Mandarin Zest Chongqing: How Did It Become So Popular? If you scroll through short-video feeds long enough, you will eventually meet Chongqing. A monorail slides straight through the middle of an apartment block. A man leaves his flat on the 18th floor an... Culture Fun History Lifestyle Travel Oct 9, 2026
Mandarin Zest What Is Guanxi (关系)? A Guide to Chinese Relationships Without a doubt, you’ve heard of the term “networking”, especially if you’re a LinkedIn user, but have you heard of the Chinese term 关系 (guānxi)? If you’re studying Chinese or are perhaps doing busine... Culture Oct 6, 2026
Mandarin Zest Why is the Number 8 Lucky in Chinese Culture? Numbers can have varying meanings across different cultures and countries. In Chinese culture, certain numbers are associated with good fortune, whilst others are considered unlucky . Amongst them, th... Culture Sep 29, 2026
Mandarin Zest Mianzi (面子): What “Losing Face” Means in Chinese Culture You may have stumbled across the term “face” or “saving face", but what does it really mean, and does it have that much of an influence in China? What does 面子 mean? The word '面子’ (miànzi) is a Chinese... Culture Sep 21, 2026
Mandarin Zest Understanding the Beijing Dialect: Slang, Accent and the Famous "Er" If you've spent any time in the Chinese capital, you've probably noticed that the Mandarin you hear on the street doesn't always match the Mandarin from your textbook. Sentences seem to blur together,... Culture History Pronunciation Travel Vocabulary Sep 13, 2026
Mandarin Zest The Mid-Autumn Festival: What It Is, Origins and How to Celebrate Perhaps you’ve heard of the Mid-Autumn Festival (Zhōngqiū jié 中秋节), come across mooncakes, or you’ve never even heard these words before. The Mid-Autumn Festival (also known as the Moon Festival or Mo... Culture Sep 13, 2026
Mandarin Zest Why is Taiwan Obsessed with Pineapple Cakes? If you’ve ever been to Taiwan, then I can guarantee that you’ve stumbled upon the island’s most famous pastry and beloved souvenir - pineapple cake (fèng lí sū, 凤梨酥 and 鳳梨酥 in traditional). They’re no... Culture Fun Sep 1, 2026
Mandarin Zest Ghost Month: The Hungry Ghost Festival, What It Is, Taboos and Meaning The Hungry Ghost Festival, or Zhongyuan (中元节, zhōngyuán Jié) in Taoism, and the Yulanpen Festival in Buddhism, falls on the fifteenth day of the seventh month of the lunisolar calendar, also known as ... Culture Aug 24, 2026
Mandarin Zest Traditional Chinese in Taiwan vs. Hong Kong: The Hidden Differences You Should Know Taiwan and Hong Kong both use "traditional" Chinese characters, but they're not identical. Learn about different standardized forms, Cantonese-only characters, and why 佢, 冇, or 曱甴 will stump a ... Chinese Characters Culture Aug 19, 2026
Mandarin Zest Sājiāo: The Untranslatable Chinese Word for Playful Coaxing There are words in every language that resist translation — not because they're complicated, but because the concept they describe doesn't exist in the target language. 撒嬌 ( sājiāo ) is one of Chinese... Culture Aug 18, 2026
Mandarin Zest Chinese Valentine's Day: The Qixi Festival, What It Is and How to Celebrate The Qixi Festival (七夕节, Qīxījié), also described as Chinese Valentine's Day and the Seven Sisters Festival, celebrates romance. It commemorates the legend of Niulang (牛郎, Cowherd) and Zhinü (织女, Weave... Culture Aug 17, 2026
Mandarin Zest The Complete Xiaohongshu Guide for Beginners (2026): How to Use RED Like a Local If you've recently downloaded Xiaohongshu — or stumbled across it while researching China travel or Chinese internet culture — you've probably noticed something immediately: almost nothing looks famil... Culture Tips Vocabulary Aug 9, 2026
