Living in China

Life in China - Making the Most of your Adventure

There are loads of things you can do in China that will bring a smile to your face. Most importantly, relax. Know that things are going to be slightly more challenging to accomplish. Know that you make 4 times as much as many of the people you will meet on the street and in the markets. Know that you aren't going to live there forever. Soak up China. Enrich your life by exposing yourself to Chinese culture and life in China. Here are a couple ideas to help you get started:

• Tea House and Ceremony
  Drinking tea in China is a BIG thing. This is a huge part of the culture and the ceremony surrounding drinking tea and serving tea is fantastic. First, let's come to terms with how important this is... Tea ceremony is described by 16th century Tea Master as "the highest ideals of humanity, and where it is important to reflect on them for one's spiritual growth." Ok so you get the point. This is important.

  First let's slow down. The art is in the movement. The simple grace of the smooth calm deliberate movements, nothing eratic. Imagine the hand moving to lay out the cups in a special way, what is that special way, the sounds that are made and NOT made, the movement of the body as it stands and crouches. Each step is designed as a sensort exploration and appreciation not just of the tea but of spirituality, love, gratitide and so much more. THere are a great many emotions evoked during a ceremony, much of which is contingent on who is performing the service and for what reason. The event of the service has inspired art, music, poetry and it has solidified marriages, love, friendships and much more...

  Are you a believer yet? Go to a tea house. Sit back and relax. Open your mind to the experience. You will be amazed.

• Chinese Bathhouses - Public Bath Rooms
  A Chinese proverb says, "In the morning you put water into your skin and in the evening your put your skin into water." In most cases Chinese people use the bathhouses as a place to meet and catch up with friends. They are separated by sex, men in one, women in the other. Get ready to get naked. I know, a strange concept by western standards BUT, these bathhouses can be incredible.

  I highly recommend the luxury bathhouses. Know that the first half a dozen times you go you are going to be swarmed. It isn't every day that a westerner goes to a bathhouse. The Chinese people are naturally going to be curious. Consider for a moment how homogenous the country is and how you already stand out... now consider you in a Chinese bathhouse and how surreal that would seem to a Chinese person. Ok, moving on.

  In some of the more elaborate ones as soon as you enter you are treated like a king. Someone comes along with you and as you strip they take your clothes and fold them - sometimes even laundering them for you if you wish - they will fold them and pack them neatly into your locker that is double locked just like a safety deposit box.

  The decorations around the bathhouses are like nothing you've seen elsewhere. One of my favorites is decorated with a Mayan motif with water pouring out of giant derpent heads into the steaking hot soaking pools. There are also whirlpools and hot and wet saunsas where you can pour water on hot rocks or salt saunas where there is a massive heap of sand on a wooden bench that you take handfuls of and massages and scrape over your body to exfoliate.

  It should be known here that I am a guy and that prior to my bathhouse experience I had never exfoliated nor had I ever been to a spa. Since this experience I have sought out opportunities like this in Canada, the US and Australia but no where but in Asia has the experience been even remotely replicated. In essence these are spas - they are just called bathhouses. TRY ONE. They are cheap and they are the best cure for a hangover or for a very long day.

  I don't think many "laowei" (foreigners) do this so you are lways going to get some attention whether wanted or not. Know that if you find one you like and you become a regular, it gets better. Note that like Japan, you can often stay overnight in these bathhouses. There are often "lounge rooms" with up to 100 beds in them where you can watch TV with wireless headsets. Many businessmen opt for this options when travelling to cut costs.

• Tai Chi
  This is something to see. No matter where you are in China, if you wake up early and go to one of the main parks in the city or town you are in you are going to witness something special. There are better parks to go to so ask around to see where most people go for their morning Tai Chi. In Beijing a must see is at dawn in the Temple of Heaven (Tiantin)
• KungFu
  Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan or two of the most famous mainstream actors who have popularized this Chinese art. Find out where you can see a demonstration or a tournament. This is definitely something to see, kinda like Sumo in Japan. The experience is pretty surreal.
• Arts and Crafts
  It does not matter what kind of art you are into, China has it. The further you get from the major metropolitan centers the more traditional the art forms become. It is definitely worth checking out the museums and the art galleries nearest to you.

  You will also be amazed at how you can afford amazing works of art IF you get off the beaten track and head to the smaller towns. Chat with the artists and learn. There is a lot of story in one Chinese fan, the art of paper making is an ancient Chinese secret. We've all heard that saying before... an ancient Chinese secret... you might have even said it. There is a reason. Teaching in China allows you to unlock some of these ancient Chinese secrets. Get out there amongst it and you'll be amazed. One teacher wrote to say all she wears is silk now. China is famous for a lot of things.

• Music
  • Performance Arts
    There is a great story in our Chinese Culture section about the opera in Anhui. Each city has a major hall for theatre. Make a point of finding out where it is and what is on. It really doesn't matter that you don't speak the language. Opera at home is performed in many different languages and of all the ones I have gone to (not many in truth), none of them spoke English. I just enjoyed the acting and the musio. The song is powerful. Chinese opera is very theatrical. You'll enjoy. Try it.

    There is much more to Chinese performance art than just the opera. Cirque de Soleil has met it's match in China. Find out where the acrobatics are taking place near you and check out a show. They are truly amazing.

    MORE? Have you got a story to share and some advice to give?

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