The Very Memorable Chinese New Year Fun

No Chinese-oriented individual should ever leave out the idea of going into a jubilant, explicitly celebratory mood every time the start of the year in a Chinese calendar dawns because it is such an luxurious event that people from all over the world surely know about. The Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is probably the most significant ceremony the whole year through for the people of China because this is where they open a successful life ahead. On the days through the New Year of a lunar calendar, which usually happens late January or early February, China is busy preparing to let go of the bad things and obtaining good ones to epitomize the origin of a new life. The Chinese locals do lots of things to keep them opportune all year round -- they clean their houses, they buy new clothing, they pay their debts, they spruce up their homes, they offer prayers to their ancestors -- and there is no better way of embracing the festive mood other than being in an actual Chinese community. When midnight strikes, fire-crackers are freed to shove aside the bad spirits and greet the coming of another year of hope. The more impressive part of the event, aside from the dragon dance is the feast, symbolized by the giving of sweet rice puddings for the Southerners and steamed dumplings for the people of the North.

Chinese Astrology Over Yummy Chinese Meals

Another year terminated and a new one has just kicked off. At the strike of 12 midnight, different places of the world celebrated the onset of 2007. I was in New York during New Year's Eve, ticking off the few remaining hours until 2007 with my family and a few close comrades. We were in this restaurant in Chinatown in Manhattan that a family comrades owns, feasting over yummy Chinese cuisine. The restaurant's senile but good-natured manager, who was Chinese, told us that 2007 was the Year of the Fire Pig. He then proceeded with a loquacious explanation over what the new year holds for humans born under this Chinese horoscope.

I happen to know a speck of Chinese astrology so I didn't actually need to hear what the manager was saying and just concentrated on gorging my chow mein instead. Chinese astrology happens to be the oldest horoscope system known to humans, with its history tracing as far back as 2637 BC. The Chinese astrology is established on the Chinese calendar and the five vital elements among other things. Unlike the Western horoscope, the Chinese Zodiac is consist of twelve animals namely Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. For Chinese fortunetellers, knowing the year a person is born molds his personality and other aspects of his life. Frankly, I don't have confidence in astrology, but it's entertaining to learn about them.

Cherishing The Toothsome Chinese Lychees

The minute I set foot in a new shire, the first area that I would go to is the local supermarket. I adore watching the people sell vegetables, fruits, fish, and many other merchandise in local market. Aside from that, the market is where I get to have an idea of what the local community normally eat for their regular meals. Then, I look into the myriad kinds of fruits a place has for me to explore their different flavors.

When I went to China, I was looking forward to discern the good-tasting local lychees in the market. The lychees have a quite identical piquancy with grapes, except that lychees are covered in easily-to-remove rinds. I have always admired the toothsome flavor of lychees, making these fruits among my favorites of all time. However, if fresh lychees are not in the appropriate term, I only get to devour the canned lychees. Quite a number of people perceive that lychee plants are native fruit plants found in the southern part of China. Good thing I went to China in September because I was able to observe the lychee season, which comes about sometime between July until October. The fresh lychees I found in the supermarket have been worth my long walk to the market from my lodging.

The Biggest Shopping Center Ever Built in China

When I went to Disneyland in the States, I was told that I could see all the vivid rides and animated avenues in about two days. That was understandable, since there are quite a few theme attractions being added to their drawn out checklist of sights each year. But when I came across China's biggest shopping complex, I was completely stunned. They say that it would also take two days to visit every specialty boutique and retail store in the building. I was so ready to go to every boutique that I couldn't wait until the next day to check everything off my shopping checklist. It turned out, what other people have been saying is true -- it was unthinkable to see this splendidarchitectural wonder all in one day.

The Golden Resources Mall is considered to be the most gigantic shopping complex in the world. The well-known Mall of America in Minnesota was found out to be around 4,000,000 square feet while its Chinese counterpart in the heart of Beijing is bigger by 2,000,000 feet. The new world wonder has over 1,000 specialty boutiques, 230 escalators, a wide skating rink, and a huge space for restaurants that's probably as big as a couple of football fields. Just imagine how long it would take you to walk from the wide parking lot to the shopping complex itself -- it's absolutely amazing.

My Choice Four Seasons Guesthouse

I have been to China countless times, and I have stayed in different three, four, and five star hotels in different cites of the area. But I should say that my stay at Four Seasons Hotel in Shanghai was the optimum guesthouse experience I ever had. For me, there was no misgiving that Four Seasons in Shanghai was the best among all Four Seasons Hotel worldwide.

Aside from its unsullied service and facilities, Four Seasons Shanghai has the best spot a fine hotel could ever had. It is far from the warming and blaring Nanjing Road, but just a few walks away from the shopping belt of Huai Hai Road. Also, markets and diners at Wu Jiang Road and the vogue street of Nanjing Road West are very accessible from the hotel. There are really lots of things to appreciate while just walking around the guesthouse. Furthermore, if you want to sightsee other spots you can easily access the nearest train station, which is only a few strides away.

On the other hand, my guestroom was just the common superior. Though it was just the ordinary one, my room was very shipshape, not to mention the very restful bed and pillows, nice lamps and chairs, and everything nice. And before I forgot (this one is worth declaring) Four Seasons Hotel Shanghai has the optimum gym and pool ever.