“Discover China", our newly established column, covers various Chinese-related topics, including traditional festivals, music, art, films, books, food, and sports. These living expressions form part of Modern China’s intangible cultural heritage, as well as its considerable social and economic development. Thus, in the spirit of deepening the relationship between China and South Africa, the column aims to offer you a valuable opportunity to get to know China and its people. We hope you may be enriched both personally and professionally. Come and Discover China with us!
Chinese hot pot is indeed a warm, comforting, and social meal that brings family and friends together. The rich diversity of spices and condiments used in traditional Chinese hot pot reflects the culinary heritage of the country. Research indicates that there are approximately 67 different spices and condiments commonly used, sourced from 82 plant species […]
Located in the southwest province of Sichuan, China, Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries, home to more than 30% of the world’s pandas which are classed as highly endangered, covers 924,500 square kilometers with seven nature reserves and nine scenic parks in the Qionglai and Jiajin Mountains. The sanctuaries constitute the largest remaining contiguous habitat of the […]
High Mountain and Flowing Water is one of the top ten famous traditional Chinese music pieces. It has a high aesthetic and musical value which reminds people of a spring of fresh water merrily flowing down a mountain, and the waves playfully rising. It is full of the harmony between man and nature, and exudes […]
The Dragon Boat Festival falls on Thursday 22 June this year, which is the fifth day of the fifth month on the Chinese lunar calendar. There are many legends about the 2,000-year-old festival, but the most famous one is commemorating the death of QU Yuan, a patriotic poet from the State of Chu during the […]
Confucius Institute at Stellenbosch University is jointly established by Stellenbosch University and Xiamen University. Here we’d like to give you a brief introduction to the city of Xiamen, a sub-provincial city in southeastern Fujian, China, beside the Taiwan Strait. Xiamen covers an area of 1,700.61 square kilometers (656.61 sq mi) with a population of 5,163,970 as of […]
The Butterfly Lovers is a Chinese legend of a tragic love story of a pair of lovers, Liang Shanbo (梁山伯) and Zhu Yingtai (祝英台), whose names form the title of the story. The title is often abbreviated to Liang Zhu (梁祝). This violin concerto is composed in the winter of 1958, debuted by Yu Lina […]
Garlic is a must-have in nearly every Chinese kitchen. All dishes, whether steamed, stir-fried, braised or served cold, will lose a little kick-up without garlic. Click this link and enjoy an interesting clip of garlic cuisine in China’s ordinary family life:
In the past three decades, there have been amazing developments all over China. In the following video, you’ll have the chance to have a close look at some amazing architecture. These mind blowing structures in China will make your jaw drop in awe From the world’s largest to the world’s scariest, when it comes to […]
China has a lot more than eight different cuisines, but these are the 8 great ones. The following video digs a little deeper into Sichuan, Guangdong, Hunan, Shandong, Anhui, Fujian, Zhejiang, and Jiangsu Cuisines. It includes their distinctive characteristics, flavors, history, special ingredients, popular dishes, and others. Cantonese Cuisine If you’ve ever eaten Chinese food […]
Confucius (孔夫子; pinyin: Kǒng Fūzǐ, “Master Kǒng”; or commonly 孔子; Kǒngzǐ; c. 551 – c. 479 BCE) was a Chinese philosopher and politician of the Spring and Autumn period who is traditionally considered the paragon of Chinese sages. Confucius’s teachings and philosophy underpin East Asian culture and society, remaining influential across China and East Asia to this […]