught a slew of fish, I helped my Grandpa kill and preapare them for dinner. This was one of the funnest experiences I had in my life.

This is a temple where the emperor gave order to his armies. I wonder what was it like at that time.


China Trip 2010: Yin’s Impression

Shanghai: A happy street vendor proudly presents his awesome breakfast

Street vendors are only allowed in some smaller streets in Shanghai nowadays. One thing has not changed: they make the most fresh and tasty breakfast. Talking about “fast food good”.

The skylight of Shanghai at night from Huangpu River

The city mandates the building owners to enhance the exteriors with lighting components.

Shanghai: Indoor Mall

There are many mega-malls like this in big cities. Lots of stores in there carry American brands.  I usually go for the top floor where the food is located. You will see an empty Starbucks, and the crowds are still in Chinese restuarants up there.

@Shanghai: old shopping district

@Hangzhou: by West Lake

A pair of street ballroom dancers attracting onlookers… including me. Nothing is more relaxing than watching others and just let the time goes by.

@Shanghai: Zhongshan Park  Location… Location… Location

Finding the right spot for exercising is key. I wonder how early he has to get up for that sweet spot.

@Shanghai: China’s next McDonald?

One of the bigger Chinese fast food chains: providing traditional Chinese breakfast. It provides clean, low-priced food and consistent menu/service across all stores.


@Shaoxing: Lan Ting (Orchid Pavilion)
LanTing used to be the playground of famous ancient Calligrapher Wang Xizhi.  He used to gather with his artistic friends here to drink and write poems.  Nowadays there’s no original work from him can be found.  “Preface to the Poems Composed at the Orchid Pavilion” – written by Wang Xizhi about 1800 years ago – has been studied and copied by generations of Chinese Calligraphers. Everyone visits LanTing is encouraged to practice Chinese Calligraphy right on the spot.
@Shanghai: Shoe Shopping with Bridget
Shopping is getting very expensive in China. Foreign goods are especially so: you could easily pay 2-3 times of the price for a pair of Gap jeans than here in US.

@Beijing
I was told this is the longest escalator in Asia. Certainly not for the people who are afraid of heights.
@Beijing
Live entertainment outside of a store to attract customers.

@Shaoxing
Shaoxing is my favorite city during this visit. It has kept the ancient feel and small-town flavor of southern China. The cannal that guards the city from invadors in ancient time has now become the soul of the town: where people take a stroll on the bank, hitch a ride by a manual boat.
@Shanghai: 2010 World Expo
It’s ironic that the people have to stay in line for over an hour to get into the air-conditioned Iceland. It’s over 100 degrees outside.
@Hebei: Dong Ling – the burial ground of Qing Dynasty
Qing is the last ruling dynasty in China. The burial ground presents some of the most awesome architectures of the time.
@Hebei: Qing’s royal burial ground
The steps in the picture were built to contain jagged stones so the visitors have to walk with bended knees, therefore presenting respect of the passing emperors.
@Hangzhou: LongJing (Dragon Well)
LongJing Village is known for producing the most delicate green tea (LongJing tea) in China. The village gives the government about half pound of tea per acre of tea farm every year in lieu of government tax. Getting water from the Dragon Well and having whole family washing hands in the same bucket of well water symbolizes keeping wealth in the family.
In the following picture the tea lady is teaching us the proper way of preparing LongJing tea.
Shaoxing: going to a dinner party like a pro
Nick and Bridget started in the beginning of the trip not understanding why people spend so much time eating in China. At the end of the trip they have not only gotten used to the lengthy dinners, but also started enjoying socializing, or … finding things to do themselves.

@Hangzhou: LingYin Temple

On the hill on the outskirt of town, LingYin temple has been revered by monks and visitors across the country as one of the most respected Buddhist temples in China.

@Beijing: Bird Nest


China Trip 2010: Some of the best food in China by Junping

＠上海 (Shanghai)

罗汉虾 (Monk Shrimp)

Luohan Shrimp

The chinese river shrimp is tasty, nothing like the rubbery American shrimp. It’s quickly fried and glazed with some sweet and sour sauce.

红烧肉 （Slow Cook Pork)

Slowcook Hongshaorou

Everyone can make it, but the good ones take time. This place slow cooks it in a clay pot.

跳跳蛙 （Jump Jump Frog)

The bull frog is cooked in a very dry pot, mixed with lotus root, sliced potato and Sichuan peppercorn and dried hot pepper. Very tasty!

@苏州

东坡肉 （Whole Pork Block in Beancurd Sauce)

Dongpe Rou

The first surprise is that the fat doesn’t taste fat at all, it smooths into your mouth with a subtle sweet and Furu flavor. It’s still very filling, I just hope I had one of these in my boarding school days.

西湖醋鱼 (West Lake Sweet and Sour Fish)

Xihucuyu

In the old time, the fish is supposed to be still live when it’s served. 鮭鱼 (a fish eating fish) should be used.

@ 杭州

蜜耦 (Lotus Root with Stuffed Sticky Rice, in Honey Sauce)

Tang Ou

The best dessert I have ever had. The version in 知味观 is the best with a very mellow, creamy and refreshing lotus flavor, the ones I had in Shanghai were all undercooked with syrup dripping on them.

石头滚蛋 （Hot Stone Rolled Egg)

Stone Rolled Egg

茶叶饼 (Green Tea Cookie)

Green Tea Cake

@ 绍兴

霉菜蒸鱼 （Steam Fish with Shaoxing Preserved Vegetable)   — This was the best tasting dish on this trip

海鲜大烩 (Seafood Mix)

鲜炸蛇段 (Snake, Deepfried)

清明果 (QingMing Dumpling)

绍兴臭豆腐 (Fried Stinky Tofu, Shaoxing Style)

@ 天津， 北京

火锅 (Nick is holding a piece of hardened bone marrow)

海底捞，知春里 (The stretch noodle looks fancy, tastes great in hotpot)

慈禧 (The late empress drank human milk every day to stay young, yuck!)