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March - May 2004
Inside this edition:
The Chinese Hotpot Cuisine: Huoguo
On the cool night of April 30th we all gathered to warm up at a busy local favourite called Hua An Fei Niu (Hua An Beef Hotpot), located near WLE on Zhi Xin Lu. Most of us were unaware of the hotpot culture in China, so it was a new d exciting journey. These journeys are what living in China is all about and this experience was one of the best.
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| Emad, Craig, and Joakim start with the cold dishes while their hotpots warm up.
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A student's hotpot boiling to perfection |
Isaac, Albert and Thomas enjoying the appetizers as their broths boil.
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| One of our overflowing tables |
Albert and Thomas selecting ingredients
for their very
first huoguo experience. |
The beauty of a traditional hotpot |
Huoguo originally came from Outer Mongolia and was brought to mainland China during the conquests of the great Mongolian empire. This traditional Mongolian meal was perfect for its cold climate. Since the Mongolian invasion, the huoguo culture in China has become an integral part of Chinese cuisine with hundreds of different varieties to choose from. For lovers of spicy food, the most popular hotpot is Sichuan huoguo. It is an incredibly spicy broth made up of Chinese red chillies and Sichuan wild peppers.
The hearty huoguo consists of a large boiling pot of broth placed in the middle of the table (as pictured below) surrounded by a choice of vegetables, meats, and noodles. When the soup is boiling, you dip thin slices of frozen raw meat into the soup and when it is cooked you dip the meat into a sauce or condiment such as soy sauce, garlic sauce, sesame or chilli oil and finally eat. For vegetarians, a variety of greens can be cooked and beancurd may also be added. Although a communal pot is the traditional serving style, our delicious huoguos were presented in a different manner. To cater for different taste buds, the WLE huoguo dinner included individual pots of boiling delicacies. (see pictures below).
This small feast started with a variety of chilled appetizers such as cold beef noodles, tofu, bean sprouts, mao do (beans), and boiled hua sheng (peanuts). After finishing these, our houguos were ready. Our tables were filled with plates of thinly sliced meat including pork, beef, mutton, chicken, fish, and tofu together with many vegetables ranging from Chinese cabbage and lettuce to bean spouts and spring onions. However, our favorite ingredient was the yu wan (puréed fish) which you roll into a ball with a spoon and boil. Pi Jiu Niu Rou (beer soaked beef) was another favorite. We ended our night with conversation and laughter. Hotpot dinner is certainly a social event. Another great WLE introduction into the rich variety of provincial cuisine China has to offer!
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Great conversations always follow good food.
Left to right: Christopher David and Stephen |
A Chinese lantern bearing the name
of the restaurant ‘Hua An Fei Niu’ |
Touring Tiantan Gongyuan (The Temple of Heaven)
On a pristine Saturday morning at the beginning of this month, our WLE students visited one of Beijing’s famous landmarks, Tiantan. It is located in the southern part of Chongwen district and is about three times the size of the Forbidden City. None of us could believe the scale of this magnificent site.
As we toured, our guide provided fascinating information about the history of the temple. Built in 1420, this historic site was visited annually by the Ming and Qing Emperors to pray for good harvest and offer sacrifices to heaven.
We walked through the temple’s main hall, Qiniandian (the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests), in awe of the detailed carvings and decorations. While viewing the detailed carvings our tour guide told us that this was the most important building in the temple. Here the emperors, known as Tianzi (sons of heaven), worshipped the god of heaven and beseeched him for a good harvest on behalf of the country.
Our tour guide also told us about the ancient symbolism around Tiantan. For instance, the support structures of Qinniandian are arranged to represent the universe and time. The 28 support pillars symbolize 28 constellations. The four seasons of the year are represented by the four thick pillars in the centre. Encircling these are 24 other pillars. The inside 12 are a representation of the months of the year and the outer 12 depict the 12 hour intervals in a day. The pillars that represent hours and months also represent a lunar year of approximately 15 days or 24 solar terms. Understanding the meaning behind the architecture and construction made us appreciate it more.
Another section we appreciated was the Echo Wall. This interesting wall was constructed around the principles and theories of echo. It’s a circular wall surrounding the Imperial Vault of Heaven and is 193.2 meters long, 3.7 meters high, and about 1 meter thick. If you whisper against the wall at one end, someone can hear your voice at the other end.
After leaving the temple one of our students remarked that Tiantan was an architect’s and philosopher’s dream. For some of us, this ancient site was certainly a highlight of our China experience.
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Smiles all round as we pose in front of
the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest. |
Dina and Dominique on the old
pathway leading to the Echo Wall |
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| Brook and Stefan pictured behind the Echo Wall |
Astrid appreciating the detailed architecture |
Summer Palace (Yiheyuan): A place of Peace and Harmony
On a lovely spring Saturday our WLE students went to Yiheyuan (the Summer Palace), located about 15km from Beijing’s city centre. This spectacular garden is the best-kept and largest imperial garden in China.
As we walked through the Summer Palace, following our informative guide,we learnt about its history . Early in the Jin dynasty (1100AD), an imperial palace, Golden Hill Palace, was built on the present site of Yiheyuan. In 1750, with 4.48 million teals of silver, Emperor Qian Long constructed the breathtaking ‘Garden of Clear Ripples’ and renamed the hill ‘Longevity Hill’ in celebration of his mother's birthday. During the second Opium War (1860s) it was destroyed and plundered by the Anglo-French Allied Forces. The Empress Dowager Cixi then restored the grand garden with money embezzled from the Imperial Navy. The detailed construction lasted for ten years. Upon completion, she renamed it Yiheyuan – Garden of Peace and Harmony. Now this awe-inspiring place draws millions of tourists and locals everyday, including us.
On the day of our visit, we were not quite prepared for the enormity and beauty that awaited us. Once we topped the first hill surrounding Kumming Lake we were stunned by the view that met us. From that hill top we could see the most beautiful gardens and buildings. Some of the buildings at the Summer Palace are Renshoudian (Hall of Benevolence and Longevity), Paiyundian (Hall of Dispelling Clouds), and Yulantang (Hall of Jade Billows).
Although these halls were beautiful, the sight that amazed us the most was the Marble Boat. Built of stone and wood, it looks like marble, hence its name. It is an elaborate 36 meters long with two tiers, paved colored bricks and stain glass windows. But, the best part about it is the two mirrors that are by the tiers. If you sit in front of them, you will feel that you are floating on the water. After, some of us stayed with our superb tour guide whilst others preferred to wonder off on their own. All in all, it was the magnificent tour day rounded off by an exellent meal just outside the main gates.
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Education doesn’t stop in the classroom.
Timo and Nicola learning more wonderful facts |
Thomas and Albert sharing
information, memories, and photos |
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| WOW! Stephen in front of the Marble Boat |
Christopher with his wife outside the Hall of Benevolence |
Town and Country Magazine, (Australia), 22 March 2004:
| “Our teachers are given extensive benefits from modern and comfortable accommodation, free Chinese language lessons, to social and sporting activities and guided tours. The Teachers Lounge and Resource Centre are equipped with a wide range of English teaching materials and is a great place to relax between classes. We hold regular teaching seminars taught by instructors with years of experience teaching English to Chinese?/span> |
Teach English in China
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 If you have a desire to teach and live in China , take a look at World Link Education's Teach Abroad program. This unique program allows English speakers the opportunity to teach in Beijing at World Link's English Language Academy . China , the world's fastest growing economy is a country where English is fast becoming popular among the Chinese.
While other Teach Abroad programs operate as agents sending English teachers to Chinese schools and universities, the World Link program is unique in that teachers are placed in their own English Language academy. The school is managed by WLE's professional and experienced foreign academic staff with a wide range of attractive benefits. Teachers are provided accommodation, free Chinese language classes and cultural workshops.
Amy Johnson, WLE's Teach in China Director emphasized the current lack of onsite support and training in English teaching in China . “Many teachers are placed in schools where they are the only foreigner, with little or no help in settling in, a lack of teaching resources and inadequate teaching facilities and benefits. For many, it is their first experience living in China and the culture shock can be overwhelming?
World Link's Academy aims to be the leading English language school in China . “We strive to create a comfortable and enjoyable teaching and learning environment for our teachers and students. Our teachers are given extensive benefits from modern and comfortable accommodation, free Chinese language lesson, to social and sporting activities and guided tours. The Teachers Lounge and Resource Centre are equipped with a wide range of English teaching materials and is a great place to relax between classes. We hold regular teaching seminars taught by instructors with years of experience teaching English to Chinese. Non-qualified teachers are give an intensive teaching training course and continuous support.
Our teachers not only enjoy teaching our Chinese students, but learning about this amazing country. It is such a thrill to climb the Great Wall, venture through the thousand year old royal grounds of the Forbidden City and taste the delicious varied Chinese cuisine. They meet other teachers from the UK , USA , Australia , New Zealand and China . World Link was the first to offer the teacher exchange program where foreign teachers are paired with native Chinese teacher and meet with another socially?
For more information on World Link's Teach in China program see www.worldlinkedu.com/teach-in-china
World Link Education has been operating successfully in China for nearly a decade. Its Chinese Language, China Business and Martial Arts programs in Beijing are regarded as one of the leading study abroad programs and recognized by academic institutions worldwide.
For more about the study abroad programs see www.worldlinkedu.com
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Social Evening at the Hutongs
On 28th of May, ninety WLE students spent a warm evening wandering through Beijing’s traditional hutongs (laneways) of the Chao Yang District, and then enjoyed a surprise at a Si He Yuan (courtyard) house. The surprise was a Chinese BBQ and this event was situated in a perfect hutong setting.
Beijing is famous for its hutongs which were mainly built by Kubla Khan around 1260. These lanes were built for the Beijing commoners to live in and they have been doing so for well over 700 years. An average hutong is only 9 meters wide thus our bus of 90 people would not fit. Hutong is the Mongolian word for ‘passage between rows of houses’. On each side of the hutong is Siheyuan (Courtyard) houses. Each house is a quadrangle comprising of a courtyard and a one storey tiled-roofed house. Since the 1260’s, many people have built an upper level to their houses. These quaint places are still the residences of wrinkled old faces with many stories and the soft beautiful faces of young children playing.
As we walked down this lane we saw our final destination the Red Yard - Hong Yuanzi, a popular restaurant offering both Chinese and western cuisine. Once we arrived Yuan Hai, the restaurant owner gave us a tour and told us many amazing stories about the previous tenants. After feeding our imagination, Yuan led us into his newly renovated courtyard where our eyes yielded on the architecture and our stomachs feasted on delicious Chinese delicacies including paocai (pickled vegetables), chunjuan (spring roll), salad, fruits and other local treats.
At the end of another lovely evening we walked down the hutong and joined local ‘hutongers’ who were enjoying their evening. There were couples dancing to music played on the radio, children playing soccer on the laneway, and others relaxing outside their homes, chatting liaotiar with one another. It was an interesting insight into the life of old Beijing, its hutongs and its people.
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| Students select food from the overflowing table. |
Emma, Hamilton, Helle, Brian, Reed, Joshua, and Jeffrey inside one of the newly renovated siheyuan rooms. |
Andreanne and Lawrence out in the courtyard |
Student Interview: Chad Geppert
 Name: Chad Geppert
Country of Residence: USA
Citizenship: USA
Profession: Student
Educational Background: Working toward a BS in Chemistry and Physics
Brief Work History: Computer programmer for five years
Languages Spoken: English and Chinese
Hobbies: Music and computers
Is this your first time in China?
This is my first time to mainland China, but I have spent a lot of time in Taiwan.
Why did you decide to study Chinese Language and Business?
I hope to work internationally and World Link’s flexible dates were a great asset to me.
How are you finding your studies in China?
Class time of four hours a day is necessary and I am improving rapidly.
Have your studies been what you expected them to be?
Yes they have .
How do you like Beijing?
I love living in this fun city. Of course, it is also a great place to practice Chinese.
What do you find most interesting in Beijing?
The excellent restaurants which are dotted about everywhere in the city are cheap. But you have to watch your waistline when eating here.
Tell us a few memorable experiences in Beijing/China.?
WLE trips have been a highlight for me, especially Inner Mongolia where I rode a camel for the first time.
How has your experience in China changed you, if it has?
I understand a lot more about the mainland culture and mindset since being here. My confidence in Chinese has increased dramatically since coming here as well. I no longer have to resort to pointing.
What is the thing you like best about Beijing/China?
The best thing for me is hanging out with the local people and my Language Exchange Partner.
Will you come to China/Beijing again?
I will definitely be back in Beijing in the future.
What advice/tips would you give to others who plan to come and study in China?
Interact with the locals in Chinese as much as possible. |
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