Chinese Culture

Oil Prices in China

noreply@blogger.com (dumplingheaven) — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 15:31:00 +0000

China has been forced into an inflationary boost to domestic oil product prices by the surging world price which yesterday topped $US96 a barrel. In Chinese culture, this is equivalent to the American term highway robbery.
The Chinese Government raised the price of petrol, jet fuel and diesel by almost 10% in direct contravention of last month's edict that all state administered prices were to be frozen until the end of the year at the earliest.
The rise was the first since May 2006, and shows how the country's oil processing industry has been squeezed by an oil price which has $US100 a barrel in its sights.
Oil prices rose by $US5.50 in a day yesterday on a shortfall in US oil inventories and then the speculative move after the US Federal Reserve cut interest rates, by 0.25%, which in turn knocked the greenback lower and sent the prices of oil, gold and other commodities higher.
Oil rose through $US94 a barrel, then $US95, to peak around $US96.21.It then fell in the US overnight to around $US93.50 a barrel as the US dollar reversed direction and rose and new worries emerged about the US economy.
Gold rose to $US801.50 an ounce before retreating to around $US793 an ounce overnight.
The optimism of the US interest rate cut evaporated overnight.
But the Chinese price rise news came as the market was pushing the price through the $US96 a barrel level.
The news of the increase will be a difficult sell for the Government: it shows the futility of the price freeze and the uselessness of controls when confronted by a rapidly rising commodity price.
It also shows the limitations of the Chinese economy and the growing worries the government have in controlling the strong growth, on which the Australian economy depends so much.
China put the price controls in place after inflation hit an annual rate of 6.5% in August, thanks to a shortage of pork which has been hit by a drop in production resulting from a serious infection in pigs.
The controls came into being just before the Communist party Conference which started on October 15. Reports from Beijing said the controls would remain in place until the end of the year, while other sources spoke of them staying in place until after the 2008 Beijing summer Olympics next August.
Inflation eased a touch to 6.2% in September, but non food inflation remained around 1%.
This will not be boosted by the sharp rise in petrol and diesel prices.
The rise will mean that the Chinese authorities will probably be forced to tighten monetary policy again in the next month to try and restrain price growth.
Growth slowed to 11.5% in September from 11.9% in August and the suggestion was that there may have been a pause in the monetary policy tightening of rate rises and restrictions on bank lending.
This significant move, made to ensure refineries don't go broke or suffer cash flow crises from being unable to recover their higher crude costs from higher product prices, will be watched closely around the world to see if there is any after shocks.
European countries and the US are growing increasingly concerned at the price pressures coming from the surging oil price.
The Federal Reserve referred to 'recent' energy price moves in its statement after the rate cut, putting inflation back in the picture.
The Chinese move will add to those concerns because there are rising fears in the US, Europe and Australia that the great period of falling product prices because of cheap Chinese products, is ending and that China is starting to 'export inflation' in the form of rising product costs.

To read and learn more about Chinese culture, visit www.chinatownconnection.com.

Chinese Language

noreply@blogger.com (dumplingheaven) — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 04:02:00 +0000

If you are soon to visit China, then you probably would want to know at least minimal amount of the language to be able to communicate your needs while in their country. This would require a little more in depth teachings, because speaking the Chinese language is a lot more difficult than the English language. The phonetics, and tonal components require a little practice. However, many schools have separated from the traditional methods of learning, bypassing all the complexities involved. They teach the most frequent phrases and words commonly used. Recognition naturally occurs after continuous repetition and application. There are a variety of online programs available with unique and modern teaching tools to ease the learning process. The different tools used are anything from animation repetitions to flashcards. If you are in a hurry to learn the basics, plenty of sites exist to help you learn the Chinese language . Mastering the simple sentences to hold a basic conversation in Chinese is done easy with these new techniques

Chinese tattoo symbols

noreply@blogger.com (dumplingheaven) — Sun, 15 Jul 2007 00:42:00 +0000

Chinese symbols have always been hugely popular especially in with all the tattoing going on. At one stage they were the realm of criminals and the mafia. Now it seems even Hollywood celebrities seem to have caught on to the mystery and allure of the Far East. While it is undeniable that classic Chinese tattoos have an attraction which can easily be appreciated regardless of whether one can understand the often subtle meanings or not. For more info, visit Chinese culture today.

Chinese New Year, Lunar Festival Holiday

noreply@blogger.com (dumplingheaven) — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 05:29:00 +0000

First day of first lunar month is celebrated as Spring Festival or Chinese New Year based on the Chinese calendar. Lantern Festival is held on 15th day of the first lunar month. China celebrates Dragon Boat Festival on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month, also called Duanwujie. It celebrates Double Seven Festival on 7th day of 7th lunar month. Both these festivals are based on Chinese calendar. Visit Chinese culture for more readings.

Chinese Year of the Pig

noreply@blogger.com (dumplingheaven) — Sun, 28 Jan 2007 21:02:00 +0000

The Chinese Lunar Calendar follows the lunar year where the years are arranged in major cycles of 60 years, and the 12 year cycles (each with a different animal) are repeated. This year is the Year of the Pig (or Boar). Those born in 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, and of course 2007 are born under the sign of the pig. According to legend, Buddha asked animals to meet him on Chinese New Year

Pregnancy Chinese Calendar

noreply@blogger.com (dumplingheaven) — Sun, 21 Jan 2007 21:36:00 +0000

A little history on the Chinese pregnancy calendar . One of the most wonderful, and exciting events any woman could ever experience would be her own pregnancy. The sheer joy of knowing that somebody lives inside that growing belly is a great source of unparalleled joy and happiness. This euphoric feeling is not only for the woman who is conceiving, but is shared by the father-to-be as well. Should this be the first child in the couples lives, the pregnancy itself will be one of the biggest celebrations they could ever experience together. Adding to the fun and excitement of preparing for the coming baby, the expectant couple can also enjoy various methods that may help them determine different pregnancy possibilities. One of these methods is the pregnancy calendar. Visit Chinese culture for more articles.

China Province Map

noreply@blogger.com (dumplingheaven) — Sun, 14 Jan 2007 06:46:00 +0000

Check out our Map of China Provinces. It is interactive meaning click on a province and it will provide you details. Also, visit Chinese culture for more readings.

Investing in China

noreply@blogger.com (dumplingheaven) — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 04:36:00 +0000

Additional incentives offered by local and provincial governments significantly increase the foreign investor's incentive package. They tend to become more generous as one moves westward from the coastal provinces to the heavily populated interior, this allowing the foreign investor to cash in on China's fierce domestic competition for foreign investment. There are national regulations, however, that are applicable to the tax incentives that a local government is entitled to offer Foreign Invested Enterprises (FIEs), and if these limits are exceeded by overenthusiastic local governments they can be revoked by the national government (hopefully any such revocation would not apply retroactively to FIEs). Chinese Culture is to do the opposite of investing. However, this article is to disprove of that philosophy.

Central China's Henan province serves as a good example. Henan offers manufacturing-oriented FIEs complete waivers of business tax and a many local administrative fees. Furthermore, FIEs that are engaged in technology transfer, development, and related consulting are eligible for a full refund of business tax already paid.

Regional Tax Incentives Offered By Henan Province
Production-Oriented Foreign Invested EnterprisesWaiver of Local Income Tax and fees for city construction, urban expansion, water resources protection, landscaping, and wall reconstruction. Transaction handling charges for purchasing production / operation sites are also waived. Enterprises and R&D centers dealing with technology transfer, development and services Certain income can be exempted from corporate income tax after approval.

Municipal governments tend to be even more generous than the provinces. Zhengzhou (a city of about 4 million in central China) is a good example. Zhengzhou offers the following incentives to local FIEs:

Tax Incentives for Reinvestment of Profits Locally - Local FIEs that reinvest their profits locally receive a 30% refund of the locally retained portion of Enterprise Income Tax paid on the reinvested profits (the national government offers an even more generous refund of the nationally retained portion).

Investment in "Pillar" Industries and State-owned Enterprises - Zhengzhou grants a 50% refund for three years on the locally retained portion of Enterprise Income Tax already paid on foreign investment funds invested in designated "pillar industries". It also offers financial incentives for investing in provincially administrated state-owned enterprises. In order to discourage mass layoffs, this incentive is increased if the FIEs retains a given percentage of the enterprise's original employees.

Inward Remittance of Export Earnings - Zhengzhou offers cash payouts of 0.2% to 0.5% of every dollar of hard currency export earnings that is remitted inward (the best payouts are reserved for the export of technologically advanced products).

Matching Funds - Zhengzhou provides one-to-one matching funds for international market development funds of small to medium-sized exporting enterprises if they are supervised at the provincial level (whether an enterprise is supervised at the provincial level or the national level depends the size of its investment - its Registered Capital; see examination and approval authority for details).

Anti-Dumping Insurance - Zhengzhou will assist FIEs in responding to antidumping initiatives. It also offers subsidies for expenses arising out of participation by exporters in antidumping responses to the extent that these initiatives are not already being subsidized by provincial or national authorities. It may seem a bit odd for a U.S. company to establish an enterprise in China, get involved in a lawsuit filed by the United States for dumping its products, and be subsidized by the Chinese government for expenses necessary to defend the lawsuit, but it's possible.

Interest Subsidy for Loans Secured by Tax Refund Accounts- Zhengzhou will subsidize a sum equal to 70% of the interest payable on loans that are secured by a tax refund account. If the FIE has not taken out such a loan, Zhengzhou offers a subsidy equal to 50% of the interest that would have been paid on such a loan had it been taken out - it will even provide the fund from which the interest is subsidized. Enterprises that have an annual export volume of at least US$5,000,000 in the previous year and are verified by the National Tax Bureau to have an increased tax refund due for the current year will receive a 100% subsidy.

Export Incentives - An export enterprise with either (ii) an annual export volume of at least US$10,000,000 and actual export volume of at least 25% more than the previous year, or (ii) annual export volume of at least US$5,000,000, an increase in export volume of more than 40% over the previous year, and inward remittances from exports at least 80% of sales volume, will be named a "Zhengzhou Advanced Foreign Exchange Generating Export Enterprise" and awarded a 30,000 RMB prize (roughly $3,500 US dollars) as long as it has not committed serious regulatory violations during the year preceding the award.

Basic Tax Rate - The nationally-mandated basic Enterprise Income Tax rate for foreign invested enterprises is 33%, including a 3% surcharge that is retained by local governments. However, because Zhengzhou has been classified by the national government as a "city open to foreign investment and trade", the Enterprise Income Tax rate of production-oriented FIEs located within the city is reduced to 24%. Furthermore, since the Zhengzhou Economic & Technical Development Zone (an industrial park located within urban Zhengzhou) has been designated as a National Economic & Technical Development Zone, the Enterprise Income Tax rate for production-oriented FIEs located therein has been further reduced to only 15%

Visit Chinese Culture page for more articles.

noreply@blogger.com (dumplingheaven) — Fri, 24 Nov 2006 16:27:00 +0000

Mahjong is a classic game that originated back in ancient China. It is one of the most popular games in the world today. The physical game based on actual painted tiles remains wildly popular. The tools of any Mahjong game are its tile sets. These tiles are intricately detailed with different images and collected into "sets". Visit Chinese culture page for more readings.

Myths about China

noreply@blogger.com (dumplingheaven) — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 01:09:00 +0000

So you think you figured China and the Chinese people out? Well, you might want to think after you read this articles, Myths about China . Over 20 percent of the world's population are Chinese, and by economic standards, China's ascent is only just beginning. The Chinese nation, culture, economy, and language are going to get more and more important in the world during your lifetime. But how much do you currently know about modern China?

One of the biggest myth is China is an ancient culture, that Chinese culture is ancient.

What? Of course Chinese culture is ancient! One of the world's oldest actually. Yes, but what's modern China all about? China nowadays is a vibrant modern society, with unique pop culture, fashions, arts, tastes, and habits. Chinese people are proud of their heritage, and there is always an awareness of "old China" inside people's habits and tastes. But the real China of today is a fast-moving modern place: the old continues to give way to the new, and and Chinese people are all looking to their future, not resting on the laurels of the past.

Chinese Culture: Halloween

noreply@blogger.com (dumplingheaven) — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 16:23:00 +0000

Ever heard of Chinese Halloween? If not then you must read on. Chinese Halloween lasts more than one day. It starts from the first of July (Lunar calendar) and ends on the 14th of July. The Chinese believe that during this two-weeks period, the gate of the underworld is opened. Many spirits wander around in human world and they are looking for substitutes so that they can go back to the human world again. Visit Chinese culture articles for more readings.

Malaysia Travel Guide

noreply@blogger.com (dumplingheaven) — Thu, 02 Nov 2006 05:39:00 +0000

Malaysia is a country on the move. Its official mission is to become industrialized by the year 2020. But despite the rapid pace of its growth, Malaysia will likely keep its welcoming atmosphere, as the warmth of the people is as unchanging as the tropical weather. The population is a diverse mix of ethnic Malay (58 percent), Chinese (26 percent), and southern Indian (eight percent). Though tensions exist, fomented by blatantly pro-Malay policies enacted by the majority government, interactions among ethnic groups remain remarkably open and peaceful. Visit Chinese culture articles for more readings.

Goji Juice

noreply@blogger.com (dumplingheaven) — Sun, 29 Oct 2006 05:04:00 +0000

During the last few decades the health industry has boomed and supposed wonder drugs are getting explored every now and then. We have explored genetically modified crops, wholly organic cultivation and ever improved health supplements. But there are a few incredibly beneficial and completely natural ways of health enhancement waiting to be explored.

Goji juice is one of the most notable among them. Offering the unbelievable benefits of Lycium Barbarum berries, Goji juice is one of the best kept secrets of the Himalayas. Though unknown to the outside world, Goji has been held in esteem in the ancient wisdom of China, India and Tibet. The natives had benefited from the alkaline berry for over 3,000 years before its fame drew researchers and medical practitioners from outside.

To read more, visit Goji Juice page.

To read other articles, visit Chinese culture page.

Chinese Martial Arts

noreply@blogger.com (dumplingheaven) — Mon, 23 Oct 2006 01:46:00 +0000

The Chinese Martial Arts are the most advanced and the most varied. Drawing their inspiration from birds, reptiles, animals as well as their strong philosophies - Chinese martial art is unique and absolutely astounding. To read more visit Chinese culture today.

Huizong

noreply@blogger.com (dumplingheaven) — Wed, 18 Oct 2006 04:07:00 +0000

A true artist, Emperor Huizong neglected the army, and Song China became increasingly weak and at the mercy of foreign enemies. When the Jurchen of Manchuria founded the Jin Dynasty and attacked the Liao kingdom to the north of the Song empire, the Song court allied with the Jin and attacked the Liao from the south. This succeeded in destroying the Liao kingdom, a long time enemy of the Song Dynasty. However, an enemy even more formidable, the Jin, was now on the northern border. Not content with the annexation of the Liao kingdom, and measuring rightly the weakness of the Song empire, the Jin soon declared war on their former ally, and by the beginning of 1126 they crossed the Yellow River and came in sight of Kaifeng, the capital of the empire. Stricken with panic, Huizong abdicated on January 18, 1126 in favor of his son who became Emperor Qinzong (欽宗). Visit Chinese culture for more readings.

Office Feng Shui

noreply@blogger.com (dumplingheaven) — Sun, 15 Oct 2006 03:29:00 +0000

Feng shui (pronounced "fung schway") evolved from the observation that people are profoundly affected-for better or worse-by their surroundings. Feng shui (literally, "wind and water") is the ancient Chinese practice of placement and arrangement of space to achieve harmony with the surrounding environment. Visit Chinese Culture for more readings.

Erhu

noreply@blogger.com (dumplingheaven) — Mon, 09 Oct 2006 02:49:00 +0000

The erhu can be traced back to instruments introduced into China more than a thousand years ago. It is believed to have evolved from the xiqin (奚琴), which was described as a foreign, two-stringed lute in an encyclopedic work on music by music theorist Chen Yang called Yue Shu (book of music), written during the Northern Song Dynasty. The xiqin is believed to have originated from the Xi people of Central Asia, and have come to China in the 10th century. To read more about the Erhu visit Chinese culture page.

Moon Cake Festival Chinese

noreply@blogger.com (dumplingheaven) — Wed, 04 Oct 2006 03:36:00 +0000

Once upon a time there was a famous archer, Hou Yi, who with his arrows was able to slay mankind’s worst enemies, ferocious beasts that inhabited the earth. Yi was married to Chang-O, a beautiful but inquisitive woman who had been an attendant of the queen mother of the west before her marriage. Now at this time, there were 10 suns that took turns circling the earth-one every 10 days. One day, all 10 of the orbs circled, together, causing the earth’s surface to burn and threatening mankind. The wise emperor of China summoned Yi and commanded him to kill but one of the suns. This Yi proceeded to do. Upon the completion of his task, Yi was rewarded with a pill, the elixir of life, and advised: "make no haste to swallow this pill, but first prepare yourself with prayer and fasting for a year." Being a wise man, Yi took the pill home and hid it under a rafter while he began healing his spirit, In the midst of this, Yi was summoned again by the emperor. To read more, visit Chinese Mooncake Festival . Visit Chinese culture for more readings.

Puerh Tea

noreply@blogger.com (dumplingheaven) — Thu, 28 Sep 2006 01:39:00 +0000

Pu-erh Tea has a wide spectrum of taste and aroma that is very compelling and at times uncompromising. Ranging from lightly floral, honey, heather and fruits to harsh peat, leather, organics, grass, tobacco, wood and deep earth the taste and aromas of these fine teas are exceptionally varied. The color of young Pu erh Tea tea can start from a golden yellow of summer hay before developing to a deep reddish brown reminiscent of the sunset after 30 years of aging. Black Pu-erh Tea has an imposing aroma of heavy earth that is comparable to the sweet fragrance of mineral deposits emerging from deep within the forest floor after a heavy downpour. Good Pu-erh tea has excellent clarity and clean flavors that is warming to both the body and soul. Visit Chinese culture articles for more readings.

Chinese Calligraphy History

noreply@blogger.com (dumplingheaven) — Wed, 20 Sep 2006 04:03:00 +0000

Chinese Calligraphy is not only a practical tool of everyday living; it comprises, along with traditional Chinese paintings, the mainstream of China's art history. All kinds of people, from emperors to peasants, have avidly collected works of fine calligraphy. And calligraphic works are not only for making into scrolls or framing and hanging in a room or study; they are to be found everywhere you look : on shop and government office building signs, on monuments, and in stone inscriptions. All of these examples of Chinese Calligraphy have supreme artistic value. Today, as in the past, calligraphers are often literati as well as artists. Their calligraphic works may include renderings of their own poems, lyrics, couplets, or letters; or those of famous masters. Visit www.chinatownconnection.com/chinese_calligraphy.htm to read more.

Confucius

noreply@blogger.com (dumplingheaven) — Sat, 16 Sep 2006 02:46:00 +0000

Confucius is considered one of the great thinkers of Asia and, indeed, the world. He was a Chinese philosopher believed to have lived in the fifth century BC. His teachings are primarily derived from the Analects of Confucius. The cover issues such as personal morality, war, governing, justice and sincerity to mention only a few subjects. Here are a few of his inspirational and thoughtful quotes. Visit Confucius Inspiration to read more of this article.

Pottery Oriental, Chinese

noreply@blogger.com (dumplingheaven) — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 03:53:00 +0000

Chinese, Oriental pottery artisans jealously guarded their individual techniques for producing porcelain. The clay had to be properly aged, in many cases for centuries. Succeeding generations of potters inherited the family's supply of clay, which was buried in the ground to be dug up more than 100 years later by a potter's son or grandson. When Oriental porcelain was introduced into Europe in the 15th century, it made even the most beautiful of western pottery look shabby by comparison. European ceramists regarded the Chinese and later, Japanese wares with awe and envy. Ambitious efforts were made to imitate the imported porcelain, which was in heavy demand among wealthy collectors. When Italian potters took to coating their earthenware with white enamel, which gave a superficial porcelain look, it was only the first of a long list of dismal failures. Visit Chinese culture for more articles. And visit Chinese handicrafts for more readings on pottery.

Kitchen Feng Shui

noreply@blogger.com (dumplingheaven) — Mon, 11 Sep 2006 01:27:00 +0000

Professor Lin Yun, the founder of Black Sect Tibetan Feng Shui says, "From our food comes health and effectiveness. If it is well prepared and of good quality, we will do well in the world, earn more money to buy even better food." And as Sarah Rossbach points out in her book, Feng Shui-The Art of Chinese Placement, this food-money cycle can turn the other way. "If you are poor, you eat worse, then fare poorly in the world. You might perform so poorly that eventually get fired." Visit Feng Shui Kitchen to read more about this topic.

Taiwan National Palace

noreply@blogger.com (dumplingheaven) — Wed, 06 Sep 2006 03:17:00 +0000

The National Palace Museum on Taiwan has also been controversial in Taiwan with many supporters of Taiwan independence regarding it as an unwanted symbol of China-centeredness.

During the 1960s and 1970s, the National Palace Museum was used by the Kuomintang to support its claim that the Republic of China was the sole legitimate government of all of China, in that it was the sole preserver of traditional Chinese culture amid the social change and Cultural Revolution in mainland China, and tended to emphasize Chinese nationalism. In recent years, the museum has focused more on local and minority cultures and has included some materials on loan from the People's Republic of China. Visit www.chinatownconnection.com/national-palace-museum.htm to read more.

The Forbidden City

noreply@blogger.com (dumplingheaven) — Wed, 30 Aug 2006 02:03:00 +0000

Although no longer occupied by royalty, the Forbidden City remains a symbol of Chinese sovereignty and the image of Tiananmen, the entrance to the Imperial City, appears on the seal of the People's Republic of China. The Palace Museum is now one of the most popular tourist attractions in the world. Recently, the site has been under much renovation which has limited visitors to the main courtyards and a few gardens. Visit Chinese culture page to read more.