Food in China

According to Wikipedia (As we all know is a source of utmost reliability):

“Chinese dishes may be categorized as one of the Eight Culinary Traditions of China, also called the “Eight Regional Cuisines” and the “Eight Cuisines of China”. They are as follows:  Hui, Yue (Cantonese), Min, Xiang, Su, Lu, Chuan (Sichuan), and Zhe”

It is often difficult as a 外国人 [Wàiguó rén] (Foreigner) to distinguish what exactly it is you are eating, much less the province from which it originates; however, I present to you a meal that I had in the Chuan style (from the Southwestern province of China called Sichuan). The main characteristic of this food is that it is very spicy. Enjoy!

Most meals begin with 茶 [Chá] (Tea)

Followed by a cold dish such as these 冷面 [Lěng miàn]（cold noodles)

Then, in no partiucular order, the hot dishes come one by one. This is spicy pork with green peppers.

Spicy beef with baby celery

This is called 麻辣豆腐 [Málà dòufu] (spicy tofu), but somehow my teacher told me that Málà tofu is a different type of spicy and is to be translated as such: “the kind of spicy that feels like there are thousands of pointy needles jumping around in your mouth”

Kumquat tea; so sour yet so sweet!

绿豆 [Lǜdòu] （Green Beans) cooked in oil (but actually, everything is cooked in oil)

Crispy-Crunchy Super-Spicy Frog-Legs! 很好吃! [Hěn hào chī!] (Delicious!)

芹菜 [Qíncài] (Celery)

白菜 [Báicài] (Cabbage) cooked in oil; VERY common dish in China

鸡肉 [Jīròu] (Chicken); always served with bones. Be careful not to choke or chip a tooth! Alarming side note: a Chinese friend of mine said that pidgeon looks and tastes just like chicken… I eat a lot of chicken, well, I hope it’s chicken at least.

Meat sauce with hollowed out bread

吃饱了！[Chī bǎole] (I’m Stuffed!)

I will provide you a brief tour of 豫园 (YuYuan) [Yu Garden / Garden of Happiness / Garden of Peace]. I am very happy to be here!

Yuyuan is full of hidden treasures!

Great day to be alive!

View between a 410 year old Ginkgo Biloba tree (right) and Magnolia Denudata (left). Ginkgo Biloba is the national tree of China, and Magnolia flowers are the official flower of Shanghai (fact.)

The porous rock seen here is made of Jade; it is one of China’s national treasures!

Tigers, Pandas, and Dragons, oh my! (Tigers and Pandas later to come?)

Quite possibly the most magnificent restroom on earth…

Pig Snout

Kevin: I’m working on making a good food post, but in the meanwhile, here is a little taste of Pig Snout provided to you by Walmart in China.

Hello readers!

上海欢迎你 [Shanghai huanyi ni] (Welcome to Shanghai)

I welcome you to my travel blog! Today is June 27, 2012, and I am 2 weeks into my study abroad experience here in Shanghai, China! I’m very excited to be here, and since it has been 14 days, I have some catching up to do. I’ll start with a few brief observations:

This is the view from my dormitory balcony at the Shanghai University of Finance and Economics

This is a wide shot trying to catch the sprawling metropolis that is Shanghai

It’s amazing, however, that one can find themselves lost within the “quieter” nature within the many parks in this big city.

No matter how lost you get, you always know that the Colonel is nearby to remind you of home!