Happy Chinese National Day!

As I'm sure you figured out from the title of this post, today is Chinese National Day, which honors the founding of the People's Republic of China 61 years ago.

Naturally of course, today is a holiday. But in China, you don't just get one day off in honor of National Day, you get an entire week. Meaning, I do not have class from today (Friday) through next Thursday (7 October).

During this week off, which is sometimes referred to as "The Golden Week," many people travel both domestically and internationally. This year in particular has seen a record number of international trips booked by Chinese people.

However, since the second portion of my visa is still being processed and my passport is currently holed up in some Chinese government building, I'm a hostage of Beijing this week. Not to worry though, there's plenty to see and do here (as long as it doesn't rain).

For those of you wondering if I've actually come here to Beijing to study with this recent rash of holidays, don't you fret. This my last break until January 1st; after this week it's just day after day of intensive Chinese learning (aside from weekends). So while the rest of you (especially those of you in the US) are enjoying your Christmas, Thanksgiving, Veteran's Day and maybe even Columbus Day, think of me, because I'll be in class.

Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!

Today is the first day of the Mid-Autumn Festival here in China and as a result, I have three days off from classes (five, if you include Saturday and Sunday too). Hopefully during my time off, I'll be able to blog more and work on some more photos for all of you. As for now, here's a little info on the Mid-Autumn Festival.

The Mid-Autumn Festival occurs annually on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month. Traditionally, people gather with their families during this festival to gaze at the full moon and eat mooncakes. There are many different types of mooncakes depending on where you are living or where your family is from. The most traditional form has a thin skin around a sweet, dense filling usually of lotus or red bean paste. Sometimes there will also be one or two salted egg yolks in the middle. Personally, I like the salted egg yolk with the sweet filling but some people find it strange.

Traditional mooncake

Traditional mooncake with lotus bean paste & salted egg yokes

In Shanghai though, they eat savory mooncakes that have a thin, filo-dough-like outside and savory meat (pork?) filling on the inside. When my parents & I were in Shanghai, we were lucky enough to be purchase some from some famed mooncake-perveyor on Nanjing Lu. Needless to say, they were delicious.

Box of Shanghainese mooncakes

 

Shanghainese mooncake with savory meat filling

For more information about the mid-Autumn Festival: http://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/festivals/mid-autumn-festival.htm

More information on mooncakes: http://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/culture/mooncake.htm