Hongzhou's China Pages

Celebrating Christmas Sometimes to outsiders, there are some misconceptions about spending Christmas in China. Because of the country's government and politics, it is often believed that Christmas is banned, restricted or oppressed. Whilst it is true that China is officially an atheist state which advocates socialism, nevertheless the religious beliefs of citizens are tolerated and given respect within the boundaries of the law. One may go through a mall at Christmas time and see all kinds of Christmas trees, decorations and popular songs. Without a doubt, the cultural presence of the holiday exists within the country, even if it is not grounded in China's traditions.  This cultural interest in Christmas has been encouraged by the increasingly consumerist nature of the holiday in the west, which has become less about religion and more about gifts, shopping and good food. To many Chinese people, this is both fun and exciting, even if they have little to no belief in

Hongzhou Learning is offering an amazing opportunity for international students to receive a scholarship in Jinan University, Shandong province. Successful candidates can receive a 50% discount on tuition and accommodation fees in studying a wide range of disciplines. But, in considering this institution, one might wonder just what is the significance of the area its in? And how does it tie into China's wider history and culture? Shandong province has a huge significance. It was once the home of Confucius, the most famous Chinese thinker and philosopher of all time. Confucius' theories of society, family and life have had a longstanding influence on shaping not just China, but all of the countries around it. As you study in Jinan, you have the opportunity to be inspired by his legacy that through your work, you can make a lasting impression on the world. Just who was Confucius? Confucius lived around the time of the 6th century BC, it was a time of upheaval, uncertainty an

To live in China is an incredible experience. For a single nation, there is almost a world of people, places and culture to discover. Every day can be an adventure. However, like everywhere in the world, that does not mean there are not some things to be careful of. A small minority of people with bad intentions may seek to take advantage of unsuspecting foreigners who do not know the country very well. Although violent and petty crime is in fact rare, attempts to scam and cheat people out of their money is more common. If you want to be able to make the most of your China experience, then you need to be aware of what these scams are and the common pitfalls people fall into. Below, we list and set them out: 1. The Tea ceremony Scam Imagine you're walking through a busy area very popular with tourists, such as Wangfujing in Beijing or Nanjing road in Shanghai. Suddenly, you are stopped by what is often an attractive young lady whom speaks surprisingly good English. Des