The challenges of being a vegetarian in China

By Rahil Davda, Studying Finance, Accounting and Management at the University of Nottingham UK. Having been a vegetarian since birth, I decided it would be interesting to write a blog on my time in China as a vegetarian. Before coming, I had previously read that China was the founder of Taoism – a religion that …

Nǐhǎo Shìjiè: Hello World

By Lucy Kirkup, Studying Modern Languages with Business at the University of Nottinham UK. When Brits travel abroad the stereotype is that they are pretty lazy when it comes to learning languages. I must admit that this generalisation has some truth to it. However, being a student of languages myself, I despair when I think …

The leftover women – Find a husband after the age of 27

By Stefanie Andermatt, Studying Business Administration at Zurich University of Applied Sciences. Before I came to China I had read an article about unmarried women after the age of 27. I found this problem quite interesting and I was looking forward to see how it is when I am in China. In the University I saw a lot …

China: A Country in Transition

By Catriona Deery, Studying Geography at the University of Nottingham UK. A country in transition is defined as a nation state that has undergone significant and profound political-economic change over a relatively short period of time. Countries in transition are often scripted as being ‘emerging markets’. They have social impacts including alternative modes of social …

Chinese Connections: Communication and Complexity

By Shipra Khanna, Studying International Media and Communications Studies with Chinese at the University of Nottingham UK. As a student of International Media at the University of Nottingham UK, I have continually been intrigued by China and it’s censorship upon social media and communication. I have always had the opinion that indeed restriction and censorship …

Precarious employment in China through shopping mall employees

By Jennifer Baik, Studying Management at the University of Auchland, New Zealand. I have often heard of China’s extensive human capital in the context of subcontracted factory labour, but to a lesser extent in the service and industry sectors. Based on what I have eye-witnessed, it seems that the service sector is supported by a …

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams

By Finbar Edmond Hughes, Studying American and Canadian Studies with English at the University of Birmingham. The title of this blog comes from a quote from Eleanor Roosevelt, the longest serving First Lady of the United States of America and in the words of President Harry S. Truman the ‘First Lady of the World’. Therefore …

Life in China in comparison to other places that I have visited

By Harvinder Singh Sandhu, Studying Finance, Accounting and Management at the University of Nottingham UK. Ni Hao! Having completed my second year of study at the University of Nottingham, I felt that this was my last opportunity to travel abroad to study in a different country. When I heard about the opportunity of a two-week …

Summer School Blogs

From  June 24th to July 5th the School of Contemporary Chinese Studies hosted the Summer School “China, the Rising Superpower” at the University of Nottingham Ningbo China. 37 students from around the world came to take part. It was a two week course in which international students learned, traveled and experienced the real China. These students have written blog …

China’s Media Offensive in Africa

By Dr. Xiaoling Zhang, Head of Contemporary Chinese Studies at the University of Nottingham Ningbo China. Associate Professor in Chinese Studies at the University of Nottingham. China has accorded great importance to strategies of gaining a broader influence to accompany its significantly increased economic engagement with the world. Take Africa, for example. In addition to …